Speaking to delegates yesterday, Williams scolded Alberta PCs for their lukewarm endorsement of King Ralph's leadership. As VOCM reports it, "...he told delegates Klein deserves their gratitude for all he's done for the province. ... Williams said when he's achieved a fraction of Klein's success, he'd expect gratitude and thanks from his party."
"And I would expect to leave on my own terms, having won the mandate from the people," he said. "Ralph Klein deserves certainly no less." That's from the Edmonton Sun's incredibly short story on Williams' after-dinner speech.
The CBC version includes Williams saying "When I grow up, I want to be just like Ralph Klein."I'll let you guys google Ralph to find out all the things The King of Alberta has done over the years that Danny might find praiseworthy.
The interesting thing here is that Williams took it upon himself to advise/lecture/scold Alberta Tories on their own leadership. Presumptuous would be one word for it, especially in light of the fact Ralph was asking for an endorsement so he could hang around for a couple of years, thereby leaving the Alberta PC's to have a fractious leadership convention and go to the polls all in the space of a few months.
"The delegates here have spoken. The delegates have said their thoughts -– they're the important people in this particular discussion," said Lyle Oberg, a former Klein cabinet minister, commenting on Williams' intervention.
That's really the point, isn't it?
The delegates get to decide based on all the facts.
Guest speakers don't.
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Belated April Fool's Bonus:
In the photo at left, Premier Danny Williams explains the proper hand technique for seizing the ruling cheeks before planting the mandatory laudatory osculation on The Leader's hindmost region."Learn it now so I don't have to show you later."