What the Hell is Jim Thinking...Part 2
Bad two consecutive posts for Jim...sorry, news is news
I must say up front that the accusations flying around the Dinning campagin's alleged use of taxpayer money to fund campaign activites conducted by on-the-job government employees have not yet been proven and have in fact been denied...that said, it still has a foul stench to it -almost Liberalesque.
If you haven't heard (and that's possible given Lyle Oberg's "I'm calling this press conference to tell you nothing" press conference yesterday), it appears that at least 2 independent sources have been on the phones spilling the beans that Mr. Jim Dinning has been using government employees, while on the job, to conduct several campaign activities - mainly tearing apart Mr. Oberg's campaign platform (ironic as it is - since Mr. Dinning doesn't seem to be running on any kind of substantive platform or new ideas...yet).
Now, you would think that Jim, on hearing these accusations, would give a good 'ol "If this is true, I'm mad as hell and I'm going to put a stop to this right away" speach, thus showing fiscal conservatives that in a big campagin things can happen without the boss knowing, but when the "Premier-in-Waiting" finds out its game over bacause Dinning doesn't do Liberal-like politics. That would seem the best course of action. However, thats not what Jim said. He says and I quote:
"If he's got some serious concerns, raise them with party officials," Dinning said. "Don't raise them at a press conference."
Excuse me, are you serious? That's your damage control Jim?
This is the stuff that makes Liberal supporters nod their heads in agreement and makes Conservatives want to puke. Making excuses for a clear misappropriation of tax dollars and then proceeding to blame the whistleblower would make even Paul Martin blush.
Further, Jim is taking great pains to paint himself as anti-establishment, not the status quo - the reason being that although Alberta is doing quite well, conservative voters are staying home and going to vote elsewhere becuase they started to see and smell the rot of a provincial government believing it had some sort of divine authority to rule as they wished without accountability or fresh direction. Albertan's can't stand that attitude...never have, and hopefully never will. They may keep a party in power for 100 years - but it better do some serious housecleaning when this odour creeps in - or else we simply create a new party that doesn't include the word Liberal in it, and have electoral purging.
So, if this is the attitude that Jim Dinning will bring as leader, I think the Tory's days as a governing party may be numbered. I hope I'm wrong and either Jim has a distinct attitude adjustment, or Alberta conservatives elect a Premier Morton, Oberg, Stelmach or whoever - with a much more idealistic view of government accountability.
Links for this story:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2006/10/25/tory-mystery.html
Post script: it appears Jim read my thoughts. His attitude has seemingly changed:
"No one's brought it to my attention. If there's a problem, if I can help solve it, I will," Dinning said of Oberg's accusations.
"First and foremost, they're citizens. If they're doing it on government time, they shouldn't. But if they're doing it on their own personal time, they're citizens who are allowed to make choices."
Much better Jim! The whole thing still has a terrible waft - but much better
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=1b29e7fa-b3f4-4c39-8b6d-8bb4b694222b&k=44983
I must say up front that the accusations flying around the Dinning campagin's alleged use of taxpayer money to fund campaign activites conducted by on-the-job government employees have not yet been proven and have in fact been denied...that said, it still has a foul stench to it -almost Liberalesque.
If you haven't heard (and that's possible given Lyle Oberg's "I'm calling this press conference to tell you nothing" press conference yesterday), it appears that at least 2 independent sources have been on the phones spilling the beans that Mr. Jim Dinning has been using government employees, while on the job, to conduct several campaign activities - mainly tearing apart Mr. Oberg's campaign platform (ironic as it is - since Mr. Dinning doesn't seem to be running on any kind of substantive platform or new ideas...yet).
Now, you would think that Jim, on hearing these accusations, would give a good 'ol "If this is true, I'm mad as hell and I'm going to put a stop to this right away" speach, thus showing fiscal conservatives that in a big campagin things can happen without the boss knowing, but when the "Premier-in-Waiting" finds out its game over bacause Dinning doesn't do Liberal-like politics. That would seem the best course of action. However, thats not what Jim said. He says and I quote:
"If he's got some serious concerns, raise them with party officials," Dinning said. "Don't raise them at a press conference."
Excuse me, are you serious? That's your damage control Jim?
This is the stuff that makes Liberal supporters nod their heads in agreement and makes Conservatives want to puke. Making excuses for a clear misappropriation of tax dollars and then proceeding to blame the whistleblower would make even Paul Martin blush.
Further, Jim is taking great pains to paint himself as anti-establishment, not the status quo - the reason being that although Alberta is doing quite well, conservative voters are staying home and going to vote elsewhere becuase they started to see and smell the rot of a provincial government believing it had some sort of divine authority to rule as they wished without accountability or fresh direction. Albertan's can't stand that attitude...never have, and hopefully never will. They may keep a party in power for 100 years - but it better do some serious housecleaning when this odour creeps in - or else we simply create a new party that doesn't include the word Liberal in it, and have electoral purging.
So, if this is the attitude that Jim Dinning will bring as leader, I think the Tory's days as a governing party may be numbered. I hope I'm wrong and either Jim has a distinct attitude adjustment, or Alberta conservatives elect a Premier Morton, Oberg, Stelmach or whoever - with a much more idealistic view of government accountability.
Links for this story:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2006/10/25/tory-mystery.html
Post script: it appears Jim read my thoughts. His attitude has seemingly changed:
"No one's brought it to my attention. If there's a problem, if I can help solve it, I will," Dinning said of Oberg's accusations.
"First and foremost, they're citizens. If they're doing it on government time, they shouldn't. But if they're doing it on their own personal time, they're citizens who are allowed to make choices."
Much better Jim! The whole thing still has a terrible waft - but much better
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=1b29e7fa-b3f4-4c39-8b6d-8bb4b694222b&k=44983
posted by proudconservative at 7:31 AM
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