Politics Rob Ford: What's the final act?

Weasels and snakes belong in the zoo. Love that. I'm gonna make good use of that.

 

@baraka_guru has given a good overview...

The thing that I have continued to find frustrating is that he was elected mayor three years ago in spite of his record. The voters knew what they were getting with Ford... maybe not Crack, but certainly controversy and bombast.

If there was any silver lining to all of this, I think the shit show that is his mayoralty has done more to motivate people to get involved in municipal politics. Prior to the crack scandal exploding last May, it was fascinating to see the engagement of people in politics, at a level I've not seen before in Toronto, if only to counter the garbage that Ford was dumping on their city.

 

I always pictured Toronto in my head as a mecca for intellectuals. Like a Woody Allen movie, with less angst.
Yet another dream destroyed by the reality of universal mediocrity.

 

This is the pain of amalgamation... The City of Toronto used to be part of what was called, Metro Toronto. Metro Toronto was The City and it's surrounding boroughs and, well, cities. Each had it's own Mayor and council. Combining all of that was Metro Council which helped to co-ordinate services, etc.

Suffice it to say, the City of Toronto proper was, and continues to be, quite progressive. The surrounding areas tend to be what you would expect from increasingly suburban areas (NOTE: I am using a very broad brush here). In the 90s, the provincial government (like the US state government) forced Metro Toronto to merge into one super-sized city. This was seen by fiscal conservatives as the paragon of efficiency but what it really was was the effective outnumbering of the progressive downtown vote.

Looking at the voter spread in the election that made Ford mayor, you can see that the old city did not support him. The suburbs did. To be sure, there are tensions running between the urban and suburban divide. Tensions that Ford played to great effect in the election and through his time in office.

Long story short... if you want to maintain the illusion of "mecca for intellectuals", stay downtown.

 

Who's this Iron Sheik guy and how's he connected to Ford. I feel like I'm missing something.

 

Ya gotta ask Hulk Hogan.

 

The best part is that Rob Ford arm wrestled Hulk Hogan this summer and won!

Those were simpler times...

 

Ok, mad google skills tell me he's 73 and a bit off his nut. But he might be on the right track here.

Not to thread jack here... but the longer I live in Mexico the more detached I feel from pop culture. I likely would not have heard of the Iron Iranian but more and more I hear a references and think? Kind of get a Déjà vu from my Navy days. Returned from an six month West-Pac which was stretched to nine in the earlier 80's and at a party about every other person I knew kept asking me "who ya gonna call?" The correct response was of course "Ghost Busters!" But mine was more "I don't know, my brother?"
--- merged: Nov 6, 2013 at 6:46 PM ---

Wonder how much coke Hogan charged his to throw the match?

 

For those who are curious, an important part of Rob Ford that needs to be understood is his family. Ford comes from a wealthy family but has successfully positioned himself as being out there for "the little guy". A populist who answers his phone and claims accountability.

When Rob was first elected, the fact his brother Doug was going to be a councillor at the same time was seen as a good thing. Doug, seen as the "smart one" would provide a stabilising influence on Rob. Turns out that isn't quite the case.
Worst. Brother. Ever.


Further to that, in the midst of last May's revelations about the possibility there was a crack tape, The Globe and Mail released the results of an investigation they had done into the Ford family, with emphasis on Rob's brother and current city councillor, Doug Ford.

LINK
The highlights:

• Doug Ford, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s brother, sold hashish for several years in the 1980s.
• Another brother, Randy, was also involved in the drug trade and was once charged in relation to a drug-related kidnapping.
• Their sister, Kathy, has been the victim of drug-related gun violence with connections to the KKK

To my eyes... wealthy, suburban kids with a strong sense of entitlement.

 

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford 'considering' rehab, his lawyer says - World News

So Ford is now considering rehab? What rehab would apply? Anger management, Drugs, Alcohol, overeating... what?

 

Who knows. If he does go to rehab, it will likely end up that he goes to his cottage for a couple weeks rather than anything useful. It will be strictly about optics rather than results.

 

Yes, but what does he get treatment for? Is there rehab for being a jack wad?

 

My point was, he won't get rehab for anything. He, and his family, think he is just fine.

This "rehab" will be a little charade. Some time off to appease the critics and show his base he's acting.

 

Why do I keep missing your point? Gez, first I spend 5 minutes punching out a response to your Queen thread that missed your OP completely now this.

Maybe you should just respond to me with emoticon until I start catching the point again.
--- merged: Nov 10, 2013 at 11:22 AM ---
I said emoticons, not "likes." Dude try to keep up with my point.

 

Doug Ford is a bigger problem than Rob.

The problem with this circus is that at the end of it all, we are still going to be left with the Rob and Doug show at City Hall.

 

Yes, essentially the problem is that this guy is the mayor.

 

Doug Ford, Rob Ford's brother loses his shit...

Watch at the end as Rob marches across the room to get all up in Minnian-Wong's grill, only to be held back by Doug.

MW, a conservative, was once one of their supporters. The Fords are pissed at him not only because he is a turncoat but also because he has chosen to run for mayor in the next election.


View: http://youtu.be/CYRGkNnoXHo