You're correct Ma'am (in my best Ed McMahon impression), the membership are not accountable to the electorate. They do not represent the electoral regions, just the riding associations . I give hardworking rural & small town people far more credit for decency & tolerance than these de facto Wildrose fans.
The AGM has wrapped up. Apart from the tire marks in the Expo Center parking lot, they've left no impression here in Edmonton.
I always referred to it as grassroots populism. Whatever the name it's a disease that attracts stupid people. People who end up steering the ship and now, fighting over the wheel.
It's going to take more than a 4 year time out to restore any semblance of sanity.
But unfortunately for Albertans the obvious UCP rot is happening at a much slower rate than the flash-bang destruction they continually cause. Sure, it’s hard to look away from the cinematically stunning slow-mo car crash, but we have to because — urban or rural— we’re all fighting to stay at the wheel in real life. None of those scenes feature in UCP reels.
I’m not on Smith BS Trip - She along with her Separatist Group are Hard Far Right Ideologues who only believe in CONTROL and POWER! That is not what this Country and Alberta or Quebec were built! It is the MAGA BS Of grievance, control, power, race, religion etc only! PP will NEVER EVER become PM! He also is a HARD FAR RIGHT Ideologue and it’s time the Conservatives woke up, smelled the Bacon and came out fighting for Alberta and 🇨🇦! The UCP must split and new alliances must take place with probably Lukaschuk as Leader! No more cow towing to these idiots who want to take Alberta South!
I am tired of the Far Right Seven Mountain Dominionist Christian Nationalists dictating my life. These Christofascists need to be booted out. Freedom of religion also means freedom from religion. I want no part of their radical and irrational religious policies in government.
Excellent report and analysis, Deirdre. I think your point that the crowd at the convention doesn’t appreciate that choices have consequences that their party will be held accountable for is a good one.
Mine too, but I prefer to avoid parties where the blowhards get drunk on their own ignorance and end up wrecking the house for the people who live there. 😉
I think you’re right about who shows up. I know I went to an Alberta Party meeting after Kenney arrive to save small c conservatism in Alberta. The two guys seated behind me complained to each other about paying taxes through the whole meeting. Not my party, I thought.
Totally disagree. Political parties are empty vessels to be filled with the people who show up. They are meaningless without people. I love my memories of the Alberta Party because it was my first and all but… case in point.
The UCP has already gone through seismic shifts. In 2018 it was basically the Christian Heritage party and now it’s a separatist party. The people who show up are the ones who will decide what any party will be; it’s nothing without the people.
I feel like we’re engaged in a race between the UCP membership, who appear to be committed to enacting as much of their agenda in as short a period of time as possible, and the normies waking up, rubbing their eyes and realizing that our provincial toboggan is headed for the rocks.
Great article, by the way. I appreciate your willingness to head out and speak to UCP members in the wild.
You're correct Ma'am (in my best Ed McMahon impression), the membership are not accountable to the electorate. They do not represent the electoral regions, just the riding associations . I give hardworking rural & small town people far more credit for decency & tolerance than these de facto Wildrose fans.
The AGM has wrapped up. Apart from the tire marks in the Expo Center parking lot, they've left no impression here in Edmonton.
I always referred to it as grassroots populism. Whatever the name it's a disease that attracts stupid people. People who end up steering the ship and now, fighting over the wheel.
It's going to take more than a 4 year time out to restore any semblance of sanity.
But unfortunately for Albertans the obvious UCP rot is happening at a much slower rate than the flash-bang destruction they continually cause. Sure, it’s hard to look away from the cinematically stunning slow-mo car crash, but we have to because — urban or rural— we’re all fighting to stay at the wheel in real life. None of those scenes feature in UCP reels.
I’m not on Smith BS Trip - She along with her Separatist Group are Hard Far Right Ideologues who only believe in CONTROL and POWER! That is not what this Country and Alberta or Quebec were built! It is the MAGA BS Of grievance, control, power, race, religion etc only! PP will NEVER EVER become PM! He also is a HARD FAR RIGHT Ideologue and it’s time the Conservatives woke up, smelled the Bacon and came out fighting for Alberta and 🇨🇦! The UCP must split and new alliances must take place with probably Lukaschuk as Leader! No more cow towing to these idiots who want to take Alberta South!
Good summation.
The following statement best describes Alberta and Quebec politics and politicians.
They eat their own.
I am tired of the Far Right Seven Mountain Dominionist Christian Nationalists dictating my life. These Christofascists need to be booted out. Freedom of religion also means freedom from religion. I want no part of their radical and irrational religious policies in government.
Only way to do it is to have a greater show of people who don’t what they’re doing.
Excellent report and analysis, Deirdre. I think your point that the crowd at the convention doesn’t appreciate that choices have consequences that their party will be held accountable for is a good one.
Many thanks, Neil. My happy place is definitely political parties 😏
Mine too, but I prefer to avoid parties where the blowhards get drunk on their own ignorance and end up wrecking the house for the people who live there. 😉
Haha I meant the subject matter!! I hate all political parties equally because they’re given far more trust than those hiding inside of them deserve 😏
I think you’re right about who shows up. I know I went to an Alberta Party meeting after Kenney arrive to save small c conservatism in Alberta. The two guys seated behind me complained to each other about paying taxes through the whole meeting. Not my party, I thought.
I actually think some political parties care about improving the lives of the people they (hope to) govern, other parties, not so much.
Totally disagree. Political parties are empty vessels to be filled with the people who show up. They are meaningless without people. I love my memories of the Alberta Party because it was my first and all but… case in point.
The UCP has already gone through seismic shifts. In 2018 it was basically the Christian Heritage party and now it’s a separatist party. The people who show up are the ones who will decide what any party will be; it’s nothing without the people.
This is what American interference looks like if that abusesive drunk of an ambassador what's to talk about political interference in other countries.
💯
I feel like we’re engaged in a race between the UCP membership, who appear to be committed to enacting as much of their agenda in as short a period of time as possible, and the normies waking up, rubbing their eyes and realizing that our provincial toboggan is headed for the rocks.
Great article, by the way. I appreciate your willingness to head out and speak to UCP members in the wild.
We absolutely are heading for that rock.
And thank you 🙏