What video? Is Bill Blair making this up? It's all a Toronto Star plot. Does this Alex guy work for the Star? I have no comment. Next question…  next… next… next… next…

I feel sorry for the people of the GTA. This is a huge black eye for Toronto internationally. It's sad that such a wonderful, world-class city should be associated with so much sordidness. I don't think Harper will include Rob in any social activities now, either. No more "Amigo" triumvirate. 

And on Hallowe'en too!

Sometimes I wonder what skullduggery is taking place while our attentions are with the various recent scandals.

Remember -- all is "alleged". 

Perhaps Harper will appoint him to the Senate in order to get him to resign, and allow another conservative to run for mayor. No one would notice Ford then.

Very funny MikeP :)

I suspect that Ford will dig in his heels and wait it out - he probably has some information about evidence against him, but he will want to see more before he decides what to do.  Ford thinks life is like a football game; so go down fighting until the last second.

I am guessing that people who bought into the "Ford nation" mentality are quietly disengaging from the Fords - frankly I suspect that Doug has been more of a mayor than Rob.  And I suspect that attending the Conservative Party Convention is not a priority any more for either of them. 

Rob Ford stated that he does not throw people under the bus,  but Harper has proven that he has no problem in doing so.  Harper probably regrets knowing Ford at all:  this is seriously going to damage what little Tory base there is in Toronto.

Will it be Phillip Seymour Hoffman or Joseph Gannascoli in the made for TV movie?  It could be Fat Joe....maybe a breakout role for Chaz Bono...

lmao... too funny SG :)

Actually Harper should appoint Ford to the Senate. He can open up space for a conservative to run for mayor, and announce that he will be paying off the federal debt, by turning the Senate into a reality TV show on A&E. 

Wonderful SG! LMAO

Phillip Seymour Hoffman would be wasted in the role I think. Doesn't require that level of sensitivity and sophistication....

Alex - brilliant. Pay off the federal debt in record time with having Senate reality tv  unbundled from Rogers and by taxing the bejesus out of weed!

Was just reading a detailed article on this on the National Post news feed I subscribe to on my Blackberry. Shaking my head and going "at least he isn't my mayor". Then I go to the Free Press and read about Joe Fontana's preliminary hearing.

Where's Naheed Nenshi when we need him? I think we're wasting him in Calgary. Bring him to Ontario!

Mendalla

Just remeber Toronto, Montreal still leads this year 2-0 in Mayorlty resignations, and 1-0 in arrests of mayor.   Ye4ah Team Montreal

also very funny Alex :)

Yes Mandella, citizens of London know how Torontonians feel...

And Ford just announced a few minutes ago:  The matter is before the court,  and so he cannot comment... and that he has no reason to resign. 

The Globe, The Star, and The Sun are all calling for Ford to resign.  I wonder if he will be on his radio program on Sunday?

Ah! So it IS all a media conspiracy, Alex.

I had one moment when Mr. Ford was in front of reporters when I thought he might do something different. He said something about not being able to defend himself. I thought he might say he was resigning. I thought he might even say that it was true and he was off to rehab. Instead, he says it is a matter for the courts.

I agree, it is a matter for the courts and yeah he is innocent until guilty. I mean the drug dealer may have been meeting him at gas stations and putting packages of Twinkies in his car.

Well Justin Trudeau does illegal drugs and he is made leader of the Liberal party.

Maybe Rob could become the leader of the NDP. 

The Sun? Really? I thought they worshipped the ground he walks on.

Mendalla

To be fair, neither Trudeau nor Ford are facing drug charges nor are they likely to.

However, if Lisi's activities can be linked in any way to Ford, his goose is truly cooked far more than Trudeau's would be on a simple possession charge.

Frankly, I would not vote for either of them albeit for different reasons.

Mendalla

Hi Alex,

Personal Opinion.

Mayor Ford made a statement to the press this afternoon.  It was not scripted nor does it appear that it was thought out.  Which is par for this particular course.

In the press conference Mayor Ford said he would not be commenting on the matter because it is currently before the courts.

Which means one of two things.  1) it means that Ford doesn't understand that since he hasn't been charged with anything he is free to answer the questions about this video which he is likely to see soon and apparently does exist.  2) it means that charges have been laid against Ford and those details have not been released.

When questioned about the video and whether it would be a source of charges against Mayor Ford Police Chief Blair said that the video does not provide enough evidence to  warrant the laying of any charges.  He did not say that there wasn't evidence elsewhere that is still being investigated.

Quite frankly if I had surveillance showing Ford and Lisi arriving at locations within moments of each other and not even acknowledging one another's presence (odd for good friends) I'd be putting detectives on that.  Add to the fact they are exchanging packages and that is mighty suspicious behaviour.

It might be innocent, for all we know Mayor Ford could simply be passing Lisi advance copies of letters of reference.

Interestingly Mayor Ford's mother was at City Hall today and that is noted as unusual.

Anyway, short of Mayor Ford deciding to resign (which I doubt is an option he will ever consider) the rationale coming from Ford Nation is that they will continue to vote for Mayor Ford.

MikePatterson's post is a fair reflection of how some see this.

And now that the Chief liberal lefty Bill Blair is pathlogically lying to the news maggots about what only "appears" to be that video never seen by Mayor Ford and which may not even exist it remains to be seen what the most honest man in politics will do.

Mayor Ford did promise that the next race for Mayor would be a bloodbath.

There are still just under 12 months for something new to pop up.

To paraphase Councillor Doug Ford, "Nobody had done more for political theatre in Toronto than Rob Ford."

Grace and peace to you.

John

Trudeau said he smoked marijuana when asked about it.
Ford was accused. He denied ANY video even existed. Ford also denied smoking any drugs via a pipe. Now, there IS a video on a computer...
Maybe it is someone else...
Ford said he did not do drugs. He knows at least one drug dealer.
Now, there is allegedly proof he phones him up and he gets packages from him. Maybe it is delivery of fast food...
Time will tell...

So you are saying doing illegal drugs is ok, just don't lie about it.  

no, don't get caught lying about it.

I did not endorse doing drugs at all... I said that comparing the two, there are differences.

I also think many folks would have to say yes if asked if they have ever, if they have friends who have, if their kids have... lying is what is done sometimes... and in some cases is what we expect or demand.

We need more Rob Fords, and all of them in Toronto.

Montreal mayors were crooked, of course. But they always stayed clear of drugs. YOu can't have everything in a mayor.

ROFLMAO

Perhaps she was just there to admire the outrageous Halloween decor in his office? 

If it was me, I would resign, go to rehab, get healthy, lose weight and run in October .

.
Sadly I don't think he will do that though he should.
.
He would have a chance again. He is liked in toronto for his policies. He us liked for taking on the powerful city unions. He is liked for his bluntness

Next election however looks like Olivia chow against several right of centre candidates. If they all stay in the race it will be chow,

.
And I fear we will be right back where we started. Spending ourselves to death

Hi carolla,

If so I think she would have for the official unveiling rather on a day when all hell promised to break loose.

Although, fittingly appropriate for Hallowe'en if you play by the popular notions of what Hallowe'en is all about.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Hi lastpointe,

I agree with you.  If reports are true his chief of staff Mark Twohey was advising just that when Mayor Ford fired him in May.  And everybody thought the Mayor's office was a circus then with the exodus of several staffers in short order.

All of that is undeniably true.  Though there is significant spin going on at the same time.  He did not challenge the police union in fact, they got a healthy raise.  The Subway issue has been a complete fiasco with Mayor Ford claiming time and time again that private developers would pay for it and it would not cost the city a dime only to have no private developer step forward and offer to build so much as a public bench to sit upon while waiting for who knows how long it will take for the magic subway to appear and in the end all his no taxes rhetoric disappears as he approves a tax hike to help the city pay its share of the Subway.  That will be a lot more than a dime from the taxpayer.

His hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars saved also don't add up.

Sooner or later that bs piles so high that folk can't take the stink.  It would have taken significantly longer if he had kept his head down and did his job.  That apparently is not the style of either Mayor Rob or Councillor Doug and three years in it has been a zoo at Toronto City Hall.  Given another year on this path and it won't be better.

Mayor Ford is the only guy who appears hell bent on proving everyone who says, "It can't get worse" wrong.

Lawyer Clayton Ruby feels that police bungled an investigation which could have nabbed the mayor for possession at least.

As noted up thread the only thing police have said at this time is that they can't bring charges against Mayor Ford based on the content of the video.  Is Chief Blair giving Mayor Ford a wakeup call?  If so is Mayor Ford sufficiently aware to wake up or, will there be charges laid in the near future.

Because folk are saying, very loudly that if Mayor Ford went into rehab they'd accept that he had a problem and he is trying to get help with it.  They won't buy that line if charges against Mayor Ford come first.

In the document file there is mention of many meetings between Lisi and Ford.  There is also mention of many odd exchanges of envelopes between Lisi and Ford.  I think Clayton Ruby makes a strong point.  Police were in position to observe those transactions, police would have been in position and well within their rights to stop Mayor Ford and search his vehicle after witnessing any of those clandestine meetings.

The question is, can Mayor Ford comprehend the fact that his days are numbered if he doesn't get help.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Next election however looks like Olivia chow against several right of centre candidates. If they all stay in the race it will be chow, . And I fear we will be right back where we started. Spending ourselves to death[/quote]

It would likely take more than a few years for Ford to get healthy. Add to that the video also shows him making  racist and homophobic remarks. A major problem in Toronto.

There is also the problem of the impending release of the Catholic School Board file on his activities and complaints against him regarding his activioties with teenage boys.

Now that we know he is a heavy drinker, and a heavy drug users, more questions will follow.  Was he sharing drugs with his teenage players?  We know that he was using crack with former players (as the video shows) when they were adults. 

Also he admitted last year (in a Sun interview which lead to his dismissal as a volunteer coach) that he would allow his players (underage teenage boys) to sleep over at his place.  This raises alot of flags when the adult involved is clearly a narcissist a drunk, an addict, and a bully and is unsupervised.  Were the boys being drugged? Was sex involved? Did Ford assault these underage boys?

Hi Alex,

In all fairness.  Inebriated individuals do not possess the most effective of filters.  What you get is often something that would not make it past a conscious screen for good or ill.

The only thing that can be said about the comments made by anyone not in possession of all of their mental facilities is that something exists somewhere.  It need not be a big something, it may in fact be something that is more often than not locked away and rejected by the conscious mind.

It may raise flags.  It may not.

It certainly gives rise to rumours.  Is there any truth to them or was there not enough gossip on Mayor Ford that this needed to be layered on?

Grace and peace to you.

John

While the vast majority of those involved with youth are really good people,  we know by experience that some volunteers in sports, scouting, and churches take advantage of youth. If I found out someone was leading a secret live, desplayed narcissitic qualities, was a drunk, and used crack. I would want someone to speak to the kids, Especially since this kids mighht have something to say,(ie those who spent unsupervised time with him) In addition to teen boys reluctance to report sexual abuse , These teens might be afraid that there credibility as kids, would not stand up to that of a mayor. 

I don't think it's helpful to hypothesize about potential opportunities for sexual exploitation of minors. There is nothing about that in the news, that I'm aware.

What I don't hear much about, are the accusations made by Sarah Thomson that Rob Ford groped her at a party back in March. At the time, Mayor Ford claimed she was lying and was just "crying wolf" on International Women's Day. She said she thought he was high on cocaine.

Now that Ford's credibility is shot, and he may not only have been drunk, but high as well, doesn't THAT accusation look much more plausible now. Why isn't the media following up on this?

This is an absolute train wreck we're watching, in real time, with the conductor completely unwilling to touch the brakes. It is political theatre at its most absurd.

Hi Alex,

So when I ask if the rumours are true you simply reiterate the rumours. 

And we are talking about credibility in the same sentence with Rob Ford.  As if Rob Ford defines credibility and has been doing so for months.

But, that might be why we are only dealing about rumours right?  I mean, who in their right mind would believe Rob Ford didn't do what you are hinting at.

And of course he would deny it, just like he denies everything else.  Well done. 

It may not be truth but somebody will believe it.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Hi chansen,

Sarah Thompson refused to press charges.  Kind of hard to go any further when the only witness to the attack won't do that.  Police were willing to press charges if Thompson was willing to cooperate with an investigation, which Thompson declined at the time.

It has not been an incident that has been completely forgotten though.  I imagine that Thompson could still make a formal complaint that would lead to an investigation, without a formal complaint it would be hard to open one.

Quite frankly, apart from possibly some reporters at the Toronto Sun and most of Ford Nation Ford's credibility was blown out of the water when he denied verbally assaulting that couple at the Leafs game back in 2006.  Despite the fact that he actually had been at the game, was drunk, was verbally abusive and did give the couple his business card.

Almost two years later he is charged with assaulting his wife and uttering a death threat.  The Crown would drop the charges claiming inconsistencies in his wife's story and there being little possibility of obtaining a conviction.

This answers your own question about why there is no follow-up (yet) on the Thompson story in the media.  That had the makings of a train wreck for Ford but the other train stopped short.  The train wreck happening now could have been avoided by reaching for the breaks almost six months ago.  Instead, Mayor Ford (switching metaphors) damned the torpedos and went full speed ahead.

Right now he is taking on water and listing badly.  Who knows if there are other torpedos on their way to his position?

If Ford is addicted to drugs.  I'm sure that addiction doesn't go away simply because Lisi is no longer around to supply him his fix.

Chief Blair's announcement was, I thought, rather odd.  I'm not convinced that Blair was not giving the Mayor a warning that he better think fast and think well.  I have no idea why the Chief would think Mayor Ford capable of doing either.  I suspect that there is more to come from police investigation.

All the mines in this field have yet to be touched off.

Grace and peace to you.

John

I do not consider it a rumour yet, only as specualtion on my part, knowing how often people overlook the possibibility of men abusing teens in the past.  

Hi Alex,

My apologies.  When do you hope it reaches rumour status?

And because of that the proper corrective is simply throwing speculation out there whenever you feel it is warranted.

The premise being that if one yells "fox" often enough one eventually shows up.

That is the way the fable worked right?  A fox eventually did show up.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Metaphor overload! Metaphor overload!

Breaking News!

(parody)

I think a rumour is when information is spread by repretition as true.  Specualtion is not repeating what someone else has raised. It is original. It is not based on it being necessarily true, but that evidence points to as a possibility. i.e.  I specualated three and 1/2 years ago that the Pope would resign or be pushed out, based on sevral factual occurence. Likewise I speculate when predicting the outcome of elections based on facts or patterns that I see. Or if  say if this happens this will likely happen.

IIt is a rumour to say Ford abused or gave drugs to boys, if that is repeated as fact. It is speculation to say that these issue will be looked at.  Of course some will turn speculation into rumour. But that is not the fault of the person specualting.

I admot  some will use start rumours using  specualtion, and other statements. .  Howevr intent is the key, and one must also see that one can start rumours using other verbal statements.

Like I could say.   John Smith the MP denies having sex with animals.  Well of course he did not have sex with animals, but by stating he denies something,  others may run with it and repeat it as a posssibility and ot becomes a rumour. .

So let me clearly state, the question I raise regarding what needs to be looked at  of Fords activities are solely speculation, that originate with me, based on several facts that I stated.

One may legitamtely say that perhaps i suspect sex abuse occuring when others do not based on the number of people I know who were abused as teens. (which is higher than the norm)  Likelwise I may state that I am just raising awareness, because most people under estinate it and do not see the need to look further.

Wow Alex. Really un called for.

The mayor has enough trouble on his plate and you start speculating?

And in the most hurtful way for men who choose to assist teens.
.

You are more or less saying that a guy who gives up time for teens over several years has ulterior motives.

.
You may not like him, you dont live here , so in many ways it is no skin off your nose what type of mayor he is. He has some serious allegations tossed at him, lying to the public, crack use, associating with known criminals, buying drugs...... I think we can drop the wild guesses of what other terrible things he might have done.

.
And of course, lest we forget, he hasn't been charged with anything yet, and even then he would be presumed innocent.

.
I think the allegations presented have some weight. I think the things the police have stated are hard to explain, I think the police could have done more, gone to his car to search as they can search for cause and it seems like they had cause.

But they didn't

So really, at this point it is still all supposition. Damning but still.

.
If it was me, I would certainly want the benefit of the doubt as we are given under law.

I think it interesting that today his lawyer an d brother are asking forr the video to be presented to the public. Hard to see the motive for that if he is guilty.

It is also hard to see why he met the friend in parks, driveways, alleys, woods.....

No I am saying it needs to be looked into. One of the reason sexual abuse of teens go oncheck is because people are rightly concerned with the reputation of the accused, However becasue non abuser fail to understand abusers (as oppose tosomeone who steals, who we can understand easilier. often victims nedds are not paid attention too. Besides Fird is a wealthy male with a lot of priveleged. The players he coached (including one who he used drugs with in the video as a adult, have a lot less power in society, and it often take others to say look and see this is possible. PI recommend the book about Sandowsky about how people are unwilling to believ important men can do suc things, and as a result vidstims are not looked for, and if they come forward they are not believed.  

And agains I did not say Ford diid abuse teens or do drugs with them, just that IMHO he matches the profiles of an abusers, and while he may be a saint and actually cares for jids, , it still needs to be examined. The same go for lesser well known people who fit the same criteria in our communities. And if they really care foir kids, they will understand the need to be suspicious.

Hi Alex,

So you have profiled Ford and find that he fits the profile of a sexual predator.

Because he fits the profile you believe we now need an investigation into whether he did or did not sexually abuse football players in his program.

No actual allegations are required we presume guilt and go looking for evidence to support that presumption.

Or am I missing something?

As to Ford's saintliness I think only his brother believes that certainly he is the only one who can manage to say it with a straight face.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Alex,

I think that the recent speculation/accusation, whatever it is, on this thread, is way out of line. I cannot stand Rob Ford, but I cannot stand this more.

Sexual abuse IS under reported or under investigated. It is not suspected when it might be.

That does NOT mean one goes about accusing folks or speculating.

In fact, it is the last thing one should do.

It actually contributes to under reporting and under investigating and lack of suspicions when it IS happening. People say, "It is just speculation, just insults, just...."

It is counter productive. It leads the public and the police to think that "everyone people don't like gets accused"....  or "every gets it hurled at them".

Victims of ACTUAL abuse have to tell their painful truths in an environment where people speculate and allege what cannot be or is not proved or is not true..

This poisoned environment them suspects them of lying. It further abuses them by doubting them... It allows their abusers to get off and/or continue to abuse beyond the first accusations or suspicions.

It is also, in and of itself, abusive to speculate or accuse someone of something like this.

We live in a society where the way we insult men is to call them girls, faggots or child molestors.

It is wrong and abusive!

It was wrong and abusive when homosexuals were accused of being child molestors or predators because they were homosexual. The shoe fits on other feet.

Saying coaches abus, when it is not fact, poisons the environment where "every coach or scout leader is accused" and becomes a perfect place for real abusers. It keeps good men from taking the role.

Saying someone has an addiction or abuse problem means they are a sexual abuser of youth or should be looked at as being one is wrong. It further marginalizes those with addiction issues. An addict will drink or drug with anyone without any motives other than getting high!

Stop abuse? Hell yes!

There are many ways. This is not one of them.

One way to stop or stem abuse, is to not take part in abusing men and youth with unproven or false allegations or engage in such speculation.

 (notation made that on this laptop paragraphing still works but not on new one with Windows8)

Read SG's post, Alex. There is wisdom there.

Mendalla

This just in...Ford's approval rating just went up 5%!!!!!
Scarborough loves him...
Time to "deammalgamate" & let Etobicoke and Scarborough vote in their own mayor. They can keep Ford.

I wouldn't dream of believing rumours about Ford. True, he appears to be coarse, racist, ignorant bullying. But that could all be an act by a man who's to shy to let the world how good he is.

And lots of people have gangsters for close friends. Perhaps he's trying to help the poor man.

And I see no harm in encouraging an alcoholic, cocaine smliking man who pals are gangsters to use his spare time in letting teenage boys sleep over at his house. I mean, it doesn't PROVE anything. And it keeps them away from computer games.

Remember....

Jesus wants you for a  sunbeam.

...after all it's just a despicable smear campaign by elitist (finished high school), lefty lieberal commie maggots who aren't giving the best mayor in history a fair shake.
We're 100% behind our poor, misunderstood hero. What's a little crack between friends.

We all make little boo boos like that....

Hi ninjafaery,

Not sure what a fair shake is supposed to look like at this juncture.  Ford wanted a City employee and the employee's manager fired when Mammoliti produced a photo of an employee allegedly sleeping on the job.  Would the Mayor have been okay had the employee not been sleeping and was drunk and swearing instead?

To be blunt I think that most advocating for a fair shake don't recognize that they are apparently enabling an addict.  I'm not sure that the substance addicted to is really relevant, certainly not more so than the actual effects of the addiction itself.

If it was only a little and it was controlled I doubt this circus would still be in town.  Mayor Ford promises that he is going to cut back.  If he could have I would think that he would have by now.

An apology from an addict is self-justification.

Promises from an addict are empty words.

The only thing an addict can do that might change things is ask for help.  In the absence of that request for help things are not going to get better for Mayor Ford.

It certainly doesn't get better when we throw allegations of child abuse on the pile.

Grace and peace to you.

John

This began with allegations of addiction and criminal association. Apparently, it is now all right to throw these on the fire. And Wiithout those allegations, nothing would have happened.

When will it be correct to throw other allegations on the fire?

(Yes, I know. when they're correct is when they're already proven because of allegations thrown on earlier. But that's not a very useful guideline.)