Municipal Politics

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

No one is saying we’re worried about the route changing. We’re worried it will be delayed even further and watered down to the point of uselessness.

I don't know, the way Smith has talked is he would only prioritise getting the route to the suburbs (maybe whichever end voted for him the most), so if that means building it on the surface to get more route kms then so be it. But the general route would stay the same, I agree.

Of course, as we know he is pulling all this out his 🞵🞵🞵 and probably hasn't even looked at the plans. So who knows.

[Corndogger]

And here it is folks!

"Nenshi warns voters about 'racists, haters' trying to influence election online"

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/nenshi-warns-voters-about-racists-haters-in-facebook-video

[CrossedTheTracks]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

And here it is folks!

"Nenshi warns voters about 'racists, haters' trying to influence election online"

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/nenshi-warns-voters-about-racists-haters-in-facebook-video

And here is... what? You don't think there are racists out there who rail against non-white candidates? Who threaten violence?

Nenshi has been very consistent over the many years about encouraging everyone to vote, and this video is consistent with that. Every time I hear him on the radio during elections, he reminds people to vote.

You want to vote for some other candidate, because you think he has better policies and will do a better job? Great, see you at the polling station! But I hope the racists can't find their way there.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by CrossedTheTracks

And here is... what? You don't think there are racists out there who rail against non-white candidates? Who threaten violence?

Nenshi has been very consistent over the many years about encouraging everyone to vote, and this video is consistent with that. Every time I hear him on the radio during elections, he reminds people to vote.

You want to vote for some other candidate, because you think he has better policies and will do a better job? Great, see you at the polling station! But I hope the racists can't find their way there.

Nenshi and his team are playing the race card pure and simple. He's saying to vote for diversity which means to vote for him. This wreaks of desperation and is not going to help him at all. Large numbers of Calgarians did not become racist between 2013 and 2017 and to imply so is insulting. People are voting on policy and who will do a better job. A growing number of people no longer believe in Nenshi's policies and have seen for the last seven years that he has not done that great of a job. Most of all they're tired of Nenshi's arrogance. They want someone new to be mayor--someone who listens to what they say and doesn't lecture them if they disagree. Is Bill Smith that person? Most of us have no idea but according to the polls are willing to 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 he'll do a better job than Nenshi would have.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

Nenshi and his team are playing the race card pure and simple. He's saying to vote for diversity which means to vote for him. This wreaks of desperation and is not going to help him at all. Large numbers of Calgarians did not become racist between 2013 and 2017 and to imply so is insulting. People are voting on policy and who will do a better job. A growing number of people no longer believe in Nenshi's policies and have seen for the last seven years that he has not done that great of a job. Most of all they're tired of Nenshi's arrogance. They want someone new to be mayor--someone who listens to what they say and doesn't lecture them if they disagree. Is Bill Smith that person? Most of us have no idea but according to the polls are willing to 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 he'll do a better job than Nenshi would have.

I have to agree. A vote for Bill Smith is a vote for stupidity, but I don't really get a racist vibe from anything I've seen.

[CrossedTheTracks]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

Nenshi and his team are playing the race card pure and simple. He's saying to vote for diversity which means to vote for him. This wreaks of desperation and is not going to help him at all. Large numbers of Calgarians did not become racist between 2013 and 2017 and to imply so is insulting. People are voting on policy and who will do a better job. A growing number of people no longer believe in Nenshi's policies and have seen for the last seven years that he has not done that great of a job. Most of all they're tired of Nenshi's arrogance. They want someone new to be mayor--someone who listens to what they say and doesn't lecture them if they disagree. Is Bill Smith that person? Most of us have no idea but according to the polls are willing to 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 he'll do a better job than Nenshi would have.

Sure, he's playing the race card. And there are people out there who will play the race card against him. I don't think he said "large numbers of Calgarians became racist"... but there's enough bozos in this town erupting from time to time to show us they're still around. Given the low turnout in so many municipal elections, a small number of committed blowhards can make a real difference.

If people are voting on policy, they've got a funny way of showing it. If Bill Smith can't tell us his own policies to any depth, I don't know how people are going to vote for him on policy. If you want to vote for him on the "🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵" that he'll do better, that's your business but he's got a long way to go before convincing me that he even deserves the opportunity.

[CrossedTheTracks]

Originally Posted by milomilo

I have to agree. A vote for Bill Smith is a vote for stupidity, but I don't really get a racist vibe from anything I've seen.

Yeah, to be clear about my own opinions, I don't consider Smith to be racist, and his campaign has been clean in my opinion (though I wish he would reveal his donors sooner). But I feel safe assuming there's at least a few racists among the "I don't care who as long as it's anyone but Nenshi" crowd.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by milomilo

I have to agree. A vote for Bill Smith is a vote for stupidity, but I don't really get a racist vibe from anything I've seen.

All you have to do is look at comments on Nenshi's videos on YouTube. The racism is very clear on the ones from Bill Smith supporters.

Apparently it has spiked even past the levels over the last few years (recently reported in the media):
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/th...ll-nenshi-serious-city-council-1.4259271

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by CrossedTheTracks

Yeah, to be clear about my own opinions, I don't consider Smith to be racist, and his campaign has been clean in my opinion (though I wish he would reveal his donors sooner). But I feel safe assuming there's at least a few racists among the "I don't care who as long as it's anyone but Nenshi" crowd.

I think you're missing the point. The polls are showing a massive reversal in fortunes for Nenshi. A lot of people who voted for him in the past are saying they're not going to this time. What the video is very clearly insinuating is that if he loses this time it's because of racist elements. If racists are so brilliant in manipulating the vote then how did he get elected twice before? Further weakening Nenshi's accusations are little things such as Sean Chu being elected and likely to be again this term. People who are racist never voted for Nenshi or Chu and won't this time. They're a non-factor b/c thankfully their numbers are small. I doubt they even vote.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by suburbia

All you have to do is look at comments on Nenshi's videos on YouTube. The racism is very clear on the ones from Bill Smith supporters.

Apparently it has spiked even past the levels over the last few years (recently reported in the media):
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/th...ll-nenshi-serious-city-council-1.4259271

Smith's campaign has condemned such comments and action and there's ZERO proof that they have anything to do with it.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

Smith's campaign has condemned such comments and action and there's ZERO proof that they have anything to do with it.

There is also zero proof Smith has any sort of plan.

Did you see the Jim Gray video on how the Dean of Calgary's business community supports Naheed Nenshi's economic plan?

• Video Link

[CrossedTheTracks]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

I think you're missing the point. The polls are showing a massive reversal in fortunes for Nenshi. A lot of people who voted for him in the past are saying they're not going to this time. What the video is very clearly insinuating is that if he loses this time it's because of racist elements.

I'm going to take his comments more literally. "It's going to be a very tight race." It's always ridiculous, in a tight vote, to blame any one specific factor for losing the vote. But when it is tight, any one of those factors can make the difference. If Nenshi loses by 1%, he could blame a variety of things, including racism, for a 1% difference. (And yes, I'm well aware of the polls that clearly show a much larger difference.)

Not that I think focusing on (anti-)racism is the best way to shore up one's support. But engaging on the issues and attempting to draw out actual policy from other candidates doesn't seem to be working all that well either.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by CrossedTheTracks

I'm going to take his comments more literally. "It's going to be a very tight race." It's always ridiculous, in a tight vote, to blame any one specific factor for losing the vote. But when it is tight, any one of those factors can make the difference. If Nenshi loses by 1%, he could blame a variety of things, including racism, for a 1% difference. (And yes, I'm well aware of the polls that clearly show a much larger difference.)

Not that I think focusing on (anti-)racism is the best way to shore up one's support. But engaging on the issues and attempting to draw out actual policy from other candidates doesn't seem to be working all that well either.

It's too bad the media and the elite who runs/owns them has convinced so many people that long campaigns and silly things like debates are bad. If we had debates on a number of issues we would at least know where the candidates stand and just as importantly in this case, what they would do differently to make them better than Nenshi. This election is a referendum on Nenshi's performance and it appears most people find it to be so lacking that there willing to give someone else a shot even though they don't know much about him.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by suburbia

There is also zero proof Smith has any sort of plan.

Did you see the Jim Gray video on how the Dean of Calgary's business community supports Naheed Nenshi's economic plan?

Yeah, I saw the video and I'm well aware of who Jim Gray is. Nenshi does have some good plans but his inability to build consensus with those who don't agree with him but are needed to implement said plans is sadly lacking.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

Nenshi and his team are playing the race card pure and simple. He's saying to vote for diversity which means to vote for him. This wreaks of desperation and is not going to help him at all. Large numbers of Calgarians did not become racist between 2013 and 2017 and to imply so is insulting. People are voting on policy and who will do a better job. A growing number of people no longer believe in Nenshi's policies and have seen for the last seven years that he has not done that great of a job. Most of all they're tired of Nenshi's arrogance. They want someone new to be mayor--someone who listens to what they say and doesn't lecture them if they disagree. Is Bill Smith that person? Most of us have no idea but according to the polls are willing to 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 he'll do a better job than Nenshi would have.

I’m sorry but Bill Smith can’t even listen to all the Calgarians that gave feedback on the greenline for 5 years or the countless studies that have gone into its planning. The only people he’s likely to listen to if elected are his wealthy donors like CSEC and Cal Wenzel.

[milomilo]

Good news, looks like Bill Smith caved and released his donor list:

https://www.bsdonors.com/

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

Yeah, I saw the video and I'm well aware of who Jim Gray is. Nenshi does have some good plans but his inability to build consensus with those who don't agree with him but are needed to implement said plans is sadly lacking.

Agreed Nenshi has some great plans.

Do you think Bill Smith will be able to gain consensus on shifting a major portion of the business tax burden to people who pay residential tax?

Originally Posted by milomilo

Good news, looks like Bill Smith caved and released his donor list:

https://www.bsdonors.com/

Here's an interview with one of his high net-worth supporters:
• Video Link

[milomilo]

[suburbia]

CBC News has uncovered that a civil enforcement company was prepared to seize more than $24,000 in property from Calgary mayoral candidate Bill Smith's business earlier this year.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/bill-smith-mayoral-candidate-embarrassed-1.4329008

Looks like he was dodging paying back a loan from 2006. He had been dodging payments from 2010 or so, getting agreement from the bank to amended terms in 2011 and then again in 2016, and then stopped paying again. Bank got fed up and got a warrant for seizing his property. Only after he found out about the warrant did he payback the reduced sum outstanding from the original loan. To his defense, he responded that he didn't know because he was in a #NeoCitranHaze and once that cleared and he found out he owned money he paid it back.

[SteveP]

This is reminding me of the US election. The best candidate might not win, but people will get satisfaction out of giving a big fat middle finger to all the Hillary supporters....er I mean Nenshi supporters.