Why are we surprised? Quebec and Montreal politics have been criminal for generations. Now Mayor Michael Applebaum has been arrested for corruption, breach of trust, theft.........whatever. The farthest back I can remember about corrupt Montreal Mayors was Camilien Houde -- a notorious office-holder in the '30s and '40s.
When King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Montreal in 1939, the crowds went wild. Houde turned to the King and said, "You know, Your Majesty, some of this is for you." Other famous quotes? When Elizabeth and Philip visited Canada in 1951, Houde said, "I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart and my wife's bottom too."
At a Grey Cup game in the early 50s he said at the kickoff during an interview, "Anytime you want your balls kicked off, let me know."
Every Friday, the steps of City Hall in Old Montreal were lined with "ladies of the night", who visited to give a donation to the mayor. Every Friday! He wore elegant white, three-piece suits, spats and straw bowlers. The guy had style.
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In the eighties I had a Polish tailor who shrewdly and accurately pointed out that no colony in the world established by a Latin country had an honorable government.
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