So Proud I Think My Heart Might Burst

I was away on a cheapy sunshine holiday when last week's round of revelations came surrounding Rob Ford. We didn't turn our in-room television on until about day three, and there was good ole Toronto, front and centre on the BBC and CNN. It's been kind of funny the last few months, watching a loudmouth get his comeuppance, but watching Ford's humiliation was kind of squirm-inducing, actually. I was embarrassed to have lived in Toronto at one point, to see one of my favourite places turned into an international laughingstock.

During the trip, we made friends with a group of lovely people who had been to our resort more than a dozen times and who self-identified as members of Ford Nation. The admission from Ford that he had smoked crack was cracking their resolve to continue supporting him. One of the women said she was done with Ford although her husband remained unmoved. He was definitely buying into the 'Who among us hasn't sinned?' argument being put forward, sticking to his guns that it doesn't matter what Ford does on his off-hours since he's watching the cash and 'stopping the gravy train'.

I'd be interested to hear what Steve has to say today, with allegations in the newly-unredacted court documents that the 'gravy train' actually appears to have a fully furnished stop in Rob Ford's office. Ford is said to have given big raises (yes, in tax dollars) to staff members who stayed after the mass exodus in June. He's said to have sent workers to do chores at his house during work hours and also to have sent workers, during work hours, to the liquor store on his behalf. He's said to have been drunk at work and also to have brought prostitutes to his office.

Most of us have done things we're not proud of, and I think that's why Ford has sustained his support this long; people see a bit of themselves in him. However, I suspect most of Ford Nation has also had an abusive boss somewhere along the line, someone who has different expectations of their workers than of themselves, who asks for stuff he shouldn't and who bullies berates and bribes underlings.

I'm guessing that Ford is starting to look less like the colleague who has a few 'too many pops' once in a while and more like a mean, out-of-control boss unafraid to put his hand in the cookie jar. Then again, loyalty is a funny thing, and many of us can find ways to explain away even the worst behaviour in the people we have chosen to support.

Just look at Leafs Nation if you need an example.