Talk:Rob Ford

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Contents 1 Finished Additions 2 Rewriting this article 3 Extra links 4 Criticisms 5 Political Ideals

[edit] Finished Additions

Anyone able to add yet another stellar comment made by Mr. Ford? He was reported in the Toronto Star ( http://www.thestar.com/News/article/189595 "City councillors on the budget" ) as saying:

"I can't support bike lanes. Roads are built for buses, cars, and trucks. My heart bleeds when someone gets killed, but it's their own fault at the end of the day."

As a bike rider in Toronto, with a daugher, wife, parents, friends, and so on, I'm not able (now, anyway) to add this in a responsible way. --Basho 02:31, 10 March 2007 (UTC)

     - Thanks to 206.172.0.195 and Ground Zero for adding this, I've changed the title --Basho 13:59, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Rewriting this article

I can see why MaxForce is upset about this article - the tone is very one-sided even if it is accurate. What I think it needs is a balance between positive and negative comments. Is there anything positive to say about Ford? Atrian 02:18, 1 August 2007 (UTC)

I'm glad that someone finally agrees. CJCurrie is trying to keep this article the way it is, while having a different standard for Joe Pantalone.

I felt that my version was a compromise. The "Gino boy" incident was left in since it actually ended up with consequences, resulting in an investigation and a potential municipal challenge. The Moscoe f-word was also added, as Ford is not the only one on council prone to outbursts.

However, his quotes on homelessness or AIDs ending up came to nothing. Furthermore they are potentially misleading since they are taken out of context (they are missing the why in particular). MaxForce 04:31, 1 August 2007 (UTC)

This article certainly could use more positive facts, but there is no reason to remove well referenced negative ones. Expanding on the good things Ford has done is the best way to balance this article. - SimonP 12:51, 1 August 2007 (UTC)

You seem to have additional insight into the homelessness/AIDS debate. If you can provide some context that would be helpful and improve the article . Atrian 15:36, 1 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Extra links

These links are for additional news items on Rob Ford. They don't really belong in the External links section. Unless they are used as citations for new text they should be remain off the main article. Atrian 06:45, 10 August 2007 (UTC)

• "refugee-free" zone controversy
• Sister of Toronto politician shot in face

[edit] Criticisms

Perhaps this page needs a 'criticisms' section to help properly create the boundary between 'negative' and 'positive' content. A176 19:29, 16 August 2007 (UTC)

None of the current content amounts to 'criticism' of Ford. They are just documented incidents about him. The fact that Ford is loud-mouthed, obnoxious, and bigoted would be an example of a critical comment but, alas, I don't think I can find a citation for that. Atrian 20:43, 16 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Political Ideals

The section on Ford's political ideals is faulty. I don't know where the myth came from that a "neoconservative" is someone who "favours deep spending cuts," but (a) neoconservatism is primarily a foreign policy doctrine and (b) where neoconservatives do talk about domestic policy, they tend to have a lot more toleration for the welfare state than say, conservatives like Ford. The left ought to be more attached to neoconservatism for this reason, but unfortunately this is impossible in present political discourse where "neocon" is essentially equivalent to "communist" in the mid-twentieth century in both accuracy and nicety.

So if neoconservatism doesn't apply here, how would you characterize Ford's political mien? Atrian (talk) 15:03, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

I live in Newmarket and I had never heard of this fellow until a few months ago, but from what I've read here about his activity as councillor and from many of the statements he has made, I would call him a free-market, small-government conservative. On the one hand he has reverence for capitalism and disdain for socialism (I read many of his remarks like this, but one example is that when talking to John Barber the other day he went out of his way to accuse him of being a "socialist" reporter). On the other hand, he is obviously set against government spending most of the time and has visions of "welfare bums" and "lazy homeless people" and stuff. His support for the fight in Afghanistan is not necessarily neoconservative (as if using or supporting the military entailed such a thing!). A lot of people of Ford's type (i.e., beer-drinkin' steak-eatin' SUV drivin' folk) tend to support military campaigns without really thinking about it.

While I'm at it, there is something else:

"While espousing conservative ideals, Ford's voting record has occasionally been progressive. [...] He also supported the inquiry into the MFP scandal."

Since when is looking into corruption against anyone's political leanings, liberal or conservative? This passage makes no sense to me. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.141.203.153 (talk) 02:38, 3 April 2008 (UTC)