Rob Ford Dead at 46

[shack]

Complicated? Absolutely. But certainly not boring or just a footnote. His one term will reverberate for a long time.

The guy had many faults indeed.

However I find it extremely interesting to see how the phenomenon that Ford was to Toronto is now playing out in the states (which basically means internationally) with many comparisons that can be drawn to Trump. Very similar appeals.

 

[frankcastle]

Yeah, he was such a huge racist that the people of Etobicoke and Scarborough could not wait to vote for him.

That doesn't prove whether he is racist or not it just proves he was likeable to enough people to get him elected.

Remember voter turn out is not reflective of the population.

 

[Don Draper]

Third he was a contentious topic no matter what. I learned long ago some people are so entrenched in a position of hate that even mentioning his name caused apolexy.

I believe you were looking for the word: Apoplexy.

The word you used, apolexy, does not exist.

********************

Rob Ford is dead. Rest his soul. I feel for his children who have lost their Father much too early and will miss him for the rest of their lives.

Rob Ford is now out of politics. Simple as that. That's what matters.

 

[frankcastle]

The above is true. But I don't see how that is gay bashing.

I don't recall Rob Ford ever encouraging anyone to beat up gays. He didn't like to go to gay pride day. I thought he should have participated. It wouldn't have killed him (though he would have been a target himself for harassment, let's be honest.)

But Rob never advocated hurting gay people.

As the leader of the city choosing to not attend and saying words like fag and queer is not respectful to the gay community.

Sure he doesnt say beat or burn gays but his actions work against the difficulties that gays face.

Sorry but as mayor he has to set aside his personal issues.

 

[frankcastle]

Well, how do you explain Rob's popularity in the black community in Toronto if he was such an awful racist?

There was an article in Toronto life about him a few years ago that looked in depth at how Rob Ford ticked and one of the things that those on the left could not fathom was how was a guy like Ford so popular with the black community? All the socialist politicians in Toronto would fall over themselves to decry racism in Toronto under every rock and get up on their soap boxes at every chance to cry about more social programs needed for people of colour and racists like Ford. Yet the black community didn't really give a rat's ass about them. And then there was Rob Ford who did bad Jamaican accents and talked about the uselessness of "hug a thug" programs and yet black people by and large loved the guy.

How do you explain that?

The explanation is simple there is more to a person than whether or not they are racist.

The sum of a person's parts is defines them.

 

[frankcastle]

I find it fascinating that we are still using the "i have black friends so i am not racist" type logic.

If you guys believe that a person's ethnicity or sexuality never influenced his decisions you are fooling yourselves. We have all probably do e it on some level. But as mayor using tax dollars you have to set that aside.

 

[fuji]

This ^^^^^^

Not to mention the Flag at City Hall, Metro Hall and Toronto Civic Centres have been lowered to half-staff, and will remain that way until Ford's funeral. Books of condolences are at Toronto City Hall, at civic centre as well as an online one.

People have also been leaving condolences in chalk at Nathan Phillips Square near the 'Toronto' sign.

Good. He was a Toronto mayor. The office deserves respect even if you disliked the man.

 

[Perry Mason]

His death is a sad event.

I have never wished illness or death upon anyone and I am not about to begin to do so now.

But that does not mean we should forget, ignore or whitewash his transgressions.

Most people have already forgotten, but I will always remember him by what the judge who heard the application to remove him from office and heard his evidence and cross-examination said about him in his reasons for judgment: Ford had a "stubborn sense of entitlement… characterized by ignorance of the law and a lack of diligence… amounting to willful blindness.”

IMHO, totally incompatible with public office. Ultimately, that is the only thing that matters.

Perry

 

[Barca]

That doesn't prove whether he is racist or not it just proves he was likeable to enough people to get him elected.

Remember voter turn out is not reflective of the population.

Even Donald Trump has Mexicans and Latinos on his campaign staff. I get the sense Rob Ford was so popular with the black residents of Toronto because of his outspokeness and outsider status. But what they all fail to realize is that aside from individual acts of help he was famous for within the community, his mayoral platform and record were decidedly unhelpful to the black community.

Yeah they supported him. But in plain terms they did so out of ignorance.

 

[Chloë.]

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/feminist-current/2016/03/on-death-rob-ford-and-mourning-abusive-men

 

[Twister]

So he will lie in repose for 2 days before being laid to rest next week.
Macabre question, are the caskets refrigerated or freezers for the body not to deteriorate? The funeral will be next Wednesday so that will be 9 days since passing.

 

[Frankfooter]

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/feminist-current/2016/03/on-death-rob-ford-and-mourning-abusive-men

I'm with you.

 

[anon1]

I'm with you.

+1.....

 

[K Douglas]

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/feminist-current/2016/03/on-death-rob-ford-and-mourning-abusive-men

I'm going to hazard a guess and say that Ms Murphy has never met or talked to Rob Ford in her lifetime. She is selectively choosing certain actions and events from when Mr Ford was battling alcohol and personal demons. I can say that in any of my interactions with Rob he wasn't like that at all. As far as I'm concerned he wasn't a racist or a misogynist. Overall he was a good man, an exceptional city councilor and a good Mayor for the first 2-3 years of his tenure.

 

[whitewaterguy]

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/feminist-current/2016/03/on-death-rob-ford-and-mourning-abusive-men

Hard hitting and to the point. No sympathies for the devil

 

[Chloë.]

I'm going to hazard a guess and say that Ms Murphy has never met or talked to Rob Ford in her lifetime. She is selectively choosing certain actions and events from when Mr Ford was battling alcohol and personal demons. I can say that in any of my interactions with Rob he wasn't like that at all. As far as I'm concerned he wasn't a racist or a misogynist. Overall he was a good man, an exceptional city councilor and a good Mayor for the first 2-3 years of his tenure.

This may be a bit of a pry and if it is, my apologies and don't feel the need to answer, but may I ask what your racial background is? I'm already guessing a middle aged gentleman but I'm genuinely curious about your background or what ethnicity you identify as.

 

[Rachelxo]

So sad??. He was a real one

 

[tbg]

Torontoist provides an honest assessment of RoFo's legacy.

http://torontoist.com/2016/03/373870/

TBG

 

[SchlongConery]

So he will lie in repose for 2 days before being laid to rest next week.
Macabre question, are the caskets refrigerated or freezers for the body not to deteriorate? The funeral will be next Wednesday so that will be 9 days since passing.

The embalming process drains the blood from the body and then refill the body with an embalming (preserving) fluid which delays decomposition. When the body is not on display, they put it back in the fridge to keep it fresh too.

 

[frankcastle]

I'm going to hazard a guess and say that Ms Murphy has never met or talked to Rob Ford in her lifetime. She is selectively choosing certain actions and events from when Mr Ford was battling alcohol and personal demons. I can say that in any of my interactions with Rob he wasn't like that at all. As far as I'm concerned he wasn't a racist or a misogynist. Overall he was a good man, an exceptional city councilor and a good Mayor for the first 2-3 years of his tenure.

You do realize that your interactions were positive but that doesn't mean others could not have had negative interactions.

Sorry but a person who openly makes homophobic and racist comments, lies, debates like a schoolyard bully, and abuses his position of power and attracts negative attention to hos city doesn't get a pass because he handed out burgers and cash. Sure he personally answered some people older for help but lets not pretend he didnt throw contracts his friends' way.

Many a serial killer and mass murderer are referred to as nice quiet guys. Not suggesting he is on that level but that many people who do bad things also have a good side.