Where is the coverage of the Toronto Mayoral race?

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

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.

Quote:

From the audience, Zanana Akande, a former MPP, asked Joe Pantalone why, despite city policies meant to ensure the city hires contractors employing minorities, contracts are consistently given to companies that don't meet the criteria.

Pantalone, who has been deputy mayor the past six years, said he'd ask for an independent panel to find out why and make recommendations.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

"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.

Centrist wrote:

Ford is probably the biggest buffoon I have ever seen in Canadian politics.

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.

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

A political wrote:

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!

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.

Thanks for the Eyeweekly link Writer. Excellent article. 

Quote:

Smitherman is stalled but ahead of Pantalone and the others are done.  Time to rally round Smitherman and stop this Ford fool.

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. 

nussy wrote:

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.

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".

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.

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. 

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

A political wrote:

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.

 

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.

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.

A political wrote:

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. 

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!!

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).

Catchfire wrote:

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.

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

Lord Palmerston wrote:

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.

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.

Olly wrote:

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.

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.