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RSS icon Comments on Colby Underwood's Bad Analogy

1

This isn't surprising at all. This is (pretty much) how politics work.

Posted by Mr. Poe | September 27, 2007 9:42 AM
2

Colby is also working for Bill Bryant, who's running against Alec Fisken. So if Colby says he supports Bob Edwards because Bob Edwards has more experience than Gael, then it is totally inconsistent to say he supports Bill, because Alec has way more experience. He's not just an incumbent commissioner, he also published a marine digest that covered the port and he helped with bond underwriting. I've gone to lots of port commission meetings over the years, including one of the meetings where they were soliciting citizen comment about qualifications of the new CEO, and I sure never saw Mr Bryant. I bet his main exposure to Port issues was in conversations with Pat Davis, as he was one of the board members of Pat's group, the Washington Council on International Trade.

So, yes, Colby is inconsistent in these two races. However, he did help Jack Jolley in his race 2 years ago against Pat Davis, and he did help Jack Block Jr in the primary against Bob.

Posted by Stuart Jenner | September 27, 2007 9:50 AM
3

@3,

Another inconsistency: Colby told me was working for/supporting Bryant because of Bryant's environmental credentials. But Tarleton is racking up the environmental endorsements against Edwards.


Posted by Josh Feit | September 27, 2007 9:53 AM
4

"Inconsistency" ain't the half of it, Josh. Fisken, not Bryant, is receiving the endorsements of the region's environmental organizations:

Fisken -- Washington Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Cascade Bicycle Club

Bryant -- ummm, are the Affordable Housing Council (aka BIAW's PAC), "Builders United in Legislative Development", the Washington Realtors Association, and the Eastside Business Alliance environmental organizations?

Posted by N in Seattle | September 27, 2007 10:31 AM
5

In Bill's defense, he has a very good environmental ethic and has done a lot of work. He was just never in the political environmental circles. Alec's leadership on environmental issues in the last four years is what rightly gives Fisken the environmental endorsements.

But don't discount Colby, he is very good at spinning candidates so they make their calls. And that is where his value is added.

Posted by Lawrence Molloy | September 27, 2007 10:36 AM
6

In Bill's defense, he has a very good environmental ethic and has done a lot of work. He was just never in the political environmental circles. Alec's leadership on environmental issues in the last four years is what rightly gives Fisken the environmental endorsements.

But don't discount Colby, he is very good at spinning candidates so they make their calls. And that is where his value is added.

Posted by Lawrence Molloy | September 27, 2007 10:58 AM
7

It's who you know and who they know.

If you work at SAIC, a lot of contributions will come from the people who know you, and their friends and co-workers.

Same goes for Boeing or Microsoft or FTL Spacecraft Yoyodyne Industries.

Posted by Will in Seattle | September 27, 2007 10:59 AM
8

I think Colby's analogy would be spot-on if he would have included one important distinction:

Microsoft is good, SAIC isn't.

Posted by Steve | September 27, 2007 10:59 AM
9

It sems like Underwood just works for whomever pays him. If you want to work for "good Democrats", why work for Bob Edwards and Bill Bryant. Am I wrong here?

Posted by Seattle Democrat | September 27, 2007 11:03 AM
10

"I hate to play gotcha..."

Josh, you are a self delusional twerp. Your whole gig is ankle biting.

Will Christopher keep you on, or get some quality reporting?

Posted by Editor's Note | September 27, 2007 11:18 AM
11

Why is any of this interesting? Colby's a political hack, Microsoft is no better or worse than SAIC.

Posted by watcher | September 27, 2007 12:01 PM
12

But Josh, if you dug a little deeper into what Mr. Underwood is eluding to with SAIC you would find that he might be on to something. Look further down the rabbit hole.

Posted by 43rd Dem | September 27, 2007 12:22 PM
13

Burner was a program manager at MSFT. Not an executive. The difference is significant.

Posted by Hank | September 27, 2007 12:35 PM
14

@13 Burner calls herself a Microsoft executive! Have you forgotton all the hoopla about her job title during last year's election? There is no difference. Candidates solicit friends, family, old co-workers, and complete strangers! They do whatever they can to raise money.

Posted by FedUp | September 27, 2007 12:48 PM
15
Posted by Mary Contrary | September 27, 2007 10:54 PM
16

Who are you to judge Colby's work? He is doing his best to get politicians elected who HE believes will make a difference in Seattle, who will positively effect policy in their respective offices. He helps candidates raise money from those who support them. It's professional, it's honest, and it's noble. Who are you to judge those who want to effect policy when you just make snide comments about it?

Posted by Leslie | October 2, 2007 1:57 PM
17

Who are you to judge Colby's work? He is doing his best to get politicians elected who HE believes will make a difference in Seattle, who will positively effect policy in their respective offices. He helps candidates raise money from those who support them. It's professional, it's honest, and it's noble. Who are you to judge those who want to effect policy when you just make snide comments about it?

Posted by Leslie | October 2, 2007 4:05 PM

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