We already know that George Foulidis, owner of the Boardwalk Pub in Toronto, is threatening to sue Rob Ford for libel. Ford suggested that the process allowing Foulidis to renew his lease 20 years for $1.5 million less than he originally offered is corrupt. Representing Mr. Foulidis is lawyer Brian Shiller.
And what is Warren Kinsella happen to be doing these days? Why, he's acting as campaign strategist for Toronto mayoral candidate Rocco Rossi.
What a coincidence!
Mind you, NewsTalk 1010 provided further information to say that it was somebody in Rob Ford's camp who recommended Shiller to Foulidis. But still... coincidence? I don't believe in such a thing. Especially not in politics.
If you eliminate coincidence, there are really only three possibilities here:
a) that Rob Ford's team did put Shiller onto Foulidis knowing that it would cast suspicion on both Kinsella and Rossi, thus eating up Rossi's support;
b) that Warren Kinsella and/or Rossi thought this issue could be used as another faux scandal involving Rob Ford in hopes it would drive voters away from Ford and actually were the ones to put Shiller onto Foulidis; or,
c) a third candidate thought they could take both Ford and Rossi down by having the lawyer attack Ford only to have his connections to the Rossi camp be revealed and orchestrated the Shiller/Foulidis connection, thus casting suspicion everywhere.
Mind you, I highly doubt the third scenario could every be true. Considering the limp-noodle antics of the other candidates, such a tactic would be far beyond the pedestrian brains of either them or their strategists.
Whatever way you spin it, Rob Ford is going to come out on top in the end with this story. As Sue-Ann Levy in the Toronto Sun has put it, the attention being given to this issue (a sole-sourced contract that went for $1.5 million less than what the leaser offered) only illuminates the ridiculous nature of how the city of Toronto is being run. And that only further bolsters Rob Ford's message of fiscal ineptitude of city council.
Of course, we must keep in mind that Foulidis hasn't actually launched a lawsuit. He is only threatening to sue Rob Ford. Personally, I can't think of anybody who would use just the threat of a lawsuit to control political news.
All sarcasm intended.
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" Personally, I can't think of anybody who would use just the threat of a lawsuit to control political news."
Of course, such crass moves are beyond the pale for any political advisor. Just ask someone like Warren Kinsella. He would know, hunh.
Surely there is a genuine conflict of interest issue here, right?
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