Bell: Calgary Liberal love-in, Nenshi and … gulp … Jeff Davison

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What the … ?

It’s Sunday in northeast Calgary and Jeff Davison, the west-side councillor running for mayor, should be anywhere but here.

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After all, there are people who actually believe Davison is a conservative.

There are people, some of them real establishment types, backing Davison who call themselves conservative and make no bones about it.

Alas, these people can provide little evidence Davison is a conservative. In the end, for them, it is a belief.

Others call Davison a centrist. No one has ever adequately explained the philosophy of centrism.

It’s Sunday in northeast Calgary and Mayor Naheed Nenshi looks like he’s having a whale of a time at a Liberal campaign event kicking off a federal election campaign that hasn’t kicked off.

On this day, Nenshi appears as Kenney government insider Doug Schweitzer once pegged him.

Trudeau’s mayor.

Have to admit Prime Minister Trudeau was in town recently and it was clear the PM and the mayor are political pals.

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And, despite denials, the rumour mill keeps telling us not to surprised if Nenshi finds himself with a seat in the Senate.

Anyway, it’s Sunday in northeast Calgary and Nenshi is on the back of a red pickup truck saying he feels very Jason Kenney.

‘You don’t hear me say that often,” says the mayor, obviously thrilled to support George Chahal, the councillor now running as a Liberal for a seat in the House of Commons representing a northeast Calgary riding.

The premier toured around the province in a blue pickup. Are pickups now a Trudeau Liberal thing?

Nenshi tells the assembled it’s very uncommon he appear at a partisan political rally.

He uncorks his old line about his favourite colour purple being red and blue. Presumably he’s a mix of liberal and conservative.

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Few people buy the well-worn line.

The mayor is happy he sees five councillors in the crowd.

Druh Farrell. No surprise.

Gian-Carlo Carra. No surprise.

Jyoti Gondek. No surprise.

There are two more. Gulp.

Jeff Davison and his sidekick Ward Sutherland.

You know, the guys thought to be some kind of conservative by other guys who claim to be some kind of conservative where the meaning of the word “conservative” is whatever you want it to mean.

“I need to tell you all that Calgary is not well-served by the way we vote federally,” says Nenshi, to the Liberal gathering.

Nenshi adds Trudeau has told him many, many times having a Liberal from Alberta around the cabinet table “has been extraordinary for the federal government’s understanding of Alberta.”

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Er … how is that Trudeau government understanding of Alberta working out for us?

The mayor adds it’s important Calgarians ensure there is representation in any and all federal governments.

Translation. Vote Liberal. Vote Chahal in northeast Calgary.

At one point in the proceedings Nenshi says he’ll be “a little bit self-indulgent.”

Like that never happens.

He is done as mayor in a couple of months and, for him, it has been “an extraordinary 11 years of community building” where Calgarians have determined they can “dream of a better place.”

It never ceases to amaze how many Calgarians are suckered in by the sweet nothings.

Then there is Davison.

His campaign HQ did not respond Monday.

A quick survey of political pros think Davison should have given the Liberal love-in a pass.

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“Why would he do it?” asks one pro, adding there would be no freaking chance a candidate he managed would go there. Too much downside.

Jeromy Farkas is a councillor running for mayor. He got an invite but was in Bowness.

“I like George. He is a nice guy but if wins he still has to take his marching orders from his boss and that’s Justin Trudeau. I’m not voting Liberal and not even Nenshi on a red pickup truck is going to persuade me.”

As for Davison and Sutherland …

“It’s nice to see them show their true colours. Red. When people like that show you who they are, you should believe them.”

Maybe Davison is just looking for help scooping votes in the city’s northeast.

Maybe Davison will say he was helping Chahal as a friend.

“If George needs help moving I’ll bring the U-Haul. But if it’s to help him and his boss Trudeau I’ll be busy washing my hair,” says Farkas.

Sean Chu is a councillor also scoring an invite but one who took a pass on the Trudeau Liberal campaign shindig.

“I respect George Chahal but I can’t bring myself to be part of the Liberals.”

“That is a bridge too far.”

rbell@postmedia.com

Twitter: @sunrickbell