Rob Ford Smokes Crack On Tape, Part II

Seriously, dude? Late Wednesday, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford decided to take a leave of absence, but only after yet another crack-smoking video was obtained by The Globe and Mail. As if that wasn't enough in itself, a separate audio recording of Ford swearing and cussing at a bar was also released Wednesday by The Toronto Sun. Unbelievably, though, the embattled mayor wants to keep going — he intends to keep himself on the ballot, and hopes to be re-elected after getting out of his stint in rehab. To which we can only beg Toronto: please, God, no.

The new video, offered to Gawker at a hefty price but ultimately obtained by The Globe and Mail, reportedly shows the unfortunate Toronto official holding a copper pipe. Though this particular type of pipe is generally used to smoke weed, the provider of the video — a self-professed drug dealer — alleges that it was being used for crack cocaine. (Not that hard to believe, considering.) The film was surreptitiously recorded in Ford's sister's basement as recently as this past Saturday morning.

In response to the video, the mayor released a statement announcing his leave of absence, promising that he would seek help for his substance abuse problem. "It’s not easy to be vulnerable and this is one of the most difficult times in my life,” Ford said in a statement. “I have a problem with alcohol, and the choices I have made while under the influence. I have struggled with this for some time.”

"I love the people of Toronto, I love being your mayor and I hope you will continue to stand by me," Ford added, not without some gall. "With the support of my family, friends, professionals and the people of Toronto, I will conquer this."

Unfortunately for Ford, the bad news didn't stop at the video. Late Wednesday, The Toronto Sun released an audio recording of the mayor hanging out at a bar on Monday night and, well, once you've heard it you can't ever unhear it again.

Note that at one point, he says: "I’m fucking sick of politics, dude. Look at my record. I’m gonna win. We’re gonna win."

Admittedly, before today, the crack-smoking mayor had kept going pretty strong — in spite of drunken stupors, anti-Ford campaigns, aggressive "accidents", cringe interviews, confusing Bieber-interactions and just general bouts of random sexism. Luckily for both Toronto and the mayor himself, though, it'll be up to the professionals for the next month.

In what can only be described as the understatement of the year, his lawyer told CNN Thursday: "He has to take a break to re-energize, because he realizes he has flaws that have to be addressed."