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Oh, what is a “progressive” conservative in Alberta to do?

What do you do when your old Progressive Conservative party is being newly piloted by a social conservative who wants to scrap it for parts to meld with bits and pieces from the Wildrose Party to form a brand new hybrid political vehicle?

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Oh, on a superficial level you know the yet-to-be constructive United Conservative Party looks big and powerful — and might be able to easily overtake the NDP pedal-car next election — but deep down you’re afraid the UCP will end up being a 1960s Social Credit jalopy that pulls dangerously to the right.

You want other political options.

So, what to do?

Well, for one, you could grab hold of the UCP steering wheel by becoming leader of the new party.

That’s not exactly how Doug Schweitzerwould characterize his bid for leadership of the UCP — but it’s sort of exactly what he’d like to do.

(A leadership vote for the UCP will be held Oct. 28 — but only if members of both parties agree to form the new party in ratification votes on July 22).