"Dirty Politics"

One supposes that depends on whose ox is currently being gored, calling down 'dirty politics; that kind of characterization, when it's a politician him/herself who claims foul behaviour is being engaged in, and tch-tch, that's not very nice and civil. Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien's wife took it upon herself to express her outrage that a video taken of her husband declaring his intention to offer his superior talents once again to the citizenry of this fair city, has been posted to YouTube.

That whoever posted that video was playing dirty tricks, and this was not at all acceptable in polite society. Now, thank you very much, people who had no iota of awareness that such a video existed and was posted in the handiest of all venues, after reading the article in the Ottawa Citizen, have gone out of their way to view it and have themselves a fine chuckle of appreciation for the wit that posted it. Who had also added a few little gems to the video.

Mocking a candidate who was having some problems getting his thick tongue around the sentence construction and verbiage he meant to use and having an even more difficult time plying his memory to divulge the wording of the metaphors he meant to display his sense of purpose and dedication to the common weal. Tongue-tied over the grand vision of himself as saviour of the city.

"The Liberals are so dirty. Look, we would never send somebody to a Jim Watson event and tape them. I just find it appalling. Do we have to stoop to this level? Where's the moral compass?" wailed the mayor's wife when she contacted the newspaper to complain that the opposition was lowering the tone of municipal politics.

For his part, Larry O'Brien obligingly explained his wife's distress: "She was very disappointed that the campaign seems to be getting off to a dirty-tricks start even before we've entered into the (it). A campaign is supposed to be tough. You're supposed to say things to each other and call your opponent out, but I think this kind of activity is really inappropriate. I don't think that's how politics should be done here."

How superior. No longer an apprentice politician, learning on the job, and failing at each test as it surfaced, Mr. O'Brien is a seasoned veteran and knows how the game should be played. He exemplifies the fine art of diplomatic speaking; say one thing, do another. And he believes that everyone running for office has an obligation to match his fine performance. Which, it appears, is precisely what Jim Watson has done.

Oops, Mayor, dear soul, we will miss you. Your public pronouncements, your romps in the media, your effusive promises, your superb working relationship with council, above all your fine understanding of what's best for this city and its residents. Your craven subordination to a 'promise' you gave during your China trip, resulting in seeing no evil anywhere, and dumping the Falun Gong was truly an impressive bit of statesmanship.

But the public did have a hint of such things to come when you were embroiled in a criminal trial brought against you as a result of illegally attempting to buy out a candidate first time around, and you got lucky on that one. We weren't as fortunate when you were voted in as mayor on the strength of your promise not to raise taxes, though, were we? And the on-again-off-again public transit imbroglio to bring high-speed rail, another bit of jolly fun.

You thought that Lansdowne Park would resolve the issue of an accomplish-nothing mayor, and then leaped into the ring. And you don't think that a satirical take on your fumbling speech is fair game? Aren't you the very fellow who characterized the guy you're now accusing of uncivil behaviour, of being a wimp? Isn't he the guy you called a "little old lady", and "scaredy cat"?

Um, O'Brien, grin and bear it. We're grinning and can hardly bear it, it's so well deserved.