Politics I’m on Vacation, but
posted by on March 21 at 10:55 AM
three things:
1) I’ll be on C.R. Douglas’s Seattle Channel show tonight talking about the legislative session in Olympia, light rail, the parks levy, 520, the Viaduct, the Sonics and other local issues.
2) I ran into Mayor Nickels at a transportation forum last night, and I asked him about a rumor/theory I’d heard. Rumor: Although, he’s been publicly opposed to a new $270 million parks levy, the buzz is that on Tuesday he’s going to send a levy proposal to the council (that will include the $80 million Pike Place Market levy—which he’s been for all along—but will also include a request for parks funding.) Here’s the theory: The reason Nickels is now hip to going for parks is because his push to have light rail on the ballot this fall is reportedly losing traction, and so, where he was once against having parks compete with light rail, now he’s ok with parks being on the ballot.
Assessing my mouthful, the mayor simply said: “Interesting.” Then his Aide-de-camp, told me: “That’s a good one. It’s wrong, but that’s a good one.”
Which part is wrong? I asked. No answer.
My theory now (I also talked to KC Council Member & Sound Transit Board Member Dow Constantine, who assured me that light rail was going to the ballot in ‘08): The mayor’s proposal will include a call for parks land acquisition, but it’s not because of any dynamic with light rail (which is still up in the air).
3) So, why did the above-petty-politics Barack Obama campaign drop that Bill Clinton/Rev. Wright picture on the the NYT exactly?
Can you please focus your time on legislative session in Olympia, light rail, the parks levy, the Sonics and other local issues aside from the viaduct and 520?
We're in a recession now, and the effects will be pinching us badly in November. That is not the time for a multi-billion dollar sales tax increase proposal. ST will have a much better chance if waits until 2010, when the LRT will be up and running in Seattle.
le sigh. or we could already have 50 miles of light rail on the books. cest la vie. another decade of inaction awaits.
Gee, why do you THINK he dropped the picture, Josh? A little pushback, perhaps?
Hey cressona - how much is this boondoggle going to end up costing if we DON'T approve ST2.2?
And don't just say "less than a fucking freeway" again. That's not the issue, and you know it.
I'm pretty sure you made up that theory yourself. And I'm no fan of the mayor, but I don't blame his reaction, because you're trying to make a very specific guess about very specific nuances of his motivation, and there's no way you can pinpoint that.
I'm shocked you would even say that out loud to his face, not because it's daring, but because there is no way he could have given you a productive response.
I see no reason why Greogory J. would not want both on the ballot. A 2008 General election with Obama as the (hopeful) nominee? Good lord I think the Seattle's liberal turnout will be 135% and people would even vote for a tax to fix potholes in Yelm.
I'm a little torn on the picture thing. On the one hand, I don't think it's fair to portray Wright as a bigot or "anti-American" for a few comments posted out of context, and I am for the Obama campaign trying to reverse that media-created image, which is the reported goal. Trying to remind people that Wright has traditionally been seen as a progressive and politically active religious leader, not a crazy racist crank, is fine in my book. On the other hand, I don't like it when Clinton supporters bring up "but Rezco-I mean, Obama didn't do anything illegal, but still, Rezco," and there is a little bit of the same flavor here. Yes, I understand that at some point attack politics have to be greeted with pushback, but...this is walking a fine line in my book. I'll give this move a pass, but I won't be happy if I see a lot of it.
Um, it's ST2.1 not ST2.2. You don't get to increment the plan number until we have a public plan vote by the board.
Good to see ST and WSDOT are mostly on board with the Sierra Club for ST2.1 plans ... as Josh and ECB saw last nite.
There were two presumed purposes for the Obama people and the photo (though they shouldn't have done it - it would've found its way out anyway):
1. To make sure Hillary knows she better stay out of it. It's big enough without her and there is no reason for Hillary to jump on the bandwagon.
2. To try to show Wright as a fairly mainstream member of the religious community. Hell, he was invited to this dinner, right? Most people must not hate him.
@10 - good points, Ed. Just because we haven't been sliming Hils doesn't mean we can't if she keeps straying off the reservation and using McCain-supplied attack ads.
Nice that your are on vacation. What is with you guys slogging on Holidays. Makes the rest of the bloggers feel bad. Go home and rest since it's Good Friday you should not have had to come into work.
I'm still waiting for ST1.0 Service Pack 1.....
Vacation from what?
Yes, let's leave light rail planning to the Sierra Club, they've already shown how much they don't like 50 miles of it. Sound Transit 2 lite anyone?
And Will, shut the fuck up. McCain supplied attack ads, my god.
I really wish people would quit giving money to the Sierra Club. You may as well donate to the 700 club. It will do just as much good.
Getting the pic into the media shows the public that Wright was within the mainstream back in the 1990's, and that it wasn't crazy for Obama to join the church or remain a member. Sure, Wright started to go off his rocker as he got older, but back then he was OK. I don't think it is directed at Hillary, except maybe to the extent that #10 suggests in point 1.
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