The question is not, "Is Frank Chopp out of touch with his district?" The question is, "Is his district out of touch with Frank Chopp?"

I don't care if 100% of the voters in the 43rd District are against a rebuild, Frank Chopp is an institution. He will crush any Democrat who even dares to run against him. Any potential opponent -- and any individual who even breathes a kind word about that opponent -- will simply never get a political job in this state again. The fools!

That's just the way it is in this state. And if you don't like it, you naïve, elitist newbies -- move back to wherever you came from!

How valuable is polling from October on an issue that's really gathering steam now?

Gee Josh, maybe that means Frank is vulnerable and you can take him on in '08. You can be the crusader for public transportation and a tunnel... Now that we are out of fantasy land please understand that Frank is going no where and the sooner you and other folks grow up and realize it the better off you'll be. Just because someone is against one issue you're for doesn't mean they need to be thrown out or shown the doors... neophytes!

Considering the fact that Frank got more applause at the 43rd Dems forum on this issue than anyone else attending when he spoke, I personally don't think he's worried.

Frank is in zero danger. Period.

Fnarf: How valuable is polling from October on an issue that's really gathering steam now?

Fnarf if the rebuild loses badly in tomorrow's election (and really badly in the 43rd): "How valuable is a non-binding, confusing, gerrymandered advisory measure regarding a decision that is the state's, not the city's. People, it's a state highway, not a city highway. Hello!"

So what? Does that mean that most voters in the 43rd District will play single-issue politics?

It doesn't. It's meaningless.

Will in Seattle: Considering the fact that Frank got more applause at the 43rd Dems forum on this issue than anyone else attending when he spoke, I personally don't think he's worried.

Frank is in zero danger. Period.

Will's right. That 36-11 vote at the same meeting urging a No on 2, in defiance of the speech Chopp had just made? It means nothing. Zilch. The applause somebody heard is the truly binding gauge of opinion.

And I have news for all you political neophytes who think Chopp can be toppled based on a single issue. Single-issue politics just doesn't work. Ever. As bad as the Iraq War has gotten, have the Republicans lost control of Congress over it? I don't think so. Wake up, fools.

we really need a sarcasm indicator - sometimes its so deep & mordant that only a pro like myself can detect it.

also, the viaduct is a state highway because the city GAVE it to the state after they built it - for maintenance.

The thing I really find galling is the ingratitude shown by Josh and the other pot-smoking trust-fund babies in The Stranger's hipster ghetto. If it weren't for Frank Chopp's savvy leadership, the Washington legislature would be controlled by Republicans now. And next thing you know, those Republicans would start shoving elevated freeways down your naïve, little throats. And you'd be thanking them for it.

It's time Seattleites realized that the world didn't revolve around them -- that there are more important issues in this state than whether to build gigantic, new freeways through our most valuable and scenic real estate. I'm talking about issues that affect the regular working men and women in the state of Washington. I'm talking about issues like whether the Democrats can hold on to power in Olympia.

Ask yourself not what Frank Chopp can do for you. Ask yourself, "What can I do for Frank Chopp?"

when I was really down, I got food and medical help at the Fremont Community Center - Chopp's long term thing - which is a model for such places

myopia at the Stranger, what else is new

Chopp is a strong leader, great guy and has the politics of a good Wobblie

will always bet on Frank

Cressona @ 9,

Smoke pot? Never.
Trust fund? I wish.
Hipster? So, this weekend, I played a game in my rusty adult basketball league, read a book, and was happily asleep both Fri. & Sat. nights by 11pm.

I liked your previous post, though.

Even if Chopp is an arrogant douchebag, which he is, there is no way anybody is going to beat him. Just as there is no one that is going to beat Prentice in her safe district. Regardless of what yall may think, they are smart politicians, who play the numbers game well, and know what stands to take and what can really put them at risk in their districts. They are also known to those voters, and they know that the turnout for local races is low and they know that a lot of renters and young people just dont vote. We really should be concentrating on telling Pete Steinbruck to hurry up and announce he is going to take on Greg. Even the dogs on the streeet know he is running, so he should just come out with it. Pete has a chance, a damn good chance of beating Greg. Yes, he will not have the Dems behind him and they will bring up his speech for Nader at the Key, but Pete can win, unlike these ill informed Josh Feit fantasies of Chopp and Prentice being vulnerable, Pete and Greg is actually going to be one hella of a campaign and Im ready to sign up for that one.

"Well, Peter, thanks for coming to the forum.

Question from the audience...

Sir, while your skinny ass was on the city council, what was your vision for the viaduct problem, or are you just a sweet face with no substance who sat there for six years and waited for the mayor to figure out what to do"

Peter, "Well, dad told me to hang low when the heat is on."

amazingly, cressona and I agree on something. Not as surprised about Ivan.

And Frank isn't arrogant. For a Speaker, he's one of the least arrogant I've ever met.

Josh was that the push poll paid for by the tunnel campaign before it was shut down and gave all their money to the anti-viaduct campaign? The one done McDumba?

Since the vote is a fantasy anyways...

... I wonder how the monorail would have fared on one more up-or-down vote. It would be the cheapest option on the ballot... ;p

Hey Josh I just remembered - haven't you been reporting for a month that Frank is on the S&T team - he's open to it right?

Golob - have you have no decency? - mentioning the M word on a forum open to all ages.

Josh @11: Hipster? So, this weekend, I played a game in my rusty adult basketball league, read a book, and was happily asleep both Fri. & Sat. nights by 11pm.

Hey Josh, try covering me five-on-five pickup. Any day. Your sorry, pot-smoking lungs won't know what hit 'em.

(Hmm... I'm not sure this is the thread where I wanted to provoke a response from the author. Perhaps it's time to declare this place a satire-free zone.)

@17. Seriously. And you know, it would probably win by about 70%, and seem like a good deal even at the *gasp* overrun price of $2bn, including operations and maintainance.

I'd vote for it again in a heart-beat.

You know I moused all over the original post to find a link to the survey Josh cites. Apparently, he forgot to include it. Huh.

Here's a link to a more recent citywide survey. 50 to 44 in favor of the viaduct. And that's before people find out about the cost.

Oh, that's not specific enough because it doesn't include the 43rd District? OK, here's a link
to a very comprehensive survey taken on November 7, 2006, which is more recent than October. Frank Chopp won re-election with 90 percent of the vote.

Thank you for playing.

Um - anyone for a Viaduct rebuild especially and including Chopp seems to suffer really bad amnesia and difficulty solving problems without creating worse messes. It doesn't mean they are stupid about everything, just stupid about planning cities for people to live in. They may turn out quite excellent at planning cities for cars to drive in, in which case it may will be the dawn of a new age of golden suburbanism. Just wait til they get ahold of 520! Kirkland never looked so good! Go Frank!