Credit the evil bald one, he's found his shot of John Tory and rural separatist/Ontario PC candidate Randy Hillier in the same place at once.In the past Randy has advocated, through his position as President of the OLA (Ontario Land Owners, whose banner you see here), that rural Ontario separate from the rest of the province:
For rural Ontario to breathe freely once again the urban political noose must be cut from its neck, and a new province formed, liberated from the tyranny of the silent mob majority.
Especially interesting in this regard are John Tory's remarks on Shawn Brant and the June 29th Aboriginal day of protests:
"People have to understand that if they take the law into their own hands, there are going to be consequences for that,'' Tory said following his speech to the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police in Waterloo, Ont. "We cannot allow a precedent to be established for anybody.''
Contrast these with his more nuanced take on Mr. Hillier's shutting down the 401 for three hours in 2005 in support of his separatist goals:
Quite different, no? For what were identical acts. Perhaps its time to ask Mr. Tory what he intends to call Hillier's new province.
21 comments:
Let me preempt the BT:
"Yeah but that's different....Hillier is white!"
Well, I am going to shock you Mike. I find the Hillier thing very disturbing. I would like to hear John Tory's explanation of why he let this candidate stand. Tory is so centrist that it doesn't make any sense.
The Tories had to put an ad in the paper to try to find a candidate and Hillier was the one who answered, I guess.
John Tory obviously isn't being very careful - is that how he'd runt he province?
that boy don't look native . . but if is shutting down highways, he must be.
This is what John Tory said.
Toronto Star, Sue lawbreakers, Tory urges:
Environmentalists, union members, First Nations protesters or anyone who engages in illegal blockades and occupations should be taken to court and sued to recover the costs of their actions, Ontario Opposition Leader John Tory said today.
...
"Whether it's a group that is protesting some kind of environmental incident, or farmers protesting government policy, or whether it's a First Nations group protesting what are very legitimate land claims, people cannot take the law into their own hands," Tory said in an interview.
John Tory would treat Mr. Hillier the same as he would Mr. Brant.
Now, discuss.
Jim,
Where was he in 2005? And where is he now on Hillier's actions in 2005? Mildly rebuking an action two years after the fact is the definition of lame.
What would be useful is if Hillier himself were to come out, renounce his past actions, and tell the OLA that they will not have his support if they try anything similar in the future.
Well, I am going to shock you Mike.
Yeah...that this is the first time you've heard of this comes as a shock to everyone, I'm sure.
I'm not defending Mr. Hillier, especially not his viewpoints or his inability to control his spouting of his opinions. He completely misses the mark in reporting genuine frustrations felt by farmers.
The Tories in 2005 used the protest to direct a light on the frustrations felt by farmers (under PC and Liberal governments alike). That's not unusual - that's politics.
That said, the crux of your argument was that Mr. Tory would treat Mr. Hillier differently.
That's not true. You can call it "lame", but that doesn't make it less true.
This is Ontario PC policy in 2007. I expect Mr. Hillier to respect it, or to sit as an independent.
Centrist, Joanne?
The only proof people need to prove John Tory is not one is the fact you support him. He has to be the biggest prick and bigot out there to get your ringing endorsement.
Like your Harper cheerleading on issues that turns most people away even looking at the man.
Actually, Jay, I am inclined to accept Tory's claim that he is personally a centrist. But clearly he has not wrested the party machinery away from its wingnut fringe. Tory could have rejected Hillier and that would have been a wonderful Sistah Souljah moment. In fact, that is what he should have done if he wanted to be competitive in TO. But my understanding is he caved to the local PC organization.
John Tory has a seperatist as his candidate. The fact that he didn't say, "listen Randy, you don't fit in with the PCs, run as an independant" speaks volumes about Tory.
He lost my vote right there.
The PC's haven't had enough time to clean house. The only trash that left are now federal politicians.
I would also like to see John Tory make a good promise to potential voters that will be done should he be elected this time, and not in his second term.
As I understand Mr. Tory's idea, he wants the government to be able to sue protestors for the cost of policing the protest.
Last year, Mr. Tory came uninvited to Caledonia and delivered an anti-Ginty speech to an anti-native mob. Extra police were called in because of the likelihood that Mr. Tory's visit would spur trouble.
I think Tory has every right to speak in public wherever he wants. So do all Canadians.
The idea of suing protestors will only stifle dissent and free speech.
Just a couple months ago, tobacco farmers shut down the portion of Ontario Highway #3 on which Diane Finley's Simcoe constituency office is located. Local businesses at the strip mall across from Diane's office lost a day's business. This wasn't 2 years ago. It was 2 months ago -- after Tory's plan to sue protestors had been made public. He was silent on the tobacco farmers' breaking of the law.
This is a dangerous idea. It poses a serious threat to freedom of expression and to democracy itself.
JB
To treat somebody differently because of their race is unacceptable. Mohawks get a free pass when employing terrorist tactics, blocking road or rail ways, occupying homes, etc., so whitey should get the same treatment.
In fact, that is what he should have done if he wanted to be competitive in TO. But my understanding is he caved to the local PC organization.
Big mistake. And just for the record, I'm not sold on Tory.
"Mohawks get a free pass when employing terrorist tactics, blocking road or rail ways, occupying homes, etc., so whitey should get the same treatment."
Shawn Brant surrendered himself to the police and has been charged over the National Day of Action blockade. He's in jail right now and will likely go to prison for his leadership of the blockade.
Dudley George was killed by the OPP for his part in a peaceful occupation.
Hillier? Not only has he never been charged for leading blockades, he's running for the PC party as an endorsed candidate.
Same treatment?
JB
when employing terrorist tactics...
Take a deep breath, Drama Queen. No one's a terrorist...yet.
And just for the record, I'm not sold on Tory.
Care to elaborate, JoanneGal? Seems like most Con's here in my part of Ontariariario are pretty strong JT backers.
I reckon I ain't a John Tory expert but from what I been readin', he's been sorta liberal in the number of uncosted promises he's made -- like he might turn out to either hafta break a lot promises (like Ginty) or else tax an' spend (like Ginty).
He's a good lookin' feller in that stable, businessman sorta way. I reckon he's a good speaker an' he dresses okay, too. I ain't sold on his qualifications or experience. His poor judgment on this Hillier candidacy bothers me, too. I thought his foray into the Caledonia tinderbox was an incendiary and unnecessary intrusion into a federal dispute.
That's why I ain't sold but what about you, Joanne?
JB
That's why I ain't sold but what about you, Joanne?
I find him uninspiring as a leader. Which isn't to say that I would vote Liberal. Actually I think that Howard Hampton is a good leader, but bad memories of Bob Rae... *shudder*.
Those red suspenders are freaking me out. I'm sure they aren't representative of some deeper meaning, but still, seeing them in those two pictures like that made me do a double take.
Here's a hint. If you're seen as a bit of a hard-right rural separatist maybe red suspenders isn't the best thing your image consultant could suggest. I mean, seriously. I hope he doesn't shave his head.
Joanne's review of Château Léoville-Poyferré 1983:
I find it uninspiring as a wine. Which isn't to say that I would select Gould Campbell Vintage Port 1977.. Actually I think that Château la Conseillante 2000 is a serviceable vintage, but bad memories of Château Branaire-Ducru 1992 ...*shudder*.
...after which she yakked it all up in the toilet.
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