Do Endorsements Matter in the Wildrose Alliance Leadership Race?

  With the Wildrose Alliance Leadership race now in the final stretch, I found myself wondering if political endorsements really matter?  Does anyone switch their vote based on who has more ( or better) public endorsements?  Is it all for show?  Lets look at some of the public endorsements for each candidate...

Mark Dyrholm's endorsements ( taken from his twitter posts over the past few months & official website) include the following:

•  Ken Mazzeroll, former candidate for Calgary Currie in 2004. 
• Tim Bloedow, ECP Centre
• Randy Hillier
• Ontario MPP's Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington.
• Myron Thompson
• Dianna Brooks, Candidate 2004, Calgary Elbow
• Justin Wong, Calgary Shaw Constituency Assoc & Business Owner
• Don Leonardo, Veteran, Former VP, Calgary Egmont Alberta PC Party Association  
• Jim Blake, National Charman, Concerned Christians Canada Inc.
• Craig B. Chandler, Executive Director, Progressive Group for Independent Business (PGIB)

Danielle Smith's endorsements ( taken from an email I had received recently) include:

•  Betty Unger, Alberta senator-elect, Edmonton
• Link Byfield, Alberta senator-elect and Joanne Byfield, pro-life organizer and activist.
• Candis McLean, Calgary, investigative journalist and documentary producer.
• Tom Flanagan, former federal Conservative campaign manager and author.
• Rainer Knopff, U of C professor and author.
• Gordon Butler, Past President of the Western Stock Growers’ Association and Property Rights Advocate.
• Ezra Levant, Western Standard Publisher.
• Barry Cooper, Professor of Political Science, U of C.
• David Chatters Reform Party/Conservative MP for Athabasca and Westlock-St. Paul, 1993 -2006
• Phil Klein, Edmonton, (Ralph’s father)

The scope (and arguably, the quality) of these endorsement varies quite a bit.  I know the conventional wisdom says..." the only endorsements that matter are the votes on leadership day", but I thought it was worth reviewing.  Either camp cannot say they do not care about these endorsements or they would not publicly flaunt them every time the were received. 

Does it make a difference to anyone?  Will it change anyones vote? Does anyone care?  If not, why do people make such a big deal about the endorsments?  What are your thoughts?

Let's look at the scenarios....

  Wow, it seems that some of the local blogs have slowed down since the end of the Calgary Glenmore by-election!  This seems odd, considering some of the crazy developments of late.  I thought I would run a quick rant on the random thoughts that have been running through my busy mind over the last few days:

•  Up to 10 PC MLA's are rumoured to switch over to the Wildrose Alliance Party, following a Danielle Smith leadership victory. 

 Hmmm.... I don't know what to make of this one.  I know that the source of this piece is a respected writer so I do not doubt the integrity of the author. ( Its not like it came from Calgaryrants.com!)  I wonder if there is any truth to this and if so...who will they be?  I find the timing of the recent appointments of local Conservatives Rob Anderson, Len Weber and Jon Denis interesting, but well deserved.  Perhaps these appointments can be seen as peace offering to the Calgary caucus?

So then...who will the 10 be?  I would like to know.  In my opinion, it will definitely not be any cabinet ministers as they will not want to give up their additional pay and benefits to sit with another party.  Perhaps some local backbenchers or new MLA's?  Perhaps some young/urban MLA's that see that they might not fit in with the current leader?  Perhaps only a handful, say 2-3, will actually leave?   I cannot see this happening anytime soon, but what do you think?

•    If Danielle Smith wins the Wildrose Alliance Leadership...what's next?

Once/if Danielle wins the leadership, what is the next step?  Ideally, she would want to get into the Legislature as soon as possible.  With the election 3-4 years off, the only option would be through a by-election.  How will this happen?  Politically, a party leader without a seat is not very effective in my opinion.  Its like having a fiery preacher without a church.  While Danielle can work the media wonderfully, and I am sure she will be a constant thorn in the PC's side, she would serve best as a sitting MLA.  So...who will "retire" to allow her to run in a by-election?  Personally, I cannot see any PC MLA's voluntarily stepping aside.  Perhaps a local Liberal will decide they have had enough and leave the Leg?  I doubt this also.  I bet a whole crop of PC MLA's may be disappointed to find that because of this scenario, any and all "appointments" just dried up until after the next election, which would keep all constituencies closed!

• If the Wildrose Alliance can be rejuvenated by a new leader, maybe the PC's can as well?

 Would it not be heartbreaking for the WAP to find that Premier Stelmach decides to retire before the next election, only to be replaced by a new, energetic leader? ( I support the PC party, but lets be realistic here....) Perhaps if the current tide holds and his support continues to go down, he will show his true leadership and commitment to the party and step aside before the next election.  Perhaps the rumour of Brett Wilson running will energize the party.  Perhaps a Conservative leader like Ted Morton will appease the right of the party and kill the WAP's ambitions in its tracks.  Who knows?  Any other scenarios out there?

The party in power has the upper hand and can plan ahead for these scenarios.  Its called Risk Management and it works.

Thoughts? 

Obama Why?

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Obama, Why...? 

I rarely comment on USA political issues for a number of reasons...but mainly because it is not my place as a Canadian Citizen.  I prefer to focus my attention to local issues or things that I feel we can actually do something about and it drives me crazy when people forward me petitions relating to American issues.  I wish people here were as passionate about Canadian causes as they are about the current "drug" laws in the USA....or whatever the 'flavor' of the month is?

 I also love it when celebrities throw their names and images behind current causes.  Bono sells records and saves trees, Pam Anderson saves fur and keeps the paint counter employed.   Wilf Brimley sells oatmeal and diabetic supplies.  The list goes on and on.  Remember when celebrities were just entertainers?  Not me and not in my generation.  ( A classic line ( paraphrased from memory) from the early 1970's... Reporter- "Can you tell us your views on Vietnam war protesters"?... Elvis: " I'd prefer not to Ma'am, I am just an entertainer.  I'd rather not say."   Different times, different issues.

 That said, those who know me know that I like funny.  And I know funny when I see it.  And this my friends, is just that.  Funny.

Enjoy.

Wildrose Alliance Membership Sales.... PART 1

With the upcoming Wildrose Alliance Leadership vote, I see that WAP supporters have less than three weeks remaining to purchase memberships.  In an effort to bolster their membership sales, perhaps the WAP executive will consider using this video in its mass emails?  It may help in boosting those last minute sales!

 Rumor is that one group is outselling the other significantly...but that is for another post.  I wonder if that campaign was using this video all along?  If you look quickly and listen carefully, you could be fooled into believing that the characters are some of the actual players in this race!

Have a great weekend!

Shane

Jeff Willerton Drops out of WAP Leadership...( Plus..New Fundraising Slogan!)

  Jeff Willerton drops out of WAP Leadership Race.  No One Cares.  Except Mark...I am sure he appreciates the endorsement from such a strong candidate.

 I find it fitting that the Calgary Herald only gave one little sentence in the middle of their article today.  Why should anyone give him any more attention and continue to feed his political vanity. 

 I sent an email to Mr. Willerton a few weeks ago asking how he raised the money for the entrance fee, as I could see the writing was on the wall with his campaign.  Surprisingly, he responded rather quickly, confirming that he got most of the cash from selling his book.  Perhaps some cash came also from his gospel CD "One Man At A Time". ( No, this is not a reference to the "Parade incident" a few years ago.) 

  Now that he quit, I guess the Willerton For Premier schtick and comparisons to Churchill were not such a great idea.  I cannot see anyone donating cash to his next book tour( ooops...I mean Political Campaign) so perhaps I will be the first to donate a new fundraising slogan to you....

 Jeff Willerton... One Can at a Time!

Message Sent!

  ( It's not bad with butter and salt....)

  Well folks, the people of Calgary Glenmore have spoken...and the people are never wrong.  However, this blogger was way off the mark on his prediction, although I was a bit biased!  I had the opportunity to work with Diane CU and her team on her campaign and I must congratulate her for a job well done.  Diane's campaign was well organized, well funded and her team was amazing.  That said, it goes to show you that a full bank account, dozens of organized volunteers and exceptional name recognition do not guarantee success on election night. 

  I must say, I am impressed that Paul Hinman won this race.   Congratulations on your victory ( and now that he is an MLA, I will no longer use the "corny" references!)  and your team should be proud.  The slogan "Send Ed a Message" hit a nerve with many voters and it was better than having 500 volunteers on the ground. It was just that powerful. 

  What now? 

 This victory has the potential to change Alberta's political landscape.  The common thoughts from the MSM that if " Diane can lose...any PC MLA candidate can lose in Calgary" may now have some real meaning?  Perhaps some of the local MLA's, especially those with lower profiles, maybe be pondering this today?  Its one thing to lose a by-election on a protest vote, but to finish in third place is quite another. 

 Will this result in a leadership review at the PC Convention later this fall?  Will this be a wake up call to the PC party, confirming that no riding can be taken for granted?  Time will tell. 

 The WAP will ride this publicity into their Leadership Race, which will do nothing but legitimize them further.  A loss here would have wiped them out.  The only thing left that will kill their momentum would be a Mark Dyrholm or Jeff Willerton victory. It will be interesting to watch.

What a ride....

Shane

Hey Paul...do you want to follow me into the bathroom too?

  Classy.

 WAP Candidate Paul Hinman seen here on footage ( Courtesy of youtube/FFWD Magazine) taken today outside a polling station in Calgary Glenmore.  (It looks like Nellie McClung elementary to me...)   He is stopping the voters before they come into the polling station and comments robot (er...Hinman) like.. " Hi...Paul Hinman, Wildrose Alliance....thanks for taking the time to come out and vote today." 

Desperate Much?   

 Even in University, the Professors leave the classroom when you fill out their evaluations.  Come on Paul...this is just embarrassing! 

I have to go rinse the remaining puke left over in the back of my throat.

Yuck....