I had dinner last night with a Torontonian (a conceptual artist). He predicted that Ford's support would, astoundingly, not be diminished. It seems incredible, but I guess it's true. Go figure.

He's still in DC government. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/tours/scandal/barry.htm

There was an FBI informant involved in collecting the evidence against him in a sting, which gave the (largely black) jury, as well as DC residents, incentive to believe that some framing and racism was involved.

It's still not a happy thing that Barry went on to get elected again. But this is Toronto in a different era.

The issue in Toronto is that the expansion of the city's boundaries into largely conservative outlying suburban areas has made this right-wing nutter popular and fairly invincible. Probably the more evidence that emerges about him, the more his conservative base will defend him.

"Toronto" as it exists today is the result of a highly unpopular amalgamation of the historical city of Toronto and several large suburbs.

The suburbanites who were amalgamated into Toronto hate the place and since the amalgamations things have only become more polarized. They vote for Rob Ford as a giant "FUCK YOU" to the original city of which they don't want to be a part. If he isn't in jail he will probably be re-elected for the same reason.

I grew up in the "City" of North York.

That even more effed up than our republicans voting against their own self interest.

They will really vote for him out of spite? Am I reading that right?

Although his positions on public transit (pro-subway/anti-street car) are pretty popular and he has successfully secured federal funding, which in Canada is damn near impossible.

Historical Toronto is infested with the worst forms of contemporary hipsters and 80's throwback yuppies and the people in the suburbs hate their guts. And I have spent a lot of time in Toronto over the past 7 years and I sort of see their point.

I've kinda gotten the feeling that Rob Ford is a bit of a train wreck. What you are saying is something I'd like to say I don't get -- but as I said above: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3967383

It's totally different, and somehow similar. I can't quite put my finger on it -- but there is something there.

I really wish people did not re-elect Marion Barry back into office. They did. and he is still a member of the DC city council.