In the opening weeks of the provincial election, I expressed my underwhelm with the SaskParty campaign in this way;
And perhaps the most important question of all – will the Saskatchewan Party leave the security of pre-election poll results showing their party with a wide lead to campaign like a government in waiting? Is SaskParty leader Brad Wall going to step up his “football dad” image and act like a premier?
Will he lead the wave or just hope to ride the “change for change’s sake” trend to victory? At the moment, there is a sense of the latter. He may passively ride the trend. The SaskParty platform, while well thought out and publicly detailed, is decidedly tepid. The campaign style seems haunted by the fear of misstep. They’ve forgotten that battles aren’t won by keeping one’s head low.
It was advice not taken.
I’m slow to anger. This does not mean I lack a quick temper, but there’s a difference between leaving a bruise and leaving a body. Genuine anger requires time, reflection, and something heavy that balances well in your hand.
It all started with a call from the CBC’s Jeff Leo, who broke the news. Sometime between March 28th and April 1st, the United Nations had issued the Universal Declaration On The Rights of Crack Whores – and I didn’t get the memo.
Unfortunately, my Premier did.
And they had caught him off guard, in a position of strength. So I was not surprised that he distanced himself, to heal the rift I’d created between the SaskParty and a deeply hurt intravenous drug user community. When a man will throw “being a good dad” under the wheels of an NDP opposition he’s just annhilated at the polls, what possible chance does a Bingophobe have?
So today, the intended shoe dropped. Because when a man will throw a Bingophobe under the bus, what possible chance does a Conservative MP saying “faggot” on video have?
Or that was their hope.
For that was the plan all along. Few reacted to my Station 20 West commentary because within its “harsh” nature, it spoke the truth. It went virtually unnoted until NDP MLA Cam Broten issued the Saskatchewan New Democrat’s unilateral redefinition of “Identifiable Group”.
Had he kept his wits about him and remembered Who. He. Is. and more importantly, who they are, there would have been no successful set-up, no “distancing” Premier Wall on fresh tape declaring intolerance zero-tolerance.
But this too, shall pass. The fashion sense jokes are already emerging.
I hope he’s learned a lesson. I hope he’s learned that pleasing your enemies does not turn them into friends. I hope he’s learned that whoever is advising him on his public image needs to be kicked to the curb.
But most of all, I hope he’s learned to stop offering his throat.
One last thing. Speculation abounds in certain quarters about my “motivation” for supporting the SaskParty. Specifically, what benefits might have been coming my way.
Given events of this week, and given my anger, it’s time to put certain facts on the record. Get your pads and pencils ready my friends, because here’s the dirt you’ve been waiting for.
In exchange for my support of the SaskParty in my capacity as a blogger, I have received precisely … nothing.
Nothing was asked for, nothing was offered. No government contracts, no consulting gigs, no private business tilted my way. No invitations to social events, no advertising contracts, no party positions.
Not so much as a free case of beer, left anonymously on my doorstep.
So there you have it. My support for Brad Wall and the SaskParty has been, all along, exactly as represented – the exclusive domain of one private citizen acting voluntarily, without compensation or expectation of reward.
Which means the only “lines” here at SDA remain those drawn by me, and the rule of law.
So, Premier Wall – I ask that in the future you not trespass on my property.
You do not draw the lines here.
You’re not my referee.
And I answer to no one.
(Mr. Broten – I’ll be dealing with you in due course.)
