XPost: can.politics, ab.politics, edm.general   
   From: "@nyet.ca   
      
   This HAS to be a faulty poll.  We've often had reason to think that   
   Albertans were more than a bit out-of-touch with reality, but this is   
   ridiculous!   
   Between the news generated about Alison Redford and now this, I say that   
   Canadians should offer to pay for the testing of Alberta's drinking   
   water in the event that the source of their leader choices is some   
   contaminate from the tarsands.   
      
   _________________________________________________   
   Calgary Herald - August 1, 2014   
      
   Klein named most admired Albertan in new poll   
      
   Lougheed ranked No. 2   
      
      
   Alberta is famous for its cowboys and oilmen, but political leaders are   
   the people we consider our heroes - ahead of hockey stars, entertainers   
   or even our parents.   
      
   A new provincewide poll by Insights West indicates former premiers Ralph   
   Klein and Peter Lougheed are the runaway leaders when Albertans were   
   asked which person associated with the province - living or dead - they   
   most admire.   
      
   The survey of 627 Albertans, conducted in mid-July, shows Klein is the   
   clear winner, with 30 per cent picking the former Calgary mayor and   
   premier as their most admired person.   
      
   Lougheed, who started the Progressive Conservative political dynasty in   
   1971, established the Heritage Fund and governed until 1985, was the top   
   choice of 23 per cent.   
      
   Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Lois Hole, Alberta's 15th   
   lieutenant-governor, author and philanthropist, tied for third spot at   
   four per cent each.   
      
   Former Edmonton Oilers legend Wayne Gretzky rounded out the top five,   
   collecting three per cent of the vote.   
      
   "Out of everyone who wrote a name, more than half of them wrote either   
   Lougheed or Klein, which is astonishing," said Mario Canseco,   
   vice-president with Insights West.   
      
   "The thing that really sets Alberta apart from the rest of Canada,   
   really, is you look at your two biggest heroes as two former premiers."   
      
   Surprisingly, politicians dominated the top 10 list, with seven   
   individuals serving at City Hall, in the provincial legislature or in   
   Parliament.   
      
   Activist and MLA Nellie McClung, who helped lead the charge for women's   
   rights last century, finished in sixth (three per cent), followed by   
   longtime Social Credit premier Ernest Manning, who governed from 1943   
   until 1968.   
      
   Former MLA, lieutenant-governor and Calgary mayor Grant MacEwan placed   
   eighth, while Prime Minister Stephen Harper finished 10th.   
      
   Respondents selected their own father in 10 cases - good enough for   
   ninth place on the most-admired list.   
      
   The only entertainer to crack the top dozen was country music artist   
   Paul Brandt, although multiple respondents picked Edmonton-born actor   
   Michael J. Fox, as well as singers k.d. lang and Joni Mitchell. Activist   
   Emily Murphy, who along with McClung was part of the Famous 5, finished   
   in 13th place, just behind Brandt and "mom."   
      
   Other politicians on the list with multiple mentions include former NDP   
   Leader Grant Notley, Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith, former prime   
   minister Joe Clark, former premier Don Getty and Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson.   
      
   Canseco said the domination of politicians in the poll is notable,   
   particularly since they easily topped entertainers or sports figures.   
      
   The deaths of both Klein and Lougheed in the past two years has likely   
   elevated their profile, shining a spotlight on their legacies, he said.   
      
   "It really has to do with the way people feel about their own province,   
   and it's deeply connected," he said.   
   "There's a sense of pride in the way the province operates."   
      <<=== [ now, THAT'S very worrisome]   
   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^   
      
      
      
   University of Calgary historian David Bercuson said the list reflects   
   some of the biggest names in Alberta's political history - such as   
   Manning, Klein and Lougheed - but significantly, it also captures public   
   figures such as Hole, McClung and MacEwan.   
      
   "I thought Wayne Gretzky would be at the top, or k.d. lang," said   
   Bercuson. "I think it's good, because it says people do have politics on   
   their mind."   
      
   Feelings toward Klein remain strong, he noted, as the public remembers   
   the folksy premier and his outspoken personality, as well as his   
   accomplishments such as tackling the debt.   
      
   "What you remember about Ralph was he was good old Ralph. He had beer at   
   the King Eddy, admitted his mistakes, he took on tough work," said Bercuson.   
      
   Lougheed, meanwhile, has become "mythologized" in the province as   
   someone who stood up to Ottawa during the national energy wars and   
   didn't lose touch with the public, he said.   
      
   Despite frequent complaints about politicians of all stripes, the poll   
   also indicates Albertans don't despise their leaders at City Hall or the   
   legislature, Bercuson added.   
      
   "I don't think we hate our politicians," he said. "We can complain - and   
   do complain - about politicians doing bad things ... but we don't think   
   the system is rotten."   
      
   The survey also found Klein was the most popular premier in the past   
   three decades.   
      
   Klein, a former journalist and the premier from 1992 until 2006, was   
   chosen by 59 per cent of respondents when asked who was Alberta's best   
   premier during that period.   
      
   Getty finished second with seven per cent, followed by Ed Stelmach (four   
   per cent), Alison Redford (three per cent) and current Premier Dave   
   Hancock (three per cent).   
      
   Almost one in four people said they weren't sure who was Alberta's best   
   premier since 1985, which captures the post-Lougheed era.   
      
   The results were equally one-sided when Albertans were asked to pick the   
   worst premier of the past three decades.   
      
   Redford, who resigned in March amid a spending scandal and questions   
   over her management style, was selected by 58 per cent, followed by   
   Klein (10 per cent), Stelmach (nine per cent) and Getty (five per cent).   
      
      
   Hancock did not receive any votes for worst premier, while 17 per cent   
   said they weren't sure.   
      
   The poll reflects the non-stop controversy over the past several months   
   facing Redford, Canseco said.   
      
   "It's just astonishing. Two years ago, (she had) one of the most   
   wonderful comebacks in history and one of the most surprising electoral   
   results. And it just flew offthe handle so quickly," he said.   
      
   Insights West surveyed 627 Alberta adults online between July 15 and   
   July 18. A poll of this size has a margin of error of plus or minus four   
   percentage points, 19 times out of 20.   
   ________________________________   
      
   Okay, that explains some of it . . . . it's rightwing Angus Reid types   
   that conducted the poll.      (ー_ー)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)