I realize things can happen and there might be a very logical reason for the delay. Actually this is one of the reasons I signed up for their newsletter; to be kept abreast of developments. I have yet to hear from them; not even a standard, automated welcome note.
So I went in search of information from those involved. The Renew Alberta website has not been updated since the original announcement on February 19th. The Alberta Party’s leader has not blogged since the same date. The most recent interim leader made a few comments on Feb 24.
I also checked Twitter for #renewab, @albertaparty; searched “the big listen”. Nadda. Zip. Zilch.
*** crickets ***
They should rename their campaign "The Big Mistake".
ReplyDeletePerhaps the launch of a new party is a bigger task than just having a good idea. I cannot imagine what your group went through....yikes.
ReplyDeleteShane
So let me get a handle on this. The WAP grew to become a wildly successful new party on the right, so now the frazzled left in Alberta is trying to do the same, yes? Is that what the Alberta Party and this phantom Renew Alberta thing is about? Jeez, just like movies, one hit spawns a whole bunch of imitators.
ReplyDeleteShane,
ReplyDeleteI think many people under estimate the work involved in growing and operating a political party. It takes 1000's of volunteer hours. Behind everything you see a party "doing" there are a ton of people working to make it happen.
Things are not always rosie (pun not intended). We saw this about a year ago when the Libs had to lay off all of their staff. The former AAP also had several years on life support.
Leigh,
I don't see anything wrong with others trying to replicate the success of the WAP. Especially on the left, where our province has some pretty sad choices right now.
The NDP couldn't even support (or bother to) their candidate in the Glenmore by-election. The Libs are terribly split and Swann is one of their worst leaders (IMHO).
Clearly there is no where for the left to go. In the past 12 months the Greens have disappeared. The DRP seems to have been a flop. The "Progressive Party" never took hold. Both the Reboot and the Renew now seem directionless.
They seem to be grasping at straws. If they could all get on one boat and all row in the same direction they might actually go somewhere.
If they can do this they have two choices.
1) Get out there and get the 7000 some signatures to start a fresh party.
2) Use the Albera Party as their frame, but for heavens sake follow the constitution.
If they want to be a party with the others they need to play by the same rules. This is a hard lesson to learn, but others have done it and made things work.
Lastly, I want to reiterate I do wish them success. I truly believe Albertans would be better served with more viable options on the menu.
That is what politics should be about; Albertans and Alberta, not who can gain and retain power.
I'm just glad to see people like yourself getting involved and trying to make a difference.
ReplyDelete