FORD RAN A TRUMP-LIKE CAMPAIGN AND HAS MANY TRUMPIAN QUALITIES.

Trumpian aggression, logical incoherence and an unwavering disregard for his own contradictions. One of the low points came with his attacks on Elliott, a longtime family friend he was willing to sacrifice on the altar of ambition.

Ford argued that only he, among the candidates, had experience in “governing,” a reference to his brother Rob’s chaotic term as Toronto mayor, during which Doug served as a Toronto councillor and his troubled brother’s chief defender. Following Rob’s death, he declared first that he would run for mayor, then decided he’d rather try to be premier instead, having never served in the legislature. Like Trump, he likes to start at the top. Also, like Trump, he shows little understanding that a business background is poor preparation for politics, as premiers can’t simply give orders and problems lay more in his personal demons than his politics, however. His brother will face a similar challenge. Many may share his disgust at the untrammelled waste of the Liberal years, the failed programs, senseless spending and rich collection of scandals. Ontarians care as much as anyone about the environment, but display no great love for a carbon tax that seems designed mainly to funnel more cash into government hands rather than produce any significant cut in emissions.

But Ford’s nature undermines his message. During his years at city hall he won a reputation for intolerance to opposition. If he couldn’t get his way, he got mean. Though he made an early attempt to be a team player, he couldn’t contain himself for the duration of the leadership contest. He attacked fellow Conservatives