Canadians: Is there some sort of reasonable explanation for this Robert Ford madness?

SpacePPoliceman wrote:

Man, I'd kill to get our jokes-for-politicians back to "crack-smoking cunnilinguist" status here in the States.

I'd revel in the ridiculousness of it all if the murder of Anthony Smith didn't appear to be related to the original crack video. That, and extortion, is what the police are investigating after all.

Wow. Just when I think Rob Ford can't possibly say anything more horrifying in public...

He really, really needs to step down.

Councillors strip mayor of certain powers

Here's a recap of what happened at city hall as of noon today.

1. Rob Ford's powers in an emergency were curtailed 41 "yes" out of 45. (Doug and Rob Ford were the only "No" and 2 absents).

2. Basically Ford would still have the power to declare a state of emergency, and end one, but he doesn't have authority during that period.

3. Council passed the first of three motions — to strip Ford of his ability to appoint key committee chairs — 39-3. Ford is stripped of the power to dismiss and appoint committee chairpeople. Ford said he would challenge the decision in court.

4. A third motion to be debated on Monday would see his office essentially moved to the control of the deputy mayor.

5. All in all, Rob Ford gave a pretty dignified speech. He was calm and explained he has to defend himself but he understands.

6. Doug Ford said: 383,000 people, the "largest in Canadian history," didn't vote for Norm Kelly, they voted for Rob Ford.

Shame on Canada for choosing things like effective government and dignity over the entertainment of its Southern neighbor.

SHAME.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Shame on Canada for choosing things like effective government and dignity over the entertainment of its Southern neighbor.

SHAME.

People are getting so sick of the media circus over Rob Ford up here (which just serves to give him more attention that he doesn't deserve.) I can't turn on my Twitter any more without the news outlets I follow (ones I try to carefully pick because they usually practice proper journalism) constantly tweeting every second of every slightest event involving Rob Ford. Toronto City Council is trying to remove his authority so they can start ignoring him. I wish our media would stop vulturing around a juicy scandal and do the same.

As a counter-point to PA, above:
We need to find a way to get Rob Ford elected as Prime Minister, because he's cracking me up (hah!) on a regular basis! I'd love to give this clown an even bigger stage to hang himself from!

Mimble wrote:

Wow. Just when I think Rob Ford can't possibly say anything more horrifying in public...

He really, really needs to step down.

I get everything else. I'm not getting the horror of his saying that he was both faithful and dutiful to his wife. It sounded positively domestic to me.

LarryC wrote:
Mimble wrote:

Wow. Just when I think Rob Ford can't possibly say anything more horrifying in public...

He really, really needs to step down.

I get everything else. I'm not getting the horror of his saying that he was both faithful and dutiful to his wife. It sounded positively domestic to me.

It's the way he said it. Also, I'm not sure anyone wants to picture that man having any sort of carnal relations.

Vector wrote:
LarryC wrote:
Mimble wrote:

Wow. Just when I think Rob Ford can't possibly say anything more horrifying in public...

He really, really needs to step down.

I get everything else. I'm not getting the horror of his saying that he was both faithful and dutiful to his wife. It sounded positively domestic to me.

It's the way he said it. Also, I'm not sure anyone wants to picture that man having any sort of carnal relations.

Yeah. While I'm sure there are elements of "Ewww a fat guy having sex", I think most Torontonians wish the guy would just shut the f*ck up. Either ignore allegations or answer them with stock responses; quit trying to score some zingers, because the situation is way past that, and you're not smart enough to quip effectively anyway. Basically, show some dignity.

LarryC wrote:
Mimble wrote:

Wow. Just when I think Rob Ford can't possibly say anything more horrifying in public...

He really, really needs to step down.

I get everything else. I'm not getting the horror of his saying that he was both faithful and dutiful to his wife. It sounded positively domestic to me.

It was more that he repeated what he said - on the news! - to his female staffer while drunk/high:

Spoiler:

That he was going to eat her out and bang her p*ssy (really wish that wasn't pretty much a direct quote)

And then followed THAT up with, "I have more than enough to eat at home."

He could look like Chris Hemsworth and I'd think that was horrifying thing to say in public.

He was wearing a Toronto Argonauts jersey during that press release. As a result, the Argos issued a statement expressing their "disappointment."

When a professional sports franchise calls you out for your sh*tty attitudes, you know you've got problems.

"I've admitted to my mistakes and I said it would not happen again, and it has not happened again ...at the Air Canada Centre."

I've never watched as much Daily Show and Colbert as I have this last week.

Please elect him Prime Minister.

This headline is epic: Rob Ford hailed as ‘The White Obama,’ Doug Ford tells CNN

Meanwhile... a council meeting went crazy today:

An unprecedented council meeting descended temporarily into chaos on Monday, when Mayor Rob Ford and Councillor Doug Ford got into a screaming match with spectators.

The dispute was ignited about two hours into the meeting, when Ford rose from his seat and walked toward the back of chambers with a member of his staff, who appeared to be filming members of the public seated there.

While some spectators expressed their support, others chanted: "Shame! Shame! Shame!"

Doug Ford got into a stand off with one man, calling him a "punk." The councillor, who earlier accused the members of the public gathered for the meeting of being union supporters, told the crowd, "Why don't we get the real people of Toronto here?"

His voice raised, the mayor yelled, "You don't like saving money? I'm saving millions!"
Councillor Pam McConnell, who is barely five-feet tall, was knocked from her feet as Rob Ford charged through council chambers during the melee.
"This is a seat of democracy, not a football field," McConnell said. "I wasn't ready for it."

It's... uncanny.

IMAGE(http://media3.s-nbcnews.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/g-cvr-131118-rob-ford-jsw-142p.grid-5x2.jpg)

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Listen, I realize he's a huge embarrassment to the city of Toronto and all, but, if he's elected Prime Minister, he'll become a huge embarrassment to the entire nation of Canada. An incredibly, incredibly entertaining embarrassment.

So much good stuff here:

Embattled Rob Ford challenged city council on Monday to call a snap election as the besieged mayor — who says he wants to be prime minister some day — was about to face a vote that would essentially leave him as a glorified ribbon cutter.

Blasting what he called a "coup d'etat," Ford said voters should be able to pass judgment on him, not his fellow councillors.

"If they want me out, they should just call a snap election," Ford told radio station AM640.

"In three months, let's have an election, right now."

...

If passed, Monday's motion would see Ford's office and budget essentially put under the deputy mayor's control.

Ford has already threatened legal action after councillors overwhelmingly passed a pair of motions on Friday stripping him of his ability to appoint key committee chairs or to exercise emergency powers.

Ahead of the special vote, Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong said councillors would not be intimidated.

...

In an interview with Fox News, Ford said he had his eye on higher political office.

"Yes, one day I do want to run for prime minister," he told Fox's John Roberts.

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cheeba wrote:

Please elect him Prime Minister.

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AndrewA wrote:

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Russia frees 2 Greenpeace activists but not Canadians

"Re-elect Rob Ford if you want to see your activists again. This guy is gold. We had someone here, nailed his balls to the cobblestones of Red Square. No one gave a sh*t."

muttonchop wrote:
cheeba wrote:

Please elect him Prime Minister.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/eeA8jhX.gif)

Damn Canadians just thinking about yourselves.

cheeba wrote:

Damn Canadians just thinking about yourselves.

I'm sorry. Please accept this humble peace offering.

Trade you straight up for the failed republican presidential candidates of 2012. Yes, including Rick Santorum.

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muttonchop wrote:

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muttonchop wrote:
cheeba wrote:

Damn Canadians just thinking about yourselves.

I'm sorry. Please accept this humble peace offering.

That one's good but the other one done to Wrecking Ball made me crack up.

As a cruel twist of fate, that video is only available for US viewers.

AndrewA wrote:

As a cruel twist of fate, that video is only available for US viewers. :(

http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/

I dunno. Whenever Americans try and make fun of Canadians its fairly meh. HAHHAHAHAHA You're SO POLITE!!!!.

The SNL skit was very very flat.

Robear wrote:

lol Running government as a business has always had it's massive failures. Government and the structure of the profit motive combined with the lack of profit does not make for a robust fiscal environment. Government is *not* a business. (Yes, it is a large organization and shares many of it's functional characteristics with other large organizations, like businesses, churches, whatever, but a business has a different focus from government.)

Usually when people say this they are not commenting on the profit motive, but rather a focus on results rather than process, on competence rather than tenure. I have never heard anyone say a government should make a profit (at least here in the States )

Did anyone see Ford's response to the sexual harassment allegations? I am at work so I can not link it.