Does Olivia Chow = Ineptocracy

[Polaris]

Isn't that what makes a good politician? Leading the charge on the issues people actually care about, bringing a spotlight to them?

Sounds like leadership.

Garbage collection privatization. Cancelling the vehicle registration tax. Just two things Ford could trumpet.

I really do not remember what Olivia did for us a long time ago at city hall. What did she exactly do in Ottawa? She can trumpet that, but what did she do?

How can Olivia even get close to winning?

The field may be full with anti-left candidates, but the other point is that the field is full of anti-Ford candidates. To say, "I'm not Ford", won't be good enough this time.

 

[Mikehorn]

Wow. Reading this thread I'm really glad I don't live in TO anymore. You guys really do get the government you deserve. Don't forget to pull your pants down and bend over before entering the voting booth.

 

[SkyRider]

Olivia Chow seems like a nice enough person but Toronto needs an SOB mayor who can stand toe to toe against bully "public service" union SOB's and not blink. If Olivia becomes mayor, the bully unions will eat her alive.

 

[basketcase]

Olivia Chow seems like a nice enough person but Toronto needs an SOB mayor who can stand toe to toe against bully "public service" union SOB's and not blink. If Olivia becomes mayor, the bully unions will eat her alive.

I've met her and she is a bully. Totally absorbed in her own image and not principled but she will shit on people to get what she wants done.

 

[fuji]

Garbage collection privatization. Cancelling the vehicle registration tax. Just two things Ford could trumpet.

I really do not remember what Olivia did for us a long time ago at city hall. What did she exactly do in Ottawa? She can trumpet that, but what did she do?

How can Olivia even get close to winning?

The field may be full with anti-left candidates, but the other point is that the field is full of anti-Ford candidates. To say, "I'm not Ford", won't be good enough this time.

What did Ford accomplish before he was mayor? Olivia was like Ford, dealt with anyone who connected her, very active in resolving constituent issues.

 

[tml]

.... How I miss the good old days of having Ralph Klein as a mayor then as a premier, as crazy as he was, he still got things done without all the drama and bullshit that takes place here!

Substitute Ralph Klein with Mel Lastman.

 

[Marcus1027]

Substitute Ralph Klein with Mel Lastman.

Not even close

 

[Ridgeman08]

A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

Never before, have I heard such a PERFECT definition of our current system of governing.

And not just with Ms. Chow... with virtually EVERY politician elected in the last 50 or so years.

How many voters bothered to cast a vote in the last few municipal elections? How about provincial? Federal?

The problem is systemic.

 

[MattRoxx]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/oliv...stee-1.2572962

Olivia Chow says she smoked pot "a little bit" when she was younger, including in her early days as a Toronto school-board trustee in the mid to late 1980s.

The Toronto mayoral candidate and former New Democrat MP told Evan Solomon, host of CBC Radio's The House, that she smoked marijuana when she was a student.

"Well, when I was in arts school, yes, I've smoked marijuana a little bit," Chow told Solomon.

"That's never been my thing. Other than the antihistamine that I occasionally need to take because of hay fever … other than that, no [drugs]."

Asked whether she ever inhaled when she was a New Democrat MP, Chow said no.

"Not as a member of Parliament. I think in my early days when I was a school trustee. I think that's a long, long time ago," she said.

"It's really not my thing. And you know, back in the old days when I was in arts school in university, yeah a little bit, but I'd rather work out. I'd rather go swimming and hiking and cycling, and I find that I need to be in very good shape, so that's why drugs is never really my thing."

We are almost soulmates :cheer2:
I used to smoke pot - and more than a little bit. But now, I"d rather work out. I'd rather go swimming and biking and running, and I find that I need to be in (somewhat) good shape. Along with many other benefits, it really makes for a better hobbying experience. So that's why drugs are not my thing anymore.

 

[bestman007]

Does this sound like Olivia Chow to you? A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

THE UNIONS LOVE HER.... Apparently, there's an email sent to Local 79 members to meet her at some meet & greet next week. Unrelenting support from the Unions. Before you know it the average 311 Call Centre Rep will be on the Sunshine List! LOL

 

[Marcus1027]

You Torontonians truly have no idea how you are perceived outside your bubble.

The fact of the matter is it doesn't MATTER what policies Olivia Chow would bring in. She would immediately legitimize the city. Rob Ford has no policies so therefore he cannot take credit for anything. He's crack addicted drunk. He's not capable of running corner store far less a major city. If you think Rob Ford had anything to do with any right-wing wet dream policies, you're wrong.

If it's legitimacy your are looking for, then vote for John Tory.

 

[bestman007]

You Torontonians truly have no idea how you are perceived outside your bubble.

The fact of the matter is it doesn't MATTER what policies Olivia Chow would bring in. She would immediately legitimize the city. Rob Ford has no policies so therefore he cannot take credit for anything. He's crack addicted drunk. He's not capable of running corner store far less a major city. If you think Rob Ford had anything to do with any right-wing wet dream policies, you're wrong.

You could not be MORE WRONG.

A good friend of mine who was a top executive at the City told me that as soon as Ford was elected the word in the City offices was that the honeymoon was over. The Ford Admin had a list of what appeared to be unreachable expectations. His admin may have bullied and intimidated but it was the type of tension that was very much needed to bring about change.

For the first time in his career with the City, my friend saw deadlines outside of provincially mandated ones met. In getting all Divisions in the City to meet the reduction in operating budget Ford basically told management to do it or they would be replaced.

Ford has made poor personal decisions. But we would still be paying PVT if it wasn't for him and the conversation of phasing out MLTT would not be had. Additionally, he has a steadfast commitment to keeping our taxes down and saving money through improved efficiencies.

He's not a very good politician. Dalton McGuinty was the perfect politician, family man and speaker. Under his watch we saw $1 billion in E-Health funding go unaccounted for, a report that was withheld by his office only to cost many people jobs and waste taxpayer money... he resigned and left the country after lining his pockets no doubt.

Ford may be a moron when it comes to personal decisions but he's fighting our battle with City Hall.

 

[KBear]

the honeymoon was over.

Heard something similar happened with cleaners and maintenance workers at TTC. The attitude was that taxes can increase to pay for anything they wanted, to I don’t think contractors can do the job for less. Was a total attitude change. Busses are cleaner now.

 

[DarkAngel]

you are describing Rob Ford. Olivia unlike Rob actually grew up poor with Parents struggling to make ends meet. Rob was born into a rich family.

Olivia's parents were poor because they refused to learn English and could not find work in Toronto. I saw an interview Chow and Layton did years ago at her mother's house and she still couldn't communicate worth a damn in English.

So then the taxpayers were forced to subsidize her while she lived in subsidized housing for years. And don't forget that both Olivia and Jack moved in with her for a few years until the newspapers outed them as two rich Toronto Council members with big salaries paying $100 a month in rent for their 2 bedroom apartment in community housing. Then they apologized and said that they'd pay back the subsidy, but they never did. Oh, and Jack Layton, just like Ford is the child of millionaire parents so his theft of tax dollars is even more atrocious.

And if Chow's main focus is to create jobs in Toronto as her campaign already states, why be mayor when that position has no power for such things. All real tax and job creation power is in Ottawa. I guess she's just abandoning it because she's been such a failure there.

 

[SkyRider]

Olivia's parents were poor because they refused to learn English

But, the Harperites don't want rich Chinese immigrants who probably do speak English.

 

[Submariner]

THE UNIONS LOVE HER....

You may want to ask the police union that one. Anyone remember Chow's stellar stint as head of Police Services Board?

 

[GPIDEAL]

Do I think she would be inept no.

My fear is she could turn out to be quite capaple of bringing in her policies depending on the council make-up. This is why she need to be kept out.

Agreed. She claims that Ford hasn't brought in jobs (is that the mandate of a city mayor?). The subway will bring jobs. The Porter Island airport expansion will bring jobs (and the construction unions support it). What jobs is she talking about? More public service union workers to blackmail the city in one of its essential services?

I can't see her being any different than Bob Rae was when he got a taste of power as the provincial P.M.

 

[GPIDEAL]

Olivia's parents were poor because they refused to learn English and could not find work in Toronto. I saw an interview Chow and Layton did years ago at her mother's house and she still couldn't communicate worth a damn in English.

So then the taxpayers were forced to subsidize her while she lived in subsidized housing for years. And don't forget that both Olivia and Jack moved in with her for a few years until the newspapers outed them as two rich Toronto Council members with big salaries paying $100 a month in rent for their 2 bedroom apartment in community housing. Then they apologized and said that they'd pay back the subsidy, but they never did. Oh, and Jack Layton, just like Ford is the child of millionaire parents so his theft of tax dollars is even more atrocious.

And if Chow's main focus is to create jobs in Toronto as her campaign already states, why be mayor when that position has no power for such things. All real tax and job creation power is in Ottawa. I guess she's just abandoning it because she's been such a failure there.

I agree on your latter points but I thought their explanation was that they paid a higher rent (not just $100) based on their income level submitted on an application to that co-op?

 

[GPIDEAL]

What did Ford accomplish before he was mayor? Olivia was like Ford, dealt with anyone who connected her, very active in resolving constituent issues.

Duh. He was a successful city Councillor.

 

[Polaris]

What did Ford accomplish before he was mayor? Olivia was like Ford, dealt with anyone who connected her, very active in resolving constituent issues.

That is the very reason I doubt Olivia will win. Olivia is very good at bringing people together and finding a solution, conflict resolution she is good at.

This race, this is a battle royale. This is entirely out of her comfort zone.

On the very first day after she declares she will run, every major candidate attacked her, on a personal level and on her politics.

1. Ford - she will make David Miller look like a conservative. (she's going to be worst than Miller, people will buy that).

2. Tory - she never met a dollar she did not spend. Tax and spend.

3. Stinz - she worked the system, lived in subsidized housing, she a double dipper (although this is denied, it is still damaging because even if she was there legitimately, did Jack pull some connections to get to the head of the line.)

4. Stock guy from Scarborough - I thought his criticism of her was the best because this one is hard to shake. He said "My understanding of her is she always practiced partisan politics. A downtowner for downtowners."

I guess that the longer one has been around, the more items there is to attack.

Outside of the inner city, Olivia probably has very limited appeal.