Ford isn't the Edsel some think he is...
A lot has been written about the mayoral race in Toronto of late. Rob Ford scares ¾ of Toronto to death with his cut, chop, slice mentality, and yet he’s enjoying a huge lead in the polls. Outside of Ford, we have four “mainstream” choices….of which I can’t tell you one single platform agenda.So why are we so scared about a dope smoking, bully from Etobicoke who apparently isn’t liked by his colleagues at City Hall? Well, I suppose he represents everything that we aren’t looking for to lead the city. I know there are holes in it, but isn’t his M.O. to cut unnecessary spending at City Hall, eliminate waste and then re-build? Rob Ford is hated by other people at City Hall – Simply put he has very few friends there. This is possibly the single greatest reason that he should be our next mayor.
The arguments I hear are often “this is when the city should be spending”. And while I agree that Toronto is falling apart at the seams, I think that this city does need to be cautious about it’s spending. The past 8 years under left leaning David Miller have not been my style of governing. In 8 years our taxes have risen to their highest levels in history, services have been cut to their lowest levels, and crime has gotten out of control (Although reported crime rates are down, because of apathy to report and have nothing happen), and while this has been going on, the ¾ that are opposed to Ford, have droned on about mis-management, mis-appropriation, lack of vision and terrible leadership from our current Mayor.
Isn’t Ford doing (or proposing to do) what we want? Isn’t he proposing change?
And what of George Smitherman, Rocco Rossi, Joe Pantalone and Sarah Thompson; Ford’s main competitors?
Smitherman is getting support from Dalton McGuinty – yet another politician who is being slammed for his autocratic style and quite frankly is doing nothing for the city of Toronto as leader of the province. Electing Smitherman is paramount to saying that we’re down with the city funding the province and that we expect nothing in return.
Joe Pantalone – David Miller part deux?
Rocco Rossi – He was fine, until someone told him he had to speak – that was his unraveling.
And finally Sarah Thompson; If I wanted someone from the Hammer to run Toronto, I would ask Sheila Copps! Her only experience in the political ring being a failed attempt to become a City Councilor in Hamilton, where she came 4th in a 4 person race, and her math skills were very questionable in that election.
Honestly, there is not a name here that appeals to me. Rob Ford just seems to make as much sense as anyone. If you hate your politicians as much as we seem to hate them in Toronto, doesn’t it make sense then to elect the ones who represent the greatest potential change?
The city is wrought with scandals – none of which are mega-deals. Giambrone and his infidelities, Kyle Rae, and even Rob Ford. MFP, OLG, failed subway expansion and of course the requirement to pay for garbage pick up that isn’t covered by your property taxes which cover your garbage pickup! Personally I would love to see every single Councilor lose their seat and give way to new blood. It’s time for change Toronto.
I heard a phone in show on talk radio the other day “who would you vote for in David Miller was to re-enter the race?” I was appalled that one caller, in fact a number of callers said they would support Miller. This man has turned this city into a cataclysmic cesspool that is crumbling in front of out eyes. His lack of focus and integrity will leave us with nothing more that debt and a failing infrastructure. Turns out that new polls suggest that if Miller ran today, he would be re-elected. Wow, doesn’t anyone watch the news anymore?
David Miller’s campaign promises were rarely kept, his view to a subway expansion to the airport, the waterfront revitalization and of course spending are all gone – Spending for Miller’s part has risen 43% since he took over and that includes three years of managing through a recession. We can’t operate this way in the future, and the only guy that I actually trust who will cut spending and cut it drastically: Rob Ford.
posted by G.M. Shier @ Sunday, August 29, 2010
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