Ford: A real "cracker"?

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Did anyone else notice the loud guffaws from the media horde when he ended his press briefing with "God bless the people of Toronto"?

Yeah. This is seriously going into Tea Party territory. Shouldn't this kind of thing be happening in a place like Calgary, where they don't have diversity and their mayors are lily-white rightwing bible-belters?

[Nouvellecosse]

Fine, let him get help... ONCE HE RESIGNS.

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Yeah. This is seriously going into Tea Party territory. Shouldn't this kind of thing be happening in a place like Calgary, where they don't have diversity and their mayors are lily-white rightwing bible-belters?

We voted out the Socreds in the 1971.

Reading up on the collapse of the Socred party is amusing stuff. Loved it when the rump of the Ontario wing was stuffed to the gills with white supremacists before it disbanded.

[sync]

Originally Posted by Xelebes

We voted out the Socreds in the 1971.

Reading up on the collapse of the Socred party is amusing stuff. Loved it when the rump of the Ontario wing was stuffed to the gills with white supremacists before it disbanded.

pretty sure he was being facetious.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by freeweed

What happens if a politician goes batshit insane? Starts spouting off about how the aliens are coming to abduct Torontonians, and begins using whatever mayoral powers exist to start doing all sorts of insane things?

What if he starts constantly spouting off things that are borderline, but not legally defined as, hate speech?

I'm not being rhetorical, either. I can think of a lot further down the crazy train here, before getting into the realm of illegal. Are we seriously stuck with politicians, once elected, no matter what they do, period? So long as it's not illegal?

Since cities are creatures of the province if their administrators get out of control the province can put them under a type of mandatory supervision. In French it is called "mise en tutelle" and what it basically means is subject to the oversight of a provincially mandated supervisor or tutor.

Basically Ford and his council couldn't do much without the green light from the said "tutor".

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by sync

pretty sure he was being facetious.

I'm pretty sure he was too.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Yeah. This is seriously going into Tea Party territory. Shouldn't this kind of thing be happening in a place like Calgary, where they don't have diversity and their mayors are lily-white rightwing bible-belters?

At this point I think we all should start looking to Calgary to save Canada!

[Ramako]

Originally Posted by freeweed

What happens if a politician goes batshit insane? Starts spouting off about how the aliens are coming to abduct Torontonians, and begins using whatever mayoral powers exist to start doing all sorts of insane things?

Not possible. We have a weak mayor system in Ontario. All he has is one vote and the power to appoint committee chiefs (however council is currently entertaining a motion to strip him of the latter).

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by Ramako

Not possible. We have a weak mayor system in Ontario. All he has is one vote and the power to appoint committee chiefs (however council is currently entertaining a motion to strip him of the latter).

Eh, that's just for Toronto. Rest of Ontario Mayors don't get to appoint committee chiefs, Mayor is just a member of council.

[Ramako]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Eh, that's just for Toronto. Rest of Ontario Mayors don't get to appoint committee chiefs, Mayor is just a member of council.

Indeed. The Mayor's real power comes from having the largest and loudest platform from which to speak. It's symbolic. The Mayor is directly elected and so is supposed to embody the will of the city generally, as opposed to merely that of an individual riding. In that way, the Mayor can guide the narrative, choose what issues to tackle and (try to) create a consensus on them. Without that influence, Ford is politically impotent. The business of the city will carry on as normal despite him, just as it has for the past couple of years.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by rousseau

You know how indignation is the vice that characterizes our age, that it's the one thing that people indulge in without feeling guilty? How nothing can be so satisfying as feeling indignant at people?

Well, even that has its limits. Even Jon Stewart has stepped back from the jokes to suggest that Ford needs help. I know I myself have had enough of this — show. It has to end.

I mean...doesn't it?

So long as he insists on retaining power, I will do nothing but be indignant. This isn't someone who is harmlessly struggling with substance abuse problems on their own - this is someone who is selfishly crippling the functioning of one of the world's major cities.

Just how much time and money has been wasted on this? Does Council even DO anything anymore beyond discuss Ford and his shenanigans?

If I am deemed unfit to perform my job duties, as determined by my employer, I am removed from my duties until such time as I am able to continue. Even if "unfit" is solely because of a media distraction. My employer may have to continue paying me, they may have to keep me on disability coverage, they may even have to pay for my rehabilitation. But there is no way in hell I'd be able to remain at my desk, simply because I refused to leave.

I don't see why a mayor should be any different. I can't possibly believe we have zero formal oversight and zero control over the workplace behaviour of our elected officials.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by Ramako

The business of the city will carry on as normal despite him, just as it has for the past couple of years.

It makes one wonder why we even fund a position called "mayor", if he's in fact that useless.

Speaking of the Tea Party, it's no wonder these loons think we can scrap government.

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by Acajack

At this point I think we all should start looking to Calgary to save Canada!

We can't be the only city in the country with an amazing mayor, can we?

[Ramako]

Originally Posted by freeweed

It makes one wonder why we even fund a position called "mayor", if he's in fact that useless.

Speaking of the Tea Party, it's no wonder these loons think we can scrap government.

As I said, the position isn't useless. When a mayor is elected, they come in with popular support and a campaign platform that generally guides council's agenda. Even Ford wielded a lot of power when he was elected. The difference is that he squandered that power by refusing to compromise/negotiate with his opponents, alienating his allies and ultimately losing the moral authority to lead.

It didn't happen overnight, but eventually council collectively realized that they were better off governing without him. Every issue has its own particular champion on council who steps in to play "mayor" on the issue by pushing the issue in the media and creating consensus on council. E.g. Stintz on the transit file.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

We can't be the only city in the country with an amazing mayor, can we?

Iveson in Edmonton looks like he has potential to be like Nenshi.

[The_Architect]

Originally Posted by freeweed

Just how much time and money has been wasted on this? Does Council even DO anything anymore beyond discuss Ford and his shenanigans? .

They argue whether a more expensive 3-stop subway extension under a low-density area makes more sense than a cheaper 7-stop grade-separated light rail and a relief subway line.

[caltrane74]

I didn't know the Iron Sheikh lived in Toronto.

Wants to meet and arm wrestle the mayor


http://m.huffpost.com/ca/entry/4227914

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by Ramako

As I said, the position isn't useless. When a mayor is elected, they come in with popular support and a campaign platform that generally guides council's agenda. Even Ford wielded a lot of power when he was elected. The difference is that he squandered that power by refusing to compromise/negotiate with his opponents, alienating his allies and ultimately losing the moral authority to lead.

It didn't happen overnight, but eventually council collectively realized that they were better off governing without him. Every issue has its own particular champion on council who steps in to play "mayor" on the issue by pushing the issue in the media and creating consensus on council. E.g. Stintz on the transit file.

So, less than useless?

I've seen this sort of thing before in the private sector, actually. When team leadership becomes either highly dysfunctional or completely absent. It sometimes works very well, but other times.. scary —. Usually it comes about due to management being completely in the dark about the problem. That certainly isn't the case here. But this is beginning to make me think of "who watches the watchman" and all that.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

I didn't know the Iron Sheikh lived in Toronto.

He doesn't - he's here for his "roast" this weekend. His agents are based here however

[caltrane74]

OK, I see.

Still interesting...