Rob Ford Dead at 46

[frankcastle]

It is one thing to speak kindly of a person but it is another thing to explain away their bad points with pure speculation.

 

[Twister]

The embalming process drains the blood from the body and then refill the body with an embalming (preserving) fluid which delays decomposition. When the body is not on display, they put it back in the fridge to keep it fresh too.

Thanks Bud, I've heard of embalming didn't realize they did it for short periods of time like in this case

 

[SkyRider]

It is still hard to believe he is gone. He was larger than life.

So many people of all color and races lining up to sign the Book of Condolence.

 

[TeeJay]

Ford did a good job for the people of his ward, while a councillor.

This is a freaking hilarious statement that keeps getting parroted around
Besides the fact that he was so ignorant on so many subjects (I will throw the light rail out as an example, we already have plenty of his racist/violent/drunken/drugs)

Go ahead, name one single political success that Ford actually had (there is only one; so let's see if you even know it)
It starts with the letter G if you want a hint

He "talked to lots of people" sure
But he didn't get shit done in the city

 

[TeeJay]

Well, how do you explain Rob's popularity in the black community in Toronto if he was such an awful racist?

The most absurd success he had was with groups like Somalis, esp after he went strong anti-refugee on top of his own racism

Today, the CBC called him a "millionaire with a working-class attitude." No. He was a millionaire who hated the poor. Like many other millionaires. If anything, Ford was a kind of Trump-lite, somehow seen as an "everyman" because he is so brave as to admit his bigotry publicly and proudly.
Certainly he did not support struggle of the working class, anti-union as he was. The CBC is correct that he became an "international celebrity for his drug and alcohol use while in office," but he shouldn't have been infamous for that reason. Rather, it should have been his treatment of women, people of colour, and the poor that brought him infamy.
"A dedicated man of the people," he was called, in a statement from "his family" (I do not know which members of his family prepared this statement). No. He was not a man of "the people," he was a man who was out for himself and others like him: white middle- or upper-class men.
He outright rejected the existence of homeless shelters, was overtly homophobic and racist, suggesting, in 2003, that Toronto be declared a "refugee-free zone."

 

[Barca]

Torontoist provides an honest assessment of RoFo's legacy.

http://torontoist.com/2016/03/373870/

TBG

The article correctly points out the common habit of downplaying the negative attributes of a person who has passed. I'm seeing that everyone right now with Rob Ford. It's mind-boggling to see "yeah he was a crack addict but he sure loved the city!" as if somehow affection for your city makes up for lewd and shameful behaviour, especially for the chief magistrate of the city.

Not that they would ever be at the same level, but would people demand the same "blind" niceness when Hitler passed? I prefer to stay consistent. I had no respect for Rob Ford at any point, whether it be 10 minutes, 10 hours, 10 days or 10 months before his death. And that didn't change because he went through a difficult moment in his life. We all go through difficult moments. But our reputation and what we stand for don't change. If I was dick while I am alive, my death won't change that. I just can't continue being a dick that's all.

I would never wish cancer on him and I certainly feel for his wife and kids who are obviously affected by the loss of their loved one. But it's them I feel for. My opinion of the man didn't change just because one moment he was alive and the next he was gone. Why should it? Did he have a change of heart on his deathbed?

 

[safari]

He was a fighter, I never met him but have felt quite intensely sad he didn't win this battle. I really wanted to see him overcome his personal and health issues. He certainly left his mark in the relatively short time he had.

 

[Tao]

So many people of all color and races lining up to sign the Book of Condolence.

Will never understand why people do that

 

[jcpro]

This is a freaking hilarious statement that keeps getting parroted around
Besides the fact that he was so ignorant on so many subjects (I will throw the light rail out as an example, we already have plenty of his racist/violent/drunken/drugs)

Go ahead, name one single political success that Ford actually had (there is only one; so let's see if you even know it)
It starts with the letter G if you want a hint

He "talked to lots of people" sure
But he didn't get shit done in the city

It's a very accurate statement in his ward and beyond. Everybody in Etobicoke knew that Ford delivered at the City Hall and it was usually a second phone call(after being given a finger by the city). The line is parroted because it's very unusual for politicians to actually do shit for their voters. A sad comment on the voters who keep reelecting these pricks. Like him or not, he delivered to us in Etobicoke, he kept his word to "nobodies" and he walked the walk.

 

[IM469]

I thought the signed bobble-head market would sky rocket but not yet.

 

[Smallcock]

Will never understand why people do that

To pay their respects and show gratitude to the relatives left behind.

 

[kherg007]

He was the Chris Farley of mayors, and provided oodles of entertainment to non-canadians (and maybe some of you canadians as well)- but I cannot speak to his time in office which is the more serious stuff that some of you are debating. Also serious is he was a human being, so all dignity afforded to him and his family now.

 

[SkyRider]

They say the measure of a man is how many people show up for his funeral. Even now the good people of Toronto are still lining up to sign the Book of Condolence as a sign of affection and respect.

He was truly the "people's mayor".

 

[SchlongConery]

His family posted this tribute video to him

No matter what any of us think of him, a lot of people loved him and he will be missed by them.