Oh looky!

Klein is headed out. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

There are a number of theories here. First, the Third Way. Apparently, Albertans aren't exactly rushing to embrace it. Even the Right in Albertan figures that they've lost that battle.

Leadership candidate Mark Norris says the program is already dead. "The bottom line is that nobody understands this," said Norris, who held the economic development portfolio before being defeated in the last election. "You have to get people emotionally involved and (believe) why they need to buy into it. We have to do a better job of explaining."

It might also be worth noting, as the Calgary Grit has linked to, the leadership candidates aren't exactly jumping all over themselves to support it either.

In part, it might also be that Ralph's drinking, muttering and general gadding about the place in a state of near dementia for several years, only to stomp all over those preparing to replace him finally did him in. The dumbest part about it (aside from attempting to emulate Chretian re: Martin) was that Oberg was a long shot at best. So when Dinning and Norris, who are slightly bigger fish see this, the prospect of being kicked out of caucus and cabinet while King Ralp takes 34 years to retire was probably too much. These guys have a lot of party memberships taken out to support them. Not surprising that suddenly the membership woke up.

But to make it even more fun, seems like the good Parson is getting back into the race. Which makes it all mightee innerestin, don't you thing? Dinning was the front runner, but Preston could turn all that on its head.

Post Script: A few days later, it seems like option #3 has emerged as the winner! Reports out of Alberta in the Globe have a large number of people upset that King Ralph has been blindsided by an attempted coup. This, of course, opens the door to the right-wing mantra, "the silent majority, that of the people, know I am right and support me." So maybe he stays. Stay tuned.