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The message, which is now in the hands of police, said in part: “Rob Anderson . . . where I’m from, we take care of people like you with a knife to the bowels. You need to be knifed in your bowels. You don’t deserve to be alive.” Unsettling words to be sure.

It was people I respect like you, people like (former federal Conservative MP) Jay Hill, all kinds of friends on the federal side of things who knew Jim really well and kept saying the same thing, to a man they had nothing but praise for him — even family members — and myself too

“The death threat isn’t the ultimate reason for our departure — but this threat and frankly some of the other hateful things people expressed about us and our character — certainly played a role in clinching the decision,” added Anderson in a lengthy interview Wednesday.

“When you try to do the right thing and then get portrayed as the scum of the earth for doing so while your family is threatened in the process … politics becomes less and less appealing.” That’s understandable.

But what will forever be difficult to understand for most Albertans is why someone who was planning to quit politics would work so hard to destroy a party he sacrificed so much for, to turn into a viable political threat to the long-governing Tories.

“I wish people could see inside my heart and head and see that my motives are pure. I fought hard for this province and I’m doing what I think is best now, that is supporting a very honourable man, Jim Prentice, who is the best equipped to lead this province during a difficult time,” explained Anderson.

“It’s funny,” admits Anderson,”your strong endorsement of Prentice,” he said referring to my columns and editorials, “helped make me take off the partisan blinders and take another look at him.” Hmm? As someone who believes in the importance of having a strong opposition to the 43-year Tory dynasty, I’m not thrilled to be blamed or credited.