The Cormac MacSweeney Blog - 660News Calgary

Here’s something to make you say “duh!”

Dave Taylor (a Calgary MLA) has confirmed what was a given since the last election. The former radio host turned politician is going to run to take over for Kevin Taft.

Like the Flames not making the playoffs or a chinook in calgary, it was expected. Taylor is now a contender in the fight to become the next leader of the Alberta Liberal Party.

Since this is the only exciting thing going on in the political world right now I have been building contacts and trying to get the ins and outs of everything.

A couple of sources confirmed to me late Tuesday that he is starting his campaign…and that meant a 660News exclusive for the Morning Show…before Taylor even made the announcement.

None of the newspapers had it and I didn’t hear it on CHQR in the morning. It’s always a proud moment for a journalist to have a good story that no one else has.

But Taylor may not be the only one that is throwing his name into the hat. A couple of current MLA’s and even a couple of former MLA’s are rumoured to be getting into the game.

Finance critic Laurie Blakeman and Environment critic David Swann have long been expected to be leadership competitors…although Swann seems hesitant to try for the top job. Most say Blakeman is a given to be the strong player from Edmonton.

They may be joined by a couple of guys who are coming out of political defeat to become a party leader without a seat in the legislature…which is very difficult to do. Rick Miller and Mo Elsalhy are two former MLA’s from Edmonton who have their eyes on the top job.

The speculation is getting so crazy about this leadership race I’ve even heard that someone is trying to get former Prime Minister Joe Clark to run. I highly doubt that will come to fruition but if it ends up happening you read it here first.

Everybody shed a tear and give your liver a break. The greatest outdoor show on earth has ended for another year.

While we didn’t set another record year for attendance, more than 1.2 million people walked through the gates and I’m sure there aren’t many people out there who hit the grounds and didn’t have a good time.

For me this year’s stampede brought me a couple of firsts. It’s the first year I got to do the Junior Reporter for BMO Kids Day, and it’s the first year I was able to check out the Chuckwagon Races.

The Junior Reporter event was a blast…a long day but a blast none the less. Charlotte and John were the twelve year olds that followed me around the Stampede all day and got to do my job.

We started off at the kid’s stampede breakfast at the Grandstand, then it was off to some interviews from other media stations, then for a bite to eat, and finally a full blown rodeo experience with a behind the scenes tour.

The J.R.’s were great and we all had a blast walking around the grounds interviewing patrons, police and yes even a couple of cowboys.

Next up to discuss…the Chucks. It was my third stampede and only the first time I was able to catch the Rangeland Derby. I must admit something though, and it could upset some of you, I was kind of let down.

Since coming to the city all I’ve heard about is the Chuckwagon races. When I finally got to see them I didn’t think it was a better event than the rodeo at all. Don’t get me wrong, I had a blast and loved being right at the fence watching the mud fly, but it just wan’t all it was cracked up to be.

I guess I let the hype build up my expectations and that’s usually never a good thing. Just to be clear (so I don’t get a zillion angry e-mails) I will go to the Chucks again, and I had a blast this time around. My point is that people made it out to be more than it is and although a good time, I’d choose the rodeo if I could only make it to one event.

None-the-less I am sad to see the Stampede go and I’ll be waiting for the next 11 months and whatever days until the greatest outdoor show on earth starts up again.

I have been visiting the Stampede a bit and I am now starting to feel a tad burnt out.

I love heading down there and catching the rodeo or throwing some darts at balloons to win a stuffed Tweety … but after heading to the grounds for a few days, with a round of golf in between, and reporting from the Premier’s Stampede Breakfast, I feel like I need to sleep for about a week straight.

I know I am laying down a little early this year but late nights and early mornings can catch up to you very quickly. Maybe I’ll feel a bit different after going to bed at 6 tonight and sleeping for 9 hours.

I’ll be back down at the grounds at least twice and I know I’ll have a lot of fun but I am nervous about what I’m in for after such partying. Tomorrow I will be escorting my lovely girlfriend to the grounds and then on Wednesday I am escorting the BMO Junior Reporters around the grounds for kids day. I know I’ll be fine that day because the two lucky kids see, full of excitement and energy and they’ll keep me going.

After the whole thing I may be suffering from a “Stampede hangover.”

For the moment though I just want to sleep. I think after a good nights rest, all I’ll need is to slam back a Red Bull and enter the gates and I’ll be fine.

I am full of corndogs, beer, and the cowboy spirit. Okay, maybe not now but I will be soon when I make my way to the grounds to take in this years stampede. Like many others I will pig out and act like an idiot … but it’s completely acceptable as long as I wear a cowboy hat.

This will be my third Stampede, but I must admit something I feel guilty about … I have yet to go to the parade. I have been stuck working every year and have never had the chance to see the floats, horses, and clowns. If I did get the chance, I’m sure it would be because I’m working which would probably diminish the fun of it all. At the same time it would probably be the funnest story ever.

Maybe that’s why Kevin Usselman has dibs on the parade story every year.

My favourite thing about the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth is actually the rodeo. The midway and food kiosks are fun and all, but coming from Toronto I grew up with that at the CNE. This is why I can’t wait to see some cowboys bucked off a bull or horse.

I’m going right after work and I hope to see you there.