Alberta's Progressive conservative Party

Stelmach is Alberta's Stefan.

What a maroon!

When people were getting ahead of the Stelmach as Premier buffoon thing I thought it was just a little over the top and premature.....

Apparently NOT.

Red Ed must go period. This Party should have died ages ago if not for Ralph Klien reorganizing it. Now its just a harlot to anyone who calls with money. Ed is gonna pay big time for taking our freedom away at the polls. Count on it. Time Alberta had new blood & fresh ideas & some youth.
Enough with the money grubbers & control freaks.
Lets do in these anti-democratic parasite3s & elect some young blood real conservatives. Not the phony baloney so called Conservative party. Its more liberal than the NDP these days.
Vote for the Wild rose Party. I know not a few young folks who have had it as well.
This is what you get when you vote ethnically, not rationally by platform or agenda.
JMO

Ed(Duh)dy, What you get when you let a bunch of liberals vote for a conservative leader. Time to get a new party with real ideas.

Yeah, it sounds so.

Way to go Ed! Thanks for sticking up for your base.

*sarcasm off*

I think there will be blowback from this post of Ezra's:

"Ed Stelmach, Alberta's weak premier, shows he's still strong when it comes to pushing his MLAs around. Today he put that uppity cabinet minister Lindsay Blackett (at left) back in his place."

Why not just say what you really mean, Ezra, Stelmach is teh racist. Go ahead and say it, it's not like anyone believes you're a conservative, especially since you gave that speech at the Liberal Institute extolling the virtues of liberalism.

"I know why Stelmach wants to keep Blackett on the job -- because Blackett is black, and thus gives the government a politically correct patina. Stelmach wants Blackett to smile -- but not to think. He's window-dressing."

Poor Ezra. This is why nobody takes him seriously. Gotta say I'm a little shocked at how flagrantly he's exposing his true colours, I mean wow, did Sharpton co-write this post?

"Stelmach has made Alberta the worst-governed province in Canada."

Doesn't even make the top (bottom) 5, what freaking planet is this guy on?

"And as to Stelmach himself -- why waste your time writing a letter? If he ignores his only black cabinet minister on human rights, why would he listen to you?"

What a goof. What a race hustling whiny liberal goof. Yet another liberal too chicken to criticize a black man so he goes after a white man instead. Way to prove my point about identity politics, Ezra.

Hey people, excuse the hell out of me for calling a spade a spade here, Ezra's lost his marbles, he's misrepresenting himself as a conservative despite evidence to the contrary, and it needs to be noted.

Replacing the hammer and sickle with a big clown face would be more appropos.

Unlike Stelmach, the Soviets had a plan.

Me thinks LD is taking too much LSD...

Harper. McCain. Stelmach.
I'm getting so sick of all these pseudo-Conservatives.

Honestly, when what the last time any of those names had anything purely CONSERVATIVE to say???

Premier Ed continued. Here are the proposed changes to the AB HRC Act and they are highly disappointing. More money, more independence, freedom of expression clauses remain, etc., etc.

THE STORY HERE

RW is right about comparing Stelmach and Dion. It was kind of ominous that both were elected leaders of their respective parties on the same day!

Dion is gone, thank God, but Albertans have yet to grab their pitchforks. But things are beginning to boil in Alberta, and the Wildrose Alliance is finally showing signs of actual life!!!!

Harper is in a minority with a weak economy and a hostile media so it is at least understandable why he is going slow on the HRC. What's Stelmach's excuse? To all you Alberta Conservatives who always threaten to leave Canada everytime something happens you do not like - When are you going to straighten out your own province?

Allow me to quote from this letter in the Calgary Herald today:

Ideally, the Wildrose Alliance can replace the PCs. They govern Alberta almost like the NDP in all but name (higher taxes, regulation, bureaucracy, etc.). The Alberta Advantage is being diminished, as other provinces cut taxes. Even Ontario is cutting taxes to strengthen its economy. Time for real change in 2012.

I'd say they govern exactly like the NDP, with the Alberta NDP, ironically, probably doing a much better job than Stelmach the wannabe socialist.

If anyone feels the Alberta Conservatives are actually conservative, they haven't been paying very much attention.

Fiscal responsibility and equal opportunity is no more. Very unfortunate for such a great province.

Be careful what you wish for.

Blackett is a good guy. I know him personally, he's a big vision kind of person, and there is an element of truth to what Ezra says, except Blackett is the kind of guy that can win over liberals an asset to any government. But politics is still politics. I think Stelmach also knows that if he booted Blackett out, there would be Trouble in River City.

Ed Stelmach is a strong believer in central planning. He doesn't trust people that are smarter than him to be in trusted positions. He prefers yes men to people with ideas and principles. He refuses to allow anyone inside government to challenge his usually stupid ideas. He thinks he is a populist because he happens to be a farmer. What he is, however, is an idiot. That Alberta so-called Conservatives elected as leader in the same way Dion was chosen for the Liberals. Third-place guy with seventh place ideas. Calgary needs to boot this guy because the citizens of Redmonton seem to love him.

Yep. I think it will soon be time for some of Steady Eddy's cabinet ministers and back-benchers to jump ship and pull the Wildrose Alliance along with them into a true conservative party. The present Progressive Conservative Party is the party of the Jim Dinning's and Gary Mars' of this province. They have become the party of big spending elitists who seem to have a distain for the common sense people of Alberta.

All the Liberal supporters bought memberships to support Dinning the Liberal, real Conservatives supported Morton, up through the middle came Stelmach, the dud.

If Wildrose actually gets a viable leader, they just might win some seats next election. Albertans will not vote Liberal or NDP provincially, so Wildrose has a chance.

So, Alberta dudes. Now you know what it feels like to live in Ontario.

Sucks, eh? ~:D

I think Ezra nails it. I wonder when the rest of the province will get it...

Be careful what you wish for.
~set you free

I wish Alberta was run by Conservatives instead of Progressives, and I wish you -set you free- would wake up and smell the coffee.

I voted Wild Rose Alliance, I know you voted for Red Ed, set you free. You were his biggest booster here and on the Shotgun.
Way. To. Go.

Question for all you bitter Calgarians.

Do the resources of Alberta belong to the people of Alberta or to Big Oil?

Should the premier of the province represent the interests of all Albertans or like Ralph Klein, represent the interests of Big Oil to Albertans?

Now that OPEC's shell companies that drove the price of oil up to $150 a barrel oil is bust, where did the good times go?

Is Alberta a representative democracy or an Oiligarchy?

There's plenty to criticize these free-spenders on, including the fact Alberta spends 2.5 times per capita than Ontario.

But then, roads and schools are something dying the Ontario economy does not need.

That is sweet writing by Ezra.
GO EZRA!

Side note: $11,000 per Albertan, holy cow!

When ever we get a chance to try something different in Canada, the bonehead populace get afraid and vote for the status quo or worse. I voted with my gut last round for the Wildrose party, and they lost their only seat. It sucks but you know what? I am going to vote for them again. I simply can not vote for status quo. I want to move forward damnit!

I really really believe that Canada needs to be taught a lesson in history and politics. The education system has obviously failed itself to too many citizens. The right is about freedom, the left is about control. Look it up!

If anyone believes the human rights boards are about freedom, they are very mistaken. Freedom allows idiots the same opportunities as the wise. It is then left up to the masses, which consists of more idiots and wise people to make the verdict. If as a government you start deciding who is an idiot and who is a wise person, you just put yourself into the "control" spectrum.

Oz:

No, actually I'm for the severely normal Albertan, not for the priviledged in Calgary's oil towers.

You can stop your misrepresentation right now.

Remember one thing in the next election ... bitterness does not sell, anger never convinced anybody and there's more things in life than money.

Oz:

I forgot one thing.

The Flames suck.

Set you free:

I am sorry that you misinterpreted "the privileged" with "the successful", but as a humble garage door installer I hope more people were making money in downtown Calgary. The more they make, the more I make, the more everyone makes. How do you expect a one horse province to finance itself when the driving force of the economy isn't producing?

The key isn't to sponge off the successful, it's to work with the successful. I could dis the wealthy all I wanted to, but as you say "bitterness does not sell".

Joel

As least you have a pseudo-conservative party. In BC, we have Bad (sell water; green tax; cronies; no ethics) and worse (NDP and spend until there is no more).

Joel:

Good luck to you. I have no issues with you.

Far as I know, Alberta has not nationalized any private corporations yet, like Obama is doing on a daily basis in the USSA.

It's still a great place to live and even though we're going through a bit of a rough time now, that's the nature of Alberta's boom-and-bust history.

Chances are, I'll live in Alberta until the day I die and I count my blessings for being lucky enough to live in such a vibrant province.

In my humble opinion, Calgary has taken over from Toronto as the city with the greediest a**holes in this country, whose pretentiousness and conspicuous consumption underlines my point.

Set you free:

If you are referring to the Calgary council, you have no disagreements with me. Apparently they aren't aware that there is an economic crisis happening right now.

Q: "Do the resources of Alberta belong to the people of Alberta or to Big Oil?"

A: They mostly belong to whoever the hell is going to dig them out of the ground and produce useful goods with them.

Stelmach is most likely going to keep this in his back pocket for the next election. It will be his trump card for change. Yes he can!

Yes, set you free, the Flames suck. But that's hockey.
Not every team can build a dynasty with a cocaine fueled goalie like Grant Fuhr keeping the opposition's shots out.

FYI "severly normal" is an oxymoron.

On behalf of Lindsay, who is a good personal friend of mine....screw you Stelmach

I pray for a better option on voting day.

Shorter Ezra: "Whaaaaaaaa! Stelmach is teh racist! Whaaaaaaa! Baby want bottle!"

Typical crybaby race hustling liberal neo-con. He admits in the comment section he genuinely believes Stelmach is being racist toward Lindsay. What a bitch.

Does Ezra have any black friends? Has he ever dated a black woman? No, and no. If he really hates white people and loves black people that much, why isn't he in Africa?

Ezra is Jewish and Stelmach is a Uke, I *really* don't need to see yet another squabble between ethnics who didn't leave their ancient grudges behind when their ancestors escaped to the BRITISH EMPIRE. Back to the Pale with the lot of you, Ukes and Jews, if you can't stop with the race hustling, we've had quite enough.

ld. wow.

This is very disappointing.

What it shows is that the politicians really don't get it. Harper doesn't. Stelmach doesn't.

People will have to decide if they want to vote based on this issue alone, and deal with the consequences. I'm not ready to abandon the CPC yet. But I'm closer than I ever have been.

The last election I viewed the Wildrose bunch as nothing more than crackpots. Come the next election they'll be my party. I'll donate $$$ and volunteer my time.

LD = lucy. Back under your bridge, lucy.

History lesson, people.

Before the 1971 election, Alberta was governed by the Social Credit Party.

Did the election of Peter Lougheed's Conservative Party signal a shift to the right?

Give your heads a shake.

Lori, politicians are interested in being -politicians-. Bigger and better government is to their personal benefit. That's why you have to pressure them to keep promises in office.

Harper needs motivation from us, in the form of a size 10 steel toe to the backside, if we are going to get tax cuts and smaller government. He and -all- the MPs in Ottawa and in provincial governments need to fear for their jobs if they don't cut taxes and shrink government. That's the environment WE need to create. That's OUR job.

Luckily, Ed Stelmach and the HRCs are helping us with that, by exemplifying what we don't want and generally making a fool of it.

set you free says "Question for all you bitter Calgarians.

Do the resources of Alberta belong to the people of Alberta or to Big Oil?"

Well they belong to the people of Alberta, but they have zero value if it just sits in the ground. It takes risk and capital to get it out...meanwhile the government sits and does nothing and collects (and pisses away) the royalties. As for the phrase,"Big Oil", that is simply leftie speak and is mindless twaddle. The issue isn't "Big Oil"....it's "Big Government".

Phantom, I don't know much about Stelmach, but I did not believe that PM Harper governs for his personal benefit. I still don't. I just believe that he has become accustomed to being in power, and has become gun-shy about anything that he thinks might pose a risk to this continuing (though of course it is inevitable that eventually he will be out of power).

If I believed that PM Harper truly thought that the HRCs were necessary in our country, I probably would stop voting CPC.

Harper at least has his excuse, though it grows thing. Can't say the same about Stelmach. He sounds like a genuine idiot, because there is no risk to the PC party in Alberta, and surely the majority of Albertans are not going to be up in arms if Alberta gradually defunds and desupports their HRC out of existence.

"Harper needs motivation from us, in the form of a size 10 steel toe to the backside, if we are going to get tax cuts and smaller government."

You don't understand democracy. Don't blame the politicians, that's a cheap copout. In a democracy, the buck stops with the people. If our politicians are socialist, it's because Canadians are socialist; meat puppets just give the people what they want for the most part.

Don't blame Stelmach and Harper, that is childish. Man up and admit that Canada is a Marxist cesspool; were it not for political interference in the last two elections Harper probably would have lost in 2006 and might have lost in 2008.

The problem is the people, not politicians. You think your average suburban soccer mom in St. Albert is a conservative? Think again, she's 99% identical to her counterparts in Shaughnessy and Missisauga and Kanata, CINO to the tits, as it were. Thanks to the genius of open immigration, a half million new Liberals arrive in Canada every year - how is this Stelmach's fault? It's not.

Talk about blaming the victim - open immigration supporters and feminists and gay agenda radicals blaming politicians like Stelmach who have to deal with the consequences of your idiocy. Leave it to us conservatives to criticize Harper and Stelmach; as liberals, you lack the credibility to do so.

Hey LD,

I've been a Conservative a long time. It appears to me that Ezra is more Conservative and backing it up with action more than any "real" Conservative out there today.

Unfortunately, most Conservatives can't wait to outLiberal the Liberals when they get in power. Harper is just the latest. And I don't buy the 'govern where the country is" malarkey. A good politician leads.

I'm still waiting for a Conservative politician who will actually shrink govt. Like I said, a Conservative a long time( I'm one of the lucky ones that got not to vote for Trudeau in person), and still waiting.

john:

Agreed that there are many more people employed by the Alberta government than is necessary.

At the same time, ask any rig pig about what he thinks of head office ... if he still has a job.

Mad Eye nailed it. Stelmach seems to be cut from that particular leadership cloth that punishes those who produce efficiency, results and creativity because of the threat these represent. Yes men, bureaucratic banality and the political path are always the route chosen. Solving problems requires disturbing vested interests and exposes one to the possibility of failure, and so must be avoided at all costs. The results, of course, are uniformly disastrous. But it has been the course charted in every instance by this government. The "Alberta advantage" is being dismantled step by step in favor of bigger government and bigger bureaucracy. People like Stelmach seem to instinctively know that bureaucracy is their ally and friend.

Could be worse. You could be in the Maritimes. All the Conservatives have long disappeared. All we got was the name.

"Hey LD,

I've been a Conservative a long time. "

If by "Conservative" you mean "CIC staffer", then sure, I believe you.

Protip: there are no conservatives on the internet, and if there were, they wouldn't be hanging around a feminist gay radical race hustling atheist pro-illegal immigration blog site, and they definitely wouldn't use names like "old white guy", so stop pretending to be one.