I believe the reason is that the PC has no viable platform and a leader that scares the crap out of many people (Mike Harris-Lite) and who has about as much charisma as a tree stump.

The PC needs to wake up and find themselves a good leader or they don't stand a chance in the next elections. Without a good alternative, people will prefer the devil they know.

I certanily agree with all that.  Hudak is a tool beyond compare and it is sad for me to say this but a party that has stolen billions or dollars from us can still gain two seats is amazing.

I think a full election should be called however I think the results will be exactly the same]

You critisize Mike Harris but would you take the provincial econmoic situation over what is today.  Sorry I'll take the latter

He said during our cup race that we were done and then said when he signed with detorit that he wanted a chance.  We have as much chance as them so it had to do with something different that hasn't been said.  For me  I don't care.   Bring on Ryan....

Here's my comments:

What O'Brien was charged with IS a crime.  It is spelled out very simply in the Municipal Elections Act when they sign up as a candidate. 

Influence peddling is a crime but what exact influence did O'Brien have.  You had a horrendously unqualified individual who had no business even being considered for a position on the parole board and if you listened to the evidence it was actually Kilrea who brought up the appointment not O'Brien.  He said well, we'll see or maybe you can call the Feds yourself and I'll give you the number.  I don't see any influence there.  Now, if it was determined that O'Brien called up Baird and said listen we need this dude out of the race so I can win and Baird offers him something...voila crime.  That never came even close to happening.   If what he did was a crime then as someone said earlier better start building a prison the size of Toronto to house all the you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours later on political moves.   (IE:  Belinda Stronach accepting offer to move across the aisle for a nice cushy cabinet post....David Emerson in reverse....Now someone brokered those deals...now that is a crime..throw them in jail)

While O'Brien was under no obligation to testify,

The wheels were off this case the moment Edelson started to cross examine Kilrea.  Dates were wrong, meetings were wrong, recollection was wrong...everything was wrong.  Why would O'Brien need to testify.  They had already entered his police interview as evidence so what more could he offer.

Contrary to another poster claiming that Council will be disappointed that the Mayor was acquitted since they were getting their robes fitted, I am not sure that was the case

Doucet stated a few days before the verdict that "Why hold another election for mayor because as we know the last eight months of any council is lame-duck so why not just appoint someone for the next 7 months and spare the costs." 

  However, I will say that I was impressed with how much Council got done while the Mayor was on leave.  hmmmm.....don't think it hurt Council much to have their so-called leader off at trial.

You really must warn me when your going to say stuff like this.  Need to clean coffee off screen now.  I actually heard a reporter say the same thing yesterday, not sure who, and the other person on the panel asked the same question that I'm going to ask you now.  What exactly did they accomplish other than not being cantankerous and crying about what a big Meany pants that O'Brien is.   She couldn't list one thing of any substance either   This council was useless before and is useless today and will be useless tomorrow.  Nothing will change with O'Brien coming back as the only thing that may come out of this is it may keep some focus on council for the next 15 months so when people go to the ballot box next time they make the 'real change' this city  needs.  Don't care if this involves O'Brien or not just wipe the slate clean and start afresh with a brand new councillors and possibly a brand new mayor...some people we've never seen before.  Now that would be impressive to me.

http://www.cfra.com/

In the reading of the decision the Judge had some pretty scathing analysis of the crown's case on nearly every point.  So in lack of a better description today's verdict was pretty slam dunk for the major.  I'm sure this will upset a few on council who were already in the process of getting fitted for their dress robes weeks ago.

Now, let's see if anything can get done now in the city.

You have to wonder why sometimes many of us pay our taxes.  Given the mammoth incompetence by our council and city staff more people should withhold their taxes in protest until something is finally done to correct this disfunction that pervades every aspect of our cities operations.  It's almost laughable watching these city councillors bray and wale about who's fault it is actually.  To me it's just like any corporate structure the buck stops at the top or in this case the councillors of the ward as they hold ultimate control.  I mean, they mettle in nearly every aspect of city operations as it is so why stop here and point fingers elsewhere.    They knew for years that our storm sewers excess runoff during heavy rains was being dumped into the river but when it finally comes to light that this was occurring and the province was looking into it due to non-reporting by city staff the councillors bray and wale - NOT MY FAULT...go find another scape goat.   We got fined by the province and guess where that money comes from.   Recently the city was fined again as our bus drivers were caught not doing their job and announcing stops at major intersections and this is in violation of law and guess what, councillors were pointing fingers again.  Guess who paid for that fine as well. Not sure if anyone heard but the new congress centre has hit a glitch because apparently city staff issued a building permit but parks canada has a problem with it as the structure was going to be too close to the canal so there is a problem.  We pay tons of money to these people and this is what we get.  They can't even do their basic job correct.  It is never ending in this city.  They spend money like it's going out of style and you wonder what you're getting in return.    Being in the building industry I know what developers must pay in order to develop a housing project.  It is staggering the fees that are paid to the city for this privelege.  Where is this money going and is it being properly spent correctly or just being thrown on top of the other irresponsible spending this council has conducted in the past.    But hey, at least they are looking at the important issues that really isn't even part of their jurisdiction like banning tanning beds,  pesticide usage or involving themselves in foreign politics in other parts of the world.

Sorry for the rant but I do know someone who has been effected by this flooding.  Not nearly as bad as some but there was sewage backup in his home and to even get an answer from the City took days.  Is it embarrassing, again, that they've dropped the ball again and in the end we are going to left holding the financail ball for these morons again.  Trust me, many of these people couldn't even get insurance for this as they were dropped the last time (6 years ago) during another once in a hundred year storm.  Boy those 100 years go by might quick these days.  We will have to assist many of them to clean up their homes and we should too.

Did you mean to quote me?

No...sorry. 

Whereabouts did you order it from?  Hubby is going the granite route in our kitchen as well and he has been shopping around (I simply pick colours.....that's my 'input' to any renovations, car purchases, etc.).

Rose, working for a construction company I have a few contacts you could contact.  Let me know and I will PM them to you

cars

He is a fantastic player but a little inconsistent from what I've seen... As a Barca fan, I'd prefer Villa. I guess I'll reserve judgment until after I see how he fits in with the team.

psahlgren, nice to see another Barca fan on here 

and don't forget moody and surley and hasn't endeared himself too well with his teammates wherever he's been.  Yeah, he's surely got talent but as you know there is much more to it than that.  I realize Barca has been taken back a tad with the drunken spending at AC Milan but the jury is still out on them, IMHO.  Takes more then just a bunch of talented players plugged together to work.   Barca didn't need to do all that much to keep their squad at the top because the proof is in the pudding.  Last year you won the treble and that is pretty damn tough to do.  Does, Ibram make you that much better.  Not sure?  We'll see but if past history is any guage don't count on it.  He'll have his stats but will the team do better.

BTW, did the recession miss Spain or something.  The money they are spending is unbelievable.

In my 10 years in networking and computer support I have never used one iota of math. 

Same here.  Over 20 years in accounting and never had the use for Algebra or Calculus for some unknown reason...Kinda weird but I know they didn't put it into the university curriculum for no reason...