JohnStall.com

Welcome to John Stall’s World On Line

Hi there, and welcome to my official personal website that is separate and distinct from other sites with which I am proudly affiliated. www.680news.com

This is the on-line home that combines John Stall Communications, my communications consulting practice with my current and past radio broadcasting/online life. John Stall Profile

This site is designed to preserve the past Jack Layton & Stall back in the day - 1998 and to share the present as we move forward online.

I've  posted some archived pics, audio clips and full length radio interviews like this one with the cantankerous late former Leaf's owner Harold Ballard  who would never let  Russian Hockey in MLG ,  or field reports from some pretty unusual places. Globe Trotting

So welcome to " Stall's World On Line " and  "John Stall Communications".  Look around the site.  I hope you find some of the audio/visual clips to be educational, Meech Lake Accord interesting, entertaining, The most moving rendition of " Danny Boy" you will ever hear or just plain fun like this question I put to Toronto Mayor Ford during the election campaign.

I also invite you to share and respond to the blog thoughts and tweets I'm  posting as well @johnstall_radio & Stall680news.

As for Consulting Services, the John Stall Communications portal speaks for itself.  I'm happy to help.

Welcome

Great night at 2012 ” Spirit of Hope” dinner

Many thanks to the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal for including me in the 2012 Spirit of Hope Dinner last week.  The who’s who of Toronto was in the house to socialize and hear George Bush’s former Chief of Staff Karl Rove and former Ark. Gov. Mike Hukabee debate the Presidential election ahead with Democratic strategists James Carville and Gloria Borger.

I enjoyed interviewing the political animals.Listen here to the Interview with  Rove & James Carville The Friends of Wiesenthal have posted highlights of the elegant night  CLICK HERE

Congratulations to Judy and Paul Bronfman for co-chairing the event raising 2. 5 million dollars.

Joe Warmington’s creepy face to face with alleged monster Magnotta

As Interpole agents search for 29 year Rocco Magnotta who is suspected of sending body parts by mail after murdering and severing the torso of a victim in his own Montreal apartment, Toronto Sun columnist Joe Warmington is recalling a face to face meeting he had with the him in 2007. Magnatto was in the news at the time as someone who was dating Bernardo partner in crime Karla Homolka. Listen to this chilling recollection from:Warmington

Why I think Obama will remain President

Yes, a week is a long time in politics and  anything can happen between now and U.S. Election day but I predict Barrack Obama will be re-elected for the same  reasons he became President 4 years ago.  He’s a great orator who embraced a  set of policy’s that perfectly resonated  with what most Americans were feeling  and thinking after 8 years of George  Bush’s War on Terror. Namely, that they had grown weary of war in Iraq and Afghanistan and they were pissed off over the financial meltdown of 08.  What’s changed?

Yes, the American economy still sucks but I don’t sense most Americans’ realistically blame Obama for that. He may not realize any credit for the marginal improvement in the economy, but I sense he will get a lot of credit for getting bin Laden and for bringing American soldiers home – which leads me to this interview I was able to conduct with 3 American political heavy weights this week in Toronto who were appearing in debate at the “Spirit of Hope” dinner.  I spoke with former G. W’s chief of staff  Carl Rove, Democratic commentator James Carville & Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee about the upcoming election and the fiercely partisan nature of American Politics.

The Republicans will ramp up their election rhetoric now that Mitt Romney has secured the nomination but I don’t think he has the stuff to move Americans in the way Barrack Obama can.

I’ve learned through experience covering politics, elections and leaders, that one of two things are necessary to swing a vote;  A revolutionary or extreme policy that resonates deeply with what the public is thinking and feeling at the time, OR,  a compelling, charismatic, leader who’s oratory skill casts a spell.  I don’t sense Romney has either of these two things going for him while Barrack Obama still has the latter along with a measurable track record over the last 4 years.

The European left wing wave is lapping onto Harper Tory shores

While reporting on 680 news the astonishing victory over Nicholas Sarkosy earlier this week of French socialist leader Francois Hollande, I added the colour line that ” It would be like Thomas Mulcair beating Stephen Harper here in Canada ” .

Hollande’s victory was remarkable because it has been 17 years since a socialist party has governed in France. It would be more astounding here in Canada if the NDP ever formed a federal government because it has never happened before.

But a fresh poll published today by Decima research reveals the N.D. P. is gaining ground on the Harper Tories here in Canada. The Poll, which found after polling 2000 people has actually surpassed the Harper Tories in popular support. The N.D.P measures in at 34 % of popular support to the Tories 30%. Yes, the margin of error ( which ranges between 2.3 – 3% ) actually means the two are in a statistical tie. But still, what is clear, is that the orange surge in the last election is strengthening in the absence of Jack Layton and under the leadership of Thomas Mulcair. Highlights of the poll include the N.D.P. gain in traditional Tory territory among men in Urban and Suburban regions. The poll puts N.D.P. popular support in that demographic at 39% to the Tories 29%.

I don’t know exactly what’s happening here, but something is happening here. In Europe, the Socialist victory was chaulked up to ” austerity fatigue “. We can’t exactly say Canadians have been forced into an austerity lifestyle by the Harper government, but it might be an indicator that the ” Occupy ” movement is more than just a bunch of unemployed lost souls who have nothing better to do than point out the gap bewteen the 1% and 99% . What do you think ?

Now, you’ll WANT to miss your flight !

Hanging around terminal one at Pearson International waiting for a flight or killing time between cancelled flights can feel a lot like hanging around hospitals waiting for news on the condition of a patient, except the bacon and eggs have always been better and you can get a drink.

As of today though, waiting for domestic flights out of  Terminal One on the other side of Security  just became a pleasure with the opening of a Mill St. Brewery Pub resembling  the popular Home Pub of the craft beer in Toronto’s distillery District

   Now,  I should disclaim for the purposes of this blog  that I am a minor shareholder in Mill Street Brewery but the brand doesn’t need a biased insider push to establish or promote its reputation. In fact, the Mill St. experience is so established in Toronto and Ottawa that Pearson Airport,  and the company responsible for its food and beverage operations approached Mill Street for permission to offer the experience in the domestic departure lounge with a commitment ( says Mill Street’s marketing man Steve Abrams  ) to replicate the Distillery District Home Pub.

There is nothing like it in any Canadian airport as you will see the next time you fly through Terminal 1 to Ottawa, Montreal or Atlantic Canada. It fact it is such a stellar addition to the waiting lounge, you may WANT to miss your flight .

” Titans” of the Titanic

I first Met Dr. Joe MacInnis in the early 80’s when I was hosting the show on CFRB.  I was living at the time in a beautiful condo in Streetsville overlooking the Credit River.  Joe was associated with the Sportsman Show at the time and called with an offer to join him on a high water early spring canoe run down the upper credit. I accepted, and we have been professional friends ever since.

I have always acknowledged that the interview show was my university of life because of the number of people it put me face to face with and Joe is one who has served as an inspiration from the day we met.  For those who are not aware, he is a world renowned Oceanographer, Physician and Marine Scientist who has led exploration dives  under the North Pole, and the North West Passage.  He served as and advisor to the Titanic discovery team and was co-leader of the expedition to film the Titanic at the bottom of the sea in the Imax format.  I spoke to him this week about his view of the Titanic’s grave and his most recent expedition as part of ” Team Cameron’s” historic dive to the Mariana trench – enjoy both inteviews here:  ( trench dive ) http://bit.ly/Ifn4ya  ( Titanic ) http://bit.ly/HCUrMD

Mulcair is the Man

It may be a simplistic analysis, but in my view, the NDP has only one option if it hopes to remain strong and relevant as the Official Opposition heading into the next election, and that is to choose Thomas Mulcair as its leader this weekend in Toronto

There has been deep analysis since the last election over what was responsible for the NDP’s rise, but in my view, the answer is quite simple. Quebec was fed up with the Bloc, voters in that province were not in the least interested in Michael Ignatieff and were pissed at the Harper Conservatives.

As a result the only acceptable alternative was Jack Layton, whose personality and Quebec roots carried the day. The NDP will return to third-party status without continued support from Quebec, and in my view, the only way to hold that support is under the leadership of Mulcair – listen here.

In a nutshell, the province is more likely to rally round a Quebecer like Mulcair than any of the other candidates. Mulcair has been criticized by some for his brash, pit bull persona, but that style has resonated with Quebecers throughout history. White bread doesn’t work in Quebec. Yes, the party (in its mind) goes into this weekend convention choosing a possible prime minister. The only point I make is that no leader can become prime minister without solid support from Quebec. Mulcair

Apple’s ” Sauce ”

Ontario’s Greek Tragedy? – Not Quite, but…

Tireless Tory takes on another task

For the life of me, I don’t know where John Tory gets the energy or motivation to do as much as he does!

I don’t know about you,  but I feel like such a slacker in comparison even though I get up every morning at 3:30 to be on the air at 680 news by 5:30,  preside over a modest communication consulting service and do some volunteer work on a couple of advisory boards. It seems Tory does that much in his sleep!,  or in the hours between waking up and starting his day!

The latest news is that Tory has been appointed by the McGuinty government to head the revitalization of Ontario Place.  It was announced today that he will chair the panel evaluating international private sector proposals and ideas designed to re-develop and re-position Ontario Place into a world class waterfront attraction.  It’s a volunteer role for Tory as so many of his other activities are and the Premier has made a perfect choice for a number of reasons.  The most cynical reason is because opposition critics might mute  criticism because their former leader is now in charge. But the real reasons why Tory is a good choice are because:

1) Tory was part of the Bill Davis team that conceived and built Ontario Place in the 70’s, so he has a full and historical understanding of where O.P has been and why it is no longer relevant

2) He is without question passionate about Ontario and its’ well being.

3) He is without question passionate about Toronto. He was born, raised, educated, works and volunteers here.

I know John quite well and have known him  since his early days with Premier Bill Davis and the big blue machine.  Going way back , I Interviewed him frequently as a political insider and back room guy when I was on CFRB and when he was hanging around in Prime Minister Mulroney’s office.  I worked with him at Rogers while he headed up the cable division, and covered  him closely as he ran for Mayor of Toronto and as Leader of the Provincial Conservative Party.  He once struck fear into my heart by telling me that despite his many endeavours, the only job he really wanted was MINE ( radio host/commentator/interviewer ). Thankfully, he got what he wanted but not at My expense.  I was among those who encouraged him not to run for Mayor the second time around after stepping down as Conservative leader urging him to continue city and province building from a different seat than council or the legislature without the crap that goes along with political leadership. That is exactly what he is doing now!

I don’t have the answer to where he gets his energy other than daily exercise and moderate diet, but I know his sense of public service and can-do / will-do attitude is the result of his upbringing and the environment in which he was raised.  Yes, he was raised and educated as a so called privileged child.  His detractors, most of whom are envious  “wanna be likes” can only default to the the silver spoon or lucky sperm bank analogy when trying to combat Tory’s positive attributes and upbeat view of the world, as if money makes people happy, positive, useful or effective.  Having money, or access to it, can certainly free us from the distraction of personal survival, but it hardly follows that money makes people happy, useful, capable, willing, positive or effective, any more than the absence of money entitles or justifies negativity, envy, criticism, jealousy, cynicism or suspicion of all progressive things and people.

We are the product of our environment.  John, in my view hasn’t been so much lucky in the sense that he was raised in privilege, but rather,  lucky,  in the sense that he had the good sense to embrace his family of origin influence to jettison all things negative while accentuating the positive ( somebody should write a song about that )  and by surrounding himself with like minded people rather than be worn down and zapped of all  energy, creativity and productivity by negative cynics and professions – including politics.