This Week in Alberta Politics - Week 1903 of Tory Reign

On Monday, Albertans head to the polls. I'll be out at my "Albertans in Toronto" election night party so there won't be any live blogging of the event, but I'll throw up an open thread before I head out for people to comment on the results as they come in. And - best of all - I may break my "never blog drunk" rule and post something Monday night when I get back. And, judging from the polls, there may be a few expletitives in that one so be sure to check in for that. Until then, tomorrow night will be my seat predictions and tonight is the final "week in review" of the campaign.

On The Net

-It's a bird...it's a plane...no, it's Super Ed!
-The 37 years ad campaign, from the same people who brought you Rotten Tories.
-Enlightened Savage continues his riding profiles.
-Daveberta details a senior Tory cabmin completely contradicting her party's Edmonton region plan.
-Scott Dippel points to examples of a very disturbing pattern which includes a PC candidate threatening a newspaper editor for having the nerve to print a picture of Kevin Taft.


Ads, Ads, Ads!

-The ALP release their first ads of the campaign, with Kevin Taft talking about the need for change.
-The NDP have embarked on the largest ad campaign in their history, attacking Kevin Taft and Ed Stelmach for being in the pocket of big oil. Uh-huh. Not that I'm complaining - I figure a few soft Tories will see the ads and think "if big oil likes Kevin Taft, I'm guessing he's not planning to bring in a new NEP".
-The Alliance ads attack the Tories for being not in the pocket of big oil.
-The Albertans for Change also release their streeters ad.


Kowalski To Lead Public Stonings!

Can you imagine Stephen Harper ever letting one of his MPs send out a campaign pamphlet that says "While human beings can create laws, the laws of God must take precedence"? Well, that's exactly what Tory MP Ken Kowalski has done.


Welcome to Alberta

SoE shows us a Drumheller voter who likes her Liberal candidate and feels it's time for a change but will still vote Tory because she feels her riding would be punished for elecing an opposition MLA. All I'll say to her is that if Drumheller actually elected a Liberal MLA, you'd probably be looking at a 70 seat Liberal majority, so I think her concerns are a little moot.

Also employing a very unique voting strategy is Colby Cosh, who will be reluctantly voting for the PCs because...Ed Stelmach likes Alberta. As supposed to Cosh's ideological match Paul Hinman who, I guess, hates the place...

[And before I get 50 angry comments, yes, I'm aware there are people who vote Liberal in Ontario for the same reasons]


Top of the Class

The Alberta Liberals have been ranked first in pretty much every report card that's come out. They've outgreened the Greens on the environment, and have also gotten top marks from health and education groups.


Next Week, Marc Lalonde Stumps For The Liberals

The NDP bring in Dave Barrett to campaign for them. Because Albertans love being told what to think by politicians from outside the province!


Quote of the Week

"After the election is over we want to make sure that every area has an equal opportunity to cast their ballots"
-Ed Stelmach responding to complaints that polling stations will not be set up on all native reservations in the province.


Catchier Than "It's Time"

Naomi Lakritz pens an ode to the Liberals entitled "Better Red Than Ed"


YouTube, I Tube, We All Tube For YouTube!

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business sits down for YouTube interviews with Stelmach, Taft, Hinman, and Read.


Numb3rs

Stelmach has somewhat softened his ridiculous claim he has stuck by for three weeks that the Liberal environmental plan would cost the province 350,000 jobs. But he's still refusing to explain any of his numbers. Probably because it's a ridiculous figure he pulled out of thin air with no basis behind it.


Poll Watch

The polls all show that Albertans want change and aren't big fans of Ed Stelmach. The polls also show the Tories getting anything from a big majority to...an even bigger majority.