Where is the coverage of the Toronto Mayoral race?

Some days there is wall to to wall coverage on AM radio. 

The newspapers are covering it as well........

Please post any links that you find on this sad spectacle that makes me cry if I think about it too much.

Moving to central canada, where all the Toronto municipal election threads are and will be.

I don't want to make you cry. Enjoy the beautiful sunshine. In the end you may yet have tears of joy. 

It should be noted that those Ford supporters carrying signs behind him could be breaking the sign bylaw. As I was informed in no uncertain terms by the city, there should be no signs on public highways within 1.5m of the road, or within 15m of intersections. As the city acts reactively, call 311 when you see possible infractions. Just because it's being carried by a person doesn't make any less legal.

Of course it is legal. It's a public demonstration.

My understanding (gleaned at an information session on Thursday night at Metro Hall) is that signs advocating a specific candidate who has filed papers at City Hall, e.g. "Vote [Whoever]" cannot be displayed within 1.5m of the road, or within 15m of an intersection, and moreover, cannot be displayed anywhere outside of a candidate's campaign office until October 4. T-shirts, badges and stickers are fine, however.

If my understanding of the relevant bylaw is faulty, then I apologize.

You should be aware that the tendentious use of bylaws for frivilous political purposes is an underlying theme of the Ford Campaign. Obviously, the bylaw restricting use of signage is meant to prevent candidates from using market saturation through purchasing road side ads, and is meant to prevent wealthy candidates from being able to purchase public profile at the detriment to less wealthy candidates.

On the other hand, people carrying placards are not the same thing at all, and in my view, trying to go after Ford on this issue could easily be construed as a pernicious piece of political gamesmanship intended to limit the freedom of speech of individuals. Indeed I agree!

Why not argue that people must remove their "Ford" bumper stickers before they use the DVP? If you are really trying to hand more talking points to the Libertarian right, this one is perfect.

I shouldn't have used the Ford campaign as my example. I don't have much time for his ideas, but *any* campaign who does it shouldn't, and if they do, should be reported. What the City chooses to do then is up to them. They should actively go after *every* campaign that does it (and even the ones that I agree with have their halos pretty tarnished) just so one side's supporters can't cry foul. Or, rather, cry foul for a reason.

It may be an unintended consequence of the bylaw, but it is nevertheless a consequence.

And the signs I've seen supporters carry so far look exactly like campaign signs, to be put on lawns or fences or whatever. While there is a fuzzy area, I'd argue that any sign that could be placed in a window, hammered into a lawn, or stapled to a fence and used as a campaign sign is a campaign sign.

To take your example, I would never argue that. Bumper stickers are perfectly fine, according to the city.

All laws are viewed in the context of the purpose of the the law, not the "letter" of the law per se. If the bylaw prevented individuals from carrying signs and having bumper stickers on their car, it does not pass muster with the charter, which is superior law to the bylaw. I don't care if the bylaw says that "black people can't walk their dogs in public parks on Sundays" or not. Once a law is used in a manner that conflicts with basic rights, it is invalid.

Oh, it's getting serious now - the Globe and Mail has submitted the candidates' signatures to a graphologist.

We know she's incredibly accurate because she says Rob Ford likes culture.

Is Hockey and Football and beer culture? If so he likes it. 

This campaign continues to get stranger by the day. At first I thought this was a joke. 

Of course, the press is making more out of it than it is.  You might as well harp over the son of a Mulroney Tory heading the federal NDP...

To be fair - it would be more comparable if Jack layton's father was a current Tory cabinet minister under Harper and Jack was leading the NDP attacking his own father during question period.

In any event, we're talking about a "rogue brother" situation here--the situation would have been no different 4 or 7 years ago.  It's just that it's "reportable" now, as if it were anything but a preexisting condition...

It's pretty common knowledge that Smitherman has a toxic personality and seems to have the book "how to lose friends and alienate people" as his inspiration. I don't know the man personally, but every single person I've met who has had any personal interaction with him - either when he was Hall's Chief of Staff in the 90s to during his time in provincial politics - has told me the same thing - that he is personally abusive, nasty and vindictive. He is apparently another one of those people (like Helena Guergis) who has a revolving door in his office of people who work him for two days and then quit because they can't take the abuse.

So, it should come as no surprise that his poor interpersonal skills extend to his family.

Harping? I posted because I thought it was an interesting (side) story related to the topic at hand - the mayor's race in Toronto in 2010. Check the thread title. 

dandmb50 - Nice try Rossi, that's your platform, scrap the arena (which we need desperately,) and the 5 cent bag fee? Not much of a platform.
I think things are getting worse and worser in this campaign for mayor.

Ford's been doing well in the "polls" but if he pushes this canceling streetcar strategy issue I think people will not respond well to it. I love my streetcars and now that the city has just built (over budget) streetcar ROW (right of ways) all over downtown, this may be the one issue that finishes Ford. It's "NOT" a plan to save money.
How do we "save" money if we throw away all those streetcars and ROW routes, it doesn't make sense, and what about the orders for the new streetcars, will we get our deposit back? We need a plan that works. All the kookie ideas are coming out now.

Daniel .. Toronto

I heard Ford on CFRB this morning. He is using the term "them socialists" . Is he taking lessons from Glen Beck? 

People should stop talking about Ford's popularity. He isn't popular. His opposition is devided that is all. Rossi has no ideas, he is a good speaker but no platform to speak of. He is running on personality alone. He seems to have one. Thompson's claim to fame is bringing potato chips to gas stations in Toronto -- perhaps she would like it if the folks who staff the Toronto Film Permit office, had a kiosk where they could sell pop, chips and juice to location scouts while they are doing their paper work? Smitherman is running on a campaign of decreased costs and increased services -- how he is going to turn this trick has not been explained, except that he intends to spend the first year as the city budget chief, and bring the city to a halt while he does a line by line budget review and terrorizes the staff at City Hall.

Pantalone is the only one who has a platform who isn't lying to the public and telling them they can get more services and better service for less money. Panatlone should speak louder or closer to the microphone, that is about the only criticism I have of him.

In fact, the whole campaign is basically being leveraged through the negative campaigning of Ford, on the false premise that the city is broken, and this has catalyzed the vote of a comprised of whiners who can't stand the idea of things like that they might be delayed for 2 minutes behind a streetcar once a week.

Ford's posse, looks like an unpleasant group of inner city gangbangers dressed in suits.

That's the nice thing about Toronto and Canada, people can talk/support anyone they want. The only poll that counts, is on election day and the people, not, Cue will make that decision.

Daniel .. Toronto

He is polling in the mid 30's. That isn't "popular". Popular is a vote share in the 40's at least. All that say is that he has managed to catalyze one particular voter group, not plurality of support.

DP.

I wish Joe Mihevc or Shelley Carroll would have run.

I was glad to hear Pantalone on the news yesterday refuting the "Toronto is broken" meme. In light of the fact that there's no run-off voting in municipal elections, let's hope Rocco stays in the race to help split the vote. 

I guess the consolation prize is that they'll likely be on the next council to give Pantalone the support he'll need. 

There are right now FORTY people running for Mayor.

I am hoping to gather links infos and photos of them all here:

The media pummels us with coverage of the 'front-runner' five, but there are others.

Sonny Yeung withdrew, some added, nominations now closed so the final slate is a choice of 41 for Mayor.

Yet our mainstream media only pays attention to their selected top 5.

Is this right or good for civic engagement? Or is it a mockery of democracy?

No. Indeed, it was very interesting being at the all candidates debate this tuesday, since the line up basically meant that the right wing agenda got 4 times the overall speaking time than the "left" view represented by Joe Pantalone -- not the Joe is any kind of radical, or anything. Thus we see how the media and its friends at the Board of Trade effectively set the agenda by default.

I think Carroll's keeping her powder dry for 2014.

Women don't matter.

Frontrunning Toronto mayoral candidate Rob Ford has suddenly dropped out of a "Women Matter" candidates' debate Friday night, an organizer says.

Ford's campaign had previously confirmed that he would attend the debate on "issues of gender representation and diversity in city politics", hosted by Equal Voice Toronto, the Toronto Women's City Alliance and the YWCA, said debate spokesperson Gabby Richichi-Fried.

Somebody from the Ford camp called one of the organizers at 2 a.m. Friday to say he can't attend because "he has to go to a barbecue," Richichi-Fried said.

My coverage of 4 person mayoral debate Sept 13 in ward18 (Smitherman didn't show):

 http://davenportdemocracy.blogspot.com/

They spoke of bedbugs, electric trains, affordable housing, panhandlers, inclusion/exclusion of other mayor candidates, school closings, whellchair accessibility, bike lanes.... and their love for each other (scratch that last one)

Thanks for that. Anyone know what that scurilous bunch of "arts" developers the active18 are on about?

How about that bold, visionary announcement by Rocco Rossi: take one killed expressway, shove it underground and ta-da!

I was fully convinced Rob Ford would come up with the dumbest ideas of the campaign until that happened.

I attended the Good Jobs for All forum (it wasn't a debate but in interview format) and I'm now even more convinced that Smitherman is the most dangerous candidate.

Someone asked him how much of Toronto he wanted to "sell to business" or something like that. I couldn't quite hear the question.

Smitherman's statement about how "advisery committees" were "bullshit" seemed to get him a lot of applause.

He also tried to push his privatization if necessary but not necessarily privatization crap. 

Cueball asked "Anyone know what that scurilous bunch of "arts" developers the active 18 are on about?"

Rather wish I knew.  They held what they advertised as an "all candidates debate" with only 9 of the 12 people running. Ken Wood, also a candidate,  was there but told he was welcome to 'ask questions at the end of the debate'. He left. They initially tried to get only certain councillors there, but added a limited few after complaints were made.  There were about 50 or so people attending.

Didn't stay as it looked like platforms being given to candidates to spout predetermined lines.

Actibve18 website is: http://active18.org/about

Question for me is who is Active 18 - really? And "what are they on about?"

Hey Cueball... should have waited to post. Just found this about active18 debate:

Ahh, I thought it was something other than it is.

I suppose it could definitely be argued he should spend more time worrying about his own job, but I agree with everything he says here.

 Maple Leaf [43] Sports and Entertainment CEO Richard Peddie waded into Toronto’s mayoral race, calling on candidates to up their game and bring on more compelling ideas for the city. [43]

The campaigns so far lack vision, Mr. Peddie told a Canadian Club luncheon Wednesday, adding to reporters afterward that while a multitude of tactical promises has surfaced, “cost cutting and cost control is not a long-term strategy. [43]

Tories back Smitherman

for someone who live in downtown (or whatever) who does not get why so many suckers are angry at the city hall, i know why even though i know it wont do me any good.

The scarborough rt is seriously dated. I was on it today going to my 12 dollar an hour job and the train just broke down, and we were trapped in there for like 45 mins and i had to walk out and take a bus to the kennedy station eventually..

I know we have transit city, but it seems like city hall just doesnt care that much for the longest time, and Rob ford is the one that is making the right noises , and he is a good choice for venting out our collective frustration with the relatively well paid TTC union members..due to what happened today, i was thinking back to the time when the york university union strike really cost me a job at the university, and i am still angry over that.

I must admit, i really want to vote for Rob Ford tonight, just out of my total bitterness and frustration and the fact that i dont give a shit anymore and i am going to get screwed anyways so i dont care what Rob Ford will do or not do.

Sometimes being angry is all i feel like i can be.

and if this doesnt convince you

check this out

The TTC has begun the first phase of the implementation of station managers at eight downtown subway stations.

why? we dont deserve it in scarborough just yet? do we get station managers after we decided to keep ford out?

edited* yeah and "solidarity" with the union, maybe one day after the union members finish giving their jobs to their friends, relatives, people like me will get to join their club..or i can wait for a leftist revolution and i will be set free from exploitation.

You get millions thrown out the window because some suburban drivers can't figure out that the streetcars that are blocking their way are stuck behind cars driven by suburbanites.

And you will still be taking the bus.

speaking with so many newcomers and ethnic minorities living in scarborough (who might not be fluent in english) can be challenging, but city hall didnt pay enough attention, politicans of all stripes play to their own base and they dont take the time to try to reach out to those people who are different than them..whatever.

And Rob Ford is Mr. Equity now, I spose.

 Robby left a robo call to me way back in May, i did feel somewhat special.

I am actually educated and i am not stupid enough to think any of these fools will make my life any better. I will get one extra large cup of single single tim horton coffee and make a toss when PM Harpo is gone though.

I did talk to Joe Pentalone actually, he came to campaign at scarborough civic centre for some asian chinese event, he seemed to also think that the most important issues like job losses and provety are the responsibilities of the federal and provinical government, so who cares about the city hall? at least i can vote for robby and piss everyone off to get some psychological release.

 edited* do not undermine the self destructive nature of those who feel hopeless and cynical.

How about making it worse?

This is ridiculous really. We can't keep making plans, digging holes, and filling them in every time some new idealogue comes along with his brand of populism. Rob Ford's transit plan services half the area of Scarborough that Transit city does, throws millions down the toilet in already started construction, and more millions down the tube when he scraps streetcars that we are already on the hook for purchasing. 

Sometimes "vision" means finishing the job already started.

Edited to add. Of course job losses, and most social safety system are primarily the responsibility of the Federal and Provincial government. There is nothing that the city can do about that other than complain about it because the City is not allowed to tax anything other than property. Otherwise, they have to beg the province and the feds. End of story.

On this point, Joe Panatlone clearly said he would freeze property taxed on pensioners, so that the city tax bills don't end up forcing them to vacate their homes. And this tid-bit tells you everything you need to know about Joe Pantalone. As opposed to sky high crazy promises, obviously he has thought seriously about some issues, and about ways to solve them, as opposed to blowing smoke up everyones ass.

I'm volunteering for Pantalone's campaign this afternoon.

Progressive Pantalone loses his way in a sea of Ford sound-alike, Marcus Gee, Globe and Mail

I'd go and help Joe, but I'm otherwise engaged.

Ford got himself in trouble again today ...

He accused the city and some Beaches restaurateur of making some corrupt deal.

The Restaurateur is threatening to sue Ford.

ETA: It was noted today by Foulidis that everything Ford accused him and the city of dong that Ford called "corrupt" (backroom in camera no bid deal, donations to a city Counselor,) Ford had just recently done exactly the same thing with a different company that donated to him.

edmundoconnor - I probably visit Chris's pet food store regularly!

LP, going back to a discussion about the Good Jobs for All coalition, I can see an impressive array of members, particularly from the immigrant, refugee. non-white communities and labour, but I am not sure if its organizing and mobilizing work offers  the advanced  model some may see. I am particularly concerned  with  the Good Jobs for All coalition, having a mandate to actively intervene in the municipal election. appearing to do little when good green jobs for all  are under severe attack in this election.. The hundreds and thousands of grassroots members of the coalition  would have gone though a municipal workers strike with stinking garbage, closed swimming pools and delays in the OW cheques. How did the coalition intervene then and how is it intervening now  with the right wing  clamouring to privitize public services and reduce services?s. . At one level I would like to see the coalition following the lead of labour council and endorsing Joe Pantalone for mayor and others for council and Boards of Ed. It would be a great set of opportunities to organize and mobile, bringing communitoes togetjer in their neigbourhood and across the city   What am i missing?

I should think that having the discussion at all is a good start. For one thing, its hard for an organization such as that to take an unequivocal stand on supporting one sector of the white establishment from that other sector of the white establishment. The organization did well to kick of the event by showcasing Rocco Achampong to kick of the debate, which was basically handled as an interview talk show format, as opposed to a snipe fest. There is a divide here, and questions from the audience, notably Black Torontonians handed Pantalone some of his toughest question, which I am afraid to say he mostly tried to defuse.

Notably Rocco (Achampong not Rossi!) was the only person who is a candidate who took the unique stance of talking about the wages of unionized police officers as being a problem, a cute twist on an old theme about unions with a strong hidden point about the police budget.

As one fellow put it, Pantalone really has to do something to distinguish himself from Miller, and unless Pantalone can come up with some way to directly offer something that sounds like more than just words as far as these communities go, and endorsement seems unlikely. However, keynote speaker Avvy Go, clearly tipped her hat to Joe in the intro, but here, as well Pantalone missed an opportunity to pick up on some themes such as policiing that she raised.

Here is how Avvy charachterized the event: Good Jobs for All [57].

That is not so bad, but I don't think that Joe is going to win huge points from these communities unless he has something more forthright to say. The problems is obvious, and he could take a clear stand on it.

But, if you are concerned about where GJFA is coming from, I think I can say with confidence that this is probably the first and last time that any of the mayoralty candidates will be asked by anyone, let alone someone like John Tory: "What are you going to do to protect City Services from outsourcing", as each was asked in their turn.

ETA: Also you keep talking about welfare cheques being late during the city workers strike. I didn't take a survey mind you, but no one I know who is on the dole got their cheque late, and one was adamant about how happy he was that he cheque was being sent out without the usual monthly bureaucratic bullshit: forms, appointments, etc.

Here's a real talk on the MAYOR Issues from people who are not just trying to be popular and get power:

 Globe and Mail Sept 18: The Campaign's Biggest Loser So Far? Toronto Itself.

(audio or print exerpts)  ... hmmmm cant seem to put in weblink....

Stop the city! I want to get off.

The rumour mill says a new opinion poll has Rob Ford still on track to be Toronto's next mayor, with the support of 51 per cent of respondents.

The Globe/CTV/CP24/Nanos Research poll was conducted in the past few days and will be reported on CTV and CP24 on Sunday night and in the Globe on Monday morning, according to sources.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/city-votes/toronto-...

Great. So Pantalone has momentum with a 5% increase in the polls and Smitherman does not. Smitherman has already lost this election to Ford. That is the word on the street. Therefore, Pantalone is the only solid way for people to get the message across to city council that Toronto is not for sale.

Thats not the message I get on my street. People are not really voting for Ford they are voting against the left.

Pantalone is going no where.  Smitherman is stalled but ahead of Pantalone and the others are done.  Time to rally round Smitherman and stop this Ford fool.  Ford as mayor I can't stomache it!

I'm going into Pantalone's office this aft. I am encouraging others to get involved as well. Smitherman was just endorsed by a bunch of Tory Harrisite MPPs. Maybe he's better turned out than Ford, but he doesn't have the grounded progressive vision I see in Joe.

Joe gets me excited about the city, about his understanding of neighbourhoods and communities. I appreciate his passion to make this a livable, vibrant place for everybody. Not cutting everything to the bone, leaving the poor with little to celebrate. He is also the only candidate I've heard state clearly that he does NOT have a priority of adding more police officers to the force. That he'd rather put money into projects that make communities healthy and supportive.

I could not have said it better "writer", Pantalone is by far the best choice...I just wish he could do a better job of presenting his arguments - and hopefully that will change for the better in the coming weeks. I saw a mayor's debate and while I agreed with 100% of what Joe was saying - he came across like a bureaucrat defending the status quo and blaming everything on other levels of government. He's right - but he needs to move beyond his answer to every question being "we can't do anything about it because Queens park and Ottawa won't give us more money". Even though its true - this is not what the public likes to hear.

It's time to rally around someone for the ABF vote. Ford is probably the biggest buffoon I have ever seen in Canadian politics. And then his idiotic policy pronouncements - Lowering taxes and increasing services? Getting rid of Toronto's streetcars? Toronto city hall will become an absolute unworkable mess with Ford at the helm.

And this video making the rounds about Ford says it all:

"Toronto city hall will become an absolute unworkable mess with Ford at the helm."

We have three choices: Ford - in which case city hall becomes an unworkable message where nothing gets accomplished, Smitherman - in which case city hall becomes an all too workable mess where he would probably manage to bring in his rightwing agenda or Pantalone in which case sanity reigns.

I'm not sure whether I feel more Anyone But Ford or Anyone But Smitherman - in any case, he is crashing and burning and i think that someone else has to be the "anti-Ford". The people of Toronto have sampled Smitherman and turned up their noses like a cat that was given a flavour of cat food he didn't like.

Ahem...

I think Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison's title of "Canada's Craziest Mayor" (Rick Mercer Report) still stands unbroken. Seriously proposing to put a glass dome over downtown Saskatoon, and making a short-lived but official policy to refuse to meet anyone who dishonours the mayor's status by not wearing a formal suit and tie  (Atchison owns a men's clothing store). Hard to beat that.

Winnipeg's Sam Katz came pretty close when he kicked some poor kid in the face on camera while playing soccer this summer. And of course there's stock's jet-ski, and a range of other gaffes,  Maxim Bernier, and Raheem Jaffer (remember his staffer pretending to be him in a radio interview?).

And here's former MP Jim Pankiw launching his "comeback" this spring:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2010/02/04/sk-pankiw-jim-100...

Sadly, the froth tends to rise to the top. Excuse the diversion and good luck with your buffoon.

Unfortunately, all the major candidates besides Pantalone are trying to sell that snake oil.

6079_Smith_W:

The 2003 election for mayor of Saskatoon had Atchison facing off against Pankiw, amongst others. The turnout for the election was over 50%, if I recall correctly. While Atchison is easy and fun to lampoon, he is nothing compared to Pankiw. When confronted with a choice of the frying pan and the fire, Saskatoon's voters chose the frying pan.

Ford is bad, but he is no Pankiw. Thank Goddess.

What are the odds of Ford getting run out of town on a rail in 2014 (or sooner)?

edmonudoconnor, have you seen this piece? http://www.eyeweekly.com/city/mayoralrace2010/article/102021

Slitherman has already lost this election. He went from a comfortable lead at the begining of the year, and has been steadily losing ground since then. He has been campaigning for a whole year, at least, and he still can't get any traction, despite gold seal endorsements from the Toronto Star, the provincial Liberals and even former Harris Tory cabinet ministers.

Pantalone, has been campaigning since Labour Day, and already increased his poll share by 5%. The only one who is showing any traction is Pantalone.

More importantly, the Mayor is just one vote on Council. Even if Ford wins, a vote for Pantalone, is a vote for Transit City, and a vote against selling of Toronto. A two way split between Slitherman and Ford sends the message that it is open season on the City of Toronto, a vote for Pantalone sends the message to council that there is no clear mandate to sell off city assets, privatize, sell of the TTC, and other city services.

Hmmm...Pantalone declared his candidacy back in January. I hope he didn't twittle his thunbs for seven months before deciding to start campaigning after Labour Day!!

Thanks for the Eyeweekly link Writer. Excellent article. 

Why doesn't Smitherman drop out and throw his support to Pantalone? If he loves the city as he says he does, it's the only reasonable thing to do. The Harrisites can then back Ford. 

One troubling aspect of the NANOS poll is that Ford is tied with Pantalone with 23% of NDP-leaning voters. Now that's scary. 

Conversely, and strangely, next to Ford, Pantalone enjoys more support from Con-leaning voters (13%) than anyone else. Joe also has the most support among all candidates among Green-leaners. 

Smitherman would never get out of the race. Why should he? Pantalone does not have a chance because of his association with Miller. That's what the people want to change. 

Ford's vote is not a vote for "Ford". Its against the status quo. Ford is sticking to his mantra less tax, less spending and more service. He never tells us  how he will accomplish all of that but like the tea party down south its picking up momentum. 

Lord help us. 

Where is the evidence for that? A few weeks back a poll was released that showed that if Miller ran he would win. There is no general rejection of the "left" here. What there is is a rejection of the game plan as set up by the media, people are voting against Smitherman and his Liberal connections, not Miller. The set game is Ford v. Smitherman, not Ford v. Miller. Even Smitherman is anti-Miller. There is no Miller candidate in the race that most people know about.

Pantalone's main problem is visibility. Indeed, just the other day I was speaking to someone who said they were going to vote Rocco Rossi, and all I had to say was that Pantalone was Miller's deputy mayor (which he did not know), and the guy immediatly changed his tune, because he supports "Transit City".

Indeed, I'd say Smitherman's really hard anti-Miller line was one of the biggest fiascos of his campaign.

I agreed with most who said that Smitherman has run a miserable campaign and doesn't deserve to win, but he is the only chance we have to stop Ford.

Ford"s campaign can be summed up in four words  STOP THE GRAVY TRAIN  trnaslation CHANGE

Pantalone's campaign can be summed up in four words MORE OF THE SAME   translation NO CHANGE

The others Rossi, Thompso represnt change and one thing is clear the majority of the voters want change the pollls show that>  Smitherman is the only one with the numbers to sell the change but postive change.  Pantalone can't sell that and the Thompson, Rossi and Smitherman voters won't go to Pantalone in big enough numbers.

This is why I will hold my nose and vote Smitherman.

What "positive" change does Smitherman plan to bring in? All I know is he wants to freeze property taxes, privatize and sell off government assets and yell and scream at people a lot.

Stockhom as miserable as it sounds more postive than Rossi, Thompson and Ford.  Thats as postive as we get that represents change and th4e voters are going for change. 

Stockholm is really on a roll today.

Maybe Smitherman will be this year's Barbara Hall...the Barbara Hall of '03, not '97.

I think that at best you could argue (possibly) that Smitherman represents NEGATIVE change but not as negative a change as some of the other candidates - but make no mistake about it - he represents a giant step backwards.

For what? A bunch of words like "hope" and "change"? How about a rock solid transit proposal, as opposed to another "transit plan". Toronto doesn't need a new plan for transit. It needs transit, and it needs it now. Not a bunch of dithering, new reports, renegeed contracts and fishing expeditions for private investors.

So, precisely. Joe's campaign can be summed up as "more of the same". A CHEAPER transit plan that is already in the works, already negotiated and ready to go. We can't be digging holes and filling them in every 5 years because someone comes along talking about "hope" and "change".

Anyway, Smitherman already lost this elecition, this summer. He can't out-Ford, Ford. That much is obvious. So if you really want to throw your vote away that is one sure way to do it. On the other hand, a vote for Joe Pantalone is a vote for transist city, and against privatization, and this is a message that you can get across.

Voting for Slietherman just tells city council that Ford is on the right track.

"Toronto is being rocked by a new Rossi image that matches his bold policies." — http://roccorossi.com/releases/rocco-rossi%E2%80%99s-attention-grabbing-...

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this move.

Meanwhile, in other news - I was pleasantly surprised and even shocked to see that Art Eggleton of all people is backing Joe Pantalone for mayor! Eggleton is by-passing the two big-L Liberals in the race and remember that back in the 80s, we all that that "Eggs" was a rightwing mayor who beat John Sewell. i guess he's has a "Saul on the Road to Damascus" conversion.

It is going to be interesting to see how labour comes down.  In speaking with some of the skilled trade unions I hear they will not support Pantalone.  Bad news for him. 

@writer #83

The funny and unfortunate thing is it will certainly get him more exposure and probably get him some votes because most people will barely even think about the racist/fascist/criminal/sexist implications. Nor will they question its relevance to his actual campaign.

I'm sure he'll take some flak for it, but the fact is  it is well-designed and different, and it plays into hollywood imagery that everyone understands.

Hey, if I lived there I certainly wouldn't put one up on my wall but I'd definitely want one for my propaganda collection. It's a great poster.

(edit)

Hopefully Martin Scorsese and David Chase don't hit him up for licensing fees, though

Any union member voting for Smitherman is like the proverbial "chicken voting for Col. Sanders". Smitherman's entire political career has been a fiesta of union-bashing and he is promising to bring in more P3s and more contracting out etc...from a union perspective what's not to DISlike?

 Then they'll get Rob Ford, which will be really fun for unions!! Yay!!

Stockhom, I don't disagree with you, but never the less many are going to endorse and vote for Smitherman because he is the only chance they have to stop Ford.  What I am hearing is they don't like it much but the rationale is clear...Pnatalone can't beat Ford and Smitherman might be able too. 

writer @ 83: List of Toronto public figures recently known for jutting their chins out and raising them so that they look like Mussolini: Blair, Fantino, even a pale version in McGuinty, now Rossi. This first hit me when I realized that Blair was actually starting to look like Fantino -- something about that job. Anyway, it's really not my neo-aesthetic.

George "crocodile tears" Smitherman. George "diapers" Smitherman. Anyone who knows his history on the nursing-homes file would refuse to vote for him as dogcatcher (which the G20 showed us is pretty much all the mayor of Toronto is).

Geez, when I saw those Rossi posters I thought it was a hoax. They reminded me of The Guardian's April Fools gag last year, in which they claimed that Gordon Brown was attempting to toughen up his image by leaning on his working-class Glaswegian roots:

Apparently this Rossi character is serious. Well, in his own mind at least.

Well that's the thing. It's so far over the top that it is clearly pop-art satire. So he gets mileage for playing with his image in a half-comic way and doesn't have to take full responsibility for it. And for good or ill there is a reason why  that kind of propaganda is effective - a certain segment of the population will fall for it.

(edit)

Interesting that both posters use the Nazi red-black-white colour scheme. Time to go back and read J.G. Ballard's essay about the eternally-vital and youthful imagery of fascism.

Maybe union members will vote for Ford to stop Smitherman. The way i see it the main difference between them is that Ford's anti-union policies will collapse in chaos and never see the light of day - while Smitherman would probably actually find a way to implement is ultra rightwing policies. Choose your poison.

Interestings so you are suggesting if Pantalone can't win ...union members vote Ford.....Interesting indeed!

A political, what do you think Ford would be able to do as mayor that would be unfathomable to the decent, reasonable Smitherman (sic)?

That a depends on what kind of day Smitherman is having. It's what he doe's not say what he will do bothers me. We know what Ford will try to do.

I just got a "call" from George Smitherman.  He said he would freeze taxes, spending and hiring...and stop Rob Ford! 

A political, what do you think Ford would be able to do as mayor that would be unfathomable to the decent, reasonable Smitherman (sic)?

Holy crap, do you not know this guy's history? He's been arrested a few times, has been drunk in public at Leafs games and lashed out at other fans, his wife called the police on him at one point. The guy is serious trouble, and an extreme right wing agenda to boot. There are threads about his past behaviour on rabble. And he'll be representing us as mayor? I'll take Smitherman any day.

Shaking hands with Hells Angels and talking about getting boiled in a pot will look good compared to what Ford will say and do in four yars.   But heck I will believe anything now that Stockholm suggests union members might vote Ford to stop Smitherman.  I am sure my husband and three sons all union members will give that some thought...NOT

Smitherman is a former coke head Queen street party animal, who has had contact with the mafia that is hooked up with Colombian drug cartels. Heh. Exageration? No. All coke heads are hooked up to the Colombian drug cartels. Moreso, he has never come clean on the fact that he was supposed to set up an Ehealth database when he was Minister of Health, and failed miserably. His failed program became Ehealth, and it is his contact and consultants who blew our billion dollars doing nothing.

Ehealth did alot. They gave themselves great dinners. They even charged for the time they spent planning the dinners and the coffee and muffins they had while they planned those expensive banquets.

Then Smitherman layed off staff and closed health units. The consultants still are working.

Yes. Indeed, he made the point that after scamming millions they were put on the government payroll since then. Nice, now they can collect government pensions as well.

I think you all missed the point...I not a Smitherman fan and frankly I don't give damn if he is elected from a personal point of view...but heck I am beginning to think maybe a vote for Ford makes sense.  Maybe the cabal of crazies down at city hall will get the message that thumbing your nose at the electorate is a dangerous game.  That's what gave us Mike Harris and maybe now Ford.

Geez what am I thinking those loons won't get it..they never do.

That poll did say a lot of NDP voters are voting Ford. I guess that includes union members and people on this board. Hope you enjoy him!

False presumption is that most people reject Miller, and that there is some kind of backlash. As was pointed out before, three weeks ago, if the poll was held Miller would have won the election. The premise that there is some kind of backlash is entirely a media creation, one largely fronted by the Toronto Star that tried to promote Smitherman as the antidote to Miller. What they didn't forsee was Ford (a genuine right wing radical) riding on the storm in a tea pot that the Star and the Sun have largely created.

And presenting Smitherman as anything other than a soft-sell Harris Tory is also false, since, as we see a number of Harris era cabinet ministers are backing him, since he can "get the job done". Even Ontario Tories are afraid of Ford because he is no ones creature.

You, as a member of the electorate can choose to let the media set the agenda against your interests, or you can reclaim the agenda. It's up to you.

Sounds like Miller might be coming out for Pantalone.

http://www.openfile.ca/blog/topics/toronto-votes/2010/mayor-backs-beauli...