Rob Ford, mayor of Toronto UPDATES

GostHacked · November 19, 2013

Even if Toronto is stuck as Ford's hostage now, legislation should be drafted to save other communities from a similar, future train wreck. I imagine it will be tricky to word the legislation carefully enough so that it could only be used to remove a person unfit for office and not as a tool in political games. Still I'm sure it can be achieved.

Those checks and balances already exist in order for a council to strip the mayor of power legally. But that does not mean people won't abuse it. And that could be a factor here, but overall Ford has done himself in.

Wilber · November 19, 2013

Unfortunately they can't seem to stop him from being an embarrasment to his city and country.

Black Dog · November 19, 2013

I'm quite against any special measures to remove Ford. It's a bit excessive. I want him to face the music on the campaign trail; hopefully there's an opponent who will ask him the difficult questions even the media seems to be avoiding (like "what was in the packages?")

g_bambino · November 19, 2013

A coup d'etat is what he calls it.

That does now seem to be the go-to line for any leader voted or under threat of being voted down by those elected to represent those to whom he's responsible.

George Bush said some really stupid things, but Ford really goes the distance.

There's much one could choose from, but, in the context of the above, I particularly liked when he called what happened "a dictatorship process". Putting aside the statement's garbled grammar, it makes it evident he doesn't comprehend the difference between dictatorship and oligarchy (not that anything oligarchical happened).

[ed.: +, sp.]

Edited November 19, 2013 by g_bambino

Black Dog · November 19, 2013

Trying to think of examples of coups where the military stormed the palace, captured the democratically elected president and then held a vote to limit his powers and I'm coming up blank here guys.

jacee · November 19, 2013

Trying to think of examples of coups where the military stormed the palace, captured the democratically elected president and then held a vote to limit his powers and I'm coming up blank here guys.

/ENTITLED-FORD-blew-chance-to-beat-elitists

There goes another chunk of Ford Nation.

.

g_bambino · November 20, 2013

There goes another chunk of Ford Nation.

Plus, their TV show was cancelled. After one episode.

jacee · November 20, 2013

Plus, their TV show was cancelled. After one episode.

Bad ratings I guess. Good.

Watching the Ford train wreck is beginning to feel voyeuristic. I wish him well in his sobriety and health quest.

It might help if he stopped lying to the public and to himself.

Rob Ford lies three times in first minutes of Peter Mansbridge interview

And I'm going to take a wild guess and say that Ford just might still be abusing some substance ...

http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=news.nationalpost.com/2013/11/19/rob-ford-scolded-by-nbcs-matt-lauer-as-celebrity-mayor-begins-re-election-campaign-media-blitz

Lauer asked Ford about his excessive drinking, wondering what would happen if there was a city emergency when he was inebriated, leading to a bizarre exchange where the mayor asked his interviewer to think about his own children dying.

Im very fortunate that hasnt happened, Ford said of an emergency. Its very few isolated incidents that its happened. But that could happen to anyone at any time. Say you went out drinking, and say something happened to your family."

"The lives of a million people arent resting on my decisions, Lauer responded.

Rob Ford continued: Hold on, say your son or daughter have just got killed in a car accident and you are plastered out of your mind at three in the morning, are you going to be able to handle that?

HUNH !?!

Ok, the sympathy didn't last.

I'm back to howling :lol: at him.

.

Edited November 20, 2013 by jacee

BubberMiley · November 20, 2013

Bad ratings I guess. Good.

Nope. Best ratings for SunNews ever. Their excuse is it took five hours to edit it, so it was too expensive. The rumour is the PMO told them to can it as it did not help the cause.

Mighty AC · November 20, 2013

I suspect the PMO is aware that having Ezra act as a Ford apologist will kill the tiny shred of credibility the station still has.

Topaz · November 20, 2013

On CTV, today they had on a substance counselor on and he was watching Ford yesterday, he said the way Ford was acting was the way someone with would, who needs to go into rehab. Global TV, had realty check, and most the things Ford has said he's done or not done, is just the opposite and lastly, CBC, Tory Tim Powers said BOTH Fords need to go.

jacee · November 20, 2013

Nope. Best ratings for SunNews ever. Their excuse is it took five hours to edit it, so it was too expensive.

I'd like to see the stuff they had to cut.

I'll bet there's a few good laughs in that.

The rumour is the PMO told them to can it as it did not help the cause.

If Sun 'News' Network takes orders from the PMO, they can kiss goodbye to their pretense of belonging to the 'free press'.

ReeferMadness · November 20, 2013

Harper won't go anywhere near Ford right now (probably not in the future either) but he needs Ford Nation. Count on the Cons to try to find someone else who can rebuild the looney right in Toronto.

Boges · November 20, 2013

I'm quite against any special measures to remove Ford. It's a bit excessive. I want him to face the music on the campaign trail; hopefully there's an opponent who will ask him the difficult questions even the media seems to be avoiding (like "what was in the packages?")

I'm glad to hear this. Now the province has said to they'll deal with Norm Kelly regarding Municipal affairs.

Ford's behaviour has been attrocious but he has yet to be charged with a crime yet he's effectively been overthrown from office.

I suspect as more and more people pile on, there will be people that will come back to Ford's side.

Here's a column by the Sun's Mike Strobel.

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/11/18/ford-brothers-game-of-chicken-may-pay-off

Now Rob is a victim of those entitled career politicans who suck blood. He can dine out on that from now 'til next Oct. 27.

And he has endless hours to campaign, given his suddenly lightened duties.

If council was smart -- a huge IF -- they'd have held back on Ford.

Give him rope in hopes he'll hang himself with more Fordian slips.

But now he's free to mainstreet his heart out. Now he can snipe at the powers-that-be: They kicked me out -- and LOOK what they're doing with your taxes.

Plus, the Fords can claim democracy is on their side. It was a coup, no matter how justified.

This is how Ford won the election in the first place, he got to play the underdog.

Mighty AC · November 20, 2013

I love how conservatives have rebranded the term elitist to apparently mean those who are educated and use proper grammar. Fordy is an actual elitist, like George Dubya Bush. One who uses his money to buy second/third/fourth chances; the kind of breaks regular people don't get.

Why would any intelligent voter back Ford now when there will be con candidates who haven't embarrassed the city on the world stage, set horrible examples for children, and can use proper grammar? Last election prominent cons were lining up to speak on Fords behalf. I don't see that happening this time. Though the probably will for a guy like Tory.

Black Dog · November 20, 2013

I love how conservatives have rebranded the term elitist to apparently mean those who are educated and use proper grammar. Fordy is an actual elitist, like George Dubya Bush. One who uses his money to buy second/third/fourth chances; the kind of breaks regular people don't get.

Why would any intelligent voter back Ford now when there will be con candidates who haven't embarrassed the city on the world stage, set horrible examples for children, and can use proper grammar? Last election prominent cons were lining up to speak on Fords behalf. I don't see that happening this time. Though the probably will for a guy like Tory.

Drives me mental that no one calls them out on n their fake Regular Joe schtick. Last week, Rob was railing against "the rich" like a Marxist class warrior. In the meantime, their oft repeated lie of saving taxpayers a billion dollars (why not a trillion?) go unchallenged.

But I guess it doesn't matter: a certain percentage of the population will support him no matter what. Point out the facts, and their eyes glaze over and they start babbling about retirement parties and gravy trains.

Boges · November 20, 2013

I love how conservatives have rebranded the term elitist to apparently mean those who are educated and use proper grammar. Fordy is an actual elitist, like George Dubya Bush. One who uses his money to buy second/third/fourth chances; the kind of breaks regular people don't get.

Why would any intelligent voter back Ford now when there will be con candidates who haven't embarrassed the city on the world stage, set horrible examples for children, and can use proper grammar? Last election prominent cons were lining up to speak on Fords behalf. I don't see that happening this time. Though the probably will for a guy like Tory.

Liberals do the same by branding Conservatives as Racist Homophobes or Slaves to Corporations.

The Elites moniker is more this divide in Toronto between urban areas and the burbs. It appears there's an element of Toronto that doesn't acknowledge people live north of Bloor. The type that would create traffic chaos through legislation downtown just so people down want to drive down there.

Edited November 20, 2013 by Boges

Black Dog · November 20, 2013

Liberals do the same by branding Conservatives as Racist Homophobes or Slaves to Corporations.

Examples?

The Elites moniker is more this divide in Toronto between urban areas and the burbs. It appears there's an element of Toronto that doesn't acknowledge people live north of Bloor. The type that would create traffic chaos through legislation downtown just so people down want to drive down there.

Huh? Wha?

Boges · November 20, 2013

Examples?

Are you denying that the argument against conservative policies are generally anti-corporation. Look at the Ontario NDP's platform.

Or take a look at some of the columns Linda Mcquig has written.

- Harper claims crackdown, yet he opened floodgates for corporations

- Fight against climate change blocked by Luddites at Big Oil

- Harper relies on stoking resentments in discreet class war

Huh? Wha?

http://www.newstalk1010.com/news/2013/06/11/ford-allies-blast-councillor-for-suggesting-congestion-is-a-good-thing

You can disagree with the policies and debate them. But does a main road used by lots of cars need a lane actually taken away for a bike lane?

Edited November 20, 2013 by Boges

Black Dog · November 20, 2013

Are you denying that the argument against conservative policies are generally anti-corporation. Look at the Ontario NDP's platform.

Or take a look at some of the columns Linda Mcquig has written.

How about some specific statements instead of general accusations (especially on the "racist homophobic" side)

http://www.newstalk1010.com/news/2013/06/11/ford-allies-blast-councillor-for-suggesting-congestion-is-a-good-thing

from the article:

(Perks) told council that if there is congestion it's because the city has failed to integrate everyone properly.

Is he wrong?

You can disagree with the policies and debate them. But does a main road used by lots of cars need a lane actually taken away for a bike lane?

To what are you referring?

Edited November 20, 2013 by Black Dog

Boges · November 20, 2013

How about some specific statements instead of general accusations (especially on the "racist homophobic" side)

We saw in the other thread where ReeferMadness was quoting statements by Gord Perks saying Ford was a Racist and a Homophobe. I guess if you can cite instances where he uses slurs you can make that claim but actions do speak louder than words. I won't disagree Ford language is crude but I don't see any real evidence he treats minorities and the LGTB community worse.

Is he wrong?

You tell me. Building lots of condos won't fix the problem. But making traffic worse won't help. People are going to drive downtown if it's more cost effective than taking transit, no matter how bad the traffic is.

To what are you referring?

Here's one of Ford' "accomplishments".

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/11/12/rob-ford-applauds-jarvis-bike-lane-removal

Miller removed a lane of traffic to put a bike lane in.

Black Dog · November 20, 2013

We saw in the other thread where ReeferMadness was quoting statements by Gord Perks saying Ford was a Racist and a Homophobe. I guess if you can cite instances where he uses slurs you can make that claim but actions do speak louder than words. I won't disagree Ford language is crude but I don't see any real evidence he treats minorities and the LGTB community worse.

Do you need to actually bash gay people or burn crosses to be a racist or homophobe? Also, it's worth pointing out those accusations came about as a result of Ford's actions and not,a s you implied, as a generic catch all for all right wingers (unlike the "downtown elites" tag)

You tell me. Building lots of condos won't fix the problem. But making traffic worse won't help.

Again: who is trying to make traffic worse on purpose? What policies are you referring to?

People are going to drive downtown if it's more cost effective than taking transit, no matter how bad the traffic is.

So what's the problem, then?

Here's one of Ford' "accomplishments"

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/11/12/rob-ford-applauds-jarvis-bike-lane-removal

Miller removed a lane of traffic to put a bike lane in.

A bike lane that had minimal impact on traffic and travel times.

Removing Jarvis is exactly the kind of ideologically-driven wasteful spending Ford claimed to want to stop (see also: the Scarborough subway). Thanks for the great example of his hypocrisy.

Edited November 20, 2013 by Black Dog

GostHacked · November 20, 2013

I'm quite against any special measures to remove Ford. It's a bit excessive. I want him to face the music on the campaign trail; hopefully there's an opponent who will ask him the difficult questions even the media seems to be avoiding (like "what was in the packages?")

This is the wrong course of action and is almost apologetic towards his actions and behavior. People like Ford can bank on the population having some form of ADHD and wont really care when election comes down the road.

He needs to face the music now.

Black Dog · November 20, 2013

This is the wrong course of action and is almost apologetic towards his actions and behavior.

Explain.

People like Ford can bank on the population having some form of ADHD and wont really care when election comes down the road.

He needs to face the music now.

Changing the system to deal with one bad egg is a terrible precedent to set.

GostHacked · November 20, 2013

Explain.

He is exhibiting behaviors not becoming of a Mayor. He admits he smokes crack, he admits he had taken part in illegal drug sales, he admits he has been obnoxiously drunk in public. He admits that he lied about much of this (but he said he did not lie). Your child acts like an idiot, do you take care of it right away or do you wait?

He is not in a proper state of mind with his recent rants. He has lost it and needs to go. If you want to wait for an election to get rid of him, then you are going to have more incidents like this that will put more pressure on any committee to get rid of him.

Ford has not carried himself in a way that tells me he respects the office of Mayor and by that he does not respect the rest of the council.

Changing the system to deal with one bad egg is a terrible precedent to set.

The system does not need to be changed. This is what we call accountability. Call an election now then. This is a process that the council can take legally and democratically.

IF Harper was like this, would you continue to allow him to be a complete embarrassment to the entire nation?