Nov. 9: This week's Talking Point - Toronto Mayor Rob Ford - and other letters to the editor "I guess if you are going to be a world class city, you can expect to have a world class fiasco!" writes Torontonian Liz Amer, one of the many readers, print and digital, taking stock of Rob Ford's imploding performance as Hogtown's mayor I'm in Japan and China this week, pitching Canada as a valuable partner in governance innovation. Rob Ford is making my job very difficult. David A. Welch, CIGI Chair of Global Security, Balsillie School of International Affairs, Waterloo, Ont. Rob Ford says he loves saving taxpayers money. How much has the months-long police investigation into his conduct cost taxpayers to date? How much has Rob Ford cost Toronto's city hall in lost productivity? Perhaps when the Senate's auditors are finished, they can add up the taxpayer money that's been wasted on Rob Ford. And then hand him the bill. Matthew McKean, Ottawa Rob Ford has done an outstanding job as mayor. His private life is none of our collective business. Monique Faniel, Shawbridge, Que. Rob Ford's message is not well crafted; indeed, it is about as rough-hewn as messages come. The sight of a tormented man twisting in the wind embarrasses Toronto sophisticates. But a politician whose spin hasn't been tested in focus groups may be so unusual that it will play well with ordinary people. Robert Lake, Nepean, Ont. I am so completely sick of hearing about Rob Ford, I'm now exclusively watching Al Jazeera. Michael Ingham, Vancouver With all the fuss and furor surrounding Rob Ford, his plight reminds me somewhat of Bill Clinton. Similar hysterical calls for his impeachment or resignation swept the U.S. We now look back on his presidency as one of the better ones, and on him as a respected elder statesman. That's food for thought. David Kister, Toronto Rob Ford sees a city employee who appears to be asleep at work. He publicly asks for the person to be fired. But when the mayor himself admits to illegal drug use, drunken behaviour at public events, lying to the public and consorting with various accused or convicted criminals, he just says "I'm sorry" and carries on with his job - the job being the most senior position in the city. That seems like a clear double standard to me. Peter Ortved, Toronto I am no one to judge. If he has tried pot, crack, who cares? Finish the term and say goodbye. Fran E. Whisken, London, Ont. Is this the kind of role model we want for our children? Dianne Blackwell, Brockville, Ont. Rob Ford has sullied the reputation of Toronto far beyond the remedy of empty apologies and stubborn bluster. Larry Ogden, Burlington, Ont. Demand for crack cocaine puts taxpayers and the police officers Rob Ford claims to care so much about in harm's way, promoting criminality and drug-related violence. Maybe he should have thought about that. Ashwati Raghunath, Saskatoon Rob Ford's egocentric selfishness seems to know no bounds. I can't understand why there's no mechanism in place to oust this man from office. He needs to get out and get help - for everyone's sake. Diane Sewell, Stratford, Ont. Rob Ford has squandered his opportunity to resign with honour and some measure of dignity. When - not if - he is forced to quit, it will be in complete disgrace and humiliation. John Herberman, Toronto We all make bad decisions when drinking. Who cares? He did a little crack. Why dwell on it? He is an awesome mayor. I made the same bad decisions before and I am not addicted either. I love him and his honesty. Nicky D. Braun, Queensland, Australia I wonder how the people who voted for this guy for mayor feel about it now. Oops. Barry Parker, Calgary In photographs of the mayor delivering his mea culpa on Wednesday after admitting he smoked crack, he was clearly wearing a tie festooned with the logos of NFL teams. In a city that has its Argonauts pursuing a second consecutive Grey Cup championship, I expected better judgment in neckwear from the mayor of Canada's largest city. J.D.M. Stewart, Toronto Faults and all, he has been the best mayor that Toronto has seen in the past two decades. Randy Gough, Toronto What is the longest river in Ford Nation? DeNIAL, of course - and it just keeps getting longer. Kent Moore, Toronto We have collectively maxed out on the schadenfreude. It's time to look away from this tragedy. I feel very sad. This is a sick, troubled man and someone needs to step up and save him from himself. Alexandra Novis, St. Catharines, Ont. Poppies are personal Re To Wear A Poppy (letters, Nov. 8): As someone whose family suffered in the Second Word War, I wear a poppy with pride. That said, I respect others" choice not to do so. Remembrance should come from the heart, not a corporate policy directing employees to wear this symbol. There are other ways to raise awareness of the sacrifices made by troops. Many Canadians are foreign-born, and so may not have a personal connection to the two world wars. That's fine. Wearing a poppy is deeply personal. Olena Bykova, Toronto Don't play to separatists Re Quebec Wants Greater Say At Senate Reform Hearings (Nov. 8): It is unthinkable that the Supreme Court should hear the reference case on the Senate's future without full judicial representation from all of Canada. Since one of the designated judges from Quebec is currently unable to sit, the hearing must wait until he or a replacement is available. To deal with this in the absence of Quebec's entire constitutionally guaranteed representation would play into the hands of separatists. Dale Gibson, professor emeritus, constitutional law, University of Manitoba Explain fracking's damage Re Premier Says Fracking Protesters Out Of Line (Nov. 7): B.C. Premier Christy Clark didn't think it was "great" that her 12-year-old son was exposed to demonstrators on her front lawn who were protesting against fracking to extract natural gas. How is she going to explain to him, at some point in the future, that it was her government who was responsible for the irreparable damage to the province's rivers, lakes and streams caused by fracking? Robert Hindson, Vancouver Speaking of benefits ... Re Tories Query Three Senators" Pension Rights (Nov. 7): Treasury Board President Tony Clement is going to find a way to ensure that tossed senators appointed by Stephen Harper can't accumulate pension benefits while "on leave" for two years. This will likely be done through a regulation hidden in an ominous budget bill, no doubt. Perhaps he could also include a regulation precluding any parliamentarian from removing $50-million in taxpayers" money from an obscure fund to make improvements in their own constituency. Douglas Loewen, Alliston, Ont