I work for Mayor Nenshi, ask me anything!

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

But a lot of his tweets come across as childish and egocentric. It will cost him votes, not that he cares though.
Plus I don't like the idea of the Mayor spending his Sundays trolling the internet. that's what i do.

You're kidding, right? Nenshi's trolling of people on Twitter is pretty much legendary and is frequently the subject of clickspam articles on news aggregators. It's part of his charm, and his general demeanour on Twitter is not likely to cost him votes. In situations like this, the specific ignorance of people not understanding what the phrase "when did you stop beating your wife" actually means might cost him, but only to the point of getting 97.5% of the vote instead of 97.6%.

Originally Posted by Hesla

While he is not using the literal meaning of the phrase, I think it is borderline offensive when used in a public domain.

That's the point, actually. It highlights the offensiveness of the tone of Ezra's questions.

[octothorp]

Wow, I can't believe that the 'beating your wife' rhetorical statement is still something that's misunderstood. Guaranteed, Levant totally understands it, but it's become a common response to the statement to claim faux outrage and get people who don't understand it to rally behind you.

It would be entertaining if the tradition was to use the statement as an opportunity to make more ridiculous accusations rather than wife-beating. When did you... stop smoking crack in a dumpster with Rob Ford? When did you... stop masturbating to your own press photos? etc.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

That's the point, actually. It highlights the offensiveness of the tone of Ezra's questions.

Fair enough... I like that he explained himself right afterwards. If anything this Galvanizes the right against him, and solidifies his base at the same time.

His access on Twitter is great, but it does have it's pitfalls.

No chance he loses the next election (barring a monumental scandal) and so he can get away with this stuff. I just think he could have choose the words more wisely and not assumed everyone would understand the reference. Lucky it was against Levant, who most know is a blowhard.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

So I guess "Politics In Full Sentences" should be changed to "Politics With A Full Explanation Of The Etymology Behind Each Phrase Used As To Not Confuse The Non-Literary Minded".

Hard to do "Politics in Full Sentences" in 140 characters or less.

I did formal debate as a student, and knew the reference, but I still did a double take when I read it until I connected the dots. Politics in full sentences would be calling him out using the name of the logical fallacy, and explaining why he wouldn't respond. No need to use that example or drop to the level of the hecklers, imo.

[Bunk]

This thread is a part of that open approach too... Glad the dialogue is so honest and engaging in here.

[Tinordi]

"If he thinks Naheed Nenshi wont go down in the sewer then he doesn't know Naheed Nenshi."

-Naheed Nenshi

[Tinordi]

Naheed Nenshi:

Better than Ezra

[Tinordi]

What I don't like about the Nenshi is a public official and should therefore rise above the mud pit that is Ezra Levant is that to address these jokers the only way you can is to get down in the mud.

Basically Nenshi used Ezra's own playbook and owned him with it. The news stories out today are basically exonorating Nenshi and showing Ezra for the joke he is. Mission accomplished.

There are some "commentators" and "pundits" that you just can't respond to in a civil politico speak manner. Ezra is the quintessential example of this. Either you stoop to his level to snuff him out or he just keeps spinning. I guess you don't need to address the spin but you know, what if you don't want lies and misrepresentations of yourself out there undefended in the public sphere? We live in such a styrofoam, bland, contained media and communications environment whereby our politicians only dribble out the thinnest gruel that some are now so normalized by that that they not only expect it but think that that strategy is the only reasonable one for very serious politicians.

Seriously?

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Hard to do "Politics in Full Sentences" in 140 characters or less.

Hard, but a surprisingly good medium for actual two-way dialogue (and forces much needed brevity in communication from politicians!), The credo of politicians should be to treat social media as a telephone, rather than a television.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by transplant99

What?


As an example this was needed to be explained to a 14 year old boy, who is a huge fan of Nenshi and follows him religiously on twitter. He came to me with it as i was watching football yesterday and even after a bit of a discussion and explanation, he was still somewhat confused as to the context. This is a child who saw his mother abused by his father when he was young.

Im merely pointing out how poorly thought out the reference is, and how it most certainly can be offensive to others, including many who are his direct constituents. That's all. Whether you agree or not is irrelevant, as its a completely valid observation.

What an opportunity Nenshi set up to explain to that 14 year old boy about rhetorical devices and media spin and how to see through it. You should be thanking him.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

What an opportunity Nenshi set up to explain to that 14 year old boy about rhetorical devices and media spin and how to see through it. You should be thanking him.

Are you called Ezra a 14yr old? or people that do not get the reference as 14yr olds ??

[NuclearPizzaMan]

Internet rule #1 : Don't feed the trolls!

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Hard to do "Politics in Full Sentences" in 140 characters or less.

I did formal debate as a student, and knew the reference, but I still did a double take when I read it until I connected the dots. Politics in full sentences would be calling him out using the name of the logical fallacy, and explaining why he wouldn't respond. No need to use that example or drop to the level of the hecklers, imo.

So did Nenshi and Levant:

In high school, Levant wrote admiringly about Preston Manning for the student newspaper. And when he moved on to the University of Calgary in 1989 to study business, the Reform Party Club was the first organization he joined. (He also became a champion debater, partnering for a while with Naheed Nenshi, now the mayor of Calgary—although whatever friendship they had seems to be gone since Levant began denouncing him on air as “an anti-Christian bigot.”)

http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/01/12/g...the-offensive/

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Basically Nenshi used Ezra's own playbook and owned him with it.

Let's not get carried away here. I know you love bureaucracy and Nenshi, but take the glasses off to call a spade a spade.

[Tinordi]

That goddam Tinordi and his love of bureaucracy.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

So did Nenshi and Levant:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/01/12/g...the-offensive/

Oh sure. I got the reference after a bit of a double take, and Levant certainly would have. The reason not use that rhetorical device isn't out of respect for Levant, it's out of concern for being misinterpreted by others. It's not like post secondary logic courses are required to get a twitter handle.

[undercoverbrother]

Worst thing is Levant is an attention whore. He will be trolling the news stroking away.

It would not surprise me to see a lawsuit from levant.

[cam_wmh]

Bunk,

Please share the success story of the Bait cars planted at Calgary Transit parking lots.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/story.html?id=2661638

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Bunk,

Please share the success story of the Bait cars planted at Calgary Transit parking lots.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/story.html?id=2661638

Very interesting. Tweeted.

[Bigtime]

I guess Ezra was on the Kinkade and Kelly Show (formerly Rutherford) on 770 today. Didn't hear it but I guess it was pretty interesting to say the least...