tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12218227.post217415826286388064..comments2024-02-12T05:46:36.595-05:00Comments on talk talk talk: The Rob Ford Story Continues Rolling Over Torontotalk talk talk / Shireenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10453931641034885060noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12218227.post-64248824592399371042013-05-28T15:51:18.895-04:002013-05-28T15:51:18.895-04:00Thingamabob: my point isn't that he is, de fac...Thingamabob: my point isn't that he is, de facto, a bad mayor, but that he has a health problem that he must deal with because it's putting the city into chaos. And since Torontonians elected him in, whether or not you or I agree with the majority choice or not, it's valid until the next election. At this point, there would be no election to replace him, as per municipal rules anyway. And since he has a health problem, he should be given a chance, like we would for any human being, to get help and return.<br /><br />I don't think either Ford haters or Ford worshippers are going to be proven to be right, for they're too partisan. Truth is more likely to be in the middle, where I am.talk talk talk / Shireenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10453931641034885060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12218227.post-66455118093540333552013-05-28T10:11:01.370-04:002013-05-28T10:11:01.370-04:00Thanks for the reply Shireen. But, in all honesty,...Thanks for the reply Shireen. But, in all honesty, many of the behaviours he has engaged in which cause him/his causes harm are not directly related to or exculpated by alcoholism, should he suffer from it (which he resolutely denies (as do all unrepentant alcoholics)). On the other hand, I see no reason for you to continue to rationalize these many bad consequences, and assume that if he got help he'd be the great mayor you imagine he could be, in the face of all the steadily mounting evidence.<br /><br />It may just be that Mr. Ford is not who you think he is. And certainly, since you are asking me (I will lump myself in with those you refer to as "ppl who hate Ford" though I don't hate him) to consider that he is not who I think him to be, the least you could do is take your own advice.<br /><br />At some point, events are likely to prove either the Ford-haters or Ford-worshippers to be closer to the truth. I'd like to feel that I was someone who simply exercised good judgment. Isn't that what you'd like to be too?Thingamabobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06258705700929765085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12218227.post-59841355591122478982013-05-28T09:24:59.359-04:002013-05-28T09:24:59.359-04:00Thingamabob: I've written about Rob Ford befor...Thingamabob: I've written about Rob Ford before, about how he rose and won the mayoralty because of the previous Council isolating the right and also riding roughshod over any who disagreed with them. I have also criticized him on his continuing that polarization in Council, which he said he wouldn't do, and his failure on the subway file. But all those things you list as him being contemptuous (I think what you said, if I read it right) is more a mark of the behaviour of an alcoholic or addict than his political mien; for example, his calling media maggots then apologising is also a sign of that kind of erratic behaviour. He needs to take a leave of absence and get help. I really hope he does.talk talk talk / Shireenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10453931641034885060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12218227.post-22217904237295279382013-05-28T09:10:19.087-04:002013-05-28T09:10:19.087-04:00Shireen,
Self-analysis is a mug's game. At be...Shireen,<br /><br />Self-analysis is a mug's game. At best, we can only ever get a glimpse into our own rationality, our own prejudices, our own drives. But that doesn't mean it isn't worth doing.<br /><br />When you write "Endearing is the exact word! This is what ppl who hate Ford can't see." you may be onto something. But you may instead be doing exactly what you accuse those who "hate Ford" of doing: acting based on perceptions and prejudices that may not be justified.<br /><br />Turn this around: perhaps you will one day be able to acknowledge that Mr. Ford's long history of brushes with the law, browbeating and verbally accosting his opponents, domestic assault, disorderly public conduct, ill-considered and hurtful statements about everyone from gays to bike riders, connections with known drug dealers (including his two brothers and sister) and so on... Perhaps you'll be able to recognize that the phrase "Contemptuous is the exact word! This is what ppl who worship Ford can't see." is at least as likely to be correct.<br /><br />This man, regardless of his personal foibles, is a terrible mayor. Even if he's all for eliminating waste and lowering taxes. I don't hate the man, I hate what he's doing to the city. And I am frustrated by some people's inability to get beyond their clearly mistaken perceptions of the man and judge the mayor as you would judge any other mayor.Thingamabobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06258705700929765085noreply@blogger.com