256 replies to this topic

[cybercoma]

Laughing and belittling someone for being fat is not considered an attack? You must be a fun guy to hang around with.

No. Laughing and making fun of him for being fat is an attack. I haven't done that in this thread, although others have and I find it detestable. However, the Toronto Star covering his weight and posting negative columns about him visiting KFC are because he made the choice to put his weight-loss efforts into the news.

[jacee]

No. Laughing and making fun of him for being fat is an attack. I haven't done that in this thread, although others have and I find it detestable. However, the Toronto Star covering his weight and posting negative columns about him visiting KFC are because he made the choice to put his weight-loss efforts into the news.

I think the star has a right to skewer Rob Ford as much as they want, but not with fat jokes.

It's not like there isn't lots of other material.

[Black Dog]

Isn't that always your strategy when you want to be the good partisan but are faced with an embarrassingly indefensible politician?

He's incompetent, ignorant and ridiculous, but you're the one with the problem.

[scribblet]

Isn't that always your strategy when you want to be the good partisan but are faced with an embarrassingly indefensible politician?

Debating policies and issues are one thing, attacking a politician or anyone because of their weight is another. Hatred of Ford has gone beyond policy and issues it's way beyond normal discourse, it's just visceral hatred with little or no logic to it.

[Shakeyhands]

Debating policies and issues are one thing, attacking a politician or anyone because of their weight is another. Hatred of Ford has gone beyond policy and issues it's way beyond normal discourse, it's just visceral hatred with little or no logic to it.

plus he's a jackass.

[Black Dog]

Debating policies and issues are one thing, attacking a politician or anyone because of their weight is another. Hatred of Ford has gone beyond policy and issues it's way beyond normal discourse, it's just visceral hatred with little or no logic to it.

Like I said earlier, it's telling no one bothers to defend the guy except when it's about the fat jokes.

[scribblet]

Like I said earlier, it's telling no one bothers to defend the guy except when it's about the fat jokes.

Well, this thread isn't about policy and issues, it's about a reporter and a paper with a personal vendetta.

I'm with Ford on this one and see the Star losing integrity over it, the have lost it.

[BubberMiley]

I'm with Ford on this one and see the Star losing integrity over it, the have lost it.

Feel free to say I have Ford Derangement Syndrome in your response if you feel you are over your head in discussing actual issues, but don't you think it's appropriate for a reporter to investigate a land sale between the city and the mayor?

[Savant]

don't you think it's appropriate for a reporter to investigate a land sale between the city and the mayor?

I want to chime in here, since although I think The Star was highly unprofessional in how they acted, I do think they had a 'right' to cover the story.

However, there was no real need to visit the property to cover a 'zoning issue'. Especially when you consider that there is no guarantee that Rob Ford will even get his request approved. (since the city rarely agrees to sell off parkland) So run a print story and be done with it. Don't go to the guy's house and peek in his yard.

If worse comes to worse, go to his house during the day. The Star *knows* that they and Ford don't get along. Why antagonise him further? There was no need to 'poke around' at his house.

[BubberMiley]

However, there was no real need to visit the property to cover a 'zoning issue'. Especially when you consider that there is no guarantee that Rob Ford will even get his request approved. (since the city rarely agrees to sell off parkland) So run a print story and be done with it. Don't go to the guy's house and peek in his yard.

It's not a "zoning issue;" it's a proposed land sale. If a reporter is going to write an informed story about it, he should make himself aware of what's actually being sold. According to his story, he was clearly unaware of the precise piece of land they were talking about, so it makes sense that he would be investigating further.

And if it's true that he actually did (heaven forbid) look at Ford's yard, do you really think it's appropriate for Ford to mug the guy for his phone?

[Argus]

Like I said earlier, it's telling no one bothers to defend the guy except when it's about the fat jokes.

I don't live in Toronto (thank God) so I rarely take notice of Ford except when the dogs on the left start howling and baying about this or that "outrageous" happening. I've defended him not going to a gay rights parade. So far as the rest goes I don't know that he's done anything that needs defending other than trying to reign in spending.

[Argus]

The idea that Ford is just an honest guy trying to reign in reckless government spending is just so stunningly naive I find it hard to believe it's coming from an arch-cynic like Argus.

Well, I admit to not spending an awful lot of time considering the municipal political mudfest in Toronto.
Why don't you recite a brief list of the awful things he's done?

Leave off the not going to the gay pride parade. I've already dealt with that one.

[Black Dog]

Well, this thread isn't about policy and issues, it's about a reporter and a paper with a personal vendetta.

Actually it's about yet another inappropriate overreaction by a gaffe-prone rageaholic.

I'm with Ford on this one and see the Star losing integrity over it, the have lost it.

Of course you are. Would there be any situation in which you wouldn't be?

Well, I admit to not spending an awful lot of time considering the municipal political mudfest in Toronto.
Why don't you recite a brief list of the awful things he's done?

Leave off the not going to the gay pride parade. I've already dealt with that one.

Just read the numerous Ford threads if you give a damn.

[Boges]

I think the Star is getting more heat today for the Editorial cartoon saying "Mayor Ford eats a reporter, will miss weigh-in" than they are about sending the reporter to Ford's house.

[Black Dog]

I think the Star is getting more heat today for the Editorial cartoon saying "Mayor Ford eats a reporter, will miss weigh-in" than they are about sending the reporter to Ford's house.

As they should, that was ridiculous.