April 04, 2006
Ralph gets kicked out of his World...
Wow, and I mean wow, what a week it has been in Alberta politics. Ralph Klein and his "two-years-and-out" retirement plan got the thumbs-down from the grassroots, and now everything in Alberta seems to have fallen into a cesspool of uncertainty. I don't deny that Ralph's dragged-out farewell was not a good thing for the rest of us, but no one foresaw that he would be so plainly and clearly compelled to pass the reigns of power sooner rather than later. I secretly had a feeling that this might happen, and I predicted a 54%-46% No vote for a leadership review the night before (final tally 55.4% No 44.6% Oh-Hell-Yes), so I am not completely surprised. Still though, you really have to feel bad for poor ol' Ralph, here he goes and pours his heart out to justify one more kick at the can, most significantly after helping to turn Alberta from basketcase to powerhouse (and oil has nothing to do with it, there has always been oil in Alberta, it's how you manage the economy that has made the impact. The NDP would have us in worse financial shape had they won in 1993. Count on that...), yet here goes Ralph getting the political equivalent of a bitch-slap with a "see ya, thanks for coming out" to boot. Geez, just imagine what the Tory electorate is going to do to a failed premier.
I do find it amusing that the province's minority lefties are spouting their platitudes of triumph because of what has occurred, high-fiving and hooting as if their influence had done anything even remotely close to formenting this. Well, I suppose I can relate to that sentiment seeing as I had to endure the federal Liberals forming government after government despite their, let's just call them, shortcomings. So go ahead, rejoice o' great protectors of "public medicare," and "affordable housing," and peace, and vegan diets, and so on, revel in the moment, even if it is just a moment, and keep hoping for the possibility of a right-wing collapse in this province, because the right is about to make a commanding return to Alberta governance. It is no secret that many Tory and other right-leaning voters in the province are not happy with the spend and spend bureaucratic image that has characterized Ralph's World lately. It was that, as much as anything else, that affected the vote results. Many right wingers are starting to feel that the province is betraying its conservative philosophy, and are looking to see a more principled government in Edmonton just like they have fought for years to get one in Ottawa. There are now just few possibilties for the next premier: Jim Dinning, Mark Norris, Ted Morton, or the Alberta Alliance Party, all of which make Ralph Klein look like the Liberal Party sympathizer that he was. Preston Manning would be an interesting choice because he is generally respected across the entire political spectrum, but he is still a longshot at this time. If the lefties are happy to see Ralph's demise because their views were not being respectfully considered during the King's reign, they are going to start feeling damn nostalgic for him once a truly right-wing premier comes to office. If the left feels that Ralph's World didn't take their "progressive" thinking seriously they are going to be in for a very rude awakening after the next Tory leader is annointed. Let's not kid ourselves here, the only party that will (eventually) end the Tory dynasty is the Alberta Alliance, as our politics do not allow perennial opposition parties to escape their branded status. When change comes in Alberta, it comes like a tsunami, hurricane, earthquake, tornado, and blizzard all put together.
Someday the Alliance party will get its day in the sun, but for now the more likely scenario involves seeing Premier Dinning, Norris, Morton, or maybe Manning for a while. Dinning is Calgary's man, Norris is backed by forever-overlooked-and-frustrated Edmonton. Ted Morton fits in as the "conservative's conservative" candidate, and I am aware of a good number of Tory party members who are throwing their support behind him simply because he is the most dedicated right-wing candidate. Seeing as King Ralph will no longer retire on his own terms a la Jean Chretien, the voice of the people still reigns and democracy works. Now, the next few months are going to be the most important in Alberta politics since the last great Edmonton/Calgary debate in 1993 between Klein and Decore. So go on, laugh and revel in the moment left-wingers, because Ralph's near-defeat only makes you the true losers. Keep hanging in there baby...
I do find it amusing that the province's minority lefties are spouting their platitudes of triumph because of what has occurred, high-fiving and hooting as if their influence had done anything even remotely close to formenting this. Well, I suppose I can relate to that sentiment seeing as I had to endure the federal Liberals forming government after government despite their, let's just call them, shortcomings. So go ahead, rejoice o' great protectors of "public medicare," and "affordable housing," and peace, and vegan diets, and so on, revel in the moment, even if it is just a moment, and keep hoping for the possibility of a right-wing collapse in this province, because the right is about to make a commanding return to Alberta governance. It is no secret that many Tory and other right-leaning voters in the province are not happy with the spend and spend bureaucratic image that has characterized Ralph's World lately. It was that, as much as anything else, that affected the vote results. Many right wingers are starting to feel that the province is betraying its conservative philosophy, and are looking to see a more principled government in Edmonton just like they have fought for years to get one in Ottawa. There are now just few possibilties for the next premier: Jim Dinning, Mark Norris, Ted Morton, or the Alberta Alliance Party, all of which make Ralph Klein look like the Liberal Party sympathizer that he was. Preston Manning would be an interesting choice because he is generally respected across the entire political spectrum, but he is still a longshot at this time. If the lefties are happy to see Ralph's demise because their views were not being respectfully considered during the King's reign, they are going to start feeling damn nostalgic for him once a truly right-wing premier comes to office. If the left feels that Ralph's World didn't take their "progressive" thinking seriously they are going to be in for a very rude awakening after the next Tory leader is annointed. Let's not kid ourselves here, the only party that will (eventually) end the Tory dynasty is the Alberta Alliance, as our politics do not allow perennial opposition parties to escape their branded status. When change comes in Alberta, it comes like a tsunami, hurricane, earthquake, tornado, and blizzard all put together.
Someday the Alliance party will get its day in the sun, but for now the more likely scenario involves seeing Premier Dinning, Norris, Morton, or maybe Manning for a while. Dinning is Calgary's man, Norris is backed by forever-overlooked-and-frustrated Edmonton. Ted Morton fits in as the "conservative's conservative" candidate, and I am aware of a good number of Tory party members who are throwing their support behind him simply because he is the most dedicated right-wing candidate. Seeing as King Ralph will no longer retire on his own terms a la Jean Chretien, the voice of the people still reigns and democracy works. Now, the next few months are going to be the most important in Alberta politics since the last great Edmonton/Calgary debate in 1993 between Klein and Decore. So go on, laugh and revel in the moment left-wingers, because Ralph's near-defeat only makes you the true losers. Keep hanging in there baby...
