Rob Ford, mayor of Toronto UPDATES

[jacee]

But it's already gone viral without anyone seeing it. It seems people can say stuff without sufficient proof and it doesn't matter, it'll be believed by people that already hate this mayor anyway.

A drug dealer isn't going to risk his 'business' and possibly his freedom hawking a phony video of a politician. Defamation laws do apply in Canada, and he's now made himself a target of law enforcement, exposed two of his associates and likely scared off his suppliers and customers. If the video is fake, there's nothing in it for him.

I don't think people hate Ford so much as recognize him as a bad joke on the people of Toronto. He's a hail-fellow-well-met-have-a-few-beer-grab-an-ass-then-drive-home-giving-the-finger-as-needed.

Maybe his supporters can consider that all just colourful, so long as he can do his job, protect the taxpayers'money and not engage in criminal activity.

He hasn't got any credibility left on the first two, and he hasn't yet denied the last one.

Ball's in his court.

He's never kept quiet before.

Christie Blatchford: Rob Ford owes his supporters the cold,hard truth over crack allegations

But at the very least,if he does nothing else,the Mayor has to do a whole lot more than mutter Ridiculous, blame the Toronto Star and then vanish ...

...

I speak as someone,perhaps the only one person left in Toronto who will still admit it,who voted for him.

...

He owes his base, ... a serious explanation either of how he became the guy with whom they might want to share a crack pipe, or why that isnt so.

[jacee]

Dp

Edited May 20, 2013 by jacee

[jacee]

Not a personal attack. The Grand River area near Brantford is the hub of organized crime in Ontario, if not Canada - and you make a conscious choice to defend the people involved in it.

Get on topic "Kenneth".

Your single-minded attack agenda is showing.

[jacee]

Naw it was not intended to be insulting but J, you throw out the sheeyit it comes back on yah. Seriously. I am not here to attack you personally.

????

I was replying to Kenneth, not you, Rue.

[Boges]

Pretty much the same way attack adds work.

The conservatives love those attack adds!

But it's a whole different story when the conservatives are the ones being attacked isn't it?

Payback's a B____!

WWWTT

So you're acknowledging there's a chance the video is either fake or doesn't exist.

You're just justifying everyone's reaction.

I don't know either way but I'd have to see the video before I'll believe it.

[Guest Kenneth]

A drug dealer isn't going to risk his 'business' and possibly his freedom hawking a phony video of a politician. Defamation laws do apply in Canada, and he's now made himself a target of law enforcement, exposed two of his associates and likely scared off his suppliers and customers. If the video is fake, there's nothing in it for him.

So if the video is real, then things will be 10-times worse for them -- so either way there's nothing in it for them.

[jacee]

So if the video is real, then things will be 10-times worse for them -- so either way there's nothing in it for them.

My point was there's no gain for them in faking it, so the video likely is real.

They can sell it if it's real, and start over somewhere else since their local 'business' is toast. That's their plan.

[Guest Kenneth]

The problem is you're trying to rationalize how Somali gang members think. They offered the video for 100k, then it was upped to 200k. Split (at least) three ways somehow will not leave anyone involved with much of anything to start over anywhere in this country. Do you really think that gang life is that easy to leave that they can slip into anonymity - doubly so because they comes from a distinct ethnic group which makes them very conspicuous in Canada? So they're "toast" - period. Regardless of what they do and where they go, they'll never overcome this. The rest of Canada may forget them after their 15 is over, but not so their community...

[Spiderfish]

My point was there's no gain for them in faking it, so the video likely is real.

So an assessment by you into the motive and mindset of Somali drug dealers has led you to the speculative conclusion that in your opinion, the video is likely real, and with this conjecture we may as well destroy the career and character of the mayor. If it turns out to be true, all good, and if it turns out to be bunk, well...too bad for him, we can add this smear to the others and build the case even further that he is incompetant.

I think I will reserve my judgement until I have more conclusive information.

[jacee]

The problem is you're trying to rationalize how Somali gang members think. They offered the video for 100k, then it was upped to 200k. Split (at least) three ways somehow will not leave anyone involved with much of anything to start over anywhere in this country. Do you really think that gang life is that easy to leave that they can slip into anonymity - doubly so because they comes from a distinct ethnic group which makes them very conspicuous in Canada? So they're "toast" - period. Regardless of what they do and where they go, they'll never overcome this. The rest of Canada may forget them after their 15 is over, but not so their community...

I'm just reporting what they said they'd do, and assuming people here have read the news reports too.

And I'm commenting that it's very unlikely the video is faked, as some Ford-ites would like to believe.

Is that clear enough for you now?

[jacee]

So an assessment by you into the motive and mindset of Somali drug dealers has led you to the speculative conclusion that in your opinion, the video is likely real, and with this conjecture we may as well destroy the career and character of the mayor. If it turns out to be true, all good, and if it turns out to be bunk, well...too bad for him, we can add this smear to the others and build the case even further that he is incompetant.

I think I will reserve my judgement until I have more conclusive information.

Makes sense.

I'm inclined to think though, that if it wasn't true Ford would have been on the radio show Sunday, loudly proclaiming his innocence.

If it was true, however, he'd be afraid to in case anonymous callers he's smoked crack with called in to call him a liar.

Yes you could call it "conjecture" ... and you could also call it deductive reasoning.

[Guest Kenneth]

I'm just reporting what they said they'd do, and assuming people here have read the news reports too.

And I'm commenting that it's very unlikely the video is faked, as some Ford-ites would like to believe.

Is that clear enough for you now?

The only thing youve made clear to me is your hypocrisy and your willingness to believe anything that supports your petty agenda. No, that's not a "personal attack". Until there is conclusive proof of the video's existence, all you are doing is fueling rumours and unsubstantiated allegations. You may want to take a look at those defamation laws that you alluded to earlier - because as it stands youre guilty of violating them.

[jacee]

The only thing youve made clear to me is your hypocrisy and your willingness to believe anything that supports your petty agenda. No, that's not a "personal attack". Until there is conclusive proof of the video's existence, all you are doing is fueling rumours and unsubstantiated allegations. You may want to take a look at those defamation laws that you alluded to earlier - because as it stands youre guilty of violating them.

You'd better research that some more ... but at least you're trying to keep your personal attacks somewhat on topic now.

Edited May 20, 2013 by jacee

[Bitsy]

The Star had no business running this story.

Rue, the story was broken by Gawker not The Star. They only published about their meeting with the drug dealers after the Gawker article was published.

[Spiderfish]

Makes sense.

Well, at least you're not trying to hide your contempt.

If it was true, however, he'd be afraid to in case anonymous callers he's smoked crack with called in to call him a liar.

More conjecture.

Yes you could call it "conjecture" ... and you could also call it deductive reasoning.

Deductive reasoning based on personal speculation...no, conjecture about sums it up.

[Guest Kenneth]

You'd better research that some more ... but at least you're trying to keep your personal attacks somewhat on topic now.

Pointing out that someone is a hypocrite and engaging in unethical rumour mongering should not be considered a "personal attack" by anyone who is an adult.

[jacee]

Fine. Keep violating forum rules Kenneth.

Get suspended. Get banned. Make my day.

______________________________

Rosie on the rampage: " ... the confederacy of dunces that is Ford nation ...

DiManno: To end the uncertainty, we need to buy the Ford video

Plea to my publisher: Buy it. Buy that video which allegedly shows Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack. Because somebody will. And if that somebody happens to be an ally of the mayor or just a Ford junkie with deep pockets, the purported evidence of Toronto's chief magistrate sucking on a crack pipe will disappear.

I'm not sure the Star should buy it as Ford nation will claim they doctored it.

Better to let Gawker buy it as an independent.

Besides, they have prizes!!!

$200 Commemorative Print

If you donate $100 or more, you'll receive a limited-edition hand-drawn digital painting of Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine by Gawker art director Jim Cooke. (Only available if the video purchase is consummated.)

Estimated delivery: June 2013

35 out of 100 claimed

Edited May 21, 2013 by jacee

[Guest Kenneth]

So you have a problem with Ford allegedly being filmed with Somali gang members - but you have no problem with people raising 200k to buy the supposed video from these same thugs?

[Black Dog]

So you have a problem with Ford allegedly being filmed with Somali gang members - but you have no problem with people raising 200k to buy the supposed video from these same thugs?

Do you have another idea as to how to confirm the story?

[Guest Kenneth]

Whoever owns this supposed video should simply post it for free.

[Boges]

Whoever owns this supposed video should simply post it for free.

But then all this speculation would be for naught.

[WWWTT]

So you're acknowledging there's a chance the video is either fake or doesn't exist.

You're just justifying everyone's reaction.

I don't know either way but I'd have to see the video before I'll believe it.

I feel pretty much the same here.

But just like attack adds,the damage is already done.

WWWTT

[Black Dog]

Whoever owns this supposed video should simply post it for free.

Why would they do that when they can get money for it?

[BubberMiley]

Whoever owns this supposed video should simply post it for free.

They also shouldn't sell right-wing politicians crack. But the question of Somali drug-dealers' ethics (or even Star reporters' ethics) is a pretty weak distraction from the question of the mayor's ethics.

[Spiderfish]

Why would they do that when they can get money for it

Because selling it would very likely open them and the buyer up to criminal charges related to proceeds of crime laws. Even if charges weren't laid, how ethical is it to give money over to criminals to help fund further illegal activity?