Subject: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Rick Fielding Date: 21 Jun 01 - 11:17 AM OK, your name's Mel Lastman. You're a street smart veteran of the shmuta trade, and somehow you actually find yourself elected Mayor of a huge very Cosmopolitan city. Hell, with another hundred murders or so, Toronto would be right up there with New York as a world power. You know how ALL the games are played, ESPECIALLY Olympic Bids. Corruption, bullshit, Bribery, and the big lie that "The Games" will be 'good for the economy' and will provide 'jobs, jobs, jobs! (this keeps those tiresome homeless and poverty activists at bay) You're well versed in how greasing the palms and flattering the egos, of the Olympic Committee members around the world, is not just reccommended, but MANDATORY if there's a hope of your city wresting "The Games" away from Beijing (who may already be a shoo-in, 'cause they let the American flyers go, and we still don't know what they got in return) You're aware that African Olympic Committees have let it slip (unofficially) that they're gonna vote "as a bloc", so major sucking up (in the form of 'sports developement dollars') is called for (IT'S NOT A BRIBE. WE REALLY CARE!) So what do you do immediately before heading off to the dark continent to curry some favour? THIS. You tell a reporter (who tells the world): "What the Hell would I want to go to a place like Mombassa? I just see myself IN A POT OF BOILING WATER, WITH ALL THESE NATIVES DANCING AROUND ME!!" Enjoy your Olympics, China. P.S. I suspect the people crying the most in Toronto this morning are the ones who were planning to charge Olympic tourists 1000 bucks a week to sleep in their laundry rooms. Rick |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: sophocleese Date: 21 Jun 01 - 11:27 AM I just laughed myself silly this morning when I heard that one Rick. What a colossal clanger! OOPS! |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: black walnut Date: 21 Jun 01 - 11:32 AM Well said, Rick, well said. ~b.w. |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Rick Fielding Date: 21 Jun 01 - 12:00 PM I think Mel's shelf-life has just been shortened by quite a bit. Oh, now this is completely unrelated, but also on the front page was a picture of the woman and her two sons who are sueing Mel for "child support". I don't want to be TOO mawking about this, 'cause it can be a very serious matter in a lot of cases......but the two children in question are balding older men (with their spunky 60 ish mama) Mel apparently stopped paying them off years ago, and they want some more (perhaps for better suits that fit). Don't get the impression that Mayor Mel is a dashing lothario in the Clinton (or even Gingrich) mold. he's a little old guy 'bout the size of a fire hydrant who's hair-plugs make his pate look like our front lawn. It's just that sometimes his image, combined with the fact that he's always in hot water (not an Olympics pun) is very funny indeed. Rick |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: sophocleese Date: 21 Jun 01 - 12:09 PM The other news on the Olympic bid is that a bid that was not supposed to use much of taxpayer's money is getting $6 million bucks out of government coffers. Pisses me right off! Is Mel distracting people? |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Mooh Date: 21 Jun 01 - 01:43 PM And his apology was pathetic. He's only sorry he got caught, not sorry he uttered offensive, unprofessional, indiscrete, and stupid words. He's sorry the world will see him as he really is, not as he wants to be seen. Insincere apology? Yup. Maybe his job security has been shortened appropriately. And it's not the first time he's found room for both his feet in his mouth. Sigh. Mooh. |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Linda Kelly Date: 21 Jun 01 - 02:01 PM Mmm -we have one of those -he's called Prince Philip. If there was a world record for insulting people he would hold it. Your guy would come a long way second. |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Rick Fielding Date: 21 Jun 01 - 02:03 PM Whaddya wanna bet that at this very moment the Toronto Olympic Committee Is doing EVERYTHING in their power to get him to resign and QUICKLY? Forget the colossal "bad taste"....there are Billions of bucks, and reputations AND ambitions for power at stake. This story won't go away folks. And neither will Mel. Rick
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Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Wolfgang Date: 21 Jun 01 - 02:14 PM unsensitive politicians? Lots of in all countries. This is a great day for France (Nixon 1974 at Pompidou's funeral Now would you join me in a toast to President Figueiredo and all the people of Bolivia (Reagan 1982 in Brasil) As for a sensitive approach to the African soul, former German president Luebke is still unsurpassed: Ladies and Gentlemen, dear negroes (1962 in Liberia) Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: mousethief Date: 21 Jun 01 - 02:17 PM I remember one Chicago mayorial candidate whose candidacy ended suddenly when she used the phrase "Puerto Ricans and other foreigners" in a speech. Ooops. Alex |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: GUEST,Chris Hall Date: 21 Jun 01 - 04:18 PM Mel has dug himself out of worse pits than this.....one of the things Toronto people seem to love about him is he says what he thinks consequences be damned..... Chris |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Rick Fielding Date: 21 Jun 01 - 05:22 PM Absolutely right Chris...but in this case, his comments have already spread around the world (i'm listening to the news right now) and various African and Carribean spokespeople are FLAYING him...and hence Toronto. Canada's Dick Pound has been stickhandling like a madman the last four years in his quest to be Samaranch's successor, and don't think for a moment this doesn't hurt HIS chances somewhat. An 'insensitive' reporter had the nerve to ask him (in print) once whether he was OK with Juan Antonio's connection to Franco (and HIS wartime buddies). The Olympic committee was NOT happy with questions like that. Personally I couldn't care less about the Olympics, but it's a fascinating story. Oops Just heard: The leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party has just asked Mel to resign. Rick |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Amergin Date: 21 Jun 01 - 06:01 PM I find that rather funny....ROFLMAO.......not a very bright guy is he? |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Peter T. Date: 21 Jun 01 - 06:05 PM Very witty, Fielding, wish I had thought of the title. What a dope!!!! yours, Peter T. |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Rick Fielding Date: 22 Jun 01 - 09:00 PM Now I'm beginning to worry. ALL the usual suspects are coming out DEMANDING MEL'S HEAD ON A PLATE. Generally it would seem that most Torontonians know that he's an old guy, who made a serious verbal slip, and they cut him some slack. He's made many others. Yes, when it comes to modern sensibilities he's an idiot, but it gets on my nerves a bit when the spokespeople for every minority group are given ALL the TV time. They hated him to begin with, and their current glee is disconcerting. No, of course I didn't vote for him...he's a dinosaur, but I've played so many parties and functions where I've heard important people say MUCH worse....they just didn't do it in front of a microphone. Rick |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Justa Picker Date: 22 Jun 01 - 09:06 PM You know, I'm not sure whether to hold Mel responsible for this, or, the reporter from the Star who filed the story. Obviously the reporter didn't give a damn about Toronto's Olympic chances. A little discretion might have been exercised --as Mel has had and will have plenty more chances to open his mouth and change feet. |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Little Hawk Date: 22 Jun 01 - 09:23 PM Har! Har! What a farce! I also couldn't care less whether Toronto gets the Olympics. It's just a bunch of hype anyway...in search of dollars. I agree with Justa Picker that the reporter should've had pity on Mel and just kept his mouth shut. But since when have reporters had pity on anyone? Truly incredible. Jean Chretien in Ottawa, Mel Lastman in Toronto, and Mike Harris at Queens Park. The horror! The horror! I can't help but agree with Rick about the minority group spokesmen (spokespeople?) who are cynically and gleefully siezing this heaven sent opportunity to trash old Mel...it's all so utterly predictable and tiresome. All that self-righteous indignation. Blah, blah, blah... I'm glad I don't watch TV. - LH |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Mark Cohen Date: 22 Jun 01 - 10:35 PM Yes, but does Mel know how to spell potatoe? (For you Canadians and others who might not get the reference, that's an old Dan Quayle joke, speaking of politicians who don't know when to keep their mouth shut. Of course, Dan's legacy is in good hands with Dubya....) Aloha, Mark |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Mooh Date: 23 Jun 01 - 09:05 AM Well, there's the rub. Mel uttered it all in the presence of a reporter. Knowing when to keep one's mouth shut, using polite diplomacy, a rational and unbiased mind, and not expressing prejudice (even when it's thought), is the mark of a skilled and talented leader of people. As is so often the case, Mel speaks when he has nothing to say, and embarrasses himself, his constituants and his country in the process. I don't give a shit about the Olympics, but I do care that the world sees what morons we elect to public office. Another reason I'm glad I don't live in Toronto, but I'm surrounded by neighbours who voted for those filthy Tories provincially and the lying Liberals federally. Sometimes I'm glad there's no party which closely represents my views. At least I'm not embarrassed by it. Oh, sigh. I live so far outside the box... Please forgive the bottomfeeders who relish the opportunity to bask in Mel's gaff, they don't know any better either. The circus sideshow continues. Peace, Mooh. |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: sophocleese Date: 23 Jun 01 - 09:22 AM My dad recently spent three weeks in China. His comment to any who asked him about the competition for the Olympics was, "As a Canadian and Ontario taxpayer I hope Bejing wins." Some of the latest CBC news is a dig at the National Post. The NP apparently quoted a French Olympic Official saying something gleeful about this blunder but when CBC checked the story neither the Toronto Olympic Office nor the PaAis one knew the person being quoted. |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Charley Noble Date: 23 Jun 01 - 11:27 AM Certainly deserves a commemorative ditty: "Who's in Hot Water Now?"; "Foot in Mouth Disease Strikes Again!"; "Springtime in Mombasa"; LOL Of course this couldn't happen in Maine! ;-) |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Clinton Hammond Date: 23 Jun 01 - 11:40 AM Ya.. why anyone would even WANT to be associated with the Olympics these days is beyond me... what a farce the whole thing is... Bridge? In The Olympics?!?!?! That's as stupid as ballroom dancing, and solo-synchonised swimming... please... any excuse for a buck eh... |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: Rick Fielding Date: 23 Jun 01 - 12:12 PM My favourite Olympic moment is STILL that Javelin thrower who nailed an umpire from three hundred feet, right in the gut.* * i know that didn't happen in the olympics..it was some highschool meet, but I can dream can't I? Rick |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: GUEST,Phillip Date: 23 Jun 01 - 02:27 PM And....Why would I want to go to a place like Toronto? Their mayor's in hot water and the natives are dancing around him with spears and..... You get the picture?? |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: SINSULL Date: 24 Jun 01 - 02:33 PM Makes Giuliani look almost normal. Too bad Rev. Al is in jail at the moment. He and Jesse Jackson could have a field day with this one. Scary and sad - there are many who agree with Lastman's opinion. |
Subject: RE: Potboiler. Bye-Bye Olympics 2008! From: GUEST,Some Anonymous Folkpunk Date: 26 Jun 01 - 01:30 AM Just after Mel won his first election as mayor of Toronto (the name of which is from the Latin term for "Hey-turn-your-guitar-down-we're-trying-to-watch-the-Leafs-choke-on-the-big-screen-over-the-bar") my wife and I were sitting in a coffee shop here and we struck up a conversation with a couple who were probably in their 60s or 70s. The husband had worked for an appliance manufacturer here in Canada about forty or so years ago when Mel was starting his chain of tacky furniture outlets, and he claimed that Mel placed a HUGE order for washers, stoves, etc, to the point that the company (the name of which escapes me, but I recognized it at the time of our chat) hired extra workers, and postponed filling other orders because Mel absolutely had to have these items. The items were delivered to Mel's stores, Mel promptly defaulted on the payments, the company laid off just about everybody, lost other contracts, and went under, thereby freeing Mel from having to answer annoying phone calls from the manufacturer. The fellow then said something to the effect of "I wouldn't trust that little prick as far as I could throw him, and I'd like the chance to find out just how far that would be". Now bear in mind, I have no way of sustantiating this gentleman's claims, but it sounded legit at the time. Maybe some enterprising muckraker out there could prove or disprove the story. All the same, having seen the little weasel in action for the last few years, nothing would surprise me... |
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