Ford just admitted that he did smoke crack while wasted. Finally, some honesty.
Rob Ford: The Mirror...er...Cracked...
On the CBC now: Rob Ford admits he smoked crack, "maybe a year ago in a drunken stupor", but he insists he doesn't do drugs. My words cannot do it justice. "It's problematic," he says. Not [i]his[/i] problem, you see, but "there's obviously a problem."
It's all over the twiterverse.
Sorry about the cross-post.
No worries, RW. Such is the nature of breaking news. I remember a lot of cross-posting when I broke to Rabble the story of Belinda Stronach's floor-crossing.
What other actions of Rob Ford can we attribute to things he has done while in a drunken stupor?
Well, on the bright side, we can put to rest some of the stupid stereotypes that often seem to go together with using cocaine and/or smoking crack, such as 'people who do it must be very skinny wretches with lip and finger burns'. Not so. Like all drugs (IE, alcohol) some people get wildly addicted to the point of losing the capability to manage, and some people can have a glass of wine or a bong of the pipe, and still continue to function fine. Granted, it's debatable whether Ford is actually "functioning fine", but, well.... oh, I think you know what I mean.
What other actions of Rob Ford can we attribute to things he has done while in a drunken stupor?
Running for office?
Well, on the bright side, we can put to rest some of the stupid stereotypes that often seem to go together with using cocaine and/or smoking crack
Yeah, I think if most people knew just how many crack users they knew in "professional" society, they'd be astonished.
If the left rely on bringing right-wing politicians down through personal "scandals" instead of presenting voters with a clear, consistent and principled platform, they'll lose, and they deserve to lose.
But for the most part the Left has only been a spectator to this. You make it sound like left wingers should be propping up the Mayor so he can be defeated the right way.
Personally I think you take what you get. I also think that establishing a level of expectations for public office only work in favor of getting people more engaged in politics and political discussion.
cco, that is true, but I did work with a guy who smoked crack and snorted cocaine, and also was a very heavy drinker. He did his work fine, but he was obsessed with wanting to "get back at" his ex-spouse and making death threats against her. I can't prove his substance use was the reason, but doubt it was helpful...
I wonder if Joey Ramone is Rob Ford. After he called in to a Toronto radio show and pretended to be someone else, you can never be too sure.
I wonder if Joey Ramone is Rob Ford. After he called in to a Toronto radio show and pretended to be someone else, you can never be too sure.
Joey Ramone IS Joey Ramone. He's on WiFi in the same Vegas hotel room Elvis has been shacked up in for more than 30 years.
The issue isn't the substance abuse per se. It is the fact that he is a sexist, homophobic and racist bully that makes his mayorship so apalling. I admit that I am deeply offended by the description of him pushing a staff person into the wall, throwing things at people, beating up his wife, screaming at people, partying with gun toting thugs while celebrating racist and homophobic slurs.But his apprach to cutting social services, public cultural funding, moving to privatize anything that is not nailed down and trying to limit the City to pot holes and street lights is frightenening.
It's ironic that one of the multitude of reasons Smitherman lost was his admission to earlier drug use. In terms of defeating Ford it is important to remember that his supporters are a combination of people who voted for him and those voted against Smitherman. Toronto is a deeply segregated city where people live north of Lawrence receive pitiful access to municipal services; including the TTC. The daily experience of living in North Etobicoke and Scarborough, dependent on the TTC that is always crowded and late is exhausting. In both these areas significant numbers of the working poor deeply resent people on welfare. They also deeplyresent the residends of the cultured, urban core of the city who receive better access to municipally funded programs. A working poor family in Scarborough is effectively excluded from participating in anything at harborfront or Nuit Blanche and offen cannot afford to take their children to the Zoo. There is no free access to High Park Zoo or Riverdle farm in scarborough.
The quality of public schools is shockingly different between neighborhoods. In Bloor West Humberfront Hight school has media studies, Greek and Latin, and the fantastic art program. These programs are not offered in most Scarbrough high schools. The resentment of the differential life experience in this dramatically segregated city is not unreasonable. support for Ford is a combination of ideologically right wing homophobic social conservatives and pissed off working poor residents of the former suburbs. progressive forces will not makes significant progress in Toronto unless we do actual work in the suburbs to listen to and support those communities.
I wonder if Joey Ramone is Rob Ford. After he called in to a Toronto radio show and pretended to be someone else, you can never be too sure.
I really hope this is just a (bad) joke. Cuz the deceased punk couldn't be more clearly critical than this:
"If the left rely on bringing right-wing politicians down through personal "scandals" instead of presenting voters with a clear, consistent and principled platform, they'll lose, and they deserve to lose. Even if you bring Ford down, so what? Much more stable and effective right-wingers are waiting to take his place."
I enjoy seeing jerks get their comuppance as much as anyone else around here, but I do try to take a step back now and then and get a broader view -- that's where folks like Maysie and Joey are invaluable. And Shartal, too, who reminds us of the violence, misogyny, racism and homophobia not only embodied in the Fords, but also the institutions they represent.
After his admission, Ford still insists he is not stepping down or taking a leave of office.
"I feel like I got 1,000 pounds off my back," Ford told the Toronto Sun. "I felt I had to say it. It is what is. I feel two inches high right now but I needed to deal with it. I am not going to quit or take a leave."
"I am not an addict or an alcoholic. I have work to do and I am moving on. The way I see it now, this is over."
He said he believes he knows what's on the video Toronto Police recovered early last week.
"I think I know what's on the video and I know it's not pretty," he said. "Did I smoke something? Probably. It's ugly. "
"I am not a crackhead or junkie."
Ford also commented on the chief of police gala.
"If they want me there I will be there. I won't go if they don't. I support the police," he said.
http://www.torontosun.com/2013/11/05/i-feel-like-i-got-1000-pounds-off-m...
@ [email protected]: I agree, but is a bit ironic that the areas you cite as the most under-served in the city due to Ford's hard-right agenda are also the areas that most strongly supported him. Miller was making strides to better serve these areas, and Miller gave his endorsement to Pantalone, who did not do particularly well in these areas.
Anyway, to elaborate on post 107, it is odd that Ford would be deemed possibly unbeatable and an icon of the right until the "gotcha" truth of illicit drug use comes out. Meanwhile, he's been plastered on booze frequently (with boorish and sometimes abusive behaviour) yet that did not turn the tide. Society is so hypocritical.
That said, if this "gotcha" does lead to his departure, I will not be unhappy. Time to celebrate. Otherwise, well, just wait for Olivia to beat him in the next election.
A new forum research poll shows in a five-candidate match-up, Chow would get around 32% of those polled, followed by Ford (26%), Tory (25%), Stintz (10%) and Soknacki (2%).
Ford set to make a MAJOR annoucement, after admitting crack use. Stayed tuned!
I'm guessing either a leave of absence or abdicating the mayor's job. What else could it be? Unless he's having a rematch against Hulk Hogan.
Maybe it is another apology like the one he did last Sunday.
For those outside toronto the school in Bloor west is Humberside and the residents in Scarborough and North Etobicoke are overwhelmingly poorer people of Colour
To Mark Alfred, I believe that the lack of support for progressive politics in the suburbs is at least in part "on us" ie progressive activist who rarely go north of Lawrence. we rarely go there, we rarely listen to community voices in those neighborhoods and we rarely championed even the most obvious of municipally related public harms effecting those neighborhoods. some of us do work on the over policing of black youth (not me) and some of us sign additions to support the Afrocentric school but almost whole we are absent from most of the community organizing in these areas. There are some very committed and courageous activists living in these neighborhoods, most of us do not know them. OCAP Has done very good work in these neighborhoods but most of the politically organized progressive community lives in the core of Toronto and rarely ventures north.
Breaking! Vice.com says Amin Massoudi (Ford Press Assistant) hired a hacker to find and destroy the crack tape!
So according to the latest, Ford was smokin' crack "about a year ago" - in other words, 2 years after he'd been elected Mayor - in "one" of his "drunken stupors" (his words!!!!). But even so, he "doesn't do drugs." At what point did our local government turn into an episode of the Jerry Springer Show?
Anyway. Re: Ford's next (supposed) Big Announcement:
Maybe it is another apology like the one he did last Sunday.
You mean another "apology." Come to think of it, what is the techical term for a patently fake and insincere non-apology apology? A not-pology? Faux-pology? Fake-pology?
It's hard to know what's going to happen next since he's obviously refusing to step aside. Presumably, if he knows what's on the 2nd tape the police supposedly have in their possession, he decided it was better to make this particular confession now instead of waiting for the next shoe to drop. Which means whatever's on the 2nd video must be nasty as hell. Oh, joy. Honestly, for all the entertainment value in watching the rotten bastard self-destruct, it's gotten to the point where I just want him to go away.
Kristyn Wong-Tam has just told Xtra that Ford will not be invited to World Pride events, taking place next year.
Meanwhile Andrew Coyne just tweeted
"Holier-than-thou media demands perfection, expects mayor not to be serial liar/cocaine user/drunk driver/friend of violent criminals."
The rumor mill at City Hall is that he will NOT step aside, but seek out-patient treatment while continuing as mayor.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mayor-rob-ford-yes-i-have-smoked-c...
Live stream happening. Mayor expected at 4PM.
I wonder if Joey Ramone is Rob Ford. After he called in to a Toronto radio show and pretended to be someone else, you can never be too sure.
Joey Ramone IS Joey Ramone. He's on WiFi in the same Vegas hotel room Elvis has been shacked up in for more than 30 years.
It all makes sense now
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mayor-rob-ford-yes-i-have-smoked-c...
Live stream happening. Mayor expected at 4PM.
Man, I'm getting dizzy just watching the media throng (such maggots). Hopefully Ford starts his announcement soon. Seems the mob of media are about to trample each other.
ETA: about 4:20. Mayor expected in 2 minutes.
Rob Ford I"M NOT RESIGNING!
Awesome. The past is the past, but I'm here now and you're stuck with me for another year. Wow.
This sounds like more than 'one time in a drunken stupor':
He said he kept his “problems” from his family, “especially, my brother Doug.”
http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=news.nationalpost.com/2013/...
How many times can he apologize?
Meanwhile Rob Ford's Chief of Staff and top "enabler' Earl Provost is a powerful king-pin in the Liberal party...I wonder how long that will last.
Time for us all to slip into a drunken stupor.
Most people can't do that if they have to work the next morning! A couple of beers or glasses of wine and nighty-night!
Well, looks as if council is going to learn to work together. Seems most are determined to limit the Mayor's role, and more or less proceed without him. That's good.
Seems too that Wynne, when asked about it, stated there was nothing she could do, but repeatedly stated the ball is in the police's court. It almost came across as a directive. I expect some serious discussion btw the cops and Lisi, to reveal what his motivation was behind trying to extort the video, to occur. Also, it's likely the phone taps will be released to the public.
Ironically, the good news in this is that Ford still polls reasonably well. This indicates that he is well loved by a sizable core. However, if he is ousted, they likely wouldn't bother showing up to the polls for the replacement conservative choice. And if Ford makes it to the next poll, more traditional Conservatives (those outside of populist Ford Nation) would no longer support Ford. So, Ford is basically clearing the path for a lefty like Olivia to be elected mayor next time.
he made the mistake of endulging in the poor mans version of cocaine....
I wonder if any of our whitebread politicos have ever snorted the good and sexy stuff
Maybe it is another apology like the one he did last Sunday.
I gotta hand it to you, you were correct.
What a ridiculous apology. Likely more evidence is going to come out (maybe at Ford's request) and he will be at the podium apologising again. I really hope Ford finally gets honest with HIMSELF and gets some help. The man is sick and needs to look after his health.
This kind of got overshadowed today ...
http://m.vice.com/en_ca/read/rob-fords-office-hired-a-hacker-to-destroy-...
[i] In late July, an anonymous source approached VICE with claims that he had been hired by Amin Massoudi, the communications director for troubled Toronto mayor Rob Ford, to hack into a website.More specifically, the source—who for matters of simplicity will be referred to as “the hacker” from here on out—said he was asked by Amin to crack the password of a private online directory that allegedly contained a digital copy of the now infamous footage of Mayor Ford smoking a substance out of a crack pipe[/i].
[i]... "He said if this can be done, he'll match Gawker's plus 10% to you so there's no temptation of pulling a fast one."[/i]
Now I'm getting confused ... what's the legality of a city staffer offering $220,000 to a hacker to destroy a videofile ... on Ford's behalf?
Guess who said this:
Who's going to want to live in a community that's invaded every day and night by drug users?
I hope he seeks rehab and help. I don't support police action, an arrest, but I do support an intervention to push him to go into rehab.
One thing I don't like is the media buzzing around his kids, Rob's a public figure, but his kids are off limits ethically.
I do think he should resign, he is in no condition to govern the city, he's too much of a mess and his allies are turning on him, his administeration is crippled.
I look forward to Mayor Chow.
I don't give a shit what happens to Ford, or whether he seeks help. He is a bully who has harmed many people (a friend in Toronto is a union activist there, his bullying is causing at least as much harm to her health). He wants me and my friends dead (see infamous "cyclists" videos). Why should a "law-and-order" bully in power be shielded from arrest?
Well, it is obvious Olivia would make a better mayor. My cat would make a better mayor. Hell, my Jade tree would make a better mayor.
Thank you Ontario for making Alberta look like a bastion of enlightenment again. Three Ralph Kleins to one Rob Ford, Mel Lastman, Mike Harris, Jim Flaherty, Don Cherry, Tony Clement, Cheryl Gallant, Tim Hudak, Stephen Harper, Belinda Stronach, etc. anyday. No wonder Quebec wants to separate.
Now. Now. Don't go overboard. Stephen Harper developed into the monster he is in your province.
Calgary could we borrow your mayor for a few months?
Thank you Ontario for making Alberta look like a bastion of enlightenment again. Three Ralph Kleins to one Rob Ford, Mel Lastman, Mike Harris, Jim Flaherty, Don Cherry, Tony Clement, Cheryl Gallant, Tim Hudak, Stephen Harper, Belinda Stronach, etc. anyday. No wonder Quebec wants to separate.
Now. Now. Don't go overboard. Stephen Harper developed into the monster he is in your province.
Lol.
Thank you Ontario for making Alberta look like a bastion of enlightenment again. .
Quote of the day goes to this guy on Reddit:
Remember, remember, the fifth of November, the crack-cocaine, drinking, and pot.I have no inkling, of why the crack-cocaine, drinking, should ever be forgot.
"Clown prince"
[i][b]Folks,” he promised, “I have nothing left to hide.
”For a guy with little recollection of his own behaviour,[/b] with media lawyers winning a round the same day in the court fight to release to the public the blacked-out parts of the massive search warrant that last week detailed the five-month-long Toronto Police surveillance of Mr. Ford’s friend and sometime driver, Sandro Lisi, and the mayor himself, that was a profoundly risky pledge. [/i]
http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=fullcomment.nationalpost.co...
Just looked at the Sun website, and they are pulling no punches regarding Ford. It's interesting how long they stayed devoted to him, but also interesting that when they decided he was no longer in their favour, that they've not been shy about the attack. Indecisive, wishy-washy, and conflicted is something the right is not.