From a distance, I'd bet that Mike Layton would be a substantial improvement over Rob Ford.
From a distance, my dog Rex, who has been dead for 57 years, would be a substantial improvement over Rob Ford.
Even up close your dead dog would be a substantial improvement over Rob Ford.
If Olivia does not run, I think I'll run an underground social media campaign, like Calgary mayor Nenshi, with Rex for mayor.
- 58% for Chow, 34% for Ford, 8% undecided
- Chow "would win the downtown and beat Ford on his suburban turf in Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough."
The weird thing about that poll is that they also test a three way race between Chow, Ford and Adam Vaughan - which is crazy because there is no chance whatsoever that Vaughan and Chow would both run. What would be much more likely would be that a right-leaning but "civilized" person like Karen Stintz would run and the potential three way race would be Ford vs. Chow vs. Stintz.
Might York South-Weston be confused with Scarborough Southwest? (No slur on Dan Harris; just that he's more the age etc where a dad might offer such quips.)
yeah, totally my mistake!! sorry! haha, great to read about sullivan though.
Come to think of it, I think I *do* remember some kind of parental soundbite aling those lines re Dan Harris. And more affectionately than derisively; after all, Dan Harris had run repeatedly, idealistically, and actually quite credibly for the NDP in that seat since the age of 21 in 2000. Therefore, he kinda earned a "professional candidate" label, in the best MiniMelSwart way...
If Chow ran, it would be great for Toronto. In Parliament her focus for the last year has been public transport. She would be leave huge shoes to fill as an MP, though.
I hear in the Media is warming up to the idea of being Mayor. I honestly can think of a single person more qualified then Olvia. Years as a school trustee, then years more as a Councillor, then years as a MP and critic of such Urban focused issues as Transit, Immigrantion, possible others. Her profile is huge and the graceful way she handled Jack's death earned her tons of respect. On top of that is her basic connection to the city and service that is undenable.
The weird thing about that poll is that they also test a three way race between Chow, Ford and Adam Vaughan - which is crazy because there is no chance whatsoever that Vaughan and Chow would both run. What would be much more likely would be that a right-leaning but "civilized" person like Karen Stintz would run and the potential three way race would be Ford vs. Chow vs. Stintz.
I know I'm quoting an old post, but this would be a great scenario. The "right but not looney" folks have probably already had enough of Rob Ford, that they wouldn't be afraid of splitting the right-wing vote because anything would look like an improvement.
Sometims what happens though is multiple candidates are standing for election, and then out of the ones closedly related on the policy spectrum, the less likely winners drop out of the race to try and consolidate the vote. This is what happened for June Rowlands' victory.
Olivia is sharp as a tack and would make a great Mayor. Is she really interested in running, or is this just someone getting ahead of themselves?
Olivia is sharp as a tack and would make a great Mayor. Is she really interested in running, or is this just someone getting ahead of themselves?
I have no personal knowledge, but she seems to be devoted to fulfilling the dream that she and Jack shared: a federal NDP government. To run for mayor would look like giving up on that dream. Hard to picture.
Olivia is sharp as a tack and would make a great Mayor. Is she really interested in running, or is this just someone getting ahead of themselves?
I have no personal knowledge, but she seems to be devoted to fulfilling the dream that she and Jack shared: a federal NDP government. To run for mayor would look like giving up on that dream. Hard to picture.
I agree, Wilf.
There are a whole lot of (Liberal?!) politicians who would love to see Olivia leave the federal stage, since she generates a great deal of sympathy with Jack's passing.
Forget about Olivia running for Mayor of Toronto for the next decade.
I'd love to see Olivia Chow as mayor of Toronto - but more still as Prime Minister of Canada. Much more than a certain Thomas Mulcair, by the way, even though he hails from a riding right next to mine...
Yeah, Olivia as PM would be awesome. I'd still MUCH rather see Mulcair as our next PM rather than Harper again, or another Conservative, if Harper steps down. I saw on CBC that there's speculation Jason Kenney is the most logical choice to replace Harper - he's the most popular MP in that caucus after Harper.
God help us - Jason Kenney as PM!!! The sky will truly have fallen. 
A couple updates...
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/is-olivia-chow-the-one-to-dr...
It is all supposition for now. But there is no doubt Ms. Chow would be a formidable candidate. One poll last summer showed she would trounce Mr. Ford in an election.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1288501--tim-harper-...
So far, Chow has encouragement, impressive polling data and time to decide. She has no team in place and if she declares an interest, the positive media coverage she enjoys will be tempered with words from detractors.
Global News
Thursday, March 07, 2013
TORONTO – Olivia Chow, federal MP for Trinity-Spadina, says she is “considering” a running for mayor of Toronto in the next municipal election.
During an interview on CBC, Chow said she is “listening to people’s advice” as the city moves closer to the next municipal election in 2014.
“Maybe I want to be a mayor, too, but maybe not,” Chow said. “Perhaps I won’t be able to do it. I am considering it.”
-----
“I love the city, I love to come home to Toronto, but what I’m going to be doing, I don’t know yet,” Chow said on CBC noting that her late husband Jack Layton wanted to be the mayor of Toronto.
Recent polls, including released in November by Forum Research, suggest Chow would in fact win the mayoralty in a race against current mayor Rob Ford.
http://www.globalmaritimes.com/olivia+chow+considering+run+for+mayor+of+...
Mayor Chow in 2014! 
She sure would provide Toronto a radically different image.
Only if she is healthy. I don't want Olivia stretching herself too thin. She is an inspiration to many people. She doesn't need to become mayor to cement her reputation.
Olivia Chow appears to be the most credible candidate on the left who could take on the false right-wing "gravy train" populism that got Rob Ford elected. She would mop the floor with Ford if recent polls can be believed.
Folks in the inner suburbs have genuine grievances about the way the city works and Rob Ford managed to tap into that anger.
I remember there was speculation that Shelly Carrol would run against Ford. Could she be a credible candidate? Would she be interested? Would the centre-left voters in Toronto be able to live with her, the same way they were able to live with David Miller?
Let's hope a "big-L" Liberal doesn't enter the race against Chow and help Ford.
I agree with Lord Palmerston. Carroll is a genuine lefty Liberal (quite rare these days) who generally votes with the progressive side of Toronto City Council...even more often than some members of the NDP. But, she just doesn't have the name recognition that Olivia Chow has.
Unless something changes over the next year, Chow has the best shot at knocking off Rob Ford.
I think the progressive vote would coalesce behind Olivia Chow. Shelley Carroll nonetheless could be a credible candidate. She is part of the "progressive bloc" and is a Liberal and is from Don Mills which could give her credibility in the suburbs. Right now she doesn't have all that much recognition among the public.
Shelley Carroll is basically quasi-NDP. I bet the NDP would *love* for her decide to run for them federally in Don Valley East and I'm sure I'm not the first person to have pondered this idea.
NDP MP Olivia Chow widens lead over Toronto Mayor Rob Ford in mayoral poll
In a Forum Research poll of 1,045 Torontonians conducted Tuesday, 60 per cent favoured the undeclared NDP MP Chow. That compares to just 33 per cent for the sitting mayor and 7 per cent who don’t know who they’d vote for in a hypothetical head-to-head mayoral matchup.
The gap appears to be widening. A late January Forum poll had Chow at 52 per cent and Ford at 40 per cent. Last October, it was Chow 49 per cent vs. Ford 34 per cent, and last June it was Chow 58 per cent vs. Ford 34 per cent.
The margin of error of the new poll is plus or minus 5 per cent 19 times out of 20.
In the head-to-head comparison, Chow’s support was highest in Toronto-East York (74 per cent) and lowest in Scarborough (45 per cent). Ford had 47 per cent support in Scarborough but a measly 18 per cent in Toronto-East York. (Margins of error are higher when results are broken down by region.)
http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/03/21/ndp_mp_olivia_chow_wide...
She'd sure give Toronto a better image than that loudmouth... I'll leave whether she can play a part in solving urban problems to the Torontonians here.
I'd like to know who gave permission for all those out-of-scale condos to go up by the lake, whether downtown or in Etobicoke...
http://www.lfpress.com/2013/04/13/poll-shows-rob-ford-would-lose-against-rae-or-chow
"Poll shows Rob Ford would lose against Rae or Chow"
(Rae as in Bob.)
.
Rae? Hasn't TO suffered enough under Ford.
.
Chow would be best.
Chow would be best.
... if she could be persuaded to get off [url=http://www.oliviachow.ca/2012/05/lucky-moose-modified-bill-passes-in-hou... bandwagon[/url] perhaps. Or if not, then ask Jason Kenney to be her running mate.
I meant best of the 3 (Chow vs Ford vs Rae). Rae is 2nd. Anyone but Ford.
Since Chow is wanted both federally and to be Mayor the solution is simple...Clone her!
Where are the Raelians when you need them?
;p
Olivia Chow for mayor. Mike Layton for MP. Simple solution. :)
We don't really need a "star" candidate (if Chow or even Rae can be called that) to beat Ford. He's already beat himself. There are a lot of very competent city councillors who have taken it to Ford. I have every confidence that if someone else runs against him in an uncluttered field, someone else will win. It's not like a bigger win means more seats or something.
I am a huge fan of Olivia's. I have voted for her more often than any other candidate in the 35 years I've been eligable to vote. But I worry about her health and if she doesn't want to be mayor I'd completely understand. Of course if she does run, I'd vote for her in a second.
But it doesn't really matter who runs against Ford. As long as a single candidate emerges to take City Hall back from the idiots and Tea Baggers, they will win.
I have been conducting polls of my own. They seem to indicate that Ford is very beatable.
(WARNING! Results are about as scientific as Creationism)
"If the municipal election were today, which of these two candidates would you support for Mayor?"
Olivia Chow: 100%
Rob Ford: 0%
Bob Rae: 100%
Rob Ford: 0%
David Miller: 100%
Rob Ford: 0%
Adam Vaughn: 100%
Rob Ford: 0%
A Dead Dog: 100%
Rob Ford 0%
Dalton McGuinty: 96%
Rob Ford: 4%
Mel Lastman: 88%
Rob Ford: 12%
Mike Harris: 52%
Rob Ford: 48%
Results based on interviews with 25 people. Only one person admitted to voting for Ford previously (but few have the guts to admit they voted for Ford). This poll is accutrate plus/minus 100% 30 times out of 30.
My personal choices would be Chow, Vaughn, Miller, Rae and the Dog in that order.
Olivia Chow for mayor. Mike Layton for MP. Simple solution. :)
Works for me.
That's probably what Marion Barry's opponents thought as well.
I am a huge fan of Olivia's. I have voted for her more often than any other candidate in the 35 years I've been eligable to vote. But I worry about her health and if she doesn't want to be mayor I'd completely understand. Of course if she does run, I'd vote for her in a second.
But it doesn't really matter who runs against Ford. As long as a single candidate emerges to take City Hall back from the idiots and Tea Baggers, they will win.
I have been conducting polls of my own. They seem to indicate that Ford is very beatable.
(WARNING! Results are about as scientific as Creationism)
"If the municipal election were today, which of these two candidates would you support for Mayor?"
Olivia Chow: 100%
Rob Ford: 0%
Bob Rae: 100%
Rob Ford: 0%
David Miller: 100%
Rob Ford: 0%
Adam Vaughn: 100%
Rob Ford: 0%
A Dead Dog: 100%
Rob Ford 0%
Dalton McGuinty: 96%
Rob Ford: 4%
Mel Lastman: 88%
Rob Ford: 12%
Mike Harris: 52%
Rob Ford: 48%
Results based on interviews with 25 people. Only one person admitted to voting for Ford previously (but few have the guts to admit they voted for Ford). This poll is accutrate plus/minus 100% 30 times out of 30.
My personal choices would be Chow, Vaughn, Miller, Rae and the Dog in that order.
It really seems likely Olivia will run, I'd be shocked if she didn't.
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/06/20/karen_stintz_off_an...
If Stintz joins the race as the "not Ford conservative", this could actually work in Olivia's favour.
A sort of mirror image to the last election, then, when Smitherman and the other non-entity managed to nicely split the anti-Ford vote between them?
I heard from the grapevine a couple of weeks back that Olivia had an exploratory committee. Then I heard that she is likely not running. While I have no doubt she would have made a great mayor, I was less convinced that she was the shoe-in that the polls were suggesting. For one thing, she has no way of knowing how many other candidates will run. I would not take it as a "no brainer" that centrist Liberals like Vaughan would not run if Olivia were in the race. Much moreso than David Miller, Olivia would be seen as an NDP candidate. While Miller was an NDPer, he let his membership lapse.
Of course, as it stands, I would vote for my cat or my junked Ford Taurus against Ford if I had to.
I also agree with Wilf Day's comment last year that walking away now could send the wrong message about how the NDP perceives its chances in 2015. Olivia is no doubt slated to play a very prominent role in a Mulcair NDP government were it to come to pass.
Doppel post
Yeah, there's that too with Olivia. She's needed everywhere. Not enough copies of her to go around!
.
I heard from the grapevine a couple of weeks back that Olivia had an exploratory committee. Then I heard that she is likely not running. While I have no doubt she would have made a great mayor, I was less convinced that she was the shoe-in that the polls were suggesting. For one thing, she has no way of knowing how many other candidates will run. I would not take it as a "no brainer" that centrist Liberals like Vaughan would not run if Olivia were in the race. Much moreso than David Miller, Olivia would be seen as an NDP candidate. While Miller was an NDPer, he let his membership lapse.
Of course, as it stands, I would vote for my cat or my junked Ford Taurus against Ford if I had to.
I also agree with Wilf Day's comment last year that walking away now could send the wrong message about how the NDP perceives its chances in 2015. Olivia is no doubt slated to play a very prominent role in a Mulcair NDP government were it to come to pass.
FYI, Miller was a card carrying New Democrat when he ran and was elected mayor in 2003. He only let his membership lapse a couple of years later. From what I've heard Olivia is about 99% certain to run and the fact that the Star had a big story about her on Sunday and how she is being coy about running is something that would only happen if she actually was running...that article was full of quotes from close associates of hers who all talked as if her candidacy was a foregone conclusion. I would also not call Adam Vaughan a "centrist Liberal". I understand the guy can be personally brasive, but he has a 100% progressive voting record and he publicly endorsed several NDP candidates in the last provincial and federal elections and seems to have made peace with Olivia Chow in Trinity-Spadina. If she runs, he would likely be by her side when she announces.
And I noted how much the federal liberal people have been singing Chow praises and wanting her to run. I think it's about opening her federal seat up for them to take back and not that they really think she would make a great mayor.
There is only ONE federal Liberal I know of who is "singing Chow's praises" and that is Warren Kinsella and in his case its probably because he wants a job with her campaign...if she doesn't want to hire him, he will go back to dumping on her.
I suspect that Liberals would also be thrilled to push out a high-profile NDP MP who won a riding that the Liberals previously dominated.
Poor Olivia Chow being pushed around by Liberals. 
Personally I think that this strong woman is going to make up her own mind and is not a victim being pushed out by Liberals. Give her some respect.
