Toronto mayor admits crack use

[greenthumb]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rob-ford-s-tumour-diagnosis-and-the-future-of-toronto-s-race-for-mayor-1.2762825

But Ford Nation still has a potential hope in the mayor's older brother, Coun. Doug Ford, who has until Friday at 2 p.m. ET to register as a candidate. While the latter could not formally replace the former as part of the same campaign, a Doug Ford candidacy would likely be the de facto alternative for loyal Ford voters.

 

[Kamille]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rob-ford-s-tumour-diagnosis-and-the-future-of-toronto-s-race-for-mayor-1.2762825But Ford Nation still has a potential hope in the mayor's older brother, Coun. Doug Ford, who has until Friday at 2 p.m. ET to register as a candidate. While the latter could not formally replace the former as part of the same campaign, a Doug Ford candidacy would likely be the de facto alternative for loyal Ford voters.

It's almost like a movie script isn't it? SMH

 

[greenthumb]

It's almost like a movie script isn't it? SMH

As it well may be, some day.

You know, Rob Ford has made himself such an easy target for ridicule and, at times, outright disgust, with all his shenanigans. But it's easy to set all that aside, in light of what appears to be a serious health concern, and sincerely wish him a speedy return to good health.

 

[SilkySifaka]

Yes, abdominal tumors rarely seem to turn out well and this is his second. So often they are recurrences after one has metastasized Prayers and hope for a speedy recovery, no one deserves this. Especially one who was trying to turn his life around

 

[matou]

Great timing. He was just subpoenaed in the case of his friend Lisi. JMO

 

[greenthumb]

Great timing. He was just subpoenaed in the case of his friend Lisi. JMO

Does this mean that you are suspicious that his health crisis is either totally fabricated, or being blown out of proportion?

 

[Elley Mae]

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford drops out of mayoral race

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/09/12/toronto-mayor-rob-ford-drops-out-mayoral-race/

 

[Sillybilly]

While the man is a disaster politically, and has been the butt of many jokes (including from yours truly), I genuinely feel for him as a person and wish him well healthwise.

 

[greenthumb]

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/rob-out-doug-in-twitter-reacts-to-last-minute-ford-campaign-switch-1.2004330

Toronto’s municipal campaign took another dramatic twist Friday afternoon, when Mayor Rob Ford dropped his bid for re-election amid health concerns. His brother, city councillor Doug Ford, is now in the running for the city’s top political job. Meanwhile, a hospitalized Rob Ford has filed papers for his old Etobicoke council seat.

I have to add that the shuffling of 'Fords' from running for one post to another surprises me, a bit. In the face of serious illness, IMO, it would be best for the whole family to withdraw from political/public life, and devote all their energies to supporting Rob and his family through whatever treatment(s) he will face in the coming months/years. But that's just me, I guess - for me, the health and well-being of any one of my family members would trump any kind of political/career/public aspirations, every single time.

So - is it really all about the 'Ford Nation' empire for them, or is it just that they've reacted too quickly (due to the ticking clock) to see this clearly?

 

[matou]

Rob Ford is running for city councilor in his old ward 2. Guess he is sick but not that sick????

 

[Kamille]

Does this mean that you are suspicious that his health crisis is either totally fabricated, or being blown out of proportion?

I know your question was for matou and I'm sure she will be putting in her two cents but I just wanted to use your post to jump off from greenthumb.

When all the recent numbers starting coming in showing that he was trailing significantly in the polls, I suspected that he may consider bowing out of the race with some excuse, like a need to focus more on his health and family or something like that, rather than facing the possibility of losing by a landslide, which would then have him shifting his entire focus on politics I would think. And make him more of a laughing stock than he already is and the butt of a lot of jokes. Not to mention the possibility of having no Ford family member in chambers for the next four years which would be a real loss of momentum for the "Ford Nation" that they've built up.

While I don't believe this health crisis is fabricated, I do believe that it was just the excuse he needed at this time to withdraw from the election but still keep "Ford Nation" going by having Doug step in for him. Now it will likely be Doug that loses and Rob can continue to be delusional about how he's never lost an election that he's run in. Because there's no doubt that Rob will have no problem getting re-elected as a councillor in the "hood" that he lives and "plays" in. And "Ford Nation" will go back to supporting him as a councillor until the next election where he will be back with all of this a solid four years behind him and a lot of people will have a tendency to forgive and forget with time on his side. Or they just won't bother to vote and he'll slide in the same way as he did the last time.

As for his current health crisis, I think his life was in much more danger when he was abusing drugs and alcohol, overeating unhealthy foods and operating a motor vehicle while impaired. He must have had severe blood pressure issues at the very least during that time. But none of those health issues stopped him from running the last time. He has also had a benign tumour removed from his abdomen in the past so it's entirely possible that this will not be a major health crisis for him. I think it would have made more sense to leave everything as is and wait for the diagnosis. If it turned out to be serious, then drop out of the race, focus on his health and let "Ford Nation" relax for the next four years. But no, he and Doug obviously see the need to keep the family political "dynasty" and the "Ford Nation" momentum going at all costs.

If I sound like I don't have a lot of sympathy for the man, well frankly I don't. Karma sucks. But it gets everyone eventually.

MOO

 

[matou]

Thanks Kamille, I agree with everything you worte so well. All of that plus the focus of the Lisi stuff again would have been too much for him since he would have lost the election to Tory IMO. I don't think the tumour is fabricated.

 

[Kamille]

I'd also like to question how it is that RF is resting comfortably at a hospital awaiting this diagnosis. This is not common practice in Ontario for the "everyman". I recently lost an acquaintance to uterine cancer. She went to the hospital emergency with severe abdominal pain. She was given an ultrasound to be forwarded to her family doctor and sent home with pain killers. Everything that took place after that was a long line of waiting for appts and specialists. With lots of pain killers to help in the interim. It was months before she could be admitted for surgery. Things did not turn out well for her obviously. And I've heard the same story from others regarding their friends and family members and the nightmare that is our health care system.

So how is it that RF is taking up a much needed hospital bed waiting for his diagnosis and instant treatment? Has the system changed or eased up a bit to allow for this kind of treatment for everyone? Or is he really too ill to await his diagnosis at home? And if so, is it wise for him to even be considering running for council and accepting a $100,000 paycheck from the public trough to do the job while battling a life threatening disease?

MOO

 

[Kamille]

Rob Ford, even in a hospital bed, surges in Ward 2 poll

Barely a day after entering the Etobicoke North race, Rob Ford is the leading candidate according to an opinion poll.

http://www.thestar.com/news/city_ha..._in_a_hospital_bed_surges_in_ward_2_poll.html

No surprise there.

 

[Kamille]

This story sounds as though he's quite ill. Not sure the average person would be calling constituents and thinking about their "work" if he's as ill as he's letting JW believe he is though. I'm also not sure he ever detoxed so who knows. Results expected to be announced tomorrow.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/09/16/mayor-rob-ford-working-from-hospital-bed

 

[matou]

Heard that the hospital took a lung biopsy today. Maybe that's why he hasn't been released yet. JMO

 

[Kamille]

Heard that the hospital took a lung biopsy today. Maybe that's why he hasn't been released yet. JMO

Not sure if that is because of the hacking and coughing he's apparently doing or because of something they found during testing. But I'm still pretty sure that the average joe would be sitting at home waiting for these results and waiting days/weeks for scheduled biopsies/tests.

MOO

 

[matou]

Not sure if that is because of the hacking and coughing he's apparently doing or because of something they found during testing. But I'm still pretty sure that the average joe would be sitting at home waiting for these results and waiting days/weeks for scheduled biopsies/tests.

MOO

Yes you are right. I know someone who was diagnosed with tumours and they were diagnosed on spec as being cancer. This person was sent home until cancer treatments could start. Cancer is usually determined much more quickly than this IMO.

 

[Kamille]

Just wanted to post this link to the salaries and benefits for members of Toronto City Council. This is a full time, fully benefitted position. Doug Ford donated his salary as he has a full time, full benefit job as President of Deco and was absent quite a bit during his tenure as councillor for Ward 2 the past four years. How did this benefit the ward? What is his plan for mayor? Will he try to do both full time jobs?

http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=29032704635c0410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD

 

[Kamille]

Looks like JW wanted to make sure he's the first to break the news that it is cancer. He'll let the other media outlets catch us up on the details later today. Since he has always been the trusted media mouthpiece for the Ford family, I assume his thinly veiled references in this article to what RF is facing indicate that he has already been informed.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/09/16/rob-ford-and-family-brace-for-hard-times-ahead