Calgary Federal Politics

[Boris2k7]

Originally Posted by fusili

Locke is our Higgins-Recognizable brand (newscaster or federal party) but does little to inspire new voters. Starts strong due to recognition, but stagnates after (Locke has ceilinged at 30% with no change for weeks). Constantly warns voters not to vote Nenshi (or Turner) to avoid splitting the vote. Campaign of fear

I heard Bob Rae on the CBC radio last week, talking about the Calgary Centre race. Same old arrogant, entitled, Liberal Party bullshit. He basically described the whole affair as a horse race between Crockatt and Locke.

[fusili]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Policy matters. If he doesn't agree with the party policy he should say so.

He has said so on almost every debate and speech he has given on the topic. He said time and time again that we need federal leadership on energy and we need to develop the oilsands responsibly. He has said that we should view our fossil fuel resources as a one-time opportunity to facilitate a transition to a clean economy. That means actually developing the resource, but doing so in a responsible manner. He isn't, for example, against building a natural gas pipeline to the west coast (so we can sell LNG to Asia), but thinks doing it through the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway route is not a good idea.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by Radley77

I suspect the fact that the Conservatives are doing so little to retain this riding by not attending the forums will also having a negative impact for offsetting ridings. Last election I was undecided and decided not to vote, next election I'll be voting and it surely won't be Conservative.

Also, I suspect there are going to be many Conservatives that just don't bother going to vote.

The very close polling and media comments about a tight race could spure a lot of true blue conservatives to make sure they vote. If the race was a cake walk these voters might not come out because "their guy" was going to HoC with our without their vote. A tight race and these voters come out to make sure a liberal, NDP, green candidate does not get to HoC.

In this aspect (ensure the appearance of tight race), the conservative strategy could be working. If the Cons need a tight race to get their supporters to vote, then their current media strategy will work wonders.

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by Cage

The very close polling and media comments about a tight race could spure a lot of true blue conservatives to make sure they vote. If the race was a cake walk these voters might not come out because "their guy" was going to HoC with our without their vote. A tight race and these voters come out to make sure a liberal, NDP, green candidate does not get to HoC.

In this aspect (ensure the appearance of tight race), the conservative strategy could be working. If the Cons need a tight race to get their supporters to vote, then their current media strategy will work wonders.

I'd argue Calgary doesn't really have many "activist" Conservatives. It's much more of a game to get out the bulk of Calgarians that are interested but concerned. I grew up in a Conservative family, so I still feel tied to the party. However, I get pretty pissed off when candidates don't even bother to show up at debates.

I really believe that Calgary's real strength as a city will be tied to our ability build bridges. If Conservatives aren't doing it, then I'm going to start looking at other parties that will.

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by Rusty van Reddick

Elizabeth May is a stunning statesperson, a solid representative and, as I found out on Saturday, one of the kindest, most demonstrative politicians I've ever met- the only experiences I can compare meeting her to were when I interacted with Jack Layton and with Joe Clark. She's that good. I would never vote for a candidate who tried to "distance himself" from her because she is the best in Canada. That doesn't mean I agree with everything she says. It means that she is the best we have and the best person to have in your corner.

David Suzuki on the other hand is divisive, arrogant and was willing to commandeer the lectern for ONE HOUR AND TWENTY MINUTES at an event that was intended to showcase and rally for Turner. I was even more turned off from him than I had been, not because I disagreed with most of what he said (big exception: his preposterous description of Uruguay as "one of the poorest countries in the world"), but the fact that he made what was supposed to be a Turner rally into an event about him and his ENDLESS anecdotes, I will never attend a function featuring him again.

Elizabeth May was smart, respectful, kind, an electrifying speaker. I can say without reservation that I love this person and would never, ever consider her a liability.

Oh, Sheri-D Wilson and Kris Demeanor were amazing too- as was Jay Ingram, who, shockers, retired to Bragg Creek!

Umm, have you seen the youtube video of Elizabeth May debating Deborah Yedlin? I think Chris Turner would actually make a more competent leader of the Green Party. Elizabeth May is always spouting off about no new oilsands development. Hard to expect a win for Turner if he actually believes and supports that.

[fusili]

Originally Posted by Radley77

Umm, have you seen the youtube video of Elizabeth May debating Deborah Yedlin? I think Chris Turner would actually make a more competent leader of the Green Party. Elizabeth May is always spouting off about no new oilsands development. Hard to expect a win for Turner if he actually believes and supports that.

Great thing about a party with no whip. MPs can actually speak their mind and contribute to the debate.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by fusili

Great thing about a party with no whip. MPs can actually speak their mind and contribute to the debate.

You need to have 12 MPs to justify a Party Whip. When the greens get to official party status they will have a Whip.

Whip or No Whip, if Turner gets to be an MP, he will have to tow party line WRT oilsands development.

[fusili]

Originally Posted by Cage

You need to have 12 MPs to justify a Party Whip. When the greens get to official party status they will have a Whip.

Whip or No Whip, if Turner gets to be an MP, he will have to tow party line WRT oilsands development.

And you say this based on what?

[Elbownian]

Originally Posted by Cage

Whip or No Whip, if Turner gets to be an MP, he will have to tow party line WRT oilsands development.

And you know this because....? (err, yeah, what Fusili just said!)

[simster3]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

The bolded part cannot describe me anymore accurately, and I suspect I am not alone.

I agree. I am usually a Liberal supporter, but this time I'm just not sure. I went the forum on Saturday and was very impressed with Chris Turner, so much so that I started reading his book, Geography of Hope.

[fusili]

Originally Posted by simster3

I agree. I am usually a Liberal supporter, but this time I'm just not sure. I went the forum on Saturday and was very impressed with Chris Turner, so much so that I started reading his book, Geography of Hope.

Both The Geography of Hope and The Leap are excellent books. So refreshing from the doom and gloom of many environmentalists.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by fusili

And you say this based on what?

Based on simple understanding of party politics and the universal approach all parties utilize to coral their members into common voice and brand.

But lets go down the rabbit hole of MP Turner and MP May being at odds over oilsands development. The policitical media will have a field day juxtaposing the two viewpoints and this will likely portray MP May in a bad light (extreme environmentalism unwilling to bend/compromise) while simultaneously putting MP Turner as elder statesman. At the end of the day MP May is MP Turners supervisor. Debate is great until your supervisor gets short end of the stick, at which point you have a quick trip to the woodshed.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

The bolded part cannot describe me anymore accurately, and I suspect I am not alone.

I agree with you too, Bigtime.

I like Turner a lot and agree with a lot of what he is saying. That said he has two big unsurmountable issues:

(1) His party membership is wrong. This is why I keep harping on this thread that an MP Turner will not be able to change or challenge Green party policy. At best MP Turner will be the minority dissenting opinion, At worst he gets told to shut up and shovel party line or sit as an independant.

(2) His policies are all about local and provincial powers, not federal. Everytime I hear Turner speak I want to put into his hand Section 92 of the Canada Consititution Act plus Section 31 of Charter of Rights and Freedoms. (The parts about Division of Powers).

To be clear, Turner would make a great PC MLA in Redford's government or as an NDP or Liberal opposition critic, but I think he has no place in HoC.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by fusili

Both The Geography of Hope and The Leap are excellent books. So refreshing from the doom and gloom of many environmentalists.

Planet Simpson is a good read too.

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by Cage

I agree with you too, Bigtime.

I like Turner a lot and agree with a lot of what he is saying. That said he has two big unsurmountable issues:

(1) His party membership is wrong. This is why I keep harping on this thread that an MP Turner will not be able to change or challenge Green party policy. At best MP Turner will be the minority dissenting opinion, At worst he gets told to shut up and shovel party line or sit as an independant.

(2) His policies are all about local and provincial powers, not federal. Everytime I hear Turner speak I want to put into his hand Section 92 of the Canada Consititution Act plus Section 31 of Charter of Rights and Freedoms. (The parts about Division of Powers).

To be clear, Turner would make a great PC MLA in Redford's government or as an NDP or Liberal opposition critic, but I think he has no place in HoC.

For the handful of seats in Calgary, I view building bridges to all political parties as more important than the actual numbers of seats we have. If Calgary has great Liberal, NDP, Conservative and Green members serving Calgary, each of which understand the energy industry, this will be vastly more political and intellectual capital than the absolute number of seats based here. This is but one election, Calgarians can choose to kick out whoever they want at any time. I really believe that in order to build the pipelines and what not to support economic growth that we also need to build political bridges as well. Turner would be mad to think that he is going to block development and retain his seat in Calgary.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by fusili

Turner is our Nenshi-Starts with almost no recognition, engages in a positive campaign, brings in supporters from all parties, increase in support is rapid. Runs a campaign of hope and change. Wins the election.

Turner supporters would certainly want that to be the truth, but I think he has climaxed too early for the Nenshi parallel.

The biggest issue Turner has is that at a national level, and this is a Federal election, the greens have too many foundational challenges in Alberta. As a result, the upside from 25% is minimal. I can only imagine a true centrist being a legitimate contender. We'll have to see.

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by fusili

Both The Geography of Hope and The Leap are excellent books. So refreshing from the doom and gloom of many environmentalists.

I did read The Leap, and well I didn't agree with all of his points it's nice to see that he does think independently and with an eye for opportunity. Crockatt? Who knows.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by suburbia

The biggest issue Turner has is that at a national level, and this is a Federal election, the greens have too many foundational challenges in Alberta.

All the federal opposition parties have this issue; too many foundational challenges with interior BC, AB, SK, and MB.

In BC, the federal NDP are helped by the provincial NDP. The NDP run common party "back office" between the provincial and federal wings. All other parties have separate relationships between provincial and federal wings.

[Rusty van Reddick]

Originally Posted by Cage

Whip or No Whip, if Turner gets to be an MP, he will have to tow party line WRT oilsands development.

And that's total crap.

So who are you voting for?

[Radley77]

Interesting survey out (Calgary polling numbers below):

Same-sex marriage: 78.3%
Abortion choice: 87.0%
Capital punishment: 52.8%
Medical marijuana: 77.8%
Recreational marijuana: 43.7%
Doctor assisted suicide: 77.8%

http://www.lethbridgecollege.ca/sites/de...search/csrl/Social_Issues-Winter2012.pdf

I'd be interested in a party that advocates for legalization and regulation of recreational marijuana and doctor assisted suicide. I'm sure capital punishment could probably be legalized too if incredibly stringent about it (say mass murderers where have hard evidence). I suspect doctor assisted suicide could become a bigger issue as a lot of baby boomers watch as their parents pass away in pain.