Ted Morton is the (Straw) Man
The feud between Dave Bronconnier and Ed Stelmach descended into self-parody over the weekend with Bronco taking offense to Ted Morton calling Calgary the best city in Canada. Here's the blow by blow:
Morton:
"Calgary by itself is a good but not a great city," [Morton] told delegates.
"What makes Calgary a great city -- the best in Canada as far as I am concerned -- is what surrounds it."
Bronco:
Bronconnier said the speech was more proof that Calgary's issues are an afterthought for provincial leaders.
"I think it's ironic from a rural MLA living in Calgary to tell an audience that Calgary is not a great city -- of course I take offence to that," he said.
"It was absolutely uncalled for -- they're trying to divide and conquer."
Following the speech, Bronconnier confronted Morton and "gave him a piece of my mind."
Morton:
Morton, the MLA for Foothills-Rocky View west of Calgary who lives in Varsity, said the mayor over-reacted to the remarks, going "ballistic" for no good reason.
"Dave is so self-absorbed and thin-skinned that he's capable of misinterpreting things and taking them out of context," he said.
"I think what you're seeing is a deteriorating relationship between Dave Bronconnier and every other official that tries to work with him."
Morton:
"Calgary by itself is a good but not a great city," [Morton] told delegates.
"What makes Calgary a great city -- the best in Canada as far as I am concerned -- is what surrounds it."
Bronco:
Bronconnier said the speech was more proof that Calgary's issues are an afterthought for provincial leaders.
"I think it's ironic from a rural MLA living in Calgary to tell an audience that Calgary is not a great city -- of course I take offence to that," he said.
"It was absolutely uncalled for -- they're trying to divide and conquer."
Following the speech, Bronconnier confronted Morton and "gave him a piece of my mind."
Morton:
Morton, the MLA for Foothills-Rocky View west of Calgary who lives in Varsity, said the mayor over-reacted to the remarks, going "ballistic" for no good reason.
"Dave is so self-absorbed and thin-skinned that he's capable of misinterpreting things and taking them out of context," he said.
"I think what you're seeing is a deteriorating relationship between Dave Bronconnier and every other official that tries to work with him."
Labels: Dave Bronconnier, Ted Morton
posted by calgarygrit at
12:23 a.m.
10 Comments:
I admit that I have not been following this little tiff that closely. Perhaps that is because I am from Edmonton, but from my view Calgary has had it pretty good for many, many years, while the rest of the province, particularly Edmonton, has not. Hard to feel bad for you guys just because you no longer run the province...
My view is that Stelmach inherited a huge headache, and that this is all down to Klein. There was growing resentment against Klein in the months leading to the leadership convention, which was capped off with the Calgary boy losing to the small town hick.
Not that I really care. The entire provincial conservative party has been around far too long. Time for something new.
By
Gayle, at 1:03 a.m.
You know I was a Dinning guy... but I enjoy how it takes Ted Morton to help point out how ridiculous Dave Bronconnier has gotten.
By
BR, at 1:25 a.m.
I've lived in both cities, and Calgary has always been better at self-promotion than Edmonton (and it is at least 2 hrs closer to the mountains, after all). That being said, Bronconnier has been trying to do Ralph's schtick (when Ralph was mayor), and doing a pretty crappy job of it.
I'm tired of his whining, already.
By
Candace, at 2:45 a.m.
Bronconnier thinks he is the defacto Liberal leader already... does Taft feel that the knives are out?
Although Bronconnier is a blowhard, he may just be what the Liberal party in Alberta could use, as I am afraid that Stelmach is vulnerable. Certainly there are unhappy people in the Conservative caucus ranks, and that can not be good for the next election. My prediction is that we will see a lot of long serving Conservative MLA's take their retirement packages next election.
It will be a lot harder for new candidates to get election workers with enthusiasm.
Man I hope Taft stays on. An honorable man, but no electability at all.
By
Andy, at 3:34 a.m.
Kevin Taft does have electability in my opinion and will compare well against Ed Stelmach.
After all Kevin won with the largest personal plurality of any MLA in the last provincial election.
I think Dave Bronconnnier as Liberal leader would be a disaster.
Kevin Taft has a lot more integrity and credibility.
By
Down & Out in L A, at 6:30 a.m.
Kevin Taft does have electability in my opinion
A couple of months ago, Down & Out in L A, I might have agreed with you. However, I just came from voting PC in the by-election. I actually considered voting for any one of five (of seven) candidates. But, one of the two I gave no consideration to (the other was the Independent) is the Liberal candidate. The reason was Taft's call for a leaders' debate between just him and the Premier. No one else, just the two of them, even though two other parties (the NDP and the Alliance) also have representation in the legislature, and even though the Green Party leader is himself running here. If Taft is this arrogant now, I shudder to think what he'd be like if the Liberal candidate (actually a very decent person) won the riding, let alone what he'd be like as Premier. So, I voted for the candidate with the best chance of beating Taft's candidate.
I think Dave Bronconnnier as Liberal leader would be a disaster.
I agree with you. IMHO, I think he's a whiner running to succeed Taft if/when the Alberta Liberals lose their 23rd election in a row.
Kevin Taft has a lot more integrity and credibility.
I also agree with you on this point, though it doesn't take too much to have more i & c than Bronco. BTW, I voted for Bronco last time, and I'll spoil my ballot rather than vote for him again.
By
Brian in Calgary, at 12:48 p.m.
Also having lived in both Edmonton and Calgary I will echo the fatigue at hearing the whining from Calgary. Poor Calgary, will it never grow up?
Bronco is doing a real good job at playing Calgary like they are all chumps in order to advance his own poorly advised liberal leadership campaign...
By
Allie Wojtaszek, at 12:49 p.m.
If you are brian in calgary, your credibility took a big hit tonight.
Guess a lot of people didn't follow the same thinking processes.
Not surprising really.
By
Down & Out in L A, at 11:42 p.m.
If you are brian in calgary, your credibility took a big hit tonight.
Uh... because anyone who votes for a non-winning candidate isn't credible?
By
The Invisible Hand, at 9:13 a.m.
Yes. Given what he wrote above.
The comments about Kevin Taft were "over the top".
A lot of people seemed to disagree with that perception.
Enough to make a difference and democracy was the winner.
By
Down & Out in L A, at 9:43 a.m.
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