So whose idea was this? Is it the mayor's way of trying to keep an eye on his caucus colleagues, or is it someone else trying to keep the mayor on a shorter leash?

Either way, it sounds like someone's getting a bit nervous.

besides, how does bringing in a unsuccessful Harper hack help one in the city of Vancouver? Sounds like the mayors office is taking orders from the MRO.

George is a standup guy. Great hire by Mr. Sullivan.

George is a good guy, personable and very good with people, but why such a position is considered essentially nessesary?

George is hardly unsuccessful as a hack. He knows his way around and is very good with volunteers.
An excellent choice for someone who wants a high quality person to oversee a campaign. Much better than many of the power sauced nuts I've seen in Vancouver campaigns.

Usually the link pin between party and Mayor's office has been the Mayor's secretary.

Sam should keep an open door, especially with the NPA council, school and park representatives.

A meeting once a week with the NPA council members
and once a month with the entire NPA caucus would suffice.

What's next? An Assistant to the Caucus Co-ordinator? Doesn't sound effective and efficient
if that ends up happening.

Something's odd in the Mayor of Terminal City's
office.

But George is up to the task, and he'll do very well in his new post.

He's also into the political environment which he loves.

A good choice for that post. Good move by Sullivan.

George, make it work!

"I am a lineman for the county.
And I drive the mainroad.
Lookin' in the sun for another overload".

How apropos.....(with apologies to Glen Campbell)

George Higgins is indeed first-class and anything but a hack. He has provided consistently good advice throughout his political travels. His pedigree is Progrssive Conservative, and not wingnut Reflamer. Reasonable and seasoned, he could really help, if he wasn't deckhand on the Titanic. By next month, he'll be chained to the rail.

And I would be delighted to be proven wrong, but.....

Unfortunately, this hire is emblematic of the hypocrisy with the peas rattling around in the Mayor's pod...up until yesterday, members of caucus were being assured by the Mayor's Chief of Staff that Sam's "doing great" and caucus is "very happy", with poll numbers that are inconclusive at best--and a whole year too early..

Thanks Danny, you and Annie broke out BS detectors long ago.

Sam goes off and hires someone who will be helping him in a department (caucus relations) that he has either a) if you are even semi-coherent to notice, has already failed in; or b) according to Daniel Fontaine, needs no help with.

Pure genius.

Are the boys and girls in class beginning to see the picture? Ever wonder why Suzanne Anton and Peter Ladner are so quiet in their defence of the nothingness achieved across the hall from their offices?

George Higgins will be "sweeper" in a (futile) attempt to save the Mayor's bacon.

Think George Higgins' considerable skills will be limited to just "caucus development"?

Think again.

I think you and Colin didn't do a very good job helping Sam with his consonants. Instead of firing he starts hiring.

"I think you and Colin didn't do a very good job helping Sam with his consonants. Instead of firing he starts hiring."

Who the hell is A.G. Tsakumis?

Alex Tsakumis is one of the neocon fools who worked his ass off to elect Sullivan. He was a Sullivan hitman during the campaign and an insider until he saw what a terrible mayor Sullivan is and then he realised too late what a mess he and the other neocons made and they can never make up for it ever. This city would be way better off if Sullivan the disgrace resigned.

I am confused. What exactly -- no, not more rhetoric, I want hard facts -- has Sullivan done wrong? Seems like he is doing a great job... no different than man-of-the-people Owen. I sense some jealous Macbeths waiting in the wings trying to off our benevolent king... out, out damn spot!

I hardly think the people who elected Sullivan were fools. They did the best they could.

Tsakumis cuts through the crap for us again above. It was just a normal hire for the mayor but Alex gives us a interesting read on what is really going on.

Keep it up Alex. There are much more of us who listen to you than you think cause we like somebody telling it straight.

Does anyone else want to answer banquo? Herrrreeeeeesss Johnny!

Problems about Citizen Sam we can all agree on:
- he is indecisive
- he allows city staff to call all the shots
- his staff smother and hide him
- he tries to take credit for things he didn't have anything to do with (re: eco-density)
- he muses outloud, causing havoc when he realizes that as Mayor, he can't just say everything on the top of his head (see his declaration of free heroin for all)
- he tries to ram things through behind closed doors and without adequate consultation (see civil city; budget process)
- after 13 years on council he has no direction, he only reacts

Problems that I have, but tories don't mind as much:
- he reneged on the Homeless Action Plan
- he was a poor champion for InSite
- he spreads the lie that the previous Mayor had a bad relationship with Ottawa
- Civil city is a complete piece of crap that will only waste resources (who gives a damn about arresting jaywalkers?) and criminlize poverty
- he spent $13 million on a phone city staff said we do not need, and then will cut services to keep taxes from skyrocketing

Most of all, the guy lacks the leadership qualities that people expect from a big-city Mayor. Does anyone feel proud that he is our Mayor? Inspired? Optimistic about Vancouver? the answer is no.

"Problems about Citizen Sam we can all agree on:"

We do?

"- he is indecisive"

He examines all options

"- he allows city staff to call all the shots"

It's not the politicians that run government,
it's the bureaucrats. Everyone knows that.

Next!

"- his staff smother and hide him"

If true, sounds like the same thing with Gordon Campbell and his Premier's Office staff.

"- he tries to take credit for things he didn't have anything to do with (re: eco-density)"

No he doesn't.

"- he muses outloud, causing havoc when he realizes that as Mayor, he can't just say everything on the top of his head (see his declaration of free heroin for all)"

He is new at it, and he's not the only politician
to say stupid things.

"- he tries to ram things through behind closed doors and without adequate consultation (see civil city; budget process)"

Same thing happened With Mike Harcourt.

"- after 13 years on council he has no direction, he only reacts"

Does not. Does too. Does not. Does too.

Ah, Vincent, you need help, serious, serious, serious help.

Sam covers all options?! His senior staffers don't shield him?! Gordon Campbell HIDES!? Bureaucrats aren't running the City at an unprecdented, unhealthy level? Harcourt "rammed things through" civic government!?!?!? He was MR. #%$^IN' COMMITTEE, you blithering ignoramus! If anything Mike over-processed everything, while Team Sam are all cloak, and quick with the dagger.

Fanciful taxpayer fuelled promotional PR efforts, and resume advancement--that's what Sam and his senior staff are all about.

Lemme guess, it was your idea to have Sam take the Scotch hit every morning, right?

So right, you're so wrong, so long.

Most respectful Samir Sullivan will join with my cousins in Vancouver, Grabir Boobi, and Haid Asalami, who will become yet two more staff freedom fighters, to battle the infidels at Vision Vancouver, who are against our most respectful servant of Allah, Samir!!!

Long live brother Samir! May his enemies continue to endure the wrath of the seagulls, who had too much fibre the night before!

> "Think George Higgins' considerable skills will
> be limited to just "caucus development"?

When did George get this considerable skill? Three elections I haven't seen it.

The last loss was entirely predictable and he drove that thing straight into the wall.

With Stephen Rogers as candidate--a former Social Credit Cabinet Minister--you could have had the Lord Himself as campaign manager and still run a distance second in Quadra, who's demographics have shifted away from the currently very right-wing conservative party.

Stephen Harper and his cabinet are the witness protection program for the Manning family.

"Ah, Vincent, you need help, serious, serious, serious help."

Think it is you, Alex. Just yankin' the chain, bud.

"Sam covers all options?! His senior staffers don't shield him?! Gordon Campbell HIDES!? Bureaucrats aren't running the City at an unprecdented, unhealthy level? Harcourt "rammed things through" civic government!?!?!? He was MR. #%$^IN' COMMITTEE, you blithering ignoramus! If anything Mike over-processed everything, while Team Sam are all cloak, and quick with the dagger. "

Fanciful taxpayer fuelled promotional PR efforts, and resume advancement--that's what Sam and his senior staff are all about.

Lemme guess, it was your idea to have Sam take the Scotch hit every morning, right?

So right, you're so wrong, so long."

Alex..Alex..Alex..control yourself.

Obviously you don't know satire and sarcasam when you read it.

Had a bit of a bad exprience with the NPA did we?

Calm down, bud, otherwise you're liable to break your mainspring.

I'd also cut down on the number of bowls of Lucky Charms. You write like you had too many of bowls.

Higgins performed well in the last election.

Anyone who disses him on that front obviously
didn't show up at the campaign office.

Alex--

Your words are like wanton slings and arrows...
They remind me of the "Harper is scary" rhetoric...
Where is the "beef" in your argument...

Ghost of Banquo