*
Rocco Rossi to run for provincial Conservatives
Wed, 2011-02-02 04:01
#1
Rocco Rossi to run for provincial Conservatives
Wed, 2011-02-02 04:07
#2
"Most important, I think people will look at my platform during the mayoralty" race and see it matches the Conservative agenda"
[url=http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/936950--rossi-seeks-pc-n... seeks PC nomination in Eglinton-Lawrence[/url]
Wed, 2011-02-02 07:00
#3
So the Ont Libs may be faltering while the Cons may be rising. I call naked opportunism.
Wed, 2011-02-02 07:41
#4
Maysie
Rossi said Eglinton-Lawrence contains his two favourite churches, Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church at 2565 Bathurst St. north of Eglinton and St. Charles Borromeo at 811 Lawrence Ave. west of Dufferin Street, and his favourite breakfast spot, United Bakers at Lawrence and Bathurst.
Wow, what great reasons to run in Eglinton-Lawrence. Or anywhere, really. Jesus and fresh buns. Mmmmm.
"I wasn't fortunate enough to become mayor but I want to preserve a better future for Toronto and one of the best ways is to serve in the provincial legislature."
Funny how dropping out from running for mayor turns out a result in which you aren't elected mayor. Happens to me all the time.
I call doofus.
Wed, 2011-02-02 12:44
#5
Lard Tunderin Jeezus
Rocco Rossi: Living proof that the only difference between the Libs and the Cons is how quickly and how high they jump at the command of their corporate masters.
Wed, 2011-02-02 16:04
#6
Le T
This explains his money-burning mayoral pull-out.
Does Rossi even live in Toronto? I get this vibe that he just has breakfast at United Bakers, quick Hail Mary at Assumption, and then returns to his castle on a cloud to start his day... "hmmm...I think I'll go for PCs in Eglington-Lawrence this time."
Wed, 2011-02-02 17:55
#7
Lard Tunderin Jeezus
This just strikes me as a petty tantrum.
"You guys said we were best friends, but you picked George for your team before me. Now Timmy says I can be on his team, and he's gonna be my BFF."
Wed, 2011-02-02 20:17
#8
Interesting to consider that E-L is what passes for Tim Hudak's Toronto "home riding" (anything to do w/Deb Hutton?)
Sat, 2011-02-05 00:14
#9
The funny thing is i had thought Rossi would run in Eglinton-Lawrence, but as a federal Liberal to replace Joe Volpe! It was pretty evident that Rossi's big backers were all FEDERAL Liberals (i.e. Kinsella) and he had bad relations with the provincial party.
Sat, 2011-02-05 09:34
#10
Rossi's running as a Tory is no real surprise. He has been telegraphing his political vision for months and it seemed more in sync with Hudak than Dalton.
I have to imagine that the GTA is a prime focus for both the Libs and Tories. I wonder what other high profile candidates might be announced over the next few months. I'm thinking that Monte Kwinter may soon decide to hang up his MPP title leaving a strong Lib seat available in York Centre or room for a good Tory maybe even NDP candidate to take it. I am told as well that Gerry Phillips may also retire opening up a potential race in Scarborough-Agincourt. And in Thornhill there are rumours flying that Tory Peter Shurman, who doesn't even live in the riding, is vulnerable and a star candidate is being considered by the Libs to win it back.
This could be a very fun election.
Sat, 2011-02-05 10:53
#11
MCsquared, you more or less dismiss the NDP from any chance in the ridings you mention. It should be figured in.
On York centre, well its a Liberal riding and the Tories have nominated a former B'nai Brith staffer who no one knows to carry its flag so i guess even Mario Racco could run there and win. I mention Racco because I think he'd love to try again but not sure that Thornhill wants him.
No one will tell Monte Kwinter when to leave but if he does it will require a good name with some quality if only to have some cabinet material. Same is true for Thornhill which is heavily ethnic, Italian, Jewish and Chinese, will require a "name" maybe a strong Jewish or Italian, Chinese connection.
Sat, 2011-02-05 13:05
#12
Rossi's running as a Tory is no real surprise. He has been telegraphing his political vision for months and it seemed more in sync with Hudak than Dalton.
This is true; he was definitely a right of centre candidate. Anybody else annoyed by Peter Kormos' manifestly phoney outrage?
Fun article in today's Globe
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/globe-to/do-you-spe...
What he said: “Lots of people have changed parties when they determined that their ideals and their desire to bring change is not in alignment to where they were before.”What he meant: “My political ambition is as naked as my exquisitely smooth bald head. But unlike my exquisitely smooth bald head, my political ambition doesn’t wear glasses.”
Sat, 2011-02-05 19:36
#13
MCsquared, you more or less dismiss the NDP from any chance in the ridings you mention. It should be figured in.
To be fair, he did figure it in in the case of York Centre. And as for Scarborough-Agincourt and Thornhill; well, the recent record in those seats haven't really offered any chance to figure in the NDP. (Esp. Thornhill, which in accumulated prov/fed shares over the past decade might well be the weakest NDP seat in Ontario, or somewhere very close to it.)
On York centre, well its a Liberal riding and the Tories have nominated a former B'nai Brith staffer who no one knows to carry its flag so i guess even Mario Racco could run there and win. I mention Racco because I think he'd love to try again but not sure that Thornhill wants him.
Though given how the Tories have done surprisingly well here w/no-names lately, I still wouldn't dismiss their chances in an open seat, esp. w/the electoral wind in their sails. (That 2007 wasn't closer has a lot to do w/Monte Kwinter bucking his own party's position on the school-funding issue.)
Worth considering: Kwinter turns 80 in March. (When's the last time an octogenarian's been an MPP?)
Sun, 2011-02-06 11:55
#14
On York centre, well its a Liberal riding and the Tories have nominated a former B'nai Brith staffer who no one knows to carry its flag so i guess even Mario Racco could run there and win. I mention Racco because I think he'd love to try again but not sure that Thornhill wants him.Though given how the Tories have done surprisingly well here w/no-names lately, I still wouldn't dismiss their chances in an open seat, esp. w/the electoral wind in their sails. (That 2007 wasn't closer has a lot to do w/Monte Kwinter bucking his own party's position on the school-funding issue.)
Worth considering: Kwinter turns 80 in March. (When's the last time an octogenarian's been an MPP?)
I agree and if they want to keep that seat again in a heavily populated jewish riding the Libs will have to come up with a high-profile Jewish Liberal. Any thoughts anyone?
Sun, 2011-02-06 22:00
#15
When it comes to the PCs in Scarborough-Agincourt, would John Del Grande be running again? (Son of Rob Ford budget chief Mike DG--in case of an open seat, you know.)
Sun, 2011-02-06 22:14
#16
I agree and if they want to keep that seat again in a heavily populated jewish riding the Libs will have to come up with a high-profile Jewish Liberal. Any thoughts anyone?
According to the census, York Centre is 24% Jewish. While that is a lot of people, it still leaves 76% of people who are something else. The Liberals should run the best candidate they can - they seem to keep winning the federal riding of York Centre and I'm not aware of Ken Dryden being Jewish.
Mon, 2011-02-07 10:33
#17
Stockholm, I agree that Ken is federally popular but even he, who won two elections ago with a whopping plurality had it shaved considerably in the last election against a no-name.
Also provincial politics I would argue always plays differently. If Kwinter chooses to retire i still believe that a high profile Jewish candidate would be best situated to win for either the Libs or NDP. Anything less may very well give this away to the Tories.
I see the same for Thornhill too and I think Shurman can be beaten.
Mon, 2011-02-07 12:28
#18
I think it makes sense for any party to run a well-qualified high profile candidate. Period. To imply that Jews will only vote for a Jewish candidate and thayt the Liberals MUST run a Jewish candidate or else lose 100% of the so-called Jewish vote is a something that is borderline anti-semitic.
Mon, 2011-02-07 17:43
#19
Malcolm
But Stockholm, if a high profile Jewish party grandee is stepping aside, surely there is some pressure to recruit another high profile Jewish candidate(s). Now, that wouldn't necessarily have to be in the same riding, but since there'd be a vacancy . . .
So, although one wouldn't have to run a high profile Jewish candidate in that particular seat, there would be some desire to recruit some high profile Jewish candidates, and that seat is as good as any.
Mon, 2011-02-07 19:00
#20
I agree that all parties want to have a slate of candidates that includes some "big names" from a variety of ethnic communities - and the Ontario Liberals ought to want to have a couple of high profile Jewish candidates running somewhere - just to have a well-rounded slate of candidates. But I disagree with the notion that either they run someone Jewish in York Centre or they can't win. I think there are actually more Italians than Jews in that riding and there is also a large black community. They might be just as well off running a high-profile Italian-canadian for all i know.
Mon, 2011-02-07 19:36
#21
10 most Jewish ridings in Ontario (by religion), 2001 census:
Thornhill 42,710 36.6%
York Centre 27,395 24.3%
Eglinton-Lawrence 24,435 23.2%
St. Paul's 15,515 14.0%
Richmond Hill 9,385 8.6%
Willowdale 9,050 8.4%
Don Valley West 9,340 8.2%
Trinity-Spadina 4,410 4.2%
Toronto Centre 3,515 3.1%
Ottawa West-Nepean 2,745 2.5%