09/26/2008: "A speck of dust in the eye; just only a speck of dust." Do you know what happens when you make an MLA cry?

You get asked to run for the party in the next provincial election, that's what.

This is going to take a lot of thought and a lot of consultation with The Fambly, but let me just warn you now: if you're not interested in politics, don't make MLAs cry.

"For Ooblik"       ""

14 Comments

Noah , on Friday, 26th September:

Good for you! Do it.

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cenobyte , on Friday, 26th September:

Dunno. Hate popularity contests on a very basic level. Plus, I hear it costs a lot of money to run in an election. Plus, that'd probably be an awful lot of time away from my family. Plus, I inhaled.

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Coyote , on Friday, 26th September:

Ok we're missing some very vital pieces of information here.

A) How did you make the MLA cry? Oh yeah and WHICH MLA?

B) Which party?

C) There's gotta be WAY more than this to the story.

D) If it's an established party, you just gotta put in the time. They pay for your election stuff. Ask Deon, he ran in the last provincial election.

Answers please? :)

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brielle128 , on Friday, 26th September:

Correction...they pay for a little bit. And only if there is enough candidates running, including parachute ones. (dion inparticular) I know, I was a campaign manager in the last provincial election. be prepared to knock on doors, fold, make phone calls up the whazoo, and put in a great...GREAT deal of time. However the rewards are very fulfilling, even just running is a personal high. And don't worry about spending time away from the kidlettes because they will be in your camp office running around like little soliders. And they will love it. It makes them feel wanted and grown up. Stuffing and folding is something they actually like, and campaigning from house to house is fun too.

As a camp manager I put in about 14 hour days. I had the time, energy and experience. If you are going to run, and I really hope you do as you'll never regret it, please feel free to ask me anything. I relied far too heavily on my party senators in (wherever they call from when they do call) and they dropped the ball big time. Do not...I repeat...do NOT fall for the electronic telephone gig. It doesn't work, your results are totally screwed and people get so pissed its not funny. Its a time and money waster.

But Jillybean? Run. The reward is the battle. You have the personality and the brains to pull it off.

Just remember....when(not if) you win, the work starts. You'll be a public figure..and a pretty god-damned good one. People will flock to you..and gravitate toward you. Don't let it go to your head. Stay grounded. Its very very VERY easy to get swept away in the seduction of politics. I'll help where I can.

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cenobyte , on Friday, 26th September:

So, essentially, I'd have to quit my job to do this, is what you're saying.

My job that I dearly love.

Also, when the first reporter says, "Is it true you have taken ILLEGAL DRUGS!??", and I say, "Yep!", and the reporter says, "What do you think that says to your constituents?" and I say, "I had a pretty good time in University", and the reporters say, "But you admit to doing something ILLEGAL?" and I say, "Yep!", and the reporters say, "So why do you feel you, who have a criminal background, should be elected?" and I say, "because I'm telling you the truth about it.", you don't think the party will slap themselves in the forehead and cry, "WHY, OH WHY DID WE AGREE TO THIS DEBACLE?"

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cenobyte , on Friday, 26th September:

Coyote:

*ahem*
A) Until the matter has been made public, I can't discuss it. I'm not at liberty to divulge that information.

B) One of the three main provincial political parties.

C) If there is "WAY MORE" to this story, as you say, I'm confident there will be an announcement made regarding these details.

D) It's my understanding that a percentage of the funds raised by a political party may be used at least in part to assist candidates in their electoral campaign. However, a significant portion of any election budget is often raised by the candidates themselves, or by candidates' supporters. Significant contributions to the party, up to the limit regulated by the province's electoral judiciary, are expected from each candidate. In that vein, I feel certain discussions would need to be entertained regarding budget constraints and fundraising expenses and expenditures.

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Coyote , on Friday, 26th September:

Welp. Sign me up. If you're going to do this Ceno, I'm willing to help, in as many bizarre and strange ways as possible, so that you don't have to do anything else illegal. :)

Honestly, if someone starts to question your background, we'll just step up with 'Well geez guys, you elected Wall Preimier, and that guy lost the family farm. I know that's not criminal but you gave him the PIN to the provincial bank account! And let's not get into the fact that most of the support staff for the Sask Party are the same folks who helped the PCs steal buckloads of money.' And then I'll club them. Club them like baby seals that McCartney wants to save.

And you can always steal with platform I've always wanted to go with.

*Ahem* >Political Speech Mode Enabled<

My fellow Saskatchewanites (Is that right?) I come before you with a plan to change the future of this province. This plan encompasses everyone, young, old, male, female, straight, gay, right, left, confused, and even the transgendered eco-dedicated vegan yoga instructors. With this plan we will storm forth into this new century, create new opportunities in business and social justice. I am so proud and dedicated to this plan that I feel that once we all embrace and live this plan, we will prove to the rest of the world that we here in Saskatchewan are not just some of the most dedicated, hard working, compasionate people, but innovators and creators of the future.

*Ahem*

Free Beer and Cigarettes for everyone!!!

Oh yeah, and you can drink while watching strippers, and we're gonna subsidize the industry so we get a wide variety of good ones.

Oh yeah, and every Friday it's 'Slap your most hated politician' day. We're gonna line up every single past present and future politician we can find and you can spend the day slapping the living FUCK right out of the bastards. ME INCLUDED!!

Thank you for your time and your votes.

No need to jump for joy Ceno, I know the plan will work.

Oh yeah and we'll have to burn this blog down before you run for office. We could all be arrested for the admissions of crimes in this damn thing.

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melistress , on Saturday, 27th September:

I'm going to send you a private e-mail on this one.

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BPM IV , on Saturday, 27th September:

Honestly, I'd say if you can get a leave of absence to do it, go for it.

Wouldn't it be nice to hear something that *isn't* rampant BS running from a politicos mouth? To hear them say "Yeah, I had a wild youth. I did some things that were illegal. That makes me a lot like the rest of you."

The press would almost certainly come out with the "What a crazy idea - telling the truth! Let's cover her some more! SHe's always got a great quote!"

Pretty soon, you're supping with the PM in Ottawa and commuting back to Regina.
:-p

(And I think you're more of a hockey mom / pitbull then Sarah Palin, too)

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Smarty Pants , on Monday, 29th September:

And I'll teach you how to gut a moose. :-)
On the other hand, this might cut into your Kingdom Come LARP...

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Deon , on Tuesday, 30th September:

Stay true to yourself. If you can do that and still run for a party, go for it.

Personally I do not find making a politician cry as a pre-requisite to gaining a nomination to be a positive sign of the direction politics is taking...

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senatorhung , on Tuesday, 30th September:

i would normally volunteer to assist with language drafting, but i think you have that realm well-covered ;) that said, if there's anything i can assist with from bc, let me know. i'm going to be helping out a friend-of-a-friend here who is looking to become the ndp candidate in the next provincial election.

me, after my run at student politics, i doubt that i'll ever again seriously consider becoming a candidate, but being a flunky, that i can do ;)

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platypusnboots , on Tuesday, 30th September:

I think I'd pay money to see you say those lines...

I'd like to see one of the parties run you as a candidate. You have a lot of intelligent and -witty- things to say and you'd get heard because the press will love you.

And we need more -intelligent and strong- women in politics.

Having said that, if you win it will eat your life.

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Paul , on Thursday, 2nd October:

Of course you're right about admitting to taking illegal drugs being a problem. Oh, sure, people will complain about politicians lying to them, and they'll all claim to want to see some honesty, but I'm of the opinion Joe Average won't vote for someone telling the truth when he could vote for pretty lies instead.

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