Gregor Robertson’s Shovel Full of the Day
The man can’t help himself. Neither can the manure peddlers that surround him.
Here’s the line that did it for me.
“… in an effort to increase transparency and accountability at city hall”
I just about fell out of my chair. And that line is from the press release that came from the Mayor’s Office.
Think about this: Gregor Robertson has spent the last month and a half lying and deflecting over, among other issues, the firing of the city’s chief electrical inspector, a move that made Vancouver much less safe, but now all of a sudden he wants to “increase transparency and accountability”
His comment to Global TV of seven days ago, that concerns over life safety issues at Olympic venues are/were “baseless”, runs contrary to the very words of current chief electrical inspector– statements revealed in a superb piece in last Friday’s Vancouver Courier, but the Mayor of Vancouver is silent–INSTEAD OF BEING ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT.
What does this tell us about the Mayor’s truthiness?
Read the drivel from the Mayor’s Office here.
You may have come close to falling off your chair. I sprayed coffee all over my laptop. Thankfully it’s a “Lenovo”.
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Very good! Funny stuff Mr. Kurz.
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So, Alex. Is the reason you are attacking Robertson because he has NDP affiliations? As in former MLA.. That’s the way I see your one-sided attacks here. Because if you had balance you would also be attacking Campbell for his lie about being the most open and accountable government.
The way I see it is that the Mayor is doing something while Campbell “says” he will do something. Then of course never does do amything but change his mind.
These attacks appear to me to be a deflection of the real issue in this province. A broken government.
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Hi Gary,
You wrote:
“So, Alex. Is the reason you are attacking Robertson because he has NDP affiliations? As in former MLA.. That’s the way I see your one-sided attacks here. Because if you had balance you would also be attacking Campbell for his lie about being the most open and accountable government.”
Answer: Are you being at all serious? NO ONE has been a more persistent critic of Gordon Campbell than me. I guess you’ve missed the scathing (but appropriate) attacks against his hypocrisy and lies. I have challenged his lack of openness and transparency on everything from his Maui arrest, the prevarication on the Hughes report, vis-a-vis the Ministry of Children and Families, the economy, the HST–my criticisms of his lack of truthfulness are all over this website. I’m “against” the NDP? Hardly. I’m just not philosophically so inclined. I’ve mentioned many times that they need effective leadership, as they would get out of John Horgan. I just think the NDP would be a disaster, on par with the current version of the Liberals. You don’t see me as balanced on this issue? Better clean your glasses, my friend.
You know, my biggest problem with so many of those attempting holding the govts feet to the fire, though various blogs that promote gossip and innuendo, is that they are doing so with the sole purpose of electing the NDP–the motivation of getting an honest story out there does not exist for them. From your comments, I assume that includes you? I, on the other hand, have no horse in the race. I simply do not believe the NDP, as currently constituted, could possibly offer anything better than what is currently smelling up the legislature, as govt.
Also, you see Mayor Robertson “doing something.” Of course you do. He’s systematically destroying Vancouver through effectively giving real issues about openness and honesty no hearing at all, while accommodating, in spades, fringe groups inside his own political bailiwick.
If you are looking for a broken govt, by all means include the Campbell one, but forget not the nightmare at 12th and Cambie.
With respect, maybe it’s you that needs to check his balance.
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Complainers, should have the common sense of investigating a blog, before “putting both feet into their mouth a “speed reading” of your past columns, would provide plenty of attacks on Campbell, they are just proving your point of view with biased attacks.
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Well, wait for it, they’re back for more… you see, Pedro, they have ZERO credibility when they attack without substance or alternative. Who are they touting?? The NDP?! Pleeeease. What can they lay claim to? That for ten years we were beholden to the unions?!
Sounds about right…
But I welcome all opinions here, provided they are polite and reasonable–AND not defamatory.
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Of course I’m being serious Alex. As for your scathing attacks on Campbell all I see is a couple of puff pieces where you say Campbell bad, but NDP badder. What a joke.
These constant attacks on Robertson aren’t balanced at all. Where were you on the Millenium fiasco? Which by the way could serve as some background for you attacks today.
Philosophically so inclined? I could translate that to “against NDP. But I don’t care what your politics are, although they seem to be slanted more to conservative. Which in my view is still Liberal. What I do care about is the way you insert innuendo into your pieces. If you think Campbell is an asshole (which I do) then call him that. Don’t insert the statement that the NDP are bigger assholes. Because there are no bigger assholes in this country that the Gordon Campbell Liberals. Followed closely by the Harper minions.
As far as bloggers promoting gossip and inuendo, the blogs I read actually do hold the governments feet to the fire. We have some breaking news of our own but we don’t set it up as BREAKING NEWS. We just report what we know. And I haven’t seen anyone say NDP bad but liberals badder to offset any puff pieces.
You can assume anything you want on my politics. That is your right in a free and democratic society. I have never hidden my politics. In fact I’ll give you a scoop Alex. The very first time I voted It was Federally and I was eighteen. I was in the Air force. But by the time I was twenty-one I found that the only party that worked for the voters was the NDP. And I have a brother who was a staunch liberal until that piss tank in Victoria didn’t do the right thing after Hawaii. They’ll never get his vote again. And I never label anyone on my blog then cut them off. Case in point, calling Koot a draft dodger. You are so far from the truth on that one Alex I’m surprised you aren’t being sued for slander. You should have done some DD instead of forming opinions. Grant G is another one. He may be a hothead but he knows what he is talking about. And he doesn’t pull punches or write puff pieces.
Robertson systematically destroying the city? That system was started by the NPA. They handcuffed the city when they allowed an unproven developer to rape them. And their lone survivor is continuing the system.
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Sorry Gary, you see a “couple of puff pieces” on the Premier? Perhaps you shoudl have a good look at the columns section under ‘Provincial’ and then go have a look at the same tab for posts on blog. I’ve been entirely balanced, unlike you and your cohorts. Gordon Campbell started off fairly well (not very well) and it was all downhill from there. He got arrogant and aloof; nasty and careless–AND, yes, reckless too, not just in Maui. When the Ministry of Children and Families is such a wash; when he is gutting social assistance; when he makes claims about the environment and then susidizes friends to rape BC rivers; when our healthcare system is nothing to celebrate much…among many other issues of neglect and waste, yes, and yes again, those have all been pointed out here.
But the NDP have been equally terrible: Union superiority; choking business (particularly small business); gutting the resource sector and killing key industries–the NDP go off in the other extreme.
Constant attacks on Gregor? He’s earned them in spades. Go into the ‘Most talked about’ section and read my review of Vision’s first year. It’s a completely fair summary. They are destroying Vancouver. That much is clear. On the Millenium question, I have been clear: Either Terry Hui or Peter Wall, the other two bidders, would have been preferable–and I was critical of Sam for pushing for Millenium. You don’t read very well do you Gary?
As for your blog, it’s a nice little effort to get the NDP elected and I think you see everything through that prism. Do I come to your site and bitch? Do I object to your right to your opinion, however wrong? Your cohorts, koot and Grant are a different story. Koot runs a blog wherein he has labelled Gordon Campbell a criminal. This is defamatory and offside.If he has proof, great, I’ll be the first (or I suppose the second) to print it. But he doesn’t and that’s where credibility evaporates. Me getting sued for calling him a “draft dodger”? You are funny. Apart from not knowing the law, Gary, you know that kook hides behind a pen name. Additionally, I suggested he sounded like one–same vintage, same anti-American rhetoric, same vile anti-everything. If he’s such an upright guy who has nothing to fear, tells us his name and stand up, tell us what CRIME Gordon Campbell has committed too–give us the proof–don’t just strong together a set of circumstances, as that’s not enough and doesn’t even come close ot meeting the burden of proof. I want to hear or see it. As for Grant, his anger issues are nothing, it’s his legal issues: In no particular order he has accused me of stealing from the taxpayers through some convoluted “secret” grants/subsidies; being employed or compensated for “supporting” Dianne Watts or Carole Taylor as Leader of the Liberals; suggested that I made up my criticisms of the Mayor of Vancouver (when, in point of fact, last week in the Courier, a city staffer confirmed my statements as true, that there were significant life safety issues at various Olympic venue sites)–then he writes me private emails threatening to cause me bodily harm because I’m not “thinking” like him. Grant is a nut. No one who reads his drivel can possibly be serious about reasonable govt in BC–his site is all about hating Gordon Campbell and anyone Grant (mis)perceives as being a “Supporter” of the Liberals. I understand his upset. Many of us feel the same way, but there are reasonable ways to communicated this–and he knows none of them.
Look, I’ve spent more than enough time with you. I respect your right to your opinion, however flawed–seriously flawed. But I have been clear in my opinions here. If you don’t like them, with respect, don’t come back. Pretending that I am doing something which I am not neither enhances your ability to debate nor provides any valuable perspective.
The problem with the anti-Campbell crowd is that you are angry in that I have “stolen” your mantle and exposed you for the one-issue overbearing nature of your argument–you want the NDP elected–that’s it, and smearing Gordon is the most expedient way of trying to get there. I understand (and so does everybody else), it’s okay…. Be well, Gary.
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Well Alex. You are Sooo wrong in your last post. I see that you could care less about any opinion that runs contrary to yours. As for me wanting the NDP elected, you are wrong there as well.At this point I am with holding any donations until I see some concrete action.
You are missing the point of blogging as well. It is to insite dialogue as well as inform. And you are most welcome to criticize me on my blog. And I will try to correct you as well. But to use this blog being an overbloated. self serving hypocrite to put down others opinions then dismiss them out of hand because you don’t have anymore time for them, is a waste of your time as well as mine. You can keep your blog if that’s how you operate. And keep you PAB buddies as well.
One last question Alex. Where can one find you name on the deed for the Annaconda property that you so lovingly called yours when you partnered on the Millenium Plug that was so useless a wastewater treatment facility has to be installed?
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Gary:
There is nothing I can state other than to do so simply: You’re off you’re rocker.
1) You are part of a rabid NDP group that have hijacked the internet where Gordon Campbell is concerned. I have written extensively about how much I dislike him, but as Premier. His personal story, particularly after the suicide of his father is a story of trial and triumph. I admire that, What I DO NOT admire is the unending damage he has done to this province, not limited to but certainly including his mishandling and nastiness of everything from the MCFD, to autistics, to the aged, to healthcare, to education, etc. That fact you identify me as part of the Public Affairs Bureau of the provincial govt shows that you are a hack whose nose is out of joint because you thought you could come here and play silly bugger and expect me to leave you be. Not a chance!
2) Blogging? Gary, you don’t have the first clue about blogging–insightful dialogue and information sharing is what happens here–NOT ON YOUR BLOG, or your pals in the ‘Smear Campbell’ crew. The only opinions who get put down on this blog are those from idiots. Sound like anyone you know?
3) My former ownership of Britannia Beach is a matter of public record. I was President of Copper Beach Estates and owned every share until I partnered up with the now late Ian Hagemoen–then he became President and I was soon thereafter bought out (happily!). As for the ‘Millenium Plug’, we did it with the equal partnership of Dr. John Meech (a wonderful guy!) and Dr. Brennan Lang (another wonderful guy!) from CERM 3 at my old alma mater UBC )+(who were fabulously co-operative). It was HIGHLY effective, but the enviro-fascists in the Ministry of Water, Land and Air thought we were in the parks business and made unreasonable demands, eventually saddling the taxpayer with a bill for over $100M for remediation. We, on the other hand, offered to pay the govt $20M of a reasonably estimated $28.5M dollar bill (we actually hired AMEC and they did the study just after cleaning up the World Trade Center Towers site, post-bin Laden). But the bureaucrats, as they are want to do, went OVERBOARD on clean-up proposals and screwed the taxpayer, all through our objections as owners.
The fact you and Grant Goof and Kook continue to lie about me on the internet doesn’t bother me in the least. If you want to make things up, go ahead. I’ll see you in court. And after you’ve had to mortgage your house when I’m done with you, then we’ll see how you like lying about people. Anaconda, you foolish man, had nothing to do with me and was three generations of ownership prior to me. But that would have required some research and honesty–of course it, too, would have stopped you from being able to attach me to Britannia’s biggest polluter–instead, I was the only owner in it’s history, to actually care about the water in the Creek and the surrounding areas where children and families played and spent time.
This is your last smear effort. So long.
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Aye there Mr Alex, Greg Robertson is not only lying, he just ain’t very bright either. He is well on his way to putting a “noose around his own neck”
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Please keep the pressure on – Scampbell and his (monkey see, monkey do) stooges will be watching what is happening for sure.
Great stuff – keep on doing it!
workforfun
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Thx Work, will do!
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Alex, when I read that quote, I began laughing so hard that I dropped my handful of mashed potatoes!
On a more serious note, I am always wary about anyone that tells me a deliberate lie. The problem that I have is, how do I know when he has stopped?
Cheers
Gary L.
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Oh, that’s simple. Gregor Robertson only lies when his lips are moving. When his mouth is shut, he’s never told a single fib…ever. Amazing that…
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When I watch His Worship, he seems to embody the sort of “truthiness” politician sent up nightly by Stephen Colbert.
And I can’t help but wonder if Sam Sullivan, for all his vainglory, could have bested candidate Robertson. Sam could always throw a figurative punch. And as we’ve all witnessed recently, Gregor can’t take one–even a pulled punch by the fawning Vancouver media that’s finally taken a cursory interest in Ark’s departure.
You’d think city hall journalists would cover the Tssiverev Mystery vigorously, if only to cover their own posteriors. After all, if there was a fire causing injury or death at a questionably inspected building, any inquiry would reveal that politicians and reporters were equally incurious.
Just how incurious? None other than Bill Good could only mutter “Why should my listeners care?” when discussing the matter last week with his CKNW civic affairs panel.
should my listeners care?” asked that arbiter of the news cycle
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Wait til you read the follow-up coming later today. More leaked documents and more embarrassment for the Mayor.
And Dr. Ballem…
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Alex,
Re. the Mayor’s truthiness…I’ll start with:
The Thought of The Day
“One Lie can buy the Whole Truth. One million Truths cannot buy the Smallest Lie.”
Truth. What a shitty concept. What is Truth?
It’s the picture of the Damsel in Distress, hidden inside a 3D Stereogram puzzle of a Sea of Colourful Tulips, made out of thousands of small pieces of Bullshit agreed upon as the Truth, by the Big Shakers and Movers of the day. I use to call them The Big Lairs – The PBS’s (The Professional Bullshiters)
But buyer, be aware! Even after you have all the pieces in place, you’ll have to focus somewhere else inside the puzzle in order to see the hidden Damsel. The Truth usually hides behind layers of Bullshit in the same way the Damsel hides behind the indecipherable 3D representation.
One day I was thinking. Why can’t we have an official measurement system (like the Metric or Imperial) so we can easily count or measure the Lies, in units?
Let’s say the smallest unit is a 1 BS (Bessie – the measurement unit for Bullshit, the most harmless lie); 100 BS’s would make 1 KR (Krapola); 100 KR’s = 1 L (LieOn)
Now here’s the punch line. With Bessies, Krapolas and LieOns you can buy pieces of Truth or even better, the Whole Truth, anywhere on Earth and in any quantities.
Let me give you some practical examples:
1 You don’t want to go to work today because you don’t feel like it, so you call in sick, Bam! 5 Bessies.
2 A Car Salesman sells you a Lemon. You stupidly fall for it because it has a DVD player, Talk hands free and GPS, 14 Bessies
3 You lie on your resume saying that your MD degree would make you a good City Manager and then you tell everyone that you will not get out of bed for less than 1000 bucks a day, 25 Bessies, thank you very much.
4 Say, you have a weird name that goes with “What’a fuck’s’going on”, you wash laundry…cold, a totally unknown American bureaucrat with connections at the Hock, you bike, you walk (like every other human I may add) to work. That qualifies you for a…200 grand/ year jig, 57 Bessies.
5 Lie about Ark Tsisserev’s retirement, 78 Bessies; Say that a Structural Engineer is qualified to do the work of an Electrical Engineer, add 22 Bessies for a One Cool Krapola!
6 Get into politics based on lies, play the role of the Juicer, the Farm Boy , The Man of The People, sell false promises on “other people’s (mostly American) money” and use foolish endorsements from people who were supposed to know better, 10 LieOns, 19 Krapolas, 78 Bessies (keep in mind that one endorsement = 69 Bessies – get the “number”? One campaign donation = 99 Bessies, (but of course, at the exchange rate of the day))
7 The Olympic Games by far takes the Cake on this one, 1 Million LieOns and Bessies in change!
And how about that electric Bombardier Tram that hauled people back and forth between Granville Island and Cambie Bridge? They say, 500,000 people used the service during the past month! How come? How did they estimate that? Did they use the tram’s floors as a huge scale to weight people ‘cause definitely they could not based it on the “ticket sales”! Well, there you go, 1 Krapola and 6 Bessies.
See how well it works? All the time!
Anyway. I love to put together Bullshit Puzzles. People say I am a bullshit puzzle solver. It’s true. This is what I do… and that, would be 33 Bessies!
We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy.
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I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. You’re in a class all by yourself.
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It seems that a man in such an semantic thicket comes a bit late with such affirmative language, meant mainly to exculpate the victimizer. He seems suddenly made alive to the fact that the fantasy cannot be maintained, the masque is up, the shabby pantomime is over. And yet, and yet … Hizzoner seems aware that a man without honour is incapable of being humiliated, and so in puppyish eagerness he quickly closes the barn door while the galloping half-truths are on the far horizon.
When we think of the present city council, the words “lunatic” and “asylum” quickly comes to mind.
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Perfectly put!
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That tells us that the Mayor’s truthiness is on par with Gordon Campbell’s and a seemingly infinite number of politicians’ mendaciousness. I’m more inclined to trust the used car dealer hawking rebuilts around the corner more than most politicians nowadays.
It’s sad really.
We teach our children to always tell the truth and all the while they see the very people we entrust to run our cities, provinces and countries take us for fools and blatantly lie to us.
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Sad, but his lying is non-stop.
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Alex, now I’ve heard it all.
Penny Ballem today told Council that they were merely following the “practices” of other municipalities when they eliminated the position of Chief Electrician.
Are the other municipalities governed by the Vancouver Charter, Penny? No, they’re governed by other legislation (different in each Province).
Nevertheless, it appears the City Council’s new defense that a statutory requirement can be overridden by “practices”. I’d sure like to know what legal authority they base that one on!
And, of course, to be “open and transparent” they’re going to publicly release documents regarding Mr. Tsisserev’s severance. [Read: to further damage the credibility of others . . . ]
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I know. I saw it last night right before dinner. But I have a surprise for them. I have CLEAR evidence that Ark Tsisserev firings was brewing from Dr. Ballem’s desk for at least six months before anything objectionable was discovered by the illustrious Dr. Ballem. You’ll read it here today. Always a pleasure to have you around! Take care.
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