Since I’d rather not make this blog “Calgary Grit…Live From Drumheller Penitentiary“, I won’t be blogging the election results tonight until the BC polls close at 8 pm Mountain time. But, rest assured, I’ll have a draft of thoughts on the election results ready to post come 8:01. I’ll also turn comments off before the polls close in Newfoundland. Andrew Coyne is of the opinion that you can get around this by simply saying stuff like “The early pages of Anne of Green Gables indicate that three quarters of the roads in PEI are red“, but I somehow doubt that will work. If you’re starved for the early results, just visit a US blog or, you know, call someone who lives out east.
Until then, I’ll have random musings throughout the day. And, come 8:01 pm, tune in to see how Belinda, Lapierre, landslide Annie, and the rest of the bunch did. It figures to be an interesting night – I know I’ll be up late.
11:15 am: Did you know that the Elections Act gives you three hours off work to vote? My plan for my three hours is to vote, then catch Brokeback Mountain, since I have a feeling it may be banned in Canada very soon, if you catch my drift.
11:20 am: They’re canceling the West Wing? Those bastards! While it would have been interesting to see Alan Alda or Jimmy Smits at the helm, it’s somewhat fitting for the show to go out with the end of the Bartlett Administration.
4:03 pm: I’m just checking in with the Calgary Grit decision desk…what’s this? Yes! We are prepared to call the riding of Crowfoot for the Tories in a shocker! I know it’s a bold move, but the early exit polls look very promising for the Tories…
4:12 pm: I’m about to head home and vote. Yes, I will vote Liberal and I don’t feel the least bit guilty about it. I’m closing down the comments now until 8 mountain (10 eastern) so be sure to check back then when 3 hours of random thoughts and results get posted all at once. And stay here throughout the night for the most in depth election coverage on the net (which will involve writing down what I see on CBC and occasionally adding a snarky comment).
5:53 pm: Highlights from the Rick Mercer Report:
“Every rally, Harper has his aids bring the prettiest girls in the audience backstage and Harper tells them to “save themselves for marriage”.
“It’s a great chance to celebrate nature before the Conservatives outlaw it”
6:33 pm: I’ve been surfing on US blogs, and the early returns are very favourable for the Liberals. (Note to self: Come back to this before I post, and add insightful comment about “what this means” for rest of country…based on how rest of country votes)
7:20 pm: Don Cherry and Ron MacLean are on providing political analysis. Uh-huh. Still…more insightful than Jim Travers or Link Byfield.
7:33 pm: Scott Brison wins and is on CBC now: “Harper doesn’t support multiculturalism, bilingualism, or the Charter.” Someone should tell this guy the polls closed two hours ago – he can stop campaigning now…
7:37 pm: GASP! We’re down in Algoma! Shocker! OK, it’s a 3-2 edge in votes (reminds me of rural Alberta Liberal nomination meetings). I love this part of election coverage.
7:44 pm: Snowshoe guy is up in Interlake, one poll in! I knew my endorsement would make the difference.
7:50 pm: Tories jump by 6 seats in 5 seconds. My guess is Alberta is reporting. As an aside, I remember back at the leadership convention when the Martinites were calling it “Paulberta”. Sigh
7:57 pm: Global and CTV have called it as a Tory minority. CBC still hasn’t made the call yet.
8:07 pm: Jack Horner Belinda Stronach is down early on…
8:08 pm: CBC calls it and the crowd in Calgary goes wild. The biggest surprise? They’re watching the CBC at the Conservative Calgary party.
8:16 pm: Bernard Lord on CBC trying to look happy…John Manley on CBC trying to look sad…
8:27 pm: Tories leading in 10 Quebec seats – very impressive. Still…Liberals are leading in 94 so it’s not a complete wipeout.
8:37 pm: The Quebec numbers have the Bloc with 43%, the CPC with 27%, the Liberals with 18%. So we won the referendum election – Jean Lapierre should be proud.
8:50 pm: Tony Valeri loses. What goes around…
Rob Anders wins handily. Democracy sucks…
9:01 pm: Early thoughts:
Winner: NDP. 30+ seats.
Loser: Bloc. Their seats drop and their popular vote plummets.
Chuck Cadman 2.0: Andre Arthur. If things hold up, he’ll be the balance of power. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Peter Miliken back as speaker.
Oh. And for the second straight year SES and the Election Prediction Project prove to be the best predictors.
9:16 pm: Jean Lapierre wins Outremont. Phewf! This guy doesn’t take losing well so it’s a bit of a relief.
9:23 pm: Jack Horner Belinda wins! This bodes well for the hospitality suite situation at the next Liberal convention.
9:27 pm: Is it just me, or did Goodale and Belinda sound a little bit too happy in their victory speeches. I know they won but, still, the party lost. In other news, there’s some speculation that Martin might not concede defeat. I’m sorry, but even for Martin, this is too far fetched to be plausible. However, the results are close enough that I don’t think Paul will resign as LPC leader willingly.
9:33 pm: Clement by 21 votes. Bring on the recount!
9:57 pm: Funniest headline of the night on the CBC scroll: “Galloway demands Martin resign”. Galloway may be the defeated MP I’m most happy to see go.
10:01 pm: Well, Martin certainly looks like he’s in a good mood. His concession speech hit all the right notes and was probably the most genuine thing he’s said in a long time. Honestly, it may have been his best speech as Liberal Party Leader.
And I wrote that before he announced his resignation. Wow. I always felt Paul would do the right thing and I applaud him for putting the party first.
11:47 pm: I can’t believe we just elected a Prime Minister who lets his kids stay up past midnight on a school night.