I have a theory.
I believe Ford may really be at rehab (but just barely), and I think that's exactly what he wants (subconsciously; if he actually *has* a subconscious).
...
His brother and family want him in a short rehab. Not long enough to forfeit the mayorship, but enough to shore up the sympathy votes.
Ford hates his job. The disdain is visible in his eyes every time he has to go to a ribbon cutting and his work attendance is dismal.... But he's there, and running again because the family deemed it so. However, Rob, like many others with depression and guilt, is prone to self-sabotage.
So, my thinking is that he's going to consciously or subconsciously (and very publicly) sabotage his rehab. He stays in rehab for 90 days, he's no longer mayor. More than 6 months, and he's missed the election and has to wait four more years.
He gets out of having to run for mayor again, without the personal shame of losing an election that he already knows is probably lost anyhow. It's hard for his family to push him into running again if he's off the wagon in public. It's everything he really wants. He gets to take his ball and go home, in a bizarre way. Sure, Doug and Diane might be mad at him for a while, but after all the stuff Kathy's done she's still part of the family, right?
I've been thinking along the same lines for quite a while. I think RoFo has a version of "imposter syndrome". That's the condition of some high-achieving people who receive praise for their competence and accomplishments while secretly feeling that they are not up to the job and are not performing adequately. RoFo has the Family constantly pressuring him, assuring him he's the Best Mayor Ever, while he knows he is not capable of doing the job at even the most basic level. He has publicly (while drunk and uninhibited) responded to a woman's comment that he's the worst mayor ever with, "I know. But I try" (2013 St. Pat's bender) and said on the latest audio recording (while drunk and uninhibited), "I'm in over my head."
With true imposter syndrome, the sufferer
is actually competent and high-achieving, and has the delusion that they are not. In RoFo's case, it's not a delusion: it's the bald-faced truth and he knows it. So does the crime family, I'm sure; but they want him in office for the benefits of prestige and influence and because they're the f**king Kennedys North.
I think he goes on these public benders, and carelessly smokes crack in the presence of drug dealers who actually don't do much business over non-camera-equipped
landline phones, knowing full well there will be bad publicity to follow; he is pushing the
self-destruct button -- either subconsciously, or consciously and cowardly, in an effort to extricate himself from a situation he absolutely hates. In the face of family pressure, he feels powerless, and hasn't the strength of character to stand up to them and say No. So he is acting out and getting caught and making it worse and worse and worse until finally he can escape.
I'm not sure I agree that he will sabotage the stay in the "finest facility" in order to remain in it for a longer period. Maybe to get out of jail early. If the fine facility is reputable, he either follows all the rules strictly and sincerely (and actually does dry out), or he breaks the rules and they throw him out. The first outcome is possible, given the relatively short period announced. He'd hate it, but it's time-limited and he's not under other pressures while he's there. I don't think he'd really manage to follow the rules for 90 days or 6 months; he hasn't admitted the drug problem, "won't give up the blow", and is not going to quit cold turkey for that length of time.
The crime family has engineered this sham and wants him back on the campaign trail as soon as the 30 days are up. Then he'll just lather/rinse/repeat with another bender/audio/video to again try to get out of his predicament. If he breaks the rules and the fine facility throws him out before the 30 days are up, not even his crime family will be able to justify his returning to office and campaigning.
One way or another, I think this loser is trying to demonstrate that he is the worst. loser. ever. just to get the torture of being Mayor to stop.