www.ChrisLaBossiere.com

Apogee (ap-o-gee)  ~ noun

1. Astronomy. the point in the orbit of a heavenly body, esp. the moon, or of a man-made satellite at which it is farthest from the earth.

2. the highest or most distant point; climax.

If you're Ed Stelmach and the Alberta Progressive Conservatives, there is only one thing that you can be certain of; it's all downhill from here. Like Wile E. Coyote who has just stepped over the edge of the cliff, let's take this very brief moment to reflect on how gravity is about to be applied to Ed and the PC's... before they throw up the help sign.

1) The Wildrose Alliance Party has found some momentum at the most opportune time. This weekend we will see a leader elected in the race between Danielle Smith and Mark Dyrholm. What has made this opposition party unique compared to the hapless Liberals and ND's, is the excitement that seems to be building round Danielle Smith. There have been rumours that there are PC MLA's reading to cross the floor to the WAP if she wins. Of course that may not happen, but it will get talked about a lot. Also, she is getting critical acclaim from all ends of the political spectrum for being a bit of an enigma within the party that is synonymous with the Social Conservative movement. She pegs herself as a Libertarian, which basically give her a free ride on the social issues that might offend many social centrists, and she has said many of the right things on the Environment and the contentious Bill 44, if your looking with curiosity from the center or left.

It doesn't hurt that she is a good communicator and appears to be an impassioned, confident woman. A great first for Alberta political leaders if your an idealist, and a novelty at the very least if your a cynic.

2) Tonight Premier Stelmach gives a province wide televised address to discuss his position on the economic / budget crisis facing the Province. Mr. Stelmach simply has never connected with Albertans as a charismatic and visionary communicator. So no matter how accurate and effective his position on the issues might be, he will come across at best as boring and uninspiring, and at worst as a political opportunist using the free airwaves to help bolster him for what comes next....

3) ....the annual Progressive Conservative Association Annual General Meeting. In just over two weeks, Ed and the PC's (My Party for the record), will be meeting to discuss the business of the party. Part of that discussion, is a leadership review of the Premier. No matter how good the results might be, I can't imagine the Premier coming out of the Red Deer convention with a bigger mandate than the one he received during the election. It's all downside.

None of this is bad in my opinion. Like the Wile E. Coyote of cartoon fame, nobody dies. Although I don't expect a resurrection of biblical proportions, I do expect the PC's to use this fall from grace to reinvent themselves. I have always believed that Alberta is a largely Conservative Province, but also broadly Progressive in nature (outside some mostly rural pockets), and in my opinion most will be looking for an option other than the Wildrose Alliance Party. That option might have to be a PC party with a new leader, but that in my opinion would be a change worth considering.