Brad Wall (on John Gormley Live);

“Not to be too glib here, but who says “reveller” anymore? … 1952 called – they’d like their word back.”

Beaten party.

We were going to thank you for donating $30,000 of our tax dollars to support the CWB pro-monopoly court case Mr. Penner refers to, Lorne – but that can wait ’till Wednesday.
Meanwhile, from Liberal MP Mark Eyking, a reminder that “Canadians can rely on Stephane Dion’s defence” of CWB “barely” marketing.
(pdf)
Spelling mistake or Freudian slip? You be the judge.

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.

John Murney has the best round up of Constituency profiles and bizarro predictions (Rick Swenson?) on the net.
At NDP Boogeyman, this delightful quote from an NDP candidate – “Although I have no evidence, I just know, here in my heart and in my soul, that the Sask Party WILL sell the Crowns!”
Lance critiques the SaskParty platform in a series of posts. (scroll down)
Rejected Campaign Slogans: Entry #1 .
Oops. Saskatoon city counsellor Darren Hill nabbed tearing down anti-NDP signs.
Comments are open for your other links, or related chatter.

What is…

a) A new fall-application fertilizer coming out from Viterra?
b) Environment Canada’s “high”, “normal”, and “low” temperatures for July?
c) The results of an Probe Research poll of Saskatchewan voters conducted last week?

I’ll take politics for $2000, Alex.

Is that nothing is too small to steal. *

‘Regarding the website http://sameoldsaskparty.com/
Yes, it is a Dotcomwebdeisgn template Greenshades – (modified) – http://www.dotcomwebdesign.com/?Free-Website-Templates-Section-4:Green-Shades
It is not a licenced (remove link) Dotcomwebdeisgn website, nor is it a license CMSimple.dk (remove link) licenced website.
Both links to cmsimple and dotcomwebdesign seem to have been removed without the appropriate licenses being purchased. ‘

Where are you people? How can I clean up if you don’t make some trades?

Go here if you want in on the game. There’s $5K in free play money for the asking.

My take on the Saskatchewan election campaign (written one week in) is headlining at Pajamas Media this morning. Check it out.
(Update – A useful companion piece in the Post.)

Like the NDP.

Enjoy the taste of your Sask Health ordered election gag.

Also prohibited are:

Download full document (pdf) here.
h/t– 650 CKOM John Gormley Live, (who broke the story at 8:30 am this morning, and provided the docs.)
Looks like the perfect time to unveil this NDP campaign button gem!

(Button courtesy Saskboy.)

UPDATE – Potts is Gone!
We will keep you updated…
CBC story here.
“comments are actionable in libel”
The infamous “Famouspipeliner” gets outted as Jeff Potts; NDP candidate in Swift Current.
Rabble.ca; a sounding board for the left, a libel grab bag for the right…
More information at John Gormley Live
(My apologies for inadvertently pulling this post for a few hours during blog “housekeeping” – Kate)
Updated – Upon checking my own archives, I discovered this comment by Mr. Potts …

I guess it remains to be seen who is going to kill more Canadians…IDF or the Taliban.
Posted by: famouspipeliner at July 26, 2006 4:10 AM

I’ve said it before – scratch a leftie and you’ll find an anti-Semite.

Start your own portfolio here!

SDA flashbacks

Hellway 368
Calvert’s Wall: Roads to Nowhere
Hwy 35
Hwy 32 Pothole Calendar

Which party will form the government after the 2007 Saskatchewan election?

The object of these markets are to predict results … hopefully better than the pollsters. The site that hosts these markets is not a cash site – you get $5000 play dollars. It’s free to set up and to trade […]
This is not a poll – it doesn’t matter what you would do … your trying to guess what the voters will do. These things work best if there is a lot and diverse participation.

You know it’s election related when there’s free, worthless money on offer!
Morning Market Update

I’ll be setting up a blogroll later tonight, so get your blog name in if you want to be included.

If you’ve set up a blog dedicated to the provincial election, or intend to cover it closely over the next few weeks, I invite you to drop a link in the comments.
To start you off;
News Talk Radio’s SaskVotes
The NDP Boogeyman
No Democratic Process
“As fair and balanced as CUPE” – Giant Political Mouse
Lore Weaver
John Murney
Catprint In The Mash
I’ll update the list later this weekend and add a category to the sidebar if there are enough of you. Any political affiliation welcome!
Speaking of the provincial election, we dropped in yesterday at the SaskBlogs Saskatoon Party and who should show up?

None other than the “Joe Clark of Saskatchewan politics” Liberal leader David Karwacki!

And I thought they were there for me.

Socialist logic – there’s a reason it’s an oxymoron;

Mindful of their low-income supporters, the NDP plan would also [give a property tax rebate!] to renters, which would amount to about $500 a year to those paying $700 a month in rent.

At this point early in the campaign, the sense on the street is that voters aren’t getting the one thing they long for – a party that pledges to stay out of their lives, and stop spending their money.
But nobody appears to be listening.

(Click for full size)
(Source)
Update: The mention of payment for “volunteer” door knocking has quietly disappeared. Oddly enough!

277(1) Limit on government advertising during an election […]
(2) During a general election, no Government department shall publish in any manner any information with respect to the activities of the department.

Three Saskatoon heart surgeons have filed a complaint to the College of Physicians and Surgeons stating that surgery backlogs mean they cannot operate in a time frame that meets national standards for care.
60 open heart surgeries – one in five – have been cancelled so far this year. Most patients are now waiting 6 months or more, due to a shortage of intensive care beds in Saskatoon.
(Via CBC)