BREAKING NEWS: Documents Show Vision Vancouver-Sanctioned Attack Blog Paid for by Vision Propaganda PR Firm
The notion that Vision Vancouver chambermaid, Jonathan Ross, who “runs” a despicable, slanted, pro-Vision blog called civicscene.ca (for all lies and spin about Vision ‘greatness’, you can endure a read or two) has his service paid for, might not be such a shocker.
But that FD Element, the favored , often tax-paid propaganda arm of Vision Vancouver were responsible for Ross’ website construction, launch and maintenance is just the limit. It’s off the charts. Considering the unending garbage he publishes, Vision Vancouver and FD Element owe the citizens of Vancouver an explanation forthwith.
Dirty tricks? You be the judge.
The documents below will shock you–very much. As will the interview with FD Element’s VP Mike Wilson (that I conducted on Monday morning), who our city hall source says acts as Ross’ “editor” (honestly, the crosses some people must bear,,,)
This is the only time in Vancouver’s political history I’ve ever heard of a political party having a favored contractor paying a mad dog to attack said political party’s detractors or critics. It’s the most shameless tactic employed by a party, Vision Vancouver, lead by a man who during the last civic election promised “greater civility and a sense of fairness in the way we conduct our political dialogue with our opponents.”
These kinds of tactics being employed by FD Element as the propaganda arm of Vision Vancouver, are COMPLETELY IN-LINE with the kind of ham-fisted underhanded strategies apparently employed by the Kash Heed campaign during the last election–a campaign Jonathan Ross worked on through his very close friend Barinder Sall.
No?! Well then explain how a failed Vision campaigner, that runs a blog with the sole purpose of attacking Vision opponents and the media with complete ridicule (no, not satire, ridicule) and viciousness is having his blog paid by one of Vision Vancouver’s most prolific supporters? It’s absolutely on the same level. It’s just not illegal, in this case, although terribly unethical.
First, let’s allow for full disclosure. Ross admits he’s a Vision partisan. But he also told Jeff Lee of the Vancouver Sun that he is not handled by anyone even remotely close to Vision Vancouver and certainly not paid for any contract work supporting them. He bleeds and sweats over his idle ramblings…according to him. It’s a labour of love. He does it for posterity. He’s a lover not a fighter. He’s giving of himself for humanity. He sleeps with a teddy bear under one arm.
What a load of bull (as usual)…
Have a look for yourself and notice the dates, very carefully. They coincide with the indigestion and acid reflux citycaucus.com were causing the Mayor and Vision Vancouver.
This first one is clear proof that Ross was indeed doing contract work for FD Element. In and of itself, this isn’t such a shocker either. TDH Strategies, Ross’ company gets work from various politically intertwined sources.
But then the trouble starts….
In this second leaked document, Ross is contracted, through his company TDH, to commit to “conversation mining” at $50.00 per hour (the run or duration of the contract is not specified and appears indefinite–until FD Element says it’s over). According to my city hall source, a person with almost 20 years PR experience, “that contract is for Jonathan’s mess of a blog civicscene.ca. ‘Conversation mining’ is a term always used in the PR business to describe blogging websites. Mike (Wilson) acts as Jonathan’s liaison and editor and takes orders from Don Millar (FD Element local Chief) and there are constantly ideas floated by Mike Magee from the Mayor’s office. Like I told you before, Don told Mike to start using his gmail account on any of this stuff, so there could be no trace by people like you. Don hates people like you. In fact, he was almost burning you in effigy when you went after Tzeporah Berman a while back.”
However, in an interview I did with Mike Wilson, again, VP of FD Element, he vehemently denied any connection to Ross’ “mess of a blog.”
AGT: So you’re denying that you or FD Element have ever done anything for civicscene.ca?
Wilson: Yeah, Alex, we don’t have anything to do with Jonathan Ross’ blog. Absolutely nothing.
AGT: Nothing? You’re sure? Nothing, ever? No help from Element at all? Not a cent?
Wilson: No, nothing, not a cent, not me, not Element, nothing. We’ve never done anything for his blog.
AGT: So if I told you that I had invoice copies made out to ‘The Element’ with your address for payment from a local web hosting company that billed your company to put together Ross’ blog and to maintain ‘civicscene’, what would you say then?
Wilson: What are you talking about?! There’s nothing like that, we don’t, ah, have anything to do with ‘civicscene’, Jonathan’s done some small internet work for us in the (United) States.
AGT: Mike…have you ever heard of a firm called ‘Tommy Media’? Do you know what ‘conversation mining’ is?
Wilson: No…ah…no not at all…
AGT: So, your company has never drawn up any contracts to engage Ross for ‘conversation mining’, which is well-known in your industry as blogging?
Wilson: Okay, listen Alex, um, I have nothing to say to you, okay? Ah, we don’t know what, ah, ‘conversation mining’ is, I’m not talking to you about anything anymore, ah, forget it, okay…? “CLICK”
Now remember, Wilson claims that neither he nor FD Element have anything to do with Ross’ blog, didn’t contract to have it built, didn’t contract to have it maintained, and have had zilch to do with it.
Behold…
And again….this time, for the the coup de grace…
Now, there are some extremely serious matters at play here.
1) Jonathan Ross’ waning credibility as any kind of civic critic is now up in smoke. He’s finished. Why would Wilson cover and lie for him and for FD Element? Ross’ blog is paid for by the Mayor’s favorite no-bid/no tender PR contractor. There is ZERO credibility for civicscene.ca. It’s done.
2) What other kind of extremely nasty political propaganda are FD Element responsible for? The close relationship between Millar and Mayor Robertson’s Chief of Staff, coupled with the stream of TAX-PAID no-bid/no-tender contracts to FD Element, plus Wilson’s shameful lies are more than cause for an legal inquiry to be called–since FD Element are paying for Ross’ blog to at least be built and maintained, while Ross himself continues to viciously smear people (including myself) without a stitch of cause, about our appearances and then lobs all sorts of contrived insults about 24 Hours’ Bob Mackin or Global’s Marisa Thomas–two recent targets). This is not the kind of gun play that even the worst of political assassins would condone. It’s well beneath anything I’ve seen in a quarter century of observing politics and politicians. FD Element has received overly healthy tax dollars for no-bid/no-tender contracts? Were the alleged extra funds a type of bonus for maintaining Ross’ blog? I’m not saying that’s the case, but the question is obvious.
3) If FD Element is paying for Ross’ blog, who is paying them? Surely to God they aren’t doing this out of the kindness of their silo of political interference and propaganda. Ross’ blog is a non-stop stream of attack drivel specifically designed to spin and lie about anything that isn’t extremely favorable to Vision Vancouver. Worse yet, he’s now resorted to attacking the media, WITHOUT CAUSE, for the apparent crime of questioning the hapless Mayor, and the policies a majority of Vancouverites are unsure of.
It was only a matter of time before these people got caught. But to be committing to such breathless lies is incredible.
Ross should apologize to the Vancouver Sun and specifically to Jeff Lee for lying to him.
And, most importantly, anyone who ventures to his site must know, without question, that it was constructed on Vision Vancouver’s initiative.
No?
I’ll close with the comments of the brave city hall source, who furnished me with copies of these documents (FROM WITHIN THE HALL!)
“Alex, it’s a matter of fact that Vision Vancouver didn’t want Jonathan’s blog on their books. So they run it through FD Element because Don Millar is basically their tool in spreading propaganda against you or ANYONE that criticizes these guys. You shouldn’t forget that some big-monied people in the green freak world have invested a lot of money in Vision and Gregor so that they can take over the city first, then try and expand to advance their agenda province-wide. Guys like you stand in their way. I know what bastards they can be. They will attack anyone at any level if you aren’t saying how great they are when really they’re not. I won’t vote for them again but I decided to speak out to you because you seemed like someone who wouldn’t give me away. They are a real hard-line group that will stop at nothing to hurt anybody who is considered not on their side. I saw first and second drafts of the media hit list…you were on both.Watch your back, Alex, Don’t forget that and everything else…..”
I won’t.
And when the rest of you are in that voting booth in November of 2011, will you?
Like my eponymous name…
HOLY SHITE!!!!
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Ross is done. His commentator days will now always be taken with about as much seriousness as stories about Pamela Anderson’s Bible studies…
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Heavans to Murgatroyd!
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Thank you Alex…so very much.
This man lost my respect when he used the race card after the election.
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You’re most welcome. I’m bracing myself for his barrage of feathers…
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that would be chicken feathers….right;)
The point that has me most concerned, is the thought of Vision taking over the Province….that is just frightening, seriously frightening.
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Don’t worry. That’s not going to happen. Vision are fundamentally not trusted by significant constituencies within the NDP.
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The City Hall Mafia at its finest.
Holy Crap!
I’m sending this to everyone I know – right across the country and overseas.
Thank you ….AGAIN!
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You’re most welcome. It’s a pretty easy narrative to follow. They’re caught in the biggest of lies. They support a website that is not just pro-Vision, but designed to attack critics on the most personal of levels.
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To think the mayor and his staff or party are behind Jonathon Ross’ petty attacks is without question the most despicable thing I’ve heard about a mayor, not named Kwame Kilpatrick.
I believe a recall campaign on Vision coinciding with the provincial one for the Liberals would have some major steam right now.
I’m not sure Vancouver will want to wait a year to throw these bums out.
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Alas, no such mechanism exists. But the glaring obviousness of the similarities between how the BC Liberals and Vision practice politics, is breathtaking.
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What is going on, with all this menace. This province is terminally ill. I just read. Campbell just got back from his vacation with his wife??? Is Campbell now married to Lara Daphne?? Campbell says he is not resigning, nor, will Hansen have to resign. Do we BC people have to gag our way through, Campbell and Hansen’s faces, AGAIN??? Dig, Alex dig, and see if there are any options left, to rid our selves, of those two super bugs.
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A little off topic on this stream my dear, but I won’t let you down. Don’t worry.
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Wait a minute! I thought that Lara only birthed his love child. Doesn’t he have a newer jar for his pickle?
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Easy, easy…
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Johnny Ross, a shill?! Next thing you’re going to tell me that Frances Bula was once a credible journalist before she sold her journalistic integrity for 30 bottles of Happy Planet Righteous Raspberry?
The fact of the matter is that Vision Vancouver’s vocally vicious vociferous venal vain vapid vagient blogger has obviously not done a very good job. Like the other projects Vision Vancouver has blown good money on, here’s Johnny boy sucking at the teat of Vision clearly demonstrating that their money is being wasted. The surprising thing is that he hasn’t been sued for libel (but if I remember correctly, you threatened him with such, before he withdrew claims). I wouldn’t trust him running a lemonade stand, much less a propaganda blog or a political campaign.
As for the “greater civility and a sense of fairness in the way we conduct our political dialogue with our opponents.” that Gregor promised, he also promised to end homelessness, before adding “street” to it, since it’s clear he was going to fail (What else is new?!). Perhaps in due time it’ll read, “It’s all the f’in NPA hacks fault and any other person who dares to question our vision for the lack civility and a lack of fairness in the way we conduct our political dialogue with our opponents and citizens.”
With Johnny boy as a friend and supporter of Vision, I’m reminded of the old adage, “with friends like these, who needs enemies?”
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If you heard what Art Cowie told me about how Jonathan almost ran his campaign into the ground, you’d fall over. If you’d heard one former federal Liberal candidate tell you what kind of threats Jonathan leveled against him during a nomination meeting, you’d pass out.
And yes, I explained to him that pure ridicule, even if true, was cause for legal action. He backed off. But now I’m sure he’ll go completely postal. But it’s not my blog being paid for by Vision pals…
It’s not FD Element executives that are clearly trying to hide and lie about my involvement with me….
It’s all about Jonathan and TDH. As a commentator or blogger, he’s now completely discredited. He’s finished. Anyone that touches him will have the dubious distinction of being tacked to Vision Vancouver’s political machine, sputtering plumes of thick pungent smoke…
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I would suggest that FD Elements is pretty much in the basket as well.
What business would want to place their reputation on the line by being associated with them…(aside from Vision, but their credibility hit the skids a while back.)
And for SC – perhaps you mean 30 bottles of Happy Planets Extreme Green!
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Very good!
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Unbelievable. What a sad and pathetic flake this guy is. Will he man up and admit to the embarrassment that he has become or will he try to spin his way out ? Good work Tsakunator. Looks like the Juice Boy’s house of cards is starting to fall, and fall fast.
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The Thought of The Day
“How does one say in ‘American’: ‘Listen up people, this is a hold up. Everyone down. Keep quiet and no one gets hurt!’?”
Excellent commentary, Alex. Politicizing a City Hall is rather common in US. It is a highly corrupt system and it shows. No wonder Vision’s choice for the new Deputy City Manager (and the many others parachuted in senior positions)was ‘selected’ from there. From the most corrupt city in America, Chicago that is, to Vancouver, with love…Vision Vancouver.
By far, Vision’s main goal, as shown clearly in their not so ‘transparent agenda’ was to get their chops on as many jobs in the City Hall.
It’s like the scumbag/ beach bum trying to rape his girlfriend into a forced pregnancy, hoping that her well off ‘daddy’ will give them his blessings instead of putting the gun on his sorry ass and giving him the boot.
I say when the time comes, Vancouver Daddy, should forgive his ‘daughter’ for her stupidity and blow the mother(Robertson foul language in here)er Vision’s ass into ‘political oblivion’, for good.
IMHO.
And BTW, JRoss’s site it’s not called VancouverScene, no, no, no, it’s VancouverObscene. Tz, tz, tz…eporah.
We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy.
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Alex,
I had never heard of cityscene so I took a quick look – the content is laughable and the comment count is telling – mostly zeros, some 1 and a few 2′s!! No BooHoo? No Chris Keam? No Nearly/newly edumacated? None of the usual VISION suspects – I guess they forgot to include ‘provide steady stream of comments’ in FD Element’s contract?
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I know. But as comic relief goes, it’s not that good either. It’s lowered the level of political discourse to such a level that these Vision characters are now painted with it and the stain can never be removed.
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I borrowed this:….)
Q: Why did the chicken cross the bike lane?
A: To pick up secret payments from Vision Vancouver for work as a pretend blogger.
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“Every culture has its distinctive and normal system of government. Yours is democracy, moderated by corruption. Ours is totalitarianism, moderated by assassination.”
Unknown Russian
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Unsettlingly brilliant!
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At this rate they will be invited to join the Liberals soon as it seems Vancouver city hall is the training facility for dirty tricks as you work up the ladder , oh and Re Pam Anderson be nice to our Island girls she is probably smarter than half of BCs politicians too.:}
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Too funny!
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Hi Alex, Vision? They must be “Blind” not to see their “Bright Future”? in the next election. Sarcasm, is the only way to face their continuous little (?) but expensive decisions.
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Unfortunately, there is nothing little about their mistakes or how those decisions are soaking taxpayers.
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