Rob Ford Transgressions Thread

[HockeyIlliterate]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

This makes the councillors look goofy. They have been pulled to the lowest denominator, and in that world Ford is king

Agreed.

Turning your back on someone while they speak is a pretty juvenile move, and evidences some really bad faith on the part of the city councillors.

From the photo, it seems pretty clear that the councillors have no interest in doing their job and are more interested in petty photo ops in some misguided attempt to further their own political careers.

But when one guy (as broken and scandal-ridden as he may be) is seen trying to get work done on behalf of the city and his opponents are seen as playing childish games, it becomes obvious what everyone's real goal is. If city business at Toronto grinds to a halt and streets don't get swept or the trash doesn't get picked up, that's hardly the fault of the big guy, given the city council's actions.

Although I'm sure that the most partisan (and those in the city council) would vehemently disagree.

[MissTeeks]

robyndoolittle‏@robyndoolittle4mLawyer Brian Shiller - a top attorney who works with Clayton Ruby - has just sent me a formal statement about the mayor's legal threat.

Shiller: I am offering to act for all of the proposed defendants in Mayor Ford’s anticipated lawsuit on a pro bono basis. It is important that a signal is sent that the citizens of Toronto will not be intimidated by the Mayor of Toronto from cooperating with the police in an investigation into potential wrongdoing by the leader of this great city.

[REDVAN]

a.) Who cares what the Argonauts say and why are they getting involved in this?

b.) This mayor clearly has problems- it's time for the media to stop the witch-hunt/dog-piling and ignore it and let him deal with it. He will resign IMO, but not until the media stops hounding him incessantly.

Continuing to make such a public spectacle is only going to entrench him further into his problems and his belief he is the victim. Ignore him, and watch him seek out help.

[19Yzerman19]

I dunno, I get what everyone's saying about the 24 hour coverage being over the top and vindictive. But if you just left him alone, at this point, I think he'd take that as a signal that everything's okay again and to just get back to the way things were before. I doubt we'd see him resign or go to rehab or anything of that sort.

As far as that lawyer offering to represent defendants who haven't been sued yet, talk about opportunistic publicity.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

b.) This mayor clearly has problems- it's time for the media to stop the witch-hunt/dog-piling and ignore it and let him deal with it. He will resign IMO, but not until the media stops hounding him incessantly.

Regardless of what you think of the Toronto Star and other news outlets reporting on this, Ford is not the victim and should not be treated as such. The media has an obligation to report on stories that are an interest to the public, and an elected official admitting that he smoked crack cocaine and drove a vehicle while intoxicated (not to mention all the other allegations) most definitely qualifies. This is not a witch-hunt or dog pile.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

a.) Who cares what the Argonauts say and why are they getting involved in this?

Did you actually read their statement? They don't want him wearing their jersey while making stupid statements, which makes them look bad by association.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

a.) Who cares what the Argonauts say and why are they getting involved in this?

b.) This mayor clearly has problems- it's time for the media to stop the witch-hunt/dog-piling and ignore it and let him deal with it. He will resign IMO, but not until the media stops hounding him incessantly.

Continuing to make such a public spectacle is only going to entrench him further into his problems and his belief he is the victim. Ignore him, and watch him seek out help.

The media should "ignore it"!?!?!
That's not their role. That would be the opposite of their role.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

b.) This mayor clearly has problems- it's time for the media to stop the witch-hunt/dog-piling and ignore it and let him deal with it. He will resign IMO, but not until the media stops hounding him incessantly.

He is not resigning. Seriously, who still thinks he might? Hasn't he shown there's nothing short of being in the slam that will keep him from being mayor? He's already said he's running again next year. He's an egomaniac of the highest order. He'll be in this thing until the bitter, bitter end.

[1stLand]

All I am saying, you guys, is to be careful what you write in the Rob Ford Transgressions Thread.

[REDVAN]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

The media should "ignore it"!?!?!
That's not their role. That would be the opposite of their role.

Good point, my wording should be more clear. They should investigate it, because yes that's their role, but they should not purposely attempt to goad him into making ridiculous statements. It's not helping to make a case if the mayor rants and raves about stuff.. this media behavior isn't just strengthening the mayor's resolve against them, but also making the city look even worse- if that's possible! I just want the media to act above a tabloid!

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

He is not resigning. Seriously, who still thinks he might? Hasn't he shown there's nothing short of being in the slam that will keep him from being mayor? He's already said he's running again next year. He's an egomaniac of the highest order. He'll be in this thing until the bitter, bitter end.

I still personally think he ends up getting help/leave of absence/resigning, but what I am saying is that it will be on his own terms (ie/ what's politically best) or those of his family (who, at the moment, seem to be publicly supporting him for whatever reason). He believes he is a victim, and until that changes he won't change his mind about rehab/resigning.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

I still personally think he ends up getting help/leave of absence/resigning, but what I am saying is that it will be on his own terms (ie/ what's politically best) or those of his family (who, at the moment, seem to be publicly supporting him for whatever reason). He believes he is a victim, and until that changes he won't change his mind about rehab/resigning.

Thats the point. His terms are: Nothing wrong happened, lets move on and be done with it. He views himself as being fine, that there is nothing wrong with him. This is the standard situation of he's not even remotely sorry for anything he's done, he's sorry he got caught (recall he spent months denying a crack tape even existed). If we ignore it and let it go away, it validates his belief he did nothing wrong and should continue as is, just be sorry for what you did (which he isn't). Its an enabling thing, he has serious issues, and to simple condone them allows him to believe his issues are nothing to be worried about.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Good point, my wording should be more clear. They should investigate it, because yes that's their role, but they should not purposely attempt to goad him into making ridiculous statements. It's not helping to make a case if the mayor rants and raves about stuff.. this media behavior isn't just strengthening the mayor's resolve against them, but also making the city look even worse- if that's possible! I just want the media to act above a tabloid!



I still personally think he ends up getting help/leave of absence/resigning, but what I am saying is that it will be on his own terms (ie/ what's politically best) or those of his family (who, at the moment, seem to be publicly supporting him for whatever reason). He believes he is a victim, and until that changes he won't change his mind about rehab/resigning.

Personally, I think it would make the city look worse if the councillors and media didn't keep pressing Ford to step down. To take this laying down or with an ounce of indifference is a terrible statement to make.

If anyone on this forum was busted doing what he has been doing, they would be held accountable is some regard (especially if you were doing it at work or in public representing your employer), but he thinks because he is the mayor, that he shouldn't be accountable. That's a great example to set, and this is why so many people are furious. It's at the point where I hope Ford gets destroyed from this emotionally and financially (probably won't happen).

[Addick]

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

Agreed.

Turning your back on someone while they speak is a pretty juvenile move, and evidences some really bad faith on the part of the city councillors.

From the photo, it seems pretty clear that the councillors have no interest in doing their job and are more interested in petty photo ops in some misguided attempt to further their own political careers.

But when one guy (as broken and scandal-ridden as he may be) is seen trying to get work done on behalf of the city and his opponents are seen as playing childish games, it becomes obvious what everyone's real goal is. If city business at Toronto grinds to a halt and streets don't get swept or the trash doesn't get picked up, that's hardly the fault of the big guy, given the city council's actions.

Although I'm sure that the most partisan (and those in the city council) would vehemently disagree.

While their actions were childish, I don't think they can continue to work as usual. Mayor Ford needs to be held accountable and maintaining the status quo on Council will only be seen as legitimization by Team Ford. They need to keep the city functioning but they need to keep Ford accountable at the same time. It's a delicate balance and should be approached with a certain level of maturity not exhibited in recent actions.

Nevertheless, if Mayor Ford calls them out on it and they use the "It's in the past, let's move on." argument, I'd have to laugh. It would be too good of a childish opportunity to pass up.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Personally, I think it would make the city look worse if the councillors and media didn't keep pressing Ford to step down. To take this laying down or with an ounce of indifference is a terrible statement to make.

If anyone on this forum was busted doing what he has been doing, they would be held accountable is some regard (especially if you were doing it at work or in public representing your employer), but he thinks because he is the mayor, that he shouldn't be accountable. That's a great example to set, and this is why so many people are furious. It's at the point where I hope Ford gets destroyed from this emotionally and financially (probably won't happen).

Exactly, anyone working a normal job would have long ago been fired for even a few of the things Rob Ford has done while in office. But because he's an elected official somehow that makes him immune to a standard professionalism at work. A city council should have the ability to vote for a recall election in cases like this

[Senator Clay Davis]

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

That bolded part makes me laugh. The person actually said; "with someone who may have been a prostitute....", and then Ford goes ahead and outright names her.

If "Alana" is indeed the woman they were even talking about, and if she really isn't an escort; she should be the one angry at Ford for not just automatically assuming that was whom they meant, but also by mentioning her by name..

And how can he sue over her being called a prostitute? He might have a case against whomever said he hangs out with prostitutes and employs their services, if that is what was said, but the only person who can sue or take legal action over being called a prostitute, is the person named. Not Ford. And as you said, he gave her actual name, no one else did that. There were inferences made that the woman was a prostitute but no names were mentioned until Ford got yappy. He is going to get sued at this rate.

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

Exactly, anyone working a normal job would have long ago been fired for even a few of the things Rob Ford has done while in office. But because he's an elected official somehow that makes him immune to a standard professionalism at work. A city council should have the ability to vote for a recall election in cases like this

Seriously. Look how many people get fired for writing stuff on blogs about their employers. Look how many cases end up in the news of people doing stuff on their personal time that results in their firing. It's a curiosity that he can't be fired or suspended like these people. I would be that once he's gone, whether he steps down or they are able to get him out some other way, or he ends up in jail because of all the crap he's copped to lately, that they change a lot of things at city hall so that they have ways and means to deal with this more effectively should something similar ever happen again.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Minnie

And how can he sue over her being called a prostitute? He might have a case against whomever said he hangs out with prostitutes and employs their services, if that is what was said, but the only person who can sue or take legal action over being called a prostitute, is the person named. Not Ford. And as you said, he gave her actual name, no one else did that. There were inferences made that the woman was a prostitute but no names were mentioned until Ford got yappy. He is going to get sued at this rate.

Yeah, and it's really laughable that he thinks he can sue anyone for things that were said to police in the course of an investigation, initially redacted in court documents, and then released to the public only after a judge ordered that the information be released because they relate to public interest. Can you imagine the precedent that would be set if you could successfully sue someone else for talking to police?
It would be a different matter if an individual went to the press with these allegations (although probably it's still defensible on public right-to-know grounds), but this information came out in exactly the way that it should: from individuals to police, to the courts, and finally to public knowledge.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Minnie

Really, occifer - I'm not think as you drunk I am.

Idiots spelt 'Fishcal' wrong.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Yeah, and it's really laughable that he thinks he can sue anyone for things that were said to police in the course of an investigation, initially redacted in court documents, and then released to the public only after a judge ordered that the information be released because they relate to public interest. Can you imagine the precedent that would be set if you could successfully sue someone else for talking to police?
It would be a different matter if an individual went to the press with these allegations (although probably it's still defensible on public right-to-know grounds), but this information came out in exactly the way that it should: from individuals to police, to the courts, and finally to public knowledge.

I think Ford also knows he has no ground to stand on there, but he is counting on regular Joe Blows who might have information about him, to not know that. It's a bullying tactic to scare people into not cooperating with the police.

[REDVAN]

I miss Ralph Klein