King Ralph Strikes Out Again, This Time in Washington

If Alberta Premier Ralph Klein was a professional baseball player, his arms would be sore from “another swing and a miss!”  As usual, the Premier has struck out again.

The Premier reported that he was off to Washington to meet with United States Vice-President Chaney to discuss opening the closed Canada-United States border for Canada’s beef industry.  In actual fact Albertans, in deed all Canadians, should understand this trip to the United States has been planned for some time.  It had nothing to do with mad cow disease (BSE) and the closed border. But the Premier, being the consummate politician, decided to make it look like he was going to Washington to champion the cause of the cattle industry.  As usual, when he got there, he dropped the ball, or should I say “… a swing and a miss! He struck out.”  As usual, he came home empty handed; - no agreement in hand. 

This can be added to his long list of weak-kneed reactions on various other issues important to Albertans.  Always reaction; never action.  So who is surprised?  No one has the right to be surprised.  Albertans should be used to this type of end result by now.

There is the controversial Firearms Act.  The good Premier could have passed legislation protecting Albertans from this invasive infringement on provincial rights under the Canadian Constitution but did nothing; - “…a swing and a miss!”

King Ralph promised to “build fences to protect families” after the Supreme Court Vriend decision but apparently the Premier ran out of fencing material; - “… a swing and a miss.”

There was his politically motivated appearance in Lethbridge at the jailing of Alberta farmers for selling their own product in October 2002.  In his speech to the masses in attendance, he promised to do something to protect Alberta farmers from the monopoly of the Canadian Wheat Board.  He said he would do it by spring 2003.  Nothing done to date; “…a swing and a miss.”

The Premier’s fight against the Kyoto Accord was a dismal display of no conviction, no intestinal fortitude and no leadership.  After pretending to fight Ottawa and the Accord by spending one and one-half million dollars Alberta taxpayer’s dollars advertising against the Accord, he folded his tent; - “… a swing and a miss.” 

Now the Premier is huffing and puffing about same sex marriages being ratified by Ottawa.  He has threatened to invoke the “notwithstanding clause”.  When it comes time to protect Albertans (for example religious organizations) from discrimination prosecution under Human Rights legislation for refusing to conduct, recognize or condone these same sex unions, Premiere Klein will be no where to be seen; - “…a swing and a miss!”

This is not the kind of leadership Albertans expect but it appears it is the best Premier Klein has to offer.