Bag 'O Links: Alberta Edition

1. We've known Rob Anders has been asleep on the job for years...though this may be the first literal instance:



Still, I'm sure most who have heard John Duncan speak will have some sympathy for Anders.


2. Alberta Liberal MLA Bridgit Pastoor is heading back to the Tories, as part of the "future considerations" in this spring's Raj Sherman deal.


3. But who can blame Pastoor for jumping ship when the Tories are at 51%, according to a new Environics poll? With the opposition parties all under 20%, the Tories appear poised for a crushing victory on...umm...


4. ...sometime this spring. Yes, Redford has kind of delivered on her "fixed election date" promise, scheduling elections for sometime between March 1st and May 31st this year. Officially, this flexibility has nothing to do with poll numbers, and everything to do with the ability to adapt to unforeseen events, such as a natural disaster or one of Alberta's hockey teams going on an extended playoff run.

Turns out Albertans like "feminist lawyers", after all

Rob Anders, back in 2003:

Anders, speaking of his Calgary West nomination opponent, Alison Redford, says he is confident he'll have little trouble rounding up enough party votes to defeat Redford, "unless she's got some magic support base of people who like feminist lawyers."

On Saturday, Redford came out of nowhere to triple her first ballot support and win the Alberta PC leadership race. She will be Alberta's next Premier.

Rob Anders: "Democracy is Petty"

Yeah, party members wanting open nominations. How petty of them.

The tumultuous history of the federal Conservative riding association in Calgary West continued this week with the Tory party's national council apparently assuming control of the association board.

Most members of the Conservative riding board support Donna Kennedy-Glans, who wishes to challenge controversial incumbent MP Rob Anders in a nomination race. Riding association members were to be asked by the board this spring whether they wanted to attempt to hold another nomination race.

"When you have some people that are focused on what are fairly minuscule, petty issues to the distraction of that overall effort -- they're doing it to cause disruption to the party as a whole, for the council, for the member of Parliament," Anders said Friday evening.

"You have to put that stuff to rest and move on."

Vote Out Anders'...Board

Enlightened Savage gives the run-down of yesterday's Calgary West AGM here. My various "sources" who were there say the place was packed (well over 400 in attendance), and the shenanigans were kept to a minimum with everyone fairly well behaved.

In the end, the slate backed by Anders' challenger, Donna Kennedy-Glans, won the day, taking 29 of the 30 board spots (with 2 of them also being on the Anders slate).

But before everyone gets too giddy over the potential demise of Anders, keep this in mind: under new rules, it takes a 2/3 vote of party members to force a nomination meetings. So, even if the anti-Anders (or, "closet Liberal", if you prefer) slate won the day, this may turn out to be a pyrrhic victory.

Closet Liberals

This may be a hoax, but here's a transcript of a letter allegedly being sent out from Rob Anders and Stephen Harper, urging CPC members to vote for the Anders-friendly slate at this week's AGM. Among the highlights:

Are you aware that there is battle taking place in Calgary West this Saturday? It’s between the true blue conservatives and “closet liberals”. It’s up to you and me to stop them from taking over this conservative riding. We cannot let the riding fall into liberal hands. There is a danger that if you don’t show up, this could happen at the AGM on Saturday.

[...]

*Be aware* - this group of “*closet liberals masquerading as conservatives*” have been plotting a take-over of the Calgary West Board of Directors.

[...]

*If you want to keep Calgary West a strong blue conservative riding, attend, and vote for the strong blue conservative slate.*

Thank you for supporting the Conservative Party of Canada,

Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Your MP, Rob Anders

Sounds like it will be a fun AGM - so, you know, if you happen to be there and want to send me a recap anonymously...

This Week in Alberta - It's Miller Time!

Judy Wilson is out and Rick Miller is in as David Swann's new Chief of Staff. I don't know Judy well, but I welcome this move.

I got to know Rick when he was my MLA for the two years I spent up in Edmonton, and I could immediately tell he was is a guy who has political sense oozing out of his ears. As a former caucus whip and party president, he understands the party and he understands politics so I expect him to steer Swann in a more pragmatic direction than the new ALP leader might otherwise be inclined to wander.


IN OTHER NEWS...

My good friend Rob Anders will be facing, yet another, nomination battle. There were some wild schenanigans last time around so hopefully this turns into a fair fight - Anders was nearly knocked off by in 2004 when the vote went several ballots, so defeating him isn't impossible.

Calgary lawyer Donna Kennedy-Glans, who has started a campaign to vie for Calgary West MP Rob Anders' Conservative nomination, said today she can take whatever names Anders throws at her.

He calls her a "bona fide Liberal." She says she's been a Conservative longer than Anders.

"I fully expected he would call me something. I'm just glad he hasn't called me a feminist lawyer yet," Kennedy-Glans quipped.

"Feminist lawyer," are words Anders used in December 2003 to describe Alberta's Justice Minister Alison Redford, who was then trying to claim the federal Tory nomination from him.

ALSO...

It's not only Liberals who are considering a name change! The Alberta Greens are also mulling over a name change. In the interests of helping them out, I've taken the liberty of suggesting a few alternatives you can vote on:

What Should the Alberta Greens Call Themselves?
The Gold Party
The Purple Party
The Hot Pink Party
The Mauve Party
The Taupe Party
The Chartreuse Party
See Results

Vote Out Anders, part 83

Ha ha. Even when they hide him in Siberia for the campaign, he still makes headlines.

Let he who is without Hitler analogy cast the first stone

By good buddy "Ron" Anders has broken free of his muzzle and is in the news for comparing the Beijing Olympics to the 1936 Berlin Olympics:

Anders, an outspoken critic of the Chinese government, said Thursday that Beijing was the wrong choice to host the Olympics.

"I absolutely 100 per cent think it compares to the Berlin Olympics in 1936," he said in an interview.

"You've got Falun Gong practitioners, which are not allowed to participate in the Olympics. Adolf Hitler had issues with Jews being able to participate in the Olympics in 1936."

Rob Anders saying something controversial is merely a side effect of Rob Anders opening his mouth, and is to be expected. Obviously the analogy stretches credibility and it certainly isn't something a member of the Canadian government should be saying.

Knowing that every time someone says Anders' name, the Liberals gain an extra thousand votes in Ontario, Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae has been quick to pounce, taking Anders to task for his lame analogy:

“Now we have a senior government MP and chair of the Veterans Affairs committee further damaging our already-strained relationship with China by comparing its government to Nazis,” Rae said. “Such a comparison trivializes one of the most horrific regimes mankind has known.”

And, on this point, Rae is spot on. These sort of comparisons trivialize things which should never be trivialized. I mean, comparing the Berlin Olympics to the Beijing Olympics would be as silly as comparing Chamberlain's appeasement of Hitler to Harper signing the softwood lumber deal with Bush.

Ode to Anders

Paul Jackson's man crush on Rob Anders continues in today's Sun:

I tell Calgary West MP Rob Anders he is known as the "rock star" of Canadian federal politics.

"Gee, I can hardly sing, and I can't play one chord on the guitar," he answers.

But, in a very real way, Anders is a political tidal wave.

[...]

If he and his strategists spot a riding that can be won by a Conservative candidate they go to bat for them.

This may well explain why, when some malcontents in his riding launched legal actions to overturn his re-nomination, national party headquarters spent an estimated $250,000 fighting to preserve his status.

And they won hands down.

He is just too precious to lose.

[...]

I agree -- I've contended for some time if Harper can win a majority, and he will, he will become a beloved PM of our nation, and will be able to hold the job for as long as he wants. As for the issues, Anders offers this tantalizing aspect.

"By the next election we will have cut the GST to 5%, and at 3% the GST would be revenue neutral, giving the rebates to lower income Canadians and business. So we go into the next election promising to abolish the GST entirely."

[...]

So there you have it. Anders, a winner all the way, revealing how we can win our entire country back.

Fawning aside, Anders' musings on the GST are interesting...

Second Annual "Politicians in Cowboy Hats" Blog Post

Everyone seemed to enjoy last summer's Stampede fashion review so, after hitting all the major breakfasts on the first weekend, I'm pleased to present my recap of how the big names fared this year. For some historical perspective, the Globe & Mail offers up Stampede pictures throughout the ages.

Ever since the disaster of 2005, the nation's eyes turn to Stephen Harper every Stampede. Last year, Harper hoped in and out of the Hays breakfast in under 20 minutes, wanting to avoid human interaction at all costs. To his credit, this year the PM stayed and posed for pictures for double that time. As for the outfit, Harper looked about as good in western wear as it's possible for Stephen Harper to look in western wear. Clearly his psychic stylist is earning her money, although it might be time for a taxpayer funded nutritionist.

I caught Prentice at BBQs Saturday and Sunday, and he wore the same outfit on both occasions. It's also the same thing he's worn every single day of the Stampede since, one imagines, his 12th birthday. It's a good look but it might be time for Jim to mix it up a little bit.

I can't make fun of Carolyn Bennett for her wild pink outfit since the Stampede has been running a "tough enough to wear pink" promotion to raise awareness for breast cancer. It's a shame since it would have been really easy to poke fun at her pink shirt, bizarre sweater vest, and green Dion scarf.

Kevin Taft has been everywhere this week - the Stampede parade Friday, a series of breakfasts Saturday, and the Hays breakfast Sunday. The pink worked well on Friday, but Kevin's wife pulled off Western a lot better than him at the Hays breakfast Sunday. The jacket? Definitely a no-no. Still, at least Kevin is aware that it's the Calgary Stampede.

Actual conversation with Jason Kenney:

Me: Hey Jason, you're in MP - I was hoping to get a picture with you.
Jason: Are you Young Liberals or Young Conservatives?

Me: Young Liberals.

Jason: I won't hold it against you. I used to be a Young Liberal too.

Me: Yeah, in Goodale's office. Just wanted the picture because I've got a collection of pictures of myself with Tory MPs...I got one with me and Anders last year.

Jason: Ha Ha. Well I'm not as bad as Rob, eh?

And, with that, Jason Kennedy went up about 200% in my books. Admittedly, he was starting pretty low so a 200% increase isn't a lot, but he's climbing.

Speaking of which...

Craig Cheffins, new to elected politics, obviously has yet to learn the "never dance when there's a camera around" rule.

Stephane Dion looked almost the same as he did last year. For a French University professor, he always presents himself surprisingly well at Stampede.

Peter Miliken, a frequent visitor to the Hays breakfast flashes his sheriff badge. If only he could lay down the law in the House of Commons and keep the children in order...

Harry Chase is probably the only politician in Canada who can wear a coat like that and pull it off. The man looks like he's straight out of a Western and probably deserves "best dressed 2007" for that. That said, it's never a good sign when you need to identify yourself as an MLA on your apron.

There were also a bunch of other politicians at the Hays breakfast I wasn't able to track down. Lawrence Cannon was out and about espousing the values of Quebec nationhood to the Calgary faithful (which means he must have felt a bit like Jason Jones in those Molson Canadian commercials). Bill Casey was also shaking hands. Carol Skelton may have been around but since no one alive knows what she looks like, I don't have a picture (unless she accidentally wandered into one of the other shots).

Protecting Anders

For those not following the story closely, a judge ordered the Conservative Party to re-hold the nomination meeting in Calgary West, after it was found that the rules were rigged to ensure an Anders win back last fall.

So, after being ordered to do this, the Tories decided to slant the rules to ensure an Anders win. And, because of this, it looks like everyone's favourite MP will be acclaimed, since the candidates vying to replace him have dropped out, blaming the nomination rules.

At first, I was a bit surprised. I mean, why are the Conservatives so keen on protecting such an embarrassing MP. A man who has been muzzled and appears to have no function or purpose in Ottawa. But, then I saw this news story and it became apparent that Rob is still hard at work for Canada's New Government ;-)

OTTAWA — Canada has denied a visa to South African anti-apartheid leader Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who was to have been the keynote speaker at a fund-raising gala in Toronto on Tuesday featuring an opera about her life.

Mandatory Blogging

Two topics which I just could not go without some comment:


1. My bestest bud Rob Anders will have to go through with a nomination after a judge denied the request to delay it on the grounds that "[Rob] cannot fairly and effectively fight a new nomination battle while performing his duties as a sitting MP in a minority government." Uh-huh. This from a man who, according to Hansard, has not uttered a single word in the House on Commons since last spring.

That last little fact and many more like it, can be found in Don Martin's Saturday Herald column titled "pulseless Anders stayin' alive".

[As an aside, I found it amusing to see the Herald cite "wikipedia" as their source for Saturday's front page story on dwindling resource revenues]


2. I'm hesitant to comment on this because, quite frankly, whatever Stephen Harper's taxpayer-funded stylist does in her spare time really isn't relevant to the controversy. So long as she picks out a nice tie, combs Stephen's hair, and gives him his bath, I don't really care if she's communing with Mackenzie King's mother on the side.

And if she is giving him advice? Well, given the tactical moves Harper has made over the past year in a half, she's worth every penny he we are paying her.

Your Friday Smile

Judge overturns nomination of Rob Anders