Ford Desecration Pt IV - the march to Detroit continues

I agree with onlinediscountanvils.  All this parsing of the "a video I have not seen or doesn't exist" is fun, but it doesn't really prove anything. He's not contradicting himself.  He's saying that IF the video exists, he hasn't seen it, but that there's also a chance that it doesn't exist.  He's not admitting anything by saying that - if the video does exist, he could be saying it's a hoax.

Remember those look-alike contests the tabloids used to run for stars?  I long suspected that they ran those contests so that they could hire those people to do fake compromising photos that they could run.  I don't think it would be easy to splice and dice a video, but I do think there is a remote possibility that the video sellers found someone who LOOKS like Ford and acted like him in the video - the still shot from it looks pretty grainy to me.  I doubt it - I think it was probably Ford too, but as long as the video hasn't surfaced, there's always a reasonable doubt.  I can imagine someone trying to hoax the "left wing media" (which is how many people, however incorrectly, see the Star and Gawker).

What the Globe has is substantial, but quite old. It involves Doug rather than Rob Ford. To summarize, they've found that Doug Ford and friends were the neighbourhood supplier of hash during the early 1980s. The most likely impact is that maybe the Ontario PCs decide he's not suitable for provincial politics.

Any video footage around of Stephen Harper attending the Ford's annual Etobicoke barbeque? 

Michelle wrote:

but I do think there is a remote possibility that the video sellers found someone who LOOKS like Ford and acted like him in the video - the still shot from it looks pretty grainy to me.  I doubt it - I think it was probably Ford too, but as long as the video hasn't surfaced, there's always a reasonable doubt.  I can imagine someone trying to hoax the "left wing media" (which is how many people, however incorrectly, see the Star and Gawker).

I agree it's possible there's an actor playing the part.  But the assertion that "the still shot from it looks pretty grainy" is incorrect.  I don't think any still shots from the video itself have been released.  I think the still shot that is seen is another item.

If it materializes Doug Ford is supposed to be interviewed live on CP24 in a few minutes shortly after 10:30 AM Pacific time:

http://www.cp24.com/news/report-new-drug-allegations-involving-ford-fami...

Doug Ford is on live now and he says to the Globe: "Is this the best you can do after 5 years of so-called investigative journalism. 

onlinediscountanvils wrote:

Haha... nothing to see here.

I take that back. The interviewer's glasses are pretty awesome.

Doug-o was, what, an hour late for his own interview? That looks professional.

At another site, somebody pointed out a l'il detail about 'Crackgate' (heh, heh) that had gone completely over my head, and I think it's worth mentioning here: Did anyone notice that in his press appearence about the entire sorry mess yesterday, Slob Ford was sporting a brand new 'do? In point of fact, he'd visibly had his entire head shaved at some point that week. Now, why might that be? Giving in to fashion, perhaps? Or could it be because of the fact that, while traces of cocaine use disappear from the blood stream a week after digestion, they remain in the hair follicles for a significantly longer period?

Bagkitty, to quote Queenie from Blackadder II: That's horrrrrr-iiiiddddddd!!!!!!

NorthReport wrote:

Whether or not any of these allegations are true is moot - what counts is if you have the proof and so far no one appears to have any proof.

Counts for what purposes? In court, sure, you'd need proof. In politics, all you need is (no pun intended) smoke. Careers have ended over FAR less.

Great link NorthReport!

If the Globe article about Doug is accurate, it does not say very much for the Toronto Star's investigative abilities, does it? Oops!

How long did the Globe say they had been sitting on the story?  

I doubt the people at the Toronto Star are having a very good day today.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/doug-ford-says-drug-allegations-against-him...

I also agree that the verb tense speculation is funny but not relevant to reality. I am also willing to go on record by saying that I think it is folly to doubt that Rob Ford smokes crack.

Just wondering what the Globe who support the Conservatives is really up to with this article.

Curiously, two unnamed sources in the article—both alleged to be drug dealers—are code-named "Tom" and "Justin". Victoria resident Mark Fornataro has pointed out to me that these are the same first names of the leaders of the federal Liberals and federal New Democrats.

http://www.straight.com/news/385481/six-random-thoughts-about-globe-and-...

Sorry, the "pubes" comment had me just about peeing myself laughing... And I had a weird image of Rob lip-synching the late Amy Winehouse's "Rehab"...

In case you have forgotten a few, here is a good timeline of events

http://globalnews.ca/news/590296/allegations-and-controversy-surrounding...

.

Watching a bit of their radio show today I think the Mayor is not well, and needs help. Doug Ford seemed much more in control.

Seeing as they sat on this story for quite some time, probably hoping that it was all a bad dream and that the Fords might clean up their act,  it appears that the Conservative-supporting Globe have finally decided that the Fords are now a liability, and are trying to cut them loose so they don't bring down the whole Conservative deck of cards. Is some 30 year old story with not one identified witness to verify it going to cut it?

 I gather the author has not seen the video of Harper at the Ford's barbeque. 

http://opinion.financialpost.com/2013/05/24/peter-foster-get-stephen-har...

http://warrenkinsella.com/2013/05/video-the-ford-harper-connection/

Crackstarter is up to $181,521 with 29 hours to go.  However, since the video is MIA, it really doesn't much matter if it reaches $200,000 or not.  The donation rate slowed down considerably after the announcement that the video may not be found.

I'm guessing that the person who had the video was picked up either on an outstanding warrant or, if it was the case, outstanding immigration issues.  I'm guessing there's some enforcement types who have sympathies with the Fords, and would have known where to find the guy.

votd,

Apparently the Globe has been sitting on this "big, but unidentified sources" story for some time, but amazingly enough a couple of their so-called sources are named "Tom" & "Justin".  Is this what maggots do? 

He's clearly not worried about the video now.  I read that during his radio show he said the video "does not exist."  He did not say that it NEVER DID exist (IE, that the journalists who reported on it fabricated it).  Perhaps he's avoiding making such a claim to avoid the possibility of being sued for slander by the journalists who reported on it.

Anyway, it's interesting that he now is certain that it "does not exist." 

lagatta, this is for you.

Kinda not safe for work. 

Fast Ford Nation Rehab

It's those anonymous sources again - they sure like talking to the media. 

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2013/05/should-we-add-murder-toron...

The Globe story I referred to in post 495 is troubling.  I now hope the Gawker fundraising fails to reach $200,000, given the possibility that there was more here than just dealers hoping to make a buck.  Mind you, a rumour from Ford's office that the peddlers of the video are potential murderers may simply be untrue, and may instead be simply an attempt to stifle enthusiasm for the crackstarter effort.  Regardless, my enthusiasm has been stifled.

crackstarter is at $190,752, with 15 hours to go.