Some Reasons Why I Miss Ralph Klein

1. Ralph had a plan to take Alberta out of debt.

2. Ralph outlined his plan.

3. Against all kinds of opposition, Ralph stuck to his plan, giving Alberta almost a decade and a half of prosperity under the Alberta Advantage with the simple act of balancing our provincial budget.

4. When Ralph misstepped and wanted to cut the AISH benefit back for the disabled in 1997, hundreds of us gathered at Edmonton's Grant MacEwan College to voice our displeasure. And the plan was abandoned almost immediately. If I ever had the chance to meet Ralph Klein, I would shake his hand and thank him for that.

5. On those occasions when his personal missteps became public, he admitted and acknowledged them, got help, and dealt with them.

6. And let's face it, Ralph Klein had personality and confidence, two things important to any politician in communicating to the people, formulating long range plans, and sticking to them. When he won in 1992, he exuded confidence, not a look that said, "Oh shit, I thought Jim was gonna win", like Ed Stelmach did.

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