Slog - Comments on The Morning News

Comment by elenchos

elenchos — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:05:20 -0800

Yay! Either more expensive shuttle bus service, or none at all! Score another win for the magic of privatization. When will people learn that government is never the best solution?

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:09:22 -0800

Hmm, maybe football fans could pay their own way to the stadium rather than hop on the taxpayer's dime. Seeing as how they got their stadium for free and all. That's what I'm thinking.

Comment by tomasyalba

tomasyalba — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:15:27 -0800

Momo giggly headline of the day belongs to USA Today, front page above the fold: "Can Phelps Ever Be Topped?"

Comment by John Bailo

John Bailo — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:15:57 -0800

Since Metro is subsidized, its us, the non-riders and people who watch the games on TV who foot the bill.

There is ample standard bus routes to Qwest.

Let's let private enterprise have a chance to offer a service without government monopolies pricing them out of the system using false numbers.

A Sounder rider is subsidized to the tune of $40,000 per annum by voters!

Comment by Cato the Younger Younger

Cato the Younger Younger — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:18:01 -0800

Come on Russia! You ain't got the BALLS to nuke anyone!!! Come on Russian bitches!!

Comment by Jubilation T. Cornball

Jubilation T. Cornball — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:20:51 -0800

Pigeon O'Brien? Really?

And Ms. Marple???

Jesus...

Comment by raindrop

raindrop — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:23:00 -0800

So so many saw through Edwards, or the Breck Girl � which is Rush Limbaugh's moniker for him, as the smooth talkin' former trial lawyer was building up a grass roots campaign. Now we know we, and that not-so-innocent-and-sweet Mrs. Edwards as well, were laughing the whole time thinking they safely stored the ticking time bomb of a tawdry infidelity and a love child away. Hopefully until after the nomination. They were right about two Americas, the 'pooour' and the snobs and charlatans that they belong to.

Comment by tsm

tsm — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:25:22 -0800

Fnarf, the buses are doing a public service by helping reduce Seahawks-induced congestion, which would induce a cost on the rest of us anyway. Although it wouldn't hurt for the Seahawks to chip in a bit for it.

Comment by w7ngman

w7ngman — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:27:33 -0800

McCain on the Georgia/Russia conflict:

My friends, we have reached a crisis, the first probably serious crisis internationally since the end of the Cold War. This is an act of aggression.

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:38:01 -0800

Yes, tsm, I agree in theory, and I support transit subsidies. But the Seahawks (and the Mariners) have already received SO MUCH public largesse that it seems ungrateful to keep asking for more.

Comment by elenchos

elenchos — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:38:40 -0800

Private enterprise did offer service: at $20 a passenger. Which is never going to sell. People will all drive instead. The end.

There is no "let's let..." or "let them pay..." Nothing happens next except a lot more car trips.

Comment by spark

spark — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:45:55 -0800

@ 2, 4: Have either of you ever tried to take a bus from suburbia to SoDo on a Sunday afternoon? Let me tell ya, there aren't a lot of options there.

I agree with tsm that the Seahawks should chip in, but Metro 1) already has the necessary infrastructure that no private company could get, and 2) does a good thing for these fans by reducing congestion and car trips/fuel use/pollution in the city (which affect a lot more people than the fans themselves). I probably won't use the shuttle (I'm not a big fan), but I'm happy to help get the huddled suburban masses on transit.

Comment by Slog Hating Internet Troll

Slog Hating Internet Troll — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:47:33 -0800

COMMENT DELETED: Off-Topic/Spam

We'd rather not moderate your comments, but off-topic, gratuitously inflammatory, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate remarks may be removed, and repeat offenders may be banned from commenting. We never censor comments based on ideology. Thanks to all who add to the conversation on Slog.

Comment by P to the J

P to the J — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:55:22 -0800

Hey everyone! Hempfest, etc., mentioned at Reason Magazine. Pass it on to Dom.

http://www.reason.com/blog/show/128120.html

Comment by Tracy

Tracy — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:09:13 -0800

Argh! The other great thing about the Park n Ride Metro buses on game days were that they were idiot-proof and not intimidating for people who do not normally ride the bus. This might even lead to some transit-using converts. Even my 60-year-old Dad (who normally took great pride in driving his giant Escalade to the games and paying $50 to park) began regularly using this service after I took him with me one time. The buses drop-off and pick-up right by the stadium, with ample signage and no transfers needed. This kept cars off the road. Driving anywhere before a game is always a nightmare. At $20 for private shuttle service, I can't see ANYONE using this service. *headdesk*

Comment by Abby

Abby — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:11:47 -0800

@3: awesome.

(My favorite moment of the Olympics when I watch it is any time Liam Tancock swims. I may, in fact, be twelve.)

Comment by Mason

Mason — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:15:58 -0800

Does this mean that the taxpayer-subsidized metro shuttle busses to the ballet are going to be cancelled, too?

Comment by PC

PC — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:48:20 -0800

@4
Please put up or shut up. Provide a link, sir!

Political update :

1. Obama continues slow slide.

See realclear polls in swing states:
VA -- McCain is now ahead.
CO -- oopsie, Obama just dropped a point now he's only up 0.4.
So ...... as noted this is essentially a big fat tie race right now. All McCain has to do is overcome 0.5% margins in OH IN and now CO etc. and 1 or 2 other states, and he wins the white house.

2. HRC and BHO announced "agreement" that she will put her name in for roll call vote at the convention. Ha, ha. Nice lipsticking a pig, Mr. O! Shoulda made her your employee & subordinate, and absorbed her whole base, by picking her for VP. So obvious! I guess he's just afraid of her and Bill and feels incapable of managing them? So instead we get a divided-party type convention, like when Kennedy was fighting Carter (leading to Carter loss) and Reagan was fighting Ford (leading to Ford loss). Brilliant!

3. excellent article by Lind in Salon today about how Dems should garner that sweeping huge majority that right now we seem to have no plan to garner in the election this fall. In short, stop listening to upper class lefties and be the party of FDR not the party of McGovern. Get those catholics and baptists and voters who don't love the D's on social issues -- but aren't being spoloken to enough, on economic issues.

Unity, y'all--

Comment by elswinger

elswinger — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:50:48 -0800

If the Seahawks shuttle is like the Mariners shuttle, you have to pay more money and they won't honor monthly passes. The tax payers are not out any money and the Seahawks help subsidize Metro for the service.

This is a case of a bigger government telling a smaller government what it can or cannot do. Even if you hate football, you should be pissed that Washington DC is telling Seattle what it can or cannot do.

Comment by K

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:59:00 -0800

Light rail is coming. Admittedly not fast enough, but hell, Seattle's only about, um, 50 years late in getting mass transit. Let's see Starline drop a light rail track from the residential areas to the Stadium.

Oh, and vote yes for light rail expansion.

Comment by NapoleonXIV

NapoleonXIV — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:28:00 -0800

#3: I'm sure the question was rhetorical, but let me think about it for an hour or so.

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:40:31 -0800

Every Seahawks fan who doesn't get there by bus, probably drove.

Do you really want drunk Seahawks fans DRIVING?

I don't think so.