Giambrone video confirms mayoral bid

30 comments

1. If they weren’t going to use his youth against him before, they will now.

2. That video is about the tackiest mayoral campaign video I`ve ever seen. Not really sure what to think about it, actually.

3. I LOL’d. But even if I lived in Toronto proper, I still wouldn’t vote for him.

4. I agree that it was a bit tacky. But, in his defense, this isn’t really a mayoral campaign video. I think it was meant to be a fun light-hearted invitation to his party next week, where he will be talking about his campaign in more detail.

5. Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear.

   Note to other candidates – if you’re going to do a wacky youtube, get Chris Bosh to do it, with you completely off camera.

6. This is going to be a messy election. I hope some people drop out before voting day to narrow the field.

   At least the debates will be interesting.

7. Yeah, it “confirms any lingering doubts” all right — it focuses on why we might doubt he’s ready to be mayor, and does nothing but reinforce those perceptions.

8. I am very disappointed, but it should give TTC operators something to smile at.

9. lol. this was cute. although the audio was balanced to the left.

10. As much as I like and respect Giambrone, I have been dreading the possibility of him running – he needs more and broader experience. Seeing a campaign get launched, let alone in this fashion, just seals it for me. Argh.

11. oh, come on. it’s hilarious. it’s adorable. “it’s transit city, stupid!”

    I like it because like him or not, this is gonna make the other candidates have to work. AG has a loyal following. And momentum. And I think this could actually help him pick up steam.

12. Cute… but I wasn’t going to vote for him anyway, based on his failure to communicate. He doesn’t listen, thinks he knows everything and has raw ambition but poor judgement. His record with the TTC may have made him popular with the unions, but not with the rest of Toronto – or his own ward. At least he (or his campaign manager) have a sense of humour though.

13. actually I thought this was pretty cute. he hasn’t done the best job with the TTC, and he doesn’t have much experience, but this is a good use of social media and I thought it was funny. not sure it means he’ll be a good mayor, or a good candidate, but it does mean he knows how to use social media and make a cute video.

14. Who’d vote for a mayoral candidate who’s committed embarrassing things to video?

    Nooooooobooooooody.

15. Makes me think how lucky we’ve been having Miller on for 8 years. People like him don’t come around very often. Too bad he didn’t run again. Despite all the Miller bashing happening now, I think in 2 years Toronto will be missing him.

16. Well, given the current crop of mayoral candidates, I’m thinking Giambrone may get my vote. Did this video affect my decision? Not at all. Sure, it’s a bit silly, but perhaps that’s a good thing. He’s not a typical, middle-aged candidate, and that may be his biggest strength if he plays it right, because it could represent a form of change that Toronto voters (old and young alike) seem to want.

17. Jason, you hit the nail on the head.

    Laurie

18. Councillor Giambrone is the Alcibiades of early 21st century Toronto municipal politics — high degree of looks, glibness, and political charm/seductiveness but scratch beneath the surface and there is very little that actually suggests a capable, effective politician (whether in terms of achievements or depth of understanding). Obviously, he has a lot of people behind him but so did Alcibiades before he destroyed Athens.

    Note to Matthew: Please don’t say this comment is a “hate-on” for Councillor Giambrone. I don’t think much of Smitherman, or Rossi, though I don’t think their achievements are threadbare as this individuals. (Heck, I don’t even think Mammoliti’s record is this insubstantial.) As for Councillor Pantalone, I can’t say I like him, but at least he has a record to run on… what you see with him is what you get. With Councillor Giambrone, the youthful exterior belies the often arrogant, patronizing behaviour that much of his ward has had to endure. To twist a biblical metaphor, he’s old wine in a new wineskin.

19. And just so nobody thinks I’m taking a partisan swipe at Councillor Giambrone, I actually saw Mike Harris as the Alcibiades of late 20th century Ontario politics.

20. If he was going to go that far, why didn’t he just throw it down and start rapping?

21. I don’t know from Alcibiades, but I’m not quite sure how much charm/seductiveness ol’ Admiral Adam has. I mean, he’s a bit stiff and goofy, no?

22. andrew’s comment: “I don’t know from Alcibiades, but I’m not quite sure how much charm/seductiveness ol’ Admiral Adam has.”

    I specified “political” charm/seductiveness … and on that score, he has it in spades given that he has taken in waaay more people than one would have thought possible given his actual (as opposed to imagined or imputed) record of achievement. I’d say the same for Mike Harris. As for the “non-political” charm/seductiveness” possessed by Councillor Giambrone or Mike Harris, I’ll let others comment on since they’re not my type.

23. Maybe THIS guy is running for MAYOR TOO ? 🙂
    http://www.thestar.com/videozone/758115

24. God, samg, give it a rest already.

25. RF… sorry to spoil your love-in.

26. Good to see someone get a little use out of the 50K his parents spent on his Classics Major, or weekend reading Thucydides.

27. This is the same kind of lame as Harper singing the Beatles song. What charisma!

28. Jamesmallon … actually the reference was to Plato.. my parents didn’t pay for my education…nor am I a Classics Major. I’m not going to comment about what education you had or who paid for it because I don’t think that would be appropriate. But I guess not everybody has the same hang-ups about what constitutes fair comment.

29. I for one liked learning about Alcibiades and even though I am an old political science graduate who studied Plato. I didn’t remember that. When I googled, found it was about someone with raw ambition, not much substance, who sold his allegiance to whomever gave him power. He had charm but not much else. Seems apt to me.

    And since when is this a site restricted to one side of the political spectrum? If it is, the home page should state that.

    On with the debates…

30. I could refer to Oda Nobunaga, but I wouldn’t. You see, the problem with pedantry is that it is a form of intellectual narcissism to use information you cannot expect your audience to have.

    And I took Plato, and Classics, and read Thucydides, but I still think the reference is obscure.