Well, folks, here we are, just one week until election day, and for those of you who were hoping for a campaign of ideas, and civil discourse, I need to ask: What planet do you live on?
In this campaign we have heard the words corrupt, frightening, scary, and phrases such as “doesn’t like Alberta.”
Daily “fact checks” from warring war rooms (fancy that, eh) are beginning to leave the distinct impression we’re all being lied to, by everyone.
But hey, the price of democracy is merely our sanity.
Perhaps I am already short a few screws (go figure), but I still get giddy at the prospect of a campaign, in part due to policy, but also because I’m curious how strategy is going to play out — which party is going to take what tactic and run with it, and so on.
If you’d have told me that the Redford Tories were going to take the Paul Martin/Michael Ignatieff line of campaigning, I would have laughed.
After all, it worked out so well for those former Liberal leaders. Right?
People on the left tend to claim it’s always those on the right who want to engage in scorched-earth, culture war tactics.
But as this campaign showed, yet again, it’s never as you’re told.
Wildrose leader Danielle Smith came into this campaign with a pinata full of potential goodies.
And Premier Alison Redford and her team couldn’t wait to bring out the bats.
Now, fortunately for Smith, Redford was more occupied trying to bat away criticism from all sides in the lead-up and first week or so on the campaign trail, forced into defensive mode by weeks worth of mounting controversies, and an opposition doing a better job of rolling out policy that candidates could more easily sell on the hustings.
But once those were out of the way, well, Redford and company were lined up, ready to hit, and hit hard.
Smith’s anti-woman. Smith’s party is run by a bunch of white guys. Minorities aren’t safe. It’s a bunch of old Reformers ready to commence the bloodletting. And so on.
Hell, Redford seemed to even take a swipe at possible senior Tory voters in her attempt to grab the attention of young people.
“Not your father’s PC party,” is all well and good, except for older PC voters who may not like what’s being implied here.
All of it boils down to the suggestion that a certain party’s victory would immediately make Alberta a worse place to live.
Which is bull.
Now, I know Redford has been at a disadvantage because the government to which she belongs has been woeful on any number of issues: Health care, spending, transparency, pay, meddling, donations, education, personal liberties, and so on.
So what is she left with?
Jim Dinning’s nugget from the 2006 PC leadership debate.
“My opponent’s Alberta is not my Alberta.”
While she hasn’t said those exact words, the implication in her messaging is clear: If you do not believe what she does, you do not have a place in her Alberta.
Just as I found it distasteful when the leaders’ love of Alberta was brought into the debate in the first week, the current Redford approach is troubling.
And it probably isn’t the best strategy. In Alberta, anyway.
For years, we’ve had Eastern politicians try and wage this kind of culture war against Alberta politicians and for years we’ve had our backs up about it.
Wading into a provincial election with that as the ace up your sleeve is bound to backfire.
And if polls are to be believed, it already is.
Original Article
Source: calgary sun
Author: Dave Breakenridge
In this campaign we have heard the words corrupt, frightening, scary, and phrases such as “doesn’t like Alberta.”
Daily “fact checks” from warring war rooms (fancy that, eh) are beginning to leave the distinct impression we’re all being lied to, by everyone.
But hey, the price of democracy is merely our sanity.
Perhaps I am already short a few screws (go figure), but I still get giddy at the prospect of a campaign, in part due to policy, but also because I’m curious how strategy is going to play out — which party is going to take what tactic and run with it, and so on.
If you’d have told me that the Redford Tories were going to take the Paul Martin/Michael Ignatieff line of campaigning, I would have laughed.
After all, it worked out so well for those former Liberal leaders. Right?
People on the left tend to claim it’s always those on the right who want to engage in scorched-earth, culture war tactics.
But as this campaign showed, yet again, it’s never as you’re told.
Wildrose leader Danielle Smith came into this campaign with a pinata full of potential goodies.
And Premier Alison Redford and her team couldn’t wait to bring out the bats.
Now, fortunately for Smith, Redford was more occupied trying to bat away criticism from all sides in the lead-up and first week or so on the campaign trail, forced into defensive mode by weeks worth of mounting controversies, and an opposition doing a better job of rolling out policy that candidates could more easily sell on the hustings.
But once those were out of the way, well, Redford and company were lined up, ready to hit, and hit hard.
Smith’s anti-woman. Smith’s party is run by a bunch of white guys. Minorities aren’t safe. It’s a bunch of old Reformers ready to commence the bloodletting. And so on.
Hell, Redford seemed to even take a swipe at possible senior Tory voters in her attempt to grab the attention of young people.
“Not your father’s PC party,” is all well and good, except for older PC voters who may not like what’s being implied here.
All of it boils down to the suggestion that a certain party’s victory would immediately make Alberta a worse place to live.
Which is bull.
Now, I know Redford has been at a disadvantage because the government to which she belongs has been woeful on any number of issues: Health care, spending, transparency, pay, meddling, donations, education, personal liberties, and so on.
So what is she left with?
Jim Dinning’s nugget from the 2006 PC leadership debate.
“My opponent’s Alberta is not my Alberta.”
While she hasn’t said those exact words, the implication in her messaging is clear: If you do not believe what she does, you do not have a place in her Alberta.
Just as I found it distasteful when the leaders’ love of Alberta was brought into the debate in the first week, the current Redford approach is troubling.
And it probably isn’t the best strategy. In Alberta, anyway.
For years, we’ve had Eastern politicians try and wage this kind of culture war against Alberta politicians and for years we’ve had our backs up about it.
Wading into a provincial election with that as the ace up your sleeve is bound to backfire.
And if polls are to be believed, it already is.
Original Article
Source: calgary sun
Author: Dave Breakenridge
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