Rob Ford's Toronto

[inyyz]

Cue 4 pages of off-topic argument about Stephen Page.

Yes sorry. Understood, but the comparison to Ford is irrelevant since Page isn't running Toronto and his antics should be considered just another sad side effect of fame.

 

[Kat_YYZ]

Found this:

Matt Grantham ‏@MattGrantham Mar 15
So @TOMayorFord called me earlier. Said they're doing the best they can to combat potholes and dropped a few f bombs which was a nice touch.

Matt Grantham ‏@MattGrantham Mar 15
...on a Saturday at 9:30 no less.

Matt Grantham ‏@MattGrantham 4h
@NatalieCTV I talked to Mayor Ford on the phone last night at around 9pm. Didn't seem wasted to me but lots can happen in an hour I guess.

 

[LowPolygon]

Stephen Page hosted 'my music' on CBC R2 today, and I was reminded of how badly his career was affected by being caught using cocaine. Stephen Page is a damn good person, but because he fully wore his shame he was tarred and feathered for it.

Good guys indeed finish last.

Most musicians wouldn't be affected much, or at all, by being caught with a small amount of cocaine. Page's main problem was that he had such a squeaky clean public image, and he fronted a band that had just released a children's album.

There were other mitigating factors that made his arrest veer into seedy territory. The drunken fight with the very young girlfriend because she was hitting on another guy, the stupid way he was caught, and the sloppy weird way he was acting etc.

(Anyway, the Barenaked's without him have been about as successful as he has been as a solo artist--that is, not at all)

 

[anne]

I don't know, RoFo does not appear to be out of it to me, the attempt at diversion in the parade just comes off as an admittance of guilt.

Using the language that he did in front of a child is no different than the time he gave the finger to that mom and kid over his driving.

I agree that he doesn't look that out of it. I'm sure he can get a whole lot drunker. He's definitely got a shine on but he mangles the english language on good days. His verbal dyslexia happens even he is trying to answer simple questions.

I'm not one to criticize anyone for cussing because I probably swear more than most people but even I can contain myself in formal situations. I never swear in front of customers or to authority figures. Ford just can't help himself. He has no off switch.

 

[JWBF]

Can you guys get on the right page.

 

[notshocking]

totally off topic, but that tag line/signature what ever UT calls it, Until about 2 mins ago, I had no idea that Specials song was a Guy Lombardo cover. Still learn some something everyday...

/jack

In the case of The Specials, it's almost certainly Prince Buster's rocksteady version they were inspired by.

Bringing this back to Ford, I guess he must now be realising just how late it is, and his version of enjoying himself has a lot to do with that. Too bad he can't begin to control his habits.

 

[cgwalnut]

Found this:

Matt Grantham ‏@MattGrantham Mar 15
So @TOMayorFord called me earlier. Said they're doing the best they can to combat potholes and dropped a few f bombs which was a nice touch.

Matt Grantham ‏@MattGrantham Mar 15
...on a Saturday at 9:30 no less.

Matt Grantham ‏@MattGrantham 4h
@NatalieCTV I talked to Mayor Ford on the phone last night at around 9pm. Didn't seem wasted to me but lots can happen in an hour I guess.

A friend of mine got a returned call from Ford basically right after the crack story broke (I think the weekend of/after). I think he finds solace and satisfaction in doing this piddly time and money wasting "constituent work" when times are tough. It makes him feel like he's worth something.
The funny thing is, my friend called him/left a message about the comments he made about women contacting him about how to get into politics. Ford called back and had no idea what her call was about - just said something like "you called? what's the problem?". I can only assume his staff just compiles a list of numbers every day and that he feels he needs to get through a few every night. It took about a month and a half for him to return the call btw... oh, and he/they didn't even notice that the call they were returning was both very sarcastic and from California!

This is our top executive, folks.

 

[anne]

My contribution to the arrest pool. Winner wins, aside from UT fame, this painting. Acrylic on board, 8 X 10, 2014. Not my real painting name.

That is really good! It's like a dream come true. Comon' April 7!
What happens if two people share the same date in the pool? Aren't there several like that?

 

[bistmath]

Sure is a strange place to drink, though - City Hall is a towering monument that represents his failures. Even he must be aware of that.

Not so strange. It seems he often goes back to his failings (perceived or real) when drunk. I mean his staff were getting teary calls from his father's grave , etc.

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

Do we really think it's the first time a 13 year old kid has heard anything like that?

From the lips of a staggering stoned and/or drunk Chief Magistrate of the City, yes.

 

[anne]

To be honest, I am more concerned with the population intending to vote for Rob Ford on the basis of him being entertaining.

I know lots of people who share that sentiment unfortunately....

Ditto for the people I know.

Also disturbing are the people I've spoken to who want someone in charge they can have a beer with. They are so mistrusting of all politicians, believing every one of them to be dishonest. What an insulting world view! There's no convincing them that not every politician is robbing the cookie jar. They believe if they can elect a regular guy, a schmo with a slogan who respects their tax dollars, says no to all spending (quite literally all - to the point of shutting down government), that only then will things change for the better. If you try to explain that government needs taxes for important stuff like infrastructure, their brains implode.

I want the person in charge to be smarter than me. Someone with a brilliant mind and creative ideas. A critical thinker. An individual with zero tolerance for bullshit and bullies. I want the most "elite" candidate available. An urban culture lovin' elegant human being who represents us with dignity and brings out the best in others. Someone who will restore hope, confidence and pride. I want this person to be BETTER than me.

Maybe I'm old fashioned but if any of my beer swilling, recreational drug ingesting, over-fed, credit card abusin', gassy friends ran for any level of politics, I'd be mortified.

We've had quite enough of divisiveness in politics. Those us vs them, they're not like us, leftard/conbot sayin' jackasses. It breaks my heart to hear the Fords on the radio putting down most of the population; gays, women, lefties, small 'c' conservatives, police, public servants, teachers, unions, cyclists, homeless people, seniors, the poor, immigrants. He's an embarrassment and I'm gobsmacked when I hear anyone defend and support the idiocy of it all. "I like Ford, he seems like a nice guy and I'd rather have a beer with him than that socialist spend-thrift Miller." Political spin and propaganda being vomited from the pie-holes of feckless voters, none of whom understand the substratal influence of their so-called "free will" choices at the voting booth.

I get that people are weary of the same old-same old. But the intellectual laziness that has gripped our culture is not just alarming, it apocalyptic. At every level of government voters have abandoned their responsibilities and allowed the loudest, brassiest, most insidiously evil fucks slide into power. These same people who complain that politics are rigged lack any sense of outrage when a politician does go rogue.

As people distract themselves with the latest tv Idol contest, their quality of life is dying a death from a thousand papercuts. These same 'folks' meticulously research all the latest internet conspiracy theories, and develop night terrors about the impending new world order. But they will give only a cursory glance at news sources which confirm their own brand of political bias leading up to voting day. Rather than recognize the very real and present dangers of voter apathy, they would spend their time warning equally nescient friends and family that George Orwell was right via 'shared' and 'liked' spammy facebook memes over a broadband network owned by one of the Canadian national duopolies. The irony is wasted.

I know this has turned into a rant but I'm stunned that 28% of people still believe that Ford is a reasonable choice or deserving of the every-man title. Deep down they have to know that this millionaire Tommy Boy man-child has never spent a day, an hour or indeed a minute in common shoes.

 

[euler]

I agree with everything you said - but boy, do you need new friends!

I know one person who voted for Rob Ford, and it's because her husband asked her to. She is deeply embarrassed to say the least. She was out of the country for a long time and doesn't much care for politics to begin with. Her husband is the conspiracy theory "government is rigged" type of guy, but we are not friends ;-)

Have to admit, my Facebook is cleaner than yours!

 

[pattycakes]

This was written by a recently retired policeman from Waterloo:

"I know Torontonians may forgive Ford for his embarrassing character flaws and his substance abuse problems. Canadians, in general, are forgiving people, and Torontonians are no different. What I don't know is how a mayor who is sworn to serve the public can readily connive and attack the same public with such vitriol, just to save his own skin."

http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/4413981-reporters-who-broke-ford-story-paid-heavy-price/

 

[Edward]

Party away Mr Ford

 

[euler]

I found this amusing.