The 2010 race for Toronto mayor was thrown wide open Friday with David Miller's announcement that he won't seek a third term, setting the stage for a possible showdown between two political foes who once battled it out at the provincial level. One of those speculative contenders, John Tory, wasted no time in assembling the media to make it clear he hasn't ruled out a run for the job. That could see the former leader of Ontario's Opposition Progressive Conservatives pitted against Liberal cabinet minister George Smitherman next November.

Miller fought a tough campaign in 2003 to become mayor, during which he waved a broom to symbolize his pledge to clean up the city, and enjoyed broad popularity in his first term. But his handling of a 39-day civic strike this summer that saw garbage bags piled in public parks and his record on spending and tax hikes had eroded his popularity and emboldened his critics.



Michael Adler – Agence France-Presse Reporter & Daily Beast Contributor.

Adler has been covering Iran & President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for nearly a decade.

 

Hours before news of his covert nuclear facility broke, Ahmadinejad told a private dinner, which included The Daily Beast’s Michael Adler, that Iran may increase its uranium enrichment levels.

Meanwhile… Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon led a Canadian walkout as Iran's president began speaking to the United Nations Wednesday night, a boycott that was followed by diplomats from the United States and other countries. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad then launched into a tirade against the United States, Israel, and Jews.

The government signalled earlier in the day that they planned the walkout to protest the Iranian leader's past attacks on Israel and denial of the Holocaust, as well as his regime's disregard for human rights.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday the boycott was justified by Mr. Ahmadinejad's “disgraceful, insulting declarations.”

“…There is no way I'm going to permit any official of the government of Canada to be present and give any legitimacy to remarks by a leader like that,” Mr. Harper told reporters.



Greg Anderson – Political Science Professor, University of Alberta & Specialist in International Relations.
‘The Summit pandemic’

Do leaders meet too much, and should North American-centred meetings be the first to go?

Anderson co-wrote a widely published piece stating:

The international community has become inundated with summits. During Ronald Reagan's presidency, there was the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, the G7 and NATO; today our leaders go to all kinds of meetings, the G20, NATO summits, WTO negotiations, the Summits of the Americas, Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meetings, and UN climate change talks, to name a few. We even have hybrid meetings such as last June's G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy where the number of attending countries expanded, arguably transforming the meeting into something like the "G8+BRICs+Friends..."



John LeBoutillier – Former US Congressman & Noted Conservative.
The Political World Needs an Adult…

“After the Bill Clinton Years of immaturity and sexual misconduct, the G.W. Bush Frat House Years filled with excessive federal spending and wars based on lies and now a clearly in-over-his-head Barack Obama and his Let‘s Spend Everything We Have Now—including our money and his political capital—program, the American political world needs an adult voice, an experienced and wise hand at the rudder who knows what to do and how to do it and, most importantly, what not to do…”



Greg Brady – Host, The Bill Watters Show. AM640, Weekdays 4-7pm.

Gretzky’s Legacy: Tarnished or not?

Don Cherry was disappointed by Wayne Gretzky's decision to step down as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. Jarome Iginla just hoped the Great One returns to hockey soon.

Gretzky announced Thursday that he was resigning as Coyotes coach and director of hockey operations as the struggle for control of the NHL club continues in bankruptcy court.

Cherry, the outspoken "Hockey Night In Canada" commentator, was puzzled about why Gretzky would quit at all.

"I don't understand it, but he should have been there on the ice with his players," Cherry said.



Jie Matar – Stylist to the Stars!



Christopher Heard