Recent PostsA Lyndon Johnson Moment
August 4, 2026
Back in 1968, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson faced a crisis of his own making by increasing hostilities in an increasingly unpopular war in Vietnam. Faced with growing opposition, Johnson went on national TV.
With America’s sons in the fields far away, with America’s future under challenge right here at home, with our hopes and the world’s hopes for peace in the balance every day, I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office–the Presidency of your country.
Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.
Fast forward to present day here in St. Catharines.
Flash flooding and sewer back-up have devastated countless numbers of residents, mainly in the North End. As one of my neighbors put it, it’s like a war zone.
That’s because the infrastructure we counted on failed when we needed it the most. Not because we don’t pay enough taxes to fund it. But because those tax dollars are instead being diverted to fund the bureaucratic behemoth at City Hall. Artists and poets. DEI. Special interest groups. The focus away from vital core services like roads and sewers has been palpable.
The ultimate responsibility lies with Mat Sendzcoe Siscoe, who occupies the office of mayor. He has forgotten or is seemingly unaware that being the mayor involves more than just running from photo op to photo op.
His response to the crisis has highlighted just how completely and utterly underqualified he is for the job. Good leaders stand up and accept responsibility. He, on the other hand, sidesteps blame and says the most disappointing part of the process has been that people are asking questions. Questions that he should be asking, but isn’t. In fact, throughout his tenure, he has provided no meaningful oversight of City staff at all, thus abdicating one of his core responsibilities.
With the upcoming municipal election drawing ever closer, the heat on him will surely intensify. Given that, he needs to take a page out of LBJ’s playbook and deliver a speech like this:
With so many residents knee deep in sewage in their basements and with our budgetary future under challenge, I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office–the mayor of your city.
Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination for another term as your mayor.
That is the only credible way out for Sendzcoe Siscoe. A man way over his head and who urgently needs to be replaced.
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