Rob Ford, mayor of Toronto UPDATES

[Boges]

I said it was about more than Ford smoking crack. So, yes, another problem is he lied about smoking it. It's still about more than Ford smoking crack and lying about it. I believe others have already listed numerous times the litany of offenses (to the Office of Mayor, at least) Ford is demonstrably guilty of. Whatever the provincial goverment has done wrong, it has nothing to do with Ford and the legislature's power to make laws governing municipalities does not depend on moral fortitude.

But Ford has not been charged with any crime, yet. By what standard would one use to determine if he's not fit for office?

There was an attempt to have him removed legally because of a conflict of interest issue. He won on appeal. Again I'm not defending Ford's action, but it's a very dangerous precedent to set.

[g_bambino]

If it wasn't for the crack use, this story wouldn't have the legs it has. It certainly wouldn't be International news.

Perhaps not; but that doesn't diminish the importance to the city of the Mayor and his behaviours. You may also note that much of the international coverage focused on Ford's sophmoric lying and evasion; "you just didn't ask the right question". Seriously...

All the other stuff certainly seems shady but Ford currently isn't facing any criminal charges

Hence, criminal charges have never been much of an issue in all this (only the question of why he isn't facing criminal charges).

[ed.: c/e]

Edited November 12, 2013 by g_bambino

[g_bambino]

By what standard would one use to determine if he's not fit for office?

Really?

-- It's certain he has a binge drinking problem

-- It's certain he is frequently inebriated in public (itself a criminal offense)

-- It's certain he is frequently belligerent when inebriated in public

-- It's certain he drinks during the workday

-- It's near certain he drinks and drives (another criminal offense)

-- It's certain he reads while driving (another criminal offense)

-- It's certain he associates himself with convicted hard drug dealers and users

-- It's certain he has had frequent meetings with a drug dealer in which said drug dealer has deposited packages in the Mayor's car

-- It's certain he has used crack cocaine

-- It's near certain he attempted to have evidence destroyed (another criminal offence)

-- It's certain he lies (horribly) about being inebriated, behaving belligerently, driving drunk, and using crack cocaine

-- It's certain he lies (horribly) about his achievements as mayor

-- It's certain he has difficulty formulating a logical argument

Any one of those things on their own might be tolerable and/or overlooked (except, maybe, the shady associations with criminals, which is his most obvious failing as a public figure). But, add them all together and you get a character who is definitely not fit to occupy such a high civic office, not simply because it makes him a poor representative of the city, but also because he obviously has no respect for the office nor can he ever appear trustworthy as a manager of the largest city in the country.

[Boges]

Really?

-- It's certain he has a binge drinking problem

-- It's certain he is frequently inebriated in public (itself a criminal offense)

-- It's certain he is frequently belligerent when inebriated in public

-- It's certain he drinks during the workday

-- It's near certain he drinks and drives (another criminal offense)

-- It's certain he reads while driving (another criminal offense)

-- It's certain he associates himself with convicted hard drug dealers and users

-- It's certain he has had frequent meetings with a drug dealer in which said drug dealer has deposited packages in the Mayor's car

-- It's certain he has used crack cocaine

-- It's near certain he attempted to have evidence destroyed (another criminal offence)

-- It's certain he lies (horribly) about being inebriated, behaving belligerently, driving drunk, and using crack cocaine

-- It's certain he lies (horribly) about his achievements as mayor

-- It's certain he has difficulty formulating a logical argument

Any one of those things on their own might be tolerable and/or overlooked (except, maybe, the shady associations with criminals, which is his most obvious failing as a public figure). But, add them all together and you get a character who is definitely not fit to occupy such a high civic office, not simply because it makes him a poor representative of the city, but also because he obviously has no respect for the office nor can he ever appear trustworthy as a manager of the largest city in the country.

So we'll have a Provincial Ford Law. Any Mayor that has done what Ford has done can be legally removed from office even if they haven't been charged of a crime.

Cool!

BTW even recall legislation in the US call for a new election.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Boges

[g_bambino]

So we'll have a Provincial Ford Law. Any Mayor that has done what Ford has done can be legally removed from office even if they haven't been charged of a crime.

What are you talking about? Nobody of any consequence is proposing a law just for Ford and legislation allowing recall votes or some other alteration to the selection and dismissal process for mayors is another matter altogether (worthy of exploring as it is).

You strongly insinuated that criminal charges are the only legitimiate reason to call for a mayor's resignation or dismissal and Ford has none; ergo, everyone asking for him to step down should shut their mouths. I spelled out all--maybe many of, since I might have missed some--the issues that cumulatively render Ford unfit for the position of Mayor of Toronto; the issues that Ford supporters simply pretend aren't there. But, they are there, nonetheless.

[ed.: c/e. +]

Edited November 12, 2013 by g_bambino

[Boges]

Well not a recall but there's a motion going before council tomorrow that would ask the province to strip the mayor of all his powers.

[Black Dog]

Well not a recall but there's a motion going before council tomorrow that would ask the province to strip the mayor of all his powers.

No there isn't.

The motion is asking the mayor to take a temporary leave of absence. If that fails, then they might put forward a motion to go to the province.

[Boges]

No there isn't.

The motion is asking the mayor to take a temporary leave of absence. If that fails, then they might put forward a motion to go to the province.

Yeah so he will put forward a motion if he refuses. We'll see what he does but there may be a motion asking for his powers to be stripped or an outright removal from office.

http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/11/12/mayor_rob_ford_puts_leaveofabsence_motion_on_the_front_burner.html

Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wongs motion urges Ford to take a leave of absence. If Ford does not agree, he intends to add a condition asking council to petition the province to remove the mayor from office.

[Boges]

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/RARE-TORONTO-MAYOR-ROB-FORD-OFFICIAL-BOBBLEHEAD-Crack-ROBBIE-BOBBIE-/161148845389

I want to get BD this for Christmas, let's take up a collection.

[g_bambino]

Yeah so he will put forward a motion if he refuses.

I chose my words carefully when I said "noone of consequence" was proposing legislation to remove Ford from office. A motion of Toronto City Council forces nobody to do anything; it would be up to an MPP to put a bill to parliament, which would then, obviously, need the support of the majority therein. Since most MPPs represent ridings in the GTA, any who supported such a bill would be risking a lot.

[Boges]

I chose my words carefully when I said "noone of consequence" was proposing legislation to remove Ford from office. A motion of Toronto City Council forces nobody to do anything; it would be up to an MPP to put a bill to parliament, which would then, obviously, need the support of the majority therein. Since most MPPs represent ridings in the GTA, any who supported such a bill would be risking a lot.

I'm 100% sure it won't happen either. I'm just having an argument that I disagree with the motion being put forward tomorrow.

Also because the councillor putting forward the motion is a former Ford ally that is rumoured to be throwing his hat in the mayor's race.

[g_bambino]

I'm just having an argument that I disagree with the motion being put forward tomorrow.

You disagree because it calls on the provincial government to involve itself in the matter but the provincial government has no moral legitimacy to do so, since its supposed squandereing of "billions" is equivalent to Ford having smoked crack?

[Boges]

You disagree because it calls on the provincial government to involve itself in the matter but the provincial government has no moral legitimacy to do so, since its supposed squandereing of "billions" is equivalent to Ford having smoked crack?

Do you think they should?

Of course the two issues aren't comparable. BTW people in the media have no problem associating the scandals of Ford and the Duffy/Wright/Harper affair even though they aren't comparable either.

[jacee]

Anybody want to take bets on how long it will be until Ford is seen drunk/stoned in public again?

I'll be generous and say ... 5 weeks.

Interesting that 1000 people waited

(Rob was an hour and a half late for work today)

to buy his bobblehead doll today ... and he got only "scattered applause" from them. Doug tried to spin it that they were all Ford supporters, but clearly most weren't. They're just looking to ca$h in on his crack-mayor notoriety.

[g_bambino]

Of course the two issues aren't comparable..

I'm glad you've come 'round on that.

[Black Dog]

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/RARE-TORONTO-MAYOR-ROB-FORD-OFFICIAL-BOBBLEHEAD-Crack-ROBBIE-BOBBIE-/161148845389

I want to get BD this for Christmas, let's take up a collection.

i bet you could turn that into a pipe pretty easily.

[GostHacked]

So we'll have a Provincial Ford Law. Any Mayor that has done what Ford has done can be legally removed from office even if they haven't been charged of a crime.

Cool!

BTW even recall legislation in the US call for a new election.

Where do you draw the line? Ford is not fit to be mayor. Maybe he needs a sex scandal to put the final nail in the coffin?

His actions and words are enough to kick his own ass out of office.

[Black Dog]

Anybody want to take bets on how long it will be until Ford is seen drunk/stoned in public again?

I'll be generous and say ... 5 weeks.

Interesting that 1000 people waited

(Rob was an hour and a half late for work today)

to buy his bobblehead doll today ... and he got only "scattered applause" from them. Doug tried to spin it that they were all Ford supporters, but clearly most weren't. They're just looking to ca$h in on his crack-mayor notoriety.

Nah he's going to the gym now, that's all you need to cure a binge drinking problem, right?

[g_bambino]

The council session is a riot. The Globe has a Twitter feed.

"Councillor Del Grande says that after 2006 Air Canada Centre incident, Mayor Ford apologized to council and said it would not happen again. Is this not happening again?"

"Mayor Ford: 'I've admitted to my mistakes" and said it wouldn't happen again. "It has never happened again at the Air Canada Centre'. Huge laughs"

"Councillor Del Grande: 'What I'm asking is, do you expect more of others than you do of yourself?'"

"Mayor Ford: 'I expect people when they come to work ... to be absolutely straight. And I have been.'"

"Laughter, hisses as Ford insists he gets to work on time and straight. He is NEVER on time. He was late to work only yesterday."

"Councillor Minnan-Wong: Mr. Mayor, do you still have zero tolerance for drugs, guns and gangs?"

"Mayor Ford: 'Absolutely.'"

"Councillor Minnan-Wong: Mr. Mayor, can you tell me how that applies to you?"

"Mayor Ford: 'I just answered that question.'"

"Councillor Minnan-Wong: Mr. Mayor, have you purchased illegal drugs in the last 2 years?"

"Mayor Ford pauses: 'Yes, I have.'"

"Mayor Ford: ... 'I have cleaned up the mess. I have made 'personal mistakes' but not in this chamber, in my personal life..."

"Councillor Thompson: Are you then saying that you have violated the council code of conduct? Mayor Ford asks for clarification of the question."

"Councillor Thompson once [again] asking if Mayor Ford has violated council code of conduct?"

"Mayor Ford: 'I don't have the code of conduct memorized.'"

Great stuff!

[ed.: c/e]

Edited November 13, 2013 by g_bambino

[Boges]

I just heard the Santa Clause Parade organizers have as RoFo to stay home and not lead the parade.

OUCH!!!!

[Black Dog]

Rob Ford’s staffers told Toronto Police shocking details about booze, drugs and even a suspected prostitute in the mayor’s City Hall office, according to a media lawyer who has seen the redacted sections that have been ordered unsealed.

The bombshell information is contained in police interviews that will be released to the public after Justice Ian Nordheimer ruled Wednesday that some blacked-out portions of the information to obtain a search warrant into the affairs of Ford’s friend Alexander Lisi can be made available.

LINK

[jacee]

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2013/11/13/21264576.html

Some of the most startling allegations concern the night of March 17, 2012.

Former special assistant of communications Isaac Ransom told police, according to MacKinnon, that he was summoned to City Hall about 9 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day in 2012 and found Ford there with a few people including a woman he believed may be an escort. He said Ford had drunk half of a 40-ounce bottle of vodka and was talking about getting hammered and getting laid that night.

His staff tried unsuccessfully to convince him not to go to Bier Markt, according to Ransom. He said he did manage to stop Ford from smoking pot in his office before he left. He said he's never seen him do cocaine.

MacKinnon said that according to the documents, a waiter at the Bier Markt told investigators he believed Ford had snorted cocaine in a private room that night.

Well I don't know about his professional career, but Ford's marriage might be in trouble tonight.

Edited November 13, 2013 by jacee

[Boges]

Dude knows how to party.

[brian66]

Here is the latest police docs that were released by courts today.

http://looniepolitics.com

[Topaz]

Doug Ford, stood up and started to ask who hasn't smoke marijuana? He also said I bet if we had a drug test, all of council wouldn't pass. Does that include Doug, who wants to run for provincial MPP?? Apparently, Rob Ford wife, is mentioned in this last report but the host of the news, said they wouldn't go into that. Ford needs to go and since the whole family has an addiction problem, sister has drug problem and Doug has been mentioned with drugs and then there the booze. What many people are pointing on social media, that when the police were watching Ford, if that has been a regular citizen they would have been arrested. Does Ford also have friends on the police force????