Toronto Municipal Elections 2010

[Black Dog]

Well, Rob Ford wins by 100,000 votes. Goes to show how unreliable municipal polling is. Oh well. Well, the good thing is the city will be in the exact same shape in 4 years as it is tonight.

No, it'll be much worse. Best case scenario is political gridlock and slow atrophy of city services.

Edited October 26, 2010 by Black Dog

[Shady]

Well, Rob Ford wins by 100,000 votes. Goes to show how unreliable municipal polling is. Oh well. Well, the good thing is the city will be in the exact same shape in 4 years as it is tonight.

As usual, the liberal media under-counts the conservative support. Not suprising.

Anyways, let's all give it up for your next Mayor, Mr. Rob Ford!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh...and

Suck on it! Woooooooooooooo!

[nicky10013]

Suck on it! Woooooooooooooo!

Here you are Torontonians, this is going to be the attitude we face for the next 4 years.

[Shwa]

Here you are Torontonians, this is going to be the attitude we face for the next 4 years.

Can't wait to see how he deals with the next strike of this or that in the Big Smoke. "Time to bust some heads..."

[Keepitsimple]

Ford winning is a big story - but not that surprising. The really big surprise is the defeat of 9 incumbents. Now there's an opportunity to actually have a council that will be functional and able to apply the spirit of what Ford stands for.People underestimate how the little things add up......it's not about slashing spending for the sake of slashing - it's about setting priorities and making wise decisions. It's about changing the culture where city employees do more than report to work.....it's about making everybody understand that everything - from the rent of offices to the use of paperclips is all accomplished with taxpayer dollars. It's about projects running more efficiently and not always coming in late and overbudget - with the city on the hook. That's what Ford means by having respect for taxpayers. How many "insignificants" make a significant? Give it time - with the help of a unified and fortified council, I think we'll see the budget slowly but surely brought under control. Congratulations Mr. Ford.

[BubberMiley]

Suck on it! Woooooooooooooo!

Oh yeah...I meant to say that to you two years ago when Obama won, but I thought it would be too juvenile, classless, and stupid.

Thanks for reminding me.

[Michael Hardner]

Ford winning is a big story - but not that surprising. The really big surprise is the defeat of 9 incumbents. Now there's an opportunity to actually have a council that will be functional and able to apply the spirit of what Ford stands for.People underestimate how the little things add up......it's not about slashing spending for the sake of slashing - it's about setting priorities and making wise decisions. It's about changing the culture where city employees do more than report to work.....it's about making everybody understand that everything - from the rent of offices to the use of paperclips is all accomplished with taxpayer dollars. It's about projects running more efficiently and not always coming in late and overbudget - with the city on the hook. That's what Ford means by having respect for taxpayers. How many "insignificants" make a significant? Give it time - with the help of a unified and fortified council, I think we'll see the budget slowly but surely brought under control. Congratulations Mr. Ford.

It's election night, so we all should be optimistic. I hope it unfolds as you say.

[nicky10013]

Ford winning is a big story - but not that surprising. The really big surprise is the defeat of 9 incumbents. Now there's an opportunity to actually have a council that will be functional and able to apply the spirit of what Ford stands for.People underestimate how the little things add up......it's not about slashing spending for the sake of slashing - it's about setting priorities and making wise decisions. It's about changing the culture where city employees do more than report to work.....it's about making everybody understand that everything - from the rent of offices to the use of paperclips is all accomplished with taxpayer dollars. It's about projects running more efficiently and not always coming in late and overbudget - with the city on the hook. That's what Ford means by having respect for taxpayers. How many "insignificants" make a significant? Give it time - with the help of a unified and fortified council, I think we'll see the budget slowly but surely brought under control. Congratulations Mr. Ford.

Unfortunately for the City of Toronto, this is about slashing and slashing big time. To think that only one candidate has a monopoly on running a more efficient government is ludicrious. The argument isn't about keeping things as efficient as possible, the argument is over size of government itself. He's so blinded by his ideological zeal on the size of government that he actually believes (and has stupendously made it one of his biggest campaign promises) that he can slash the number of city councillors in half. Put aside a moment whether the idea is actually good or not, what city councillor in his right mind will vote himself out of a job? The saddest part of that statement is it's a serious question.

The rest of his promises are to cut billions from the budget without saying what he'll cut and hire more police officers. To any sane person not caught up in the insanity, it doesn't make the least bit of sense. Furthermore, I'm actually curious as to whether Ford even believes his own rhetoric. He's taken, rightly I think, the city's anger and shaped it and is using it to his advantage.

I also have to laugh about the anecdotes about him running his office to save money. The man is indendently wealthy. He inherited a company he didn't build and has never had to worry about his expenses. What about the councillors without a second income? I also wonder if the "average" person Ford reaches out to actually know how much it costs to run an office. It's a lot more expensive than one would like to think. There's another area where he's completely snookered people on.

I had to laugh that Mike Harris is there. Ford will be just as unelectable as Harris in 4 years. The expectations he raised and the pompacity of his policies ensures that he'll have a hard time implementing even a couple of the things he's run on.

Blak Dog is right, the best case scenario is political gridlock and slow decay to be picked up by a person who actually cares about delivering on city services in 4 years time.

[Shady]

I had to laugh that Mike Harris is there. Ford will be just as unelectable as Harris in 4 years.

Harris won back-to-back majority governments. But anyways, sometimes it takes somebody willing to do some unpopular but necessary things. See Chris Christie in New Jersey, or Chretien/Martin in the mid to late 90's.

[Shady]

Oh yeah...I meant to say that to you two years ago when Obama won, but I thought it would be too juvenile, classless, and stupid.

That's ok. I'll be saying it again November 2nd!

[BubberMiley]

That's ok. I'll be saying it again November 2nd!

I don't get how some people are so pee-your-pants emotional about politics.

[Shady]

I don't get how some people are so pee-your-pants emotional about politics.

Actually I don't. But after all of the garbage you and some of the other smear merchants peddled about Rob Ford. I figured I'd enjoy annoying you.

[Jack Weber]

Oh yeah...I meant to say that to you two years ago when Obama won, but I thought it would be too juvenile, classless, and stupid.

Thanks for reminding me.

Take a look at The Professor's photo....

That says alot!!!!

[Shady]

Take a look at The Professor's photo....

That says alot!!!!

Thanks Jack. I do consider myself somewhat of a professor. A professor of advanced conservative studies. Also, thank you for the compliment regarding my new picture. I think it's kinda cool.

[nicky10013]

What I want to know is how long the new Mayor can go without talking to not just the city's largest newspaper, but the country's largest newspaper. If he's really serious about working with people, there's the first test right there.

[Shakeyhands]

Thanks Jack. I do consider myself somewhat of a professor. A professor of advanced conservative studies. Also, thank you for the compliment regarding my new picture. I think it's kinda cool.

Is that a picture of you?

[Michael Hardner]

Actually I don't. But after all of the garbage you and some of the other smear merchants peddled about Rob Ford. I figured I'd enjoy annoying you.

How much smearing did he need exactly ? Probably none. His personal record of behavior was a shambles, but people ignored it.

Your guy won, but don't let the elation of the moment get you too lightheaded.

[Jack Weber]

Thanks Jack. I do consider myself somewhat of a professor. A professor of advanced conservative studies. Also, thank you for the compliment regarding my new picture. I think it's kinda cool.

The only thing your an advanced anything of is whatever the Fox talking heads tell you...

And "The Professor" is perjorative...But you already knew that...

By the way,who told you you looked even remotely cool with that stupid hat and those idiotic shades???

I think they were lyin' to you if they did...

[Jack Weber]

How much smearing did he need exactly ? Probably none. His personal record of behavior was a shambles, but people ignored it.

Your guy won, but don't let the elation of the moment get you too lightheaded.

Ya' gotta love how Profesor Kitzel takes vicarious pleasure in victories in places he does'nt even live...

Bizarre,to say the least...I don't live in Toronto so I really could'nt careless who won there...

I am glad the idiot Fred Eisenberger and the greasy scumbag,Larry Diani,did'nt win in Hamilton...

[August1991]

Well, Rob Ford wins by 100,000 votes. Goes to show how unreliable municipal polling is. Oh well. Well, the good thing is the city will be in the exact same shape in 4 years as it is tonight.

Municipal polling? It seems to me that only the "Toronto Elites" claimed it would be a close election. I think L. Ian Macdonald (an honorary Toronto elitist) even had a recent column on how close the election was.

Well, it wasn't. Ford won with almost 50% of the popular vote.

I have the strong impression that the Internet (social media, as elitists call it), the existential crisis of retiring Baby Boomers and the sheer stupidity of bureaucracy/government have somehow changed the game. The elitists (right or left) still don't understand the frustration of ordinary, honest taxpayers. (I think the elitists still refer to taxpayers as "angry".)

With all that said, I agree for once with Kate McMillan. Rob Ford is no Chris Christie.

In Canada, both English and French, we are still waiting for a politician to state the obvious intelligently.

No, it'll be much worse. Best case scenario is political gridlock and slow atrophy of city services.

Whatever. But BD, you ignore the intent behind all those votes. Heck, something similar motivated many of the Obama voters. Edited October 26, 2010 by August1991

[capricorn]

I had to laugh that Mike Harris is there.

You know what made me laugh? It's when Justin Trudeau showed up in TO last week to endorse Smitherman.

The day I knew for sure there must be something good about Mr. Ford was the day Justin Trudeau, the son of the late prime minister and the MP for Papineau riding in Montreal, came flying in to give George Smitherman his stamp of approval and save Toronto “from the politics of fear and division,” as he put it.

Thank you for that, Mr. Trudeau. You may resume tossing your locks.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/christie-blatchford/rob-ford-the-peoples-choice-in-spite-of-themselves/article1772591/

Rock on Mayor-elect Ford.

[capricorn]

Municipal polling? It seems to me that only the "Toronto Elites" claimed it would be a close election. I think L. Ian Macdonald (an honorary Toronto elitist) even had a recent column on how close the election was.

Well, it wasn't. Ford won with almost 50% of the popular vote.

Actually, there are times when a tie in an election poll can have a desirable effect. I'm convinced that some uninformed voters will vote for the person leading in a poll, especially if it is by a wide margin, simply to fall on the winning side. "Hey look at me, I won my vote." So if the polls show a tie, the voters are inclined to give who they will vote for more thought. There are occasions where the media is unable to properly read the tea leaves and the voting public pulls a fast one on them.

[William Ashley]

Actually, there are times when a tie in an election poll can have a desirable effect. I'm convinced that some uninformed voters will vote for the person leading in a poll, especially if it is by a wide margin, simply to fall on the winning side. "Hey look at me, I won my vote." So if the polls show a tie, the voters are inclined to give who they will vote for more thought. There are occasions where the media is unable to properly read the tea leaves and the voting public pulls a fast one on them.

2x lastman.

So Ford Appears to have taken it... with 50% of the vote... not bad.. now lets see how many strikes he causes with chopping the gravy train unless it plans to stop at the buffet, and for anyone else who wants in on it.

Edited October 26, 2010 by William Ashley

[scribblet]

How much smearing did he need exactly ? Probably none. His personal record of behavior was a shambles, but people ignored it.

Your guy won, but don't let the elation of the moment get you too lightheaded.

Well, the fat articles weren't particularly impressive, but now he's won, they are hoping for a heart attack... What will the Toronto Star do now.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n148/User91_2006/for%20forums/seriously.jpg

The mayor doesn't have all that much power, he's only one vote, but Sandra Bussin going down will help him.

What will Smitherman do now, wait for Federal seat to open up?

Edited October 26, 2010 by scribblet

[Black Dog]

Whatever. But BD, you ignore the intent behind all those votes. Heck, something similar motivated many of the Obama voters.

Yeah, people don't vote for anything anymore. They vote against the status quo.

Well, the fat articles weren't particularly impressive, but now he's won, they are hoping for a heart attack... Wh

To be fair, I'm the one hoping for a heart attack. Not "they".