Rob Ford

Robert Bruce "Rob" Ford (28 May 1969 – 22 March 2016) was a Canadian politician and businessman, and the 64th Mayor of Toronto.

Quotes

I can’t support bike lanes. How many people are riding outside today? We don’t live in Florida. We don’t have 12 months of the year to ride on their [sic] bikes. And what I compare bike lanes to is swimming with the sharks. Sooner or later you're going to get bitten. And every year we have dozens of people that get hit by cars, or trucks. Well no wonder! Roads are built for buses, cars, and trucks, not for people on bikes. My heart bleeds for them when I hear someone gets killed, but it’s their own fault at the end of the day.
- Remarks at a council meeting 7 March 2007

Those Oriental people work like dogs. They work their hearts out. They are workers non-stop. They sleep beside their machines. That's why they're successful in life. I went to Seoul, South Korea, I went to Taipei, Taiwan. I went to Tokyo, Japan. That's why these people are so hard workers (sic). I'm telling you, the Oriental people, they're slowly taking over.
- Remarks at a council meeting 14 March 2008

What I compare bike lanes to is swimming with the sharks. Sooner or later you're going to get bitten... Roads are built for buses, cars, and trucks, not for people on bikes. My heart bleeds for them when I hear someone gets killed, but it’s their own fault at the end of the day.
- Remarks on cyclist (3 May 2012)

It's no secret, okay. The cyclists are a pain in the ass to the motorists.
- Remarks on cyclist (3 May 2012)

Oh and the last thing was Olivia Gondek, it says that I wanted to eat her pussy. Olivia Gondek, I've never said that in my life to her. I would never do that. I'm happily married. I've got more than enough to eat at home..."
- Rob Ford apologises for Obscenity on TV (14 November 2013)

Yes I have smoked crack cocaine. But, no, do I? Am I an addict? No. Have I tried it? Um, probably in one of my drunken stupors, probably approximately about a year ago."
- Remarks after admitting smoking crack cocaine at a press conference (5 November 2013)

This folks, reminds me of when Saddam attacked Kuwait and President Bush said ‘I warn you, I warn you, I warn you, do not.’ Well folks, if you think American-style politics is nasty, you guys have just attacked Kuwait.”
- Comparing city council vote that stripped him of more powers to Saddam Hussein attacking Kuwait (18 November 2013)

This is nothing but a coup d’etat. It’s a dictatorship motion. They are telling everybody in the last election their vote doesn’t count."
- Remarks Telling councillors that their motion to limit his powers as mayor is undemocratic (18 November 2013)

the mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford...The guy used crack cocaine, and he did his job. Despite what you think of him and his politics, but he came to work every day. He did his job. The same is true even of Marion Barry. He came to work every day, did his job. In fact, he did his job so well, so the people of D.C. thought, that they voted for him even after he was convicted for using crack. But that’s the majority of crack cocaine users. Just like any other drug, most of the people who use these drugs do so without a problem.
- Carl Hart, Interview with Democracy Now (2014)

Rob Ford doesn't acknowledge it, but democracy involves a lot more than just elections. Democracy requires a reasonable respect for the position held and the powers that it entails. It requires those in public positions to engage in intelligent debate about the best actions that should be taken. It requires a respect for law and law's servants. It requires civility towards others and respect for other law makers."
- Former Toronto Mayor John Sewell in the Toronto Star, November 19, 2013, in response to Ford's comments on Ford Nation

Mayor Ford is a lot of fun to ridicule, but my guess is, not a lot of fun to eulogize. And that's where this thing is headed.
- Satirist Jon Stewart, on The Daily Show, November 5, 2013