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Desperate Tories pray for a mighty wind
Desperate Tories are praying that Hurricane Isabel pounds the crap out of Ontario when it gets here Friday afternoon. Facing a stunning free fall with their clumsy, collapsing campaign, party bigwigs were checking out Toronto’s Emergency Response Centre this week. They were no doubt scoping photo op spots where a windbreaker-clad Ernie Eves can nasally-intone his concerns for a soaked citizenry if a Hurricane Hazel deluge is unleashed on a province that has already buffeted by a nine year lashing from disastrous Conservative rule.
No hope for change at police union
The extinction of dinosaur Craig Bromell’s shrill rein will not unleash a golden age at the Toronto police union. Four spots have opened up on the nine-person executive and bombastic Bromell’s handpicked successor, Rick McIntosh promises to stick with intimidation tactics. “We will not scale back,” he insists. And don’t look for any enlightened ideas from candidate David Deviney. This detective was found guilty of using a racial slur two years ago though not guilty of manslaughter for his role in the shooting death of Lester Donaldson in 1990. Expect more malicious lawsuits and attempts to intimidate politicians and the public no matter who wins in this far-from-fine field.
Hello, good bye to Karoake Idol winner
Two words for Gary Beals, winner of CTV’s nationwide Karoake Idol contest – Sugar Jones. Global television has been running a nationwide, televised talent contest, Popstars, for years and the winners, like Sugar Jones, have faded quicker than that little dot that appears when you turn off the TV. One Popstars prize-packer sings in Manitoba-Motown-meister Remy Shand’s band but she had to marry the guy for the gig. If there was a market for treacly, overly wrought singers in this country Dan Hill, Cory Hart and Gino Vanelli would still have jobs. So, uh, congratulations.
Tory dreams of banning the poor
Lastman-Lite aka the recycled backroom boy and hopeless mayoralty hopeful John Tory wants to ban panhandling. How about banning poverty John? Begging is not a career path. Young boys and girls do not dream of being able to thrust a paw in the face of benevolent big buckers when they grow up. It’s what you do when you are hitting bottom. We understand that the privileged politico’s not that familiar with things like empty pockets. But he should abandon dreams of panhandler free zones and offer proposals that alleviate poverty and find ways to help the poor and working poor survive in this city, not be outlawed. And how will someone with no money pay a fine anyway? Panhandle?
500 bucks for Ernie’s ear
What’s this? Mail to Up front from, hopefully, soon-to-be ex Premier Ernie Eves? We were invited to join the Tories Cornerstone Club, a group of like-minded, mean-spirited moneygrubbers who hate taxes, poor people, single mothers and unions with equal rancor. But what caught our eye is that with a donation as measly as $500 we would be assured an audience with the premier, his ministers and their caucus buddies. The provincial Liberals charge a minimum of $1,000 to join their insiders club – and that’s without a promise to visit the big corner office at Queen’s Park. Can we assume there will be some Cornerstone Club price slashing as the Tory drive heads deeper into the dumpster? “Okay, lemme have a couple a smokes and I’ll get Ernie for ya. And Isabel will arrange to have Polkaroo come by the house”.
