"..It would require considerable stealth on the part of the mayor, given that he has a group of candidates who've sacrificed a great deal of time, effort, and money to get elected. I don't think Robertson is that conniving and he's not disloyal to his team."

It doesn't require a conspiracy, or stealth. All it requires is that he privately not really want to win. He could passive-aggressively lose, and barely be aware of his own behavior. Many people don't really understand what a prison "high status" positions in society can be.

Along with traditional male status roles comes the problem of not being able to exit those roles with "honour", without expecting ridicule and a collapse of self-worth. An honourable, narrow loss may be preferable to a voluntary exit.

I hesitate to bring up his personal life, but consider that he just engaged in the traditional male (passive-aggressive?) way of exiting a marriage.

Our local government representatives are most certainly conniving,seemingly shortsighted & willful bullies and now you are putting forth the idea that two parties have come together with long term complex goals. I want to stick to the idea that my local government folks are just simple & corrupt and not simply corrupt and smart. This way I sleep better at night.

This might be the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

It is hard enough to engineer a win in politics. It would be incomprehensibly difficult to engineer a "narrow loss". Gregor is a young guy. He still has 20 more years of politicking in him if he really wants. He does not have to throw elections.

He doesn't really have a choice at this point, only the voters can decide. Unless of course elections are really scripted theatre decided in camera by elite round tables. Now that is a conspiracy theory for you. So mote it be.

I had to laugh when I saw the headline to this piece. I have stated earlier in the campaign, in fact in comments on other articles at straight.com, that I believed LaPointe seemed to not really be trying too hard to win.

I based that belief on positions he has taken such as supporting CN in their dispute with the city over the Arbutus corridor, calling oil tanker traffic the city's "traditional economy," parking meter proposals that would seem to appeal more to commuters from the suburbs who don't get to vote for Vancouver mayor, and the lack of depth in the NPA platform on issues such as housing affordability and homelessness. I believe those two issues are far more important to Vancouver voters than free parking on Sundays, and it struck me as odd that he would be so out of sync.

I wondered if his focus was to help elect more NPA candidates to council, parks and school board, while raising his profile for a possible run for the federal conservatives.

Then I see this article that raises equally confounding points about Robertson's campaign.

I agree with you that all of this is pretty preposterous, but the way LaPointe and Robertson are campaigning certainly does set the stage for some wild theories about what they are really up to.

And lest we forget, elections can be rigged, just as world leaders can be assassinated if they pose a threat to Big Brothers interests. How do you like THEM conspiracy theories?

If Gregor loses, then a large contingent of people who actually believe in democracy should join the Federal Liberals. Object: Keep Gregor the clown from further suckling at the public tit. He does not believe or support democracy and appears not to be able to speak to any issue unless it is scripted. He will be an abysmal M.P.

You're right, Charlie. It is preposterous.

I think there is more truth to this theory than fiction. Robertson said he wishes to run federally and he might do so should he loses.

not a decision-maker, just like Justin. An extremely marketable figurehead, nothing more. If he runs for federal office it won't be his idea, but part of the long-term plans of Joel Solomon, Mike Magee and the local development industry.
Basically, if his wife has had enough, so have I.