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Rob Ford's Toronto

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Remember the good old days, when all we were worried about was Rob's drinking, doping and making an ass of himself?
This is getting really frightening.
 
pattycakes said:
Remember the good old days, when all we were worried about was Rob's drinking, doping and making an ass of himself?
This is getting really frightening.
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No kidding. I had to do a digital detox from this thread over the weekend and come back to organized-crime talk. Too bad the mayor making an ass of himself opened him up to possible shakedowns from these people.
 
I think this is even more of a reason to remove the mayor and his brother from their respective seats of power immediately - their involvement and exposure to the criminal underground compromises the integrity of the city government to an untenable extent. That, coupled with their willingness to bully, as well as the weak understanding and willingness to comply with the rules of governance basically negates any system-based barrier to undue influence by said criminal elements.

When it is time to rewrite the provincial legislation, it is high time to put that any elected official at risk of being blackmailed is cause for temporary to permanent removal.

AoD
 
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AoD

That's what's driving me crazy, our Deputy Mayor thinks Rob should dry out and all will be forgiven.
While Norm is not the sharpest pencil, the implications of associating with known drug dealers and criminals such as Lisi and Basso, should be enough to insist Ford resign, not take a leave.
 
AlvinofDiaspar said:
When it is time to rewrite the provincial legislation, it is high time to put that any elected official at risk of being blackmailed is cause for temporary to permanent removal.
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As much as I agree with the sentiment, how would this law be worded? How do you define "open to blackmail"? Would there be a requirement that the blackmail material describe criminal behaviour? If not, where do you draw the line?

For instance, imagine a politician who behind closed doors pursued an unusual-but-legal sex life; without going into specifics, let's define that politician's peccadillo as the sort of thing which, if exposed, would cause the Sun to run with a a terrible pun in 144pt on their front page. Let's also assume that the politician is a normal politician, without Fordian staying power, and then introduce a playmate of said politician with a hidden recording device and a need for money or attention...

...should that politician lose their position?
 
SecretSquirrel said:
As much as I agree with the sentiment, how would this law be worded? How do you define "open to blackmail"? Would there be a requirement that the blackmail material describe criminal behaviour? If not, where do you draw the line?

For instance, imagine a politician who behind closed doors pursued an unusual-but-legal sex life; without going into specifics, let's define that politician's peccadillo as the sort of thing which, if exposed, would cause the Sun to run with a a terrible pun in 144pt on their front page. Let's also assume that the politician is a normal politician, without Fordian staying power, and then introduce a playmate of said politician with a hidden recording device and a need for money or attention...

...should that politician lose their position?
Click to expand...

Very good point. Once could say the same thing about a cheating politician or one who has yet to come out; or say a close relative in trouble that so far that politican has remained quiet. The "open to blackmail", without further definition, could be very problematic.
 
ShonTron said:
Very good point. Once could say the same thing about a cheating politician or one who has yet to come out; or say a close relative in trouble that so far that politican has remained quiet. The "open to blackmail", without further definition, could be very problematic.
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Agree with the caution - I think the key here is that the involvement has to be criminal in nature - overdrinking or having an affair isn't criminal, accessing crack and otherwise having unexplained relationships with convicted criminals on the other hand is. No one is suggesting that we should remove an elected official just because they're caught drinking.

AoD
 
ThoughtArcade said:
This is very true. The 'Ndrangheta has never sought a romantic public persona like the Cosa Nostra. It's also not hierarchical in the same way, so it it is less prone to high-profile superstars like we see in New York, etc. To some degree, it barely even exists -- members don't always view themselves as being members of anything in particular, the structure is applied from the outside, more so. It's affiliations of families, who have businesses which intersect, and use ruthless means to protect their businesses. It's a different beast.
Click to expand...

Indeed. The 'Ndrangheta is here, it is involved in criminal actitivies and a close affliation with a certain prominent labour union. They like to stay quiet, and you don't hear much about them unless they get involved in an internal power struggle. There are several crime families who are here in Toronto, and in Hamilton, Niagara and Thunder Bay as well as Montreal/Laval.
 
Someone posted this about a pastor involved in a sex scandal, but I'd say it pretty much goes for Robbie here:

1. Man gets caught with pants down (or smoking crack, peeing in public, being drunk in public etc)
2. Man denies it or provides excuses and pretends like everything is fine
3. Man is forced by elders/leaders/media/angry mob of former minions to fess up
4. Man gives scripted apology admitting the bare minimum of what he did
5. Man acts “chastened” and “humbled,” invokes his shame and regret at bringing shame on his family
6. Man expresses how hard this is on him and his family, hoping to use the real and honest sympathy of listeners to get off easy
7. Man indicates that he is being forgiven by his family and that you should forgive him too because “we all fall short”
8. Man goes into semi-hiding for a bit, strategically releasing things that not-too-subtly serve as “proof” that he is hard at work improving himself and restoring relations with his family
9. Man has his acolytes/minions/political and social circle defend his sullied reputation, calling anyone who mentions his indiscretion “bitter,” “spiteful,” having an “evil heart” and engaging in “casting stones”
10. Man waits until anger at his behavior subsides, then finds an external source to tell his side of the story to, complete with a touching redemption narrative and supportive quotes from his relatives
11. Man finds or continues a lower level job within his field and publicizes how happy and “humbled” working at it is making him
12. Man resumes his old station or another one of similar stature, claiming greater wisdom from the whole experience and being “called to lead” once again
13. Man accuses anyone mentioning his “fall” of not exhibiting proper forgiveness of sinners like Jesus instructs us to do
14. Man is slightly more careful not to get caught doing whatever it was he did before
15. Man uses his “everyman” status as a “fellow sinner who has seen the grace of God” to sell more stuff, people buy it, and he gets older and richer

Well with exception of Jesus talk, I'd say this is pretty close to what has/will happen (barring criminal charges).
 
This is getting crazy. There's a blog belonging to an actor in LA

This is on it.

tumblr_mvyzpxJNm91qzmopno1_500.jpg



I don't think he has any connection to Toronto. Is Rob Ford spawning memes now?
 
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