azulmagia
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- Posted: Tue, 28 May 2013 02:33:17 +0000
It isn't just scandal season in the States, it's the same up here in the Great White North. The big difference here is that the scandals actually have legs, or one at least potentially has legs.
There are two scandals, one of which is very much in the news internationally. Both are still in media res as well as becoming more serious for all parties concerned.
Scandal #1: The Senate. I've created a thread about this before (link). Since then, it's ballooned into a full-blown controversy over the expenses of certain Senators. Where it got really interesting is when it was revealed that Prime Minister Harper's trusted Chief of Staff Nigel Wright fronted Senator Mike Duffy the sum of no less $90,172 in connection with the controversy. This action may or may not be legal. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Wright resigned his position, making pro forma statements to the effect that Harper knew nothing of the cheque in question, and so forth. While there is no proof thus far that Harper knew anything about it, the PM's subsequent conduct does not inspire much confidence in that respect. He has assiduously avoided any questions from the media, most notioriously, shortly before departing for a diplomatic trip to Peru, he invited the press into a caucus meeting but forbad that they ask any questions. Since the Wright revelation was dropped, Harper has been a no-show in the Commons. The Official Opposition has also requested that the RCMP look into the particulars of the scandal.
Scandal #2: Rob Ford and Crack. This is the more explosive scandal and it's just getting worse - and weirder - all the time. As you many have heard, The Gawker has been in negotiations and has been raising the sum of $200,000 to purchase video footage of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford putatively enjoying some crack cocaine (see the page that started it all here). (BTW, one of the guys in the accompanying picture has since died in a gang-related shooting incident.)
For a while, Rob Ford refused to say anything on the matter, but recently, he has issued suspiciously specific non-denial denials. He has denied being addicted to crack cocaine, and also denied that he is current user of crack cocaine. The story got weirder when The Globe and Mail ran a story a few days ago citing sources that claimed that the Mayor's brother Doug (who is also on City Council) was a hashish dealer in his youth. The Ford brother's response to this has been to villify the media for allegedly having an anti-Ford agenda, as well as the Rolling Stones. In the meantime, the scandal has become international and has merited segments on The Daily Show and a whole article on (appropriately enough) Cracked.com
As for the video itself, very recently Rob Ford has actually denied the very existence of same, despite the fact that the editor of The Gawker and Toronto Star reporters Robyn Doolittle and Kevin Donovan have seen it. By what everyone hopes is an astonishing coincidence, The Gawker has also recently stated that they are unable to make contact with the sellers of the video. The requisite $200,000 has been raised but it's questionable if that will translate to any result.
This scandal, despite being more ethereal than the first one, has had more casualties so far. First, Rob Ford was axed from his position as coach of a high school football team. Secondly, recently he fired his Chief of Staff. And just today, the latest bombshell in the scandal is that his press secretary and deputy press secretary have resigned ot their own will. (Really.)
There are two scandals, one of which is very much in the news internationally. Both are still in media res as well as becoming more serious for all parties concerned.
Scandal #1: The Senate. I've created a thread about this before (link). Since then, it's ballooned into a full-blown controversy over the expenses of certain Senators. Where it got really interesting is when it was revealed that Prime Minister Harper's trusted Chief of Staff Nigel Wright fronted Senator Mike Duffy the sum of no less $90,172 in connection with the controversy. This action may or may not be legal. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Wright resigned his position, making pro forma statements to the effect that Harper knew nothing of the cheque in question, and so forth. While there is no proof thus far that Harper knew anything about it, the PM's subsequent conduct does not inspire much confidence in that respect. He has assiduously avoided any questions from the media, most notioriously, shortly before departing for a diplomatic trip to Peru, he invited the press into a caucus meeting but forbad that they ask any questions. Since the Wright revelation was dropped, Harper has been a no-show in the Commons. The Official Opposition has also requested that the RCMP look into the particulars of the scandal.
Scandal #2: Rob Ford and Crack. This is the more explosive scandal and it's just getting worse - and weirder - all the time. As you many have heard, The Gawker has been in negotiations and has been raising the sum of $200,000 to purchase video footage of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford putatively enjoying some crack cocaine (see the page that started it all here). (BTW, one of the guys in the accompanying picture has since died in a gang-related shooting incident.)
For a while, Rob Ford refused to say anything on the matter, but recently, he has issued suspiciously specific non-denial denials. He has denied being addicted to crack cocaine, and also denied that he is current user of crack cocaine. The story got weirder when The Globe and Mail ran a story a few days ago citing sources that claimed that the Mayor's brother Doug (who is also on City Council) was a hashish dealer in his youth. The Ford brother's response to this has been to villify the media for allegedly having an anti-Ford agenda, as well as the Rolling Stones. In the meantime, the scandal has become international and has merited segments on The Daily Show and a whole article on (appropriately enough) Cracked.com
As for the video itself, very recently Rob Ford has actually denied the very existence of same, despite the fact that the editor of The Gawker and Toronto Star reporters Robyn Doolittle and Kevin Donovan have seen it. By what everyone hopes is an astonishing coincidence, The Gawker has also recently stated that they are unable to make contact with the sellers of the video. The requisite $200,000 has been raised but it's questionable if that will translate to any result.
This scandal, despite being more ethereal than the first one, has had more casualties so far. First, Rob Ford was axed from his position as coach of a high school football team. Secondly, recently he fired his Chief of Staff. And just today, the latest bombshell in the scandal is that his press secretary and deputy press secretary have resigned ot their own will. (Really.)
