I have tons of respect for my fellow blogger Brian Topp but I have to say, of all the observations about Adam Giambrone in the last few days, this has to be one of the stranger ones:
"The final lesson is that politics is blood sport. Particularly when you run as a progressive candidate focused on the public interest, you are challenging powerful vested interests with access to ample resources. They will arrange for something like this. Which can be an opportunity. To show what you're made of. To show how resilient, honest and focused on the job you can be. To demonstrate your character."
"Powerful vested interests with access to ample resources" are on a mission to bring down "progressive candidates" focused on "the public interest". A few things:
1. Who are these "powerful vested interests"? The bankers? Hollywood? Globe and Mail bloggers? Really - who are these bad men (I presume they're all men)?
2. When they hold their secret meetings to plot the downfall of progressive candidates, do they drink goat blood out of a golden cup before or after the plotting?
3. In what way was Adam Giambrone's downfall the fault of these powerful forces as opposed to his own stupidity?
4. When David Miller was running in 2003, why didn't these powerful forces target him? Or did they and the rest of us not notice?
5. Can you name a single specific example of these powerful forces in action? Who have they targeted in Canada in the past and what tactics did they use?
6. Have "progressives" considered putting together their own dark strike-force to target right-wing candidates who are working, presumably, for private interests? You know, just for balance.
(Photo: Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail)