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Ben Johnson

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Rob Ford, Please Start Acting Like a Mayor

Posted: 10/27/11 01:10 PM ET

First of all, let's just admit it, we're obviously not going to be best friends. I live in pre-almagamation Toronto and we all clearly voted for the other guy, so I'm not what you'd call "your base."

Likewise, as you've made clear in your first year in office, you don't really care much for the people that live in Toronto's downtown core. What with your removing bike lanes, shunning Pride, proposing to cut services, and vowing to end the war on cars, among other things, you've made it pretty clear you're not trying to make friends with urban Toronto either.

We get it. You're not "urban." You're a "meat and potatoes" guy who wants to get the city on track with simple changes and fiscal responsibility.

I'm not going to talk about the effectiveness of these small-town tactics in a city of over five million people. I think you could probably look to your recent approval ratings and see what people think of the job you're doing.

No, I just wanted to talk to you about your conduct as of late.

What I mean is that politics aside, do you think you could you at least make some attempt to pretend to look like the mayor of Canada's most populous city?

I mean, we knew what we were getting into when the suburbs surrounding the city voted you into office -- you clearly weren't going to champion the rights of the city's immigrant population, and really your shunning Pride wasn't out of step with your previous comments about gay people, nor were we expecting sweeping changes to battle poverty in the city -- but do you think you could stop acting so... well... embarrassing?

I'm not going to get into the weight thing again, and we won't talk about those hideous ties, but do you think maybe you could, I don't know, look like a mayor?

Maybe attend official mayoral events instead of skipping out to watch high-school football? Maybe don't flip off your constituents, as you were accused of doing this summer, when they're trying to inform you that you're breaking the law? When you're confronted with the prospect of having to talk to the press and you flee to your home to avoid them, maybe don't lie about it afterward? I mean, you're aware it was being filmed, right?

You've been the mayor of Toronto for a year now. You'd think you might have some understanding that your actions are going to be judged. So maybe just stop acting like such a jerk.

By all means, continue to live in Etobicoke and drive your van to work -- it's cute in a sort of folksy kind of way, but please recognize that you are the mayor of the fifth most populous city in North America and we are one of the world's most culturally diverse cities. We are Canada's economic capital, and a global financial centre. Despite your desire to shun the arts communuity, Toronto is also a hub for music, film, and television production.

This is a cosmopolitan and world class city.

And you are running it.

As you allegedly noted in your recent panicked 911 call, when faced with the terrifying prospect of answering questions from a 60 year-old female comedian, you are Rob f---king Ford, the mayor of this city.

So, could you please start f---king acting like it?

 

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First of all, let's just admit it, we're obviously not going to be best friends. I live in pre-almagamation Toronto and we all clearly voted for the other guy, so I'm not what you'd call "your base." ...
First of all, let's just admit it, we're obviously not going to be best friends. I live in pre-almagamation Toronto and we all clearly voted for the other guy, so I'm not what you'd call "your base." ...
 
 
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02:48 PM on 10/29/2011
I don't think "acting like a mayor" has anything to do with clothing, and ties are a matter of personal choice, but calling 911 twice, well after an incident, is definitely a breach or protocol. Average citizens are charged when they do things like that. The Mayor is supposed to be first among equals, so he should have to man up for his misuse of the emergency system, whether he cussed or not!
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oxjr
03:14 AM on 10/29/2011
Did you notice the fluttering eyes and looking into the skull when the press asked him about the incident. Body language for making up a story.... learned that from 'LIE TO ME'(great show, miss it).
yer
Stop the Alberta Taliban
07:02 PM on 10/28/2011
Most of the sentences starting with we are could be replaced with were. Amalgamation ensures that we are going downhill with those in the 905 controlling the 416. The 416 should have been made a province thus those in the 905 would not be affected by issues of the 416. Ford is a great example
06:16 PM on 10/28/2011
Don't worry Ben - I've got a feeling Mother Nature's gonna take care of this one. He looks like he's gonna keel over any day now.
12:51 PM on 10/28/2011
Not sure how he figures calling 911 and then having a hissy fit is teaching his daughter how a responsible adult acts....Bet the previous lesson was stomping ones feet and holding one's breath...
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ljkcan
I don't let geographical borders limit my thinking
10:45 PM on 10/27/2011
I think any rational person could see Mary Walsh running up in her Princess warrior costume and get it was a joke right away. When he says he has a sense of humour I don't buy it for one minute.

When he told everyone it was a family tradition to go up to Muskoka during the gay parade you know so those manly Ford brothers could sit and burp and crush beer cans in their hands. We wonder why they had never heard of Margaret Atwood. Yet are not surprised when he gives the finger to a woman in the car with her child.
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dtrobert
03:30 PM on 10/28/2011
More importantly, he called the police long after he had been approached by Walsh, which simply asked questions holding a microphone, with a guy holding a camera behind her. She did nothing threatening, yet you can see him on the video literally shaking in his boots. He acted like a coward. A politician and a public figure being literally scared out of his wits by cameras and news crews is ridiculous.
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ljkcan
I don't let geographical borders limit my thinking
09:10 PM on 10/28/2011
I did not watch Rick Mercer tonight but it would be a perfect rant for him. Or as I said earlier if Air Farce was still on they would have done a parody.
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Juanne Michaud
Proud Canadian, loony lefty
08:21 PM on 10/27/2011
I moved from Toronto shortly after Rob was voted into office (I didn't move because of that) but I figured he would be a disaster for the city.

I'm sad to say that it seems I figured right.
08:00 PM on 10/27/2011
I am curious - what is a mayor supposed to look like?
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eurisko67
10:51 AM on 10/28/2011
A professional? And not someone who looks like they just returned from a fishing trip in Muskoka?
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Ben Johnson
04:17 PM on 10/31/2011
This article does not take issue with Mr. Ford's looks, but rather his conduct. For the record however, the ideal mayor looks exactly like Magnum PI-era Tom Selleck.
09:15 PM on 10/31/2011
Hey Ben, thanks for the reply. I guess Barack Obama broke the stereotype of what a president should look like...as Hilary would have too. Tom Selleck still looks like the Maralboro man to me. I agree about Ford's conduct, he is one high maintenance mayor...
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cameron d
Good Guys Win
05:36 PM on 10/27/2011
Personally, I hope he keeps making these faux pas. He was an awful candidate and he's been an awful Mayor so far. I want him to keep shaming the people who voted for him every single day he has left in office.
I hold this man in nothing but contempt and I hope his single term (obviously) as Mayor is awful for him.
03:37 PM on 10/27/2011
Perhaps the writer should consider running for Mayor next election. Would enjoy seeing how far he and his condescending attitude would get.
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Ben Johnson
04:02 PM on 10/27/2011
Mayor! Now that's a good idea! I can run for mayor.

You wait and see, Mr. Carruthers. I will be mayor! I'll be the most powerful man in Hill Valley. And I'm gonna clean up this town.
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Ben Johnson
03:16 PM on 10/27/2011
"Good. You can start by sweeping the floor." [hands Goldie a broom]

Mayor Goldie Wilson. I like the sound of that!
03:33 PM on 10/27/2011
Here's a broom. You can start by sweeping the floor.
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dtrobert
05:04 PM on 10/27/2011
As opposed to the condescending attitude you're showing right now?
04:29 PM on 10/27/2011
You need to look that word up....and yes, NOW that is condescending.
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Mike Marlin
Good Spouse, Good Fishing,Good Friends,Proud Nativ
12:41 PM on 10/27/2011
Agreed Ben although I may not always agree with what you post, You are expressing feelings that many have including me in the area of Rob Ford. He is acting like a teenage boy waving his sword around saying "my sword is bigger than your sword". He needs to grow up and act like a unprofessional politician or get out of office