Albertans no brighter than Ontarians

[werner.reiche]

Yeah the NDP got 41% popular vote. I would have guessed higher with that many seats... Was vote splitting for sure. Still surprised they got more than a minority in right wing Alberta...

Daniel Smith must be kicking herself now, as she would likely be premiere if she hadn't crossed the floor, strange times.

Hard to say. The floor crossing deal is part of what got the Cons kicked out, so maybe if that hadn't happened, the Cons could have held on. Where you are right though is what she did had the *worst* outcome. Sticking with wild rose would mean she still have a political life left. Even if she hadn't won, she would likely have been in the position of holding the balance of power for a minority government (either NDP or Cons).

If you weren't following, her wild rose riding (where she lost the Conservative nomination) elected a wild rose mla to replace her.

But she is delusional enough to tweet: "The NDP surge would have happened regardless of anything I did folks. This is why I said conservatives needed to reunite. I wasn't joking."

[terrym]

The Conservatives and Reform eventually smartened up and united Federally. My guess is the Cons and WR will do the same out there out of pure survival instinct. Smith is an idiot. I hope this makes the NDP more competitive with the Libs Federally. Having them poach each other's voter base and funding gives a better chance for Harper to slip up the middle.

[JBen]

Politics: It’s a mad mad world.

When MPs leave the con caucus and cross the floor. “Cheer!, Harper is an idiot and this proves it”
When MPs leave the con caucus and cross the floor. “Booyah, they are idiots, shot themselves in the foot and this proves it"



Here’s what it signals to me, and it only reaffirms something that was linked a few weeks ago.
That politicians aren’t as afraid to hike taxes as they were not long ago.

Sucks to live in Ontario where the tax payers have already been beaten into the ground and its coming. If people want to argue the tax friendly regime out west was either squandered, or that the people relied to heavily on oil ( Um why is it people always forget its the electorate that is responsible, politicians don’t elect policitians…..people do..so for those of chirping that the cons….um, ) and didn’t tax enough,

or cough cough save for a rainey day when they were flush cough cough

Squandering little is better than squandering a 100 billion from an already pummeled tax base..
And with respect to Oil being done and “renewbles” being the future…Don’t bet on it. Ontario did and look what happened

http://www.windontario.ca
Have we not learned yet?

In short Albertans are in a better position to start paying more tax and hence the NDP might not be so scary as they see the need.

Shame Ontarians don’t have the same common sense whens its similiar albeit very different and unfortunately the message that sends to Ms Wynne and MR I can’t act, can’t accomplish anything in life, is go ahead tax us more.

[Woodsman]

I hope this makes the NDP more competitive with the Libs Federally. Having them poach each other's voter base and funding gives a better chance for Harper to slip up the middle.

In Alberta which has been dominated federally by the Conservatives a Liberal/NDP split will not likely occur.
If this trend continues federally it has the potential for the Conservatives to loose some seats in Alberta.
Notice I said some not all.
Should the Conservatives be worried? Of course because if they brush it off it may very well bite them.
Federally the Conservatives have been the main stay of the Alberta for many years and with the reasonably close time to the next federal election it could be a more difficult time for them in the next federal election.

BTW: The NDP federally are the official opposition not the Liberals.

[JBen]

Agreed and the dynamics are different as well Woodsman. Again Albertans shot themselves in the foot some and as a result it’s a bit of a blow up. Canada is doing pretty good and theres no need, no inferno to put out. No doubt Harper will pay attention to it, but “really”...

But when Ford took Toronto, did it really impact Daffy McQuacky?

Something the feds should pay some attention to yes. But just think about the gun issues.So where Albertans may see the need for change or things provincially…..Federally….Good luck.

More concerning to us, is the message it sends Ms Wynne/JT and no I can’t be bothered to find the article. It was a good write up about the situation out West and the electorates willingness or rather that Politcians aren’t as afraid of that hot button, sometimes career ending word..Tax

[intothedeep]

Hard to say. The floor crossing deal is part of what got the Cons kicked out, so maybe if that hadn't happened, the Cons could have held on. Where you are right though is what she did had the *worst* outcome. Sticking with wild rose would mean she still have a political life left. Even if she hadn't won, she would likely have been in the position of holding the balance of power for a minority government (either NDP or Cons).

If you weren't following, her wild rose riding (where she lost the Conservative nomination) elected a wild rose mla to replace her.

But she is delusional enough to tweet: "The NDP surge would have happened regardless of anything I did folks. This is why I said conservatives needed to reunite. I wasn't joking."

True, too many factors to calculate possible outcomes... Because that defection of hers that Prentice initiated made them both look bad. Prentice was ahead in the polls before that and the early election hurt him too. Made them both look bad. Although to be fair the idea was to kill the wild rose by him, similar to Harpers unite the right. Maybe they should have done that? Prentice probably tried to unite them?... In fact he is the real cause of this big loss. And boy did the NDP get lucky to have a majority with not a huge high % popular vote