Wayne Gretzky endorses Ontario PC leadership hopeful Patrick Brown

Mon, 2015-02-23 17:39

alan smithee alan smithee's picture

Never was a Gretzky fan anyways...He was a wimp protected by meatheads and the League and would never have scored as many goals if he played nowadays.

I've always been a Lafleur man.

GUYGUYGUY!

Mon, 2015-02-23 17:54

#3

Debater

Gretzky has been a hardcore conservative for many years and says Stephen Harper is one of the greatest Prime Ministers in history.

So I wasn't surprised to see him endorsing a conservative, although I didn't know he took such interest in provincial leadership races.

I guess this gives Brown some endorsement headlines. Most of them have been going to Christine Elliot lately.

Mon, 2015-02-23 18:00

#4

NorthReport

Forget his politics, Gretsky is the greatest player who ever donned a pair of skates!

Mon, 2015-02-23 18:14

#5

alan smithee alan smithee's picture

NorthReport wrote:

Forget his politics, Gretsky is the greatest player who ever donned a pair of skates!

FLOWER POWER!

Mon, 2015-02-23 21:13

#6

montrealer58 montrealer58's picture

It is a shame that Wayne Gretzky's intelligence is limited to hockey.

Tue, 2015-02-24 14:25

#7

tducey1

Orr's a conservative to I think, unsure of the political beliefs of other hockey greats. Well both Red Kelly and Ken Dryden where Liberal MP's.

Tue, 2015-02-24 14:44

#8

nicky

i remeber that Gretzky also endorsed Peter Pocklington for the PC leadership way back. Not a lot of political insight there.

Tue, 2015-02-24 14:44

#9

nicky

I remember that Gretzky also endorsed Peter Pocklington for the PC leadership way back. Not a lot of political insight there.

Tue, 2015-02-24 15:14

#10

alan smithee alan smithee's picture

tducey1 wrote:

Orr's a conservative to I think, unsure of the political beliefs of other hockey greats. Well both Red Kelly and Ken Dryden where Liberal MP's.

Most likely that's the case. After all,Don Cherry worships him.

Wed, 2015-02-25 00:37

#11

bekayne

tducey1 wrote:

Orr's a conservative to I think

He campaigned for Mulroney at one point

Wed, 2015-02-25 16:15

#12

Geoff

I'll take Jean Beliveau any day, even though he's passed on. And if anyone knows that he was a conservative, please don't tell me. I don't need anyone bursting my bubble.

Wed, 2015-02-25 16:53

#13

ctrl190

Recent Hall of Famer Scott Niedermayer is an anti-pipeline activist and WWF Ambassador.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/48757-Scott-Niedermayer-joins-WWF-in-battle-to-stop-oil-pipeline-construction-in-Western-Canada.html

Meanwhile, hockey legend Mario Lemieux is a Republican and donated money to ultra-nut Rick Santorum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4151701

Wed, 2015-02-25 17:04

#14

alan smithee alan smithee's picture

Martin Brodeur was asked who'd he like to meet if he could and his response was Dubya.

The sports fan in me is slowly dying.

But what else can one expect from pampered multi-millionaires?

Wed, 2015-02-25 17:26

#15

Debater

Geoff wrote:

I'll take Jean Beliveau any day, even though he's passed on. And if anyone knows that he was a conservative, please don't tell me. I don't need anyone bursting my bubble.

I get the sense that Beliveau may have been a Liberal or at least a moderate anyway - not a far-right conservative like Wayne Gretzky.

Jéan Chrétien offered him the position of Governor General in 1994, which he turned down because of a family crisis in the Beliveau family at the time.

http://www.tsn.ca/ulmer-beliveau-s-success-unequaled-in-nhl-history-1.15...

Wed, 2015-02-25 17:27

#16

alan smithee alan smithee's picture

Debater wrote:

Geoff wrote:

I'll take Jean Beliveau any day, even though he's passed on. And if anyone knows that he was a conservative, please don't tell me. I don't need anyone bursting my bubble.

I get the sense that Beliveau may have been a Liberal or at least a moderate anyway - not a far-right conservative like Wayne Gretzky.

Jéan Chrétien offered him the position of Governor General in 1994, which he turned down because of a family crisis in the Beliveau family at the time.

http://www.tsn.ca/ulmer-beliveau-s-success-unequaled-in-nhl-history-1.15...

Supposedly Harpo wanted to appoint him a Senator. He declined. Apparently that's why Jacques Demers got the gig.

Wed, 2015-02-25 18:02

#17

laine lowe laine lowe's picture

Some currently active hockey player [note: I am not a hockey fan] met with Suzuki and formed a friendship. He was interviewed on DNTO about how he's been inspired by Suzuki to do carbon offsets and other environmentally friendly changes on the hockey front. I think I am paraphrasing very poorly.

Wed, 2015-02-25 18:06

#18

alan smithee alan smithee's picture

laine lowe wrote:

Some currently active hockey player [note: I am not a hockey fan] met with Suzuki and formed a friendship. He was interviewed on DNTO about how he's been inspired by Suzuki to do carbon offsets and other environmentally friendly changes on the hockey front. I think I am paraphrasing very poorly.

I think you're referring to Andrew Ference.

Wed, 2015-02-25 18:18

#19

laine lowe laine lowe's picture

Yes, that's who was interviewed. Thanks alan s.

Wed, 2015-02-25 19:18

#20

Unionist

Wayne Gretzky should puck off and dive.

He's a lousy hockey player, and his political preferences aren't worthy of the comics, let alone discussion on babble.

Wed, 2015-02-25 19:48

#21

ajaykumar

I am also endorsing Patrick Brown

Wed, 2015-02-25 20:00

#22

alan smithee alan smithee's picture

Troll

Wed, 2015-02-25 22:08

#23

Unionist

ajaykumar wrote:

I am also endorsing Patrick Brown

Yeah, but you're probably useless as shit at hockey. Just an educated guess.

Wed, 2015-02-25 22:16

#24

ajaykumar

Unionist wrote:

ajaykumar wrote:

I am also endorsing Patrick Brown

Yeah, but you're probably useless as shit at hockey. Just an educated guess.

its not a nice comment. I never make personal attacks, I only criticize the NDP with facts.

Wed, 2015-02-25 22:18

#25

Unionist

ajaykumar wrote:

Unionist wrote:

ajaykumar wrote:

I am also endorsing Patrick Brown

Yeah, but you're probably useless as shit at hockey. Just an educated guess.

its not a nice comment. I never make personal attacks, I only criticize the NDP with facts.

You're right, I apologize. I had no right to make assumptions about your hockey skills. Full disclosure: I was never any good at hockey. But I shouldn't transfer my feelings of inferiority onto you.

Also, I hate Wayne Gretzky. Can't help it. I despise and loathe him.

What are your feelings about the Great One?

Me - I detest and abhor him.

Wed, 2015-02-25 22:25

#26

ajaykumar

Unionist wrote:

ajaykumar wrote:

Unionist wrote:

ajaykumar wrote:

I am also endorsing Patrick Brown

Yeah, but you're probably useless as shit at hockey. Just an educated guess.

its not a nice comment. I never make personal attacks, I only criticize the NDP with facts.

You're right, I apologize. I had no right to make assumptions about your hockey skills. Full disclosure: I was never any good at hockey. But I shouldn't transfer my feelings of inferiority onto you.

Also, I hate Wayne Gretzky. Can't help it. I despise and loathe him.

What are your feelings about the Great One?

Me - I detest and abhor him.

I am trying to figure out a way to say something negative about the NDP in response, but am too tired.

Wed, 2015-02-25 22:35

#27

Unionist

ajaykumar wrote:
I am trying to figure out a way to say something negative about the NDP in response, but am too tired.

That's a copout, with respect. I want your honest opinion about the Great One. And I want it now.

Thu, 2015-02-26 08:12

#28

Caissa

Great hockey player. I hope he stays in California.

Thu, 2015-02-26 09:49

#29

NorthReport

Absurdity knows no bounds here it seems. Your hockey acumen is right up there with your politics.

1. Wayne Gretzky

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/391916-top-25-hockey-players-of-all-t...

Unionist wrote:

Wayne Gretzky should puck off and dive.

He's a lousy hockey player, and his political preferences aren't worthy of the comics, let alone discussion on babble.

Sat, 2015-02-28 20:54

#30

terrytowel

Breaking news from Twitter

Membership totals for the PC Race

Partick Brown 40k, Christine Elliott 13k, Monte McNaughton 6k

Sat, 2015-02-28 22:10

#31

Debater

Interesting.

I just saw these numbers posted by David Akin & Steve Paikin on Twitter.

McNaughton was expected to be 3rd and a long-shot, but Elliot was expected to be in the lead.

Looks like Brown got a lot of momentum lately and his 'outsider' campaign may be working. If those are accurate, he has sold 3 times as many memberships as Christine Elliot.

With another month to go obviously things can change during the PC debates and in terms of who shows up to vote, but Brown may have a chance of an upset here.

Sat, 2015-02-28 22:18

#32

Debater

Brown sells more than 40,000 PC memberships; Elliott doesn't report sales

Keith Leslie, The Canadian Press

Saturday, February 28, 2015

TORONTO -- The self-described outsider in the race to become leader of Ontario's Progressive Conservatives claimed first place in all-important membership sales after Saturday's cut off deadline.

Barrie MP Patrick Brown, the only one of the three candidates not to have a seat in the legislature, said he sold 40,410 new PC memberships, a figure confirmed by a party source speaking on background because no official tallies had been completed from the "bulk submissions" from each campaign.

"I am humbled by the support of the tens of thousands of Ontarians who bought a membership from our campaign," Brown said in a release.

London-area MPP Monte McNaughton's campaign said it sold "a little less than 20,000" new memberships, but the source put the figure at closer to 6,000.

Deputy PC leader Christine Elliott did not report any sales figures in a statement issued after the period for signing up new members ended, but the party source estimated her sales at 13,000.

---

More:

http://www.cp24.com/news/brown-sells-more-than-40-000-pc-memberships-ell...

Sat, 2015-02-28 23:37

#33

bekayne

I remember seeing Patrick Brown on a CBC Town Hall when he was running for Parliament. He was incapable of saying anything that wasn't a party talking point.

Sun, 2015-03-01 05:56

#34

Debater

Be that as it may, it looks like he is giving Christine Elliot a tougher race than she bargained for.

If he can maintain his lead in memberships for 2 more months until May, he could become PC leader. Elliot is on the defensive now.

Perhaps Brown's argument that an 'outsider' is needed to rebuild the PC's is resonating with its members.

And if Brown wins there will be another CPC seat vacant on the Federal scene. . .

Sun, 2015-03-01 09:54

#35

adma

Though I wonder how many of these memberships are dicey mass-ethnoburban affairs, given how Brown seems to have inherited the "Frank Klees" machine...

Sun, 2015-03-01 11:23

#36

NorthReport

Gretzy's endorsement is sure to help Brown.

Barrie MP Patrick Brown, who was recently endorsed in his run for the PC leadership by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, says his campaign sold the most memberships.

http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/02/28/patrick-browns-claims-...

Sun, 2015-03-01 12:21

#37

genstrike

Do endorsements from sports figures really have that much of an effect on people's voting intentions? It seems to me like they're useful mainly as a way to get a headline for a day or two.

I mean, are there a lot of people going "you know, I was going to vote for Christine Elliott, but... Wayne Gretzky likes Patrick Brown, and he scored a lot of goals in the '80s and '90s..."

Sun, 2015-03-01 12:27

#38

NorthReport

Depends on the endorsement - Gretsky is kinda special being the greatest hockey player of all time, and Canadians do love their hockey, so maybe it will have an impact.

Sun, 2015-03-01 16:42

#39

Debater

genstrike wrote:

Do endorsements from sports figures really have that much of an effect on people's voting intentions? It seems to me like they're useful mainly as a way to get a headline for a day or two.

I mean, are there a lot of people going "you know, I was going to vote for Christine Elliott, but... Wayne Gretzky likes Patrick Brown, and he scored a lot of goals in the '80s and '90s..."

The Gretzky endorsement is probably just a bonus.

The main reason Brown is probably doing well is that Elliot has run a somewhat lacklustre establishment campaign and Brown appears to be resonating with PC voters who want someone from outside the PC party this time.

Mon, 2015-03-02 17:33

#40

Debater

Elliott won’t disclose PC membership sales

Mar 2 2015

TORONTO - Progressive Conservative leadership hopeful Christine Elliott stood by her decision Monday not to release the number of party memberships her campaign sold before Saturday's cut-off period.

Barrie MP Patrick Brown, the only candidate without a seat in the Ontario legislature, claimed to have sold more than 40,000 of the $10 PC memberships, which entitle people to vote for the new party leader in May.

London-area MPP Monte McNaughton boasted sales of just under 20,000 memberships, but a party source put that figure closer to 6,000.

Elliott, who finished third in the 2009 leadership race won by Tim Hudak, would say only that her support is strong and broad-based.

"You know there's going to be a lot of wild and crazy claims out there, but I'm feeling really good about where we are, very confident we're in a good position across the entire province," she said. "I'm just not going to engage in the same kind of chest-pounding bravado that the other candidates are getting into."

A party source estimated Elliott sold about 13,000 party memberships, but her campaign said Saturday night they'd sold at least twice that number.

---

More:

http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2015/03/02/elliott-wont-disclose-pc-mem...

Tue, 2015-03-03 04:53

#41

Debater

Reevely: Patrick Brown shakes the Ontario Tory establishment

March 2, 2015

The race to lead the Ontario Progressive Conservatives has a new frontrunner: Patrick Brown, the socially conservative outsider who’s promised to raze the party structure before rebuilding it.

After Saturday’s deadline for signing up new Tories who’ll be eligible to vote in the party’s May leadership election, Brown’s campaign boasted it had registered more than 40,000, a huge number in a provincial party contest.

Christine Elliott, the party’s deputy leader and health critic who barged into the race early and racked up big donations and blue-chip endorsements, didn’t release a number. Leaking Tories put her figure at about 13,000, which counter-leakers among the Elliottites said was maybe half her real figure. Even 26,000 would be a bad showing for someone with all her advantages.

- - -

More:

http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/reevely-patrick-brown-shakes...

Tue, 2015-03-03 08:49

#42

Geoff

I'd say the PC leadership race is evolving, but since they don't believe in evolution....

Thu, 2015-03-05 11:33

#43

montrealer58 montrealer58's picture

A calculation must have been done that a strong CPC means a weak PCPO and a weak CPC means a strong PCPO. If the PCPO puts in a 'social conservative', the PCPO will be neither progressive nor conservative.

Ontario will have its own Santorum mini-me, who we will have to enjoy the histrionics of for at least 3 years. The PCPO will turn into a bilious crapulant FAUX-NEWS whitewash in mismatched WASPy shirts and ties. Ramblings of pure idiocy will spew from PCPO fax machines. SUN News may have failed, so we are going to turn all of the media into SUN News and use the utterings of Patrick Brown and his ilk to replace the newly unemployed newscasters. Better still if the propaganda comes straight from the politicians.

So you scare away all of the progressive people from the PCPO. They go to the Liberals or the NDP provincially, keeping the PCPO out of power. Then by that logic you can have a Tory government in Ottawa. The only way not to have Liberal in both Ottawa and Queen's Park AND get rid of Harper is vote NDP.

I can see 40,000 reasons why Harper would want Patrick Brown installed as leader of the PCPO. Christine Elliot is dangerous.

Thu, 2015-03-05 11:36

#44

NorthReport

Geoff wrote:

I'd say the PC leadership race is evolving, but since they don't believe in evolution....

Wed, 2015-03-18 17:58

#45

Debater

Patrick Brown gets a big bump in donations

March 18, 2015

Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership contender Patrick Brown’s official tally of campaign contributions got a lot bigger Wednesday, after fellow candidate Christine Elliott accused him of hiding donations.

The update took the Barrie MP’s disclosed fundraising total from under $200,000 to nearly $475,000.

Elliott is the party’s deputy leader and was the presumed frontrunner in the race to succeed Tim Hudak until Brown claimed he’d sold a stunning 40,000 Tory memberships by an important deadline at the end of February. She made a fuss Monday evening about the “discrepancy” between the Brown campaign’s boasts about how much money it’s brought in and the evidence of reported donations posted to Elections Ontario’s website.

The law requires leadership contestants to disclose campaign contributions within 10 days of depositing them. Elliott suggested Brown was sitting on donations because of an internal Tory party rule that after a leadership campaign raises $100,000, it has to give 20 per cent of everything it brings in to the party itself.

Elliott’s campaign said Brown hadn’t filed any contributions since Feb. 18, which was what Elections Ontario’s public database showed.

“This is false,” Brown’s statement said. “The campaign has filed fundraising reports with Elections Ontario since then although they have not yet been posted on the agency’s website. Elections Ontario today confirmed they have a number of filings yet to be posted on their website.”

And indeed, with a big Wednesday update, the agency added $275,000 to Brown’s total. He’s still behind Elliott in fundraising but he’s at least playing in the same league.

---

More:

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/reevely-patrick-brown-gets-a-big-...

Wed, 2015-03-18 18:06

#46

NorthReport

Why is Elections Ontario delaying posting the filings to their website?

Quote:
“This is false,” Brown’s statement said. “The campaign has filed fundraising reports with Elections Ontario since then although they have not yet been posted on the agency’s website. Elections Ontario today confirmed they have a number of filings yet to be posted on their website.”

Thu, 2015-04-02 15:50

#47

NorthReport

Paul Godfrey endorses Patrick Brown in race to lead Ontario PCs

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/this-party-ne...

Thu, 2015-04-09 13:20

#48

Debater

Monte McNaughton drops out of PC leadership race, endorses Patrick Brown

Apr 9 2015

TORONTO - The two remaining candidates to become leader of Ontario's Progressive Conservative party quickly started trading barbs Thursday after London-area MPP Monte McNaughton withdrew from the race.

McNaughton said the Tories need "an agent of change," so he pulled out and threw his support to Barrie MP Patrick Brown, saying rival Christine Elliott represents the same "old" party players that lost the last four elections.

"He's 36. I'm 38 and I just think the choice is clear for people: it is the same old party establishment versus change." McNaughton said in an interview. "I don't want to see the people that have been running campaigns for the last 20 years run the campaign in 2018. We will have another devastating result."

McNaughton, who was a distant third in membership sales and fundraising, said Brown has "the energy and ability" to reform the Tories.

---

More:

http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2015/04/09/monte-mcnaughton-drops-out-o...