What's Up with Toronto, eh?

[JPhillips]

If oyu haven't been following the crazy story of the mayor of Toronto, here's a good summary from TalkingPointsMemo:

So to summarize, there is apparently a tape of Mayor Ford smoking crack. We now know that when they were young men Ford’s older brothers were the big hash dealers in town. Doug’s now a city councilor. Randy was arrested for a drug related kidnaping after one of Doug’s sub-dealers got behind on his bills. When news first surfaced about the alleged crack tape, pictures also surfaced of Ford with a 21 year old man named Anthony Smith. Smith was gunned down in March.

The tip received by Ford family confidant David Price was that Smith was the original owner of the crack tape but that he’d been killed over possession of it. Ford’s chief of staff, Mark Towhey, went to the police with that information and subsequently resigned.

How did this guy get elected?

[Toddzilla]

Listen to his denial - he sounds identical to Dan Akroyd

[Suburban Rhythm]

If oyu haven't been following the crazy story of the mayor of Toronto, here's a good summary from TalkingPointsMemo:



How did this guy get elected?

He guaranteed the Leafs would make the playoffs?

[JonInMiddleGA]

And today both his press secretary & the press assistant resigned after hizzoner called the media "maggots" on his weekend radio show.

Toronto Mayor's Aides Quit Over Crack Row (http://news.sky.com/story/1096423/toronto-mayors-aides-quit-over-crack-row)

Then again, you had to think that maybe it was going to be an interesting administration considering
For the inauguration ceremony at the first meeting of the new council, Ford had television commentator Don Cherry introduce him and put the chain of office on him.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Does his denial sound something like "This is all a liberal ploy to discredit an outstanding conservative. The facts have nothing to do with this and should be ignored."

[whomario]

This has to become a TV series, right ?

[Kevin]

Proves that the ultra cons are whackos!

[Mota]

As a resident in the Greater Toronto Area, I do wonder the exact same thing all the time. He's already lost power and then regained it on a technicality, flipped the bird to people, and about a million other controversial things.

[EagleFan]

Wow, this makes the Rutgers hiring look like a good move.

[cartman]

Things just got interesting again.

Rob Ford video showing alleged crack use in police hands - Toronto - CBC News (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rob-ford-video-showing-alleged-crack-use-in-police-hands-1.2303146)

[claphamsa]

as a resident close to DC... hell be back!

BITCH SET ME UP

[bbor]

GO LEAFS!

[JPhillips]

The poll found that 44 per cent of voters approve of the job Rob Ford is doing as mayor, while an Oct. 28 poll found that just 39 per cent approved.

“That may sound counterintuitive. It could be a sampling, margin-of-error thing, or it could be just some sympathy,” said Lorne Bozinoff, president of Forum Research. “If you saw him during that media scrum yesterday, it might have generated some sympathy.”

Ford has been bolstered by a seemingly unshakeable core group of supporters known colloquially as the Ford Nation. Ford’s high approval rating comes despite an “unbelievable” awareness of the video scandal, with 98 per cent of respondents saying they were aware of the news.

There's not enough info to really buy that his approval has gone up, but 40% still support this guy?

[claphamsa]

There's not enough info to really buy that his approval has gone up, but 40% still support this guy?

MArion Barry (of bitch set me up fame) has been convicted of tax fraud, corruption, crack smoking, and some other shit.... and hes keeps getting elected in Dc.... why not in Toronto too!

[JPhillips]

Not quite, the bitch set me up, but pretty good.

The Danforth – that was pure stupidity. I shouldn’t have got hammered down at The Danforth. If you’re gonna have a couple drinks, you stay at home, and that’s it. You don’t make a public spectacle of yourself. Hopefully it doesn’t happen again…and..and..I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. But to sit here and say I’m going to lose 100 pounds and be a brand new person in six months or a year, I’m not going to mislead people.

[Desnudo]

Does crack detract or enhance a politicians decision making and character? I can see both sides of the argument.

[cartman]

He's fessed up to it.

Rob Ford : 'Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine.' | Toronto Star (http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2013/11/05/rob_ford_yes_i_have_smoked_crack_cocaine.html)

[JonInMiddleGA]

He's fessed up to it.

Rob Ford : 'Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine.' | Toronto Star (http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2013/11/05/rob_ford_yes_i_have_smoked_crack_cocaine.html)

Okay ... is this survivable in Toronto?

(Seriously asking, I'd hesitant to guess)

[bbor]

Probably.....so far no one has been strong enough to oust him.He is like Teflon,so many accusations about him but he survives them all.He is the Keith Richards of politics.

[path12]

There is a slight chance my wife could transfer to Toronto for work. At least I'd know who to contact for my pharmaceutical needs.

[JPhillips]

He's fessed up to it.

Rob Ford : 'Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine.' | Toronto Star (http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2013/11/05/rob_ford_yes_i_have_smoked_crack_cocaine.html)

To be fair, he said it was probably while he was in a drunken stupor,(really, he said that) so it isn't that bad.

[mckerney]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rob Ford apologizes for &quot;embarrassing&quot; Toronto, does not apologize for his tie. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23robford&amp;src=hash">#robford</a> <a href="http://t.co/BihaMXeaHM">pic.twitter.com/BihaMXeaHM</a></p>&mdash; Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelianblack/statuses/397837937947062272">November 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Said admitting the truth makes him feel like he's &quot;a thousand pounds lighter.&quot; Insert your own punchline. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23robford&amp;src=hash">#robford</a></p>&mdash; Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelianblack/statuses/397838099989790720">November 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[BishopMVP]

Not quite, the bitch set me up, but pretty good.

He said in May that he does not smoke crack — using the present tense — but steadfastly refused to answer when asked repeatedly if he had ever smoked crack or done so while in office.
“I wasn’t lying. You didn’t ask the correct questions,”.

[Galaxy]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rob Ford apologizes for &quot;embarrassing&quot; Toronto, does not apologize for his tie. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23robford&amp;src=hash">#robford</a> <a href="http://t.co/BihaMXeaHM">pic.twitter.com/BihaMXeaHM</a></p>&mdash; Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelianblack/statuses/397837937947062272">November 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Said admitting the truth makes him feel like he's &quot;a thousand pounds lighter.&quot; Insert your own punchline. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23robford&amp;src=hash">#robford</a></p>&mdash; Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelianblack/statuses/397838099989790720">November 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Best part is the vintage NFL tie in all of this! (In Canada)


Seriously, he is a real life Chris Farley:

How to Tell if Your Mayor is Smoking Crack - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q_uLzEljo8)

[ISiddiqui]

This is, I guess, why recall elections were created. But I don't think Toronto has one, do they?

Though, I guess this may allow the citizens of Toronto do crack if they were really, really wasted.

[lungs]

Just saw the latest video. It's being called a rage video but it's doesn't look like rage to me. Just the ramblings of somebody that's just done a lot of cocaine.

[Ajaxab]

Looks like The Iron Sheik wants a piece of Ford too...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/iron-sheik-wwe-legend-challenges-rob-ford-to-arm-wrestle-1.2417370

[DaddyTorgo]

He reminds me of the actor who played the brother in According to Jim.

[Mota]

The 2nd video doesn't look all that bad to me. It's a private conversation with a bunch of dudes. 99% of us have said the exact same stuff as him, only it didn't make it on the internet where everybody is already trying to crucify him.

Now the 1st video, he should have to step down immediately. Especially given that he's been lying to the public about it for months now. How can you trust him?

[lungs]

The 2nd video doesn't look all that bad to me. It's a private conversation with a bunch of dudes. 99% of us have said the exact same stuff as him, only it didn't make it on the internet where everybody is already trying to crucify him.

Now the 1st video, he should have to step down immediately. Especially given that he's been lying to the public about it for months now. How can you trust him?

Let's just say that as a former occasional cocaine user (clean four years, thank you very much), the second video's behavior is familiar.

[molson]

Looks like The Iron Sheik wants a piece of Ford too...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/iron-sheik-wwe-legend-challenges-rob-ford-to-arm-wrestle-1.2417370

And Brutus Beefcake, for some reason. Why are 80s wrestling stars descending on Toronto? What is going on?

Brutus Beefcake thrown out of Toronto City Hall | CityNews (http://www.citynews.ca/2013/11/07/brutus-beefcake-thrown-out-of-toronto-city-hall/)

[Subby]

Maybe he should hate cycling a little less and give it a try some time.

[Mota]

Insane people attract each other I guess.

[JPhillips]

Mayor Rob Ford snorted cocaine, swilled vodka, popped a dose of Oxycontin and partied with an apparent prostitute during an all-night binge last year that raved from his office to a private room in a Toronto bar, Ford staffers and bar employees alleged to police investigating the mayor.

Several of Ford’s top aides told detectives they were concerned about the mayor’s intoxicated, addled and even violent behaviour the night of St. Patrick’s Day 2012.

Before the tumultuous night was over, they told police, Ford would call a cab driver a “Paki,” deride several top aides as “Liberal bitches,” burst into tears about his deceased father and tell a former staffer that “I banged your pussy.”

LOL. I banged your pussy.

[nilodor]

The video of him in council chambers yesterday was really interesting. There was a question where one of the councillors asked him if (since he was mayor) he had purchased drugs, he took a long pause, you could hear someone else say something to the effect of remember you're on live tv, don't go to jail, then he admitted to it.

Later his brother went on a rampage, accusing people of doing drugs, calling people hypocrites, it was all pretty understandable and crazy to watch. It's kinda funny that we had our elections at about the same time and the national consensus was that we (Calgary) got the mayor Toronto should have had and vice versa. Glad we got the guy we did. =)

[Fidatelo]

And now this has happened: "...it says I wanted to eat her pussy, [name of female staffer]. I never said that in my life to her. I would never do that. I’m happily married I’ve got more than enough to eat at home."

Rob Ford claims he has ‘more than enough to eat at home’ | National Post (http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/11/14/rob-ford-launches-legal-action-over-prostitution-and-crack-claims-in-profane-media-scrum/)

[JPhillips]

http://storage.canoe.ca/v1/dynamic_resize/sws_path/suns-prod-images/1345701861726_ORIGINAL.jpg?quality=80&size=650x

[JPhillips]

The video is so much better. I didn't realize it was onlive TV.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hMIQWRsYxak" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[DaddyTorgo]

Rob Ford - the gift that keeps on giving.

[RedKingGold]

I'm severely pissed off I missed the opportunity to dress like Rob Ford for Halloween.

[Mota]

You could have bought the Chris Farley Halloween outfit for sale and it would have basically been the same thing.

[Suburban Rhythm]

http://torontoist.com/2013/11/rob-and-doug-ford-are-getting-their-own-tv-show/

I've never watched "reality" TV, but I'm not sure how I can pass on this

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

http://webmedia.newseum.org/newseum-multimedia/dfp/jpg15/lg/CAN_TSUN.jpg

[sposfan]

<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/BtAosEp5R04?hl=en_US&amp;version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/BtAosEp5R04?hl=en_US&amp;version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

[mckerney]

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/196reggwtj403gif/ku-xlarge.gif

[Thomkal]

Is that new Mckerney? what was going on there?

[mckerney]

"Oh My God, He's Attacked Somebody!" Rob Ford Goes On Rampage (http://deadspin.com/oh-my-god-hes-attacked-somebody-rob-ford-goes-on-r-1466899163)

Council meeting today, he decided he needed to charge toward someone and wound up running that lady over. Best part of the link is from the comments:

And to think there were some who speculated that Ford would never run again.

[cuervo72]

Someone needs to teach that woman to go low.

[Thomkal]

"Oh My God, He's Attacked Somebody!" Rob Ford Goes On Rampage (http://deadspin.com/oh-my-god-hes-attacked-somebody-rob-ford-goes-on-r-1466899163)

Council meeting today, he decided he needed to charge toward someone and wound up running that lady over. Best part of the link is from the comments:

And to think there were some who speculated that Ford would never run again.

Thanks for the link and that is the best part :) What a bizarre situation-find it hard to believe there's no real mechanism to remove him from office

[britrock88]

I feel like he's trying to turn the corner, and the gal just decides to block him.

[PilotMan]

And to think there were some who speculated that Ford would never run again.
:lol:

[Galaxy]

I feel like he's trying to turn the corner, and the gal just decides to block him.

Well, his quarterback tryout didn't work:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/teME3jZUfwU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[JPhillips]

From his TV show last night:

“I know in my heart everyone has personal problems,” Ford told listeners. “I urinated in a parking lot . . . what does that have to do with anything?”

[Simbo Klice]

This is all great stuff. I love that he gave that "more than enough to eat at home" interview in a customized "Mayor Ford" jersey (you can see it as he turns away at the end).

[molson]

I know the Chris Farely comparisons have been made a lot, but I'm surprised this kind of thing actually hasn't been a movie yet. Fat, drunk, coked up angry guy becomes mayor somehow and the city is just STUCK with him. The closest example I can think of is King Ralph. But that had a lighter tone. This would have been amazing as a later-Farley career dark comedy.

[cuervo72]

The Pope Must Die - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pope_Must_Die) is kind of along those lines.

[NobodyHere]

More Rob Ford goodness!

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Votes 'No' on Congratulating Olympians - NBC News (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/toronto-mayor-rob-ford-votes-no-congratulating-olympians-n70606)

[JPhillips]

There's a new Mayor Ford tape!

The recording, covertly taped by a patron of Sullie Gorman’s Monday night, captures the mayor being unruly as he’s ordering booze, complaining about his wife Renata and making lewd comments about mayoral contender Karen Stintz.

“I’d like to f-----g jam her (Stintz), but she doesn’t want ... I can’t talk like this ... I’m so sorry,” Ford says on the recording. “I forgot there’s a woman in the house.”

Make that two new tapes!

A second video of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking what has been described as crack-cocaine by a self-professed drug dealer was secretly filmed in his sister’s basement early Saturday morning.

The clip, which was viewed by two Globe and Mail reporters, shows Mr. Ford taking a drag from a long copper-coloured pipe, exhaling a cloud of smoke, his right arm convulsing. The footage is part of a package of three videos the dealer said was surreptitiously filmed around 1:15 a.m., and which he says he is now selling for “at least six figures.”

Ford has entered rehab and suspended his campaign, but hasn't dropped out yet.

[Klinglerware]

Justin Bieber Reportedly Taunted Rob Ford About Crack at Toronto Club (http://gawker.com/justin-bieber-reportedly-taunted-rob-ford-about-crack-a-1570230581)

If the Biebs is calling you out, you know you've hit rock bottom.

[JPhillips]

http://wpmedia.fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2014/04/rob-ford-crack.jpg?w=620

[JPhillips]

The sit-com life of the Ford home:

The front walkway to the Ford house leads to a modest front door. At about 10 p.m. that night, Ford and his pals arrive. Ford has a bag of McDonald’s food in his hand. Ford jiggles the front door and then kicks the door open. He, Lisi, Bellissimo and another man step in.

“Don’t worry guys, my kids aren’t here,” Ford says.

For no apparent reason, Ford turns on Bellissimo and hits him squarely in the face twice — boom, boom — forgetting that he has a bagful of Big Macs in his hand. Burgers and fries scatter. Ford makes Bellissimo pick them up.

Down the stairs they go. Ford’s wife Renata is on the couch, a tired lounger that has been described to the Star by paramedics and firefighters who have attended calls at the house over the past two years. Renata is smoking a joint.

“You’re a f---ing idiot,” Renata says.

Enraged, Ford rummages for his Don Bosco coaching jacket. “It’s where I keep my weed,” he tells people in the room. Ford turns on his wife, screaming that she has taken his drugs. Standing there quietly are Lisi and Bellissimo.

To a visitor, Ford says, almost offhanded, “You can f--- her if you want, in front of me.”

Nobody speaks. The comment is ignored by Ford’s wife. Men in the room are shocked.

“It’s okay,” Ford burbles. “She lets me f--k girls in front of her all the time.”

[Thomkal]

And his saga continues (though maybe not for much longer):

Rob Ford, Hospitalized With Tumor, Drops Out of Toronto's Mayor's Race - NBC News (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/rob-ford-hospitalized-tumor-drops-out-torontos-mayors-race-n202206?cid=sm_n_main_1_20140912_31517576)

[JPhillips]

Ford was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. I've seen survival odds at no more than 50/50.

Even for this clown, fuck cancer.

[MikeVic]

Can someone explain politics to me? Why would this guy win a council seat in his old area after all that's happened? Name recognition?

Rob Ford reclaims council seat in Ward 2, Etobicoke North | Toronto Star (http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/toronto2014election/2014/10/27/rob_ford_reclaims_council_seat_in_ward_2_etobicoke_north.html)

[ISiddiqui]

Etobicoke North is basically the Ford family's machine. And he's really popular among the ultraconservatives in that area. Rob represented the area for 10 years on the city council and when he became mayor, his brother Doug took his place.

[MikeVic]

Etobicoke North is basically the Ford family's machine. And he's really popular among the ultraconservatives in that area. Rob represented the area for 10 years on the city council and when he became mayor, his brother Doug took his place.

Thanks! I guess that makes sense, just wasn't expecting him to be back.

[Wolfpack]

Thanks! I guess that makes sense, just wasn't expecting him to be back.

If Marion Berry can do it...

[JPhillips]

Toronto City Councillor Rob Ford has been appointed to the Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum’s board of directors.

Induction ceremonies just became way more entertaining.

[Logan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Family says former Toronto mayor Rob Ford has died at 46 after fighting cancer.</p>&mdash; The Associated Press (@AP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AP/status/712294628523909120">March 22, 2016</a></blockquote>
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