So far all three are demonstrating they’ve memorized their campaign platforms and talking points nicely. Things got lively during the first open debate period. This isn’t an easy format to liveblog, but comments are open to your reactions.
First few minutes, no obvious hits, everyone is holding their own…. until Karwacki gets this one in;
“Mr. Calvert talks about Enterprise Saskatchewan and this is an excuse to not answer questons…”
The moderator sucks. She has let the crosstalk go on so long there’s little of chance of anyone being heard.
Question on crime rate from Indian guy from Ft Qu’Appelle (scene of a recent multiple gang homocide) .. first to reply is the MLA of the highest crime rate in the province… the Premier.
The term “blah blah blah” applies here.
Karwacki scores another point on that score. Of course, Karwacki has no hope of forming government and has the advantage in that neither of the other two has focused on debating his platform.
Guy from Swift Current is hilarious – question about fixing roads. “stuff falling off your truck, stuff falling out of your glove compartment”…
And nobody who has ever driven in SK is going to buy Calvert’s response. And Karwacki bombs – changing the subject to urban infrastructure. Nice to know where you stand on ignoring the rotting rural highways, Dave.
Again, the moderator sucks. She allows the other two to jump in on Wall’s alloted time to reply. Karwacki bombed again – Wall would “pave the beer run from Weyburn to the border”?????
Wait times:
Calvert spews … cannot win this one. Just like roads, too many people know too many people. Karwacki talks about some kid’s knee. I think Wall wins this one, talking about training spaces and unaffordable prescription drug plans.
Calvert just made a funny face.
“No, that’s his real face” (I am advised)…
Karwacki asked about how to control health care spending… he explains the question. Wall – “a patient first review” … “are dollars getting to the front line, are they being maximized or going to administration.”
ding ding ding. Advantage Wall.
Calvert “BOGIEMAN ALERT” “private for profit”….
(I miss Tommy. Don’t you miss Tommy?)
*** My solution – for it is not enough to curse the darkness, one must always light a candle… forgivable loans to Sk Seniors to encourage them to move to Victoria upon retirement. ****
La Ronge SK resident asks obligatory greenhouse gas reduction/environment question.
Answer: check how the Green Party is polling. Next?
Karwacki talks about “free curbside recycling” – so that it can all go to the same landfill in the end, dude. Fewer than 2 persons per square kilometer. Do the math.
Speaking of math – a reader notes Karwacki’s 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!!!”
Karwacki whacked Calvert on Domtar pollution exemption on the PA pulp mill.
Holly Preston just had every male viewer reaching for “himself” – “gentlemen – please adjust yourselves accordingly”.
First reaction: Lorne was pleading. Wall won by default as Karwacki scored more points on Calvert in his monopolization of the debate.
Other comments – don’t let CBC do this again. Bad format. Ineffectual moderator.
Post debate scrum with Calvert on global – this is a beaten man.
So far, Brad Wall’s pinstriped suit seems to be generating the most commentary across the blogosphere; “Whats with the Mafia outfit”… “No more Rittenger’s Menswear, Okay?”
And surfing around various sites, I’m seeing the same reaction to Karwacki – “the guy wouldn’t shut up”. For as many hits as he may have scored at the moment, he isn’t a player, and he may have hurt himself more than he helped in the end. Turning point for Karwacki – the dismissal of rural Sk in both the refusal to address highways problems and the dismissive barb at Weyburn – where he once ran for a seat.
Another great catch by GPM;
Karwacki talked about the gangs he sees every day in Riversdale when he drives to his campaign office? The problem is that he lives in Silver Springs and is running in Meewasin. Why the hell would he drive through Riversdale every day? No wonder he thinks traffic jams are a big problem, he takes the longest route imaginable to get anywhere.
At this rate, by morning’s light, the main topic of discussion regarding the debate may be the stupid things David Karwacki blurted out.
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.