Rough Riders Order More Paper Napkins

Quote - Mike Kelly - new head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
"The previous administration (re: Taman) must have kept track of personnel on a "paper napkin,"
With such a ringing endorsement from a man who never thinks before he speaks, Brendan Taman moves from feeling blue to seeing green as he signs on as the new "Director of football administration" for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.
No matter which way the Eric Tillman court troubles go, this is a great move for the Riders. Taman has experience and can easily move to the General Managers chair should that become available.
It also doesn't come as a great surprise when you consider Taman's comments only a few months ago.
It's my home, gosh," Taman said. "It's not something I would say ‘No' to. But I'm enjoying myself. If they wanted me to start right now it's not something I would be gung-ho about. But maybe in a few months.
The timing is now and its a good first step for the Riders who hopefully will now be able to add a face to the GM position.
Taman is considered very good at spotting young talent and also did very well as General Manager of the Bombers.He brought several impact players to the Blue Bombers during his tenure, including Charles Roberts, Gavin Walls, Tom Canada and Dan Goodspeed.
Taman was also known as a crafty wheeler-dealer.
Through trades he brought Doug Brown, Khari Jones, Kevin Glenn and Zeke Moreno to Winnipeg.
Taman was probably bright enough to realize as well that no-one could work with Mike Kelly and that with Taman's record it
would only be a short while before some CFL team came knocking.
Fortunately its the Riders and now hopefully they will deal with the Tillman issue and give Taman a free hand to move the club in an upwards direction even though it is probably to late for the 2009 season where the general opinion is the Riders will finish fourth behind Edmonton, Calgary and BC and then have to hope for a cross over position.
In the meantime the Riders may want to order more paper napkins because someone has to keep track of personnel.

The Ferret And the GM

Gainer is horrified.
The black-footed ferret is returning home to Saskatchewan's Grasslands National Park.
The animal hasn't been seen in the area since 1936. This fall Parks Canada will reintroduce about 40 of the ferrets to the park.
Another batch will be dropped off in Grasslands National Park next year. At one point the black-footed ferret was North America's most endangered mammal.
The ferret's main diet is prairie dogs. But Gainer may not have to worry. There is it seems a difference between gophers and prairie dogs. We asked the technical question. Are gophers the same as prairie dogs?
Technically, no. The loose, colloquial use of the term "gopher" might include any ground squirrel, and prairie dogs are indeed ground-living members of the family Sciuridae, but they are usually not considered gophers.
True gophers are of the family Geomyidae, and not in the squirrel family at all. They are, of course, in the same order, Rodentia.
Other ground squirrels often called gophers are of the genus Spermophilius, including the striped gopher or thirteen-lined ground squirrel (S. tridecemlineatus), the flickertail or Richardson's ground squirrel (S. richardsonii), and others.
Prairie dogs are of the tribe Marmotini, genus Cynomys, and there are about five species.
So, to diagram the relationship:
Order Rodentia
- Superfamily Geomyoidae
-- Family Geomyidae (true gophers)
- Family Sciuridae
-- Tribe Marmotini
--- Genus Spermophilius (ground squirrels, many of which are called "gophers")
--- Genus Cynomys (prairie dogs)
(I hope that's clear!)
So breathe easy Gainer, if you can figure all that out.
Gainer isn't the only connection the Saskatchewan Rough Riders have to ferrets. Ferrets like to bury in holes, they do their work underground often catching their prey, the prairie dog right in their underground hole.
Isn't that the same as the Riders are asking their General Manager to do as he works away in his basement trying to improve the lot of the Riders and devour the other seven teams in the league.?

Michael & Brian - Huffin and Puffin

Pop Quiz
The Toronto Maple Leafs will:
a) make a trade with the New York Islanders to obtain the number one draft pick and select John Taveres
b) make a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning to obtain the number two pick and perhaps select Victor Hedman
c) make a trade with the Los Angeles Kings to obtain the number five pick and select Brayden Schenn
d) none of the above

If you picked d) none of the above - congratulations

In Michael Ignatieff like fashion, Brian Burke and the Toronto Maple Leafs huffed and puffed and in the end did none of the
above. For weeks we heard they would make a deal with the Islanders, then the Lightning and then finally the Kings to ensure that at the very least they would end up with Brayden Schenn uniting him with his brother Luke. It never happened.
Instead the Leafs end up with someone by the name of Nazem Kadri. Now Nazem may be a good hockey player although playing in Toronto will take care of that. But what happened to the Burke bravado and the big deals that never came.
No wonder the fans in Montreal booed.
No wonder the Leafs continue to lose.

Rider Hopes

Saskatchewan Rough Riders went 0 - 2 in the pre season. BC Lions went 0 - 2 in the pre season.
Now everyone knows that pre season games mean nothing.
But the way I see it, if the Saskatchewan Rough Riders are going to make the playoffs in the West, and I think the best they can hope for is third place, the Lions are the team that they must finish ahead of. That makes the regular season games against the Lions of ultimate importance.
So why the Riders for third. My predictions.
1) Edmonton Eskimos - this is a drastically improved team. A Ritchie Hall coached defense made up of a bunch of Rough Rider castoffs plus Ricky Ray leading the offense. I'll take Edmonton for first.
2) Calgary Stampeders - no way a Henry Burris led team with John Hufnagel as coach is going to miss the playoffs.
Calgary could push Edmonton out of first.
Now heres where the fun begins.
3) Saskatchewan Rough Riders - I have to admit I am going with my heart rather than my head. If Darian Durant can't do the
job this team is in trouble. I keep hearing Marcus Crandall's name come up as the Riders quarterback if Durant falters and that is scary. I mean is that the best the Riders can do?
4) British Columbia Lions - The Lions could easily take third but they also may have issues at quarterback plus their defense has been weakened as well. So much like the first two spots, Edmonton and Calgary, the same really goes for third and fourth.
Either position could be flipped around.
In the East
1) Montreal
2) Winnipeg
3) Hamilton
4) Toronto

Grey Cup game - Montreal vs Edmonton

Green Nurses ? What Next !

With fears of little green people and Mark Lemstra's antii nuke report clutched in their hands the Saskatchewan
Union of Nurses said it opposes a nuclear reactor, whether for power generation or to produce medical isotopes, based on a report the union commissioned along with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Those working in, and living near, nuclear-power plants - such as the one being considered for construction in Saskatchewan - are more likely than the general population to develop cancer or die from it, according to a research paper being released Tuesday.
"We would have the same concerns about the health of the community (if) it were an isotope reactor, the radiation concerns would remain the same," said union president Rosalee Longmoore.
"We are aware that there are proposals to expand the production of isotopes in other countries and so we believe, our position would be that Saskatchewan should remain safe and let other countries take on that development."
You really have to wonder about that statement. If it is that unsafe why would Saskatchewan nurses want to push a nuclear reactor off on another country. What about another province? Would the nurses be ok with a reactor in Alberta?
So the debate really begins to heat up with the nurses the first to go nuclear against nuclear.
Doctors have entered the debate as well along with talk show hosts and callers and numerous others.
An association representing physicians says the province needs its own independent nuclear watchdog as the Saskatchewan Party government contemplates opening the door to a nuclear reactor.
Dr. Dale Dewar, speaking on behalf of the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA), said in addition to a nuclear monitoring body, the provincial government should launch a long-term study of the health of the province's residents.
The whole reason that the SMA decided to do anything on this is because our concerns are more for the health of Saskatchewan people," Dewar said in an interview after his presentation.
"I think it's fair to say that the SMA has many members who are very supportive of nuclear energy and think that nuclear energy might possibly be an answer to global warming . . . but we all agree that we want to know more about how this impacts or how this affects health."
So the debate rages on in Saskatoon as it has for years. Worries about leaks, contaminations, green people and nurses glowing in the dark continue be discussed over and over again.
Premier Brad Wall says he is proud that Saskatchewan residents are talking about the issue but you have to wonder, how long will the talk go on before another opportunity passes Saskatchewan by.

Iran Follows Hale Report

After reviewing "The Hale Report" commissioned by Saskatchewan's New Democratic Party, Iran's Guardian Council announced there were no irregularities in the recent Presidential election.
Riot police took to the streets of Tehran on Tuesday as the Guardian Council announced no major fraud occurred in Iran's presidential election, and vote results that handed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a landslide victory will remain valid. The council of 12 clerics issued an announcement on state television that following its probe into the June 12 election results, Iranians will not vote again.
"No major fraud or breach in the election" was found, said Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, spokesman for the Guardian Council. "Therefore, there is no possibility of an annulment taking place."
The Guardian Council of Iran had requested and studied the Hale Report that looked into an alleged phony membership campaign surrounding the NDP Leadership convention in Saskatchewan..A review commissioned by the NDP's Leadership Contest Committee is clearing Dwain Lingenfelter and his campaign from wrong-doing in the case of 1100 phony memberships, even though the report's author didn't speak to the volunteer at the centre of the matter.
Bob Hale's report into questionable memberships backs up Lingenfelter's assertion that a single campaign volunteer was responsible, who he describes as overzealous.
The individual had gotten names of band members in the Meadow Lake consituency and filled out forms for them, possibly even forging their signatures.
The Guardian Council in Iran announced that voting irregularities — more ballots had been cast than voters registered — had been found in 50 of the 170 districts in Iran. But the discrepancies, estimated to have affected about three million votes, were not widespread enough to impact the election's outcome, the council said.

Green Is The Color - Nuclear Is The Game

"Our point is, let's lead in this area. We have the uranium, we're the Saudi Arabia of uranium and all we do is mine it. It's time for that to stop. It's time for us to take some advantage of the science and value-add opportunities around the uranium value-added chain."
Words that must be striking fear into the hearts of the NDP and the anti nukes throughout the province as Premier Wall touts a
nuclear reactor at the University of Saskatchewan.
Can you hear the outcry? They're not safe, they leak, somebody said that, little green people running around. People glowing in the dark. We have heard it all.
Premier Brad Wall said Thursday he envisions an ambitious project involving the federal government, SaskPower and one of the uranium companies located in the province that would see Saskatchewan playing a lead role in the research and development of nuclear power.What we've simply said to the federal government is that if they're looking to develop a new generation of reactor technology and are prepared to invest in that as a federal government, perhaps there is a P3 (public-private partnership) opportunity here between two levels of government. We have a Crown-owned electrical utility, the federal government and uranium companies that might be interested that are located here," said Wall.
This should be no surprise. What might be the surprise is how long it took Wall to move on this considering the isotope crisis and everything else that has been happening. Flashback to 2007.Published: Thursday, May 24, 2007
A Saskatchewan Party government would provide incentives to spur research into uranium refining and possible nuclear power production in the province, leader Brad Wall said Wednesday.
Wall told the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce that Saskatchewan should become a world leader not only in mining and exporting uranium, but also in refining and storing it and generating nuclear power.
"If elected, a Saskatchewan Party government will immediately take action to move Saskatchewan into leadership position in uranium value-added opportunities," he said.
So a nuclear reactor for Saskatoon and for the province of Saskatchewan. Why not? Green is the color, nuclear is the game!
What I worry about? Will we still have watermelon heads at Rider games? Will people still paint themselves green at Grey Cup games and promote Saskatchewan? If you listen to the anti nukes, they may not need to.

NDP - No Bark, No Bite

In the House of Commons, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe accused "the Liberal-Conservative coalition" of abandoning the unemployed and New Democratic Party Deputy Leader Tom Mulcair mocked Ignatieff as "deputy prime minister." Harper blasted the NDP as "completely irrelevant."


Jack Layton's federal NDP has been reduced to irrelevant in the light of the coalition agreement between Michael Ignatieff and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
From a high in December 2008 when Layton was eying the opportunity to sit on either the right hand or the left hand of the exalted leader Stephane Dion, its all bottomed out for the federal NDP.
The Bloc Quebecois and Gillies Duceppe find themselves in the same leaky canoe with a bit of a difference. The Bloc recognizes themselves that they are a regional or splinter party trying to enhance Quebec and the interests of Quebecers. Separatism aside.
But the NDP claims to be a national party representing the social interests of all Canadians but the big boys Michael and Stephen have slammed the door on that.
So where does the NDP go from here? Most likely they will sit and wait for fall desperately hoping that Ignatieff and Harper will separate themselves again on an issue or two. The big question though for the NDP is, will Michael get it done this time or will he again just huff, puff and capitulate again as he always does.
In the meantime, it might be time for the NDP to find a new leader. Without that the NDP sit in a worse scenario than the dog who's bark is worse than its bite. With Jack Layton leading the NDP its become no bark, no bite.

Much Needed Rain

With the D word, as in drought being kicked around, and the C word, as in crisis, we finally are getting some badly needed rain today.
Started with a early morning thunder shower and now has pretty much settled into an all day rate for which we are thankful for.
Areas around Rosetown, North Battleford and Swift Current have been especially dry and word was that they needed rain in the next eight to ten days to avoid a serious drought.
Meantime the pond continues to flourish and grow leaving the 20 something fish in the pond with lots of shade cover and lots of plants to munch on.

Confusing Week On The Hill

It has been a confusing week on Parliament Hill. Micheal Ignatieff started it off with his yes I will bring down the government, no I won't, well maybe I might and ended if off by forming a coalition with Stephen Harper to keep the Conservatives in power. That left Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe confused along with many Canadians wondering who is the Prime Minister of Canada these days. Not reported by the media was a decision in the meetings to go back somewhat in British history and have the Prime Minister wear a crown. Because he holds all the cards it was decided that Michael will start off as PM and then it will change weekly until the Liberals get annoyed and bring down the government. Insiders say you can expect that to happen sometime in September.

Meanwhile Jack and Gilles after being left out on the hill and not made part of the
Liberal Conservative coalition have joined with the Green Party to form a coalition of their own. A name for this group will be chosen later.

Jack and Gilles Left Out On The Hill

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe and NDP Leader Jack Layton have been left out on the hill.
In the House of Commons, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe accused "the Liberal-Conservative coalition" of abandoning the unemployed and New Democratic Party Deputy Leader Tom Mulcair mocked Ignatieff as "deputy prime minister." Harper blasted the NDP as "completely irrelevant.
The deal establishes a six-member working group of Conservative and Liberal MPs and officials to study two major potential changes to the EI program and report back by Sept. 28. While Jack and Gilles may be surprised at this new agreement, Liberal and Conservative coalitions are really nothing new for Canada.

The Liberal-Conservative Party was the formal name of the Conservative Party of Canada until 1873, although some Conservative candidates continued to run under the label as late as the 1911 election and others ran as simple Conservatives prior to 1873. In many of Canada's early elections, there were both "Liberal-Conservative" and "Conservative" candidates; however, these were simply different labels used by candidates of the same party, both were part of Sir John A. Macdonald's government and official Conservative and Liberal-Conservative candidates would not, generally, run against each other. It was also not uncommon for a candidate to run on one label in one election and the other in a subsequent election.
Jack and Gilles also have some experience with coalitions themselves after signing on with former Liberal Leader Stephane Dion
in a short lived bid to topple Harper's Conservatives
While Jack and Gilles contemplate where they go from here confused Canadians may be waking up this morning and wondering, who really is our Prime Minister

Could Be A Long Season For Broadcasters

It could be a long season for the broadcast team of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. As the Riders were being pummelled
45 - 12 by the Edmonton Eskimos the broadcasters offered up the following explanations.
1) Its only preseason
2) Edmonton has played all their starters the whole game. Funny though I didn't hear Ricky Ray's named called out at all.
3) How many points do the Eskimos get for this?
And the best one of all
4) The second exhibition game is the one the Riders want to win. Like they didn't want to win this one.
Now ofcourse this was ONLY an exhibition game but the Riders defense was shredded like grated cheese and the no name quarterbacks were exactly that, no name. Meanwhile
Rookie Eskimos quarterback Jared Zabransky completed 10-of-14 passes for 109 yards and one touchdown.
The man expected to lead the Riders Darian Durant 7 for 12 for a whopping 68 yards.
Most of Durant's completions were short swing passes and dump offs. He overthrew and underthrew receivers many of the longer routes.
He killed a first-quarter drive in Eskimos territory by telegraphing a 20-yard sideline pass that defender Bobby Keyes picked off easily by stepping in front of receiver Chris Jones.
And Neil Lumsden, one of many Eskimo improvements, had little trouble running over the Rider defense/
Stand by for more excuses.

PETOF Outraged At Presidents Air Strike

I got the little sucker didn't I" - President Obama after launching a quick air strike against a pesky fly while being interviewed on
television.
A move that has left a couple of groups outraged and calling for a public apology.
PETOF - People for the Ethical Treatment of Flies says the President's strike takes us back to the George Bush era and calls the killing of an innocent fly as barbaric and outrageous.
The spokesman points to a lab report done several years ago which credited flies with having brains shown by the ability to
avoid and maneuver around danger. (Not sure what happened in this flies case.
PETOF is demanding an immediate apology from the President and as well calls the news media frequent showing of the innocent fly as equally barbaric with networks catering to the blood thirsty needs of their viewers.
Says the spokesman "it seems CSI Miami is not enough, now people have to see innocent animals killed live on television by the most powerful man in the world" Barbaric indeed.
In Canada, there has been little response although Buzz Hargrove did issue a terse "no comment"

Which End Is Wagging The Tail

You have to be left wondering these days. Which end of the dog is wagging the tail. Or put another way, who is running the country these days?
Is it Michael Ignatieff who snaps his fingers and the Prime Minister comes running or is it the Prime Minister? It really is confusing.
Federal election talk cooled as Prime Minister Stephen Harper planned a third meeting Wednesday with Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff to stave off an opposition threat of defeating the Conservative government on Friday.The two leaders met for an hour in the afternoon at Harper's office across the street from Parliament Hill, where Liberal MPs hotly denied Conservative assertions an election would halt economic stimulus projects. Then, after an evening meeting at the prime minister's official residence, the leaders agreed to meet again Wednesday.
Both meetings were described as "productive" by officials.
Three meetings. Michael plays the tune. Stephen does the dance.
What is equally confusing is the media coverage of all of this. Does the media not realize they are simply playing into Ignatieff's little game. Surely they must be getting tired of it. I suppose its good copy though. Top story on the National News again tonight.
Harper questioned Ignatieff's logic by saying his threat to defeat the government by voting against spending estimates Friday would slow the economic stimulus funds the Liberals want speeded up.
At any rate Ignatieff has what he wants. The Bloc and the NDP standing with him, the Prime Minister running to meet him every time he cries wolf and a gullible media that drools everytime he speaks.
That Harvard education must be worth something.

Did Anyone Ask Jack?

"Mr. Ignatieff said he doesn't want an election. I don't want an election," Harper told reporters. "I don't think anybody in Canada wants or expects an election."
The game of chicken continues between Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Ignatieff continues with "I might bring down the government, I'll know in a couple of days, no I won't bring down the government, wait yes I will, no I won't, hold it, yes I will if they don't give me what I want.
Harper's reaction is "Come on Mikey, we need to talk.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he's willing to talk, but is unwilling to adopt Liberal proposals to enrich the employment insurance scheme – a declaration that appeared to set the country on course for a summer election.
So now sometime today the Prime Minister and the Liberal Leader will meet and they will talk and they will talk some more and then given a week or so, we'll do this all over again.
But what about NDP Leader Jack Layton? Has anyone asked Jack lately what he thinks?
Does Jack want an election? The Eastern media in their rush to woo and smooze Ignatieff seems to have forgotten all about the NDP Leader. Doesn't Jack want to
talk about this? We do have three parties in Canada, or is it four, five or six.
Maybe thats part of the problem. Someone definately needs to ask JacK?

Move Over Don & Ron

Hockey Night in Canada has Don and Ron. Coaches Corner where Don Cherry fires out ridiculous comments and Ron McLean, amid insults, tries to make sense of them and in todays venacular do harm reduction.
Well move over Don and Ron. Saskatoon may have one better. As a regular listener to John Gormley Live and a sometimes call in participant, I enjoy the John vs Tammy debates. A subject is picked. Host John Gormley takes one side and Producer Tammy
Robert takes the other side. John it seems is winning these things 11- 5 as listeners call in and take sides with one or the other.
Todays topic was Eric Tillman. John's side was leave things as they are, its working. Tammy's side was make a decision. Either Eric should be fully reinstated or let go. Tammy won and for a change I picked the winning side.
Now which one is Don and which one is Ron. I'll leave you to decide that.

Michael Cries Wolf, Again

Its getting old Michael, in fact its gettting really old.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said Monday he is "not seeking an election," but that he is prepared to bring the government down unless Prime Minister Stephen Harper answers some key questions.
Now where have we heard all this before. Oh yes, wasn't it Stephan Dionne who also huffed and puffed and threatened but never really pulled the plug on the Harper government. Ultimately the Liberals send Dionne down the drain.
And now Michael Ignatieff is at it again. His coalition partners, the NDP and the Bloc, have already said they will bring down the government. Michael said he would too, well then he would think about it, and well now ofcourse he won't. No wait he might, but only if his demands are not met and if the government doesn't answer some questions.
The questions Ignatieff is seeking answers to involve four key issues — employment insurance reforms, infrastructure spending, deficit spending and the current medical isotope shortage.
"The Liberal party is not seeking an election. We want Parliament to work. We want to replace confrontation with co-operation," Ignatieff said
"There's room for reasonable people to talk, the question is whether he is reasonable," said Ignatieff.
The prime minister is welcome to give him a call, Ignatieff said, if he needs any clarification on what is required in order for the Liberals to continue supporting the government.
Hold the telephone call Mr. Prime Minister. Let Ignatieff trigger an election along with his buddies. The bottom line is Michael has cried wolf one to many times.
And if Canadians are willing to elect a Prime Minister as indecisive as Michael Ignatieff, then we deserve exactly what we get.

Penquins, Arise, Come Forth

Did you happen to catch it? During all the celebrations of the Pittsburgh Penquins championship win and the presentation of the Stanley Cup NHL President Gary Bettman just had to slip it in there.
With his usual smug smirk and heres "up your north end Canada" attitude, Bettman pointed out that the Pittsburgh Penquins were once on the verge of bankruptcy and ready to fold or move until Mario Lemieux and his group saved the day.
And as Bettman pointed out, the Penquins and the city of Pittsburgh were now hoisting the Stanley Cup.
An obvious inference to you know who, who owns part of the Phoenix Coyotes and is expected to save the Coyotes from their desert wanderings.
Only problem Gary, there are a couple of differences. Pittsburgh is a hockey market.
Most of the folks in Phoenix don't know the difference between a hockey puck and a snow shovel. The Penquins also have had some great players who marketed the game well on the ice and not in a boardroom. Remember Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux.
As great as he is, or was, its hard to get excited watching Wayne Gretzky stand behind the bench.
As well the Penquins benefited from the success of the Philadelphia Flyers and the cross state rivalry that was created. The fact that the Flyers could win a couple of Cups and bring them to Philadephia also created a want and a desire to do it in
Pittsburgh.
Bettman is hell bent on leaving the Coyotes in Phoenix. So be it. Moses wandered around the desert for forty years so leave the Coyotes there, in the desert, for another 40 years or so. Let the NHL pay their bills.
Speaking of deserts. Whats its been. 42 years since the Maple Leafs brought a Stanley Cup to Toronto. Take heart Leaf fans. Moses didn't get it done overnight either.

Not A Farce, Just Corrupt

Corruption is, in its simplest terms, the abuse of power, most often for personal gain or for the benefit of a group to which one owes allegiance. It can be motivated by greed, by the desire to retain or increase one’s power, or, perversely enough, by the belief in a supposed greater good. And while politicians or civil servants most often apply the term ‘corruption’ to abuse of public power, it describes a pattern of behaviour that can be found in virtually every sphere of life. The challenges facing corruption analysts begin with how to define it. Most people know corruption when they see it. The problem is that different people see it differently. Ultimately, defining corruption is a social and political process, although certainly some lines may be drawn and some behaviours universally condemned.
Patrick Fitzsimons, James Cook Uniiversity, The Corruption of Politics and the Politics of Corruption

I have received several emails recently in response to my blogs postings and obviously from Sask Party supporters asking me why I have been so quiet on the whole NDP leadership phony membership scandal. One lady even asked my if I was aware that this membership controversy had happened. Well you would have to have lived under a rock to not know about it, so yes I was and am aware. She went on to say that "politics is just a farce and unless something is done about this, she would never vote again".
Not a farce ma'am, just corrupt!. And by not voting which party do you think would gain the most from that? It would not be the Sask Party.
I am always a little amused and somewhat amazed at how outraged some Sask Party members are by this membership scandal.
Who really cares? Its their party, (NDP) They can have whom ever they want to lead it and why the outrage? Sure its cheating, sure its not right, but judgement day comes in 2011 when every voter "who cares" hopefully will go to the polls and express their opinion with a ballot.
Kind of like exhibition hockey games, there were two previous chances to do the right thing. The Hale Report, an inward looking probe, could find no wrongdoing. The NDP leadership convention, or at least 55% of the delegates, were willing to "look the other way" by annointing Dwain Lingenfelter as their leader.
Now the RCMP criminal investigation begins and who knows where, when or for how long that will take them and again really who cares?
The vote that counts, the big one, if you will is 2011. You know the old saying you get what you ask for or be careful what you ask for. Saskatchewan will have the chance to voice their opinion on the entire controversy. The exhibition games will be over. The one that counts will be played out in 2011. We better be careful what we ask for.

Appetizer Or Full Meal Deal

O'Soup Leads Sask Party into Riversdale

Whether he's an appetizer or the full meal deal, Corey O'Soup faces a challenge in trying to unseat the NDP in Saskatoon Riversdale.
Corey O'Soup is the Saskatchewan Party nominee candidate for the Riversdale seat in Saskatoon's fall byelection.
Is he a sacrificial lamb in an unwinable seat? Maybe not.
I'm really excited and nervous about the whole process." he says.
Danielle Chartier is considered an absolute shoo in for the seat. So much so that the runner up in the NDP leadership convention Ryan Meili choose not to run in Riversdale when most thought he would.
So does O'Soup stand a chance? Not likely to win but a good showing may be possible in light of the RCMP membership of the phoney membership scandal and the outcome of that.

Lisa rolls the dice and fixes it

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canada plans to leave the production of medical isotopes to other countries — despite the fact that for a time last year, this country was producing nearly all such isotopes in the world.
“Eventually, we anticipate Canada will be out of the business,” Harper said Wednesday.Harper’s announcement came shortly after Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt delivered a tearful apology to cancer patients “she may have offended” when she told an aide in January that the cancer and the isotope shortage was a “sexy issue” that could boost her political career.
Raitt has been under fire since May 14 when the 52-year-old Chalk River reactor, known as the NRU was shut down after it began leaking radioactive water.Harper’s comments followed Raitt’s redress for describing cancer and a medical isotope shortage as “sexy” issues that could help her political career.
Raitt made the comments to her aide in January, in a conversation that was apparently recorded accidentally.
On the recording, which eventually was obtained by a journalist, the minister said she was ready to “roll the dice” on the “easy” problem of finding more medical isotopes.
She then said: “It’s sexy. Radioactive leaks. Cancer.
And then
Canadian researchers find substitute for scarce medical isotope
Researchers in Alberta and Ontario have created a new radioactive drug that will immediately help diagnose bone cancer and fractures while taking pressure off the troubled Chalk River nuclear facility.I think this is a success story. More importantly, it's an Alberta success story," said Dr. Sandy McEwan, chair of oncology at the University of Alberta.
So yesterday the tearful apology, today the solution that Lisa will be quick to take credit for.
It was easy, just roll the dice. How could we have ever doubted her?
And some wanted the Prime Minister to roll a head or two.

Communications Director Available

RESUME
Jasmine MacDonnell
Ottawa, Ontario


Objective
Seeking a position as a Communications Director

Relevant Skills

• Reliable, although sometimes a little forgetful
• Ability to maintain confidentiality (well kind of)
• Proficient with the use of audio equipment such as tape recorders
• Experience in handling media affairs and probes
• Positive, always a kind word for fellow workers
* Connected, knows numerous television and newspaper reporters

Employment
To Present (well yesterday) Communication Director for
Minister of Natural Resources – Lisa Raitt
Responsible for the day-to-day management of the Ministers press releases and acted as as liason with the media.
Responsible for keeping track of important documents, maintaining confidentiality
Experienced with tape recorders and other recording equipment.
In addition improving the profile and the awareness of the Minister of Natural Resources with up to date and often daily media briefings.

References:
Lisa Raitt – Minister of Natural Resources
Stephen Harper – Prime Minister of Canada.
Stephen Maher – Halifax Chronicle Herald

Are You Listening Stephen?

Who would believe that NDP orange would cover Nova Scotia from Cumberland County," a jubilant Dexter said before being drowned out by applause from supporters at party headquarters in Dartmouth, "right down through the Valley, as far south as Shelburne County and right on through to Cape Breton Island."
Well who would believe it exactly and who would believe that the federal Stephen Harper Conservatives could not be swept from power right across Canada?
Several prominent names from the former Progressive Conservative government will not be returning to the next session of the legislature, after more than half the cabinet went down to defeat in Tuesday's election.
Eight cabinet ministers — including former education minister Judy Streatch, former environment minister David Morse and former natural resources minister Carolyn Bolivar-Getson — went down to defeat at the hands of the new NDP government.
In light of the Prime Minister's refusal to fire Lisa Raitt and condone her deplorable comments including cancer being sexy, who is to say voters even in Conservative rich Western Canada have not had enough and are ready to see this government topple?
The great Conservative hope, the Conservative strategy is that the alternative, Michael Ignatieff and Jack Layton, are even less
palatable than the present government.
But then again, who would believe that NDP orange would be covering Nova Scotia this morning.

Maple Leaf Jerseys Could Be Next

It's a new law that's never been used until now.
A Saskatoon member of the Hell's Angels is up against charges for wearing his Angel's vest inside a public place.
A new law, The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act - prohibs that.
There are now unconfirmed reports that if the new law is successful Toronto Maple Leaf jerseys could be next.
You know those jerseys that have never won anything in 42 years but have Torontonians, the CBC and most eastern broadcasters clinging to the hope that next year, next year for sure will be the Leafs year.
The Leafs last won the Stanley Cup in 1967. It was easier then. Only six teams but in the 42 years since the Montreal Canadiens have won the Cup 10 times. The Edmonton Oilers joined the league in 1979 and have won five cups since and even the
Ottawa Senators and the Vancouver Canucks have managed to get to the final once, something the Leafs have not even managed to do.
Want more? The Toronto Blue Jays joined major league baseball in 1977 and have made it to the World Series twice and if you
follow baseball where only a handful of teams qualify for postseason play, that is not an easy feat.
But back to the Leafs jersey thing. We will wait until the Hell's Angels challenge is completed and then perhaps the Leafs will be next. More than likely though we'll see Hamilton winning a Stanley Cup before that happens.

Loose Lips Sink Ships

It's time Prime Minister Stephen Harper sent his Natural Resources Minister packing.
A nice quiet spot on the back benches for Lisa Raitt. No matter your political stripe Canadians deserve better than this. If this is the best the Conservatives can offer for a cabinet minister, perhaps it is time for an election.
Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt has found herself in another political firestorm after a tape recording was released Monday night in which she says she wants to take credit for fixing the "sexy" isotope crisis, and questions the competence of Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.
First documents left behind at a television station. Her aide takes the fall for that one. Good help must be tough to find in Ottawa. The aid leaves the documents behind and now in the latest absurdity the same aid, leaves a tape recorder running, forgets the tape recorder somewhere, it falls in to the hands of the media and contains some pretty juicy comments by the Minister herself. Pretty tough to pass the buck over to Jasmine on this one.
On the tape, Raitt says Aglukkaq and her staff seem "terrified" of the issue.
"Good," Raitt continues. "Because when we win on this, we get all the credit. I'm ready to roll the dice on this. This is an easy one. You know what solves this problem? Money. And if it's just about money, we'll figure it out. It's not a moral issue.
"It's really clear," said Raitt. "Oh. Leona. I'm so disappointed."
Shortly after that exchange, MacDonnell says to Raitt the isotope issue is hard to control, "because it's confusing to a lot of people."
"But it's sexy," Raitt responds. "Radioactive leaks. Cancer."
"Nuclear contamination," MacDonnell says.
"But it's only about money," Raitt concludes.
A Cabinet Minister who refers to cancer as being sexy has no class and needs to be fired. Add to that words such as incompetent, bungling, forgetful, unreliable,
self serving, greedy and many more and its time for this minister to go.
What was that they say about "Loose lips sink ships? The only problem with Lisa being on the backbenches is if there is ever a vote will she remember to vote and even more scary will she even know who to vote for?

Pampered Pooches

In Montreal, Chanel, thats her name, is riding along in one of those mobility vehicles complete with a little umbrella to protect her from the sun.

In Ottawa, a young couple were pushing along a baby stroller. No baby in it, but rather a little dog, who seemed quite happy to be there.


People have told me from time to time, and some more than once, that my little dog Diego may be somewhat spoiled. Well I wouldn't deny that but on a recent trip to
Ottawa and Montreal, I found out he is not the only pampered pooch out there.

Overzealous Voter

In a scene strikingly familiar to the Saskatchewan NDP membership scandal, Hezbollah says there may have been some irregularities in the June 7th Lebanon election.
A spokesman for Hezbollah says one over zealous voter may have voted as many as 1100 times thus upsetting the balance of the election.
Unfortunately that voter can now not be found.

Canada's War Museum

Took a tour of the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa this morning. Very impressive and even more impressive is to see the contribution that Canada has made over the years in stopping dictators and tyrants and keeping world peace.Did You Know?

There has not been a war on Canadian soil since the War of 1812.
A Canadian, Dr. John McCrae, penned the poignant poem, In Flanders Fields, during the First World War. Today, the poppy is a lasting symbol of remembrance.


In the First World War, the Canadian Corps fought as a national unit for the first time at Vimy Ridge, winning a great victory and a reputation for bravery.
You can see a life-size diorama of a typical First World War trench at the Canadian War Museum.
During the Second World War, Canada raised armed forces of over one million men and women out of a population of only 12 million.

Lots of displays to see including equipment and such of which I can only post but a few photographs.

You Want To Be A Politician?

Today I am in Ottawa and thought it might be interesting to take in Question Period on Parliament Hill. So I called my MP, Maurice Vellacott at his Ottawa office, and he graciously provided me with a pass to sit in the gallery and take in Question Period.
Was interesting arriving on Parliament Hill. Lots going on. Outside the door on one side was a group opposed to abortion trying to garner support for their cause. Directly across from them were the Tamil demonstrators, lots of them, trying to draw attention to their plight. In the middle of it all a group of wide eyed school children taking it all in.
Time to go inside and after being led through some elegant hallways and a thorough security check it was into the gallery.
Inside one of the security guards told me I had picked a good day to attend question period. When I asked why he smiled and said "The Liberals are really going to go after her today". "Her" turned out to be Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt who is under heat for leaving supposedly confidential "top secret" documents in the CTV offices.
Well go after her they did. Question after question, many times the same questions rephrased in different ways and each time answered by the under seize Natural Resources Minister. Amid calls of "move on", its over and time to move on, the Liberals continued their attack on Raitt.
Why did she allow a young 26 year old assistant to take the heat and be forced to resign instead of doing the right thing and resigning herself? Comparisons to Maxine Bernier who left confidential documents at his girl friends and was forced to resign.
Why the difference, the Liberals demanded to know and on and on it went.
I was left with two impressions. 1) These guys need more to do. There must be more urgent items that both the government and the opposition could be working on. How about the economy, the deficit, more companies needing financial assistance
including the CBC and 2) why would anyone want to be a politician? Why would anyone want to open themselves to that kind of attack ? Think about it. You make a mistake on your job. Likely your boss would call you in. Maybe you would be terminated, maybe you wouldn't be.
But how about making a mistake and having fifty or sixty people sitting around demanding that you resign, television cameras shoved in your face and numerous questions for days on end.
My impression was that Lisa Raitt handled herself extremely well. She stayed cool despite the heat and answered the questions with little help from anyone including the Prime Minister. Her only mistake, accepting or demanding (whatever the case) the resignation of her assistant Jasmine MacDonnell. Not unlike the Lingenfelter case in Saskatchewan where an overzealous campaign worker took the fall, Minister Raitt just tossed Jasmine MacDonnell under the bus. That seems to be the political way. So why would anyone want to be a politician or an assistant ?

You got to k___ a little ass

Two more National Hockey League executives have climbed on Gary Bettman's "you got to follow the rules" bandwagon in regards to Jim Balsillie's bid to buy the Phoenix Coyotes and move them to Hamilton.
John Davidson, President of the St.Louis Blues, says you have to have structure and Jim Balsillie has to follow the rules.
His comments were repeated (just pull my string) by Ottawa Senators General Manager Brian Murray who says there is a procedure here and Balsillie has to follow the procedure. Sounds like the old boys network just had a meeting doesn't it.
Well free of charge and with no requests to be added to Balsillie's payroll (now thats a Wright deal isn't it) I have some suggestions for Jim if he really wants to land an NHL franchise, Hamilton or anywhere.
First you have to steal and modify a song made popular by Little Texas. Remember the song, You Got to Kick A Little Ass.
Well in this case Mr. Balsillie, you are going to have to change kick for kiss. You got to Kiss a little ass.
Start with NHL President Gary Bettman. You are going to have to pucker up Jim. Then you have to move over to Bill Daly.
Remember he's the NHL executive with the comment "We don't start fights, we end them" when discussing the Phoenix move.
Then while you're down there you might as well give Colin Campbell a smooch too. You know it can't hurt, he's got a thankless job. It might go a long way.
Don't get up yet Jim. There is more. Don't forget Thomas Golisano. He's the owner of the Buffalo Sabres, a team really threatened by a franchise in Hamilton.
But you're not done yet Jim. And here's the big one. The entire board of directors of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, but maybe we can just get Brian Burke to fill in.
This is important Jim. The biggest obstacle to your franchise in Hamilton is not about you're not following the rules, its not even about the Buffalo Sabres. Its the Toronto Maple Leafs Jim. What if you're new team is better than the Leafs? I mean how hard can that be? How would the center of the universe handle it if this new team made the playoffs or even worse, won
the Stanley Cup? Remember 1967. Most Leaf fans don't either it was so long ago but that is the last time Toronto Maple Leafs won anything.
And Jim, I even have a name for your new team. How about the Hamilton Humiliators. That would describe how Maple Leaf fans will be feeling when Hamilton hosts a Stanley Cup parade. Toronto hasn't seen one of those in over 40 years.
So there you go Jim. Make some modifications to Little Texas. Remember its "You Got to KISS A Little Ass"
And about that spot on your payroll. I was just kidding. You can call me anytime.