City
Rob Ford to Run for Mayor?
Rob Ford is rumoured to be tying up lose ends, shoring up fund-raising plans, and soon announcing his candidacy in the race to be the next mayor of Toronto.
Conservative blogger Stephen Taylor, who in December of 2008 was involved in the organization of the 2008 "Rally For Canada" protest against the opposition coalition (that fizzled soon thereafter), says that he heard the news from Rob Ford himself. An additional tidbit he revealed on his blog on Monday was that Rob's younger brother would be aiming to fill Rob's seat on City Council (Ward 2 in Etobicoke).
The buzz in the blogosphere was quickly picked up by the media, and when The Globe and Mail got in touch Rob Ford last night, he denies having told anyone that he would be running. Ford went on to explain that he "[has] no idea who half the people are that [he] talk[s] to," and that he's told several people that he's "seriously considering" a run for the mayor's job.
Ford revealed just last week that analysis of a poll he privately commissioned (and paid $5000 for from his own pocket) would put him in third place behind Smitherman and Giambrone. If you ask me, as much as the poll demonstrates his moderate degree of popularity, it also reveals his potential for making poor spending decisions (I could have told him that he's not a top contender - for free!).
It's difficult to imagine Ford being able to rally much support city-wide. Despite a desire by all Torontonians to see City Hall curb poor spending and managed its deficit woes, a staunch supporter of Mike Harris and Jim Flaherty isn't likely an attractive option.
But given the number of times Ford has put his foot in his mouth one thing is a sure bet - the entertainment value of the campaign would be sure to skyrocket if he ran.
Photo: Rob Ford's Facebook page
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But with that said, I have to say that he does have the right idea in regards to cyclists in Toronto (quote from wikipedia):
"In March 2007, Ford opposed providing city funds to build bicycle lanes on roads. During the 2007 city budget debate, he said, "I can't support bike lanes. Roads are built for buses, cars, and trucks. My heart bleeds when someone gets killed, but it's their own fault at the end of the day." At the May 25, 2009 Council meeting to discuss reducing Jarvis St. from five lanes of traffic to four, Ford called cyclists "a pain in the ass" for motorists."
Heh heh heh... ;)
http://jackandcokewithalime.blogspot.com/
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If Toronto doesn't alter course - drastically, right now, we will become a 2nd tier city very quickly.
tend to complain and whine but not bring anything to the discussion. Council is for all parties to bring their suggestions
and beliefs to the table. Instead, we're regaled with Denzil, Rob, Cass and others adding nothing to the matter at hand.
If they want to be councillors and be taken seriously then they
need to add to the debate and bring forth worthy suggestions and
ideas rather than repeating the old tax and spend talking points.
Although she was in opposition in the House of Commons, Deborah
Grey always brought an open mind and worthy suggestions and
ideas to the discussion.
City council needs more like her instead of the current crop
of whining conservatives.
Yes, Rob Ford is poorly dressed. I guess he is too busy actually WORKING to worry about wearing Versace suits, unlike the other deadbeats on City Council, who do nothing but spend spend spend!
For for mayor!
To be fiscally responsible (in the government sense) requires one to honestly review needs and expenses, accurately calculate the short- and long-term costs of possible courses of action to meet those needs, and then raise the proper amounts of revenue to take the appropriate courses of action.
Ford has consistently shown himself incapable of any of the above with the sole exception of calculating short-term costs. Saving a buck now does us no good if it means we need to spend a hundred tomorrow.
Run Rob. We need more of what you're saying on city council!
Just to be clear, I want Rob to run but I would never vote for him. With Giamboner out of the race, we need the comedy injection that is rum-soaked, wife-beatin' Ford. If nothing else, he'd certainly lose his seat on council and that would make it all worthwhile.
Now get back to foamin' at the keyboard, Valerie, defending the most embarassing pig on council.
No one on council looks after taxpayers money like Rob does. It is a crock when people (like yourself) keep harping on old news. The wife beating thing just burns me up. When all of that was going down who do you think got custody of his two kids - he did! That kind of says it all about that bs allegation.
This guy is sharp, and because he is so unlike any other elected official (ie honest) he continually gets bad press. We need more people like him on council. Maybe you're a supporter of the NDP. If so this could be the real reason why you don't like him. Check this You Tube clip out. I am one taxpayer that is glad he is on council keeping the rest of the spendthrift councils feet to the fire...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvlzuhGB-HU
A cautionary tale for the lefties who would summarily dismiss a Ford mayoral campaign: in 1980 the U.S. Democratic party was initially thrilled when the Republicans nominated Ronald Reagan for president. Reagan was too old, too right-wing, too inexperienced, etc. and could not possibly be elected president; even someone with only a cursory knowledge of U.S. history knows how that campaign turned out. You would be foolish to make the same mistake regarding Rob Ford-if his campaign were managed correctly, he could not only win but do so decisively. The reservoir of frustration and resentment among business and property owners in Toronto is an untapped resource waiting to be harnessed, and the candidate that does so can romp to victory.
He hits his wife for god knows what(doesn't matter, he hit her!) and completely tells off a news reporter for calling him a fat f-ck just so he can back out of the original question.
He "completely forgot" that he drove drunk and according to the police report sounds like he had a little more than "a few drinks".
He says most people with HIV/AIDS are gay or drug users. What about the countless straight men, women and children with AIDS? good thing he's not running for mayor in Africa.
Ohh.. and I almost forgot. To all you people that keep saying "Rob ford speaks his mind" or "He just says what he feels"... Rob Ford is a complete douchebag. He'll say ANYTHING to get elected, just like most politicians do. Everytime he's asked a question, he doesn't answer. LISTEN TO WHAT HE'S SAYING PEOPLE, NOTHING!!
He's also <i>possibly</i>a homophobe, <i>possibly</i> a liar, <i>possibly</i> an alien, <i>possibly</i> a white supremest, <i>possibly</i> the best choice out of the bunch, <i>possibly</i> anything. What a dumb statement to make.
Every mayor is <i>possibly</i> something, which is why the unfounded allegations are so ridiculous; they can be made just as rightly against any other candidate.