Did anyone's television freeze like mine did during Wall's opening remarks?

My memory is foggy here - but didn't something like that happen in the previous SK election leaders debate?

I am watching from Edmonton, and my TV froze -- only on Global Saskatoon, for almost the entirety of Brad Wall's opening remarks, only to start again with Karwacki.

Could be my PVR...but the recording shows the same thing.

Holly Preston keeps calling for equal time...that is equal time for everyone except Brad Wall. She is biased in letting Karwacki go on at length and interrupting so Calvert can jump in. Oh yes, that's right, she works for CBC.

Calvert confuses spending in departmental bureaucracy with actual capital spending. Wall is right.

Weyburn to the border is a "beer run"?

Sick and tired of these debates and the crosstalk that doesn't let you hear anyone. Time to put each of them into separate sound proof rooms, let them listen to each other but only turn the mikes on when it is their turn to talk. The moderators need to have better control.

Karwacki math....10,000 accidents on Deerfoot in Calgary? 10000/365 equals 27.3 per day? I drive that road every day! Fat chance that those numbers are correct!!!

I loved it when Karwacki turned to Brad Wall and says:

I'll ask this of the Government I'll have to hold accountable.

Lorne is left to stare at Karwacki's back.

Lorne looks so dejected. Lorne looks ashamed.

And, it sure looks funny when Lorne has to look up at Karwacki. Reminds me of a basset hound I used have until I had to put him down.

"Weyburn to the border is a "beer run"?

Sure. Guy with a new camaro - sitting around, getting restless to show it off. It took him surprisingly little time, and i'm glad i wasn't riding with him.

Just watched the debate. Whats with the Mafia outfit that Brad Wall was wearing? Being a SP supporter and a old 'tooner', that was tacky.
Calvert still looks like a wannabe cadaver.
C'mon Sask. let's get a real gov't in place and get rid of the current regime.

I listened to it on the radio.

Knock, knock?

Who's there?

"Bad format. Ineffectual moderator."

No thanks, we already have one.

I agree about Brad's suit. Too tough to accessorize stripes. No more Rittenger's Menswear, Okay?

Brad, when you get into office, Paul is gonna take you shopping, get you pimped out in real Premier wear.

If I had to choose a winner it would be difficult. If I had to choose a looser it would be Lorne "delivers" Calvert. The bigger issue with the debate lies in the fact that it is flawed. What a dumb format which is supposed to allow the leaders to truly put forth their platform on the various issues. Three guys (or gals) nattering at each other is no way to find out what one leader is challenging another leader about.

Here is how I would do it:

1. Opening statements - 1 minute each

2. Questions from voters in all parts of the province. Each leader is allowed 45 seconds for a response.

3. (and here is where is gets really different). Each leader is allowed 1 minute to rebut what the other leaders have said and state what their platform is. Then each leader is allowed a further 30 seconds to provide further rebuttal.

4. Closing statements - 1 minute each.

5. Ask Holly to stay home.

Good question asked on Murney's blog - why was Karwacki in this debate? shouldn't having a seat be a prerequisite?

Good summary, and a better use of time than watching the damned debate. Karwacki made sure he got noticed- finally- but the main effect of the debate will probably be to drive down turnout. Wall wins Calvert didn't change any minds.

i hear that the mobile shedder industry is picking up in regina

I'm sorry, but every time I see Calvert's face I have this urge to hit something.

No wait, I'm not sorry.

Calvert's an ass, but I think he came across the best in this debate. Most useless hour on TV I've ever seen in my life.

The questions were pretty lame.

That is half an hour I will never get back. Brad, bubby, get a stylist, lose the gangster suit for sure. Karwacki who would not shut up. Never let anything happen between Wall and Clavert. The constant Blah Blah Blah between the powerful two hand clasping thing. How did this light weight get in the middle? The guy has complete delusions of adequacy. Holly Preston is the single worst, so called moderator, I have ever seen. From college debates up. No flow, no rhythm. No momentum shift, except perhaps away from Mr Clavert.the guy looked sad and lost.

"“Brad Wall’s performance raises more questions than answers not the least of which is will he stand up for Saskatchewan people or just the Saskatchewan Party?” former NDP MLA Andrew Thomson asked. "

(from NDP press release at: http://www.saskndp.com/news?id=117 )

Since Andrew Thomson is still a sitting MLA (he did not resign his seat...just decided to not run again)...is the NDP press release monkey that dumb and misinformed? Or does he see the proverbial writing on the wall?

Didn't change my mind re. who to vote for, however, I will now be holding my nose as I mark my ballot.

I hated this debate due to the format, and the completely useless moderator who seemed incapable of doing her job properly.

Totally agree with someone above about how Karwacki should need a seat in the legislature to even be part of the debate.

I'm really not too hot on any of the platforms, but I'll vote Sask Party anyway, because they're the least worst option. I don't think he need to create new bureaucracies, or arms-length boards or committees to oversee our economy or our tourism. Isn't tourism already part of a particular department? Doesn't the Finance department generally look after economic matters? What happened to right-of-centre parties simply saying - "We think private investment drives this economy, so we're going to cut taxes let free enterprise do its thing."

The health care issue is even more irritating. I agree with Brad Wall that the shortage of doctors and nurses is a problem, but that won't be solved by simply spending more money on government-funded health care. Still though, Wall had a better answer than either Karwacki or Calvert.

Overall, I feel sorry for any undecided voter who tuned in, and got nothing from it. It was no different for the decideds.

Yo Postcript! You think Lorne came off as best in this debate? Wow, what were you watching? He got his socialist a$$ kicked in a couple of hundren different ways. His blinking eyes as he spoke only helped to belie what he was saying. Not only could he not defend his record he actual spewed falsehoods, another word for " lies about his real record". This time the much more sophisticated electorate has already decided that his time of bull and crap is over. Watch for a landslide on the 7thg.

a different Bob, Calvert was the least obnoxious, and did the best to differentiate himself from the bickering of Wall and Karwacki.

I support Wall. I will vote for Brad Wall's party as I know Calvert is full of the stuff that belongs in toilets and in pastures. But if I was a dispassionate observer with no knowledge of Calvert's record of inaction and incompetence, I would choose Calvert as the best person for the job based on the debates alone.

David had to be aggressive tonight but was there a need to talk all the time?

Karwacki did what he had to do in this debate. He grabbed our attention, and showed that he will be an effective opposition MLA. No one will ever say Karwacki is weak, ever again. David had the best one-liners of the night.

Did anyone catch Globals review of the debate after? Part of their gimmick was a "people's pannel" of "typical Sask residents". ANyways, one of the people was non other than Rosalee Longmoore (SUN President). She was asked how the parties did in regards to retention and recruitment of nurses in the province. She answered by saying that 2 of the parties answered well to her liking. However she noted that Lorne Calvert again is not adressing the situation.
OOOOOUUUUUCCCCHHHH
Lorne, how does them apples taste?
One of the largest unions in the province just fed you your lunch. Start heading for the hills Lorne, this gravy train for you and your communist cronies has left the station.

And don't even get me started on Lornes comment that wait times for sask residents has decreased. He mentioned it twice and I thought both Karwacki and Wall were going to stick his comments up his arse so far that he could actually see his bold faced lie.

No clear winner.Whomever you believe.

They asked me to come down for that panel, and I skipped it, partly because I was busy with work. But watching it, I'm glad I did. 6 hours on the road to sit on a bleacher and have media pretend to care what you think?

A complete waste of time. I turned to another channel. Canadian Geographic. Great show.

John, David was weak tonight in the fact he could only attempt to talk over the other Leaders. As for best one lines? Which one? He failed to get the one liner off about Brad Wall working for a former Devine Minister. Oh his truth syrum? That one sure bombed.

The format was terrible. Couldn't hear what most of them were saying. They make the same mistake every election.

I found Karwacki irritating wanted him to shut up. The "so called" pundits like Birkbeck and Mandryk thought he won. I completely disagree. He's looking for the soft NDP vote. I don't think he will get it.

I'm not a huge fan of the Sask Party platform. Using SGI to encourage hybrids and Saskpower and Saskenergy to do environmental blah, blah, blah. Yes using the crowns to implement government policy is so innovative.

Still Sask Party is the least worst option. I pray that they have that hidden agenda that the NDP keep talking about.

Great example of why politics is such a joke these days. Nobody listening to anyone and no-one actually answering a question. Modern politics in a nutshell. How any of you back any of these turds, I'll never know.

a different bob:

I'm not sure where you acquired the notion that I thought Calvert was any good in the debate. Maybe I should have restated that, everytime I see Calvert, I want to hit a person that looks remarkably like him in every sense of physical and mental being.

Does that help define my previous statement?

Postcript - sorry about that! I mispoke (miswrit) you are completely on side. My bad!

I sent the following to the three "leaders":

"I'm listening to the debate on CBC radio and gentlemen, when you are talking over each other as you are doing consistently, you all sound like a pack of raving, desperate lunatics.

I am disappointed in myself for expecting better behaviour from Saskatchewan's political leaders.

Shame on all three of you. You show an incredible disrespect for the people of Saskatchewan.

Disgusting. Shameful. Pathetic."

Kate! Waky waky. Mrpauldecker has put out the name of a haberdasher that may have been the place where Brad Wall purchased the suit he was wearing tonite. Not fair game at all and you should purge that from the comments section of this site. Since when does someone's "alleged" haberdasher come under scrutinity on your weblog?

"Good question asked on Murney's blog - why was Karwacki in this debate? shouldn't having a seat be a prerequisite?"

That's a stupid question, actually. Can you explain why it's a "good" question?

Unless you've ever cruised the Wheatland Mall, I wouldn't expect you'd get it.

I distinctly heard Calvert say he has been spending all the gas tax on roads, not so! another white lie.
http://www.taxpayer.com/pdf/2007_Gas_Taxes.pdf

I still don't understand why David Car-"whacky" was in this debate. If he takes part, then shouldn't the Green leader, the Marijuana party and the Conservative leader also be included? I would have loved to see Lorne Calvert try to defend the indefensible in a debate between Brad Wall and himself. With the Liberal in the middle chiming in continuously, it made it nearly impossible to understand what anyone was saying during the open debate. Wall and Calvert never were able to "get into it". Holly should go home, she did nothing to exercise control over this fiasco. Format was horrible.

Karwacki lost the debate. Totally out of his league. Calvert got in some zingers, but zingers aren't content. Wall did nicely.

Big Dave's performance will probably cost the Liberals the seat they want, and will swing people back to the NDP. That's the real story of this debate.

Saskboy - there were only two men on stage with a hope of being premier. It was a leaders debate. Karwacki was there trying to win a seat - the other two were there trying to win the office of premier. That's why it's a "good question".

That panel on the bleachers looked really annoyed. Marilyn Braun-Pollen was bored. Good you didn't go, Kate. Most of them looked as though they regretted coming.

Disappointed, I agree. It was nothing but a bunch of noise. I turned it off half way through.

"BOGIEMAN ALERT"

Ahem... that's a "Boogeyman Alert", Kate

"It was a leaders debate. Karwacki was there trying to win a seat - the other two were there trying to win the office of premier. That's why it's a "good question"."

Again, I disagree completely. Aside from the fact that it isn't directly possible to debate to "win the office of premier", it's up to each of the leaders to win their own seat.

How is democracy served by having fewer parties in the debate? We both "know" that Wall is the only one who is going to be premier on Nov 8th. Why bother having Calvert there at all, if you go by your strange line of thinking?

How was democracy served by having that joke for a Leader talk over everybody else?

My prediction!!!

Karwacki will split the right wing vote and the NDP will once get power with a majority. People, when we're divided we fall.

Whoa! RL - since when is a Liberal a right winger?Don't you know your left from your right? Liberals are so left-leaning that they are marginalizing the NDP in many ways. I see many NDP protest votes going to the Liberals creating the split that allows the Sask Party to come up the middle. Of course this will only happen in a few ridings. Other than that the Liberal Party is pretty much a non issue.

David Karwacki lives in River Heights, not Silverspring. 33rd St and Idylwyld by his campaign office is definitely a place where "interesting characters" congregate. I've seen this area often and while it isn't Riversdale, it can be quite sketchy.

Holly Preston?

If memory serves me, I think Holly Preston broke down and cried on air when results indicated a Grant Devine Conservative win in 1982.

Calvert isn't the most handsom man in the world but I don't vote because the candidate looks good. Devine looked good,Mulroney wasn't ugly and look what happened.

I heard Mr Wall on John Gormley. He has a lot of support on that right wing station. Who else has their own radio station to promote them. He sounds good with no opposition. They all do esp when Johnny 7 makes him look good. Where is the code of ethics for that station?

People still watch leaders debate? Anything other than a one on one format is pointless. No 3, 4, or 5 way debate in this country has every produced a clear winner. All the partisans joyfully proclaim their guy won, and everybody else watched Canadian Idol.

I like the "Party System". The idea is to have an "elected party" in charge of spending our money. The "opposition party" is our safe gaurd against the elected party bungling their job too massively.
In order to be an effective "opposition party" it seems logical that the group should be trained properly by being the "elected party" every so often.... How else can they learn to be the people's last defense ? They need to run the show every so often, in order to learn how to navigate back stage.
Therefore, rotation is critical to the success of the system.
In Saskatchewan, we need to have our Parties well trained in the art of "opposition" - and it's high time the NDP learned how to play that role for us.

OK4U
Gonna be hell for you lefties as we righties take control. Horrible things like Prosperity, opportunity, growth, honesty, people returning accountability are on its way......must make you lefties shudder.
What a maroon.

I was gonna vote for Brad yesterday, I'm still going to vote for him on the 7th. "Car-whacko" should have stayed home, he's not an elected member. As "for Lorne," it's his last week in front of the spotlights, let him enjoy it!!!!

Lorne has a standing invitation on that "right wing" station. So far, he's been too afraid to come on.

Because, you know - he'll have to take calls from voters.

980 cjme is pro brad wall. All callers are Tory supporters. No one else stands a chance.

Not one supporter of the NDP ever calls in. The NDP have helped this province prosper. No Tory MP helped or Sask?Tory. We've had 14 balanced budgets and 16 interest reductions.If you need a job. What's the use you guys on this blog know the NDP had a hard job here. It doesn't help with all the media calling them old and worn out. How can you win?

How can you have a balance budget when you have to borrow money to make it balanced?

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Lorne was right. He can fool people with his lies about balanced budgets.
But he didn't fool the provincial auditor with his suspension of the Generally Accepted Accounting Practices to create his 'balanced' budgets.
Hell, if you throw the rule book in the garbage can, you can balance anything.

ok4u: "Who else has their own radio station to promote them?"

Every summer I go to Saskatchewan to visit my grandmother in a small town -- braving the provincial roads. Independent and healthy at 90 years 10 months, in a Housing Authority rental that she's getting rich off of.

In 2000, at the height of Chretien and Calvert, it's a CBC Saskatchewan Radio 1 summer music request hour. 45 minutes in, the VietCong flag goes up...

"HOT D**N, I'M GOIN' TO VIET-NAM!"

ok4ua - I completely respect your right to express your misguided opinions however you have to quit swimming in the shallow end of the pool.

I agree with Craig. I to hope the SP has a hidden agenda because what they are proposing is pretty lame.

After watching Karwaki I got the impression he was running for mayor of Saskatoon.

MrPaulDecker:

Rittingers is in the Swift Current Mall, not the Wheatland Mall.

Indeed, it is a sign of a boring debate when we resort to talking about Brad Wall's suit.

Karwacki may have been really annoying but he is the one most people were talking about today. I hope that bodes well for him and he takes Meewasin. One less seat for the NDP and closer to a win for the Sask Party.

Saskatory, true, that is the CURRENT location. Rittingers has moved around Speedy Creek a few times, but it has never been located in the Wheatland Mall.

Back in the day, Wheatland Mall was the only mall, and the only stroll to strut your stuff was walking between Woolco and the Co-op. Nothing said height of fashion like Fancy Ass Jeans tucked into your Hiking boots.

Like I said, it was a local thing, you wouldn't get it. Thanks for watching 'Voter's Eye for the Candidate Guy', Tune in next week when we see what fashion accessories work well with coveralls and moving vans.

Ok let me get this straight..Calvert will say and do absolutely anything to keep his grubby little mitts on the wheel. I thought a man of the cloth was above telling the lies like he has been doing .The anglican church should excommunicate him .This man no longer deserves one more day in power..

Talk about mouseland ,HEY EARL GET THE GUY A CHAIR !! either that or lower his podium. He's darn lucky pinochio is a cartoon.HEY maybe it isn't ..we should demand nose measurements before and after a debate..

A polite correction to "chevy 65", please...

I don't believe the United Church (of St. Tommy and the New NDP Apostles) will "excommunicate" (or rather 'fire') their future "moderator" (leader).

Whatever the outcome of this election (barring death in office), that is forLorne's destiny.

We're so successful here in Sask we need a Tory gov't to blow all the cash. Like Alberta and Alberta blows billions. We can't afford an Alberta like gov't. We don't get 14 billion a year from oil. Where the hell are you heads? Up your arses? I don't think you have a clue what you are hoping for?

The news media is all for getting rid of the old and tired NDP. They determine who gets elected. They did a poll that stated 40% undecided but if they had a choice they would support the SaskATory party. How the hell can 40% be undecided and then say they support one party or another? Sounds made up to me. Whoever controls the media controls the vote. And don't you forget it.

ok4u: "Who else has their own radio station to promote them?"

"Whoever controls the media controls the vote."

The CBC and SCN have the ability to ease your troubled mind, sir.