Slog - Comments on Talk About Hot Air... http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air The Democrats just held a big press conference in the Capitol Building to announce … well… It comes down to this: Governor Gregoire is creating a task force on global warming that will report back in a year (so much for urgency about the UN report on climate change). Gregoire and Sen. Erik Poulsen (D-34, West Seattle) are in sync on Poulsen’s new bill to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, but there appears to be no mandate to do so nor any concrete mechanism to make it happen. The governor of Oregon meanwhile announced an... Copyright 2008 Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:25:51 -0800 Wed, 28 Feb 2007 02:17:16 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Enigma Go Sims! I'm glad one of the representatives of the region has brought this option into the open. It seems shady to me that the surface/transit option isn't even mentioned by our leaders. The surface/transit is the only viable option to me.

]]> Enigma http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618560 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618560 News Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:45:46 -0800 Comment by michael strangeways mr sims is cool...

i'm willing to live in Sims' City....

]]> michael strangeways http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618569 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618569 News Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:55:03 -0800 Comment by golob Ron Sims should have been Governor.

]]> golob http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618571 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618571 News Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:55:29 -0800 Comment by steve How is that Sims became such a badass when (most of) the rest of our state's public servants are so clueless? That guy's a stud!

]]> steve http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618573 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618573 News Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:56:54 -0800 Comment by michael strangeways maybe he'll run again and ride the whole, 'Obama is great, so maybe other black politicians are great, too' wave...white people have fucked up the country for a couple hundred years; give other races a chance, too...(to suck, or not to suck)

]]> michael strangeways http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618574 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618574 News Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:57:34 -0800 Comment by Cascadian Wow, Ron Sims is starting to sound like a real leader. If he'd been like this before his primary run in 2004, maybe he'd be governor now. I used to think he was one of the biggest local political problems, but lately he's been one of the few people talking sense.

Huh, it occurs to me that with Democrats in the Senate and Governor's office, there are no higher offices for Sims to seek without challenging an incumbent for his own party. Maybe he's kicking ass because he realizes his higher political ambitions are on hold so he might as well make his current job count.

]]> Cascadian http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618600 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618600 News Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:21:12 -0800 Comment by Soupytwist Ron Sims is one of the few politicians that I don't regret voting for.

He's a great leader, but people in Seattle think of him as a "bully" because he's decisive - we're too used to wishy-washy, committee politics.

]]> Soupytwist http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618602 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618602 News Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:23:41 -0800 Comment by friend I LOVE RON SIMS!

Do you know who asked the question about the viaduct in relation to global warming? They deserve a medal too.

]]> friend http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618650 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618650 News Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:37:53 -0800 Comment by golob Ron started his 2004 campaign by pointing out the state needs an income tax. He was an adult, and clearly serious about actually running the state in a responsible manner. Therefore he lost to Christie.

When I met her in 2003, I thought she was a preening political hack. When she ran (ineptly) in 2004, I thought she was a hack.

Challenge her again, Ron.

]]> golob http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618663 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618663 News Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:41:19 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Meanwhile CA and OR are taking action and doing things. It's not good to be late comers.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618757 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c618757 News Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:18:49 -0800 Comment by DDD A "Great Politician" is willing and capable of thinking out ahead of the available consensus and committing to action before opportunities are lost. S/he then follows up on the action by helping consensus emerge afterward.

A mere "Politician" knows that the people who elected them actually want to have a leader. They know that they were hired to make hard decisions. They may not chart the path but *will* take responsibility for their actions.

A "Politico" is simply someone involved in politics.

Gregoire seems not to qualify for more than politico right now.

Sims--I just want to hug him.

]]> DDD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c619671 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c619671 News Wed, 07 Feb 2007 22:52:05 -0800 Comment by ivan Hey, what do you know? I don't have to be my usual contrarian, curmudgeon, asshole self on this thread. I like Ron Sims too.

If people want to see him continue in public office, they should ask him to run for the House of Representatives from the 7th District when Jim McDermott is ready to retire. NOT BEFORE, DAMMIT!

Ron would be a great Congressman. No one I know would represent our District better.

]]> ivan http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c619713 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c619713 News Wed, 07 Feb 2007 23:22:21 -0800 Comment by phil Shortly after reading this post, I wrote to Mr. Sims to thank him for his comments:

From: [me]
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 2:55 PM
To: [King County Executive Ron Sims]
Subject: thanks for tunnel/rebuild comment at Dems' global warming press conference

I just read Josh Feit's account [1] of your comment, "You cannot talk about fighting global warming while also talking about building a tunnel or a rebuild. We will not achieve the goals." at the recent Democratic Party press conference at which Governor Gregoir's global warming task force was announced.

I agree with your statement and thank you for answering a question that others in attendance dodged.

References:

[1]: http://www.thestranger.com/blog/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air

Today, I received the following reply from the King County Department of Transportation:

Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:16:42 -0800
From: [Ron Posthuma - King County]
Subject: RE: thanks for tunnel/rebuild comment at Dems' global warming press conference
To: [me]
Cc: [Ron Sims - King County], [Harold Taniguchi - King County]

Dear [Phil]:

Thank you for your email of February 7, 2007 to King County Executive Ron Sims regarding the Alaskan Way Viaduct (AWV). Executive Sims asked that I respond on his behalf and to thank you for your support.

If we are going to position Seattle as a vibrant, world-class, 21st century metropolis, we need to proceed with boldness and vision regarding the question of how to replace the AWV. Part of this vision includes the development of a transportation system that is affordable and environmentally friendly. Reconnecting the downtown to the waterfront will make the area more vital and vibrant; where more people will want to work, live, and visit. Regardless of what is finally selected to replace the AWV, we believe that Metro Transit will play a critical role in this solution. In all instances, we are pursuing enhanced levels of transit that will increase transit use in this corridor helping to relieve congestion and fight global warming.

Thank you again for taking the time to write and express your position on the AWV. If you have any further questions or concerns about this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me, at 206-684-1007.

Sincerely,
Ron Posthuma
Assistant Director, King County Department of Transportation

cc: The Honorable Ron Sims, King County Executive
Harold S. Taniguchi, Director, King County Department of
Transportation

]]> phil http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c628983 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c628983 News Mon, 12 Feb 2007 12:30:35 -0800 Comment by epkcyiwnl clzq fvmh ekufary zyiot pauds ywmxoacf wzykxgd ahfcqto

]]> epkcyiwnl clzq http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c650628 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c650628 News Wed, 28 Feb 2007 02:14:09 -0800 Comment by ymojb wyitzmjb ejyblfmwz jovef woeynifz qutk nmoghtcp jmyxv bciymdtaz [URL=http://www.sqcrznt.bvuya.com]vngtryqu xqjvyd[/URL]

]]> ymojb wyitzmjb http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c650635 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/talk_about_hot_air#c650635 News Wed, 28 Feb 2007 02:17:16 -0800