& - Friday, May 17, 1991 - North Shore News INSIGHTS Hello, Madam Premier WANT TO know what the Socred Party could do with right now? By Brian Swarbrick Contributing Writer Somebody with a scenario. Somebody who can give us some hope that ihere is still a breath of life — not to mention a breath of integrity — in the prac- tictioners of right-wing politics. 't need not be somebody of any great stature. We British Colum- bians have proved time and time again that we are not picky. Not when it comes to our politicians. We will take a chance on just about anybody. Anybody. It almost doesn’t matter who it is — male, female, in office, out of office, elected or unelected, dumb or smart, honest or slippery, makes no never-mind — but somebody with a scenario, a strategy, a plan of action, a hint of excitement, for goodness’ sake. lt may already be too late. Those of us who wouid have delighted in seeing them make a race of it are going to be disap- pointed, | suspect. Watching a one-horse race is no fun. But as matters stand this week, it doesn’t look as if there’s anyone beyond Rita Johnston out there who can get his/her feet untangled long enough to stand up and be counted, Stand up, you echo. Counted, you ask. Counted for what? Why, friend, I’m talking about The Leadership! The Brass Ring! All The Marbles! Going For It! Vm talking about somebody with the chutzpah to say, Hey, look me over, folks! I Am Your Candidate For The Office of Premier! Which leads me, speaking of scenarios, to the question that has been bugging me for the past month: What game plan did the Socred caucus think they were following when they installed Rita Johnston in the premier’s chair as their in- terim leader? I don’t mean the Socred caucus as a group; I mean those individ- uals within it who might be ex- pected to have had a scarcely hid- den scenario of their own. Like going for the leadership, come the third week of July. Rita Johnston must have hyp- notized them. Bewitched ’em. Led them blindfolded to the edge of the precipice known as Leadership Suicide and whispered, Step this way, darlin’... Somehow, somebody must have implanted a subliminal message in their brains, something along the order of: hey, don’t worry, we can give ol’ Rita the job of min- ding the store for 15 weeks, why not, eh? What harm could it do..? CRE SS Grant sex! Botto “You deserve the best ... CALL 984-SALE And that fittle blunder in. strat- egy may have been just about all the head start that very surprising lady needed. In the past four weeks, from the time the caucus voted her in until Lt.-Gov. David Lam read her throne speech a couple of days ago, it’s been one steady climb in- to the golden sunshine for Rita Johnston. You've got to hand it to her. She is either one very, very lucky politician — or one very, very shrewd and tough one. As for the orchestration of re- cent events, who knows? Who knows what goes on behind the scenes? | certainly don't claim to. But when you've been watching politics from close quarters for more than 40 years, certain events do cast familiar shadows. Consider the events: In the first half of this past month, Bill Vander Zalm_ was making noises that indicated his own game plan rated him as a long way from dead. He was looking to have Ted Hughes’ bleakly unfavorable report reviewed, reduced in destructive power, or even thrown out. He was talking very grandly about maintaining his seat. as if all that had happened to disgrace him would be forgotten and forgiven within a week or two. Then his old buddy Rita, whom he had cause to look upon as Loyalty personified, looked him dead in the eye and said, ‘‘It’s time to call it a day, Bill." Naturally, he read his cards otherwise. So how did it resolve? In a move that must have stun- ned Vander Zalm, Premier Rita Johnston said, OK, give this Member his Legislature seat — but make it that one over there, in Bad Boys’ Corner, so far away from the rest of us that he'll need a fax ta communicate. Ouch. Ouch, vuch, ouch. Or consider Mel Couvelier and Grace McCarthy, the two members of the Social Credit who most people thought were the only real contenders for the party's post-Zalm Jeadership. McCarthy bows out without explanation, and Rita didn’t blink an eye as she fired — fired! —- Couvelier. Oh, boy As for the other Bad Boys — Bud Smith, Cliff Michael, Bill Reid, Walter Davidson — all! of them history, history, history. And John Reynolds has gone to count trees. Hello, Madam Premier. THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF NORTH VANCOUVER NOTICE TREE SPRAYING The Maple Trees on Lonsdale and West Esplanade will be sprayed in the early hours of SUNDAY, MAY 19, 1991 — WEATHER PERMITTING. The spray being used is “FIXED COPPER” to reduce the consequences of the disease “ANTHRACNOSE”. We apologize for any inconvenience this spraying may cause, but would appreciate your cooperation in obeying the “NO PARKING" signs. C.M. Gale, PEng. City Engineer The best of all possible things to buy, see, and do in the best of all possible cities. Available in West Vancouver at... HEATHERINGTONS 2008 Park Royal South West Vancouver Hip- Shod grannies, again. signer slim, Celebrate Panagopoulos’ Sth Birthday by entering to win one of eighty 19" Norco Bush Pilot ‘. Mountain Bikes! (one per locaticn). 2nd prizes: 400 Six-Pak Metallized Cooler Bags. 3rd prizes: 2000 Panagopoulos $5 Gift Certificates. Just fill out the entry form delivered with your pizza; or pick one up at your local Panagopoulos store and receive a dollar off your next purchase. Not Valid With Any Other Coupon or Promotion. 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