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Breaking news – Braid wins!

Posted by Joanne on 31 October 2008, 3:26 pm

This just in from Newstalk 570: Conservative Peter Braid has won the official recount over Andrew Telegdi by 17 votes! This process has been going on since Wednesday.

Every ballot was recounted.

The Record – Recount confirms Braid as winner…

Congratulations, Peter Braid! And thank you Justice Donald Gordon for a job well done.

Congrats too, to Aaron. I’m sure he’ll have lots to tell us.

Saturday Update: H/T to Gabby in the previous post for this link to David Akin’s blog, which includes official Elections Canada information.  David also has a link to Pundits’ Guide – Well worth checking out.

Record - It’s Braid by a Hair in Recount. (Very clever. Wish I had thought of that one.) This link is also posted in the next post.

Filed under Federal Election.
30 Comments

Toronto Star stuck on stupid

Posted by Joanne on 31 October 2008, 8:05 am

Who writes these editorials for the Toronto Star? Ministers need monitoring. Is someone there trying to write talking points for Ralph Goodale on Mike Duffy Live?

Again we see the words "neo-conservative" and "Mike Harris" pop up. The election’s over folks. Time to get with the program.

Not even one positive comment about the new Federal Cabinet?  Not one??? Your cousin, The Waterloo Region Record is practically throwing a party over here.

How about all those women in Cabinet? Isn’t that a good thing?

The Star schlock ends with the following:

This just proves that loyalty (to the Prime Minister) trumps competence in cabinet making.

I think you could make a similar comparison to the quality of Star journalism and its subscribers.

Filed under Federal politics, MSM bias.
22 Comments

Just not good enough

Posted by Joanne on 30 October 2008, 11:00 pm

When I first read Kady O’Malley’s post today, I was quite heartened to think that Wai Young’s appeal for a full recount would finally be taken seriously.

However the more I think about it, the less satisfied I become – especially after reading the Vancouver Sun report by Neil Hall:

…The matter was heard in court by Dohm late Wednesday, when the judge agreed to examine the counting statements for each of the 184 ballot boxes, which are called polls, for Vancouver South.

"Counting statements"? That’s it? What’s that going to prove?

Sandy seems to be just as indignant as I am . Hopefully this is just the starting point, but I want to see all the ballots counted just as they have been in every other recount.

Even Mike Duffy commented on it tonight when talking to Jane Taber and Robert Fife on MDL:

"…if you’re going to have a recount, let’s have a recount! … This is a very important decision!"

Jane and Robert seemed to agree with Duff.

This isn’t fair to Wai Young, and it isn’t even good for Ujjal Dosanjh. If he is deemed the winner without a full recount, this cloud will forever hang over his head like some fetid eau de democracy gone rancid.

What is going on out there?

Perhaps this gang from Vancouver South should come to Kitchener-Waterloo and find out how things are supposed to be done.

*   *   *   *

Related: Brampton West recount scheduled for Nov. 3 – The Brampton Guardian:

"…The recount could take between three and four days, according to court officials…"

Hel-lo-o. Anyone listening out there in Vancouver South?

Conservative Reporter says, …OPEN THE BOXES!

Update on Kitchener-Waterloo recount - 570 News It’s still going to be a while.

Still watching and waiting for the Vancouver South ‘recount’ at Crux of the Matter.

Filed under Federal Election, Voter cynicism, democracy.
29 Comments

Open thread for Cabinet discussion

Posted by Joanne on 30 October 2008, 9:40 am

I’m not planning to do any live-blogging, but there is lots of info at Stephen Taylor’s, and also National Newswatch and Bourque.

Speculation and reactions welcome here.

Macleans liveblogging here.

Stephen Taylor is also liveblogging , if you have trouble digesting the red koolaid at Macleans.

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Update: Waterloo Region now has an MP in cabinet! Congrats to Gary Goodyear!! Details in the Record.  Christian Conservative is happy about this too.

Complete list of Cabinet appointments available at Newstalk 570.

Filed under Canadian Government, Canadian Politics, Federal politics.
78 Comments

Recount enters Second day in Kitchener-Waterloo

Posted by Joanne on 30 October 2008, 7:28 am

The recount process in Kitchener-Waterloo seems to be going smoothly (Record report here):

After a day of counting yesterday, workers had gone through just half the ballots. Returning officer Henry Schmidt said there were few significant problems with the recount, which he expects will conclude today. "It’s going smoothly," he said. "It’s going well." Workers found some disputed ballots, Schmidt said, but he couldn’t reveal how many or whether there were enough to change the election results. Earlier in the day, the judge presiding over the recount, Superior Court Justice Donald Gordon, ruled the local news media could witness the recount after The Record launched a formal application requesting the newspaper have access to the proceedings. In making his decision, Gordon said the electoral process is a fundamental element of a democracy and should be open to the public through the media. "The public has an interest in the proceedings and are entitled to know what we are doing," he said.

Excuse me? What was that last sentence again? The public is entitled to know what’s going on? It’s supposed to be a transparent process then? Obviously Vancouver South didn’t get the message. Let’s hope that Wai Young’s appeal is successful and that the powers-to-be soon realize that they are responsible for the only riding in the country that seems to have decided that every vote doesn’t count.

Justice Donald Gordon is to be commended for allowing local media to be present, and for ensuring a fair and democratic recount in Waterloo. Whatever the outcome, we will be confident that the winner will actually be the person who received the most votes. What a refreshing concept.

*   *   *   *

Related: Dosanjh may face another recount in Canada poll – Sindh Today.

Jack’s Newswatch – Daily Blogger. Thanks once again, Jack!

Also, sometime during the night, Blue Like You passed the 200,000 mark since switching to WordPress at the end of April of this year. Not bad for half a year’s work. Thanks so much to all my readers!

*   *   *   *

Afternoon update: Recount decision expected Friday – Record.

Wai Young update – News 1130. Nothing much we don’t already know.

Kady had the latest – H/T Bruce in next thread.

Dosanjh will have to wait until Friday to find out if he is the winner – Vancouver Sun.

Check out Heartless and Brainless – More recount nonsense.

Filed under Election fever, Elections Canada, Federal Election, Voter cynicism.
17 Comments

Kitchener-Waterloo recount scheduled for today

Posted by Joanne on 29 October 2008, 8:16 am

The big question in today’s recount between Peter Braid and Andrew Telegdi is the following: Will every vote be recounted?

I’ll try to post links and information as they become available today.

570 News has some background information, as does the Record which tells us that the judge will be Kitchener Superior Court Justice Donald Gordon.

I’m looking forward to a fair, democratic process.

If you find any additional information, please feel free to update us in comments. Thanks.

*   *   *   *

Update: Newstalk 570 just reported on their 11 a.m. news update that this recount could take 2 or 3 days! Therefore, I’m guessing that they’re actually counting every vote.

Funny, that.

Aren’t we all Canadians here?

Good report here from my old Alma Mater. (You’re doing a better job than the Record, guys.)

CTV Southwestern Ontario (link has video clip up now) has just reported on its noon broadcast that the beginning of the recount had been delayed due to a request by local media to be present during the process. This application has been granted by the judge and things are now underway.

Therefore unlike Vancouver South, it seems we have a fair and transparent recount going on in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Finally we hear from the Record:

…With Kitchener Superior Court Justice Donald Gordon watching, 50 Elections Canada counters began opening ballot boxes and reviewing each of the 60,803 ballots cast in the riding during the Oct. 14 federal election.

The counters were joined by 27 scrutineers from both the Liberal and Conservative parties.

NDP candidate Cindy Jacobsen was also represented at the recount.

As part of the process, if all sides disagree over a ballot, the lawyers for both Telegdi and Braid will argue the case before the judge. The judge then rules on all disputed ballots and declares the winner.

The recount is expected to finish tomorrow, although Gordon said it could go into Friday.

Hel-lo-o! Anyone in Vancouver South paying attention here???

Evening Update : Everyone’s gone home for the day now.  They’ll be back at it tomorrow.

The local CTV reporter says the only thing he is allowed to disclose is that there has been ‘some movement’.

Filed under Federal Election, Voter cynicism, democracy.
16 Comments

Will they be banning maps next?

Posted by Joanne on 28 October 2008, 10:04 am

I agree with the cellphone ban, but a portable GPS ban too?

Good grief. Why not just ban driving and be done with it?

*   *   *   *

Update: Just out of curiosity, why doesn’t the McGuinty government focus its attention and energy on the real criminals?

And here’s a little insight from Dust My Broom on some of the problems in Queen’s Park - Populist MPP Hillier: " Government Really IS as Bad as You Thought"

Phantom Observer – On the Ontario Cellphone Ban.

Just Right – Ban distractions in the driver’s seat.

Filed under Crime, Ontario.
34 Comments
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