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Policy / Politique
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Dark Knight / Le Chevalier Noir
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---- Nous avons besoin d'un traduction français!
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This has been a fascinating election campaign. Scary, ridiculous, awful, and despair-inducing...but fascinating. I don't know any of the participants and am not privy to the behind-the-scenes discussions. I believe I have read every single word on ChessTalk on this topic, however. Masochistic, I know. But I entered the debate backing neither horse. Consider this the opinion of a casual but still invested observer:
Mr. Belzberg is owed nothing. Sponsorship does/should not not imply influence over policy. He has claimed that all he wanted during this entire debacle is "the benefit of the doubt." His actions belie this. Given time and perspective, I sincerely hope that his desire to support Canadian chess will trump his desire to punish Mr. Drkulec and the current executive for their decision to endorse Kirsan.
Mr. Starr comes across as self-important, immature, spoiled, hot-headed, and vindictive. Promises the moon but seems incapable of articulating how to deliver it. A comical and absurd character.
Mr. Drkulec comes across as immature and vindictive. Frankly I have been disappointed by the way that he has dealt with this entire situation. While the attacks against his decision-making and character have been vicious and unrelenting, I expected him to be more "presidential." To take the high road. To absorb the repeated body blows. To put hurt feelings and incredulity aside. To compromise and seek diplomatic solutions. No easy task given the rhetoric of Mr. Starr and Mr. Belzberg, to be sure, but necessary for the good of the CFC. On the plus side, for the most part he has done a good job during his tenure, and has demonstrated tenacity and a willingness to put in long hours for the betterment of chess in Canada.
In my opinion, given a choice between Mr. Drkulec and Mr. Starr as a guiding force for Canadian chess it is obvious that Mr. Drkulec is to be preferred. If Mr. Drkulec is elected I sincerely hope that his first order of business is to try to make amends to the casual observers that he has alienated during this divisive campaign. If Mr. Starr is elected...heaven help us. At least the next election is not too distant. How much harm can be done in such a short time?
By the way, I would have endorsed Garry over Kirsan. While Garry has many flaws, not least of which is his previous effort to destroy the very organization that he now wants to lead - talk about absurd! - he still has the influence and cachet to affect meaningful change within a somewhat moribund FIDE. Kirsan does not have this sort of potential. He has done many good things during his tenure but it is time for a change. Furthermore, his entire political career has a certain odor to it. I have no idea whether or not he had anything to do with Yudina's murder - and it is important to acknowledge that no one here knows the truth - but beyond that the stink of corruption dogs him. It is time for a new direction.
p.s. Oh, I just about forgot: When Mr. Bonham asked Mr. Belzberg to contact him - on a public message board after bashing Mr. Drkulec ad nauseam! - about business opportunities based on his chess variant...LOL! Oh my lord, how my sides ached. Thank you so much for that moment of pure comedy!
This has been a fascinating election campaign. Scary, ridiculous, awful, and despair-inducing...but fascinating. I don't know any of the participants and am not privy to the behind-the-scenes discussions. I believe I have read every single word on ChessTalk on this topic, however. Masochistic, I know. But I entered the debate backing neither horse. Consider this the opinion of a casual but still invested observer:
Mr. Belzberg is owed nothing. Sponsorship does/should not not imply influence over policy. He has claimed that all he wanted during this entire debacle is "the benefit of the doubt." His actions belie this. Given time and perspective, I sincerely hope that his desire to support Canadian chess will trump his desire to punish Mr. Drkulec and the current executive for their decision to endorse Kirsan.
Mr. Starr comes across as self-important, immature, spoiled, hot-headed, and vindictive. Promises the moon but seems incapable of articulating how to deliver it. A comical and absurd character.
Mr. Drkulec comes across as immature and vindictive. Frankly I have been disappointed by the way that he has dealt with this entire situation. While the attacks against his decision-making and character have been vicious and unrelenting, I expected him to be more "presidential." To take the high road. To absorb the repeated body blows. To put hurt feelings and incredulity aside. To compromise and seek diplomatic solutions. No easy task given the rhetoric of Mr. Starr and Mr. Belzberg, to be sure, but necessary for the good of the CFC. On the plus side, for the most part he has done a good job during his tenure, and has demonstrated tenacity and a willingness to put in long hours for the betterment of chess in Canada.
In my opinion, given a choice between Mr. Drkulec and Mr. Starr as a guiding force for Canadian chess it is obvious that Mr. Drkulec is to be preferred. If Mr. Drkulec is elected I sincerely hope that his first order of business is to try to make amends to the casual observers that he has alienated during this divisive campaign. If Mr. Starr is elected...heaven help us. At least the next election is not too distant. How much harm can be done in such a short time?
By the way, I would have endorsed Garry over Kirsan. While Garry has many flaws, not least of which is his previous effort to destroy the very organization that he now wants to lead - talk about absurd! - he still has the influence and cachet to affect meaningful change within a somewhat moribund FIDE. Kirsan does not have this sort of potential. He has done many good things during his tenure but it is time for a change. Furthermore, his entire political career has a certain odor to it. I have no idea whether or not he had anything to do with Yudina's murder - and it is important to acknowledge that no one here knows the truth - but beyond that the stink of corruption dogs him. It is time for a new direction.
p.s. Oh, I just about forgot: When Mr. Bonham asked Mr. Belzberg to contact him - on a public message board after bashing Mr. Drkulec ad nauseam! - about business opportunities based on his chess variant...LOL! Oh my lord, how my sides ached. Thank you so much for that moment of pure comedy!
I agree with you on everything except the absurdity of Kasparov wanting to lead FIDE. He set out to destroy the corruption of Kirsan's regime more so than FIDE when he formed the PCA. His goal is still the same, but since replacing it failed he will now try to lead it and get rid of Kirsan this way. I don't see any real change in position for Kasparov, just a change in methodology.
You forgot to add what a loutish, authoritarian, heavy-handed, dictatorial thug the moderator is.
signed,
The Moderator
Nigel, if you think that, you really haven't been around very many internet forums.
There was one guy on a Wheel of Time forum... he was so trigger happy banning people that when a bunch of us met him in person at a convention, we actually had this thing made called the "Rod of Banning" - basically a stick engraved with:
"One rod to rule them all.
One rod to find them,
One rod to bring them all,
and in the darkness, ban them."
We also brought several stuffed-animal fish to throw at people - anyone who's used IRC should get the reference ;)
Nigel and Chris: I moderated Mig Greengard's "Chess Ninja" forum for several years. A thankless task requiring a thicker skin than mine. :)
Adam: A fair point. I have been disappointed with what might be termed the "Kasparov Campaign" however. While it's perhaps true that he can't be blamed for the actions of his worker bees, his response to the CFC endorsement of Kirsan was unsurprisingly lacking in tact and perspective. He became the greatest player of our generation by trusting in his own genius. But chess genius is not the same as political genius. I dunno. Maybe he'd be capable of compromise and diplomacy, but somehow I doubt it. That said, he is still preferable to Kirsan at this point.
Nigel and the CFC Pres are birds of a feather (and both in the same nest together) They respond to anyone that does not agree with them the same way >>>>
with RIDICULE!
I guess that makes them ridiculous!
Two sad birds! :(
Nigel and Chris: I moderated Mig Greengard's "Chess Ninja" forum for several years. A thankless task requiring a thicker skin than mine. :)
Adam: A fair point. I have been disappointed with what might be termed the "Kasparov Campaign" however. While it's perhaps true that he can't be blamed for the actions of his worker bees, his response to the CFC endorsement of Kirsan was unsurprisingly lacking in tact and perspective. He became the greatest player of our generation by trusting in his own genius. But chess genius is not the same as political genius. I dunno. Maybe he'd be capable of compromise and diplomacy, but somehow I doubt it. That said, he is still preferable to Kirsan at this point.
I am divided on the Kasparov campaign, whenever I see Kasparov giving a lecture, discussing his policies or visiting developing chess nations I get a really good sense that he'll be a great leader. But then what some of his supporters do and how they try to get their own way I don't like at all. They are trying to do what they think is moral, they probably really dislike Kirsan, so Canada not only voting but endorsing him got their blood boiling from the start (especially since a few are friends with Garry). I agree with you that their tactics could be much improved and they need to act more disciplined (This can be said for members on both sides really).
Politically Garry has never had much success but I think he follows his principles better than almost any other politician. He had no chance against Putin and yet he kept up the crusade for a long-time (This election reminds me of that in a lot of ways, unless Kasparov really does have a better chance than I'm giving him to win this). In the long-run I wish Karpov had won it when he had run, but now we are stuck between a really awful choice and one who could go either way (become just as corrupt or lead chess into the spotlight again).
From afar you seem the sort of person that the next Executive needs to make more chess more successful. You run many tournaments from the CFC-epicentre and you have access to some non-CFC players (i.e. potential members).
So let me ask you:
1) Do you think whoever is on the Executive will affect your tournaments?
2) Do you think there is anything the CFC could do to make those tournaments more successful?
The reason I ask is because if it is irrelevant to Canada who is the FIDE President, then why should it be relevant to even nearby tournament directors who is the CFC President?
Nigel and the CFC Pres are birds of a feather (and both in the same nest together) They respond to anyone that does not agree with them the same way >>>>
with RIDICULE!
I guess that makes them ridiculous!
Two sad birds! :(
"Tom is a well known racist, and like most of them he won't admit it, possibly even to himself." - Ed Seedhouse, October 4, 2020.
From afar you seem the sort of person that the next Executive needs to make more chess more successful. You run many tournaments from the CFC-epicentre and you have access to some non-CFC players (i.e. potential members).
So let me ask you:
1) Do you think whoever is on the Executive will affect your tournaments?
2) Do you think there is anything the CFC could do to make those tournaments more successful?
The reason I ask is because if it is irrelevant to Canada who is the FIDE President, then why should it be relevant to even nearby tournament directors who is the CFC President?
Hi Tom,
Am I to assume your questions were directed at me? If you write below the quote, it is more obvious what you refer to.
It's true that whoever is FIDE or CFC Pres, it will not affect me as I don't ask anyone to sanction my tournaments.
Now if I had a really good location for the Saturday Rapids then I expect the event would grow to fill the space available - say 32 players every week. At that point, staying true to form, the CFC could be expected to say, "Heck, we can do that! Let's appoint a governor to run such rapid tournaments but only for CFC members!"
Currently, no membership of any sort is required for the Saturday Rapid - I only deduct about $3 per entry to cover expenses.
Hi Tom,
Am I to assume your questions were directed at me? If you write below the quote, it is more obvious what you refer to.
It's true that whoever is FIDE or CFC Pres, it will not affect me as I don't ask anyone to sanction my tournaments.
Now if I had a really good location for the Saturday Rapids then I expect the event would grow to fill the space available - say 32 players every week. At that point, staying true to form, the CFC could be expected to say, "Heck, we can do that! Let's appoint a governor to run such rapid tournaments but only for CFC members!"
Currently, no membership of any sort is required for the Saturday Rapid - I only deduct about $3 per entry to cover expenses.
Oh sorry didn't know the posting thing. Thanks. :-)
I share your sentiment with regards to the CFC.
"Tom is a well known racist, and like most of them he won't admit it, possibly even to himself." - Ed Seedhouse, October 4, 2020.
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