As Alberta Speaker Ken Kowalski might say after a particularly spirited rendition of the national anthem by occupants of the legislative galleries, "Well, now!"

The Internet is abuzz with predictions that Kowalski, after three decades and two years as a Conservative MLA, nine consecutive terms in all, is about to retire from politics.

What if the Alberta Liberals found a leader who could generate a little excitement -- say like Dan MacLennan, the former union leader controversial in labour circles for not being a New Democrat and beloved by the media for his entertainment value and easy way with a quote?

Hey, Alberta Party! You got some 'splainin' to do!

Yesterday's announcement that Dave Taylor had joined the fledgling Alberta Party as its first MLA is horrible news for the Alberta Liberals and glad tidings for anyone who enjoys being a spectator at the political equivalent of a bar brawl.

Politics, as Carl von Clausewitz didn't exactly say, is merely a slightly more civilized version of war. Thus, among the immutable laws of politics is this one: When in doubt, shoot those whose loyalty is in question and blame your communications people.

If you want to know just how steep the climb is to the united centre-left proposed last week by Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann, consider the resignation today of party president Tony Sansotta.

Yes, that Tony Sansotta -- the one who with Swann co-signed last week's "Let's Talk" newspaper advertisement entreating members of the Alberta New Democrats and other political parties to make common cause with the Liberals to create a new progressive alternative to replace the Conservatives and Wildrose Alliance in the hearts of voters.

Like ripples on a pond, the impact of yesterday's announcement by Alberta Liberal MLA Kent Hehr that he plans to run for mayor of Calgary could spread far beyond Cowtown City Hall.

In any city of more than a million people, something would be gravely amiss if there weren't some pretty vigorous disagreements on city council. But to voters who are barely paying attention, Hehr's campaign claim that Calgary council is so divided and dysfunctional it needs an outsider to patch things up may carry a certain amount of credibility.

What did Calgary-Currie MLA Dave Taylor expect to gain yesterday when he announced he was resigning from the Alberta Liberal Party and asking the speaker of the Legislature to let him sit as an independent?

Readers need not doubt the mellifluous former radio talk jock from Calgary hoped to gain something.