Home / Civic / EXCLUSIVE: The NPA Campaign on Life-Support: Anton On Both Sides of Every Issue; Klassen Back-Biting Running Mates; Traditional Supporters Staying Home With Their Wallets

EXCLUSIVE: The NPA Campaign on Life-Support: Anton On Both Sides of Every Issue; Klassen Back-Biting Running Mates; Traditional Supporters Staying Home With Their Wallets

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Not long ago, a reader sent me a link to a City Caucus blog post wherein the boys always making white noise were going after the Mayor’s main media dove Kevin Quinlan.

It was late and I was too tired to read The Economist (which I got around to this afternoon) so I risked my sanity and clicked the link.

The story, penned by Daniel Fontaine was, as per usual, uneventful, bordering on droll. It was about how Master Quinlan–once the blogger ‘Vancouver Kid’, well-prior to being Mayor Moonbeam’s staffer, posted rants that were wrong, horrible, mean, nasty, wrong, horrible, mean…did I mention nasty? I’m sorry but I can’t reproduce  the borderline illiterate meanderings of Danny even as if I were in a coma, however the gist of it was that the dolts at the Shitty Caucus garage thought this was noteworthy, newsworthy…whatever, gawd.

Well, it wasn’t until Messers Danny Fountain and Mikey Klassen accused young Quinlan of using his actually well-written and entertaining blog to promote the political movement he was part of.

I just about fell out of my chair. The irony was so goddamned thick I almost dropped a double of Mr. Walkers’ amber restorative.

Here are two politically vacant cretins that have spent the last three years littering the blogosphere with crap about how great a mayor Sham Sullivan was and how terrific Suzanne Anton is. For three years, they used credible news sources, including this blog, to promote their little Mikey and launch a not-so-clandestine effort to take over the NPA (even though Klassen denied this to me over and over again–eventually getting caught in his lie).

For three years, despite some excellent reporting on a few pertinent matters–as my Uncle Bruno in Atlanta used to say “Even a blind pig finds an acorn!”, they’ve done nothing else except:

* Promote the pre-arranged council candidacy of Mike Klassen

• Offer inordinate spinning and lavish bafflegab about Sullivan’s tenure as mayor–in perhaps one of the greatest efforts at revisionism I’ve ever had the misfortune to read.

• Unethically take advertising dollars from politicians that they would eventually have to cover “fairly” (plant tongue firmly in cheek, at will).

• Brain fart

But let’s do a little retrospective to get you in the mood my darlings…

At the NPA dinner last year outgoing NPA Parks Commissioner Ian Robertson gives what most fair-minded observers (read: without noses planted up Sam’s cushion) described as the best speech they’ve heard at an NPA dinner in years. Composed, confident and coherent, Vancouver’s favorite Commish, who led everyone from Jimmy Pattison to little old ladies through the storm crisis of 2007 and has delivered on every promise he’s ever made, landed a resounding blow to Suzanne Anton’s chances of being the mayoral candidate. In fact, she kept looking around at the thunderous applause that broke out several times, as she started to shrink in her seat. Calls to his home, emails to his Blackberry; he received what I’m told were hundreds of calls and notes from NPA members swearing off the party unless he was the candidate for mayor.

Can you imagine, with Vision as weak as they are from their three years of viral stupidity and extremism (Meggs and Deal are on the bubble with Reimer a sure loss and Stevenson polling meagerly) what a UNITED Ian Robertson team with EXCELLENT candidates could have done? Instead, Anton has attracted a few good people but mostly retreads and poseurs (led in that department by Mike Klassen).

Well, after the Commish decided to take a breather (read: could read the writing on the wall that the NPA were hopeless), and Suzie Woosie’s dimwits pushed another stellar candidate in eastside, single-dad and successful financier Rick Peterson to step aside, all she had to do was wait for super-developer (although best qualified) Rob Macdonald (have you ever heard him debate? SUPERB) to realize the city wasn’t going to elect a guy who drives a $400,000 Bentley and lives in a $10,000,000 Shaughnessy mansion (the Philip Owen days are over, lads).

So the mayoral anointing became annoying. Suzanne Antigen, whose voice isn’t played by news stations during high suicide months, became the chosen one.

And then it really started going down hill…

Notwithstanding the hyper-generous musings this morning of my highly-respected friend Jon Ferry of The Province, Suzanne’s tenure as mayoral candidate for the NPA has been absolutely dismal.

If she’s elected Mayor of Vancouver, then you know Gregor Robertson was found nude in a community center shower stall playing his tuba for Richard Simmons with Barry Manilow on organ.

Mind you, in this bizarre gin joint, that’d probably win him the entire Westend and a large swath of Kitsilano.

Anyway, the NPA haven’t been able to raise a reasonable shekel ever since Suzie’s destructive ascension to the throne Sam badly blemished–the one brave Peter Ladner tried to rescue with Kim Capri’s nail file stuck firmly in his back. And then Mikey Klassen came along and it was a full-on ‘Return of the Sams’, with Elizabeth Ball and her countless weeping shawls in tow.

Now roll forward to this last Saturday.

An NPA candidates’ meeting was held at the NPA office downtown with a majority present. The purpose was to go over policy (insert riotous laughter, here). Policy! You know! C’mon, you haven’t heard? Doggie protection (Jason LaMarche). Bike lane reviews (Suzanne Anton–the same woman who voted for them, before being against them–after which, she claims that even if a review found them as useless as we know they are, she “wouldn’t necessarily take them down.”)

Typical Suzanne: Clear as the thickest of mud.

Following? Good. Let’s move on…

After a brief anal-retentive, re-introduction of the pre-arranged agenda by campaign cocktail waitress (and former Sullivan excuse-monger) meeting chair David Hurford opened the floor for comments (assisted by Pat Kinsella cheerleader Cindi Burton). Poor Sean Bickerton had the good sense to explain that having NPA higher-ups wildly demanding candidates fees be paid NOW was severely off-putting to no end (Bickerton is exceedingly kind and a perfect gentleman–always, so this is no surprise). Not to mention, that Seaner, who is first among any of the few worthy NPA council candidates, admitted that it wasn’t easy out there.

Think about it: Their top credentialed council aspirant, who has essentially been running since the day after he lost in the last election, is having a helluva time getting money together from donors (he’s actually in better shape than he thinks since his money efforts are being helmed by fundraising powerhouse Jodi Norrison–a defector of the Sullivan ship when the nuttiness began).

Then, Conservative-HATER Jason Lamarche piped up to say that he wasn’t getting any donations either, as ‘the business community’ were making promises but ‘not delivering’. Gee, I can’t imagine why a dorky, bitter, vacant-messaged, wet-behind the ears kid that looks like he was separated at birth with Mr. Bean, and is an avowed, rabid Liberal–to the extent that he falls just short of declaring he proudly owns crates of Stephen Harper toilet paper, can’t get any money out of Vancouver’s business community; one that overwhelmingly supported the Conservatives not a few, short months ago.

Maybe he should go see David McLean or his pal Christy Clark. They’re both die-never federal Liberals who hate the Prime Minister too.

Then, (oh, I know, there’s more, there’s more…lucky saps) the show stopper: NPA leader’s pet Mike Klassen yammers some perfectly pathetic, deeply duplicitous pap about how the NPA council candidate fee went from $8,000 to $10,000 to $15,000 (plus HST), but then (in true Antonesque style–taking both sides of every issue, of course) he vomits that the fee might be worth it because of that ‘great’ NPA brand!

Excuse me while I have a thorough David Berner moment… AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!

What brand?!?

And why is Klassen even daring to open his spoonfed pie-hole??? He had his $1,000 candidate fee deposit paid for by none other than Suzanne Anton herself. The insiders all attached to Anton are quietly promoting Klassen at the EXCLUSION of all others and he couldn’t even cover his own deposit!!! Did any of the other candidates receive such favoritism? Maybe it’s why Klassen spends so much time back-biting fellow candidates and secretly hoping to sabotage their campaigns.

The candidates on council who have (at least substantially) paid are Ken Charko, Joe Carangi, Bill Yuen and Bill McCreery. There are a couple of others who’ve made some efforts, but those are the closest to the absolutely ridiculous figure demanded by the NPA (plus HST–how pathetic!) Though, Suzanne doesn’t care (she told Bob Rennie that she’d rather lose as mayoral candidate instead of representing YOU as councilor–what a leader!)

Anton (and Klassen) went to the Sullivan Jihadist School together where they graduated magna dumb loud for producing various, interlocking bomb parts in the shape of Peter Ladner’s bike seat.

Honestly…despite lawyer Joe Carangi and Bill Yuen running in the top ten of Vision’s polls, the NPA are pushing a Suzanne-led Klassen-only win and think it won’t leak? Fools…in the Vision poll Klassen didn’t even place in the top fifteen. He could win but it would be another travesty. He used and manipulated the media for three years to do this.

You heard it here first: If the NPA don’t start treating their candidates better you could see a mutiny by key candidates.

And let’s not even spend too much time on the NPA annual dinner. It was supposed to happen last month, but due to a dearth of interest (and the fact they’re too dim to have brought back the delightful and brilliant Sheila Beveridge), it’s been pushed off to November 3rd.

Bottom line: The NPA campaign is a contemptible joke. Campaign chief Norman Stowe’s crew at the Pace Group are collecting healthy sums for counting cookies and stacking saucers. The train of “contractors” I’m told, is seemingly endless.

Guess all three VOLUNTEER positions were taken.

Rob Macdonald and Peter Armstrong are friends of mine–very good friends and they always will be. But that they have decided to helm this thing while Suzanne is steering it to the rocks has to privately flummox men of that stature.

Then again…if what remains falls into the hands of Armstrong and Macdonald, you can bet that fools like Klassen, Anton and Co will be gone and Mayor Moonbeam and his sickening socialist movement will be in deep trouble by the time 2013 rolls around. Armstrong and Macdonald didn’t get to where they are by suffering fools. So Gregor and his merry band of car-haters will be in a considerable depth of hot water.

That is if, by then,  there are any streets, bridges or viaducts left for you to travel with your children and remember a once proud city named Vancouver.

 

 

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Author: Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2011 
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55 Responses to “EXCLUSIVE: The NPA Campaign on Life-Support: Anton On Both Sides of Every Issue; Klassen Back-Biting Running Mates; Traditional Supporters Staying Home With Their Wallets”
  1. ∞² says:
    October 5, 2011 at 11:28 PM

    Vancouver taxpayers will soon be pining for the days when their biggest worry was homes for wayward chickens.

    BTW: I saw one of Vancouver’s runaway chickens on the corner of Highway 10 and Scott Road a couple of weeks ago (Surrey side).

    Reply
  2. harry lawson says:
    October 6, 2011 at 12:06 AM

    wow great column, regretfully most good future politicians are run over by the political machines. so many good people are kept out of politics due to the high personal and financial cost.

    you would think that the party would cover the financial cost for electable candidates out of general revenue

    good candidates, good policy that is what brings donations .

    when you have special interest politicians you end up with a special needs government

    Reply
  3. Sean in Vancouver says:
    October 6, 2011 at 3:57 AM

    Well Alex, stranger things have happened.

    In Manitoba, polls had it that 60%+ of the voters wanted change; most Manitobans were tired of the tax and spend and big debt of their governing NDP….The Manitoba PCs were about ten points ahead in the polls….And then what, they overwhelmingly reelected them!

    I expect a similar result in Ontario later this day. People complain incessantly about government waste and high taxes….but they still willingly vote them back in again and again….and complain about high taxes and too much money being spent financing government debt.

    Normally, I’d be more than happy to support the full slate of NPA candidates. But, especially with Anton and Klassen at the helm, I will either stay at home or vote for Vancouver Vision.

    Did you know that the NPA can’t even run a full slate of candidates? They’ve only nominated about five or six school trustee candidates (there are nine positions available) and six of the seven parks board candidates!

    I also work in the Dunbar/Kerrisdale area, and many staunch NPA types would more than be happy to have the City boot Vision out of office, but can’t bring themselves to vote for the Anton led NPA.

    And, what the hell happened? How could one of Canada’s most successful political organizations just disintegrate? The Vancouver Civic Non-Partisan Association governed this city of ours for most of the years since 1937, and they’ve come down to this!

    Well, if the business community in Manitoba has to work with the NDP government there, and the business community has to work with McGuinty in Ontario…I’m sure they are more than willing to tolerate and work with Gregor and his crew.

    All the best Alex, and thanks for a great column.

    Reply
  4. Seymour Forest says:
    October 6, 2011 at 10:37 AM

    (head in hands).. aww mann, where do we begin with this one?

    Why would Klassen, a self styled success story have HIS candidate fee paid for by a Mayoralty candidate? That breaks even the most basic aspects of being a candidate.

    Then there was Anton’s “let’s study the bike lanes before we do anything” proposal. More money being spent by Clowncil on a study that does not need to exist.

    Basic rule broken in regards to Norman Stowe. Many positions in a campaign ARE volunteer. They aren’t make work projects for “chosen people”>. Makes a big difference when you’re planning the next canvass session, neighbourhood coffee, etc. as a volunteer than it is doing those things knowing there will be a sizable deposit entry after your regualr paycheque deposit on your TD chequing account the next morning.

    No wonder parties have difficulty in getting and keeping volunteers.

    It always seems to be the same people over and over again that get the cheques even though many of those same people are not very good at what they keep telling anyone who will listen to them that they are the best out there.

    Makes ya sick, doesn’t it?

    Reply
    • AGT says:
      October 6, 2011 at 10:49 AM

      Yeah, it absolutely does. It’s stunning frankly. I can’t believe what a rudderless ship they are.

      It’s not just the unethical nature of Klassen accepting to have his candidate fee being paid by the mayoral candidate but what about Suzanne herself? Did she not think that was unethical? What do the other candidates think?

      Anton STUPIDITY in offering up a study on bike lanes is CRAZY. She should be ashamed. She’s done nothing while on council except offer up fluff. She supported $25,000,000 PLUS in useless cycling infrastructure but now says she wants to study it??????? What does that say about her lack of judgement?!

      And yeah, Stowe’s company collecting thousands upon thousands while he’s running around telling everybody he’s doing this for free is abominable.

      Anyway, it’ll all be over soon enough.

      Reply
  5. Josef says:
    October 6, 2011 at 11:29 AM

    I read a third of this and decided to drop Klassen from my fantasy political team (same as fantasy football). Thank you.

    Reply
  6. SJPF says:
    October 6, 2011 at 12:05 PM

    Alex, I can’t tell you how uncanny this post is. It’s the same conversation thread I’ve been having with other fellow-NPA supporters for about the past two weeks – that this campaign is indeed a slow-moving train wreck. The question I’m now asking is – much to my complete disbelief – what does a Vision Vancouver membership card look like? At this point, what are the viable alternatives for civic-minded Vancouver residents who have come to the painful conclusion that the NPA’s death certificate was signed on election day ’08, sealed when they decided to do NOTHING to rejuvenate the stale old brand, and delivered when Norman Stowe was handed the reigns of the ’11 campaign?

    Reply
    • AGT says:
      October 6, 2011 at 1:14 PM

      There are no alternatives. The party is going down to certain defeat and it will need to be rebuilt over the next three years.

      Reply
      • Henry says:
        October 7, 2011 at 1:07 PM

        And why is the NPA fielding a slate of tired old white men and one old white woman are they that far gone that they can’t even find anyone? AGT can you tell me why the indo candidate left the NPA. I know he was a federal candidate and he was a great speaker (I had attended a debate and heard him speak). They have a few candidates that are I believe 70+ years old and others that not one person I know has any clue who they are.

        Reply
        • AGT says:
          October 7, 2011 at 1:14 PM

          You raise some very good questions.

          The Indo candidate you are referring to is a chap named Jesse Johl. I understand from sources inside the NPA that the primary problem was that he couldn’t keep his mouth quiet about all the obvious problems.

          So they shot the messenger.

          Reply
  7. George says:
    October 6, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    For me the majority of candidates running for the NPA are fluffy, i was hoping that in the past 3 years there would have been a great deal of work being done to garner a quality roster of candidates..

    I question several of the candidates qualifications…Jason Lamarsh…puppies, seriously!! I have yet to hear that this man actually holds a job anywhere. what does he do…or better yet what will he do for all of the voting cat owners in the city..or non pet owners for that matter…

    I haven’t yet heard anything from Mellissa DeGenova, except her rather pretentious posts on Facebook..sadly I think she is running on name recognition rather than substance.

    Anton I haven’t been impressed with her campaign nor do I see any substance. I haven’t heard anything from Mike Klassen except he is in every photo with Anton… I was called during their town hall robo call..not one question was answered about the DTES by Anton.

    Neither has Mike Klassen offered any opinions on change….and I do agree with you Alex that his writing for City Caucus and not being honest about his intention to run for office, has given him a very unfair advantage..
    I worry about the honesty of that kind of candidate. To me it is a kind of information mining, access to emails, names etc…. for me that crosses boundaries of integrity and privacy.

    Other than 3-4 candidates on this team the impression I’m getting is that the NPA have become even more elitist that they were previously.

    I have spoken to Bill McCreery at great length and he will get my vote…as well as Sean Bickerton. . the next month I will be listening closely and voting for individuals as opposed to a party…so far there are no Vision candidates are on my dance card…

    I’m looking very closely at Independents that are running and giving them serious consideration…still hoping a few surprises pop up….

    I really like Glissando Remmy…sadly I don’t think he/she is running…yet…;)

    Reply
  8. DonGar says:
    October 6, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    Where are they hiding the Olympic Village issue these days? NPA brought us the problem and vision made it 100 times worse.

    Reply
  9. Hoof- Hearted says:
    October 6, 2011 at 4:26 PM

    Ok..

    I think I get it…..

    You want us to write Willy V..D. Zalm on the Nov 2011 civic ballot…(even if we don’t live in the village of Vancouver).

    Reply
  10. Jay says:
    October 6, 2011 at 4:55 PM

    Regardless of how bad any of the other parties are, I am going to vote for anybody but any candidates or current members of vision.. They have done enough damage…

    Reply
  11. Peter says:
    October 6, 2011 at 5:39 PM

    Everything you have said Alex is exactly what we have been hearing for months… the party is broke, they have people who don’t know what they are doing running the party / campaign etc

    As an NPA supporter I can not vote for Anton or her hand picked pack of no names. The only person I have ever seen out and about or in the news is that Joe Caranggi fellow.

    Looks like I will vote Vision Cope Green and Joe Caranggi (sorry if i got your name wrong) I won’t vote for people who think I should just vote slate and do nothing but put their name on the ballot.

    Reply
  12. gasp says:
    October 6, 2011 at 10:22 PM

    I still can’t understand why the NPA let Suzanne Anton be their candidate for Mayor – was it just because she managed to get elected last time? Did they think they owed it to her? Why not someone new who could bring inspire people?

    Anyway, I won’t vote for anyone who has been on either of the last two City Councils. I’m tired of all the political posturing between the various parties and their focus on issues that are relevant only to a few special interest groups . I’m also tired of them gouging property owners and demonizing car drivers while expecting us to support their never-ending wish list for public expenditures through our taxes. Neither of these Councils have done anything to improve the City for the majority of the people who live here – both have been focused on changing the City into something else for their own political benefit – and using the environmental agenda to justify it. Meanwhile the City becomes more expensive, congested and polluted and our quality of life has suffered.

    Since there is so little selection, I’ll probably be voting for very few candidates on election day. I don’t know anyone who likes Robertson or Anton, so I’m sure many people will find themselves doing the same. Regardless of who wins, we’ll be suffering through another 3 years of mismanagement of this City.

    Reply
  13. Derek says:
    October 6, 2011 at 10:24 PM

    LMAO!! Then started to cry. Great writing, Alex.

    No, I am not making my 42 year old Roller into a chicken coop. Yes, I will continue to drive it occasionally. I’ll aim for Hornby and Dunsmuir Streets to aim fumes at the cyclists. City Hall too, where I’ll sit and idle for the maximum 2 minutes.

    Meanwhile the execs at Chevron are applauding the increase in petrol sales due to my activities.

    Reply
  14. Henry says:
    October 7, 2011 at 12:57 PM

    Alex not only did your blog make me laugh but it made a lot of my friends who were NPA supporters laugh to the point of tears.

    I have had a chance to talk to some of the NPA ‘candidates’ and I will not vote for most of them except Joe ? who was on the news last night and seemed genuine. The rest of the pathetic crew seem to be Anton lackeys. Even that Bill McCreery who seemed like a reasonable guy turned around and started to spew the gospel of Anton which quickly took him off my list and Sean Bickerton who someone mentioned above was against the casino and then supported Anton who voted against the casiono and then proceeded to advocate for it right after the vote on CKNW.

    Can anyone tell me why the NPA candidates don’t speak their mind and distance themselves from the street car to no where Anton?

    No Alex I think your blog post is spot on and the NPA are headed for disaster with no hope in sight.

    Count us 7 NPA supporters who will not vote for the Anton lead NPA slate.

    Reply
  15. rat patrol says:
    October 7, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    I’ve heard that the squeak that needs to be greased stemmed from Al de Genova’s daughter MELISSA DE GENOVA who’s running for park board and who has said many a time that “this campaign is a gong show and I’ll be running my own campaign”. It all stems from the fact that Al and his daughter can’t stand Suzanne Anton and that Mike Klassen is an unemployed blogger who would have never been allowed to run if the old board of Paul Barbeau or any other candidate were in Power. Word on the street is that Peter Armstrong wants to run for mayor one day and the rail-roadin’ man himself is banking on the STREET CAR NAMED ANTON to crashing and burning into the BIKE LANE named ROBERTSON. As the saying goes “East is East and West is West…and never the TRAIN shall meet”

    Reply
    • AGT says:
      October 7, 2011 at 9:01 PM

      Sounds right to me. I served on Barbeau’s Board and for any of the logistical differences we had (read: reigning in Greg Wilson) we ha a common purpose. This curren campaign is, in part, led by Mike Davis and others like Sam’s PR hack David Hurford, both of whom contributed to the gong show of the last three years. Klassen is so unqualified to be anywhere near public office that it’s tragic to even be raising his name. And Anton is so terribly unqualified that her candidacy should be considered a crime.

      Reply
  16. Save Vancouver says:
    October 8, 2011 at 10:42 AM

    Well, unless you’re calling your good friend Peter Armstrong a liar, the NPA has reportedly been raising a lot of money. If Anton isn’t the best candidiate then Ian Robertson, Rob Macdonald and company should have had the balls to step up and run, and not be frightened off by someone you report to be a lightweight. And Anton has certainly been getting a lot of media profile with her announcements, compared to Gregor. And all we have heard from ex-candididate Ladner is random Gregoresque rantings about growing lettuce in your backyard.

    So I guess you choose to invite the Visionistas in here to say what a bad slate the NPA has and get Mayor Moonbeam and his gang of idealogue hacks re-elected. Shame, as this city will be irreparably damaged if they get in again.

    Reply
    • AGT says:
      October 9, 2011 at 3:30 PM

      1) Go piss up a rope: What would you expect anyone who is leading such a stupid woman to say? Did you expect Peter to give you the straight goods? He was NO CHOICE. Money is coming in, yes, but NOWHERE as easily as it used to and complaints about the mayoral candidate abound–including from prominent candidates.
      2) Robertson chose his job and the fact that the NPA board had spent THREE YEARS destroying any platform that would be necessary to have even half a chance against Gregor. Macdonald did the same thing but also had a small heart issue that he thought might need more rest than the role of mayor would afford. You don’t understand campaigns very well, clearly. But I don’t have such issues.
      3) Anton has been getting better profile than Gregor? You’re delusional.
      4) Ladner’s idiotic comments about food security notwithstanding, it was honourable to lose with Peter, who is at least a decent guy, than someone like Sam who used everyone to get him across the goal line and then chose Fontaine, Lilly and Hurford–three dunces, to destroy any chance of righting the ship. His policies wouldn’t have last two seconds with anyone in their right mind.
      5) I know EVER SINGLE one of the commenters that came here to write of their disgruntlement with the NPA: They are ALL members.
      6) If you want to yell shame, look in the mirror. You are part of the problem. The NPA must PURGE all the Samities and the remains of the Suzanne years in order to see some light. Otherwise, it risks irrelevancy.

      Your comments are ill-informed and ridiculous.

      Reply
  17. Save Vancouver says:
    October 9, 2011 at 5:48 PM

    Really AGT? So Anton managed to coerce both Armstrong and Rob Macdonald into working on her campaign? They could have just said “no thanks I’m busy with a strike” or “sorry, I’ve got a heart condition” and sat this one out. Nothing dishonourable about either choice.

    Now, I don’t know Suzanne personally, maybe you do. But she doesn’t strike me as some power mad harpy hellbent on seizing the mayor’s chair, if someone else had been willing to step up. In fact, when you consider how completely disrespectful Gregor and Vision have been to her as the sole opposition councillor, she must have some pretty broad shoulders.

    Mulroney had a saying “Ya dance with the lady what brung ya”. Good advice in this case, unless folks want to see Mayor Moonbeam have three more flakey years to gut downtown and set this city on a permanent course to irrelevance.

    Reply
    • AGT says:
      October 9, 2011 at 6:15 PM

      You still don’t get it, which doesn’t surprise me based on your comments. Rob and Peter aren’t there because of Suzanne. They’re there because they want to help the NPA survive. she didn’t coerce anyone. She simply used everything she could to be the candidate. She told Bob Rennie that she’d rather lose as the NPA mayoral candidate than another term on council. Maybe that’s what you call leadership and public service. I don’t.

      Peter and Rob are very intelligent and equally resourceful. It wouldn’t be the first LONG-TERM project either of them has taken on.

      It’s not going well, no matter how you want to slice it.

      Glad, as well, that you admit your ignorance, so let me help you since you’ve fallen just short of admitting what is now plainly obvious: Where Suzanne Anton is concerned, you don’t know your ass from a hole in the ground.

      I know Suzanne VERY well. I’ve been to her home many times for various functions. I’ve met with her privately. I chaired the NPA caucus support committee while I was on the NPA Board. She never attended ONE meeting. Always complained about anything and everything. Went after Al DeGenova every opportunity she could and HATED Peter Ladner–which she showed while repeatedly stabbing him in the back during his mayoral run. She is megalomaniacal. Has no sense of policy direction. Sits on both aides of every issue. Is hated by the media. Despised by key running mates and colleagues. Routinely prostitutes her perpetually shifting opinions and is generally useless as a public servant, only concerned about building profile.

      It’s always all about her.

      Please peddle your drivel elsewhere.

      Reply
      • Save Vancouver says:
        October 9, 2011 at 6:24 PM

        As I said, I’ll defer to your opinion if you know her, as you apparently do. I don’t, but I do know one thing: we can’t let Robertson get another term. At the very least, he cannot have another Vision/COPE majority on council or nobody will be able to undo the damage in three years. Your thoughts on that?

        Reply
        • AGT says:
          October 9, 2011 at 6:42 PM

          Okay, perhaps we’re getting somewhere.

          I’m the one who nicknamed Gregor ‘Mayor Moonbeam’. I’ve HAMMERED them relentlessly and mercilessly.

          Another three years would be a disaster, but that’s exactly what we’re going to get thanks to Suzanne Anton and her fluffer Mike Klassen.

          Weak candidates don’t deliver successful campaigns.

          Reply
  18. Gerry McGuire says:
    October 10, 2011 at 7:01 AM

    All this talk of “saving the NPA”. What are the “NPA”‘s ideals and beliefs in relation to a city wide planning process and neighbourhood consultation? Is the “NPA”or is the “NPA” not broadly representative of the electors of Vancouver, or is it as I glean from your reportage a private club for the rich coming apart at the seams because of internecine rivalries? When I decided to run for Mayor two years ago, it was recommended that I aim for the NPA nomination, since Gregor had a stranglehold on Vision. I rejected that idea as I considered and still do consider the “NPA” a spent force. Anton’s candidacy is the clearest confirmation of my opinion imaginable. I am running a campaign based on a policy of responsible fiscal management and transparency, and have a clear idea of what role development and developers should play in servicing the public. Whether the “NPA” survives or not depends on it’s establishing a clear set of values and policies based on traditional democratic principles of openness and accountability to both it’s membership and the public. Meanwhile, I’ll run for Mayor as an independent. Everyone’s invited to my campaign launch/social Tuesday Oct 11 7-9 pm at the West End Community Center Bidwell Room. Free nibbles and refreshments. Thanks.

    Reply
  19. Ken says:
    October 10, 2011 at 1:28 PM

    I have now had the chance to read the various comments about the NPA, Suzanne Anton and Mike Klassen as well as a couple of other Candidates running for the NPA. My first thought was to not comment as most people I know, that have been in politics longer then I would advise. So keeping their advice in mind I will try and be clear and short in my general response to the above comments.

    Here are some points from someone inside the campaign.

    1. Suzanne — has been a great leader and I am proud to be running with her.
    2. Mike Klassen — I have sat with him on a number of occasions and he does deserve to not only be running but the city would be better off if he is elected.
    3. Jason — Great guy has a depth of knowledge of City issues and if he is elected the city would be better off.

    My main reason for witting is too try and understand the Hate!! I can understand it from Vision or Cope supporters but why from people that seem to be natural NPA s supporters?

    4. Every candidate that is running is not only qualified but would be an improvement from what we have had the last three years.

    As for myself — It’s an honour to be running as a Vancouver City Council Candidate for the NPA. An organization I have supported for well over 10 years. I have executive experience managing over 200 staff with a budget of over 10 million. I have invested $300 000 into the Dunbar Theatre and had to build various retail outlets though-out the GRVD. I have a good understanding of how not only Vancouver works but also how it compares to other cities. I am a fiscal Conservative and also think I am qualified to run for Vancouver City Council.

    So in closing if anyone would like to meet with me and talk about your various concerns please let me know I will make myself available. I would like all of us to work together to bring positive change to Vancouver and I hope some of those on this blog can help

    Ken Charko

    P.S. I know it’s not short but I am a politician after all and this is short for a politician

    Reply
    • AGT says:
      October 10, 2011 at 2:28 PM

      Ken, this is very big of you. Your accomplishments are great and you deserve a council seat–you’ll certainly be getting an endorsement from me.

      But you’re political judgement STINKS to High Heaven.

      1) Can you please name the three things Suzanne stands for that she hasn’t either voted with Vision with or has made that have defined your campaign?
      2) You’ve sat with Mike Klassen? So have I. Please name three things that Mike has done during this campaign that make him a good candidate for election. And don’t include being able to read a balance sheet–which is essential.
      3) Please name three main policies that are vital to the future of this city that Jason Lamarche has championed. Please name any major endorsement he has received by a long-standing conservative–you are, after all, running with a coalition party.
      4) Hate? Please show me where there is “hate” for any of these people. Perhaps for their policies or lack thereof, or any of the myriad of lies Mike has told, Suzanne has sold?

      So, to summarize:

      a) It doesn’t bother you that Suzanne is telling people to vote for Mike before you or your colleagues.
      b) It worries you not that the mayoral candidate that you consider stellar is playing favourites–specifically with Mike, when she pays his $1,000 candidate fee deposit. Did she pay yours? Is this at all fair?
      c) It’s perfectly acceptable for you to listen to Lamarche drone on about dogs when we’re going to be in the hole a few hundred million just on the Olympic Village?
      d) You’re unconcerned that Klassen is running around town telling people that the NPA insiders want him on before any of the rest of you? Shall I name those people for you?

      You’re happy and proud to be running with this bunch, eh?

      Makes perfect sense. Best of luck, Ken.

      You should have really taken the advice of your advisors. You know goddamned well that not a single thing you wrote is true.

      Reply
  20. Save Vancouver says:
    October 10, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    First I’d like to thank Ken for a few things: coming into the Lions Den; looking to serve his city; and last but not least for keeping the lights on at the Dunbar, one of the city’s best movie houses. I hope that even those who have posted anti-Anton comments will mark their ballot for him. And it never hurts to remind people you don’t have to vote for a full slate. No reason to pad Gregor’s vote tally.

    Which leads me into my next thought. Even if you dislike the NPA slate is it worse than Vision? Upthread Sean in Vancouver said he’d rather vote Vision than for any of the NPA candidates – seriously? You’d rather have to listen to that gasbag Geoff Meggs or Andrea Reimer for another three years?! If Vision gets in again kiss the viaducts goodbye, the results of their “study” are a given. What will be next in their gunsights? Maybe the Granville Street Bridge. I noticed traffic counters on Main Street last week, probably the prelude to another set of “trial” separated bike lanes that will wipe out the hard work small entrepeneurs have done transforming that street from trashy to trendy?

    I was interested in Alex’s comment about losing an all volunteer campaign. Is that even possible anymore now that Vision changed the game thanks to deep-pocketed foreign sugar daddies?

    I fear a city where the traditional NPA base disappears, sold out to rich foreigners who don’t give a rat’s ass about their summer home’s civic politics. Where the basesment suite dwellers are all that’s left, and they’ll vote for their flaky idol Mayor Moonbeam (love that term AGT) because they’ve bought into his gospel that riding a bike is a sign of progress, rather than seeing it for the indicator of economic decline that it is.

    Reply
    • AGT says:
      October 10, 2011 at 10:16 PM

      You ask some very valid questions:

      1) The will always be an NPA base. A good portion has eroded because city govt used to be about a steady hand on the tiller. But WE changed it when we allowed people like Gordon Price and Peter Ladner a foot in the door. They were both reasonably good councilors, but they went overboard on the environmental crap. Suzanne is part of that ilk and it’s complete horse shit. We lost the Jonathan Bakers, Don Bellamys and Lynne Kenndys and replaced them with the likes of Sam Sullivan, Elizabeth Ball and Kim Capri. Think about it: Why should the NPA traditional base come out again, in force? For Mike Klassen and Jason Lamarche? They’re TOTALLY unqualified to be anywhere near council.
      2) I’ve NEVER said I want to see Vision Vancouver ruling the roost. I endorsed a good number of them in the last election and they proved DISASTERS! But the NPA team is similarly disastrous. Please don’t make me go down the list and prove it. I like some of these people. But only a handful should be there.
      3) The notion that we can’t have volunteers on political campaigns has nothing to do with Vision or anyone else. People will work when inspired. When’s the last time we’ve had a inspirational political figure? I can tell you from working on her campaign in 2005: Dianne Watts had TONS of volunteers, as does Derek Corrigan. People stand up to be counted when you inspire them. Gregor was NEVER inspirational. It’s not in his DNA. And Suzanne always sounds like she’s beginning a eulogy.

      Trsut me. My pain is no less than yours. I want what’s best for this city too. But this crew of NPAers ain’t it.

      Look, on the weekend, Shitty Caucus, who are being paid by the NPA to advertise for ALL their candidates just announced that they will NOT endorse all candidates. Does that sound ethical to you?

      Reply

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