Popular NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis is now running to become Mayor of Winnipeg

What do current and former MPs Maurizio Bevilacqua, Judy Wasylycia-Leis, Denis Coderre, Rick Limoges, Joe Fontana have in common with current and former MLAs George Smitherman and Kent Hehr? They are all contemplating or running to become mayor of their city. So what's up? Is it really in vogue for senior politicians to throw in the towel and suddenly want to enter the civic arena and become the mayor of their city? They've obviously not talked to former NDP MLA, now Mayor of Vancouver Gregor Robertson about what life is like in the hot seat.

Although it may not be a major trend, I think the fact that Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Montreal and Winnipeg have all attracted candidates from senior levels of government is rather intriguing. It begs the question, is life as your city's top politico that much easier than life in Ottawa or your provincial capital? Should we all be concerned that having parliamentarians run for city election could translate into our city hall chambers becoming another partisan palace for prolific pontificators?

In Winnipeg, former NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis is one of the most high profile federal politicians to jump into the civic arena. She's joined by Bevilaqua who recently announced he is trying to get elected as the mayor of Vaughan, Ontario. Meanwhile, former provincial Liberal cabinet minister George Smitherman it going head-to-head with Rob Ford to become the mayor of Canada's largest city.  In Calgary, former Liberal MLA Rick Limoges is hoping he'll take over from retiring Mayor Dave Bronconnier.

Eighties favourites Crowded House impressed at the Queen E Theatre last week

Most concerts focus on the spectacle—dance routines, costume changes, pyro—an over glorified music video, where the music almost seems secondary. Entertaining? Absolutely. But it also makes a concert experience, like the one I had on August 29th, stand out even more—because it wasn’t the “norm”, it was intimate: 3,000 fans, not 60,000. No fireworks, just amazing musicians. And there were multiple guitar changes, not over-the-top costume changes.

Crowded House played to a sold out audience at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. I managed to get 4th row, centre stage tickets and I was close enough to see every expression on Neil Finn’s face. I’m not going to lie, this is going to be an extremely biased concert review, because I love Crowded House. But even if I didn’t, there could be no denying the brilliant musicality and musicianship that this band has, complete with a song catalogue that makes you smile, ache, and yearn—sometimes all at the same time.

Neil Finn, Nick Seymour, and Mark Hart are now joined by Matt Sherrod on drums. (Original drummer Paul Hester, one of the original "faces" of the band took his own life in 2005 after a long struggle with depression.) Remembered for hits in the 80’s and early 90’s, the band took almost a ten year hiatus—disbanding in 1996 and reforming in 2006 to release Time On Earth. Their latest tour supports 2009’s Intriguer, and the concert featured many new songs from the album, all of which were amazing. If the last song you remember from this band is “Something So Strong”, I urge you to get these last two albums—melodic and edgy at the same time, they are incredibly strong.

The PNE still has what it takes 100 years later

Last week I had the chance to visit the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) with my family and we had a wonderful time. I try to go each year, but it hasn't always worked out that I've been able to fit it into my crazy schedule. As this was the 100th anniversary celebration, I made an extra effort get out there this year and I wasn't disappointed with my experience.

For starters, I can't explain why all those crazy crowds, line-ups and little donuts tug at my heart strings. Perhaps it brings me (and likely most other fair goers) back to a simpler time when going to the PNE was the big event of the year. Growing up in the Winnipeg area, I always looked forward to a similar event called the Red River Exhibition.  After the sun went down and the lights on the ride shone brightly, it was the coolest place to be on earth. At least if felt that way anyhow.

From the moment I walked in through the PNE gates, I knew I was going to have a good time. That was due in part to the fact my son is now old enough to begin appreciating more than the sweet taste of candy floss. He's now starting to realize it can be fun to get really scared. It was actually his suggestion that we visit he haunted house (extra $5 fee to attend this venue).

US President Richard Nixon caused a sensation with his own enemies list

Politics like so many things has a habit of repeating itself. And so it goes with the Vision Vancouver media hit list, which were are assured by fellow blogger Alex G. Tsakumis will be provided more evidence for on his site today. The most famous example of an "enemies list" in political history is the one produced by US President Richard M. Nixon with the help of key aides.

According to Wikipedia Nixon's enemies list included newsman Daniel Schorr as well as actor Paul Newman and a host of other celebrities, political figures and institutions:

The full list includes many notable people and publications, including Jane Fonda, Bill Cosby, Gregory Peck, Ted Kennedy, Shirley Chisholm, Joe Namath, Bella Abzug, Barbra Streisand, Carol Channing, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

As #1 on Vision's hit list I'm quite happy to be in the company of many of the esteemed journos in the list of 15. Apparently Paul Newman was damn proud to be on Nixon's list. Writer Hunter S. Thompson, who wrote scathingly about Nixon, was deeply disappointed about not being on Nixon's hit list.

Now I know why I've been reading comments from everyone from Charlie Smith, Bob Mackin and Jeff Lee, as well as my colleague Daniel at their disappointment of not being higher on Vision's hit list. I guess I get to breath the rarified air of being on top – for now. As for Nixon's list, I'd be happy to be compared to anyone of the folks on that list, with the possible exception of Carol Channing – she was a little odd.

Wikipedia states that the official purpose, as described by the White House Counsel's Office, was to "screw" Nixon's political enemies, by means of tax audits from the Internal Revenue Service, and by manipulating "grant availability, federal contracts, litigation, prosecution, etc." Certainly there can be no doubt that the Vision hierarchs would like to – at the very least – "screw" those who are not playing their game.

Some media have been flagged already in Vancouver as being "Vision-friendly". There are entire news broadcasts today in our city that would never think of producing one pixel of bad coverage for Gregor Robertson. There are other broadcasters, journalists and commentators who are far more coy about their support for Vision. Just thank your lucky stars that there are at least 15 folks (and several editors, and staff behind them) willing to stand up in some way to Vision's bullying tactics.

For the past two days Gregor Robertson's chief of staff has been calling news editors to castigate them for the hit list story coverage. There have been threats of lawsuits from the City of Vancouver to media outlets. The pressure must be unbelievable for news room editors and media brass to stand up to these threats. These guys are heroes, folks. Make no bones about it.

Wednesday evening's GlobalTV broadcast on "Vancouver's Embattled Mayor"

Is there or isn’t there a Vision Vancouver media hit list? That’s the question everyone has been asking at Vancouver City Hall this week as various media types are trying to track down whether a list of non-Vision friendly media exists or not. Blogger Alex G. Tsakumis first revealed the “media hit list” which is a compilation of about 15 media types who are apparently unfriendly to the current Vision administration. In other words, they don't just take the Mayor's news releases and report them verbatim. Can you believe this group actually has the temerity to question the material they've been given by the Mayor's office?

Although I can’t personally verify the validity of the "Top 15" hit list, I can tell you I laughed so hard when I first read about it that I almost keeled over. As was reported by Bob Mackin in 24 Hours newspaper on Wednesday morning, yours truly made it to the number three position (I'm told that I didn't rank higher on the list because I've written negative stories about the NPA, a political party I used to belong to). I eked out a bronze medal performance by coming just slightly ahead of crack GlobalTV reporter Marisa Thomas. My colleague and 24 Hours columnist Mike Klassen was ranked number one with radio talk show host Christy Clark in the #6 spot and the Vancouver Sun's Jeff Lee pegged at #9.

Am I proud of the fact that I apparently made it on the Top 15 list of vocal critics of the current Vision Vancouver administration? You bet I am. Over the last two years our columnists have written critical comments and analysis about hundreds of councillors, mayors and cities regarding a myriad of silly or short-sided policy decisions. Dozens of our stories were eventually picked up and reported on by our colleagues in the mainstream media.

Since 2008, it’s been our unique and focused coverage of civic governments which has resulted in a respectible 3.68 million page views so far this year. CityCaucus.com has clearly hit home with tens of thousands of people interested in city politics and urban issues. What else could explain why we have almost 2000 Twitter followers and over 1300 on Facebook. Did I mention our little blog has just over 1000 people who receive our daily email newsletter then forward it on to thousands of their family and friends?

While Vision may not like our take on the machinations at City Hall, clearly we have attracted a loyal and significant group of readers who want us keep moving forward with the blog. That's why our team can assure you that whether a hit list exists or not, it will have no effect on the frequency and tone of the coverage on CityCaucus.com. No matter what type of smear and intimidation tactics are thrown our way, we intend on forging ahead with a product that has clearly caught the public's imagination.