Toronto moves to limit the powers of its mayor

(CBS News) It's hard to imagine there's a more talked about mayor in North America right now than Rob Ford. The mayor of Toronto has become an international punch line for his over-the-line behavior. But now the Toronto City council has voted to strip him of most of his authority.

His behavior has been such a distraction, the mayor himself had to concede the council's vote was understandable.

"If I would have had a mayor acting the way I've conducted myself, I would have done the exact same thing," Ford said.

His own brother, Doug, a Toronto City Council member, has urged him to take a leave of absence.

"I believe Rob should take a couple weeks off," he said on CNN.

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Yet Ford still refuses to back down, even as the confessions mount.

"Have you purchased illegal drugs in the last two years?" Denzil Minnan-Wong, a Toronto City Council member asked the mayor.

Ford, who is also facing allegations of drunk driving and spousal abuse, paused for eight long seconds before answering: "Yes I have."

That was yet more red meat for comedians such as David Letterman and Jon Stewart on their TV programs.

"I understand the embarrassment I have caused every resident in the city," said Ford. "I'm humiliated by it."

Toronto Star editor, Michael Cooke, says the city is humiliated, too. "It's funny," he said. "It's lewd. Its crude. And yet it is stunningly bad for this city."

Nor does it appear the mayor's wife is enjoying her time in the limelight, after Ford made a crude remark about their sex life.

Meanwhile, as if they haven't been in the media enough, a reality show pilot featuring Rob and Doug Ford airs Monday on Canadian TV.