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So I live in Alberta, which means that every once in a while some provincial-level politics are going to seep into this blog. Case in point: the Wildrose Alliance.

All of a sudden, the blogosphere is all abuzz about this fringe of rightist wackos who couldn't get enough face time among the PCs. (FYI: there are usually several "righter than PC" parties running in Alberta, and most get soundly trounced.) This one had a little success in luring an indie conservative seat their way, but managed to get nobody elected in last March's Stelmach Sweep.

However, a government relations friend of mine mentioned that there were Calgarian interests willing to fully bankroll a social conservative party with less... "interventionist" views on oilsands development. The anemic royalty program tentatively approved by the current government was enough to send new developments into the waiting arms of the other prairie provinces, who have been following Alberta's original "drill first and worry about the landscape/water/CO2 emissions/public health risks later" mentality.

So, is this the perfect storm of Harry Strom-ian proportions? Albertans don't switch loyalties easily, but when they do, it is breathtakingly fast. Despite the fact that I have never lived under a different provincial political party, could we see the end of the conservative stranglehold on Alberta in my lifetime? Dare I dream of a less conservative or even - the heart aches to consider it - a post-partisan Alberta?

Um, no. A Wildrose by any other name would simply be the Calgary Tories backing a different horse to power. They lost their party to an Edmonton-area farmer and need a new one to run. How much do you want to wager that we would see Jim Dinning and Craig Chandler on the lists if the Wildrose starts to grow? (Or perhaps I can fuel your conspiracy theory by suggesting that the Wildrose grows just large enough to siphon serious votes from the Tories, at which point the PCs decide to choose a new leader... Sharpen your pencils, class: Where do you think this new leader will be from?)

In short, I suppose this is politics-as-usual here in Big Sky Country. The urban areas that hold two thirds of our population are gerrymandered into ridings with enormous rural populations included. Forty per cent of us vote, and half of the voters elect Tories to 72 out of 81 seats - what difference does it make if they're called "PCs" or "Wildrose"? It will still be tough to be gay in Alberta, corporate taxes and AISH payments will remain low, and the Party will rule like kings.

Because what's gonna happen? Are Albertans going to vote for someone else?

I didn't think so.