Decision 2010: Calgary Municipal Election

[Riise]

Originally Posted by Sir.Humphrey.Appleby

Perhaps add to that reversible HOT lanes added to the Deerfoot as additional lanes financed privately.

Has Deerfoot already become under municipal control?

[MalcolmTucker]

That it is not doesn't mean you can't promise things - look at the south west ring road promises.

[Radley77]

I found it disturbing last week that McIver went to the media to say that he can corral enough votes for the next election and went to the point of naming names of city councillors.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/McIver+confident+support/3572504/story.html

There needs to be new eyes who are open to opportunity. Nenshi has laid out a detailed platform on how he thinks can improve quality of life the most for Calgarians. But most importantly is he has laid out why he supports various initiatives. Barb Higgins is lighter on ideas, but looks to experts as well as someone I think that would be open to variety of proposals from administration as well as other council members without the personal prejudices and grandstanding that was a problem of the last council.

[Bigtime]

McIver, Nenshi, and Stewart were on the Eyeopener this morning for a debate on urban development.

Surprise surprise, McIver was back to perpetuating the myth that Plan-It will have us all living in condos and apartments. He was also up to his usual trick of trying to talk over anyone else, Stewart called him on it a couple of times.

[nick.flood]

From a Rick Bell article in the sun today, but this comment is excellent.

Burrows on McIver “He’s gone from Dr. No to Mr. Ostrich where he puts his head in the sand when it’s convenient then pulls it out, shakes his head and, when there’s a problem, he puts his head back in the sand.”

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/columnists/rick_bell/2010/09/29/15514331.html

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by nick.flood

From a Rick Bell article in the sun today, but this comment is excellent.

Burrows on McIver “He’s gone from Dr. No to Mr. Ostrich where he puts his head in the sand when it’s convenient then pulls it out, shakes his head and, when there’s a problem, he puts his head back in the sand.”

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/columnists/rick_bell/2010/09/29/15514331.html

His column sounded more pro Nenshi than not. Even the majority of the comments are pro Nenshi. I think the tide is starting to turn.

[suburb]

Originally Posted by Radley77

His latest parking plan calls for pricing based on "what is good for Calgarians", and elimination of the park'n'ride fee which he blames for a decline in ridership (it hasn't; I've checked the APTA reports).

LOL! Isn't he the guy that voted in the park n'ride fee? This is no different than Barb Higgins absolutely against releasing her donor list and now flip-flopping given the outrage in the public. These are the types of things that are tell-tale signs of a candidate that doesn't have a clue about the reality on the ground. Clues in after the fact. He's akin to a caboose - the last car on the train. I'd rather be led by the locomotive myself.

I hope people actually look in detail as to what Dr. No has approved or not approved during his 9 years as a member of the council that got nothing done!

[MalcolmTucker]

^ Unfortunately, there isn't really a voting record for civic matters, so beyond what is in newspaper databases, outaluck on that one.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

His column sounded more pro Nenshi than not. Even the majority of the comments are pro Nenshi. I think the tide is starting to turn.

Yup, more bizarro world (words I agree with) stuff from Rick Bell today. I'm scared...

[Wooster]

Tonight's mayoral forum and U of C will be live streamed for those interested:

http://nutv.ca/live/mayoral-debate/

[gantenbein]

I find it a bit troubling that MacIver, and even Stewart (on the Eyeopener debate today), would play to the anti-intelligence prejudice we've seen in some quarters recently by dubbing Nenshi 'the Professor'.

Apart from not wanting to believe that people are really so distrustful of academics and experts, I also think it's a dangerous game -- particularly for someone whose training is as a meat cutter. Ric 'the Butcher' MacIver sounds like a pro wrestler (or serial killer) to me.

[Bigtime]

Nenshi cracked back on Stewart for that comment pretty good, something along the lines of:

"What about your office right across the hall from me at Mount Royal?"

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by nick.flood

From a Rick Bell article in the sun today, but this comment is excellent.

Burrows on McIver “He’s gone from Dr. No to Mr. Ostrich where he puts his head in the sand when it’s convenient then pulls it out, shakes his head and, when there’s a problem, he puts his head back in the sand.”

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/columnists/rick_bell/2010/09/29/15514331.html

I think there were only two comments on that article which were not supporting Nenshi, and one of them simply was wary of his lack of experience (but liked what he had to say), and the other was a nonsensical rant.

I can agree that his lack of experience at being a politician might be an issue.. but then one has to look at who the alternatives are...

[Radley77]

Nenshi should at least be able to use as a counter-point that he probably has more detailed action items than any other candidate. I think Nenshi is also campaigning at SAIT and the trades colleges. I don't think it'd hurt if he made an extra effort to meet and communicate with some of the various trades associations in Calgary.

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by Radley77

Nenshi should at least be able to use as a counter-point that he probably has more detailed action items than any other candidate. I think Nenshi is also campaigning at SAIT and the trades colleges. I don't think it'd hurt if he made an extra effort to meet and communicate with some of the various trades associations in Calgary.

Interesting point. Hard to be painted with the 'elitist academic' brush if you have the support of trades.

[fusili]

Originally Posted by gantenbein

I find it a bit troubling that MacIver, and even Stewart (on the Eyeopener debate today), would play to the anti-intelligence prejudice we've seen in some quarters recently by dubbing Nenshi 'the Professor'.

Apart from not wanting to believe that people are really so distrustful of academics and experts, I also think it's a dangerous game -- particularly for someone whose training is as a meat cutter. Ric 'the Butcher' MacIver sounds like a pro wrestler (or serial killer) to me.

Opinion polls constantly show scientists and professors rank higher than most other professions in terms of public trust. Usually goes Scientists/Professors, Businesspeople, Clergy, Politicians. I do personally, and it is mostly because scientists and professors don't have as much of an incentive to lie. In fact there are a lot of incentives not to lie (reputation and academic credibility) and few disincentives to shirk from the truth (tenure).

[mooky]

In case anyone doesn't follow other forums, or facebook, facebook user "Josh White" compiled the following results of the polls on beyond, SSP, and calgarypuck (his post about 10:30am, Sept 29):

Interesting results of combined online polls from three different 'enthusiast' forums - beyond.ca, which is a car-enthusiast forum, Calgarypuck.com a flames fan site, and skyscraperpage.com and urban development/skyscraper enthusiast forum. All three polls were started within the last week.

The combined number of votes... is 392
Naheed Nenshi - 253 (64.5%)
Ric McIver - 82 (20.9%)
Barb Higgins - 32 (8.1%)

The Breakdown:

Beyond.ca
http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.php?s&postid=3498984#post3498984
156 votes
Nenshi - 85 (54%)
McIver - 53 (34%)
Higgins - 7 (5%)

Skyscraperpage.com
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=185290&page=2
85 votes
Nenshi - 61 (72%)
McIver - 6 (7%)
Higgins - 11 (13%)

Calgarypuck.com
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=95721&page=10
151 votes
Nenshi - 107 (71%)
McIver - 23 (15%)
Higgins - 14 (9%)

[gantenbein]

Originally Posted by fusili

Opinion polls constantly show scientists and professors rank higher than most other professions in terms of public trust. Usually goes Scientists/Professors, Businesspeople, Clergy, Politicians. I do personally, and it is mostly because scientists and professors don't have as much of an incentive to lie. In fact there are a lot of incentives not to lie (reputation and academic credibility) and few disincentives to shirk from the truth (tenure).

I agree, and yet we see more and more politicians who apparently believe there are votes to be gained with this type of rhetoric (the whole census debate, much of the anti-Ignatieff language, Rob Ford in TO). As I say, I want to believe they're wrong in thinking these types of sentiments are widespread.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by mooky

In case anyone doesn't follow other forums, or facebook, facebook user "Josh White" compiled the following results of the polls on beyond, SSP, and calgarypuck (his post about 10:30am, Sept 29):

Bodes well for the Thanksgiving Day bump.

[mooky]

Wow, if Rick Bells comment section is telling, and I hope its not an aberration, then it looks like Naheed is picking up steam big time! I just hope the MSM picks up on it and reports it factually and not "online buzz, blah blah blah, doesn't translate to votes always, blah blah blah, <dismissive tone>"

Never misunderestimate the media's power to influence those that don't educate themselves.