Will Obama Veto The Republicans’ pro Keystone Pipeline Bill?

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Politics

I have been following President Obama closely since he was first elected Democratic Senator Obama from Illinois in 2004.

From day one of Obama’s political career, even when he was a mere Illinois State Senator, it has been always about Obama.

Obama has always believed himself to be “The Chosen One”.  “The Sun King”. As if the sun both revolved around him and shone out of his backside.The simple answer is that Obama will veto a Congressional bill approving the Keystone oil pipeline, even though such support will have the majority support of both the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and Senate.
The reasons for Obama’s veto will be primarily personal, and to a lesser degree, due to political and environmental factors.

Obama’s strengths have always been his gargantuan ego and his overweening belief in himself, his personal story, his destiny and his intelligence. Though Obama was an Illinois Senator, he always viewed himself as an outsider. A Washington outsider,  who was above the grubby business of politics.

Since Obama saw himself as a brilliant and persuasive political orator who can move and influence millions of Americans with his words and style, Obama did not see the necessity of getting down and dirty with Congress, even a Democratic-controlled Senate in order to secure bipartisan legislative approval of his agenda.

No politics as the art of the possible for the imperious Obama. It was beneath the distant and disengaged Obama to engage in Lyndon Johnsonian glad-handing and horse-trading with Democrats and Republicans. That is applying the necessary oil to grease Washington’s legislative machinery.

Recall in the first two years of his first term, Obama had the benefit of a Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and Senate. Accordingly, he was able to pass his signature Obamacare without the support of any Republicans.

By Obama’s own admission,  the midterm election of 2014 was a referendum on Obama’s Presidency, his policies and Obama, the man

But once the Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives in 2010 (mostly as a result of Obama’s own policies and his failure to compromise and attract bipartisan support) Obama’s legislative record has been dismal.

By Obama’s own admission,  the midterm election of 2014 was a referendum on Obama’s Presidency, his policies and Obama, the man. In all three instances, the American people voted loud and clear against Obama. As a result, the Democrats lost control of the Senate to the Republicans. (As of this writing, the Republicans have elected fifty-two Senators.)

Accordingly, with two years left in his second term, Obama has become the lamest of lame duck Presidents.

Since Obama’s most effective years are behind him and he will leave the Presidency in about two years,  I believe that Obama’s main priority, above all political concerns, will be his legacy, that is, his view of his place in history.

Obama has always looked upon himself as a pro-environment,  climate change President. He has specifically courted and attracted the activist environmental base of the Democratic party. And the wealthy individual and corporate sponsors of the green environmental movement.

Though Obama has failed to enact any significant cap and trade legislation or carbon tax legislation, Obama has succeeded to date in doing an end run around the Republican Congress through executive fiat- by using his executive power to diminish America’s coal industry through punitive administrative regulations, which do not require Congressional approval.

In order for Obama, in his own mind,  to solidify his reputation as a fierce defender of the environment, I firmly believe that Obama will oppose any proposed bill from the Republican-controlled Congress which would approve the construction of the Keystone pipeline for the purpose of transporting Alberta oil to American refineries in the south.

Though the US State Department has opined that the existence of this pipeline will have no material effect on the production of greenhouse gases, (Alberta oil will be produced and transported with or without the Keystone pipeline.) Obama to date has opposed the pipeline and has hidden behind process and review.

I also believe that Obama will reject Keystone in order to burnish his international green record image ahead of a global climate conference at the end of 2015.

Obama does not give two fracks about the future political fate of the Democratic Party

Obama does not give two fracks about the future political fate of the Democratic Party. However,  I do believe that Obama does care about the opinions of his closest and long time advisers Valerie Jarrett and John Podesta and his many long time pro-enviro supporters in the western and eastern red states, including his wealthy liberal Hollywood supporters (Babs Streisand, New Agey Gynneth Paltrow) and his many multi-millionaire hedge fund financial supporters ( ie.Tom Steyer), all anti-Keystoners.

Again, with Obama, it is personal, not political.

If Obama was truly concerned about the political implications for the Democratic party and for the re-election chances of Democrats in 2016, he would not have permitted the Keystone issue to take on such politically dramatic and symbolic significance.

Because the politics of the Keystone pipeline cuts both ways in the Democratic party. It has deeply divided the Democratic party. On one side are those who are in favor of the pipeline, i.e., union members who support the pipeline for the construction and maintenance jobs that it will bring as well as a measure of energy independence and national security. Democratic advocates of the pipeline believe that it is in America’s national self-interest to import oil from Canada, a more reliable ally than Venezuela or certain volatile Middle Eastern countries.

On the other side, Democratic opponents believe that rejecting the pipeline will deal a grievous blow to the Alberta oil sands, significantly reduce Alberta oil production, which they believe will reduce greenhouse gases to the benefit of the environment.

Because Obama will be damned if he does, and damned if he doesn’t, Obama will choose his personal legacy and veto the Keystone pipeline and force those Democratic Congressmen and Senators in pro Keystone states to fend for themselves in the 2016 elections.

Apparently the Republicans, with their fifty-two senators, believe they have to date sixty-one pro Keystone Senators onboard (nine Democratic Senators), sufficient to pass a pro Keystone bill.

I predict that when Obama vetoes this bill, he will be surprised that other Democratic Senators, based on their own fear of personal defeat in 2016, will abandon Obama and join with the Republicans in overriding Obama’s veto.  (67 votes are required to override a Presidential veto)

Yes, Virginia, Barack Obama will have finally unified the Congress and the country – against himself. Now that would be truly epic and historic.

GhomeshiGate – Part 3: CBC’s Ongoing War Against its Female Employees

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Ghomeshi, Media

Who would have believed that CBC, Canada’s national public broadcaster- Canada’s conscience- the home of such beloved Canadian icons as Wayne and Shuster,  Barbara Frum, Peter Gzowski, Knowlton Nash and Lloyd Robertson, could have fallen so far and so fast?

Two words. Jian Ghomeshi. The former host of “Q”, CBC English Radio’s flagship cultural/media/entertainment program. Where all the cool/ hip Canadian stars of the music/tv/film/literary/media world (dubbed by self-promoting Toronto social cultural rock star Richard Florida as the “cultural class”) hung out.

Hey, Florida, are you still touting Ghomeshi as your ideal pick for Toronto mayor?

The Toronto Grid, in July 2012, reported that Richard Florida, in addition to looking down upon the hundreds of thousands of mostly non-white working class voters in the Toronto suburbs who supported Mayor Rob Ford, opined, “ I would like to see a younger person and someone who is not a usual suspect. Somebody who looks and acts like Jian Ghomeshi.”

With each passing day and with each new revelation and allegation of Ghomeshi’s horrible conduct towards women both within and without the very offices of CBC, the reputation of the CBC,  now known as the Creepy Broadcasting Coverup, keeps falling and falling into the bottomless abyss of public disgust.

(Please note that no charges have been laid to date and accordingly, nothing has been proven in court)

Mounting evidence that CBC female employees were allegedly victimized by Ghomeshi

New and disgusting allegations against Ghomeshi are coming out so fast and (Moxy) Fruvous, that CBC’s Executive VP Heather Conway’s disastrous PR spin, is ironically contributing to CBC further spinning out of control and down the rabbit hole, where reputation and public trust are irretrievable.

For those keeping score. Nine women have complained about Ghomeshi. Two women have gone public and three women have filed complaints against Ghomeshi with the police.

In addition, Roberto Petri, a former “Q” producer,  ( 2009-2010) admitted on Jesse Brown’s podcast, CanadaLand (kudos to Brown, the freelance blogger for initially breaking the Ghomeshi story), that he witnessed Ghomeshi, while a female “Q” producer was bent over her desk in CBC,  pressing his pelvis several times against her backside. In effect, humping her.

This is the same female “Q” producer who brought her complaints to Ghomeshi’s executive producer, and this executive producer, ignored these complaints of sexual harassment and abuse, protected Ghomeshi and blamed the victim and suggested she improve the atmosphere at “Q”.

Roberto Petri also admitted on this same show, that another female executive producer of “Q” confided to Petri that she was aware of a young Canadian actress, on a date with Ghomeshi, was choked by Ghomeshi without her consent, in an apparent and alleged effort by Ghomeshi to engage in autoerotic asphyxiation sex.

In short, there is mounting evidence that CBC female employees were allegedly victimized by Ghomeshi. According to former “Q” employees, many CBC employees (either producers or executive producers) either witnessed these activities or knew of these activities being carried on by Ghomeshi within CBC and without CBC.

But according to Petri, no CBC management did anything to report this behavior because Ghomeshi was the brand and he was considered a valuable asset. And apparently, CBC had to protect this valuable asset by permitting Ghomeshi to get away in plain sight with allegedly physically, emotionally and sexually abusing CBC female employees and other female “dates” Ghomeshi had acquired through his CBC work and CBC-related media work.

Culture of Fear

The Globe and Mail unearthed another piece of damning evidence against Ghomeshi and the CBC. In a valiant effort to minimize Ghomeshi’s reign of terror, in July, 2012,  six “Q” staffers met secretly outside of the CBC and the prying eyes of Ghomeshi and his fiercely loyal second in command,  “Q” executive producer, an alleged enabler,  Arif Noorani. Shades of the infamous Shah of Iran and his brutal secret security force, Savak.

This group of six drafted and provided to the above-noted Noorani, and Linda Groen, director of network talk show, the now famous “Red Sky” memo, denoting the fact this document had to be drafted in secret as opposed to an open, “Blue Sky” environment.

“Just the fact that we had to present [the proposals] in this way speaks to the culture of fear – that these things weren’t things that we felt we could address on an ongoing basis,” said a staffer who was involved in drafting the proposals.”

The document described the work culture of CBC as being unsustainable and unsafe. The document specifically criticized Ghomeshi for creating a culture of terror– ruling “Q” at his whim-punishing staffers who opposed him or crossed him. Specifically, this document demanded that Noorani and CBC management should hold the “host to account, rather than operating out of fear of ‘stirring the beast. Also that CBC should set boundaries on Ghomeshi to protect staff members.

CBC was complicit and contributed to this war against women

CBC staffers did the right thing. But as the Globe reported, CBC did nothing and nothing changed.

You do not need an expensive, former CBC commentator and work law legal specialist to connect the dots.

Though allegations of sexual harassment were not noted in this document, it is very clear that Ghomeshi created a culture of fear, dominance and intimidation. He controlled the careers and lives of these poor vulnerable mostly female staffers. He clearly mistreated his female staffers horribly with the knowledge and consent of CBC management. In such an environment, CBC stands rightfully accused of permitting this “beast” to prowl the halls allegedly abusing and preying on female staffers and guests. And thus CBC is also complicit and accessory to Ghomeshi’s alleged crimes and war against women.

In effect, Ghomeshi’s own private war against women. And because it is apparent that CBC management knew of this war against women and did nothing, I strongly argue that CBC was complicit and contributed to this war against women.

GhomeshiGate – Did CBC Permit A Culture of Sexual Harassment and Entitlement?

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Ghomeshi, Media

To date nine women have accused former CBC star, Jian Ghomeshi, of alleged sexual harassment and physical and mental abuse, occurring before, during and after sexual encounters. Two of these women were former employees of CBC.

(No charges have been laid and accordingly, none of these allegations have been proven in court).Of these nine women, two women have gone public with their experiences of allegedly being physically beaten and/or sexually assaulted by Ghomeshi. One such woman is Lucy DeCoutere, an actress on a popular Canadian film and television comedy, ‘Trailer Park Boys’.

As of this writing, according to the Toronto Star,  three of these nine women have filed complaints with the police in connection with these allegations of physical abuse and/or sexual harassment.

I believe that CBC is in serious trouble because it is being alleged by the National Post and Toronto Sun, that CBC managers and staff must have known about Ghomeshi’s unacceptable conduct towards young CBC women staffers and his apparent attempt to use his powerful CBC position to pursue his personal sexual conquests.  And by turning a blind eye to Ghomeshi, CBC has to take some responsibility for permitting a culture of sexual harassment and sexual entitlement to emerge around CBC’s golden boy.

The following are two allegations, as reported in The Toronto Star and National Post, which if proven true,  may seriously impair CBC’s image and reputation and force a serious restructuring of CBC.

Ghomeshi’s lurid life, including accounts of his hitting and choking dates during sex

According to one of “Q”’s female producers in 2007, when she had first accepted a job at “Q”,  Ghomeshi’s popular CBC’s   late morning entertainment/cultural radio show,  she had heard of Ghomeshi’s lurid life, including accounts of his hitting and choking dates during sex.

Notwithstanding, she accepted a job at “Q”. She alleged that Ghomeshi had created an environment of tyranny. No one stood up to him and everyone enabled his behavior. Specifically, she revealed to a CBC manager and “Q”’s executive producer, Arif Noorani, in 2010, that Ghomeshi told her that he wanted “to hate f…k her, grudge f…k her and he had groped her buttocks.”

Noorani’s response was to ignore this behavior and in effect blame the victim. This woman stated that Noorani stated that Ghomeshi was never going to change and that this woman should try to make this environment less toxic.

This woman concluded that Ghomeshi was too huge and powerful and no one at CBC wanted to take him on or rock the boat.

In another instance, in 2012,  a 20 something CBC producer met Ghomeshi in Montreal on one of his book signings.

After expressing an interest in working at “Q”, Khomeshi allegedly lured her back to his hotel room on the pretense of needing to remove his contact lens. Back at his hotel room, Khomeshi threw her roughly against the wall and kissed and fondled her forcefully. She admitted that she fellated him just to get out the hotel room.

Ghomeshi promised her an interview with his executive producer for a job at “ Q”. The producer did take a meeting with Ghomeshi and her executive producer, but then never pursued this rather distasteful CBC opportunity.

Ghomeshi apparently used his CBC role to pursue his sexual conquests and disturbing sexual behavior

In another instance, the Globe and Mail reported than one of “Q”’s key producers and directors, Matt Tunnacliffe, admitted that they had a code word for female guests whom they suspected had slept with Ghomeshi. This is further evidence that Ghomeshi apparently used his CBC role to pursue his sexual conquests and disturbing sexual behavior. And apparently with the knowledge of many “Q” staff.

In Monday’s Toronto Star, a female University of Western Ontario journalism graduate has come forward and alleged that in 2012, after a “Q” taping in the downtown Toronto studio,  while alone with Ghomeshi, he improperly hugged her and then as she was leaving, she alleged that Ghomeshi came up behind her, grabbed her waist and pressed himself against her backside. He then texted her and suggested to this Western student that he was not interested in a personal friendship, clearly implying that any future meeting would be for sex.

This Western student reported this matter to the Western journalism department and this department has since forbade its students from interning at “Q”.

In last Sunday’s Toronto Star, very well-respected writer, journalist and broadcaster and recently nominated for Governor General’s Award, Noah Richler, wrote that he too had heard rumours of Ghomeshi’s “penchant for a choke hold”. And Richler wrote that he would never permit his daughters in the same room as Ghomeshi.

Clearly, Ghomeshi’s alleged disturbing and physically violent sexual conduct was known both within and without CBC.

So CBC’s classic Sargent Schultz defence, “ I know nothing. I see nothing.”  Does not fly.

CBC culture of sexual harassment and sexual entitlement

Evidence is piling up that CBC knew about Ghomeshi’s unacceptable treatment to women both within and without CBC and it did nothing about it. In fact, CBC apparently enabled this conduct. It did not want to kill one of the few golden CBC geese laying the golden eggs.

For me, CBC has lost all credibility.

It appears that many CBC staffers are directly or indirectly involved in this disgusting Ghomeshi affair.

The Ghomeshi scandal is to CBC what the sponsorship scandal was to the Federal Liberal Party in the early 2000s.

The only way to repair CBC tarnished image and reputation is for CBC to turn over this matter to an objective and impartial judicial inquiry, a la the Gomery Commission. With serious legal power to subpoena and compel witnesses and provide judicial protection to the many people who have been adversely affected by Ghomeshi and his CBC enablers. The objective is to bring all wrongdoers to account and thoroughly eradicate this CBC culture of sexual harassment and sexual entitlement.

Otherwise CBC will continue to rightfully lose public, political and financial support from the Canadian people.

The ball is in your court, so to speak, CBC. Tempus fugit. Because the Canadian public is rapidly losing all confidence and trust in the CBC.

Toronto’s Mayoral Election- Gaffes, Bloopers and Sex, Lies and Brisket

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in John Tory, Olivia Chow, Politics

This crazy ten month long election is finally coming to an end, folks.

It is has been a wild roller coaster ride.

Full of lying, cheating and dirty tricks.

And I am just talking about the Toronto press.

Who can forget when Mayor Rob Ford, temporarily left the race,  and voluntarily checked himself into rehab- in an effort to clean up his drug and alcohol problem.  Ford and his family begged the press and the public for a little bit of privacy.

That lasted for a millisecond. The press shredded doctor/patient confidentiality and Ford’s privacy rights as a patient.  The tabloid press tracked down and disclosed Ford’s private rehab clinic in an effort to access Ford’s condition and his treatment.

This was not one of Toronto media’s finest hours.

But all the three major candidates had their low points, missteps and politically tone deaf moments.

Captain Obvious Award goes to Olivia Chow

The Captain Obvious Award goes to Olivia Chow. In response to an online reader’s question as to how she, Chow, would be different from former leftist Toronto mayor, David Miller, Chow gave this snarky answer , “I’m not male. Not white. Want to start there?”

The leftwing press conveniently ignored this incredible political faux pas. Could you imagine if either Ford or Tory , when asked how they differed from Olivia Chow, responded, “I’m not a chick. And I’m not yellow. Want to start there?”A veritable public shite storm would have come down hard on these two white dudes.

Recall the time when Chow’s high profile Liberal supporter Warren Kinsella, and director of her war room operations, was criticized for implying Tory’s Smart Track was segregationistbecause its proposed route did not stop in certain Toronto black areas. ( note this comment was inflammatory, but pretty funny and biting, nonetheless)

You could say Tory’s “SegregationistTrack”, was the anti-underground railway. (double pun, intended. LOL)

Chow did not help her credibility when she pretended that the very experienced Kinsella and a key campaign official,  was just one of her many thousands of volunteers. “Warren Kinsella, who?” In effect, Chow threw herself under the bus along with poor Kinsella.

John Tory’s “foot in the mouth” disease

John Tory also suffered from “foot in the mouth” disease.

“Out of touch” Tory’s solution to solving inequality between men and women in the workplace, was for more women to join exclusive golf clubs like The Rosedale Golf Club ( Tory’s club). Recall this club was known for specifically banning Jews as members. And for decades, this male-dominated club was not too thrilled with women members either.  Fore- more years. Old chap.

Also Tory’s solution of reducing urban gridlock with more water taxis in Lake Ontario, sank faster than the Titanic.

Clearly, Tory was appealing to his base- the members of the exclusive Royal Canadian Yacht Club ( RCYC), who demanded speedier passage to and from the mainland, especially during the rush cocktail hour.

In contrast, Doug Ford, ran a nearly flawless campaign. No videos at “The Steak Queen”, jiving and rappin like some Jamaican home boy.

Ford’s only slip up, was that he inelegantly defended himself by stating that he had many Jewish friends.

Doug Ford, should have more accurately replied,

“Nu,  I am very sensitive to the Jewish people. You know my wife’s Bubbie and Zaidie are Jewish. Oy, the stories, my Karla can tell about them. They were such mensches and funny.  You would plotz. And her Bubbie made the best brisket and Lokshen Kugel ( noodle pudding). She was a real Balabusta” ( wife of an important person).

In summary, the only thing missing in this very long, strange and compelling election race was a sex scandal. Alas, no sex tape, no embarrassing sex-texting. Not even a wardrobe malfunction.

But it has been a great ride.

Four More Years.

Why Doug Ford Will Beat John Tory, aka, “John Liberal”

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in John Tory, Politics, Rob Ford

It is the Scarborough subway, stupid.

For a brief moment, I thought of ending this article, right here and now.  Samuel Beckett-style.  Simple, elegant, concise, but profound.

Less is more.But I am more from the Norman Mailer school of personal journalism.

Go big, or go home.

Let me expand on my simple thesis.

The most assured, clear and non-gridlocked road to victory in this mayoral election was through the suburbs of Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke.

And the major issue on the minds of these residents, especially the long-suffering, transit-challenged residents of Scarborough- was not homelessness, affordable housing, or subsidized daycare- but simply-  subways.

Olivia Chow, self-acclaimed defender of the disadvantaged, the weak and the vulnerable- never got it.

Tory’s platform was not visionary or original. Actually it was derivative. Ford-lite

On Day One of her campaign, when Chow came out opposed to the Scarborough subway and for a third rate bus/LRT system for Scarberians, she insulted and disrespected the hard working families and residents of Scarborough.

As a result, she and her campaign were D.O.A.  Chow’s fate was sealed.

On the other hand, at the outset, John Tory started solidly. His main pitch was that with Tory, you get Rob Ford’s popular fiscally prudent policies ( ie low taxes, respect for the taxpayer, reduce government inefficiencies- ie end unionized garbage services in the east end), but without the drama and the circus.

Okay, Tory’s platform was not visionary or original. Actually it was derivative. Ford-lite.  Quite Bland.

But as the Toronto Sun Lorrie Goldstein recently opined, recalling the immortal words of Tory’s very successful boss, former Premier Brampton Bill Davis, “ Bland works.”

I would respond to my good friend, Lorrie G., ( channeling former Vice Presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsen to the hapless Dan Quayle),

“Mr. Tory, I served with Bill Davis. I knew Bill Davis. Bill Davis was a friend of mine. Mr. Tory, you’re no Bill Davis.”

And even if John Tory was the reincarnation of the folksy, charming, funny, circumlocutious Brampton Billy, the 80s Bill Davis would be the wrong person for these times.  As Chow, resorting to her radical NDP 80s schtick,  (soaking the rich with more taxes on condos/homes and affordable housing for politically connected NDP “needy families”) has shown.

I believe that if John Tory had stayed the course, that is, kept to the Ford agenda, he would not be on the brink of his sixth political defeat.

I must admit that I do admire Mr. Tory. He has a genius for discovering different and creative ways of snatching defeat from the oh so close jaws of victory.

In this election, he did not self-destruct with one fatal blow to the head ( a la public funding of faith-based private schools, say hello to Sharia High).

This time Tory saw his lead bleed away as a result of a series of self-administered cuts to his platform and his character.

Firstly, Tory only paid lip service to the Scarborough subway, which had the overwhelming support of Scarborough residents and their provincial and federal representatives. Instead Tory turned to his attention, as Miller and Smitherman had before him, to a fourth Toronto subway line, a Toronto relief line.

Then Tory focused his transit efforts on his “Smart Track”, which may help downtown Toronto commuters, but significantly ignores the wishes of Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke residents, the heart and soul of Toronto, who believe they deserve the same transit benefits that their more affluent and politically connected neighbors enjoy in downtown Toronto.

By failing to fully buy into the transit needs and wishes of Scarborough residents and their suburban neighbors, Tory allowed Rob Ford and then Doug Ford, the opportunity to rightfully claim to speak for the interests of these suburban residents. And the opportunity for Rob, then Doug Ford to hold onto his suburban base.

Secondly, “Mr. Bland/ Mr. Nice Guy” was neither, when on the day Doug Ford announced that Rob Ford was withdrawing as a mayoral candidate due to cancer and he, Doug, was replacing him in the race, John Tory launched into a down and dirty low class blistering attack of Doug Ford. This was a blatant effort to frame Doug as a mean and angry bully who was critical of his fellow councilors and Premier Wynne and would be much much worse than Rob Ford.

To Doug’s credit, in an emotional speech to the press with the Ford family surrounding him, Doug ignored Tory’s inappropriate taunts, and handled the whole matter with class, restraint, genuine emotion and diplomacy.

Here was a case of Tory shooting himself in the foot and framing himself as a below the belt political hack.

On another occasion, Tory tarnished his Mr. Clean character by implying Doug Ford was racist, sexist and homophobic,  because Doug Ford inelegantly defended himself by stating that he had Jewish friends.

I would take that answer over the fact John Tory joined an exclusive Toronto golf club that specifically banned Jews as members.

So it is my turn to ask my friendly Toronto Sun editor, Lorrie Goldstein, “What is the story, Mr. Lorrie?”

Thirdly,  in a desperate attempt to distinguish himself from Doug Ford, John Tory has seemingly literally and figuratively prostrated himself before Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne and her acolytes. In an unseemly attempt to ingratiate himself and seek her support and the support of her Liberal Cabinet Ministers.

What the majority of Toronto voters do not want is that their mayor becoming Premier Wynne’s handmaiden

So that John Tory, aka now John Liberal, can claim that he alone can get along with the powerful Wynne.

Yes, Premier Wynne is head of a majority government. But she is also running a government that is still arrogant, heavily in debt and in deficit. And awash in old and new scandals. “MaRS, we have a problem.” And very unpopular.

Many Toronto voters have fled John Liberal because they oppose his unholy and subservient association with the scandal-ridden Wynne government. Other Toronto voters are turned off Mr. Liberal because they believe that a popularly elected Toronto mayor with a clear mandate from Ontario’s largest city, (the engine of the province),  should be treated with respect, regardless of political stripe or ideology.

They don’t appreciate their mayor, or potential mayor,  genuflecting to the Sun Goddess Wynne.

What the majority of Toronto voters do not want is that their mayor becoming Premier Wynne’s handmaiden.

For the above reasons, the hapless Mr. Liberal will go down to a crushing but historic sixth defeat at the hands of Doug Ford.

Doug Ford Will Beat John Tory in Toronto Mayor Race

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in John Tory, Politics

There are fewer than ten days left in this long, brutal, but very exciting ten month long mayoral campaign.

But contrary to all the pundits on both sides of the political spectrum, I believe the stars are aligning for Doug Ford to beat the frontrunner John Tory. And hand John Tory his well-deserved sixth career political defeat.

Could you imagine the heads of all the leftist anti-Ford haters- exploding in the downtown head offices of the CBC, CTV, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail and NOW Magazine?Shades of downtown Baghdad. But I digress.

The so-called political experts of the leftist media had been hyping and promoting for months their favorite son, their White Knight-  Olivia Chow to replace the controversial Mayor Rob Ford.

Until much to their chagrin and astonishment, they discovered that Olivia Chow’s insurmountable lead, had vanished over the summer. Like Justin Trudeau’s credibility over ISIS.

Faster than you can say publicly- subsidized Hazelburn co-op meets illegal Chinatown rub and tug parlor

And all of a sudden, in September, Chow was tied for second with Rob Ford with John Tory leading.

Then faster than you can say publicly- subsidized Hazelburn co-op meets illegal Chinatown rub and tug parlor, Chow further dropped to third place- first behind Rob Ford and then Doug Ford who replaced his brother on the ballot.

Overnight, the populist Rob Ford, with the personal issues, was replaced by his more solid, but less charismatic and seemingly less popular Doug Ford.Once again, the pro Chow political pundits, had hoped that this new development would be a political game changer for Chow.

But alas, the pundits were proven wrong again.

Doug Ford, who was initially written off, as an unpleasant and mean bully, has run a surprisingly very effective and disciplined campaign.

Who would have thunk?

Successfully labeled Tory as a downtown, out of touch self-entitled Rosedale Golf Club Wasp elitist

In the numerous debates against Chow and Tory, Ford has handled himself well. He has a better knowledge of the issues and the inner workings of council than his two opponents. Ford has been firm, but charming. Argumentative, but personable. He has thoroughly manhandled the outclassed, inarticulate Chow. And Ford has successfully labeled Tory as a downtown, out of touch self-entitled Rosedale Golf Club Wasp elitist, solely propped up by old family money and family connections.

Doug Ford has kept to the winning message of respect for the taxpayers. Keeping taxes low. Building the Scarborough subway. And subways in general. Finding government efficiencies, ie privatizing garbage services east of Yonge Street. And promoting business and jobs in Toronto.

It is true, on occasion, Ford has taken a shot at his fellow Toronto city councilors. Recently, he was criticized for calling them “a pack of wolves. “  Personally, to be compared to those 44 spendthrift, free-loading Toronto politicos- is an insult to wolves.

They’re more like a pack of jackals.

Ford Nation, that hardy band of mostly non-white multicultural and multi-ethnic working class communities in the suburbs have stuck with Doug Ford. They are as fired up about Doug Ford as they were with their hero, Rob Ford,  who always had their back.

I believe the more disciplined, clean-living and buttoned down, Doug Ford, a proven self-made successful business man, has picked up additional support in downtown Toronto- Chow and Tory Country.

Surprisingly, Doug seems to generally enjoy campaigning among the people.

Contrast a smiling Doug surrounded by laughing Ford voters with an unsmiling, driven Chow who always seems to be on a forced Mao-like march through the city.

A recent Forum Research poll still has Doug Ford, at 33% within striking distance of Tory at 39%. With Chow at 23%.

This is Doug Ford’s likely path to victory.

Notwithstanding the Forum Research poll, my own internal polling has Ford a few points closer.

Firstly, all Ford opponents agree that polling probably underestimates Ford’s strength due to a reluctance of certain Ford supporters to publicly support Ford even with pollsters.

Secondly, Ford is well positioned in second. If Ford was tied with Tory, anti-Ford Chow supporters would leave their favored candidate and hold their noses and vote Tory to stop Ford.

Since Tory is apparently solidly in the lead, there will be fewer strategic voting by Chow supporters.

Thirdly, I also believe that Chow has a strong ground game and should bring out to vote on election day, more supporters than the polls have estimated. Thus taking more voters away from Tory.

Conversely, I believe that Tory’s support is a mile wide, but an inch deep.

Bland, inoffensive Tory does not command the same fierce loyalty as Ford Nation supporters.

I think some Tory supporters, out of apathy-  will stay home.

So it comes down to Ford’s supporters especially in the vote-rich communities of Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough.

I believe that these steadfast Ford supporters are mad as hell about how Rob and now Doug have been treated by the elitist press and the downtown elites. These communities are also mad as hell as to how they have been mistreated and ignored by these very same elitists. They love the Fords.  They believe only Doug Ford can represent their interests at city hall.

I predict that these suburbanites are going to come out in such numbers for Ford as to blow away Tory and his elitist cabal of special downtown Toronto interests.

We shall see history made on October 27th, folks.

This election will be epic!!!

Toronto Globe’s Antipathy Towards the Fords Has Tainted Its Coverage of Olivia Chow, John Tory

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in John Tory, Olivia Chow, Politics

I have been reading the Toronto Globe and Mail, religiously, for over 40 years.

At one time, the Globe was considered very highly as Canada’s national paper, “The New York Times (NYT) of the North”.

Note this was during the golden newspaper years of “The Pentagon Papers” and “Watergate” when the Washington Post and NYT were the “go to” media for objective, unbiased reporting and analytical and critical commentary.And the Globe was not far behind.

But today, the Globe- a mere shadow of its former glory.

I must confess. I still enjoy reading some Globe’s columnists. Liz Renzetti’s Saturday column is always sharp and funny. Ian Brown still writes beautifully.

Margaret Wente still impresses me with her courageous anti-liberal writing. And Liam Lacey’s film reviews are consistently bang on.

I also miss the excellent political reporting of Karen Howlett, former Queen’s Park senior reporter, who was always tough, but fair and never pulled any punches- with any politician regardless of political or ideological background.

But the same cannot be said for the current crop of Globe urban reporters and columnists- especially those involved with the almost year long Toronto mayoral election.

Globe’s professionalism

Okay. I get it. The Globe and its staff were so turned off by the personal problems of Mayor Rob Ford ( the crack smoking, the alcoholism, the inappropriate language while inebriated) that it parked its journalistic integrity at the door, when it came to reporting on Rob Ford.

I do not agree with this position. It reflects badly on the Globe’s professionalism.

But what I further do not understand is why has the Globe failed to hold to account the other candidates- Olivia Chow and John Tory.

From practically the moment Chow entered the race in March, 2014, her campaign was in trouble.

Although Chow had name recognition and was known as popular Jack Layton’s spouse, Chow also carried a ton of political baggage. She was feared as an extreme “tax and spend” lefty, way to the left of David Miller and closer to the scary John Sewell.

Many Toronto voters had never forgiven her for living in a subsidized three bedroom co-op unit while her family income exceeded $120, 000. Chow also had a negative reputation for having one of the highest office and personal expense budgets of all Ontario federal politicians.

Right out of the box, she insulted and alienated a majority of the Toronto voters in the vote-rich suburbs of Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough with her proposal to terminate the very popular and fully funded Scarborough subway for a third-rate bus and LRT solution.

Her first debate was a disaster. She was clearly defeated by Rob Ford. Chow came across in that debate as inarticulate, uninformed, confused and unintelligent.

I believe that Chow never recovered from that disastrous performance and her campaign went downhill from there.

But as to the Globe reporters, they ignored all of Chow’s negative baggage and they ignored her poor debating style,  her uninspiring speeches and her unpopular policies.

Instead, it appeared the Globe reporters and analysts tried to prop up Chow for months with biased and uncritical “puff” pieces as indicated herein. (Here, Here, and Here)

It took the Globe about 7 months (September, 2014) to publicly admit that Chow’s election was in serious trouble.

But consistent with its anti-Ford bias, the Globe then turned to propping up and implicitly promoting John Tory, by once again failing to do its journalistic job and critically holding Tory to account.

For example, the Globe failed to take Tory to task for his classless personal attack on Doug Ford on the very day Doug announced that his brother Rob had cancer, was withdrawing and Doug was taking his place in the campaign.

Secondly, the Globe failed to properly call into question the gaps in John Tory’s business career- ie his many years of being on the board of directors of Charter Communications which went into bankruptcy.

The Globe also failed to question how John Tory with very little media experience could be hired as CEO of Rogers Media by family friend, Ted Rogers.

Recall Ted Rogers was first a lawyer at the firm founded by John Tory’s father and uncle, Torys. And then Ted Rogers and Rogers Communications became a major client of the same firm.

In this instance, the Globe failed miserably to ask and answer the musical question, “If John Tory’s last name was “Smith”, would John “Smith” have had any business career?”

The Globe’s crack investigative team also failed to delve into John Tory’s involvement with Rogers’ publicly disastrous “negative option billing scheme, during Tory’s time at Rogers Media.

In a Toronto Region Board of Trade debate, Tory had the chutzpah to deny that he was at Rogers when negative option billing was introduced.

In fact, I recall Tory was hired in 1995, one month after this negative option billing policy was introduced at Rogers Cable. And I remember distinctly that John Tory was given the task of managing consumer opposition to this Rogers’ policy, where consumers were additionally billed for services to which they had not consented.

Instead of critically analyzing Tory’s business career, the Globe instead hit a new journalistic low with its recent so-called expose of Doug Ford’s business experience at his family firm, Deco Labels.

Crack investigative journalist Robyn Doolittle, ( remember her from the Rob Ford crack video expose) thought she made a journalistic scoop by revealing that Doug Ford’s attempt to set up New Jersey branch met with failure.

Conversely, she proved that Doug Ford was a superior businessman to Tory, because Doolittle’s article instead revealed that Doug Ford single-handedly turned a non-existent Chicago office into a successful operation, purely as a result of his own efforts.

Ironically, other large Canadian companies, unlike Deco Labels-Chicago- failed to succeed in the United States ( ie Royal Bank, Canadian Tire and Peoples Credit Jewelers, to name a few). So the fact that Deco Labels- New Jersey failed, does not detract from Doug Ford’s success in the tough American market.
In sum, how the mighty Globe has fallen.

The Globe’s failure to hold Fords’ opponents to account during this mayoral election has called into question its journalistic integrity and objectivity.

Time will tell whether the Globe will ever recapture its journalistic reputation.

Five Time Loser John Tory Once Again Snatching Defeat from Jaws of Victory in Toronto Mayoral Race

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in John Tory, Politics

Once again on the brink of victory, John Tory has falsely accused his main rival, Doug Ford, of being, racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic.”

It looks like déjå vu, all over againIn 2007,  the then Ontario provincial Conservative leader John Tory, ahead in the polls in a provincial campaign.  was cruising to victory. But then Tory, unbeknownst to his closest advisers, decided to pander to the many ethnic and religious groups in Ontario. So Tory then launched into a campaign for the public funding of private faith-based schools.

That horribly, politically bonehead move, lost the provincial Conservatives the election and Tory personally lost in his own bid for a provincial seat in the Ontario legislature.

Fast forward to the Toronto Mayoral campaign of 2014. John Tory, is once again in the lead.

As of a few days ago, Tory was leading his next rival, Doug Ford, (brother of the infamous and outgoing Mayor Rob Ford), by a solid margin of 42 to 28.

But that strong lead seems to have disappeared overnight.

Here is what happened.In a recent mayoral debate,  at a local Toronto Jewish community centre, fringe candidate, Ari Goldkind, who described himself as Jewish,( but not religious), lashed out at rival Doug Ford, running for mayor, for derogatory comments made not by Doug Ford, but by his brother Mayor Rob Ford, about Jewish people.

(Note Mayor Rob Ford had withdrawn from the mayoral race due to illness and had previously apologized for these intemperate remarks, made while heavily inebriated)

The implication was that Doug Ford shared these views and was also anti-Semitic.

For the record, Doug Ford, is a teetotaler, an exemplary family man, a successful businessman and a real straight arrow.  Doug Ford had publicly condemned his brother Rob’s behavior and he had distanced himself from such conduct.

Doug Ford is not racist, anti-Semitic or homophobic. He has never expressed any such comments or acted in any way as to suggest he was deserving of any of these horrible labels.

John Tory knew this.

But John Tory, as in 2007, believed it was necessary to pander to potential voters, outside his natural base of self-satisfied and self-entitled elitist twits- in this case,  the Toronto Jewish, black and gay communities.

In response to being criticized, by association, as an anti-Semite,  Doug Ford’s inelegantly defended himself by suggesting he had lots of Jewish friends and associates.

Unfortunately, this response was met by some booing by the predominantly Jewish crowd.

(As an aside, as a Jewish person, I was disgusted by the response of the predominantly Jewish crowd, which I found offensive, insulting and disrespectful. Especially, since Doug and Rob Ford had in the past stood up for the Jewish community by trying to ban the Jew-hating, anti-Semitic Queers Against Israeli Apartheid group from marching in the publicly-funded annual Gay Pride Parade. )

As reported in the Toronto Sun, John Tory issued a statement after the debate accusing Doug Ford of using “the classic refuge of racists, anti-Semites and homophobes” to defend Mayor Ford’s “inexcusable comments” about Jewish people.

John Tory’s unfair smear against Doug Ford has badly backfired against John Tory.

In response, Doug Ford has taken to the airwaves and the press and has demanded a public apology from John Tory, for calling him such hateful names without any basis or justification.

It seems Doug Ford’s wife is Jewish, and she was deeply offended by Tory’s unfounded accusations against her husband. As was Jeff Silverstein,  (also Jewish) formerly Rob Ford’s director of communications and now Doug Ford’s director of communications.

Mr. Silverstein confirmed that he would not have worked for the Fords if either was anti-Semitic. He confirmed that the Fords deeply cared about the Jewish community as their fight against Queers Against Israeli Apartheid so indicated. Silverstein concluded that Tory’s comment was a really low blow.

And quite ironic, as revealed by Doug Ford, considering that for many years, John Tory was a member of the exclusive Toronto Rosedale Golf Club, which specifically banned Jews as members.

Coincidentally, the latest poll from Forum Research,  a day after Tory’s attack on Doug Ford,  indicates that Doug Ford (37%)  has surged forward and is now in a statistical tie with the faltering John Tory (39%).

It is clear that once again the silver spoon, self-titled ,  swishy Rosedale-bred in the bone,  John Tory, is demonstrating the same poor political judgment, that has plagued him throughout his thirty years of political life.

In short, Tory’s arrogance, stubbornness, and political and public myopia are finally coming to the fore.

Tory’s comments have enraged Doug Ford’s supporters, especially his many supporters in the Jewish and ethnic communities.

Tory’s comments have also accomplished the impossible- turned the hard-driving, tough-talking Doug Ford into a more popular and sympathetic character.

Elections have been won on less.

I predict that Tory’s ill-advised comments against Doug Ford and his refusal to apologize for such comments, may have just cost him the election, less than 3 weeks away.

Ford Nation is still a Political Force

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Politics, Rob Ford

The leftist pundits, (CBC, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail) have never understood Ford Nation and have always under-estimated its staying power and influence.

Initially, the leftist mainstream Canadian press dismissed Ford Nation as an angry group of low income, uneducated, white socially conservative men and women.It is true that Ford Nation is predominantly suburban based.

But its members come from all age groups and from all socio-economic groups and strata of society. Ford Nation draws from all the major racial, ethnic and religious communities of Toronto. It is a true multicultural group. Regular polling and the populations at Ford Fests, confirm Ford Nation’s breadth, depth and diversity.

Even many downtown Bay Street types- the so-called elitists, ie lawyers, doctors, accountants, bankers and brokers also proudly call themselves Ford Nation supporters.

Through all of Mayor Rob Ford’s personal troubles, Ford Nation stood by Rob Ford and kept him in the race.

When Rob Ford had to withdraw due to illness, the pundits thought Ford Nation was finished. But this amazing diverse band of men and women stuck together and transferred their loyalty and support to Rob Ford’s brother, city councilor Doug Ford.

As a result, contrary to all the experts, Doug Ford is leading Olivia Chow and has a great shot to take down John Tory come October 27, election day for the Mayor of Toronto.Rob Ford may be the heart and soul of Ford Nation, but his brother Doug has performed better than expected in the debates, in interviews and on the campaign trail.

Doug Ford has forcefully and effectively taken on both Chow and Tory and hammered them on their deficiencies, while at the same time, articulating forcefully the message of respect for the taxpayers, keeping taxes low, ensuring services are more efficient and promoting subways, subways, subways.

In addition, Doug Ford’s opponents, can no longer base their campaigns, on merely attacking the character of Doug Ford, who does not carry the same baggage as his brother.

This election has shown that Ford Nation is still a force municipally and can be an effective force federally if properly motivated and treated by Conservative Prime Minister Harper and his federal organizers. And if Harper effectively taps into the spirit and support of Ford Nation.

Because the spirit of Ford Nation is not limited to the Greater Toronto Area, but extends throughout Ontario-in all the big cities, suburbs and small towns of Ontario. And beyond Ontario as well.

Former Conservative Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty ( now deceased) knew that. And as a result, he was a steadfast supporter of Rob Ford and Ford Nation.

Rob Ford will be elected councilor and I hope he beats his cancer. Doug Ford, though trailing Tory, still can pull out a victory as mayor. But whether Doug wins or loses, Ford Nation will survive and will be a major factor in the next federal election.

In order for PM Harper to win Ontario and Canada, and beat the popular, but dangerous, Justin Trudeau, federal leader of the Liberal Party, Harper needs the support of Ford Nation.

I hope Harper and his people are listening.

Mayoral Candidate Olivia Chow’s Disturbing Support for Queers Against Israeli Apartheid

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in John Tory, Olivia Chow, Politics

In a recent Toronto mayoral debate,  leading mayoral candidate John Tory reopened the debate about whether the controversial Toronto group, known as Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) should be permitted to march in the very popular annual summer Toronto Pride Parade.

Mr. Tory, to his credit, argued that QuAIA, which promotes a virulent message, should not be permitted to participate in a Pride Parade that is publicly funded by Toronto taxpayers.Mr. Tory also argued that if he was elected Mayor, he would deny public funding to the Pride organization, if the Pride group permitted QuAIA to march in its annual parade.

On the other hand, Ms. Chow in the same debate,  supported QuAIA’s right to protest in a publicly-funded Pride Parade, on the basis that the Toronto City solicitor opined that the use of “Israel Apartheid” was “protected speech” and that the Toronto City Manager Penachetti believed that the participation of QuAIA, did not violate the City of Toronto’s policies against hate and discrimination.

Again, to Tory’s credit, he stated emphatically at the debate, that he believed the city’s position was wrong and such anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish views had no place in a Pride Parade which celebrates human rights, tolerance and inclusivity.

I agree with John Tory’s view and here is why I believe Chow’s support of the anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic QuAIA, is unprincipled, immoral and contrary to Canadian values.

Anti-Israeli Apartheid movement is funded, financed and sponsored by Hamas

The anti-Israeli Apartheid movement is funded, financed and sponsored by Hamas.

According to Hamas’ constitution,  it wishes to kill all Jews and to eliminate Israel from the Middle East. These views are clearly anti-Semitic and hateful.

For Hamas, the anti-Israeli Apartheid movement is an attempt to delegitimize the state of Israel and destroy it diplomatically. Hamas wants to do to Israel diplomatically, what it cannot do, to date, militarily.

Accordingly, the then Federal Liberal leader Ignatieff, labelled the anti-Israeli Apartheid movement as anti-Semitic.

This view has been endorsed by current Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. I also believe that this is the view of Thomas Mulcair,  leader of the federal NDP.

Conservative Prime Minister Harper’s public condemnation of the anti-Israel Apartheid and BDS movements as blatantly anti-Semitic, is also very well known and has been widely reported.

Furthermore, the Ontario Legislature has unanimously condemned Israeli Apartheid week as “odious and unacceptable”.

So we have two levels of government that have condemned the Israeli Apartheid movement.

In the subject debate, Chow argued that her pro-QuAIA position was based upon her reliance upon expert opinion.

Interestingly, Chow is a bit selective when she relies upon experts. The very same City Manager Pennachetti in the past issued a major report praising the Scarborough subway extension, which Chow chose to ignore, because such a report undermined her pro Scarborough bus and LRT view.

It seems once again, Chow is hiding behind selective experts’ opinions and is refusing to take a principled and moral stand.

The Canadian federal government (together with US, Britain and the EU) has also publicly maintained that the anti-Israeli Apartheid movement, which singles out Israel ( while ignoring the human rights abuses of Syria, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Iran etc) is more than mere opposition to Israeli government policies, but is in fact Jew hatred and hence anti-Semitism.

This is a view also held by a majority of the members of the Ontario legislature.

In view of these facts, Chow appears on shaky moral ground to support QuAIA’s right to march in a publicly-funded parade.

John Tory stated that he respected the right of QuAIA to protest , but it can protest anywhere it wants, just not in a Toronto taxpayer and publicly-funded Pride Parade.

Another point Chow should consider is that Hamas, the key backer and beneficiary of the anti-Israeli Apartheid movement – kills, tortures and discriminates against the Gazan LGBT ( lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender) community.

Contrast that with the fair and equal treatment of the LGBT community in Israel.

So why is Chow putting herself on the same side of Hamas, which kills, tortures and discriminates against the Gazan LGBT community?

Since the Pride Parade is about tolerance, the celebration of the LGBT community and inclusivity, why does Chow not take the position that the anti-Israeli QuAIA ( which many Jewish and non Jewish Torontonians believe to be a hateful, Jew-hating, anti-Semitic organization) has no place in the Pride Parade?

By Chow failing to take a clear and principled stand against the anti-Semitism of QuAIA, Olivia Chow risks being tarred with the same toxic brush.