Warren Kinsella Takes Heat over Sexist Blog

[Michael Bluth]

Guess this fits here now that Kinsella has burned most bridges with the Federal Libs and wouldn't be considered an advisor to anybody prominent at the national level anymore.

Warren Kinsella, head of the Ontario Liberal Party's war room for the Oct. 10 election, posted a photograph on his blog Tuesday of Progressive Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod, with a thought bubble over her head saying, “I very much wish I was somewhere else, at this very moment. Baking cookies, perhaps. Oh my.”

Link

Ahhh the hypocrisy of the left. Kinsella would have been all over a Conservative blogger for such childish postings.

It's sad to read his blog. 12 lines on excuses he "could" give before finally owning up to his reprehensible behaviour.

I'd provide a link but I have no intention of building this egomaniacs sense of self. (He has actually blogged about 'how many' people read his blog.) If you really want to find the blog it ain't that tough...

[guyser]

Ahhh the hypocrisy of the left. Kinsella would have been all over a Conservative blogger for such childish postings.

I agree with most of what you posted , that being Kinsella is dumb for bloggin that . But to say the hypocrisy of the left is kind of out there.

I imagine, and hope, even those on the left see how stupid it is , and voice that same opinion. If the "left" backs Kinsella , I will retract what I said.

Lets see what happens.

[Michael Bluth]

I agree with most of what you posted , that being Kinsella is dumb for bloggin that . But to say the hypocrisy of the left is kind of out there.

I imagine, and hope, even those on the left see how stupid it is , and voice that same opinion. If the "left" backs Kinsella , I will retract what I said.

Lets see what happens.

If you can point to even one leftist (Liberal?) blogger who took offence to Kinsella let me know. I point to hypocrisy because I feel the outrage is muted because sexism was used in attacking the Progressive Conservatives in Ontario. Which makes it fair I guess...

To be fair there are only three Liberal bloggers I read with any regularity.

CalgaryGrit

Cherniak

Kinsella

Dan and Jason have been eerily silent on the issue. (Dan hasn't posted anything since the story broke but Jason has, something totally unrelated.)

[guyser]

Dont get me wrong, it was dumb and sexist, and his wife had her say as I read.

All I am saying is that the story broke today, so lets see what Libs or other lefts will condemn this. As they should.

[Michael Bluth]

Dont get me wrong, it was dumb and sexist, and his wife had her say as I read.

All I am saying is that the story broke today, so lets see what Libs or other lefts will condemn this. As they should.

Best response to Kinsella's "apology".

Sigh. Warren, if it wasn't for that huge paragraph at the beginning your apology might actually look sincere, heartfelt and, you know, humble. Instead it looks like you're going through the motions after giving a huge defensive, passive aggressive rant.

[guyser]

Sigh. Warren, if it wasn't for that huge paragraph at the beginning your apology might actually look sincere, heartfelt and, you know, humble. Instead it looks like you're going through the motions after giving a huge defensive, passive aggressive rant.

Who said/wrote that?

Edited July 26, 2007 by guyser

[Michael Bluth]

Who said/wrote that?

It was a response to Kinsella's "apology" posted on Kinsella's blog.

[August1991]

Aside from Kinsella and sexism, it is quite evident that the Ontario election campaign is now underway. IOW, the problem with fixed date elections is that the campaign lasts longer. In the US, the presidential campaign is at least 18 months long. Is that what Canada is aiming to?

When an election date is decided by the whim of the leader, as in a parliamentary system, it's almost random. And politics is placed in its proper perspective. The beauty contest starts later, close to the election date, and it only lasts a few weeks.

With fixed date elections, the beauty contest lasts for months and months - or years.

IMV, democracy means that power is almost decided by lottery. Until we find a better way to make collective decisions, I'd say election campaigns should be quick and short.

Edited July 26, 2007 by August1991

[Michael Bluth]

Aside from Kinsella and sexism, it is quite evident that the Ontario election campaign is now underway. IOW, the problem with fixed date elections is that the campaign lasts longer.

Apropos of nothing on this thread. Start a new thread if you want.

Thankfully Kinsella is working for McGuinty. Hopefully it sinks the Liberals in the fall.

[August1991]

Apropos of nothing on this thread. Start a new thread if you want.

Fair enough. I plead guilty to thread hijack.

Premier Dalton McGuinty refused to apologize to women in politics Wednesday in the wake of a well-known Liberal campaign strategist’s controversial blog posting.

...

“It’s a personal blog and I think there’s an important distinction there,” McGuinty said. Kinsella “will continue to offer advice” to the party.

“I think when people make mistakes it’s important to apologize, and that’s what he’s done.”

Over the weekend, McGuinty himself made a personal phone call to apologize to a job applicant who was described as a “ghetto dude“ in a government staffer’s e-mail.

Toronto Sun

People have to choose between politicians. So, it's inevitable that politicians will try to be as popular as possible (using arcane ways to show this) and voters will seek increasingly arcane ways to distinguish between politicians. Cat and mouse.

At the moment in Ontario, it seems that whether a politician apologizes or not for the statements of a staffer is the deciding criteria.

I don't know if a beauty contest has more exacting criteria.

Edited July 26, 2007 by August1991

[Michael Bluth]

People have to choose between politicians. So, it's inevitable that politicians will try to be as popular as possible (using arcane ways to show this) and voters will seek increasingly arcane ways to distinguish between politicians. Cat and mouse.

At the moment in Ontario, it seems that whether a politician apologizes or not for the statements of a staffer is the deciding criteria.

I don't know if a beauty contest has more exacting criteria.

I don't think it's arcane at all.

As the Chief Executive of a large organization a big part of the role of the Premier is to select the best people to do important jobs for the betterment of the organization. In this case McGuinty has to pick the best people to help him lead Ontario.

The ability to select appropriate people for cabinet, staff and consultant positions reflects on the person's ability to lead the province. If he makes bad choices for this positions it hurts Ontarians as a whole.

Aileen Siu referring to that poor guy from Malvern as a "ghetto dude" was terrible. Link She is pretty low-level according to the article. Hopefully she learns.

Kinsella's antics are on a whole different level. He has a lot of experience. Probably interacts with McGuinty directly on a regular basis. He should have known better. From reading his blog you can tell that Kinsella has a pretty high opinion of himself. But he lost when he tried to run for office and it doesn't appear that really sank in.

[jdobbin]

It was a stupid remark and sexist. I don't read Kinsella so I am only hearing about it now.

[Michael Bluth]

It was a stupid remark and sexist. I don't read Kinsella so I am only hearing about it now.

You don't read CTV.ca? But you tend to post links from there quite often...

[jdobbin]

You don't read CTV.ca? But you tend to post links from there quite often...

I haven't read anything on Kinsella or the Ontario election. I have no idea what is happening in regards to either and only found out about Kinsella reading this board.

I've used to read Kinsella when I got the National Post but I eventually stopped because I didn't find him particularly insightful.

[jbg]

Guess this fits here now that Kinsella has burned most bridges with the Federal Libs and wouldn't be considered an advisor to anybody prominent at the national level anymore.

Part of me wonders why Harper hasn't engaged Kinsella on a contract basis. He admires Harper and he's good at what he does.

[Michael Bluth]

Part of me wonders why Harper hasn't engaged Kinsella on a contract basis. He admires Harper and he's good at what he does.

It's easy to appear to be good when you are playing against a weak opposition.