Rob Ford’s a wreck, Doug Ford's a spectacle

Christopher Hume, Opinion, The Toronto Star:

Mayor Rod Ford’s monosyllabic governance, his subtract-and-conquer style, now seems ordinary, as do the passive-aggressive ministrations of his budget chief, Mike Del Grande. Peter Milczyn’s weasel tactics barely raise an eyebrow these days; neither does Giogio Mamolitti’s political street-walking. Denzil Minnan-Wong continues to be more petulant than provocative and Frances Nunziata still snarls when told.

The exception, of course, is Doug Ford, Rob’s big brother and rookie Ward 2 Councillor. Dauntless Doug has come out from the shadow of his younger sibling to steal the show at City Hall. The spotlight loves him. Unexpectedly but spectacularly, he has established himself as one of those characters every city loves to have around, someone who speaks and acts with utter unselfconsciousness.

Doug is equal parts Harold Ballard and Homer Simpson, with a little Beverly Hillbillies thrown in for added appeal. Beneath that worldly exterior and ample girth lurks a true innocent, a naïf, a guileless fool. He’s one of those rare individuals who lack any awareness of their own lack of awareness.

The most memorable example was his revelation that he’d never heard of Margaret Atwood. In this plugged-in age, that sort of ignorance is hard to find, even on City Council.

That, “liberry” closures, Port Lands Ferris wheels, NFL stadiums in Lake Ontario, Ultimate Fighting Championship anti-bullying campaigns and his daughter’s Lingerie League make it clear that Doug never learned shame.

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