Rob Ford, mayor of Toronto UPDATES

[WestCoastRunner]

His wife and children have some tough years ahead to process their grief and abuse at the hands of Rob. Hopefully they all made peace before he passed on. The family deserves to be left alone now to recover and work towards a more peaceful and stable life.

[Boges]

Wow only took four posts for someone to speak ill of the dead.

[WestCoastRunner]

Wow only took four posts for someone to speak ill of the dead

I'm speaking of the family left behind to pick up the pieces. I would suspect that Rob would agree with what I've said.

[Boges]

I'm speaking of the family left behind to pick up the pieces. I would suspect that Rob would agree with what I've said.

Yeah it wasn't the traumatic battle with cancer that leaves them without a father and husband that would leave them grieving today, it was this nebulous abuse that you can't substantiate.

[Boges]

Apparently people are writing messages of condolences in chalk in Nathan's Phillip's Square. This was also done after Jack Layton died.

[Big Guy]

Any given day there are about 50 obituaries in the Toronto Star. All will be missed by their family and friends and some will be remembered for their positive contributions and accomplishments.

Rob Ford will be missed by his family and friends.

Edited March 22, 2016 by Big Guy

[Boges]

[msj]

Rob Ford will be missed by his family and friends.

Agreed.

His demise runs contrary to the expression "the good die young."

[cybercoma]

Wow only took four posts for someone to speak ill of the dead.

So what? He was a scumbag and a crackhead. He did nothing but damage to Toronto as mayor.

[Boges]

So what? He was a scumbag and a crackhead. He did nothing but damage to Toronto as mayor.

It's interesting that it's when he finally appeared to have cleaned up his life that he was hit with the cancer. Were you not sympathetic with his plight as an addict?

He did so much damage, but even his brother was able to finish a strong second to the current mayor, he still had support. And those people will certainly be mourning his loss.

[capricorn]

The best online comment I have seen to date re Rofo's passing.

While not a supporter of Mr Ford's tatics or politics, I find it amusing that people act surprised that Mr Ford had so many supporters. I guess, the ultra politically correct feel they are a huge majority and that the only people that do not follow their way of thinking live on TV shows like Duck dynasty or Swamp people. Look to Mr Trump and his followers to prove otherwise. Many people have grown tired of the lies ( did anyone listen to the budget speech today and compare it to the promises made just weeks ago?) of our politically correct politicians...and the way they blow their sunny ways up people's butts.
My sincere condolensces to his family in their time of need.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ypnexthome/rob-ford-legacy_b_9523792.html

[capricorn]

He did nothing but damage to Toronto as mayor.

It seems he did do some good for Toronto.

But if you look past the madness of his political term and stay focused on his politics, you'll find a mayor who's left a legacy to be proud of. He fought long and hard for a subway system instead of an LRT -- a move that should prove to better connect the city and tighten the community that has grown with urban sprawl. Neighbourhoods along the east end of the city would have faster and more direct commutes to the core without surface traffic build-up, a plan that creates a sustainable long-term solution for commuter travel. He cut office budgets in favour of infrastructure expenditure; he voted against the five per cent property tax increase in 2001 -- one of only four councillors to do so. He wanted to put the city's money where his mouth was -- and he did. He was known for his quick and attentive response to constituent problems -- among other things.

He was also known for cancelling the car tax -- the cash grab the previous government had approved. The $60 per car the city charged when plates were renewed was never well received and Ford was a hero for removing it. One of his first campaign promises to come into effect, it secured Ford Nation's belief that they'd elected the right man for the job.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ypnexthome/rob-ford-legacy_b_9523792.html

[cybercoma]

This is a man who cut funding to AIDS programs because "only junkies and fags get it" in his words. He cut poverty intervention programs in the city. The changes he made almost certainly contributed to people's deaths. I will not sit here and give a compassionate eulogy to someone so vile. I have sympathy for his loved ones for losing someone close to them, but I will not praise someone who caused so much harm in his time in office.

[capricorn]

I will not sit here and give a compassionate eulogy to someone so vile.

Nobody asked you to.

[eyeball]

Wow only took four posts for someone to speak ill of the dead.

I know I was unable to stifle a chuckle at your huge ass funeral comment.

I'm seeing calls to have JT give RoFo a state funeral.

Regardless, it'll be a huge ass funeral.

[eyeball]

My sympathies go out to the pall bearers.

[Topaz]

Can the negative stop until he's buried, for cry out loud. I didn't care for the guy but he's dead, have some respect for the dead. After he's buried vent all u want.

[msj]

Can the negative stop until he's buried, for cry out loud. I didn't care for the guy but he's dead, have some respect for the dead. After he's buried vent all u want.

What does it matter?

What, does the stench go away after you bury someone?

Or if you bury them then they can't "hear" all the mean things written about them on the intertubes?

This "don't be mean to dead people" attitude is weird and irrational.

I will repeat Christoper Hitchens and what he said about Jerry Falwell: if you gave him an enema you could bury him in a matchbox.

Applies to many a politician, imv.

I've had cancer, don't wish it on anyone.

Doesn't change the fact that Rob Ford was a .....redacted because he's not buried yet.

[Guest]

Yeah it wasn't the traumatic battle with cancer that leaves them without a father and husband that would leave them grieving today, it was this nebulous abuse that you can't substantiate.

I think his abusiveness was well known. Nobody likes to speak ill of the dead, in fact most try to paint them in a more positive light; but RoFo was not a good man. An early death does not change the fact that he was an abusive, misogynistic, drug addicted, anti-working class, cheating, racist, buffoon that was horrible for the city. Rob isn't worthy of your fanboy sanctification, he is best forgotten.

Ford was charged with assaulting and threatening to kill his wife, Renata, in 2008 (though the charges were dropped), and in 2011 she reportedly placed a call to 911, with regard to a “verbal altercation” between herself and her husband. In 2012, the police were called to Renata’s parent’s house, where she was found with “numerous physical injuries including scrapes, bruising and cuts” on her face and body (he was not charged in this circumstance either). The police say they have received many calls from the Ford residence, related to domestic abuse. He sexually harassed women, dragging his wife with him into the media in order to defend himself, humiliating her (further) in the process. He said, of mayoral contender Karen Stintz, “I’d like to fucking jam her.” He, apparently, offered to let his friends have sex with his wife and bragged about cheating on her. I could go on; you get the point.

http://www.feministcurrent.com/2016/03/22/rob-ford-on-mourning-abusive-men/

Edited March 23, 2016 by Guest

[PIK]

The man had issues and he dealt with them. A lot of people suffer form these evils. And what I am reading here and heard form others, its how how low people can be. And one TO Star reporter ,the 1st thing out of his mouth was he is the worst mayor TO ever had, to the elite he was, to the regular folk he was great. He actually cared about people, the people that others look down apon and ignore. Watch the real people that show up for his funeral, while the elite drink their champagne toasting his death.

[Guest]

Rob claimed to be anti-elite and champion of the working class, but that was complete BS. He was a spoiled rich kid that was anti-union and anti-worker rights. The only elite traits he seemed to be against were education and civility. Being an abusive, addicted, bigot didn't make he an "every man", just a troubled one not qualified or suited for public office.

[cybercoma]

The man had issues and he dealt with them. A lot of people suffer form these evils. And what I am reading here and heard form others, its how how low people can be. And one TO Star reporter ,the 1st thing out of his mouth was he is the worst mayor TO ever had, to the elite he was, to the regular folk he was great. He actually cared about people, the people that others look down apon and ignore. Watch the real people that show up for his funeral, while the elite drink their champagne toasting his death.

A lot of people suffer from these evils, but they don't run for public office and torture the most vulnerable in their cities for sport.

[Argus]

I think his abusiveness was well known. Nobody likes to speak ill of the dead, in fact most try to paint them in a more positive light; but RoFo was not a good man. An early death does not change the fact that he was an abusive, misogynistic, drug addicted, anti-working class, cheating, racist, buffoon that was horrible for the city. Rob isn't worthy of your fanboy sanctification, he is best forgotten.

http://www.feministcurrent.com/2016/03/22/rob-ford-on-mourning-abusive-men/

I wasn't a fan but I understand he had a huge amount of minority support, especially among the Black community. Maybe what lilly white politically correct prissiness regarded as racist wasn't necessarily what the black community regarded as racist. He also had a huge amount of support from the working class, so maybe what effette pseudo-intellectual elites regarded as anti working class, wasn't.

[Boges]

He was a lot of things, but he wasn't a racist.

There was a line people point to about saying Chinese working like dogs. I've heard it explained that he was speaking of first hand experience from being in China. Regardless, his lack of tact shouldn't be seen as evidence of outright racism.

He coached football in a largely black school to mostly black players. How can one explain away that when accusing him of being a racist?

Now I think there is some strong evidence that he was homophobic however.

Edited March 23, 2016 by Boges

[cybercoma]

I once knew a guy who owned an NBA team, in Los Angeles no less, and he was racist af. Coaching a black football team doesn't clear him of the things he said and it sure as hell doesn't mean he can't be racist.