I just read your post about fixating on "Lake of Fire" comments; I wish those involved in the recent NDP campaign had. I started warning about this prior to the 2019 election. But there's a faction within the New Democrats who think you win by adopting their opponent's tactics, not realizing that given the choice between real rightwing smear/fear tactics and limp left wing ones, Alberta voters will go for the real thing. Twice in a row, now.
Sitting at my keyboard on a slow news Saturday morning, I allowed myself to imagine (OK, fantasize) an NDP victory in the upcoming by-election.
Although unlikely, I think it is safe to suggest the results will be closer than the 13,600 UCP vs 4000 NDP tally that occurred in 2019. I can't see many of the NDP voters switching, but the UCP flop, and Danielle Smith's extremism may make some UCP voters switch; no doubt it will make many of them just stay home. As well, a main industry in the City of Brooks is the beef processing plant, that certainly suffered from Covid, and I can't see many plant workers supporting Smith.
If Danielle Smith should lose, what would the UCP do next? Try another riding (Einstein's definition of insanity comes to mind here), have Ms. Smith act as premier from the sideline, or fire her? If the latter, I assume this close to an election they would just appoint the second place finisher, Travis Toews, as leader, which is what many in the UCP would like to see anyway.
Does anyone out there know if a new leader has ever lost their subsequent byelection before?
Thank you Dave for this objective analysis 👏 it appears Albertans will be observers of our own “game of chess” between Smith and Notley and look forward to your articles as events unfold 😊
Thank you for this very nuanced analysis of a suddenly complicated political landscape. I look forward to your tour guides over the next several months.
Much of the commentary that I have seen is basically either cheerleading or trashing either Smith or Notley. Having said that, it is very clear that Smith does have a serious amount of work ahead of her and I think your column properly - and respectfully to both leaders - dealt with that challenge.
Personally, I think that she is up to the challenge. Actually, although I am a Smith supporter, I will be very intrigued to watch the NDP campaign unfold bearing in mind the challenges that Smith does present to them. Should be fascinating.
I just read your post about fixating on "Lake of Fire" comments; I wish those involved in the recent NDP campaign had. I started warning about this prior to the 2019 election. But there's a faction within the New Democrats who think you win by adopting their opponent's tactics, not realizing that given the choice between real rightwing smear/fear tactics and limp left wing ones, Alberta voters will go for the real thing. Twice in a row, now.
Sitting at my keyboard on a slow news Saturday morning, I allowed myself to imagine (OK, fantasize) an NDP victory in the upcoming by-election.
Although unlikely, I think it is safe to suggest the results will be closer than the 13,600 UCP vs 4000 NDP tally that occurred in 2019. I can't see many of the NDP voters switching, but the UCP flop, and Danielle Smith's extremism may make some UCP voters switch; no doubt it will make many of them just stay home. As well, a main industry in the City of Brooks is the beef processing plant, that certainly suffered from Covid, and I can't see many plant workers supporting Smith.
If Danielle Smith should lose, what would the UCP do next? Try another riding (Einstein's definition of insanity comes to mind here), have Ms. Smith act as premier from the sideline, or fire her? If the latter, I assume this close to an election they would just appoint the second place finisher, Travis Toews, as leader, which is what many in the UCP would like to see anyway.
Does anyone out there know if a new leader has ever lost their subsequent byelection before?
Thank you Dave for this objective analysis 👏 it appears Albertans will be observers of our own “game of chess” between Smith and Notley and look forward to your articles as events unfold 😊
Thank you for this very nuanced analysis of a suddenly complicated political landscape. I look forward to your tour guides over the next several months.
Thanks for this, Dave.
Much of the commentary that I have seen is basically either cheerleading or trashing either Smith or Notley. Having said that, it is very clear that Smith does have a serious amount of work ahead of her and I think your column properly - and respectfully to both leaders - dealt with that challenge.
Personally, I think that she is up to the challenge. Actually, although I am a Smith supporter, I will be very intrigued to watch the NDP campaign unfold bearing in mind the challenges that Smith does present to them. Should be fascinating.