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Sept. 20: This week’s Talking Point – Toronto’s Ford political circus – and more letters to the editorFred Thornhill/Reuters

Rob Ford landed in the hospital with what proved to be cancer, his brother Doug took his spot in Toronto's tumultuous mayoral race, and readers, print and digital, were left to sort through the latest act in the Hogtown political circus

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Rob Ford has been a terrible mayor and his atrocious record deserves to be criticized. He has cancer, and he and his family are deserving of our empathy and well-wishes. There is nothing inconsistent in affirming both of those statements (Even Foes Hope Ford Wins This Fight – Sept. 18).

We should not lose sight of crucial matters of public record: Along with his brother Doug, Mayor Ford practised politics of division, obfuscation and deception; he accomplished next to nothing and brought shame and disgrace on the city's international image. Let's not let our sympathy for the man lead us into revisionist accounts of his horrendous tenure.

Jeff Brown, Toronto

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I find myself uncomfortably ambivalent about this latest chapter in Mr. Ford's life and I suspect I'm not alone. The humanity in me makes me feel sorry for him, hoping he will win the battle he faces. But that empathy is tempered by fear that, whatever his condition on Oct. 27, sympathy votes and Ford Nation diehards will elect him councillor in Ward 2 and his brother Doug as mayor. Four years later, one or the other will again be elected mayor and the sorry long-running sideshow, so inimical to Toronto's well-being, will continue to torment us.

Jack Tennier, Toronto

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Is this 2014? It's disturbing to see the Fords behaving like feudal lords carving up a fiefdom – mayor, councillor, trustee. The people of Toronto are not medieval serfs.

Susan Cook, Toronto

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I share but two things with Rob Ford: A last name, and having been diagnosed with cancer. But it's my hope that he can add a third: cancer survivor.

Phil Ford, Ottawa

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Hey, who wants the man suffering? I just don't want him (or his brother) in office in Toronto because they are utterly wrong for public office. Two completely different issues.

Dave Cunningham, Calgary

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No doubt, our left-wing media is running very scared now that Doug Ford is in the mayoral race. Doug is a true Conservative who carries Rob's platform of less government, less taxation and less waste. John Tory is a closet Liberal and a downtown elitist who has a Liberal running his campaign.

Marilyn Taylor, Toronto

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We should all know by now that politics has very little to do with logic. Doug Ford can win if he plays his cards right. He likely won't win. If Olivia Chow really doesn't want him to win, she should drop out.

Will Facey, Vancouver

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Don't underestimate Doug Ford! If Mr. Tory does, and thinks he can sit on a comfortable lead, he'll blow another election. This one will be down to the wire.

Brent Galster, Vancouver

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The people of Hogtown re-elected the [provincial] Liberals. The same stupidity could re-elect the Fords.

Jim Dolan, Belleville, Ont.

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They might think they're the pride and joy of Toronto, but for the rest of Canada's sake, let's hope the Ford brothers have no federal political ambitions.

Tony Ting Jan

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She's not the first to do so, but Margaret Wente was spot on in comparing the Ford family's antics to a reality TV show (Reality Show Gets Cancelled – Sept. 16).

The latest developments in the family double-take on the ballot bring to mind other shows: Big Brother, The Amazing Race or Duck Dynasty would be appropriate titles. But the most fitting finale would be Lost.

Ken DeLuca, Arnprior, Ont.

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Thank you, Toronto and the Ford family, for livening up Canadian politics with a year of unrelenting entertainment and seemingly limitless surprises. We are grateful.

In the unlikely event that all the Fords lose, perhaps two of them could go for tag-team wrestling. Experience in politics might prove excellent preparation for a perhaps more respectable career in wrestling.

Bill Piket, White Rock, B.C.

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Re Rob Made Us Care About The City's Fate (Sept. 13): Rob Ford made me care about the city's fate the way a bull makes me care about the china shop it's in.

Chris Sasaki, Toronto

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It is a sad irony: Now that I actually feel safe to vote for David Soknacki, he's not there any more (Soknacki Drops Out Of Mayoral Race – Sept. 10).

Eric Morse, Toronto

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ON REFLECTION LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Surely what's needed

While I share doubts about the usefulness and effectiveness of another inquiry (A National Inquiry Would Empower First Nations Women – Sept. 17), it is supremely important to dispel the impression that aboriginal people are disposable.

Surely what's needed is a government-sponsored process that brings First Nations people, government and civic society together to focus on improving the material, mental, spiritual and social well-being of First Nations people

Mervyn Russell, Oakville, Ont.

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Goodwill to spend

Alberta's Jim Prentice speaks of the need for pipelines (New Pipelines Crucial To Economy, Premier Says – Sept. 18). To achieve his goals, he will need an ally in the Prime Minister's Office who can speak to more than a minority of the nation. The incumbent has built no pipelines, and failed even to complete the approvals process for one. Mr. Prentice will need a PM with a positive balance of political capital and some goodwill to spend to convince Canadians to see their common interests.

Michael Levin, Toronto

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Hypocrisy of the union

Let's hope the Ontario Labour Relations Board exposes the hypocrisy of the union that has systematically attempted to prevent its firefighter members from serving as volunteers in rural Ontario municipalities (The Legal Battle Over 'Double-Hatters – Sept. 17).

This has nothing to do with creating entry-level jobs for young firefighters. The union regards the volunteer service as competition in its efforts to force municipalities to create full-time unionized services and does everything in its power to eradicate it.

Raphael Girard, Ottawa

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The currency question

OK, the Scottish referendum is over (Salmond Resigns After Scots Vote 'No' In Historic Referendum – online, Sept. 19). Now who gets custody of that creepy old guy on the Canadian Tire money?

Terry Toll, Campbell's Bay, Que.

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