Rob Ford's Toronto

[CowboyLogic]

And where in there do you see anything but an acknowledgement that he was assaulted? He says a drink was thrown at him and that this shouldn't be done. He never mentions her name.

 

[LowPolygon]

It's Ford just trying to change the channel. The last few days have seen him cavorting with the common people and the press (without literally falling on his ass) and today he's back with those hard-hitting issues that are a burning concern for Ford Nation.

he wont be changing it for long. the channel will be back where it belongs--on his lifestyle and behaviour--very soon.

 

[LowPolygon]

And where in there do you see anything but an acknowledgement that he was assaulted? He says a drink was thrown at him and that this shouldn't be done. He never mentions her name.

...he simply acknowledged he had a drink thrown at him. Whoop de doo.

you think this typically paranoid, us-vs-them, 'media is out to get Rob', 'friggin rock star' BS constitutes a simple acknowledgement that he had a drink thrown at him?

right.

 

[TOvp]

Where does Ford shop? I haven't heard of anyone who still thinks they have to pay 5 cents.

KFC and Tim Hortons don't charge for bags.

The Loblaws and Metro near his home charge, as does the No Frills at Dixon and Islington. I'd be very interested in finding out the last time Rob Ford shopped for the family groceries.

Keeping a few bags in the car, coat pocket, or purse is not a big deal, better than lugging those old Knob Hill Farms baskets.

 

[Ramako]

The last few days have been a nice little side show, but the Sword of Damocles remains precariously suspended over Ford's head. Watching him in action these days must be what it's like to stand in the eye of a hurricane.

 

[Electrify]

I work as a cashier at Loblaws, outside Toronto, and you would be surprised at how many people think that it is illegal to charge for plastic bags because Rob Ford said so. I'm surprised that no one has called the police over it actually.

That said, the rule is poorly enforced and I know of some cashiers who don't bother any more. I'll usually let a bag or so slip because I am so sick and tired of people complaining (ironically if the customer doesn't shut up about it, they will be charged for all the bags).

 

[W. K. Lis]

I work as a cashier at Loblaws, outside Toronto, and you would be surprised at how many people think that it is illegal to charge for plastic bags because Rob Ford said so. I'm surprised that no one has called the police over it actually.

That said, the rule is poorly enforced and I know of some cashiers who don't bother any more. I'll usually let a bag or so slip because I am so sick and tired of people complaining (ironically if the customer doesn't shut up about it, they will be charged for all the bags).

Don't worry. With the $400,000 that he voted for and that Rob Ford considers not to be "gravy", he'll "educate" the masses that it is OK to use free plastic bags. Apparently, the word "environment" is not in his vocabulary.

 

[James_D]

And where in there do you see anything but an acknowledgement that he was assaulted? He says a drink was thrown at him and that this shouldn't be done. He never mentions her name.

Right, he was just speaking generally in hypothetical terms about the exact thing that just happened. In no way would anyone infer to whom he was referring.

 

[guitarchitect]

First of all, being assaulted should never be an acceptable political fall out, particularly in municipal politics. It's a bit disgusting that you would suggest that.

Where is your proof that he was actually assaulted? Do you have a video tape? Can you prove the video tape isn't a hoax?

Aside from that - what we know actually happened is that a drink of some sort flew in the direction of Rob Ford, hit the ground, and got him a bit wet. That the Fords are playing the "He has been assaulted and that is inappropriate" is laughable. I guess the next time I get a bit of beer spilled on me at a sporting event, I'll remember to file charges.

 

[nfitz]

Aside from that - what we know actually happened is that a drink of some sort flew in the direction of Rob Ford, hit the ground, and got him a bit wet. That the Fords are playing the "He has been assaulted and that is inappropriate" is laughable. I guess the next time I get a bit of beer spilled on me at a sporting event, I'll remember to file charges.

I haven't been reading those articles. Gosh, is that all it is? I think I'd drop whatever I was holding in shock if I ever bumped into him.

If he's really going to push with charges, I'd think his deposition might get interesting if it gets into he said/she said. Have you ever lied before? And for that reason, I doubt this will go to court.

 

[Dilla]

Ford isn't even mentioned in this:

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/06/19/politics-attracting-the-wrong-people

If people entered politics for the right reasons, several bad news stories unfolding this week wouldn’t have come to be.

Justin Trudeau’s speaking fees, the Montreal mayoral meltdown and the whole Dalton McGuinty affair are all indicative of people who — despite their experience — don’t even understand the purpose of politics.

Basically, politicians are supposed to be people experienced in a certain profession (other than politics) who have decided there are a handful of policies out there that need to be changed — things they’ve become passionate about over the years.

Once they’ve articulated how these half dozen or so issues can be changed via policy, they run for office.

It usually takes a couple terms to enact these changes. Then you respectably bow out, because if you’ve achieved your goals there’s no reason to stick around.

These days, people enter politics for no good reason and thus never leave because they had no goals in the first place.

They are the leeches that dominate the political class — sucking the lifeblood out of politics in the name of self-preservation.

The Montreal politicians in question have been circling the scene for decades.

The allegations are the result of idle hands. If they were actually busy with issues they were passionate about, some would have never been singled out by the Mob as people amenable to accepting envelopes of cash.

And if those alleged to be on the take actually had marketable skills, they wouldn’t have felt the urge to accept the money, as they knew once they left politics they could use their skills to make better money legally. But no. Politics is their cash cow.

As for McGuinty, no disrespect to his family intended, but he entered politics because his father, Dalton Sr., died unexpectedly and their garage was already full of “Vote Dalton†signs.

That’s often told as charming folklore. But it’s deeply cynical and underscores just how inevitable the former Ontario premier’s flame-out was.

He entered politics because the timing was good.

The policy came after the fact, as a campaign-by-focus-group way of becoming premier.

Toss away $600M

Hence why it was so easy to toss away $600 million of taxpayer dollars in cancelling the gas plants to save a couple seats.

Power for power’s sake.

With Trudeau, things are a little different. His enablers must shoulder equal blame. Ever since he spoke at his father’s funeral, flatterers whispered in his ear that he was destined to become prime minister. To his credit, Trudeau has at times acknowledged how surreal the mystique around him is.

When he said multiple times during the leadership race that he wasn’t going to offer policy ideas, sure it looked bad on him — but it looked even worse for those who lapped it up.

As for the speaking fees, very little of the more than $1 million he earned came from for-profit groups. Who out there with a decent inheritance and claims of wanting to make the world a better place takes $20,000 to speak at a charity fundraiser? But, then again, which well-run charity forks out that money?

A related note: What is Bob Rae thinking quitting as an MP? If he can’t be leader, then screw the voters of Toronto Centre and hand them a costly byelection?! Rae and McGuinty should have copied Paul Martin. After losing to Stephen Harper he stayed on as a backbench MP until 2008, introducing private member’s bills. The political class is always calculating their next move, never calculating its impact on voters and taxpayers.

Good lord, did he just bemoan a the cost of a bi-election? Bob Rea was never more than an interim leader, so I don't see how it could be about his ambition.

 

[innsertnamehere]

It's the Toronto sun, what do you expect? National post level of articulate right winged discussion? Of course not, because its the f***ing Sun.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

It's the Toronto sun, what do you expect? National post level of articulate right winged discussion? Of course not, because its the f***ing Sun.

Really can't understand why people would read that crap. Any newspaper that has half naked women in it for no other reason than the sexual amusement of some men clearly isn't to be taken seriously.

 

[syn]

Where does Ford shop? I haven't heard of anyone who still thinks they have to pay 5 cents.

No idea, but I don't know anyone who thinks this either.

It's pretty well understood that it no longer is mandatory but some stores may choose to continue charging it.

 

[jje1000]

I work as a cashier at Loblaws, outside Toronto, and you would be surprised at how many people think that it is illegal to charge for plastic bags because Rob Ford said so. I'm surprised that no one has called the police over it actually.

That said, the rule is poorly enforced and I know of some cashiers who don't bother any more. I'll usually let a bag or so slip because I am so sick and tired of people complaining (ironically if the customer doesn't shut up about it, they will be charged for all the bags).

Unfortunately, one of the things that Ford has done is breed a sense of entitlement into some people (i.e. I expect subways everywhere, I deserve lower taxes regardless of the situation, I am better than the other half of the population, etc.)

In the end, most people want to know that they've saved some sort of money at the end of the day. It's a good feeling.