Non-existent poll gives Rob Ford fictional lead over Smitherman
Last week, city hall was positively atwitter about a yet-to-be-released poll that would declare not George Smitherman but Rob Ford to be in the top spot. The most prominent rumour-mongering happened during the council’s debate over reprimanding Ford for his breach of council ethics. Adam Vaughan lamented, “There’s a poll coming out that says he’s in first place (in the race),” before comparing Ford to Sarah Palin and voting to reprimand him. Gossipers were saying that the poll was due out that weekend, according to the Star. And then speculation shifted to Wednesday.
The weekend has come and gone. Wednesday has come and gone. And we’re sitting here like Caesar after the Ides has passed, wondering when the knives come out.
The Star claims it had no poll on the mayor’s race. According to its The Goods blog (no relation), the poll was supposed to be released by CTV and show Ford to be a few points ahead of his opponents. What’s the deal? Surely the entire city’s political system wasn’t thrown for a loop by a single false rumour, right? That would be like journalists running to a press briefing only because they thought the outgoing mayor was announcing a run for re-election. Or something.
• New poll (maybe) to show Ford is (maybe) on top! [Toronto Star]
• Why the Ford reprimand matters [Globe and Mail]
As a person who has been canvassing on behalf of Rob Ford, everyone I meet (without exception) has said they are voting for Rob Ford. People are really furious with this city council and their waste. I don’t need a poll to know that Mr. Ford will probably sweep this city in the race.
I really hope Torontonians get it right this time and vote for Rob ford! Smitherman dances around questions and never gives a direct answer. We don’t need him dancing around with taxpayers money and spending it carelessly, like he did with e-health.
I am canvassing for myself in Ward 31 and my platform is similar to Rob’s with some minor differences and I, too, am getting overwealming support from my constituents.
There is a great deal of ander out there for the arrogance that is coming from City Hall – Miller, Bussin, Davis, Mowcoe, Giambrone etc. etc. etc. have pi$$ed off the city for years and now are out and not a minute too soon.
Robert Walker in Ward 31
With Mr Ford Toronto is gonna change into a 3 world city, if he is elected poverty is going to skyrocket, the city is going to be more violent. First thing ! Cut the business tax (because it helps he’s business too), second cut money for daycare (so the poor parent can’t work) third cut any money for welfare (because that way i can cut business taxes and make more money for my “sponsors”). I think he has a picture of Hitler and Mike Harris in his wallet…
He sounds like a mouse, but he’s a big white cat…
It’s sad that most of Ford’s supporters have taken a liking to a blowhard with no track record of accomplishing anything, merely because he is promising an extreme (virtually impossible) opposite of what’s come before this election. Try using your brains, try reading up on professional and experienced opinions of what this guy is proposing before you rally behind his angry, empty headed ideas. He’s literally throwing proposals out there that DO NOT ADD UP. PERIOD. City hall is tied up in bureaucracy like any other, do you really believe Ford will change that? I guess other bigger cities in North America will want to hire on Rob Ford so they can learn something about how to get things done, right? Pffft. NOBODY at city hall is going to allow him to pass ANYTHING. In my humble opinion, from what I’ve read in these comments and elsewhere, Ford supporters have got to be some of the most blind, stupid, misinformed and willfully ignorant human beings I’ve ever come across on my home turf. If we’re proud to be Canadian, if what sets us apart is our rationale, our smarts, etc. how can you allow this moron to take over our city like the second coming of George Bush? THINK about what you are doing here folks…Toronto is not going to change overnight with anyone, but with Ford? Forget about it. The place is going to become a dump run by a suburban has-been politician. Nice work.
Statistical tie! why do they always seem to be statistical lies? I think that the problems that the media had were simple to describe. Sloth, arrogance, and a belief that they know better than the voter and need to guide the poor simple voter are some of those. They forgot that they are supposed to report the facts not their opinions. Perhaps the paper owners should look for some new talent starting with the editors who allowed these stupid errors and or biased reports to creep into what they produced! Now wonder they are losing advertising revenue!