Sarah Thomson asks John Tory to piss or get off the pot, Rob Ford isn’t waiting
A reminder for politicians everywhere: if it’s in writing, it can be leaked. This applies to personal e-mails discussing the race for Toronto’s top job. The Globe and Mail has got copies of an early July e-mail exchange between mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson and John Tory, who’s perfecting his will-he-or-won’t-he schtick. In the exchange, Thomson—who says her campaign is being hobbled by Tory’s ambiguous state in the race—implores him to make up his mind, and Tory, well, continues being John Tory:
I am mindful of the unique situation which exists here for you in particular and I guess being mindful of it is all I can do. I think you have to canvass every possibility and then decide your own final plans on what you think is best….
Your message re my plans is not lost on me in any respect. I wish I could say “therefore I will do this or that tomorrow” but I can’t. But the message is received and understood.
The sub-plot to this little affair: Thomson apparently going to bat for Tory’s son (her senior advisor), who she says is ready to enter the electoral fray on his own but feels like he’ll be overshadowed by dad.
Meanwhile, Rob Ford’s campaign didn’t wait for Tory to announce his candidacy before targeting him in their cartoon Web ad, which shows Tory just as powerless before the almighty sarlaac gravy train at city hall as the rest of the candidates—with the exception of Ford, who looks quite fetching in Superman garb. (As the Sun notes, the ad has Ford looking “taller and more muscular than he is in real-life.”)
We’re tempted to say Tory should make up his mind, and fast, but at this point there’s no point: between Thomson, Ford and all the chatter this week, the city is clearly seized by Tory-mentum.
• Tory considering joining race for mayor, e-mail with candidate reveals [Globe and Mail]
• E-mail exchange between John Tory and Sarah Thomson [Globe and Mail]
• Tory targeted in election ad [Toronto Sun]
• Posted Toronto Forum: Should John Tory run for Mayor? [National Post]
It is fairly apparent that the existing candidates are attempting to emotionally blackmail Tory into not running, continually appealing to and referencing his sense of “integrity”. I find this to be true representations of the existing candidates’ character. Let me explain.
John Tory decided not to run for many reasons. However, half of TO’s population is so dissatisfied with the current inventory of options that they are: undecided, held hostage to vote for the best of the worst, or will refrain from voting all together! How is this in any way true democracy? Isn’t it Tory’s integrity that is driving him to reconsider his decision. Many of the public are urging Tory to run, or simply crying out for a better option than the ones currently available to them. Tory is not taking this decision lightly and anyone can see he is genuinely struggling with it. People need to remember that he was narrowly number 2 the last time around, therefore, he had the support of the people and from all that I have read, he still does.
While it may very well be sad for the other candidates (Ms. Thomson in particular), I fail to see how the amount of time she or other have invested is relevant. Again, it seems to be all about them (her in particular) instead of what TO wants. While, Ms. Thomson does resort to manipulation via using Tory’s sons as pawns, I am sure they would both be just as happy to support their FATHER, to see his possible win and, most importantly, for the people of TO to feel they had a real, credible choice in this election.
I value and respect the amount of deliberation Tory is putting into his decision, because to me it conveys that he fully understands the responsibility and weight of his decision. Unlike, Thomson, who is running solely based on ego.
I look forward to Tory’s platform and I sincerely feel that TO deserves an alternate choice to those available so far.
Good luck, John. Toronto is waiting to hear from you!http://b
Concerned Citizen
If a man can’t make a decision, he should not be mayor. There are 30 some other candidates who have been able to make a decision. Any of them is better than an indecisive, silver-spoon fed elitist.
I will not vote for John Tory or Sarah Thompson..sorry Sarah….you are not a business women if you support tolls…You are a John Tory Support Toronto Summit Alliance that will kill jobs in Toronto….John Tory horrible Politician….focusses on Topics of little interest to taxpayers or businesses….The concern Sarah is corruption and mismanagement of Taxpayers’ money Sarah…..Time to lay off the union workers, cut salaries and outsource…Be realistic Sarah.. Business woman my ass. HYPOCRITE
After teh CityPulse 24 Debate tonight Tues. August 17th, I was surprised to find Rob and George barking at each other soooooo politely. The boys were trying to sound “mayoral” if there is such a word!
Rossi had more passion, but failed the substance test and as for Pantalone, well, he’s a professional Cith Hall boy like Rob. Sarah Thompson wasn’t bad at all and she had some “ideas” and could back up her figures.
Frankly, we’ll have to pray that somebody with a VISION FOR TORONTO and a smart business sense coupled with traditional Torontonian compassion and progressive intelligence….enters dieux ex machina to save us from these self-serving slobs.
It’s ironic that Susan Eng praised Smitherman and said he had “won” the retired persons’ debate recently, eh!
Wouldn’t you know that it was Smitherman when he was (God save the seniors!) Health Minister who insulted them by saying to reporters in his office he’d “wear the diaper on my desk to show you how good and absorbant they really are….they can hold a lot you know!”….This was when he refused to fund Nursing Homes and residents were soaking in their urine for hours…shame on this phony who’s in it for the money…($1Billion of taxpayers’ dough went for his e-Health stupidity).
Anyway, if I HAD to pick among the losers tonight, I’d pick the one who made at least some sense and said she’d “combine business sense and compassion” — Sarah Thompson. Also for her support of the Arts and putting up an argument that it makes good sense. Should have seen Barking Bob’s eyes rolling..
Not much of a choice between the two abusive, barking rotweilers (Bob and George) and the professional Rocky Fundraiser and the pensioned pantalones @ Toronto’s City Hall of Horrors….
the candidates seem more worried about each other than giving us their plans ,sarah thompson spends most of her time bashing rob ford,which in the end only helped him ,smitherman is in it for him self ,and his friend dalton will be happt if he wins,i am for ford all the way,miller is leaving lets bring in some one who will shake up the gravy train ,and save taxpayers their hard eraned dollars,bring in rob ford
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