Quotes

The multimillionaire Ford brothers who inherited their fortunes and the political niche carved out by their late father are the definition of social elites yet their unwavering supporters eat it up when the brothers slag the lowly rank and file proletariats at the Star and G&M as the sleazy elite.

It’s rich that guys who are in a position to gift Cadillac Escalades to family members are throwing the word elite around as an attack and insult. If these two didn’t inherit millions and their late father’s name and network of connections, they would probably be in the gutter or dead by now.

Promise people tax breaks and your dog can be elected.

Simple sloganeering has elected many vile politicians, most notably back in the days when ordinary people did not have access to endless quantities of information, 24 hours a day, practically everywhere.

But with a minimal modicum of effort, any Toronto voter in 2010 could have learned who and what Rob Ford was, both as a person and as a politician. The fact a majority decided a political lightweight was still the best person to lead the nation’s largest city is a testament to how little voters actually bother to care about anything anymore.

This is chilling, not hilarious. And the phenomenon is not restricted to the people of Toronto, who now deserve our sympathy and compassion, not ridicule.

Just the other day the AP wire had a story about a man from Arkansas who entered some kind of contest and won a two-week vacation–all expenses paid–wherever he wanted to go. Any place in the world: Mongolia, Easter Island, the Turkish Riviera … but his choice was Salt Lake City, and that’s where he went. Is this man a registered voter? Has he come to grips with the issues? Has he bathed in the blood of the lamb?

Since then, Ford has essentially gone to ground and, it was announced Saturday by Newstalk 1010, even cancelled the Sunday talk-radio program that he and brother Doug use as a weekly bully pulpit to defend the mayor and retaliate against perceived enemies.

“Anyways, like I said this morning, these allegations are ridiculous, another story with respect to the Toronto Star going after me, and that’s all I have to say,” he said.

He then proceeded to a city hall flag-raising event held to honour the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, where he appeared shaken as he read a proclamation. As he left, he did not respond when asked twice whether he smokes crack.

Except for Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday, who cast doubt on the legitimacy of the video, Ford’s messaging apparatus was also silent. His loquacious brother and fiercest defender, Councillor Doug Ford, cancelled a planned television appearance and did not return calls. In a departure from some previous controversies, neither the mayor’s chief of staff nor press secretary issued a written statement.

The Fords also cancelled their weekly Sunday radio show on Newstalk 1010.