At some point, Forum should see who would win in a Chow vs. Tory battle. I think its quite possible Ford gets arrested before the 2014 election and cannot run again and that Tory is waiting in the wings to be pick up the pieces on the right. I suspect Chow would beat Tory as well - the very populist, low education, low income angry old men who will go out to the polls for Ford would probably stay home and pout if they had to choose between Chow and a blue-blooded patrician like Tory.
Ford Desecration Pt IV - the march to Detroit continues
Mon, 2013-09-02 17:42
#752
Tue, 2013-09-03 12:28
#753
As I understand the City of Toronto act, the only way he couldn't run again is if he'd been sentenced to more than 6 months in prison, or am I completely wrong about that? Robbie seems like the kind of guy who would run again even in the middle of his trial (or sentence).
Mon, 2013-09-09 18:48
#754
[url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/09/09/toronto-rob-doug-... and Globe defend their Rob and Doug Ford stories - Ontario Press Council to decide if papers engaged in 'irresponsible journalism' [/url]
In a just world, these two rags would have the book thrown at them for gossip-mongering and gutter journalism. Let's hope.
Sun, 2021-11-21 12:37
#755
.
Mon, 2013-09-09 21:32
#756
[url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/09/09/toronto-rob-doug-... and Globe defend their Rob and Doug Ford stories - Ontario Press Council to decide if papers engaged in 'irresponsible journalism' [/url]
In a just world, these two rags would have the book thrown at them for gossip-mongering and gutter journalism. Let's hope.
The drug trade in Toronto is responsible for most of the violent crime, especially murders, the enrichment of psychopaths, and unquantified human suffering. If the mayor and his brother are or have been involved in it, and continue to associate with people in it, it's pertinent.
Mon, 2013-09-09 22:45
#757
Yeah, it may be pertinent, but some non-anonymous proof or evidence would be nice. Otherwise, to repeat myself, it is gutter journalism.
Don't you agree?
Tue, 2013-09-10 06:57
#758
No I don't agree Unionist.
We have a mayor who is a crack addict and who associates with drug dealers and criminals. He lies to the public on a daily basis. It is demonstrably in the public interest for this to be revealed.
I know reporters who have worked on both the Globe and Star stories as well as on stories for the Sun which have also been unflattering to Ford. To a person they believe in the truth of their reports and the accuracy of their sources.
Wait and see. There is more to come. There is a police investigation into the destruction of the video. The wiretaps in Project Traveler, when played in court, will reveal some further inconvenient details about our beloved mayor.
Tue, 2013-09-10 08:40
#759
We have a mayor who is a crack addict and who associates with drug dealers and criminals.
Such a public figure and so hard to find, you know, evidence...
And I know political figures who are alcohol addicts. That's better, right? Not material for MSM shock headlines?
By the way, I associate with drug dealers and criminals too. Drug dealers are criminals. And I know people who give and/or sell prohibited drugs. And all the politicians who have admitted to using marijuana have associated with drug dealers and criminals.
Yet, oddly, no journalist has asked Trudeau or others where they got their drugs, why they don't go turn themselves in to the police, etc. Time for the Star and the Globe to do a big exposé?
He lies to the public on a daily basis. It is demonstrably in the public interest for this to be revealed.
Then it should be done. "Revealed" means proof. No?
I know reporters who have worked on both the Globe and Star stories as well as on stories for the Sun which have also been unflattering to Ford. To a person they believe in the truth of their reports and the accuracy of their sources.
Well, I should hope they believe what they're reporting. But when you're alleging someone is guilty of criminal offences, any journalist will tell you they need more than their own personal belief - or sources who can never be named.
But let me quiz you again on this:
Do you really honestly believe it was proper for the Globe to "reveal" that Doug Ford sold hash 30 years ago? Explain to me in terms I can understand why that's a matter of public interest (even if true - they offered zero proof).
What's next... a revelation that some politician had an illegal abortion in the 1980s (before the SCC Morgentaler decision)? Or committed an unlawful homosexual act in 1967?
I sincerely hope the Globe (especially) gets slapped.
Tue, 2013-09-10 13:27
#760
You sicken me, Unionist. Whenever there's a news story printed that's factual but unflattering to Ford and his Consigliere brother, the unseemly overeagerness you display in stampeding here to verbally shine Ford's shoes with your tongue is positively breath-taking to behold. He's a self-serving fascist demagogue who's utterly without shame and who lies every time he opens his mouth, and that doesn't appear to bother you in the least. On the contrary, like much of the international press, you seem to consider Ford quite the figure of fun. And also like the international press, you don't actually live in Toronto, do you? That means you get to 'enjoy' Ford and his "harmless" antics without actually having to deal with the real-life consequences of said antics. It also makes it incredibly fucking presumptuous for you to be lecturing those of us who do live in this city on how we should be reacting to Ford and his zany adventures. Call me hard to please if you will, but I kinda resent that.
Do you really honestly believe it was proper for the Globe to "reveal" that Doug Ford sold hash 30 years ago? Explain to me in terms I can understand why that's a matter of public interest -
I'm not Nicky, but I believe I can answer that question, and for what feels like the 1,000,000th time, I'm going to attempt to explain the patently bleeding obvious to someone who's plainly not arguing in good faith. You insist on pretending you don't understand the points brought up by several of the contributors here, myself not least among them. But what the hell, here we go...again:
Yes, it was proper for the Globe to "reveal" (as you put it) DoFo's checkered past. Why? Because the people who actually voted for him might have decided otherwise had they known about his criminal activities, and might have liked to have had that option. Because (according to the Globe story) this wasn't just some fly-by-night amateur hour put on by a couple of high school punks peddling a few reefers to their friends, but was a large scale operation with professional criminals involved. Because these weren't the youthful highjinks you seem to be implying they were, but actual criminality, with all the potential for causing harm and leaving victims in its wake that that normally involves. Because the Fords' political careers have seen them subsequently wrapping themselves in the flag of Law 'n' Order. Because the Fords have stridently taken public stances that are pro-cop, pro-right wing, anti-crime, etc. etc. etc. Because their hypocritical public positions have made their very different personal, private behavior pertinent.
It's that last point that's the main one, if you were wondering. Incidentally, I liked how you put "reveal" in quotation marks, as if it wasn't news at all, as if everybody already knew about Dougie-poo's adorable widdle teenaged shenanaigans. Why bother reporting anything at all about a brutish, far right thug's "youthful indescretions?" 
- (even if true - they offered zero proof).
I've heard this talking point before. It's bullshit.
I take it you mean that none of the folks interviewed by the Globe were willing to go on the record? Well, then, consider this: The Fords are quite the pair of prime thugs; they were almost certainly involved in that home invasion of the house where the infamous photo was taken with RoFo amid the drug dealers/gang members/gun runners who are now all either dead or who have had attempts made on their lives. I daresay most - if not all - of the people interviewed for the Globe story have all skirted the edges of polite society themselves in the past, and many of them may not exactly be considered solid citizens now. Meanwhile, we've seem RoFo repeatedly break rules and laws and get away with it every single time. We've seen our chickenshit political system completely stymied on how to adequately deal with his brand of Rush Limbaugh-style tactics. (In particular, we've seen the left conducting itself with the typical ineffectual, hand-wringing uselessness for which it's so well known.) We've seen supposedly respectable politicians following Ford's willfully destructive lead on things like the Scarborough subway debacle, instead of trying to alert the public to his lies and demagogy. We've seen Ford's rock solid voting base of rubes back him to the hilt through scandal after scandal. To all appearences, the Fords have the Toronto police totally in their pocket. (This may not be the reality, I hasten to add, but it's certainly what it looks like.) And the Fords, Doug especially, give off a vibe of being more than willing to destroy any opponent who even hints at trying to fuck with them. They seem like a pair who more than believe in the purifying tenets of Revenge with a Capital "R." In the face of all that, I'd sure as hell insist on anonimity if I were being interviewed in a newspaper about my first-hand witnessing of their past criminal activities. If nobody in any real position of power is willing to risk anything by standing up to them, then why on earth should anyone who's powerless?
Of course, it may be that you're simply accusing a venerable old rag like the Globe of making everything up out of whole cloth about Dofo's colorful past. In which case, you're an utter incompetent.
What's next... a revelation that some politician had an illegal abortion in the 1980s (before the SCC Morgentaler decision)? Or committed an unlawful homosexual act in 1967?
If the politico in question was rabidly anti-abortion back then, and continued to be so to this day, then, yes, obviously, that little revelation would be entirely ethical, legitimate and justified. Same with the hypothetical homosexual if his public persona was (and continued to be) viciously anti-gay. If either of these hypothetical politicians were actively seeking to do harm to pro-choice or gay causes purely in order to promote or benefit themselves, then, yes, their double standard makes their own private behavior pertinent and worthy of note to the general public. Just as when drug users and drug dealers like the Ford brothers run for public office on a hardline anti-drug, anti-crime, pro-cop, pro right wing, and pro law and order agenda. Anyone with the least common sense will tell you that. It's not a difficult distinction to grasp. Why you keep pretending you can't understand such a simple point is beyond me. Unless you're on the Fords' payroll, or you're a right wing crank in disguise.
Tue, 2013-09-10 19:33
#761
Yeah, it may be pertinent, but some non-anonymous proof or evidence would be nice. Otherwise, to repeat myself, it is gutter journalism.
...or sources who can never be named.
Like Deep Throat?
Tue, 2013-09-10 19:50
#762
Yes, it was proper for the Globe to "reveal" (as you put it) DoFo's checkered past. Why? Because the people who actually voted for him might have decided otherwise had they known about his criminal activities, and might have liked to have had that option. Because (according to the Globe story) this wasn't just some fly-by-night amateur hour put on by a couple of high school punks peddling a few reefers to their friends, but was a large scale operation with professional criminals involved. Because these weren't the youthful highjinks you seem to be implying they were, but actual criminality, with all the potential for causing harm and leaving victims in its wake that that normally involves.
When it comes to the misdeeds of the brothers Ford, I suspect the papers have barely scratched the surface.
Tue, 2013-09-10 20:50
#763
Yeah, it may be pertinent, but some non-anonymous proof or evidence would be nice. Otherwise, to repeat myself, it is gutter journalism....or sources who can never be named.Like Deep Throat?
Deep throat was anonymous be he pointed them to where the evidence was, that they then presented as proof. This is not the same as anonymous unverified proof for the story
Tue, 2013-09-10 20:56
#764
Sineed - Stephen Harper is a million times more diabolical and evil than Rob Ford could ever dream of being. If that means they're fair game for childish tabloid made-up scandal stories, explain to me how that will help us get rid of either of them any time soon. Desperation doesn't work.
Tue, 2013-09-10 23:51
#765
Catchfire
Please refrain from attacking individual babblers, thanks. Address the argument, not the person. Or else: flag and move on.
Thu, 2013-09-12 23:25
#766
I heard on CBC radio this morning that the press (likely the Globe and Star, though maybe also the CBC) put in a freedom of information request to the police to get the search warrants for the building that was raided. I believe it's thought that the person who had been trying to peddle the tape was targetted in these warrants (and perhaps the tape itself). The police have offered to release some of the warrants with loads of sections/names whited out. I think the media may be appealing this.
Ah, okay, here is the website link for this story.
Fri, 2013-09-13 18:43
#767
The case against Shannon Everett for allegedly throwing juice at Ford was dropped, because the mayor wasn't interested in pursuing it. Marie Henein, Shannon Everett's lawyer, is oddly disappointed by this, since she was looking forward to cross-examining Ford.
For fans of Ford, here is a link to an article with a heart-warming video entitled "Summer of Ford" for you.
Fri, 2013-09-20 09:52
#768
Rob Ford unveils portrait of himself at press conference
“Amazing,” he said softly.“This is obviously very touching,” he said, softly again, a bit later. Then: “Words don’t describe how much this means to me.”
This man is going to put the satire industry out of business.
Sat, 2013-09-21 18:33
#769
[url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=194482]Mayor pledges city support for campaign to free John Greyson and Tarek Loubani[/url]
Mayor Rob Ford is offering the city's assistance in the effort to free two Canadians detained in Egypt for over a month.In a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper dated September 17, Ford describes the plight of Tarek Loubani, a London-based physician, and John Greyson, a Toronto filmmaker, who were arrested in Cairo on August 16 after reportedly asking directions at a police station. The pair have been detained at Tora prison ever since without authorities laying any charges. This week they began a hunger strike to protest what they fear could be an indefinite incarceration. [...]
Councillor Adam Vaughan, who brought the motion to community council, praised the mayor for acting quickly.
"It's important to get headlines out there," said Vaughan, who rarely agrees with the mayor on anything at City Hall.
"If Rob and I can work together on something, surely to goodness Canada and Egypt can solve this one," he joked.
Cecilia Greyson, John's sister, welcomed the mayor's gesture, calling it "a very powerful statement of support."
"Obviously there's a lot of concern within Toronto and Ontario because John and Tarek are based in Ontario," she said.
"We absolutely are very encouraged by this move by the mayor and by city council, and we think all of these statements of support are significant. Every little bit is certainly an indication of how many people are concerned about this, and how widespread their support is."
Bravo, Rob Ford.
Sun, 2013-09-22 11:14
#770
Oh, for Christ's sakes...
Yes, "Bravo," Mayor Assclown. Out of the numerous acts of utterly shamelss self-aggrandizement that you've recently pulled - and there's been quite a few of those in the last couple of weeks alone, hasn't there? - you've managed to latch on to at least one with genuine substance, and for no nobler reason than to promote yourself in the most obvious and transparent way. After all, as Mayor of Toronto, it's not like you have the power to, y'know, do anything that'll actually help Greyson and Loubani...But never mind that. You and I both know you couldn't care less about the fate of either man, but what's the point of these messy international political situatons if you can't exploit them for personal gain? The important thing is good publicity, to get yourself on tv, in front of all the news cameras, acting all concerned and statesmanlike. (Or as much as you can fake it, at least.) Pontificating about this kind of issue as if you genuinely care about it certainly makes you look better than the usual antics that get you noticed in the press. And there's an election coming up in the not-too-distant future. Gotta get into campaign mode. (Not that you ever left it, of course.)
And it appears you've learned from past mistakes in the same vein. Remember when you appeared at that anti-homophobia event at City Hall last May? You were in desperate need of good p.r. at that particular moment, so you sucked it up and put in an appearance despite your own well-known homophobia. Sadly, your sullen body language and the sulky expression on your face informed anyone with the eyes to see that you would have much rather been anywhere else. Fortunately, the other attendants were polite enough to pretend they didn't notice. What else could they do? You are the Mayor (however undeservedly), and pointing out how full of shit you were would have just given you the opportunity to start screeching - in your inimitable style - about the elitists being out to get you...As usual! So you won either way: If the other participants didn't co-operate, you'd get the chance to play martyr (always a winning strategy with your hardcore base of resentful rubes), but if they pretended to find your presence acceptable, you'd look like you were reaching out beyond your natural constituency of working class redneck morons. Which would also be to your advantage. It was much the same thing here: What choice did Vaughan and the others have but to pretend you were sincere, lest they come off looking bad themselves?
So Bravo, indeed, Mayor Assclown! A fine day's work!
Sun, 2013-09-22 11:19
#771
Unionist, a good friend of mine is a CUPE activist in Toronto. She'd have a lot to say about Ford, little of it printable.
Sun, 2013-09-22 11:48
#772
working class redneck morons.
Wow.
And you people wonder why politicians like Ford have so much success in portraying the left as a bunch of elitists? You pretty much write the script for him.
Sun, 2013-09-22 15:04
#773
Oh, please. For your information, VotD, I'm working class myself, and I don't consider it out of line to talk about my own kind in terms that are less than flattering if it's merited. That's why my posts about RobFo and his thug brother are so scathing; As far as I'm concerned, the Fords have more than earned every ounce of scorn and contempt that comes their way.
There should probably be a thread separate from this one that talks about why people on the lower end of the economic ladder are so willing to cut their own throats by voting for the likes of Rob Ford. I'm not eager to get into it now; I daresay such a discussion wouldn't exactly be a barrel of laughs. Let me say this, though: Millionaire Ford was smearing people like me as "elitists" well before I started saying impolite things about him online. Hell, it was a major part of his election strategy, i.e. sliming his way into the Mayor's office by resorting to the worst kind of demagogy, by turning entire sections of the city against one another, by literally spewing the most shameless lies every time he opened his mouth. You can thank Ford himself for setting the tone here. So, do pardon me if I elect to forgo all the pretty pleases and "Yes Ma'am"s and "Thank you Sir, may I have another?"s, and all the other useless Marquess of Queensbury "rules" that so many on the left are stupidly insistent on using when dealing with the likes of Ford. If we're speaking in practical terms, that amounts to licking his boots while he kicks our teeth down our throats. The same goes for his fan boys. Have you ever read any of the threads attached to newspaper stories about him? His followers aren't the shy, fragile little waifs they so often (hilariously) claim to be. This is the Toronto Sun crowd we're talking about here. The fuckers can dish it out, but they can't even handle polite disagreements, let alone anything like the invective they reflectively vomit forth purely as a matter of course. After a while, one gets fed up with having to constantly take into account the easily-bruised fee-fees of such delicate little hothouse flowers, particularly when they aren't willing to extend the same considerations to the rest of us.
Now, that said: I recognize the sense in not unnecesarily handing them ammunition when it comes to their paranoid fantasies of evil leftists "persecuting" them, but like the Tea Party nuts in the U.S., they want that chip on their shoulder, they want that sense of aggrievement, and they're perfectly willing to make shit up if we don't oblige them. If they're going to shriek about evil, left-wing elitists no matter how we behave, it gets to the point where one can't help thinking, "Fuck it. Might as well fight back."
I'm all for civility, but it takes two to tango. Trust me, they do not respect your arguments if you start pre-emptively grovelling, no matter how much you suck up to them. And you shouldn't be legitimizing their propaganda. I'm writing Ford's scripts? No, bubbie. He was well into his final draft long before I came along.
Sun, 2013-09-22 15:34
#774
As a Toronto MP, wouldn't it be nice if Olivia Chow added her voice to the campaign to free Tarek and John?
Mind you, the official NDP position is that they should either be freed - or charged(!!) - so she may be having some difficulty with that.
And lagatta, maybe raise this with your CUPE activist friend. I'd be interested in knowing what she thinks. CUPE did the right thing in early days and demanded their release (not charges).
Sun, 2013-09-22 16:18
#775
As a Toronto MP, wouldn't it be nice if Olivia Chow added her voice to the campaign to free Tarek and John?Mind you, the official NDP position is that they should either be freed - or charged(!!) - so she may be having some difficulty with that.
And lagatta, maybe raise this with your CUPE activist friend. I'd be interested in knowing what she thinks. CUPE did the right thing in early days and demanded their release (not charges).
i don't get your big deal issue with "charges" "not charges"! they're in legal limbo now aren't they? isn't demanding they be charged or released a kinda normal legal addressing of the situation for the official opposition of one country to another country?
official opposition government of a country speaking to another country doesn't equal a union making public statements about their members being held in another country...in my mind anyway.
Sun, 2013-09-22 16:21
#776
Oh, please. For your information, VotD, I'm working class myself, and I don't consider it out of line to talk about my own kind in terms that are less than flattering if it's merited.
Well, sure. But you're pretty much asking to be misunderstood when you conjoin the words "working class" with "redneck" and "moron" so effortlessly in the same string of words, without any other qualifications.
I'm not even sure why you're bringing their class into it, unless you're trying to make some argument about false-consciousness or something(which you weren't). If you think his supporters are Tea Party type, fascist morons, you could just say that, regardless of what they do for a living.
Out of curiousity, though, if you think that Ford's supporters are all a bunch of Sun-reading morons who WANT to have that chip on their shoulder and are gonna hate the left no matter what, who exactly ARE you aiming your rhetoric at? Because, if all those people are as you describe, what's the point of trying to get them to vote for a left-wing candidate?
Sun, 2013-09-22 16:48
#777
Enemies of Ford don't have much longer to wait. Surely Ford will be defeated in the next election next year. No more worries.
Sun, 2013-09-22 17:10
#778
i don't get your big deal issue with "charges" "not charges"! they're in legal limbo now aren't they? isn't demanding they be charged or released a kinda normal legal addressing of the situation for the official opposition of one country to another country?
No. They've been held unlawfully for about 38 days. They're Canadian nationals. The reason the federal NDP doesn't demand their release is because Mulcair doesn't want to piss off Israel, which he champions to his last breath. You can read some background about Tarek and John [url=http://globalnews.ca/news/789967/who-are-john-greyson-and-tarek-loubani/....
Rob Ford, whatever his motives, has called for their release. That's the right thing to do. Almost 120,000 people have signed a petition to that effect. It wouldn't kill Olivia Chow to do the right thing. Someone should phone her and suggest it.
Sun, 2013-09-22 18:41
#779
Quizzical, I'm done discussing this with you. Look up habeas corpus. Look into your conscience. And please stop arguing for the sake of arguing. Because that's what I believe you're doing. I've read your posts on many issues, and this ain't you. Sorry.
Sun, 2013-09-22 19:09
#780
i don't get your big deal issue with "charges" "not charges"! they're in legal limbo now aren't they? isn't demanding they be charged or released a kinda normal legal addressing of the situation for the official opposition of one country to another country?
No. They've been held unlawfully for about 38 days.
uh...the reality they've been held without charges means they're in legal limbo...in my little world view anyway. who's determined they're being held "unlawfully" anyway? if unlawfully means something other than a long time being held without charges i mean?
They're Canadian nationals.
i don't know how this makes a difference. any country can and does detain and hold people they think could be or maybe doing something against or to the country they're visiting.
my great uncle and aunt were spies. had they been detained and held their personel profiles would've made people think they were just swept up for no reason. not saying these guys were spies or instigators or anything. just saying i for 1 reserve the right to say; "charge them or release them" and not just automatically think they were there for what they said they were.
The reason the federal NDP doesn't demand their release is because Mulcair doesn't want to piss off Israel, which he champions to his last breath. You can read some background about Tarek and John.
did you just decide this or is there evidence somewhere?
and i don't care who they are in a surface public background kinda way. for the reason i mentioned above 'bout my great uncle and aunt.
Rob Ford, whatever his motives, has called for their release.
then i think he's a fool rushing in.
That's the right thing to do. Almost 120,000 people have signed a petition to that effect.
wow bandwagon gathering.....
It wouldn't kill Olivia Chow to do the right thing. Someone should phone her and suggest it.
i seriously don't get you on any of these points you seem so sledge hammery over!
etd to try and fix formatting
Sun, 2013-09-22 19:34
#781
i'm not going to address your talking down to me or your telling me what it is you think i'm doing and how i think usually.
i did look into my conscience and puny knowlege base too. they both told me these 2 men need to be charged with something or released. british common law followers (if Egypt even followed it for their laws) of due process and habeus corpus always have a clause for when suspension is needed. internal rebellion and invasion are 2 reasons why it can be.
Wed, 2013-09-25 14:23
#783
Ford should not be proclaiming a great victory for achieving a limited subway expansion over the old Transit City plan.
The voters prefer the latter by a margin of 52 to 19% over the recent two subway plan. They were not polled on the new 3 subway plan that the feds not seem ready to subsidise but I suspect the numbers would not be much different.
Ford saboutaged the LRT plan which would have served far more people at a lesser cost and have been in place many years sooner. It seems that he has not been able to fool the voters on this issue.
Thu, 2013-09-26 06:14
#784
I was pleasantly surprised by the finding in support of the LRT, although of course it was buried by the headline story. The LRT option, which no-one has stood behind (including the NDP, to its discredit), seems to have staying power. Although it could be an 'anything is better than this mess, except that Glen Murray's idea is nuts' attitude. One poll, admittedly, but straws in the wind and all that. I have a feeling that when people actually ride an LRT and find it's not the great satan that Ford has made it out to be, public opinion will reverse course pretty quickly. That assumes one is actually built, of course. There isn't a hole big enough that can't be filled up with concrete.
Thu, 2013-09-26 12:55
#785
I have a feeling that when people actually ride an LRT and find it's not the great satan that Ford has made it out to be, public opinion will reverse course pretty quickly.
That's true. Here in Winnipeg, people were ambivalent about the bus rapid transit initiative, until it actually came and they came to see the time savings that came along with it.
Thu, 2013-09-26 14:15
#786
Speaking of polls, I was displeased to see CITY TV quoting one on their 24 hr. news station last night that claims Ford's support is now in the area of 49 to 50%. I've no idea how true that is, though it's worth noting that CITY (along with CFTO) has been one of Ford's most reliable self-promotion venues, even after the entire local media had supposedly become dead-set against him. But whatever the accuracy of their claim, it's probably undeniable Mayor Moron got a nice little boost from his huge propaganda win with the Scarborough subway boondoggle. Ed Keenan nicely rounds up all the available facts at the Grid:
http://www.thegridto.com/city/politics/the-ford-abides-never-admit-defeat-never-retreat/
And John Lorinc does even better at Spacing Toronto:
http://spacing.ca/toronto/2013/09/24/lorinc-subway-nation-rises/
Keenan and Lorinc very ably point out that Ford only got away with this because almost every one of the people who were supposed to be opposing him were shockingly derelict in their duties. Karen Stintz and our useless corporate doormat of a Premiere being at the head of the line (though goodness knows they're far from alone.) In particular, this bit from Lorinc is exactly right:
What matters is that the public will perceive Ford to have been the author of a subway deal worth almost $3 billion. Stintz can tweet and correct and debate the mayor until she’s blue in the face. But he will easily deflect the dutiful fact-checking in the press and from his rivals. And truth be told, he can justifiably lay claim to his boast because he, unlike Stintz, never waivered in his commitment to subways, subways, subways. And so it was that Mr. Gravy Fighter brought home the bacon.
Around the middle of summer, a buddy and I were discussing Ford, and he said words to the effect that he was puzzled that other local conservative politicos weren't making gestures towads getting rid of Mayor McCheese and substituting a replacement that was more respectable. It's obvious Stintz had just such ambitions, which is why she suddenly caved and started following Ford's lead on the subway issue. just as Wynne evidently figured, "There's votes in them thar hills!" and started doing the same.
But, you know, there's failing on the level of substance, and then there's failing on the level of politics, and these two geniuses managed to spectacularly crash and burn on both fronts here: Of course Ford was going to get the 'credit' for this mess. Of course it would only look like they were trying to steal his initiative. Of course the mindset that would actually support Ford would have zero interest in voting for a 'respectable' conservative or a right-wing liberal. How could they not know that? Even worse are the leftists on Toronto City Council who chose to support Ford here for God knows what reason. Again, from Lorinc:
Third, Ford has successfully forced everyone — left, right and centre — to play with his football, by his rules. Do you think his campaign team will forget that the leftist likes of Mihevc and Fletcher voted for a subway? No chance. And Olivia Chow? She tweeted wanly yesterday that the fed’s contribution is “a step in the right direction.” So she’s onside (sports metaphor taken advisedly), to the extent that she’s even in this discussion (which she’s not). The provincial Liberals have played their hand. And we know where Tim Hudak stands.
The only one who benefits from this is Mayor Assclown himself. (The people of Scarborough certainly don't, most especially the poor fools who voted for him.) Instead of enabling Ford's lies and demagogy, every one of the cravan, self-serving cowards mentioned above should have been alerting people to the mountain of bullshit he was building his "case" on. Instead we got a bunch of crass political calculations that weren't even all that calculated, as it turns out.
Thu, 2013-09-26 14:40
#787
I agree completely. Murray's foolish game of chicken with Ford and Harper exploded in his face. Rather than pushing the stupid 2-stop subway extension to Scarborough Town Centre ("we'll do it on our own") they should have said that they were just going to go ahead with the LRT because the subway idea was stupid. To go further back, rather than trying to obstruct Miller's Transit City, including ultimately derailing his candidacy via sending in Smitherman to take him out, they should have supported Transit City fully and just went ahead with it. And you're right that the NDP have been rather timid about this too. But, in defence of Chow, I think she's saying that it's good the Feds have ponied up money for transit, rather than being onside for the actual transit which they're ponying up the money for. Sure, it's a bit timid, but it's still a notable distinction from some of the other fools who've fallen over themselves to espouse Ford's call of "subways subways subways".
Wed, 2013-10-02 01:20
#788
Ford's "companion" and occasional unofficial driver arrested for unspecified reasons
Some of the questions police asked of the former staffers, according to sources, focused on Mr. Lisi, a regular late-night companion of the mayor’s who was known to ferry him to events and, on one occasion, run interference with reporters.Mr. Ford has declined to answer detailed questions about his relationship with Mr. Lisi. In an interview with the Toronto Sun, the mayor described Mr. Lisi as “a great guy and straight as an arrow.” Mr. Lisi, who goes by the name “Sandro” or “Dro” has no official role at the mayor’s office.
Wed, 2013-10-02 10:59
#789
From the article cco linked to above,
The man described as a friend and occasional driver for Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has been charged with drug trafficking, drug possession and conspiracy after a police raid on a dry cleaning shop.
Meanwhile, Mammoliti, Shiner get rent deals from Toronto developers
Two Toronto councillors have been paying well below the market rate to rent apartments from developers that have millions of dollars in contracts with the city, a CBC News investigation has found.
The stench of Toronto continues.
Wed, 2013-10-02 12:28
#790
Indeed. Rampant criminality surounds the Fords like a bad stench, doesn't it? It's particularly funny to see good ol' Mammo's corruption highlighted, since he was one of the first rats to desert the S.S. Ford last year, back when his Oafship began to get into serious trouble. One can't help wondering what the Twin Mayors of Toronto really thought of the cringing scumbag sliming his way back onto Ford's Executive Committee given their well-known views on what they consider "loyalty."
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/09/30/mammoliti_to_rejoin_executive_committee.html
And then there's David Price, another crony on Ford's staff who's reportedly bagging a salary around $130,000.00 for doing...well, nobody seems to be aware of just what his duties actually entail:
http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=194478
Note in the above story how the atmosphere of false joviality that Ford likes to project is dropped in a heartbeat once the reporters begin deviating from the scripted p.r. bullshit on display.
Wed, 2013-10-02 15:05
#791
Ford just gave a statement about it, where he spent half the statement chastising the press. One of the things Lisi was arrested for is "conspiracy to commit an indictable offence." I wonder what the details of this are.
Wed, 2013-10-02 16:53
#792
Ford 'Shocked' by Friend's Drug Arrest
10/02/2013
The Canadian Press
TORONTO - Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said Wednesday he's surprised and shocked one of his friends has been arrested and charged with four drug offences in the city's west end.
Toronto police say Alexander Lisi, 35, is one of two men arrested Tuesday after a search warrant was executed in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation.
Lisi is charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of proceeds of crime, possession of marijuana and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.
Ford defended his friend in an impromptu news conference at a gas station near his west-end home, saying Lisi is "(on the) straight and narrow" and he's never seen him drink or do drugs.
"He's a friend, he's a good guy and I don't throw my friends under the bus," he said.
He refused to comment further on Lisi's arrest, saying the matter is before the courts.
Lisi appeared in court at Toronto's Old City Hall Wednesday afternoon and was granted $5,000 bail. He has another court appearance Nov. 12.
Media reports have described Lisi as a close friend and occasional driver for the mayor.
The Toronto Star reported earlier this year that Lisi was looking for a video that allegedly showed Ford using crack cocaine. Ford has said he does not use crack cocaine and the alleged video does not exist.
--------
More:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/10/02/rob-ford-alexander-lisi-drug_n_4...
Wed, 2013-10-02 17:49
#793
"He's a friend, he's a good guy and I don't throw my friends under the bus," (Ford) said.
That's subtle, hmm? Ford might as well be snarling, "He'd better keep his mouth shut if he knows what's good for him!" Meanwhile, going on the record about Lisi in the Toronto Star, Doug-O claims: “I have no comment, I’ve never met this person. I don’t know him, never talked to him in my life, so I can’t comment.” Nice to see our little twin thugs getting their story straight, isn't it?
Of course, DoFo also told Joe Warmington of the Sun that his idiot brother was on a plane to Austin "this morning" for RoFo's latest publicity exercise, but lo and behold: Hizzoner was commenting on his good buddy Lisi's arrest at an Etobicoke gas station this afternoon. These two assholes really are the most shameless and habitual liars the Toronto political scene has ever encountered, wouldn't y'all say?
The Globe & Mail account of the story also mentions Bruno Bellissimo, the "childhood friend" Ford was trying to visit under false pretenses at the Toronto West Detention Centre a short while back. Apparently, both Lisi and Bellissimo were present when a plastered Ford was reportedly asked to leave the Garrison Ball last winter. One detail I was previously unaware of that's mentioned by the Globe: Bellissimo was in jail for assaulting his parents! And of course, Lisi -as the Star helpfully points out - "has a lengthy record of interaction with police, including convictions for threatening and assaulting women." Jesus Fuckin' Christ! Such lovely people the Fords surround themselves with.
Wed, 2013-10-02 18:49
#794
The continuing Ford drug scandals should also make it easier for Olivia Chow to beat this guy if she runs next year!
Wed, 2013-10-02 19:40
#795
In browsing the net, there's some speculation that Lisi is the guy who was wanted for an assault with a metal pipe at the address where Ford allegedly smoked crack.
“It’s reported that a man forced his way inside the house, assaulted two people with a weapon, fled on foot, eastbound on Kingsview. The victims were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,” police spokesman Mark Pugash said. “No arrests have been made and investigation continues.”
The latest Gawker report suggests this incident involved a man with a metal pipe who was looking for the alleged video.
Thu, 2013-10-03 14:54
#796
It'll be interesting to see how Ford reacts to the press in the States on his trip if this and other stories of Ford's controversy becomes the focus. Will he yell "you maggots" at the American media? We'll soon see.
It'll be interesting to see if Lisi goes to trial. He'll likely plea guilty to avoid a trial that might lead to evidence incriminating Ford being released (and to avoid betraying Ford's friendship, since Ford never throws his friends under a bus).
Thu, 2013-10-03 14:57
#797
I read the Star and in it they speculate on why a major homicide detective is dealing with the relatively petty drug charges of Lisi. A step toward a bigger story, perhaps? A bigger story involving our chief magistrate, perhaps? Maybe time will tell.
Thu, 2013-10-03 15:26
#798
How independent is Bill Blair from Rob Ford? That's what I'd like to know.
Thu, 2013-10-03 17:04
#799
Enzo Di Matteo does some digging at Now Magazine and links Ford with even more shady characters (some of whom are also connected to one Julian Fantino, believe it or not):
http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=194665
And as long as we're talking about RoFo's tendency to pal around with out-and-out scum, here's an oldie but a goodie, a Toronto Star report about Ford's pals, including a former TTC bus driver named Peter Kordas:
Here's the pertinent quote about Kordas:
"The official record at the TTC shows Kordas resigned, but that came after the TTC began a process to dismiss him in 2003 for making a proposition to a young female under the age of 18. TTC records say Kordas spoke to a young woman on his bus and told her she could make money tending bar, in what the woman described in her complaint as a “shady” part of Toronto. The allegations against Kordas state that the girl felt Kordas was propositioning her. She wrote down the bus number, time and location when she exited the bus. Kordas saw her do this and allegedly altered his paperwork to place his bus at a different location at the time of the incident, the TTC alleged in a job action against Kordas."
The Star story mentions the other creeps as well, including Lisi's apparent hobby of stalking, assaulting and theatening women.
Such lovely, delightful people our Mayor surrounds himself with!
Sat, 2013-10-05 02:09
#800
Special Toronto police squad formed to investigate Rob Ford and his associates, source says
10/04/2013 11:28 pm EDT
As an Etobicoke dry cleaner under a cloud of drug charges sought to reassemble his ransacked shop and life, a Toronto police source confirmed that a special detail of investigators is indeed probing Mayor Rob Ford.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/10/04/rob-ford-associates_n_4047478.html
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/10/04/special-toronto-police-squad-for...
Sat, 2013-10-05 15:00
#801
Such lovely, delightful people our Mayor surrounds himself with!
Not to mention unaccountably affluent. Alexander Lisi, the total loser with a lengthy criminal record as detailed above, who lives with his parents and works as "an occasional driver," drives a black Range Rover. Advertised as "luxury SUVs," RRs start at around $40,000.