Naheed Nenshi’s landslide win in the Alberta NDP leadership race marks the beginning of a new era for that party. Way back in February, before Nenshi had even announced he was running, I argued that if he entered the race, he was initiating a merger between the Alberta NDP and his own urban progressive movement. Four months later, I’ll stick with that analysis.
I would be interested to know how many of the supposedly "new" members who joined for this leadership race were former members, volunteers and long-time supporters vs totally new Nenshi movement folk. I don't think the long-time party builders / members necessarily know this information either and it would be premature to assume it's a total 'take-over' by non-NDP types.
I first volunteered over 40 years back and have been an on-again / off-again member and donor, long-time supporter, even with some of the issues I've had with party line / policies. I joined (again) specifically to vote for leadership that could build momentum, and am keen to see all the best strengths, people and ideas come together in a compelling vision with some mobilizing chops.
I’m trying to find the source, but somewhere in the last couple days I read that only 20% of the AB NDP members were totally new to any party connection - and 80% were either previous members, donors, or volunteers. So the ballooning “new” members are mostly NDP-types, and this leadership race just pushed them into formally joining so they could take part in the vote. The influence of that 20% totally new to the NDP will be interesting - and will likely make riding associations’ work a bit different - but I don’t think this is a bad thing.
All I know for sure is that my brother and brother and sister in law bought a membership for the first time. They never had memberships in the past or any involvement with the NDP apart from my brother voting for the NDP. They all voted for Nenshi because they really liked as mayor.
There are no more similarities between Nenshi and Smith than there are between the parties they lead. To say anything else reflects the same profoundly irrational "bothsidesism" found in ALL the media right now as they excitedly push for Trudeau's demise EVEN THOUGH HIS REPLACEMENT IS Mr. "Unfair Elections Act" himself, PIERRE POILIEVRE, a.k.a. "Skippy," leader of the indefatigably tone-deaf CRAP, or Canadian Reform Alliance Party that has further devolved into the CONVOY PARTY OF CANADA.
Where has our collective perspective gone? Why in hell are we acting all fever pitch election mode, American style, when an election hasn't even been called here, and isn't DUE for more than a year?! Could it be because the equally relentless campaign to "own the Libs" via the relentless vilification of Justin Trudeau has gone VIRAL, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that when something is repeated enough, no matter WHAT it is, an alarming number start to believe it, WAY more than makes sense, seemingly WITHOUT EVEN BEING AWARE of it?
Under the current BINARY political circumstances when one side actually has democracy ITSELF, AND the international rules-based world order that goes with it on the ropes as we speak, and a proven leader, PROVEN leader emerges, talking about the size of the sky and how Albertans identify most with that, NOT the very SMALL pettiness of "owning the Libs," OR building a "firewall" to separate us from the rest of the country, OR indulging persistently in some typical NDP narcissism, how is everyone NOT breathing a huge sigh of relief and reviving flayed, vital hope, even if relief is THREE LONG YEARS from now?
Bring on Nenshi's "urban progressive agenda" I say. It's either that or the REGRESSIVE one after all.
Oh, and about hating Nenshi because he comes across as "the smartest guy in the room?" Just more peevish conservative anti-intellectualism that denies YET another reality (their stock in trade), in this case the one where we are NOT all equally intelligent, some are far more so, and in this critical, existential time it has never made more sense to choose a natural leader.
Why does everyone keep forgetting that the conservatives are proudly, stupidly anti-science and apparently don't even think VIRUSES are real now, not to mention climate change?!
OBVIOUSLY that should disqualify them completely from governance, period. They present a clear and present danger to all of us.
They show us over and over why we NEVER talk about a "conservative democracy," only a LIBERAL one.
Sorry Tris, but while I agree with much of what you write......the problem with Nenshi 'coming across as 'the smartest guy in the room'..........is that for me, intelligence has a lot of subordinate clauses attached to it.
I taught language...writing, reading critically, thinking....and the problem I have with Nenshi (I don't hate anyone....it's not a productive emotion) is that he so often inserts a reference or story....about how smart he is. There's a whiff of narcissism to his presentations....and even when accepting the leadership of the Alberta NDP....he had to take time to 'talk about Nenshi'...
As a lifetime member and worker for the NDP (met Tommy as a young woman in Saskatchewn: now that was a smart man) I had to ask myself how smart are you really...if you just discovered, somewhat to your surprise, that you shared many values with the party of the most famous Canadian??? Yet that was Nenshi's comment on his decision to run as leader of the party.
I have high expectations for the party going forward...........but I also suspect that you'd have to be a really big dud..........or running in an intellectually challenged province..........not to win the next election. Nenshi is smart enough to know that.
Whether he's smart enough....humble enough....and focused enough on the policies a water strapped, oil infested province needs in order to survive the real challenges we're facing from the climate denialist right.....and the Great Mother herself....remains to be seen.
We'll keep working....because the smart folks in the room should know by now: Climate Catastrophe is staring us in the face. And the rage machine Danielle rode to power doesn't want to face that. It's rural base is more anti immigrant than anti greenhouse gases.
How Nenshi combats that will be the intelligence test I'm willing to grade..........going forward.
Thanks for this article Lisa. It seems politics in this age of change has become - or continues to be personalized. It would be useful for this province and country to spend a bit more time on 'Policy' rather than politics including admiring or blaming the 'hero' or the 'goat'. Global complexities influence Canada and AB in so many ways. We can see and celebrate hockey in a global picture yet seem to wallow in politics like a scrappy street-hockey pick-up game where no rules apply.
Yes, Smith and now Nenshi clearly do represent the personalization of Alberta politics - with the difference that the Aberharts and Lougheeds of the past personalized one-party dominant politics, while Smith and Nenshi personalize a competitive two-party politics. At the moment of Nenshi's almost monolithic takeover we should not forget however that the personalization of politics almost inevitably brings with it a huge negative. The longer a successful leader whose power is personalized stays in office the more accumulated dissatisfaction with the party in office is focussed on the leader - as witness the present abysmal poll ratings of Justin Trudeau and the federal Liberals, just nine years since he swept to office on a wave of leader-focussed enthusiasm in 2015. This parallels Brian Mulroney's catastrophic slide from charismatic landslide victory in 1984 to poll numbers in the last years of his tenure that put his approval ratings lower than the numbers who believed Elvis was still alive, and the reduction of the PC party from a mighty majority across the country in 1984 to a derisory two elected MPs in 1993. Those who live by the personal image die by the personal image. Political parties soar and then plummet, shadowing the trajectory of their leaders.
"Caucus may be more of a challenge, as many of its members are experienced politicians who remain committed to a more traditional New Democrat worldview "
Having been born and raised in Winnipeg North Centre where Stanley Knowles was my MP from birth to age 25, what are the Alberta NDP world views? Certainly not socialism, meaning government ownership of means of production though here in Alberta if u believe in science, vaccines and the common good you r called a socialist. Heck when doing the census in 2021, I was a socialist for wearing a mask and was berated for being vaccinated.
But a social democracy like most of Northern Europe. Take care of everyone. Where the wealthy are OK with an 80% marginal tax rate as they know their society works.
Here it's all about profit. Everything needs profit. Yet the free market and profits have failed miserably from housing, food, health, drug use, almost every aspect of our society in just 40 years.
So where will the NDP take us as I joined tge Nenshi bandwagon
We aren't starting in a good place that's for sure. Perhaps a few more years of drought, flood, fire and melting permafrost will wake us up. The CCF came out of the GreatDepression on the plains...........and just like a disbelieve in vaccines can kill you (and did dispatch a few unfortunate believers) so can a disbelief in climate change.
In the next few years we can either distract ourselves moving the deck chairs on the Titanic, or we can tackle the real issues we are all facing.
If Nenshi is as smart as he thinks he is...........he should be all over the real set of crises we face.
Identifying a political party with an individual is dangerous, if we ignore the question of what interests does that individual represent in power. In the case of Danielle Smith, it is clear that she represents several particular interests:
- an international far right movement;
- the owners and shareholders of Alberta oil and gas companies, in particular the ones that are already floundering: witness the R-star program to use public funds to cover the unfunded liabilities for orphaned and abandoned wells, or her latest plan to use the Heritage Trust Fund, financed by non-renewable resource royalties, to, in her words, "derisk", that is bail out, failing oil and gas businesses;
- Alberta separatists: see the Free Alberta Strategy, one of whose co-authors is her right-hand man Rob Anderson, a blueprint for separation without a referendum, which is easily seen to be gradually but steadily implemented by her government.
The idea of the personalization of party politics also applies certainly to the modern Alberta NDP, a creation of Rachel Notley. But if you ask what were the interests that Rachel Notley represented in power, you will only find the people of Alberta. Notley certainly did not represent corporate interests (she did negotiate with them, as any intelligent popular leader must). Nor did she represent any international or local cabal. And if we listened to what the other leadership candidates had to say, we would find the same.
What of Nenshi? Nenshi's bid for the leadership was based exclusively on personal charisma and name recognition. He was persistently silent on policy matters, except for one thing. His parody of a campaign consisted entirely of grinning selfies and empty Twitter memes. He was particularly careful not to say anything about oil and gas or climate change (https://energi.media/markham-on-energy/nenshi-declines-interview-about-skimpy-energy-and-climate-ideas/).
The one specific policy announcement he did make was on the same day that he announced his candidacy: he wants to see several amendments made to the ANDP constitution, like breaking ties with the federal NDP. In other words, he wants to turn the party into ... not the Alberta NDP. Given his silence on everything else, we have to ask ourselves what particular interests does Nenshi represent?
I'm with you. Time will tell.......but at this point I suspect Nenshi is the chosen candidate of a lot of ordinary progressives lite.........who want 'goodness to prevail'...without having to think too deeply, or work too hard, to make sure it does.
As to separating from the Federal Party.........all NDP loyalists should protest that dumb idea.
Even trying to imagine what an 'exclusively ALberta NDP" might look like....or stand for....gives me a headache.
I fear that this 'personalization of politics' smells of neoliberalism. And that's the junk politics that got us into the mess we're in.
Alfredo, I find what you have written interesting; I agree with some of it, disagree with some of it but there is one thing that I do think I would highlight.
Specifically, you describe Danielle Smith as "far right" or, more particularly, "international far right." I won't speak to the "international" adjective but I would like to comment on the "far right" side of your comment.
It seems to me that anyone, I mean ANYONE who might be even mildly right of center is consistently described as "far right" in an attempt to, oh, demonize, criticize and marginalize that person. Were you - or I - members of the John Birch Society (remember them?) then, clearly, the descriptor of "far right" would apply. Someone who is mildly, mediumly (a new word) or whatever right of center is smeared with the "far right" label. By contrast, the descriptor of "far left" is reserved for just about no one, particularly those who might actually deserve that label.
My point is that we should understand how these labels are used as pejorative language and consider them carefully. Put differently, language is important.
Anyway, I will think about the balance of your comment.
Oh, and Nenshi? I am a Calgarian and have despised Nenshi, DESPISED I tell you, right from the start. It wasn't/isn't his race, his religion or anything like that. It is simply that he insists that he is the smartest guy in the room and insists on telling everyone that through his actions, his words, his smug manner. Oh, did I mention that I despise him?
As for policy, I expect that his policies will consist of warm words that can be interpreted howsomever any listener likes; in other words, nothing specific that one can follow.
Maybe I should be more specific. When I see Danielle Smith promoting people like Ron De Santis or Tucker Carlson, or when I see that a minister in her government actually campaigned for Donald Trump, that's what I mean by an international far right.
Okay, I see your point about Tucker Carlson. To be honest, I wondered about Smith being involved with him on the stage when it happened a short time ago. As for DeSantis, I think that his record is a bit more complex but you are certainly entitled to your opinions.
What I did not see in your response was my basic point that the use of the term "far right" is a smear but no one considers using the adjective "far left" as - isn't it obvious?? - the left is virtuous!
and I highly recommend it as it talks about the use of these descriptors in "news" articles without adequate discussion as to why those adjectives are or are not reasonable.
Honest, it is an - dare I say it? - honest discussion.
While I think your concern over the far right label is a bit overblown (sure, lots of moderate conservatives voted for Danielle, believing her lies about not touching any of her libertarian policies). The right wing in Alberta is increasingly anti science, anti federalist and beholden to an increasingly anti democratic fringe...a recent poll tells us the support for Danielle hasn't shrunk at all in this last year.
That alone should give 'moderate conservatives' if they still exist.......pause.
On your feelings about Nenshi...I'd suggest despising anyone is a move to the right......it dances cheek to jowl with 'hate'..........However, I too cringe when he has to turn his speeches to himself.........because there is a self satisfied, self love there, that is ever so slightly shameful.
The leaders we need spend no time on self love. They have a passion for social justice, solutions to problems and a deep commitment to making things better for the general public.
Rachel has that. Jack Layton had that.
Nenshi's self-advertisements make me wonder whether he's more passionate about his image. If so, that's a large flaw, that could well limit the good he could do, in favour of the good show he makes, talking about doing it.
To conclude: More Policy, Less Nenshi is what I need to see, going forward.
Ingamarie: The UCP are the polar opposite of being a Conservative government. Conservatives from the past have said that they aren't. It's true, because of what the UCP does.
Actually, not. Conservatives have a long history of standing with big money.......and of being fiscally conservative (save the money, don't spend it on public works), and socially conservative (women and men have separate rolls, and women don't own their own bodies.....the state tells them what to do)
There have been lots of changes, socially: the conservative minded want to roll back some of them....in part due to their religious take on the world. Abortion is under threat in the states, and will be here if we take a new move to the right.
Fiscally.......the new tax whining...austerity for schools and hospitals....but money spend wildly defending tar: THESE AREN'T NEW DEVELOPMENTS....Conservative politicians have status quo priorities.
The UCP just seems more radical because of the social/fiscal changes we've experienced in the last 30 years of neo-liberalism. The boom years built up deficits in social spending (schools, universities, hospitals got less) and financialization gave the money boys more power over our tax dollars.
The same people vote UCP who when I came to Alberta voted Lougheed.
NDP or Nenshi Party? Great speaker, organizer, and agenda master.
I agree with your analysis, “ I argued that if he entered the race, he was initiating a merger between the Alberta NDP and his own urban progressive movement. Four months later, I’ll stick with that analysis.”
They have done a great job in political organizing and will probably be a more viable force in challenging the UCP than others have been (except Notley, who as a traditional New Democrat did a great job but didn’t win the last election). Progressives want to stop the current government and many of their policies. Many of these new people are probably Federal Liberals who don’t want alliances with the Federal NDP but also realize the stigma a provincial “L” name ( which at one time in Alberta was the name NDP). The right did the great shift it in BC when Social Credit supporters suddenly called themselves Liberals. Quebec is the only provincial NDP that is not affiliated federally so comparisons with the UCP and CCP affiliation are different.
The NDP has been a big enough home to welcome Nenshi and his new comers but over self confidence ( or self absorption) can separate various supporters and not unite. On CBC radio today he said he was against implementing a provincial sales tax rather than saying New Democrats do not support the move. This might sound trivial but it reflects doing things his way unless he is honest about open debate.
Your analysis I find bang on! Mergers are difficult and many people want him to succeed with respect for those who have worked hard ( longer than he has) in building a credible voice for the people of Alberta. Note: my spouse disagrees with me and just wants this government gone - the dialogue continues.
I would be interested to know how many of the supposedly "new" members who joined for this leadership race were former members, volunteers and long-time supporters vs totally new Nenshi movement folk. I don't think the long-time party builders / members necessarily know this information either and it would be premature to assume it's a total 'take-over' by non-NDP types.
I first volunteered over 40 years back and have been an on-again / off-again member and donor, long-time supporter, even with some of the issues I've had with party line / policies. I joined (again) specifically to vote for leadership that could build momentum, and am keen to see all the best strengths, people and ideas come together in a compelling vision with some mobilizing chops.
I’m trying to find the source, but somewhere in the last couple days I read that only 20% of the AB NDP members were totally new to any party connection - and 80% were either previous members, donors, or volunteers. So the ballooning “new” members are mostly NDP-types, and this leadership race just pushed them into formally joining so they could take part in the vote. The influence of that 20% totally new to the NDP will be interesting - and will likely make riding associations’ work a bit different - but I don’t think this is a bad thing.
All I know for sure is that my brother and brother and sister in law bought a membership for the first time. They never had memberships in the past or any involvement with the NDP apart from my brother voting for the NDP. They all voted for Nenshi because they really liked as mayor.
There are no more similarities between Nenshi and Smith than there are between the parties they lead. To say anything else reflects the same profoundly irrational "bothsidesism" found in ALL the media right now as they excitedly push for Trudeau's demise EVEN THOUGH HIS REPLACEMENT IS Mr. "Unfair Elections Act" himself, PIERRE POILIEVRE, a.k.a. "Skippy," leader of the indefatigably tone-deaf CRAP, or Canadian Reform Alliance Party that has further devolved into the CONVOY PARTY OF CANADA.
Where has our collective perspective gone? Why in hell are we acting all fever pitch election mode, American style, when an election hasn't even been called here, and isn't DUE for more than a year?! Could it be because the equally relentless campaign to "own the Libs" via the relentless vilification of Justin Trudeau has gone VIRAL, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that when something is repeated enough, no matter WHAT it is, an alarming number start to believe it, WAY more than makes sense, seemingly WITHOUT EVEN BEING AWARE of it?
Under the current BINARY political circumstances when one side actually has democracy ITSELF, AND the international rules-based world order that goes with it on the ropes as we speak, and a proven leader, PROVEN leader emerges, talking about the size of the sky and how Albertans identify most with that, NOT the very SMALL pettiness of "owning the Libs," OR building a "firewall" to separate us from the rest of the country, OR indulging persistently in some typical NDP narcissism, how is everyone NOT breathing a huge sigh of relief and reviving flayed, vital hope, even if relief is THREE LONG YEARS from now?
Bring on Nenshi's "urban progressive agenda" I say. It's either that or the REGRESSIVE one after all.
Oh, and about hating Nenshi because he comes across as "the smartest guy in the room?" Just more peevish conservative anti-intellectualism that denies YET another reality (their stock in trade), in this case the one where we are NOT all equally intelligent, some are far more so, and in this critical, existential time it has never made more sense to choose a natural leader.
Why does everyone keep forgetting that the conservatives are proudly, stupidly anti-science and apparently don't even think VIRUSES are real now, not to mention climate change?!
OBVIOUSLY that should disqualify them completely from governance, period. They present a clear and present danger to all of us.
They show us over and over why we NEVER talk about a "conservative democracy," only a LIBERAL one.
Sorry Tris, but while I agree with much of what you write......the problem with Nenshi 'coming across as 'the smartest guy in the room'..........is that for me, intelligence has a lot of subordinate clauses attached to it.
I taught language...writing, reading critically, thinking....and the problem I have with Nenshi (I don't hate anyone....it's not a productive emotion) is that he so often inserts a reference or story....about how smart he is. There's a whiff of narcissism to his presentations....and even when accepting the leadership of the Alberta NDP....he had to take time to 'talk about Nenshi'...
As a lifetime member and worker for the NDP (met Tommy as a young woman in Saskatchewn: now that was a smart man) I had to ask myself how smart are you really...if you just discovered, somewhat to your surprise, that you shared many values with the party of the most famous Canadian??? Yet that was Nenshi's comment on his decision to run as leader of the party.
I have high expectations for the party going forward...........but I also suspect that you'd have to be a really big dud..........or running in an intellectually challenged province..........not to win the next election. Nenshi is smart enough to know that.
Whether he's smart enough....humble enough....and focused enough on the policies a water strapped, oil infested province needs in order to survive the real challenges we're facing from the climate denialist right.....and the Great Mother herself....remains to be seen.
We'll keep working....because the smart folks in the room should know by now: Climate Catastrophe is staring us in the face. And the rage machine Danielle rode to power doesn't want to face that. It's rural base is more anti immigrant than anti greenhouse gases.
How Nenshi combats that will be the intelligence test I'm willing to grade..........going forward.
Thanks for this article Lisa. It seems politics in this age of change has become - or continues to be personalized. It would be useful for this province and country to spend a bit more time on 'Policy' rather than politics including admiring or blaming the 'hero' or the 'goat'. Global complexities influence Canada and AB in so many ways. We can see and celebrate hockey in a global picture yet seem to wallow in politics like a scrappy street-hockey pick-up game where no rules apply.
We need to behave and be better.
Yes, Smith and now Nenshi clearly do represent the personalization of Alberta politics - with the difference that the Aberharts and Lougheeds of the past personalized one-party dominant politics, while Smith and Nenshi personalize a competitive two-party politics. At the moment of Nenshi's almost monolithic takeover we should not forget however that the personalization of politics almost inevitably brings with it a huge negative. The longer a successful leader whose power is personalized stays in office the more accumulated dissatisfaction with the party in office is focussed on the leader - as witness the present abysmal poll ratings of Justin Trudeau and the federal Liberals, just nine years since he swept to office on a wave of leader-focussed enthusiasm in 2015. This parallels Brian Mulroney's catastrophic slide from charismatic landslide victory in 1984 to poll numbers in the last years of his tenure that put his approval ratings lower than the numbers who believed Elvis was still alive, and the reduction of the PC party from a mighty majority across the country in 1984 to a derisory two elected MPs in 1993. Those who live by the personal image die by the personal image. Political parties soar and then plummet, shadowing the trajectory of their leaders.
"Caucus may be more of a challenge, as many of its members are experienced politicians who remain committed to a more traditional New Democrat worldview "
Having been born and raised in Winnipeg North Centre where Stanley Knowles was my MP from birth to age 25, what are the Alberta NDP world views? Certainly not socialism, meaning government ownership of means of production though here in Alberta if u believe in science, vaccines and the common good you r called a socialist. Heck when doing the census in 2021, I was a socialist for wearing a mask and was berated for being vaccinated.
But a social democracy like most of Northern Europe. Take care of everyone. Where the wealthy are OK with an 80% marginal tax rate as they know their society works.
Here it's all about profit. Everything needs profit. Yet the free market and profits have failed miserably from housing, food, health, drug use, almost every aspect of our society in just 40 years.
So where will the NDP take us as I joined tge Nenshi bandwagon
I'm pretty sure Nenshi is no social democrat.
We aren't starting in a good place that's for sure. Perhaps a few more years of drought, flood, fire and melting permafrost will wake us up. The CCF came out of the GreatDepression on the plains...........and just like a disbelieve in vaccines can kill you (and did dispatch a few unfortunate believers) so can a disbelief in climate change.
In the next few years we can either distract ourselves moving the deck chairs on the Titanic, or we can tackle the real issues we are all facing.
If Nenshi is as smart as he thinks he is...........he should be all over the real set of crises we face.
Ingamarie: Naheed Nenshi is on top of things. He is going to finish off Danielle Smith and the UCP.
CCS is a fools dream, that’s why the fossil industry builds it. Australia proved it created more emissions than what it collected.
Me! Me! politics is not government. It cares nothing for governing. Its macho attitudes lived as social bullies to hide a cowards heart.
We all hope so. But if we have to endorse black hole money pits like carbon capture and storage to do so.............it just might not matter.
The hard part for Albertans, is accepting that the fossil gold rushes have to be over.
Identifying a political party with an individual is dangerous, if we ignore the question of what interests does that individual represent in power. In the case of Danielle Smith, it is clear that she represents several particular interests:
- an international far right movement;
- the owners and shareholders of Alberta oil and gas companies, in particular the ones that are already floundering: witness the R-star program to use public funds to cover the unfunded liabilities for orphaned and abandoned wells, or her latest plan to use the Heritage Trust Fund, financed by non-renewable resource royalties, to, in her words, "derisk", that is bail out, failing oil and gas businesses;
- Alberta separatists: see the Free Alberta Strategy, one of whose co-authors is her right-hand man Rob Anderson, a blueprint for separation without a referendum, which is easily seen to be gradually but steadily implemented by her government.
The idea of the personalization of party politics also applies certainly to the modern Alberta NDP, a creation of Rachel Notley. But if you ask what were the interests that Rachel Notley represented in power, you will only find the people of Alberta. Notley certainly did not represent corporate interests (she did negotiate with them, as any intelligent popular leader must). Nor did she represent any international or local cabal. And if we listened to what the other leadership candidates had to say, we would find the same.
What of Nenshi? Nenshi's bid for the leadership was based exclusively on personal charisma and name recognition. He was persistently silent on policy matters, except for one thing. His parody of a campaign consisted entirely of grinning selfies and empty Twitter memes. He was particularly careful not to say anything about oil and gas or climate change (https://energi.media/markham-on-energy/nenshi-declines-interview-about-skimpy-energy-and-climate-ideas/).
The one specific policy announcement he did make was on the same day that he announced his candidacy: he wants to see several amendments made to the ANDP constitution, like breaking ties with the federal NDP. In other words, he wants to turn the party into ... not the Alberta NDP. Given his silence on everything else, we have to ask ourselves what particular interests does Nenshi represent?
I'm with you. Time will tell.......but at this point I suspect Nenshi is the chosen candidate of a lot of ordinary progressives lite.........who want 'goodness to prevail'...without having to think too deeply, or work too hard, to make sure it does.
As to separating from the Federal Party.........all NDP loyalists should protest that dumb idea.
Even trying to imagine what an 'exclusively ALberta NDP" might look like....or stand for....gives me a headache.
I fear that this 'personalization of politics' smells of neoliberalism. And that's the junk politics that got us into the mess we're in.
Alfredo, I find what you have written interesting; I agree with some of it, disagree with some of it but there is one thing that I do think I would highlight.
Specifically, you describe Danielle Smith as "far right" or, more particularly, "international far right." I won't speak to the "international" adjective but I would like to comment on the "far right" side of your comment.
It seems to me that anyone, I mean ANYONE who might be even mildly right of center is consistently described as "far right" in an attempt to, oh, demonize, criticize and marginalize that person. Were you - or I - members of the John Birch Society (remember them?) then, clearly, the descriptor of "far right" would apply. Someone who is mildly, mediumly (a new word) or whatever right of center is smeared with the "far right" label. By contrast, the descriptor of "far left" is reserved for just about no one, particularly those who might actually deserve that label.
My point is that we should understand how these labels are used as pejorative language and consider them carefully. Put differently, language is important.
Anyway, I will think about the balance of your comment.
Oh, and Nenshi? I am a Calgarian and have despised Nenshi, DESPISED I tell you, right from the start. It wasn't/isn't his race, his religion or anything like that. It is simply that he insists that he is the smartest guy in the room and insists on telling everyone that through his actions, his words, his smug manner. Oh, did I mention that I despise him?
As for policy, I expect that his policies will consist of warm words that can be interpreted howsomever any listener likes; in other words, nothing specific that one can follow.
Thank you for your thoughtful commentary.
Maybe I should be more specific. When I see Danielle Smith promoting people like Ron De Santis or Tucker Carlson, or when I see that a minister in her government actually campaigned for Donald Trump, that's what I mean by an international far right.
Danielle Smith is being controlled by Take Back Alberta, which is a far right organization, or cult.
Hmmmm .....
Okay, I see your point about Tucker Carlson. To be honest, I wondered about Smith being involved with him on the stage when it happened a short time ago. As for DeSantis, I think that his record is a bit more complex but you are certainly entitled to your opinions.
What I did not see in your response was my basic point that the use of the term "far right" is a smear but no one considers using the adjective "far left" as - isn't it obvious?? - the left is virtuous!
Coincidentally a blog dropped in my inbox today that addresses this same point. This blog - by Peter Menzies, former publisher of the Calgary Herald, former vice-chairman of the CRTC - talks about this specific thing. You can find it at https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzQVxHjdDgpbFSvCctCCfSlzFsfj
and I highly recommend it as it talks about the use of these descriptors in "news" articles without adequate discussion as to why those adjectives are or are not reasonable.
Honest, it is an - dare I say it? - honest discussion.
While I think your concern over the far right label is a bit overblown (sure, lots of moderate conservatives voted for Danielle, believing her lies about not touching any of her libertarian policies). The right wing in Alberta is increasingly anti science, anti federalist and beholden to an increasingly anti democratic fringe...a recent poll tells us the support for Danielle hasn't shrunk at all in this last year.
That alone should give 'moderate conservatives' if they still exist.......pause.
On your feelings about Nenshi...I'd suggest despising anyone is a move to the right......it dances cheek to jowl with 'hate'..........However, I too cringe when he has to turn his speeches to himself.........because there is a self satisfied, self love there, that is ever so slightly shameful.
The leaders we need spend no time on self love. They have a passion for social justice, solutions to problems and a deep commitment to making things better for the general public.
Rachel has that. Jack Layton had that.
Nenshi's self-advertisements make me wonder whether he's more passionate about his image. If so, that's a large flaw, that could well limit the good he could do, in favour of the good show he makes, talking about doing it.
To conclude: More Policy, Less Nenshi is what I need to see, going forward.
Ingamarie: The UCP are the polar opposite of being a Conservative government. Conservatives from the past have said that they aren't. It's true, because of what the UCP does.
Actually, not. Conservatives have a long history of standing with big money.......and of being fiscally conservative (save the money, don't spend it on public works), and socially conservative (women and men have separate rolls, and women don't own their own bodies.....the state tells them what to do)
There have been lots of changes, socially: the conservative minded want to roll back some of them....in part due to their religious take on the world. Abortion is under threat in the states, and will be here if we take a new move to the right.
Fiscally.......the new tax whining...austerity for schools and hospitals....but money spend wildly defending tar: THESE AREN'T NEW DEVELOPMENTS....Conservative politicians have status quo priorities.
The UCP just seems more radical because of the social/fiscal changes we've experienced in the last 30 years of neo-liberalism. The boom years built up deficits in social spending (schools, universities, hospitals got less) and financialization gave the money boys more power over our tax dollars.
The same people vote UCP who when I came to Alberta voted Lougheed.
“The dialogue continues!” Thank god.
Just in time too. The succession of monologues was excessively boring and the UCP had practiced in to perfection.
NDP or Nenshi Party? Great speaker, organizer, and agenda master.
I agree with your analysis, “ I argued that if he entered the race, he was initiating a merger between the Alberta NDP and his own urban progressive movement. Four months later, I’ll stick with that analysis.”
They have done a great job in political organizing and will probably be a more viable force in challenging the UCP than others have been (except Notley, who as a traditional New Democrat did a great job but didn’t win the last election). Progressives want to stop the current government and many of their policies. Many of these new people are probably Federal Liberals who don’t want alliances with the Federal NDP but also realize the stigma a provincial “L” name ( which at one time in Alberta was the name NDP). The right did the great shift it in BC when Social Credit supporters suddenly called themselves Liberals. Quebec is the only provincial NDP that is not affiliated federally so comparisons with the UCP and CCP affiliation are different.
The NDP has been a big enough home to welcome Nenshi and his new comers but over self confidence ( or self absorption) can separate various supporters and not unite. On CBC radio today he said he was against implementing a provincial sales tax rather than saying New Democrats do not support the move. This might sound trivial but it reflects doing things his way unless he is honest about open debate.
Your analysis I find bang on! Mergers are difficult and many people want him to succeed with respect for those who have worked hard ( longer than he has) in building a credible voice for the people of Alberta. Note: my spouse disagrees with me and just wants this government gone - the dialogue continues.
I feel like this headline is misleading--I thought you were going to talk about the Alberta Party!
U r seeing what u want
I might be. I might be.