Rob Ford drops out of mayoral race, Doug Ford running in his place

[brooklynite]

Source: Toronto Globe & Mail

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has withdrawn from the mayoral race, with brother Doug Ford registering to run in his place.

“I’ve asked Doug to finish what we stated together, so that all we’ve accomplished isn’t washed away,” Rob Ford said in a statement issued shortly after his brother’s nomination papers were officially filed. “I have asked Doug to run to become the next Mayor of Toronto because we need him. We cannot go backwards.”

Rob Ford said in his statement that his medical condition is too severe to continue in the gruelling campaign for mayor but he “will not turn his back on Ward 2.”

Doug Ford walked into city hall around 1:30 and walked into the mayor’s office, not talking to the crowd of reporters who surrounded him.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/ford-dropping-out-of-toronto-mayoral-race/article20576741/

[Spitfire of ATJ]

1. "We cannot go backwards.”

You cannot go in a straight line either.

[mazzarro]

3. Is he even aware of which direction is forward and which is backwards? -- n/t

[brooklynite]

2. Now, where can they find someome who generates headlines for outrageous behavior...

...and is used to nothern climates?

Hmm.....

[rurallib]

7. do they have to be a Canadian citizen

or just see Canada from their house?

[GliderGuider]

8. Nooooooo!!!!!!! Oh God, anyone but HER!!!!!!!!!! nt

[rurallib]

10. somebody have a bad dream?

[GliderGuider]

13. I think I need a hug...

[Myrina]

14. Hmmmm, Ted Cruz is Canadian ...

They can have him!!

[rocktivity]

4. What's French for "Guy just doesn't seem to know how to take a hint"

Mr. Ford has been in hospital since doctors discovered a tumour in his abdomen Wednesday...(R)esults of a biopsy...will not come back until next week at the earliest.

Friday’s last-minute turn was just the latest drama in a controversy-filled term that has made Toronto’s mayor the focus of international attention...(He) was stripped of most of his authority by Toronto city council after admitting he smoked crack cocaine while in office, is under police investigation and continues to refuse to speak with investigators. Last month he was subpoenaed to testify in the trial of his former associate Alessandro (Sandro) Lisi, who is facing extortion charges...Mr. Ford has tried to put controversy behind him since he returned this summer from a two-month stint in rehab...

Well, Mr. Ford, it's been quite a ride, to say the least. But you can turn your illness into a blessing in disguise by utilizing this time to carefully evaluate how to make the most of your future life outside of politics...wait, what?

...(T)he mayor’s campaign spokesman...submitted a withdrawal form with Mr. Ford’s name on it. He later...file(d) registration papers for Doug Ford to run for mayor...(and) papers for Rob Ford to run instead as a councillor in Ward 2. Nephew Michael Ford, who until Friday was running in that ward, has dropped out of the race...

Sounds like the Fords are the Bushes of the great white north. Politics -- nice work if you can get it...


rocktivity

[Scairp]

5. Please

They don't need a week to get the result of a biopsy, they already know. He probably has cancer and it's bad, that is the only reason this dude would throw in the towel. Getting the brother to fill in, well, that is a worse idea than Rob continuing to run. They just don't know how to accept that they are not cut out for this line of work.

[KamaAina]

6. “I’ve asked Doug to finish what we started together"

This?

[GliderGuider]

9. +100

[Ken Burch]

11. Always wondered why they didn't do this as soon as Rob's demons started emerging.

Doug and Rob have the same views on everything, and Doug doesn't appear to have any of Rob's issues with substances, boundaries, or anger.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. OK, Toronto, are the voters going to give the Fords the boot?

If not, why not?

[Saviolo]

18. City of Toronto, yes

... but Greater Toronto Area, not so much.

Toronto is a megacity. Years ago, it amalgamated and all of the surrounding communities joined into the Greater Toronto Area. The City of Toronto, the "core" (know locally as "the 416" after the area code for Toronto), voted overwhelmingly against Ford last election. The suburbs that became part of the the GTA (called "the 905" after their area code), voted for Ford in droves... sadly there are many more suburbanites than there are in the core... so we lost.

It may turn out that way again. The split between the downtown and the burbs has never been so stark.

[Jack Rabbit]

19. You're not too far away from Detroit, are you?

Sounds like you could benefit from local control and self-government, just like Detroit could.

[Saviolo]

20. Well, City of Toronto would choose differently

It has a very strong liberal lean. Here's the wiki article on Toronto's amalgamation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalgamation_of_Toronto

Here's an image of the last municipal election. Blue voted for Ford, and red voted for Smitherman. The black outline is pre-amalgamation City of Toronto. The Greater Toronto Area fills all of the coloured space.



I wish it were possible to de-amalgamate and everyone can get the individual leadership they want.

[LynneSin]

15. Woohoo - The Jeb Bush of Canadian Politics

[SylviaD]

16. These people are ghastly...but I wish him the best in his health battle. n/t

[Saviolo]

17. So, my question now remains

... does Doug have the support that Rob had?

Will this confound voters on the right? It would be great if this did a real split on the right between Doug and John Tory, with a fair number of moderates drifting back over to the left to vote for Chow. Or... will this kill the Rob Ford sector of the vote and leave Tory the only viable candidate on the right, and Chow well behind? Tory vs. Ford was the only thing I was counting on to get Chow a better slice of the vote. Will New|Ford and Tory split the vote in the burbs so City of Toronto voters can actually matter?

I guess better Tory than Ford, but... not by much.

[blkmusclmachine]

21. Two peas in a pod.

[davidpdx]

22. Two peabrains in the family

[Reter]

23. How in the world hasn't he been impeached yet?

In the US he would have been immediately. Is Canada that different?

[brooklynite]

24. Toronto has no provision for removing a Mayor from office...