Power Play Feb. 11: Anne for Mayor

In this, the second-to-last Power Play strategists’ segment for a while – CTV is understandably turning its attention to the Olympics starting tomorrow – we dissect the Giambrone stuff. I opine that we all make mistakes (I’ve made plenty, and will make more).

The really interesting on-air encounter happened later, when I did Evan Solomon’s CBC show (no link, sorry) with my Dipper friend Brian Topp (and be sure to buy and read Brian’s upcoming book, by the way, here). Brian is a genius, basically.

Anyway, on Evan’s show, I said that every smart campaign team sits down with their candidate, well in advance of the campaign, and says to him or her: “Okay. Now is the time to tell us all that needs to be told. Because your affinity for sports team mascots will come out. So tell us now, so we can deal with it proactively.”

And Brian – to my surprise, and clearly Evan’s – insisted that that was done, and that Adam Giambrone in effect lied to his senior strategists. He told them there was nothing to tell. (This Globe story suggests the same thing.)

Is that true? If so, Adam’s former team have plenty to be mad about. If it isn’t the case, then…well.

I suspect we’ll never know. In the meantime, here’s Power Play:


Tonda and I chat. The top of my head, meanwhile, grows menacingly at the top of the screen.


[Insert your innuendo here]

My take yesterday:

Liberal strategist Warren Kinsella said politicians can come back from personal scandals under certain circumstances.

“Well, it certainly puts to rest the gay rumours, doesn’t it?” Kinsella saids in an email. “But can he survive? Bill Clinton did, Gary Hart didn’t. It all depends if there’s a reservoir of voter goodwill for the candidate. And I’m not sure Adam has that.”

So much for “reservoir of voter goodwill:” Adam resigned today. Or, as you will see below, one of his assistants resigned for him.

Just out of curiosity, who was running this guy’s campaign? Monkeys?


Skate or Die

Teenage Bottlerocket’s latest, purchased today. This tune, which I truly adore, reminds me of that cherished moment when I massively blew out my knee. Trying to impress my sons on my Lush board.

When I told the surgeon how I’d mangled it, big time, he looked at me and said: “Act your age.” I loved that.

Anyhow. Here’s TBR with a punk rock classic. Skate!


Ezra Levant’s Troubles with the Law Society

Ezra Levant – who regards himself as a warrior in the cause of free speech, and who in fact refers to the many lawsuits he is facing as “lawfare” – has sent me a legal threat.

The threat relates to two links to National Post stories which I posted (here and here) – stories about Ezra and the issue of his conduct, as reviewed by the Law Society of Alberta. In the headlines to both postings, I used the term “guilty.”

Ezra, free speech warrior that he is, has complained about my use of that term through his lawyers.

Here are the facts:

1. The Alberta Law Society found that Ezra Levant had violated many rules of professional conduct.
2. Ezra Levant was ordered to meet with a senior member of the bar to learn how to better behave himself.
3. Once Ezra Levant did so, the complaint was technically dismissed.

I apologize, profusely, to Ezra for using the word “guilty.” He was in fact found to have violated the rules of professional conduct. But without “guilt.”

I truly hope that makes him feel better.


My New Gig

…well, a side gig, anyway. I’m one of the columnists for the new Canadian edition of Campaigns and Elections magazine. More here:

The Canadian Editorial Advisory Board, in development, currently includes Canadian political notables Anie Perrault, John Capobianco, Robin Sears, and Don Guy. Included in the growing list of regular contributors will be Warren Kinsella, President of Daisy Consulting Group, who will provide readers with insight on the challenges and decision making during campaigns in his column titled “In the War Room,” as well as Brett Bell, Principal of Grassroots Online, who will enlighten readers about online campaigning and social media in modern politics with his column “Open Source.”

I now expect all of you will run out and get a subscription. Or two or three. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

UPDATE: The Globe notices.


Rant About the Silly Column of the Day

…and if Glen had shown up, Coyle et al. would have been tut-tutting about how “risky” it was, how it’s “bad strategy,” blah blah blah. You just can’t win with some of these guys.

I’ve gone toe-to-toe with Glen in debate – I’ll let historians decide who won – and I can tell you, with no hesitation whatsoever, that this guy isn’t afraid of debating anyone. Anyone.

The last time TVO invited me on, I said no, too (principally because they defend playing host to avowed racists). The world didn’t come to an end, as far as I am aware.

Rant completed.