October 15th, 2008 Andrew Cash
By Andrew Cash
My plan is to cab it up to Dundas West to Gerard Kennedy’s election party, soak up a few losing vibes there and then head back down to Bloor for the Peggy Nash victory bash.
The atmosphere is muted just after the polls close, a few dozen Kennedy faithful and some television cameras sitting around in the Flamingo Banquet Hall on what I presume is Kennedy’s political death watch.
Soon, however, Kennedy is 1,000 votes in front of Nash. Suddenly, there are more people in the small hall, the volume is louder, the beer caps are popping and, oops, looks like I went to the wrong party first.
Yet it’s a victory that comes with mixed feelings, and those are on display. The crowd cheers when Kennedy arrives, but there’s none of that unbridled enthusiasm usually on display at election-night victory celebrations, especially unexpected ones.
Kennedy dodged a bullet here. If he hadn’t won Parkdale-High Park, not only would his political career have been over, with hundreds of thousands of dollars still owing on his leadership campaign, but history would remember him primarily for his decision to back the hapless Stéphane Dion.
Perhaps the reason for the muted enthusiasm here is the Liberal bloodletting ahead.
Kennedy’s victory is a loss for Parkdale-High Park. Sure, he’s a compelling figure – he’s hard not to fall for. But he’s going to be subsumed by the Liberal psychodrama in Ottawa whether he wants to be or not.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in All Blog Posts, Canadian, General, Now Magazine, Politics | No Comments »
October 8th, 2008 Andrew Cash
Libs and NDP can take power through an accord – if they can ditch oversized egos
By Andrew Cash
As opposition candidates furiously scramble for your vote, try this one on them when they knock on your door: coalition government.
Other than oversized egos and playground immaturity, there is no good reason why the Libs, the NDP and possibly the Bloc and the Greens (if they elect someone) couldn’t cobble together a working – hell, an exciting – government that really does represent the majority of Canadians.
It’s either that or more of Harper’s take-no-prisoners minority stylings. So if you don’t relish the idea of another election in two years (that would make four in six years), there are alternatives.
But pols and the Canadian people need to fasten their seat belts and get ready for it.
Pre-eminent Canadian constitutional expert Peter Russell thinks that both Stéphane Dion and Jack Layton need to begin making a Plan B, assuming that each of their Plan As – becoming PM – doesn’t go as planned.
“Plan B would give the Governor General an option she didn’t have when Harper arrogantly asked for the dissolution of the last Parliament,” he says.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in All Blog Posts, Canadian, Now Magazine, Politics | No Comments »
October 8th, 2008 Andrew Cash
We don’t care if our leaders are strong – we only want them to look it
By Andrew Cash
With the financial crisis deepening day by day, the pundits are finally framing the election as “Who will be the best leader in a disintegrating economy?”
But I’m doubtful that’s what the discourse is really about. More likely, the real question is: “Who has the best look of leadership?”
Stéphane Dion appears sincere, emotional but ineffectual; Stephen Harper avuncular, measured but oblivious. And Jack Layton? He looks like he’s going to run a half-marathon as soon as he finishes the interview.
So what do we want in a leader anyway?
According to former Jean Chretien strategist Warren Kinsella, “Leadership hinges on portraying strength, certainty and the sense that this leader is someone who is like you. It boils down to 70 per cent appearance, 10 per cent what you actually say and 20 per cent how you say it.”
Generally, experts say the public prefers candidates who broadcast steadfastness but stay cool. “Usually, those who show a lot of emotion tend not to get elected,” says Harold Simpkins, a marketing prof at Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business in Montreal.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in All Blog Posts, Canadian, General, Now Magazine, Politics | No Comments »
September 23rd, 2008 Andrew Cash
Tarnished golden boy tries to resurrect hope against people’s choice Nash
By Andrew Cash
It’s a glorious, sunny Saturday morning, the second-last day of summer, but Gerard Kennedy is standing in the middle of a shitstorm.
Mainstreeting on posh Bloor West Village, where even the No Frills seems high-end, Kennedy, shirt sleeves rolled up, suit jacket perpetually thrown over his shoulder, spends much of the morning sticking up for the guy he made Liberal boss, Stéphane Dion.
“You picked the wrong guy,” says more than one passerby.
“You should have been the leader,” remark others.
A number of the locals stop to give him an earful about how bad Dion’s sales job of the Green Shift has been.
While it isn’t all bad news, it’s clear that there’s more on the line for Kennedy than simply knocking off popular NDP incumbent Peggy Nash. Like maybe his political career.
“That’s a no-brainer,” he says of the stakes in this campaign.
He’s still in debt from his failed leadership bid, his party’s campaign has yet to catch a big wave, and many blame him as leadership kingmaker. The former provincial education minister needs a win.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in All Blog Posts, Canadian, Now Magazine, Politics, Toronto | No Comments »
September 17th, 2008 Andrew Cash
Special report: banning handguns in Canada
By Andrew Cash
Cons shooting holes in global gun-control efforts
If you’re wondering whether you’ve missed any gun talk thus far in the federal election, don’t worry. Not a single rhetorical shot’s been fired – yet.
One reason the issue is taking its time is that the Tories have put a muzzle on their gun-loving supporters in hopes of wooing urban voters with a piano-playing, cardiganed teddy bear.
But in rural areas, these Reformers in Tory blue continue to play the gun card, fanning the still seething flames of anger over the Liberal gun registry.
In one Tory election mail-out to the rural Ontario riding of Leeds-Grenville, a friendly-looking farmer is pictured beside the headline “Gun criminal, hmmmm not likely.” The flyer goes on to promise the scrapping of the long gun registry.
This urban-rural mixed message parallels yet another of the Tories’ duelling hypotheses – that it’s possible to crack down on crime and still allow the amassing of private firearms.
They may be law-and-order freaks, but that hasn’t stopped the Stephen Harper government from letting legal laggards off the hook with a general amnesty for anyone whose gun licence has lapsed, thus leaving hundreds of thousands of guns unlicensed and making the registry less accurate.
But there’s such a stockpile of Tory weapon-control transgressions.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in All Blog Posts, General, Human Rights, Politics | No Comments »
September 7th, 2008 Andrew Cash
What are the chances of a left-wing coalition government?
By Andrew Cash
The horses have left the corral: An election has been called.
Governor General Michaelle Jean has seemingly had to swallow the fact that 15 months after she signed into law fixed election dates, her first minister has decided to do exactly what the law was supposed to prevent. Namely, enabling a sitting Prime Minister to control the timing of elections for pure political advantage.
But what now? The well financed Team Harper (which is really Team Harris with a new captain) has the right side of the field all to itself – roughly between 30 and 36 per cent of voters depending on what day it is.
The opposition parties crowd the left but their combined support represents a resounding majority of Canadians. What to do? How’s this: let’s forget about strategic voting.
When opposition candidates knock on your door try this one on them: coalition government. Tell your thick-necked candidates to forget about the bloodsport on embarassing display each and every day the House of Commons sits. If the next election results in another minority parliament, tell them to get the boss of their political gang to sit down with the boss of the other gang and friggin work together for Canadians.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in All Blog Posts, Canadian, Now Magazine, Politics | No Comments »
August 20th, 2008 Andrew Cash
Mayor Miller’s vacation stopover was cold comfortwhen the city needed a hug
By Andrew Cash
Like many, including T.O.’s pols, I’m on holiday with my family when Sunrise Propane blows. Heading back into town later that day, all the while scanning the car radio dial for any syllable of information, we finally stumble on an interview with David Miller.
It’s a conference call with reporters from Vancouver, where, the radio interviewer explains, the mayor is on vacation. Fair enough, I guess.
As I veer off the 401 onto Highway 2 to duck the traffic snarl heading into the city, I’m expecting the mayor to tell reporters he raced to the airport the minute he heard about the explosion and demanded a seat on the next available flight home.
What he says, however, in his almost aloof syntax, is that he’s returning to Toronto on an “early flight.” WTF? Early afternoon? Early morning, after a good night’s sleep and a jog around Stanley Park?
Wow. I’m thinking 12,000 people have been evacuated from their homes. Can you give us at least a bit of urgency in your voice? The good news is that he does return quickly. The bad is that he leaves quickly, too, back to his holiday. Very bad.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in All Blog Posts, Now Magazine, Politics, Toronto | No Comments »
April 28th, 2008 Andrew Cash
Posted in General | 2 Comments »
April 28th, 2008 Andrew Cash
Guns gotta go folks. It’s that simple. I’m for an all out, global ban on the things (though I’m tempted to relax my stance slightly if they were permitted to be used in the service of protecting one’s garbage containers from scavenging and massively over sized raccoons). But whether you agree with me or not few can argue that if used as intended someone’s going to get hurt, likely seriously. Right? I think even Charlton Heston (RIP) would have agreed. But the bogus claim that guns simply protect the good guys from the bad dudes is underscored by the work of two very different groups for whom I am participating in benefit concerts this week and next.
This Thursday May 1 I’ll be at Mitzi’s Sister 1554 Queen West in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto as part of a fund raiser for Soul2Soul, a small inner city program that helps kids who have lost loved ones, often through gun violence, deal with their grief in creative ways. Unfortunately, as happens so often in under serviced areas of the city, the funding for this program is on the chopping block and the very committed group who run it are trying to save it. Good for them. It’s 25 bucks a ticket, Ghostwalk Creek plays at 8:30, I’ll be on at 9:30. Tickets can be had by calling 416.440.0290 ext.13 or you can try your luck at the door.
The following Friday, May 9 I’ll be playing a couple tunes as part of a fund raiser in Ottawa for War Child
This is a world wide org that helps children who are affected by war. According to their stats 1 in 10 soldiers worldwide is a child. Weapons manufacturers have obliged by making machine guns lighter so kids can carry them more easily. (Place expletive here). It’s shaping up to be quite an interesting, eclectic night of music; some classical, some folk and me. It’s at St. Joseph’s Church (151 Laurier ave. East at Cumberland). Show time is 7pm. 10 bucks in advance through maplemusic.com. Tickets are also available at the venue office. $15 at the door.
The event, co-hosted by Catherine Lathem (CTV Ottawa) will also feature the Stellae Boreales ensemble as well as Doreen Taylor-Claxton.
There will also be a silent auction (with an interesting mix of items donated by Sen. Gen. Romeo Dallaire, Ishmael Baeh, Elizabeth May, Max Keeping, and others); and a fair-trade/organic/gourmet intermission café (courtesy of Bridgehead, Culinary Conspiracy, The Table Vegetarian Restaurant, & others)
Posted in All Blog Posts, Andrew's Music, General, Youth Issues | No Comments »
April 17th, 2008 Andrew Cash
Green buying binge doing us in
Just because my blue bin’s half full doesn’t mean I’m not doing my part to beat back a recession
By Andrew Cash
Wow, I have a huge, honking new recycling bin. It seems like overkill, coming in just under the size of a Smart Car, and I really can’t tell if my household is up to the challenge of filling this baby on a regular basis.
After chucking in two weeks of recyclables, we’d barely reached the halfway mark at pickup time, a clear indication that we’ve been neglecting our role as citizens, er, I mean, consumers. Obviously, we need to start buying more.
Alas, what started all those years ago as a valiant effort to nudge residents to get with the three Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) has morphed into a fervent consumer campaign that has vanquished “reduce.”
It’s not just evidenced by the new supersize bin, but also by the endless variety of ways we’re encouraged to be “green” while indulging unabated our addiction to shopping.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in All Blog Posts, Environment, General, Now Magazine | No Comments »
