So, Danielle Smith Has Crossed the Floor
Well, well, well.
I woke up this morning to the radio hosts talking about Danielle Smith having crossed the floor to the PCs, as well as other Wildrose MLAs. They are not the first to do so.
Before I get into my specific thoughts about Wildrose's leader and these other MLAs crossing the floor, let me say that within the past few weeks, I actually said to my husband that I like Prentice as our Premier, that he has brought back "conservative" to the PCs and if he keeps going as he is, I would probably vote PC in the next election (assuming he will still be at the reins).
Why? Because I really do feel he has brought back the conservative side of the PCs. Redford was not a conservative. Not in the least. I am not the only one to say it and I thought it before I read others' comments to the same effect. Conservatives tend to "conserve", to keep things the same, to stick to old-fashioned principles, making changes when the population in general is wanting it (which, at the same time, is extremely democratic) and has been wanting it for a while. Prentice recently showed a true sensitivity to conservative and democratic principles--the will of the people--in not pushing ahead a Bill that was fraught with a lot of reactions. Redford wouldn't have cared, simply mowed ahead because she wanted to make it happen--even if the people she represented disagree.
So, I am happy with Prentice. My primary interest in Wildrose two years ago was that they were clearly conservative and would help pull the government back in alignment with the people. And I think their presence has.
Does this have any bearing on my views about the many moves to the PC side and perhaps means I'm in agreement with them? No.
I am actually somewhat appalled by the move of all of these MLAs to the PCs. Especially Danielle Smith. This has lowered her a notch in my book. She has done it before, changing her position to please people and help further herself. This is what I see here. For all of them, really, but especially for the leader of the Wildrose who... well... geez, should be leading the Wildrose, not leaving her position to join a different party. Did the Wildrose stop representing her and other MLAs' views? Doubtful. I frankly see no reason why the Wildrose MLAs couldn't just continue being Wildrose MLAs, all in alignment with PC positions where applicable. There is nothing stopping them from working together while being in different parties.
Crossing the floor shows a dissatisfaction with your party, in my opinion; an irreconcilable difference with your views (or your constituents' views) and the party's views. This doesn't seem to be what's going on here. They are crossing the floor because the PC party is in line with Wildrose. Which says to me (perhaps incorrectly, I'm willing to admit) that these politicians have made these decisions with a long-term focus in mind: the elections. Perhaps not only that, but to be given some sort of job in Cabinet.
"I have to say if you're going to have to be the official opposition leader, you have to really want to take down the premier. I don't want to take down the premier," CBC reports Smith said at the press conference. Is that really the opposition leader's job? That was not what I was expecting from her. I wanted her to be someone who would further the interests of the people who believed in her party. I wanted her to be a check against the PCs who were going down a non-PC path and might head that way again. I also wanted her to represent the people who voted for her, and unless those people have petitioned her to change parties, I see no reason to think this decision of hers is okay.
Someone in Facebook recently described the Wildrose as a sinking ship. If they were sinking before, where are they now?
I woke up this morning to the radio hosts talking about Danielle Smith having crossed the floor to the PCs, as well as other Wildrose MLAs. They are not the first to do so.
Before I get into my specific thoughts about Wildrose's leader and these other MLAs crossing the floor, let me say that within the past few weeks, I actually said to my husband that I like Prentice as our Premier, that he has brought back "conservative" to the PCs and if he keeps going as he is, I would probably vote PC in the next election (assuming he will still be at the reins).
Why? Because I really do feel he has brought back the conservative side of the PCs. Redford was not a conservative. Not in the least. I am not the only one to say it and I thought it before I read others' comments to the same effect. Conservatives tend to "conserve", to keep things the same, to stick to old-fashioned principles, making changes when the population in general is wanting it (which, at the same time, is extremely democratic) and has been wanting it for a while. Prentice recently showed a true sensitivity to conservative and democratic principles--the will of the people--in not pushing ahead a Bill that was fraught with a lot of reactions. Redford wouldn't have cared, simply mowed ahead because she wanted to make it happen--even if the people she represented disagree.
So, I am happy with Prentice. My primary interest in Wildrose two years ago was that they were clearly conservative and would help pull the government back in alignment with the people. And I think their presence has.
Does this have any bearing on my views about the many moves to the PC side and perhaps means I'm in agreement with them? No.
I am actually somewhat appalled by the move of all of these MLAs to the PCs. Especially Danielle Smith. This has lowered her a notch in my book. She has done it before, changing her position to please people and help further herself. This is what I see here. For all of them, really, but especially for the leader of the Wildrose who... well... geez, should be leading the Wildrose, not leaving her position to join a different party. Did the Wildrose stop representing her and other MLAs' views? Doubtful. I frankly see no reason why the Wildrose MLAs couldn't just continue being Wildrose MLAs, all in alignment with PC positions where applicable. There is nothing stopping them from working together while being in different parties.
Crossing the floor shows a dissatisfaction with your party, in my opinion; an irreconcilable difference with your views (or your constituents' views) and the party's views. This doesn't seem to be what's going on here. They are crossing the floor because the PC party is in line with Wildrose. Which says to me (perhaps incorrectly, I'm willing to admit) that these politicians have made these decisions with a long-term focus in mind: the elections. Perhaps not only that, but to be given some sort of job in Cabinet.
"I have to say if you're going to have to be the official opposition leader, you have to really want to take down the premier. I don't want to take down the premier," CBC reports Smith said at the press conference. Is that really the opposition leader's job? That was not what I was expecting from her. I wanted her to be someone who would further the interests of the people who believed in her party. I wanted her to be a check against the PCs who were going down a non-PC path and might head that way again. I also wanted her to represent the people who voted for her, and unless those people have petitioned her to change parties, I see no reason to think this decision of hers is okay.
Someone in Facebook recently described the Wildrose as a sinking ship. If they were sinking before, where are they now?
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