Everybody knows what’s going on.
© Provided by Calgary Sun
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney (R) is joined by Ministers Jason Nixon, Doug Schweitzer, and Ric McIver as they join other dignitaries in Calgary on Thursday, May 5, 2022.
Rick Bell -
Calgary Sun
Calgary Sun
On this one, Premier Jason Kenney seems to be calling the shots.
Where most political party leaders see a passing grade in a vote on their leadership to be quite a bit higher than a bare majority of party members, Kenney sets the bar much lower.
Easier to jump over.
If 50% plus one UCP member votes Yes to his leadership, he stays . If he gets a lukewarm vote, say under 70% or 75% Yes, he stays.
Kenney is in Calgary making an announcement and members of his inner circle are with him.
Three of them talk. They all back the boss with enthusiasm.
Jason Nixon is Kenney’s legislature quarterback.
“There’s not one candidate anywhere in this province who can break 50% in the first ballot of a leadership race,” says Nixon, supporting his main man.
But … er … a political party’s leadership race, with many candidates and many ballots, is not the same as a leadership review.
The May 18 vote is Yes or No to Kenney’s leadership of the UCP and keeping the premier’s job.
Kenney is not running against anybody.
Surely he needs more support than one vote more than half the party faithful to put the UCP Humpty Dumpty back together again.
No way, says Kenney’s sidekick Nixon.
The legislature QB pulls out his playbook.
The NDP and their leader Rachel Notley are bad.
Everybody needs to unite to beat Notley and the NDP who, by the way, happen to be leading in recent nose counts.
“If the majority say to go one direction, that’s the direction we go. It’s time for all politicians to check their egos and get back to what matters.”
You know what’s coming.
“A socialist government in just under a year is the worst thing to happen to my kids and grandkids, so let’s get the hell to work.”
Nixon is just warming up.
“To continue to have junior high fights about these issues is only helping the other side, which will cause mass devastation for this province.”
But what if some UCP politicians on the Kenney benches still complain after the May 18 vote, especially if Kenney squeaks in by a small margin as more than a few bet.
For Nixon, it is time for UCP MLAs to show some self-discipline and join the premier’s parade.
“If there are members of our caucus after this that will not get disciplined and keep their eye on the goal, then I think caucus will take action.”
We all know what that means. Kenney’s way or the highway.
Nixon won’t get specific. No need to make a direct threat when a veiled threat will do.
“What exactly that looks like, we’ll have to stay tuned but the window for continuing to disrupt the party is closing.”
With a bang!
Ric McIver is another in Kenney’s inner circle.
“A win is a win is a win. You either respect democracy or you don’t.”
But … er … does Kenney have the moral authority to continue if he wins with a crappy number not far above half support from his own people?
“Oh please. Oh please. Oh please. The winner is the winner. Whoever wins, wins,” says McIver.
But what if there is still argy-bargy in the ranks?
“It’s noise. You know what you do with noise? You listen to what’s not noise instead.”
Then there is Doug Schweitzer. He sits around the Kenney cabinet table but some savvy political operators figure Schweitzer isn’t a real amigo of the bossman.
Wouldn’t know it Thursday.
Schweitzer says Kenney’s leadership vote is “unique.”
In the past, where leaders thought a win was much higher than 50% plus one, Schweitzer says the votes were “highly curated events” with delegates from local party associations.
May 18 is different for Schweitzer.
“Members are having a direct say in the whole process. When the premier says 50% plus one, with this amount of engagement, that’s the right number.”
In the UCP tent, not everyone agrees.
“The complaining has to stop. Period. There’s too many things going in the right direction for Alberta,” says Schweitzer.
If some UCP MLAs don’t listen to the advice?
“I think they’re going to definitely be listening after May 18 when the premier wins.”
So there!
Brian Jean, former Wildrose leader and now a UCP MLA, could be a pain.
On Thursday, from his back-row seat in the legislature, Jean calls out Kenney and his crew for not pushing a fair deal for Alberta.
Tyler Shandro, another Kenney compadre, gives a smart-aleck non-answer.
Even Notley gets into the game Thursday.
She figures if Kenney doesn’t win big and stays it will “be permission for the drama to continue a few more seasons and unfortunately Albertans will be the ones who lose out.”
By the way, Kenney says he doesn’t feel the hostility and anger sometimes found in my scribblings.
Is it real?
“People are not happy,” says Notley.
“But, you know what, if Jason Kenney thinks everybody is onside, I wish him the best of luck.”
rbell@postmedia.com
Where most political party leaders see a passing grade in a vote on their leadership to be quite a bit higher than a bare majority of party members, Kenney sets the bar much lower.
Easier to jump over.
If 50% plus one UCP member votes Yes to his leadership, he stays . If he gets a lukewarm vote, say under 70% or 75% Yes, he stays.
Kenney is in Calgary making an announcement and members of his inner circle are with him.
Three of them talk. They all back the boss with enthusiasm.
Jason Nixon is Kenney’s legislature quarterback.
“There’s not one candidate anywhere in this province who can break 50% in the first ballot of a leadership race,” says Nixon, supporting his main man.
But … er … a political party’s leadership race, with many candidates and many ballots, is not the same as a leadership review.
The May 18 vote is Yes or No to Kenney’s leadership of the UCP and keeping the premier’s job.
Kenney is not running against anybody.
Surely he needs more support than one vote more than half the party faithful to put the UCP Humpty Dumpty back together again.
No way, says Kenney’s sidekick Nixon.
The legislature QB pulls out his playbook.
The NDP and their leader Rachel Notley are bad.
Everybody needs to unite to beat Notley and the NDP who, by the way, happen to be leading in recent nose counts.
“If the majority say to go one direction, that’s the direction we go. It’s time for all politicians to check their egos and get back to what matters.”
You know what’s coming.
“A socialist government in just under a year is the worst thing to happen to my kids and grandkids, so let’s get the hell to work.”
Nixon is just warming up.
“To continue to have junior high fights about these issues is only helping the other side, which will cause mass devastation for this province.”
But what if some UCP politicians on the Kenney benches still complain after the May 18 vote, especially if Kenney squeaks in by a small margin as more than a few bet.
For Nixon, it is time for UCP MLAs to show some self-discipline and join the premier’s parade.
“If there are members of our caucus after this that will not get disciplined and keep their eye on the goal, then I think caucus will take action.”
We all know what that means. Kenney’s way or the highway.
Nixon won’t get specific. No need to make a direct threat when a veiled threat will do.
“What exactly that looks like, we’ll have to stay tuned but the window for continuing to disrupt the party is closing.”
With a bang!
Ric McIver is another in Kenney’s inner circle.
“A win is a win is a win. You either respect democracy or you don’t.”
But … er … does Kenney have the moral authority to continue if he wins with a crappy number not far above half support from his own people?
“Oh please. Oh please. Oh please. The winner is the winner. Whoever wins, wins,” says McIver.
But what if there is still argy-bargy in the ranks?
“It’s noise. You know what you do with noise? You listen to what’s not noise instead.”
Then there is Doug Schweitzer. He sits around the Kenney cabinet table but some savvy political operators figure Schweitzer isn’t a real amigo of the bossman.
Wouldn’t know it Thursday.
Schweitzer says Kenney’s leadership vote is “unique.”
In the past, where leaders thought a win was much higher than 50% plus one, Schweitzer says the votes were “highly curated events” with delegates from local party associations.
May 18 is different for Schweitzer.
“Members are having a direct say in the whole process. When the premier says 50% plus one, with this amount of engagement, that’s the right number.”
In the UCP tent, not everyone agrees.
“The complaining has to stop. Period. There’s too many things going in the right direction for Alberta,” says Schweitzer.
If some UCP MLAs don’t listen to the advice?
“I think they’re going to definitely be listening after May 18 when the premier wins.”
So there!
Brian Jean, former Wildrose leader and now a UCP MLA, could be a pain.
On Thursday, from his back-row seat in the legislature, Jean calls out Kenney and his crew for not pushing a fair deal for Alberta.
Tyler Shandro, another Kenney compadre, gives a smart-aleck non-answer.
Even Notley gets into the game Thursday.
She figures if Kenney doesn’t win big and stays it will “be permission for the drama to continue a few more seasons and unfortunately Albertans will be the ones who lose out.”
By the way, Kenney says he doesn’t feel the hostility and anger sometimes found in my scribblings.
Is it real?
“People are not happy,” says Notley.
“But, you know what, if Jason Kenney thinks everybody is onside, I wish him the best of luck.”
rbell@postmedia.com
No comments:
Post a Comment