Rob Ford, mayor of Toronto UPDATES

[Black Dog]

Apparently Doug now wants Chief Blair gone.

Blair is biased, because Blair saw the videos. Ya think??

http://www.citynews.ca/2013/11/05/doug-ford-says-toronto-police-chief-blair-should-step-aside/

I agree with Dougie. It's totally inappropriate for a police official to show such obvious bias towards a individual who engages in illegal activity and associates closely with known criminals. //sarcasm//

[Rue]

You bet I am. Never a dull moment in Fordlandia.

You should see my videos. I give new meaning to edible underwear.

[BubberMiley]

Apparently Doug now wants Chief Blair gone.

Attacking the messenger clearly works when it's the Toronto Star but I'm not sure it will work as well when it's the police chief. Even though it's the same strategy, we've seen from this board that the Ford Nation types will criticize anyone for believing the Star reports, but in the same breath they'll accept the police's report without question. It takes a while for them to realize that they've been gullible, but they eventually figure it out.

[Black Dog]

You bet I am. Never a dull moment in Fordlandia.

You should see my videos. I give new meaning to edible underwear.

What's wrong: are you in the other tape with him?

[Rue]

Earlier you said we had to take their word for it that a video existed. So, you think it was the opinion of Gawker and the Star's reporters that they saw a video?

Yes because now it is first hand evidence. The hard copy now exists and is in court hands. Now we can take their word for it since it does physically exist and is with someone who can prove it exists.

The physical existence of it is no longer solely dependent on the police's say so. If the police told me they saw it but did not have it, I would call that unacceptable as evidence as well.

I know for some what I am arguing appears to be a moot point but it is a crucial one in regards to admissibility as evidence in legal processes and what used to be a journalist code of ethics said you must have more than second hand evidence to run a story.

When to announce evidence exists and which words to use to make that announcement I guess are source for an open ended debate.

yes I will maintain I would not want to see a paper run a story without direct evidence they can reveal. I am not saying the reporters were liars-what I am saying is taking their word for something existing by itself is not responsible journalism. Hope that clarifies it because I know I appear to be using a double standard but I am not and wanted to clarify that.

That said I will now concede to anyone on the anti Ford bandwagon, there is just too much circumstantial evidence now to give Ford benefit of the doubt because the admissions of Ford himself now that make a defence of his behaviour impossible.

He is someone now on record stating he was hammered at the Danforth. This is someone saying his solution to drinking excessively and being drunk will be to slow down his drinking and drink at home?

This is someone who says its the speed of his drinking he will look at? Speed? That was his reference. He said he would slow down his drinking? This is a man out of control in public while drinking and who has a continuous history of drunken conduct in public and his comment to the public is he should drink more slowly?

This is not just blatant denial, it is as stupid a comment as it gets. It shows he has no insight that the speed of his drinking or where he was drinking was never the issue, its the fact he drinks and can't control himself when he drinks. This makes him either a stunned jackass of a moron or a classic alcoholic in denial but its one or the other-Ford supporters can't have it their way and says its neither, it's just a guy with foibles.

Drink more slowly? Does anyone think that is the solution to someone who can't control how much he drinks or his behaviour once drunk? You think his drinking slowly will prevent him from being drunk?

He won't be a problem if he drinks more slowly? What bullshit,

His brother also shared this idiot's denial on the radio repeatedly on Sunday and suggested drinking at home would undo the problem. Doug Ford is in many ways worse than his brother-he knows his brother is an alcoholic but he apologizes for him over and over. Doug Ford is as much of an embarrassment and even more repulsive in my opinion in that he is willing to enable his brother's alcoholism because of his own political agenda.

I believe the city needs someone fiscally responsible to make sure the spending Miller engaged in can not happen again.

The city seems to have stopped the spending during the Ford reign. He was an integral part of that although I a also personally do not think that was all Ford's making but also required the cooperation of a coalition of aldermen from all political spectrums.

I think these coalition is now scattered sensing its unifying source has imploded and now they all must distance themselves from Ford. It now allows the pretentious holier then thou Saint Adam of Vaughan and others with his approach to large spending an opening to whine and act all superior.

I think their big government spending saviour and messiah Saint Olivia Chow when she runs will be able to get elected as the middle to right of centre fiscally prudent Mayoral candidates, who could be a lot and at least 2-4 candidates, will all split their vote. The more candidates that run to replace Ford and a low spending platform the better it is for big spender Chow.

I am also convinced Ford will run again to syphoning off a large enough amount of votes from his diehards to assure Chow's election.

This is an angry man who consumes drugs and alcohol and food as a way to block out what he senses is rejection.

The Fords have no honour pure and simple. If they truly cared about the people they claim to, they would not remain in office with such behaviour enabling the big spenders to get elected.

Ford walks around with soiled pants asking everyone to accept that.

No. You want to walk around with soiled pants get the phack out of public office where we expect more of our elected leaders.

No I do not want trailer trash bafoons lowering the office to a point of blatant corruption and humiliation and no don' t tell me because some Police Chief says he is disappointed having to reveal the video that this makes him partisan and he is the problem not Ford. B.S.

Ford is the problem and we all should be disappointed such a video has to surface. No the average person is not happy it surfaced. What an absurd thing to think the Mayor should not acknowledge the disappointment. He was delivering controversial news. He was trying to cushion what he was saying by trying to tell people to calm down by acknowledging the disappointment it would cause most people. Its his job to tell people to remain calm. That is what he is paid to do, tone down emotional reaction when releasing alarming photos. What bs to blame the Chief.

Anyone but Ford is to blame right? Wrong.

Enough.

Edited November 5, 2013 by Rue

[BubberMiley]

Yes because now it is first hand evidence. The hard copy now exists and is in court hands. The physical existence of it is no longer solely dependent on the police's say so.

Yes, it is. The police haven't released the video. Therefore, you are willing to rely on their word that it exists, but you refused to rely on the reporters' word that it exists.

And you say they're biased?

[Black Dog]

Dougie is having a news conference right now calling for a probe into...Bill Blair. He said, without a trace of irony or self-awareness, that the police chief is endangering the reputation of the city. This mere hours after his crack smoking party boy kid brother was the butt of numerous jokes on U.S. late night TV. You can't make this shit up.

Edited November 5, 2013 by Black Dog

[Rue]

Yes, it is. The police haven't released the video. Therefore, you are willing to rely on their word that it exists, but you refused to rely on the reporters' word that it exists.

And you say they're biased?

No you missed the point. The police physically had it and it is now with the courts. There is no question now it physically exists and at the time the police released their announcement it was in their hands physically-so it was no longer second hand evidence.

[Rue]

Dougie is having a news conference right now calling for a probe into...Bill Blair. He said, without a trace of irony or self-awareness, that the police chief is endangering the reputation of th

e city. This mere hours after his crack smoking party boy kid brother was the butt of numerous jokes on U.S. late night TV. You can't make this shit up.

Trying to scapegoat the Police Chief is a desperate act of deflection.

Just is not going to wash with many of Ford's followers who are law and order or traditional Christian fundamentalist or pro family values. Its as self destructive as it gets not just for Rob but Doug.

Edited November 5, 2013 by Rue

[BubberMiley]

No you missed the point. The police physically had it and it is now with the courts.

So they say. Maybe it will be released to the courts and maybe it won't, depending on whether Lisi pleades guilty. It is not "now with the courts."

You're taking the chief's word for it based on hearsay. The Ford brothers would like you now to question the integrity of the police just as you went along with questioning the integrity of the reporters.

[g_bambino]

Yes because now it is first hand evidence.

I don't get the argument. When the reporters said they had seen a video, that wasn't them expressing their opinion--they were recounting a historical event. That's opinion as much as is Blair's claim the police found said video; i.e. it isn't opinion at all. Ditto for when a reporter says they've spoken to a source. We read and listen to what they tell us has gone on, since, well, that's their job.

[ed.: +]

Edited November 5, 2013 by g_bambino

[BubberMiley]

What this entire escapade shows most clearly is the delusional persecution complex many conservatives have these days, and how dangerous it is when that persecution complex is exploited by shady politicians.

[Boges]

Well Ford just admitted using Crack Cocaine so I guess all this is moot. He said he was hammered at the time. He's using the defense drunk drivers use.

"Yes I have smoked crack cocaine, probably in one of my drunk stupors a year ago"

Edited November 5, 2013 by Boges

[Black Dog]

BTW Ford just admitted using Crack Cocaine so I guess the point is all moot. He said he was hammered at the time. He's using the defense drunk drivers use.

"Yes I have smoked crack cocaine, probably in one of my drunk stupors a year ago"

Video was shot in February 2013. I guess that's *almost* a year but good lord.

[Boges]

So does this stop now?

He's admitted it. He's said he's not stepping down. What fuel do we have to keep this fire burning?

[BubberMiley]

So does this stop now?

Maybe you should be joining in the call for Chief Blair to resign in order to truly put this scandal behind us.

[g_bambino]

He's admitted it. He's said he's not stepping down. What fuel do we have to keep this fire burning?

The attempts to obtain and destroy evidence? The close associations with drug dealers? The meetings with and taking of packages from a drug dealer? The drinking and driving? A lot of questions still need answered.

[ed.: +]

Edited November 5, 2013 by g_bambino

[cybercoma]

So does this stop now?

He's admitted it. He's said he's not stepping down. What fuel do we have to keep this fire burning?

He needs to resign and go into rehab to set an example for others struggling with the same problems. That's the cross you bear as a public figure.

[Boges]

Maybe you should be joining in the call for Chief Blair to resign in order to truly put this scandal behind us.

Well that's the irony of today. The day started with Team Ford going into full Offense mode calling out Chief Blair then by lunch Ford finally admits to what we've been talking about since May.

Seems sort of anti-climactic doesn't it.

[Black Dog]

The attempts to obtain and destroy evidence? The close associations with drug dealers? The meetings with and taking of packages from a drug dealer? The drinking and driving? A lot of questions still need answered.

[ed.: +]

The fact he's a guy who gets shittered to the state where he'll smoke hard drugs and not know where he is when he does it?

Oh and he won't get help, but will just cut back and drink in his basement.

Sadly, though, this is probably gonna work. Ford more years.

Edited November 5, 2013 by Black Dog

[cybercoma]

Seems sort of anti-climactic doesn't it.

It seems like the guy is all over the place and therefore incapable of being the mayor of North America's fourth largest city. He needs help.

[Michael Hardner]

My news feed says Ford is now admitting he smoked crack ?

[Black Dog]

Even when he's being honest he can't help but lie, telling reporters he didn't lie about using crack, but that they "didn't ask the right questions." He's been asked, point blank several times, as recently as yesterday, if he's ever used crack.

[g_bambino]

After five months of avoiding comment on the crack cocaine scandal, the mayor suggested he just wasn’t asked about it.

“I wasn’t lying, you didn’t ask the correct question,” Ford told reporters...

Rob Ford: 'Yes I have smoked crack cocaine'

[Boges]

Yeah so even when telling the truth he's lies.

John Oakley asked him 3 times yesterday and he just deflected.