Toronto Election 2010: Small Business Debate
I just got back from attending the Small Business Debate @ The Royal York Hotel this morning.
When I arrived, the candidates were mingling and chatting with guests. They were very receptive to talk and walked around laughing and smiling. That is, except for Rob Ford. The man waddled in with a frown, didn't want to talk with anybody, didn't shake any hands. He cut through the media to the green room where he stayed until the debate began.
How is this man in first place in the polls?? He's simply not likeable. Throughout the entire debate, he harped on one point and when pressed by Sarah Thomson, to start talking about the future rather than the past issues of the city, he ignored the call and kept talking about the spending the city has made in the past, his own record of savings, etc.
In fact, I felt that Ford was mostly absent from the debate. He rarely spoke, unless directly questioned. Unbelievably, I sometimes forgot he was there.
Smitherman and Rossi both came across as very powerful speakers -- both figuratively and literally. In fact, neither would have needed a microphone to be heard in the large hall. They're both excellent communicators, appeared Mayoral and know in depth the issues of this city and how to handle them.
Both are also very convincing candidates. Rossi comes from a business angle and Smitherman as a passionate Torontonian. If people watch live debates, these 2 are the most deserving candidates, and one the most likely to become the next Mayor.
The funny thing is that I was there to support Pantalone but left with the sensation that he has no chance of winning. He's the most experienced and I would be happy to see Miller's vision continue through Joe but he just lacks the assertiveness to get attention over Rob Ford, Rocco Rossi and George Smitherman.
I've always preferred Sarah Thomson's policies. If I were to make a perfect Mayor in my own image, she would be it. DRL, Eglinton subway to the airport, waterfront, full bike network, clean, tree lined streets... it's all what I want in a Mayor. Yet, she doesn't have the political experience to get the job so she's the most likely to drop out in the next couple of weeks.
Pants and Sarah seemed to be very lovey dovey. They were hugging and joking around before the debate. It's easy to forget that these five have spent nearly every day together for the past year.
Overall, I went in a Pantalone supporter, and have come out a reluctant one, but just barely. Despite Rossi's crazy policy announcements, I know he has ambition and vision for this city so he is slowly growing on me. I was left with a very good impression of George Smithernman so I'm seeing myself shift to his campaign, unless he continues to lose support. My first priority is to prevent the catastrophe of Rob Ford's Toronto.
I was very worried that Ford was the inevitable winner but after watching a live debate, I know that if even half his supporters see the man in person and hear him speak, Ford won't even come in second place in this election. I don't do personal attacks, but you'd have to be extremely stupid to vote for this man given the alternatives that reiterate his message of fixing spending but come in a civil, credible, Mayoral package.
When I arrived, the candidates were mingling and chatting with guests. They were very receptive to talk and walked around laughing and smiling. That is, except for Rob Ford. The man waddled in with a frown, didn't want to talk with anybody, didn't shake any hands. He cut through the media to the green room where he stayed until the debate began.
How is this man in first place in the polls?? He's simply not likeable. Throughout the entire debate, he harped on one point and when pressed by Sarah Thomson, to start talking about the future rather than the past issues of the city, he ignored the call and kept talking about the spending the city has made in the past, his own record of savings, etc.
In fact, I felt that Ford was mostly absent from the debate. He rarely spoke, unless directly questioned. Unbelievably, I sometimes forgot he was there.
Smitherman and Rossi both came across as very powerful speakers -- both figuratively and literally. In fact, neither would have needed a microphone to be heard in the large hall. They're both excellent communicators, appeared Mayoral and know in depth the issues of this city and how to handle them.
Both are also very convincing candidates. Rossi comes from a business angle and Smitherman as a passionate Torontonian. If people watch live debates, these 2 are the most deserving candidates, and one the most likely to become the next Mayor.
The funny thing is that I was there to support Pantalone but left with the sensation that he has no chance of winning. He's the most experienced and I would be happy to see Miller's vision continue through Joe but he just lacks the assertiveness to get attention over Rob Ford, Rocco Rossi and George Smitherman.
I've always preferred Sarah Thomson's policies. If I were to make a perfect Mayor in my own image, she would be it. DRL, Eglinton subway to the airport, waterfront, full bike network, clean, tree lined streets... it's all what I want in a Mayor. Yet, she doesn't have the political experience to get the job so she's the most likely to drop out in the next couple of weeks.
Pants and Sarah seemed to be very lovey dovey. They were hugging and joking around before the debate. It's easy to forget that these five have spent nearly every day together for the past year.
Overall, I went in a Pantalone supporter, and have come out a reluctant one, but just barely. Despite Rossi's crazy policy announcements, I know he has ambition and vision for this city so he is slowly growing on me. I was left with a very good impression of George Smithernman so I'm seeing myself shift to his campaign, unless he continues to lose support. My first priority is to prevent the catastrophe of Rob Ford's Toronto.
I was very worried that Ford was the inevitable winner but after watching a live debate, I know that if even half his supporters see the man in person and hear him speak, Ford won't even come in second place in this election. I don't do personal attacks, but you'd have to be extremely stupid to vote for this man given the alternatives that reiterate his message of fixing spending but come in a civil, credible, Mayoral package.
posted by iPedro at 12:28 PM
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