Phendrana Drifts

Jim Dinning's campaign posted a series of twelve "whoppers" that people may have heard about Dinning throughout the campaign. I think it is a brilliant move, that got a bit of blog press on Tom Olsen's blog but more importantly allows a direct rebuff to some of the critiques heard about Dinning through the campaign. For the record, I only had heard of six of them. But that isn't an exhaustive list of myths, lies and untruths I've heard in this campaign. Some of the ones Dinning's team missed:

Dinning's going to win in a landslide. Of course it is possible, there is six weeks of campaigning left (almost twice as long as a general election) but that isn't remotely what I hear on the ground. I think it is a closely fought race between six people right now, and I think all have a currently legitimate chance at winning. In any case, if I were a betting man, I would certainly place a wager on there being a second ballot.
Dave Hancock is a Liberal. Or possibly a New Democrat. I can't imagine someone with a stronger commitment to the PC party than Dave. He was the party president when Ralph was elected leader. He's been a member since he was a 15 year old. And it isn't just the party membership, he's tighter and more responsible with public dollars than anyone I've ever met. Someone who is willing to ask "If I spend one dollar of public money today, will I save two dollars from being spent tomorrow?" is in my mind the perfect intelligent fiscal conservative.
Oberg, Dinning, Hancock and Morton are going to sell 100,000 memberships a piece. William already put this into perspective: "Several [leadership campaigns] have set membership sales targets of 100,000 memberships. Were that to unfold, membership in the PC Party would be 600,000 - more than all of the people who voted for the PC Party of Alberta in the last provincial election."
The teachers are endorsing Oberg. You would think so based on the picture of Frank Bruseker in the Journal buying a membership from Oberg. It's a joke. Frank Bruseker and the ATA members who are buying memberships are likely looking at candidates like Hancock and Dinning, but as a teacher asked me before she asked her question to Oberg at recent forum - "Instead, should I ask Dr. Oberg who does his hair, and how do they hide the horns so well?"
Alana DeLong is in third. I had to post this, even though she's dropped out. Alana was never in third. Or fourth. Or fifth. Or sixth. Maybe not even seventh. This points to the flaws in polling to look at who is winning. Speaking of which...
Polling is the best way to determine who will eventually win. No it's not. First, not all Albertans will vote in this race, only people who are PC members on Nov. 25 can. Second, not all of the people who will be PC members on Nov. 25 are PC members right now. Finally, look at margin of errors of some of the popular polls - like the recent PGIB one of party members - statistically, we appear to be in a near dead heat between six men. No one can constuct a poll that will reflect the people who will turn out on Nov. 25, so we should stop touting polls that claim to.
Victor Doerksen's going to win. No, I don't think so. No media coverage, no MLA or party support, no natural constituency with Dr. Morton in the race clearing out the social conservatives and being so late to the race as to be laughable... personally I am somewhat amazed he found $15,000 and 500 party members to nominate him. That said, I signed his nomination papers (along with eight others) so maybe I'm the wrong person to say something like that.
Dinning won't be a Premier from Calgary, but a Premier for all Albertans. I like Dinning, and I don't mean this in a disparaging way. I think Dinning, like all of the Premiers that came before him, would govern in largely the best interests of Alberta. But everybody comes from somewhere, and no matter how much he tries to suggest that he isn't a Calgary candidate, that's where his support is, and where he's crafted his political and business name. Every single Calgary MLA save the four Liberals and Hung Pham are endorsing Dinning, and with people like Rod Love, Hal Danchilla and Alan Hallman running your campaign, you have to accept that if a candidate comes from somewhere, then Dinning comes from Calgary.
Morton is a racist. This one might be my favourite, because I actually hear it a lot. Trust me, he isn't a racist. He founded his American university's local chapter of the NAACP. Is he socially conservative? Yes. Racist? No.
Oberg stood up for the party when he challenged the Premier. I think he made an angry slip of the tongue. Was he thinking of the long term health and electability of our party? I don't think so. He was thinking selfishly of his own chances to win the leadership - in my opinion. But wow, has he ever translated a slip of the tongue and what I thought was a dead leadership campaign into a tale full of sound and fury.
Morton can't win on the first ballot. Yes, he can. 50% plus one. If you don't like it, I have a membership you might be interested in looking at, so long as you're free on Nov. 25 and Dec. 2. And for those who would say he won't win on the first ballot, remember Alberta social conservatives replaced Preston Manning with Stockwell Day. And Dr. Morton is twelve times smarter than Stockwell Day.
Ralph Klein is supporting Mark Norris. Apparently Phil Klein is. So are a couple other people who were intimates of the boss recently. But Ralph Klein has made it perfectly clear he has no idea how he would vote, and certainly won't support somebody.

4 Comments:

At 3:50 PM, Roger said…

"Ralph Klein is supporting Mark Norris."

He is.
At 6:32 PM, elaine said…

"In any case, if I were a betting man, I would certainly place a wager on there being a second ballot."

But, my friend, you are a betting man... Shall we wager again?
At 12:15 AM, Allie said…

Mark Norris really slipped up when he said the Premier was supporting him - making him come out in the Press stating he was not supporting Norris - thats done more damage than it was worth imho. But then Norris is the storyteller of the bunch.
At 9:29 PM, kaqchikel said…

Great post, but 12 times?

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