Where Saskatchewan Comes To Talk
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We are five nights into the Stanley Cup Playoffs and they have been nothing but a three-ring circus. Cue the clowns. It seems just about every one of the eight first-round series (save for New Jersey-Florida) has had some sort of fines, suspensions, goonery and drama. This isn't what we want.
Some trolls wrote in here yesterday saying "This must be what you want!". No. It isn't. As I pointed out in Sunday's comments section, you can still play tough, playoff hockey within the rules and between the whistles. What went on in that Pittsburgh-Philadelphia series yesterday was disgraceful. These guys don't even know how to play it tough!
If you don't know the difference, then you don't know this game. The Globe and Mail's Bruce Dowbiggin said it best in a weekend column: "Talk to players, coaches and management around the league (even the liberals) and you'll find that they're in favour of retaining fighting and intimidation because they don't trust the NHL's justice system." Bruce wrote this in support of Elliotte Friedman's comments on Hockey Night In Canada.
However what we've seen is gross. The hit on Daniel Alfreddsson in New York was straight out of Slapshot. The diving by Coyotes goalie Mike Smith was shameful and the antics of Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby have been downright childish.
Let's hope they straighten up. I was going to say they should pop in a tape of an Edmonton-Calgary game from the 1980s to see how the playoffs should be played but maybe not. Remember this one?
Marty McSorley and I will be at the same sports dinner in Estevan next month. I'll have to ask him about that.
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There was plenty of tension in Weyburn Friday night. That's where our weekend began as Scott Schultz and I broadcast the Sports Cage's Four Seasons Playoff Friday live from Crescent Point Place. It was just before Game 6 of the SJHL's Canalta Cup which Humboldt led the Red Wings 3-2.
From the minute we walked into the lobby at 4:00 you could sense people were on edge. Their team was facing elimination and their best player, SJHL MVP Jesse Ross, had been suspended for the rest of the series by league President Bill Chow. They seemed out for blood.
Chow appeared on our show at 6:00, looking resplendent in a double-breasted black suit. Are they back in style? Because I have a closet full of them waiting for the day that they are. Anyways Bill calmly explained the rationale behind his decision but right in the middle of it some lady came and slammed a hand-written letter down on the table in front of him. "TAKE A LOOK AT THAT!" she advised sternly. Bill seemed mildly rattled but I knew after 30 years as a Prince Albert cop, he's been through far worse.
At the interview's conclusion Chow read the last sentence aloud. "I hope you have a good life Mr. Chow," the lady wrote. "Because you have ruined Jesse Ross's dream". We still had 30 minutes left in the show but Bill's time was up. He stood up and uncomfortably looked around. It seemed as though he'd rather sit with us than be released into the wilderness that was the Crescent Point Place lobby. However a few minutes later Red Wings executive Ken Ferguson came by and extended his hand to show there were no hard feelings.
The barn was rocking and it was complimented by a busload of Broncos supporters. We saw them when they arrived and they'd had a snootful. It's doubtful many of them remembered the game. It turned out to be a 6-0 Humboldt rout and the series-clincher.
Chow did not escape unscathed. "Only had 1/2 cup of water thrown on me," Bill wrote in a text message later that night.
I told him it could have been worse.
***
RANDOM THOUGHTS:
- What on earth was Don Cherry wearing Saturday night?
Hasn't his stylist heard of the movie Beetlejuice???
- It amazed me on Thursday, sitting across the Sports Cage table from veteran broadcaster Peter Loubardias, how this man is looking for a job. His knowledge, his passion, his talent. It defies logic. Whomever hires him next is getting a good one.
- The hardest I laughed all weekend was during a conversation with Merle Kozun, a 50/50 seller at P.A. Raider games. On the phone he told me the Leafs are his "regular season team" and the Philly Flyers are his "playoff team". That's what it's come to for Toronto.
- I'd like to point out that the USA Today said this is a better Penguins team than the one which won the Stanley Cup three years ago. Our Titan Auto polls on this website predicted a Vancouver-Pittsburgh Finals but both teams are down 0-3. That just shows how crazily unpredictable these playoffs have been.
- I have no idea if the Eberle and Friends Golf Classic is sold out but it's got to be close. Jordan was in the Cage with us last week but wasn't sure which NHL celebs would be there, nor how to register. However I posted the lady's email address from the Hospitals of Regina Foundation and I'm sure she's been inundated. Ray Elgaard even called from Las Vegas yesterday wondering how to enter.
- Local sports bar owners say if the Canucks lose this series, it's very bad news for their businesses.
- Through Saturday night there were 10 "pucks-over-the-glass" delay of game penalties in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That's the new en vogue penalty. Last year it was "too many men". There was another one late in the Vancouver-LA game last night.
- Is it just me or is hypocritical and somewhat inappropriate for Kerry Fraser to come on TSN during game nights and point out all the blown calls by the CURRENT officials?
- A Flames employee told me last week he could see Brent Sutter heading to coach the Oilers. Jim Matheson made the connection as well in a weekend Edmonton Journal story here:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/touch/sports/story.html?id=6461499
- This could be a stretch. As an Oilers employee told me on Friday "we don't even have a GM right now, really".
- Pat Conacher to coach the Flames? Why not? I'm sure he's ready, willing and able.
- Did anyone in the Calgary media ask how much the Flames paid to take over the Stampeders? I was told it was roughly the equivalent of the salary cap, or near $5-million. Don't look now, but that's far lower than your average WHL team would be worth.
- The last time Edmonton played Moose Jaw in the WHL playoffs was in 1967. It was a ten game series, which the Moose Jaw Canucks won over the Oil Kings. I'm not making it up! Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun has the story here:
http://m.edmontonsun.com/2012/04/14/jones-best-of-nine-made-history
- Rider legend Don Narcisse will be on the Sports Cage today for Rider Monday. He still doesn't have his CFL Hall of Fame or Plaza of Honour rings back after losing them at the Leader Post's Raise-A-Reader day at the Conexus Arts Centre. I mean, if somebody walked off with them, what good are they? You can't WEAR them. It's like the punk who stole Logan Pyett's World Junior gold medal. What GOOD is it to you? If you have them, please return them.
- The feminists will be happy. The Lingerie Football League has suspended operations for the 2012 season. Presumably they're out of money. Now what will prospective Regina Rage coach Larry Mueller do?
- Graduated Regina Rams receiver Brenden Owens has been invited to the Roughriders' mini-camp to be held in Regina at the end of the month. He got a shot with Hamilton last year but was injured throughout the evaluation.
- When will Jason Clermont make an announcement regarding his retirement? In January Rider GM Brendan Taman said he will not be offering Clermont, a free agent, a new deal. Perhaps Jason is just hanging on for as long as possible. His Twitter profile is him in a Rider uniform. Or ... maybe he's not done yet? Stay tuned.
- At a southend get-together Saturday night it was suggested the line seperating north and south Regina has been moved down to Parliament Avenue from Dewdney Avenue. That would now make it "NOP: North of Parliament" as opposed to "NOD: North of Dewdney". Hey, don't shoot the messenger.
- Former Rider-turned-Eskimo Cary Koch got married on Saturday. Weston Dressler and Chris Getzlaf were among those in attendance.
- The DUI charge to Rider defensive end Odell Willis seems to have been met with a collective shrug of the shoulders from Rider fans. However consider this comment from a weekend article from Paul Wiecek of the Winnipeg Free Press:
"Joe MACK could have spent the day on Thursday saying, 'I told you so.'
After a month of taking heat from Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans for trading CFL sack leader Odell Willis to the Saskatchewan Roughriders for draft picks, it would have been hard to blame the Bombers GM if he'd used the announcement of Willis's arrest on drunk driving charges to point out to his detractors it was precisely this kind of erratic behaviour by Willis that led the Bombers to trade the vocal defensive end in the first place. But that's not the style of Mack, who is old school to the core, always the gentleman."
- Take it for what it's worth but Rider great Scott Schultz had this to say on Friday's Sports Cage: "The Code of Conduct is a joke".
- Thank God Twitter wasn't around when Scott Schultz played. #fine #suspensions #hardfeelings
- Kudos to CFL personalities Anthony Calvillo and Matt Dunigan for lending a hand to various fundraisers this off-season. AC is speaking in Timmons, Ontario's Athletes in Action banquet this month while Matt is speaking at an event in Grande Prairie, AB to raise money for their school football program.
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- Come check out the Harlem Globetrotters at the Brandt Centre tonight at 7:00! The Trotters' Hammer Harrison stopped by the Sports Cage last week to promote the game. He's 6'9" and said I made him feel short! We'll see you there tonight.
- Former Regina Pat Rhett Gordon announced his retirement from pro hockey yesterday. The "Golden Rhett". His little brother Boyd is starring with the Phoenix Coyotes right now.
- We managed to sneak in the movie 21 Jump Street on the weekend. It was good with a lot of laughs but there's a lot of dumb parts too. 1 1/2 thumbs up from the MMG.
- Theatres are getting lazy! Instead of putting up movies and showtimes on their marquee, all they've put on the sign is "GO ONLINE". How sad.
- All the good guys are getting punted from Celebrity Apprentice. Last night it was Paul Sr. from American Choppers. Or Orange County Choppers. Or whatever it is. I really liked Dee Snider from Twisted Sister too but he walked the plank a few weeks ago. I'm pulling for Aubrey O'Day now. Any relation to Jeremy?
- Don't forget the Press Box Sports Bar is your Stanley Cup Playoff headquarters with $5 pints EVERYDAY! It's the cheapest in town!
SEE YOU IN THE CAGE
RP
68 comments:
Loved the column but I don't think Mike Smith took a dive. Solid contact and he looked pretty out of it.
Hey Rod,
As the radio voice for the Humboldt Broncos I was absolutely flabbergasted at how the Weyburn Red Wing fans handled the suspension to Ross.
Blaming Bill Chow for ruining Ross' "Dream"??
Come on... Chow wasn't the one who two hand chopped Neil Landry in the ankle.
I understand it is upsetting that the top scorer from the season had to sit out in game six but to blame Landry for diving....Brockman for complaining... or Bill Chow for being too harsh is absolutely ridiculous.
Ross is the one who needlessly hacked a player not Bill Chow....
Am I the only one that thinks the fan disappointment should have been directed elsewhere? Namely Ross himself?
But that's just my measly opinion to start the week!
PS: I thought Bill's suit was spectacular and even sparked about 3 minutes of conversation on the broadcast!
Cheers
Branden Crowe
rhett Trombley was " the golden Rhett". and what is your point about the Bill chow story. Ross earned the suspension. the refs saw it and called it a major penalty. Chow didn't get video and rule on it because someone complained. wyburn was overmatched anyway. and really you were surprised that a bus full of fans had a few drinks? wow Pedersen maybe you need to get out of your little glass house a little more.
Rhett Gordon was around before Rhett Trombley. But you sound like a smart fellow. As for you Branden, I added your blog to my bloglist! Great work.
Hey RP,
Should we read into you moving to CJME Ha ha, your using their tag line now...."Where Saskatchewan comes to Talk" ?
I have to say I was very disappointed with coach Mac's post game antics as the plaques were being handed out. It's sad to see a truly legendary coach carry himself with such a lack of decorum.
Also, just for the record, the lingerie football league only suspended the American portion of their company.
Actually the sad part isn't movie theatres being lazy. The sad part is you "snuck" into the theatre. Have you already forgotten how to pay for things? Pretty slimey to brag about it on here for all to see.
OMG the crazies are out in full force this morning! We paid at the self-service machine in the lobby and have the three receipts to prove it. Go back to bed homey.
How does a sports journalist or talk show personality in Saskatchewan not know the news?
Lingerie football league is halting their american division to expand their global market in Canada, Mexico and Europe. Do some research Pedersen.
A. Nonymous
Actually, how are we supposed to believe that? It's either a lie, or the dumbest sports business move in history. Stopping playing is supposed to HELP the league? Riiiiiight.
LFL is a waste of time and having it go under now will save everyone a lot of embarrassment. Lingerie "football" is a Super Bowl commercial and nothing more.
As to the Stamps, $5 mill seems low. When you consider CFL ticket prices which are pretty high, the amount of corporate sponsorships, league revenue and the relatively low payscale, how can a CFL team (in western Canada at least) not be a solid profit generator? don't get it.
On a side note, Garth Brooks tickets for his show in Calgary sold out in 51 seconds flat. Heck if he's doing a show in Calgary, why not headline Craven next year? It would be bigger than when King George came (sorry Rod).
Rex
I'm going to say that Parliament argument is ridiculous.
Not even 15 percent of Regina is located South of Parliment.
You could argue, maybe, maybe 13th Avenue being the mid-point.
"Not even 15 percent of Regina is located South of Parliment."
Have you ever been south of Parlament Dr.??
WOW some people need to get out of their basements!
This comment is aimed at Brenden Crowe.
Brenden, I think you did a helluva job this year, but it does not surprise me to see you wave the Broncos flag in this situation because of your connecction with them,
The Ross slash was a 5 minute penalty. I will not argue that. What I will argue is Bill Chow saying the suspension (which he tells the Leader-Post was something he did because he saw it) was not a hockey play. There are many things that happen in a game that are not a hockey play. Are these players to be suspended too? If it is, the Broncos may not have had a team to ice by Game 5 and same with the Wings. A two handed chop to the ankle happens in many games. Elbows and shoulders to the head happen too, but they get ignored. Weyburn was not going to win that series, but Bill Chow insured that. The SJHL should be ashamed of his actions as it leaves Humboldt's win coming off as hollow.
Sean
How did Bill Chow "insure" it? Who would cover this kind of insurance? :)
What would be really interesting would be to ask McSorely about the Brashear chop and what really was going through his head when he did that! Totally off the record, over a couple drinks, what would his answer be!?
I was Brashear for halloween once, I had a McSorley stick cracked over my head and a brashear jersey, only the hockey people got it, it was awesome!
RP, you are a Weyburn fan. Your thoughts on the Ross suspension?
This years playoff hockey has me hoping for another long lockout followed by contraction to maybe 20-24 teams max. Maybe then the goons will disappear.
JC
The league gives three games to a guy who got his elbow up too high while giving one game to a premeditated attack. That's unbelievable. Shanahan is a joke!
Overheard by yours truly Friday night at CPP.
"We as a league wanted Laury Ryan out because we thought the league would be run better. We as a league were wrong."
That came from someone wearing a Yorkton Terriers jacket. He might have been a fan, but he looked more like he was involved with the Terriers in some fashion.
The decision by Chow put an ugly blackmark on that series. I didn't see the slash in question, but I was told it was a bad one. The Bronco player was back in action though so it couldn't have been that bad. Its over now!
Not that I'm interested in the league, but according to their press release, the LFL is suspending their American league until spring. The Canadian league is still a go for this fall...
"Where Saskatchewan comes to talk". I've said before that you are sports' version of John Gormley. I guess you are just trying to reinforce that. Well played!
I'm guessing you will be ruffling feathers within the opposition ranks today.
Rod - Aubrey O'Day is the whiniest contestant that has ever been on the show. Clearly smart but if she does not get her way she is a baby about it and pouts...she takes all the credit for everything and throws everyone she can under the bus...she would never make it in the real business world. If we are basing it on looks then maybe but she looks ordinary next to Dayana Mendoza who is one of the best looking women on the planet. So cheer for Dayana...or at least join me in the anybody but Lisa campaign.
To even consider Rod in the same breath as John Gormley is completley insulting to Rod Perdersn, Harvard Broadcasting, and frankly Rod's family.
Here is what I know of Rod Pedersen. He is a man that has core principals and values, and strong beliefs. However he is the type of man that will listen to reason or even unreason, and make an attempt to understand both sides of an arguement. He doesn't make it personal. Rod is not in anyway a bully. Rod's audience for that matter is very diverse both on this Blog, and his radio show. Rod has a "likability" factor going for him too. People like to talk to Rod, and associate with him. Rod also knows what works for himself, and there is just a genunine decency to him.
John Gormley is a patholgical liar who really doesn't have a strong sense of who he is. For a guy like Gormley that gets confused by knowing what he does to generate a paycheck. This means John can't change his opinion because the audience goes away. John's company Rawlco has a 7.8 rating overall which means nobody listens so they have to run his show 2 times a day and a couple times on the weekend. John has a "base" which means his audience doesn't expand. If you ever listen to the show after ratings come he has to speak more outrageous, ensure that he can debate an idiot with an opposing view, talk over the guest, and make it about him all to ensure that "base" keeps listening longer as nobody else is tuning in.
Rod could walk out of his office tomorrow and there would be a line up of offers in bigger markets both in Canada and the United States. When Sun News came on John had his tryout and didn't get pick up, and he bombed. He's almost 60 years old,small time, playint to small time listeners.
Don't compare the two as it's insulting to Rod and his listners.
Signed,
Not gonna sign as I "retired" but needed to make a point.
To "Not gonna sign"
Wow, you are either the new Mrs. Pedersen or Roddy's mom.
OH-BAH-MAH!!!!! OH-BAH-MAH!!!!! OH-BAH-MAH!!!!
He can say he's retired, but I recognize that writing.
OH-BAH-MAH!!! OH-BAH-MAH!!!!
Please don't retire as I need your daily words of wisdom.
OH-BAH-MAH OH-BAH-MAH!!!
Rod puts Obama in his glass case and brings him out for special occasions. Starting shit on Monday and Fridays is probably the agreement. I knew it was Obama right away to.
lol, Obama,
We all know that was you, and by the way...loving the sun news network and sask party and conservative majority both provincially and nationally.
God Bless RP and God Bless Gorms.
Obama probably has more listeners than Gormley. Guaranteed more than Richard Brown.
Obama, I hope you know there are far more people who AGREE with you than disagree.
It's just the dumb ones that decide to leave comments to insult you.
Your're writing is deadly! Yours too Rod!
Molly F.
roddy yet another follish comment made by u about Smith.... u wear a mask & have ur head directly hit having that mask twisted into ur face & see how u feel... im guessing ur cheering for the hawks & cant see nothing wrong with that play right?
I do agree tho that alot of this so called toughness is getting out of hand in the playoffs but it has also made the playoffs worth watching to see what will happen next... the NHL regular season is so boring with very little passion, the NHL doesnt get good until the playoffs
I haven't seen the Jesse Ross hit so I can't comment. Bill Chow is sending it to me.
I agree with you Rod, I'm dumbfounded as to why Loubo is looking for work. I've seen him in a few rinks this past winter here in Alberta doing some scouting. Grew up listening to him broadcast the Pats, and in my opinion is one of the most intelligent, colourful and engaging PBP guys around. His replacement on Sportsnet Flames games is an absolute joke. Puts me to sleep, literally.
Well if the Flames hired Conacher as their new head coach, they wouldn't have to teach him its polite and in goodsportsmanship to shake hands with the winning coach at the end of a playoff series!! They don't have to worry about playoffs!! He's not NHL head coach material, never has been and never will be, he proved that with his actions in the series against the warriors.
I hope when Mr. Chow sends you the tape of the incident that he includes the cross-check to the back of the head on Ross in the near corner as well. Note that no penalty was called on that.
Rod is usually pretty good to read and listen to, except he was way OVERBOARD with the Silver Fox in talking about the slewfoot penalty! I found that pretty disgusting to treat a friend like that on radio or even in person!
Obama, learn to spell LISTENER and Rod, learn to spell SEPARATING.
Didn't you go to a SEPARATE SCHOOL? lol
Just another spellcheck fan!
Celebrity Apprentice? I thought you were better than that. I was wrong!
Loubardias is looking for work because the guys that make the decisions have the same mindset as me and obviously a few others.
His voice induces headaches, he may be passionate but it comes off desperate, and his style is eccentric as it gets. Call the game, rather than be the loud obnoxious one shouting into the mic.
The $5M paid by the Flames for the Stampeders was to take a majority position in the franchise that they already owned shares in. They now have the 50+1 needed to be in control (or most likely more than that) Forzani kept his shares in the team. What I heard is the share transfer puts the value of the Stamps at roughly $15M which would be around 5-8 Million more than a typical WHL franchise.
Rider season can't get here soon enough. Sure, the mutants need to express their general displeasure, but today's comments section is just...weird.
It seems the toothless yokels really grasp at straws when they aren't able to blast the old green and white. (Sneaking into movies? Wow)
Stan
weyburn fan that is whining about a crosscheck....its over. the slash was witnessed by everyone in the rink. the 4 officials on the ice and the president of the league. tough to not come down on someone like that, regardless of who it is. I was there, i saw it and it was a 2 handed swing. end of story. if it was ciolfi would you have been happy if he did it and didn't get suspended? the answer is no. so your player lost his mind and paid the price. not the presidents fault, not the Humboldt players fault. own it and move on. all they did was make Ross accountable....i know that is a novel concept these days but tough shit!
LOL,didn't know that girl Burrows called Richards a cokehead. I'm sure if Richards really wanted he could beat him him up since Burrows is nothing but a wuss. Look no further than him pulling hair, biting, and knee some dude in the junk in Chicago. Only place I've seen that garbage is in girls high school basketball.
Why would you watch Celeb Apprentice when you could watch Mad Men on Sunday night?
Can watch both - called a PVR...
I notice Clermont has changed his twitter pic and his bio says retired CFL all-star...does that make it official?
Shut up Obama!
If Ronnie and Dwight don't retire, I would think Mr. Chow's days in the SJHL will be one and done. Those two carry a lot of weight at the table as you know Rod.
I don't think Mr. Chow has done a very good job this year and as a result the overall product has suffered. That is a sentiment shared by some teams in the league including the team I follow. Getting rid of Mitch was his first mistake as the communication coming out of the league was extremely poor this year compared to last and getting rid of Jesse Ross might very well be his last.
Terry (not from Weyburn)
Clermonts pic and twitter bio were that way for a while.
He's done playing and tells anyone that asks.
Why would anyone watch either Celeb Apprentice or Mad Men?
lol....I love the blog, Rod!!
Oh, and the other night I snuck in a bag of chips while watching TV....it was a big bag, so...sneaking in wasn't TOO hard! lol
Poor Jeremy, still fairly new and he has to deal with all this Odell stuff...hopefully it ends well...for him, the team and Odell.
Look forward to tonight's show as always.
Murray from Estevan
Come on there Rod. The Golden Rhett Trombley was at least a few years before Rhett Gordon.. Im disappointed in your memory on this one.
Those that are against fighting should just take up tennis and start watching it. You'll enjoy it and be happy.
Rod,
I happened to be at game 5 in Humboldt in support of Outlook boy Mitch Kilgore, who stopped a lot of shots between the pipes. Unfortunately, it is sad that the Weyburn fans had to act the way they did to Mr. Chow in game 6 as you had indicated. I witnessed the two handed golf swing slash administered by Jesse Ross and the suspension he received was totally fair. It was a vicious slash and he needs to be totally accountable for his actions. I am not sure if the suspension would have been greater had it been a Match penalty, but the call could have easily gone that way as well.
As for the lingerie football league, well, my wife is playing for the Saskatoon Valkyries this year (alongside her niece) so I am not disappointed with the failure of the LFL. The Valkyries won the league last year, and they need to draw bigger crowds this year.
Regards,
Brad Harris
Obama, I love it when you come on here and cuss down Gormley, yet you never have the balls to call into his show and take him on. What are you so afraid of? That your storytelling beat-around-the-bush way of debating might get squashed and you might be insulted? How dare he!
And Molly, you are not doing your political party of choice any favors by using insulting language to attack people with different political views than your own. Phrases like "tar sands", "Heil Harper", etc come to mind. As soon as you start spewing out that crap you automatically lose the debate. And you wonder why non-political people are sick of partisan politics.
Romney
"Those that are against fighting should just take up tennis and start watching it. You'll enjoy it and be happy."
Spoken by someone who has probably never been hit, other than when he plays NHL 12 in his mommy's basement.
Romney,
In the immortal words of the great Roy Shivers...."I'm not going on any show to drive up ratings."
What is there to debate? I have no interest in speaking to a man who is clearly a xenophobe, and if you listen to his rants on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms perhaps a borderline rascist?
When the rating goes about 7.8, and that station climbs out of last place maybe just maybe I'll give it some thought. I'm more than happy to call in to CKRM Newsline at Noon, and have a little chat with Jim Smalley and whoever the guest he happens to have on.
The audience with CKRM is much bigger, as opposed to Gormley and his crowd of 50ish white males, billy big rigs, joey rig pigs, and retirees who get their news from Readers Digest.
Obaman - yeah I'm back deal with it.
Romney is clearly delusional. To say Molly F uses name calling. Have you heard Gormley's show, and his references to those in Unions, Environmental groups, and the list goes on? You just pulled the plug on your arguement.
My personal favourite is how John refers to the tenents of Marxist philosophies. They had a big deal last week on whether class warfare is alive and well. This was the late show and I was driving so happened to catch it.
You know who the first were to use Marxist policies? The Disciples in the Book of Acts that agreed it was best to not in any way take from those with means, but that if you had means they would share with those less fortunate. If it's good enough for Jesus I'm pretty sure that economic philosophy should be okay with John Gormley.
John follows the long held tradition of whack job P.C. MPs from the Battlefords district that alienate and play to a specific small base. They make a lot of noise. He's right there with the guys that followed him in that riding - Jim Pankiw and Brad Trost. Real stand up guys.
Obama
Slow day at work eh Obama? You obviously don't consider it insulting language if you are speaking about someone with different political views than your own. And you've made your point that you don't like Gormley. So how about this? Instead of Gormley, I'd be more than happy to debate you and we could even do it on Jim Smalley's show. Live, on the air, no BS. What do ya say?
Romney
Obama you are a dildo.
Pankiw and Trost are out of Saskatoon East, NOT Battlefords.
Get your facts straight before spewing........or better yet, go back into retirement.
And what pray tell would you like to debate? How would you go about establishing your point or even providing an explanation to convince me otherwise that you'd be correct? You can't do it. On this Blog you fellas have had 5 years and you still can't come up with a convincing arguement.
If you argue from the Conservative standpoint Rod is more than willing to allow this comments section to present different viewpoints.
Here's your chance to explain on a Federal level:
- The need to repeal the Charter of Rights and Freedoms - tell us why you don't think groups should have rights to language, religion, gathering etc.
- Tell us what programs you want to cut back and specifically why it's important to buy fighter jets while at the same time cut back on the pensions of senior citizens.
- Why does Canadian Oil who tends to fund Conservative based parties no have an export tax when shipping our resource to places like China who clearly have massive Human Rights violations?
- Why do you as a Conservative agenda a hatred against minorities, women, and the French language bilingualism policy?
On a Provincial level can you explain the reason to:
- Pass a law that you are so fundamentally believing you are in need of yet it is full well in violoation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. If you don't agree with that right then which other "rights" would you like repealled.
- Why would you rescind a tax break for an industry that has been a 6 to 1 return on investment and carries with it an international reputation for being excellent. Yet when a little pressure is on you extend cutting it? Is it because you can't make a decision or you just go with the flow. To me explain how that's leadership?
The Civic issues are endless.
Romney,
You give a good explanation of those policy stances then maybe just maybe I'd meet you at the Press Box for a Corona and a chat.
Obama
Obama I have come on here before and debated the issues. The reason you say that I haven't provided an explanation is because you are so entrenched in your political beliefs that any time someone says something contradictory to your opinion then it is automatically wrong and has no substance. You have to realize that there are other people with opinions out there and that yours may not always be the correct one. But I'll take you on anyways:
-It is incorrect that all conservatives want to repeal the charter. Why do you constantly say that anyone who complains about the charter is against rights for minorities, religious groups and the like? That's a classic smear tactic and you know it. Some people are upset that the charter gives more power to the courts and that there is no inclusion of property rights at all. These are contentious issue but nobody out there is saying that fundamental rights should be taken away from people. That's nonsense.
-With regards to the OAS, obviously it is a contentious issue especially with the recent F35 scandal. But nobody is trying to take away seniors pensions just because they want to purchase jets. Average working people in this country work well past 65 these days and the government believes that they can save money by starting benefits two years later. Keep in mind there are a lot of baby boomers retiring soon and that will be a tremendous burden on the government at any level.
-Obviously the issue of human rights in China is a contentious one. But if we are to expand our economy we have to look at all sources to sell our natural resources to and China is a large customer. We've been selling our wheat to them since the 60's and you haven't complained about Big Grain being taxed to the nines.
-I don't know where you are getting this crap that all Conservatives hate womens and minority rights and bilingualism. When bilingualism was first brought in there were extremists on both sides who hated it. And in terms of minorities, our province has seen an explosion of immigration under a center-right government. Not long after that, a union guy called into the radio and said that he hated it cause the immigrants were stealing jobs. Gee, who's the racist now? No one party can claim moral superiority on this one cause there are always bad apples in the bunch. But never let the truth get in the way of a great soundbite, right?
-The right to strike was never entrenched in the Charter and that requires a decision at the federal level as well. Unions say that they deserve that right if they are wronged, well it is a two way street if it is the unions that are in the wrong on their side of the bargaining process. Essential services are critical to protect the general public, the innocent victims of ugly spats between unions and government that can arise no matter who is in power. Ask Roy Romanow, he didn't have fun in the spring of 99.
-I'd call your bluff on the talking points that the film industry has had a 6 to 1 ROI for this province because it is a known fact the film industry has dropped off substantially in this province even before the grant was cut. Also, there weren't too many companies that came here to shoot a film and actually invested in the province once the movie was done. That's why the premier talked about possibly revising the legislation so that it is a tax break and only for Saskatchewan companies that pay taxes here and utilize most of the services here. Thinking the process through is leadership. On the other hand, throwing money at a movie series for the sole fact that it promotes your political party while slandering those on the opposite side is certainly not leadership. Calvert and friends got caught with their pants down on that one.
I'm at the press box fairly often so feel free.
Romney
....not much there for a convincing statement Romney, keep trying though.
Obama
Actually the reality is if you look at Conservatism as a whole it has never once been on the side of minority or human rights. It's just not true that prior to the Charter a Conservative government would be in favour of them. The most recent was the opposition that Harper put up with extending marriage rights to the gay community. He was the opposition leader vehemently opposed.
The film industry as a whole slowed down due to a global recession, but the industry will come back as all industries who face adversity do. The only reason he wants to eliminate the film industry is that generally people in that community are left of centre thinkers and getting them out of the Province is an advantage for his electorate.
Essential services? Your life was just fine prior to that happening, and it was just a plain dumb move on the SGEU's part to threaten not to plow roads.
You're arguement tries and I'll give you credit. You poach a caller here or there to a radio show or just take snippets of anecdotal evidence to make a point. Really though it's just not working for you.
Obama
Immigration explodes? Again all started under the Calvert government.
See Obama, I knew you'd say that. You'll never think my argument is legit or beter than yours because you're so entrenched in your political beliefs. Kind of like Mandaryk's column in the LP that talks about how the Suzuki foundation is opposed to anything right-wing because of their imbedded belief that if it's right wing then automatically it sucks. You're right on the same wavelength. Any of the arguments that I have made, you come right back with the same slander that you started out with. "Oh, conservative governments have never been in favor of human rights". That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!! I could begin with the fact that a conservative PM brought in the first Bill of rights but what's the use. Wall trying to ship out electorate that won't vote for him? That's even stupider. All you're doing is preaching to the hardcore partisans on your side of the fence. If you think the non-political voter actually takes that stuff seriously then you are sorely mistaken. You accuse me of going after the soundbites to sway the electorate, well right back atcha pal.
Take some advice: If your party of choice really wants to form power again you really have to get over this mentality that only your party "cares" for people and nobody else does. And you certainly aren't smarter either. It's that elitism and snobbishness that's what gotten you guys into the gutter in the first place.
Anyway, that's enough for one debate. Find me at the Press Box and we'll talk.
Romney
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