idiot

Some argue that our current At-Large system brings forth the best candidates. That is not really true is it.

What's kinda of sad is that this guy will automatically advance to the General Election as it stands today.

Come on Seattle, can't we at least give Mike better company on the campaign trail?

Now, now, participatory democracy matters. Even if a few folks makes life difficult for the rest of us. I look fwd to his mtg with The Stranger Election Control Board!

has he not heard about meeting with his councilmember, or emailing them, or writing to them? that's what they're there for.

i'm really surprised he didn't drop a "sheeple."

ALSO, because there are MULTIPLE variants of "Stand-UP America," let the record show that it is most likely this one. http://standup.blcksmth.com/

Choice words: "StandUP-America is on the front battle lines. There are many issues that can be identify, but we are going the extra step and getting proof. Proof that the system has been corrupted. None of the listed projects are the real problem, they are the symptoms of a corrupted system. "

I'd wear a tinfoil hat if it would shield me from this sort of discourse. But it would not.

@5 I appreciate that the "WHY" on that website is "Under Construction". I read their manifestos, watched some of their videos, and am not really sure what they plan to achieve here other than slowing down meetings and driving away good people from politics. They should take a lesson from Tim "destructive" Eyman's playback on how to work around and destroy the system.

I'm too lazy to make Sit-DOWN America, dedicated to sitting down and shutting up unless you have something relevant to say. But if someone wants to get that organization started, I for one will be glad to sit behind you.

@2 er no I've dealt with this type before.

"I'm not being heard" ok we are listening, "I'm not being heard and your not dealing with "X", ok come join the folks who are working on that issue and help, "I'm not being heard", no we are listening but to accomplish what your asking for these elements of society have to be willing to do "Y". How are you going to help us accomplish that? "Well if they'd just HEAR ME they'd do it, beside the Government should just make them do it, and would if they'd listen to ME".

A bit after that they quit showing up to actually work on the issue they are complaining about and go back outside and start screaming "Your not listening to ME".

A threat to democracy? Nah just an annoyance.

As a loser nerd who watches King County TV regularly, I appreciate Larry Gossett's patient exasperation with Mr. Bellonio and his posse.

He shows up on time, signs up, and has something to say. Democracy and all...

(couldn't one say too that Ron Paul is impervious to conscious irony? )

He has my vote.

Our elected representatives have a duty to listen to the citizens.

Putting a limit on the amount a citizen can speak to his representative is denying of the rights of our citizens.

This is Republic, the people do not work for the government, the government works for the people.

The law is not civil religion. And yet, so many people treat it as if it were.

Religion is something illogical, that claims to be beased upon unchanging and infallible principles. To question said principles is to warrant rebuke. With religion, self-righteous anger is profitable, as are theatrics, histrionics. Salience is optional. Since religion frequently bases its arguments upon ridiculously fantastic claims (virgin births, burning bushes, flying on a horse, etc) it actually kinda helps if the arguments you present are total bullshit. So long as you are passionate, and have no scruples at all about destroying your opponents or anything else, religion (civil or otherwise) is a lucrative career option. Appealing to received text, and castigating anyone that appears even remotely to contradict your own narrow interpretation of it, is the way forward.

The law is something else entirely. It's based in logical arguments and theories about how society functions. Its trial and error, lets see what works and discard whatever doesn't work. It grows and evolves over time. The textual basis changes and is frequently altered by judges and legislators, who amend, rule unconstitutional, or interpret the text in new ways that match the vicissitudes of our culture. This world requires a bit of cut and thrust as well, but its far more subtle. The law is not a revealed religion, and the individual laws are not received text.

For example, law as civil religion expresses the belief that the First Amendment means nobody can ever tell you to shut up. It states that the Second Amendment means you have the right to own an M1 Abrams tank if you can afford or steal one. It suggests that you should never be asked to ve concise whiel speaking at the city council. One can make things up, such as the idea that a flag with a gold fringe (common decoration for indoor flags) indicates that one is under maritime law rather than constitutional law, and therefore that the accused can just ignore the judge altogether.

This man is an example of people who treat the law as civil religion. For him, the Constitution means that he can bloviate at a city council meeting for 12 hours without making a point if he wants to. If you met this man on the street, and, as a civilian, told him to shut up, he would tell you that you were violating the First Amendment. Never mind that the 1st prohibits Congress from passing laws abridging speech, and some passerby on the sidewalk is not Congress nor is making any law by suggesting that this man stuff it up his ass. In this man's world, the goal is to always be right, and to chide others in the shrillest of voices, thundering, accusing, insulting, and demanding. He is the very essence of an insane street preacher. He thinks the law is visceral rather than literal.

And he thinks you're dumb enough to fall for his scam.

Vote Sociopath for City Council. Because God himself votes for Sociopath.

Sam's the new Richard Lee! Except he lacks Richie's class and restraint.

Lie-DOWN and be Counted, what are we standing for?

@13 O snap!

We've now found the crosslinked demographic between Ron Paulentologists and Limp Bizkit fans.

Wow. This article seems to be obvious propaganda against Bellomio most of the comments posted are unfounded bashing by those who live in perpetual contemplation. At least he is consistently trying to hold leadership accountable. What are,most of, the rest of you doing to influence change in our society? People, "sitting" on the sidelines criticizing those who are sincerely trying to engage in the process are the problem! Tacoma Traveler, you are projecting your issues with religion where there's no relavence whatsoever. I'm amazed at how shallow minded the majority of the comments are in their expression. The City Counsel is lacking in integrity! The room is empty most of the time. Instead of feeding your egos with your self rightiousness, why don't you Stand up - yeah this will require more then sitting in front of your computer - and go to the City Counsel and show people how it should be done. Oh right, that would mean you would have to show your face.

@17 Welcome to Slog, Sam.

Right, but that "trying" has about as much effect as me drinking this glass of water. The opportunity was provided to voice opinions about the issue: Sam instead nonsensically rambles about not having the ability to voice his opinion.

I'm confused how the City Council is lacking in integrity. That notion seems without merit and simply a baseless ad hominem attack because you have a differing point of view. News flash: lots of people have differing points of view. Governance is where we people come together to make policy: not where some Magic Savior gets to solve world problems instantly via grand fiat. Politics takes time and effort, and this absurdist theater seems to be a laughably naïve approach to the world. Show people how *what* should be done? How to be rude and polite when faced with people who pretty politely put up with these sophomoric shenanigans?

Instead of feeding your egos with a ridiculous and barely watched YouTube feed of rambling speeches showcasing how you can waste the time of people you in theory want spending their time solving problems, get active and advocate directly about the issues you care about. Bring up specific data and points - hell, advocate for Leah-Lynn Plane! - but rambling pointless discourse is an abject waste of time.

There might be some interesting ideas here, but they're horribly voiced. Tim "destructive force of evil" Eyman seems to have a well-formed anti-establishment playbook: it would seems *child's play* to go steal that blueprint and reform the political world in your image. That would indeed take way more effort than simply stalling Council meetings, though.

(I've been involved, and left a couple pretty positive legacies behind. Assuming everyone else hasn't "shown" their face because YOU haven't seen them is pretty egotistical. Grow up.)

@2 - in the clip (and every Monday), he's addressing the King County Council, which is elected by district, not at-large.