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News & ArtsMonday, October 19, 2009
City Mallahan's New Line of Attack
Posted by Dominic Holden on Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Obviously, mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan will do everything he can to brand rival Mike McGinn as a waterfront flip-flopper for reversing his outright opposition to digging an expensive tunnel under downtown. How voters will respond is up for a guess. On one hand, wearing flip flops didn't work out so well for John Kerry. But this move could save McGinn. Lots and lots and lots of people want to like him—lots of people who think a tunnel would be fine—and this allows him to wash off the repellent pushing away voters. It also shows that he can be passionate and compromise. But Mallahan's campaign is already testing a line of attack.
"I don't think anyone is going to let him off the hook for going from a one-issue candidate to a zero-issue candidate with no management experience," says Mallahan spokeswoman Charla Neuman. But, as we write this in this week's paper, McGinn has a diverse platform and Mallahan has hardly proven to be knowledgeable on city issues. So how will Mallahan frame this against McGinn?
"Even his own supporters are going to lose trust in whether Mike McGinn even believes the words that are coming out of his mouth—who knows what he even stands for?" Neuman says. "He made this the biggest issue in his campaign and now he's changed his mind whether it's worth fighting for or not. What else is he going to change his mind on?"
Does this pull out the rug from under Mallahan's campaign, which has painted McGinn as an obstructionist—who prevents the city from "moving forward"—as recently as last night's KIRO TV debate?
"I think it pulls the rug out from McGinn in pretending to take a strong stand on anything," Neuman says. "We have three more televised debates to go. What TV station is going to let him the hook for switching on his campaign platform? I honestly think that this is more evidence of [McGinn's] legal background coming back to haunt him in the worst way—it shows that he will argue whatever side he thinks will benefit him the most."
1
Hell Dom, Mallahan doesn't have to brand him anything!
He is a complete flip flopping tool.
He is realizing that his campaign is losing horribly, and now he feels that accepting the tunnel will gain him more votes than changing his position will loose him.
Riiiiggghhht.
Let's quit with the stupid fucking credulous hackery Dom. McGinn can no longer be supported by anyone with any credibility. If you continue trying to support his candidacy, you too will look like a stupid fucking credulous hack yourself.
His supporters will absolutely lose trust in anything McGinn promises. BIG FUCKING MISTAKE!
And I'm sure that the Stranger will be completely impartial in their objective analysis of voter's reactions. ALL Seattle voters, not his lapdog followers that reside on Cap Hill and nowhere else!
Geessshhhh
He is a complete flip flopping tool.
He is realizing that his campaign is losing horribly, and now he feels that accepting the tunnel will gain him more votes than changing his position will loose him.
Riiiiggghhht.
Let's quit with the stupid fucking credulous hackery Dom. McGinn can no longer be supported by anyone with any credibility. If you continue trying to support his candidacy, you too will look like a stupid fucking credulous hack yourself.
His supporters will absolutely lose trust in anything McGinn promises. BIG FUCKING MISTAKE!
And I'm sure that the Stranger will be completely impartial in their objective analysis of voter's reactions. ALL Seattle voters, not his lapdog followers that reside on Cap Hill and nowhere else!
Geessshhhh
2
I was kind of thinking that Mallahan lost his one issue: attacking McGinn about the tunnel. Mallahan/Neuman are scrambling to adjust their negative mean-spirited strategy to find some other way to attack McGinn.
Gee, Mallahan has what I really want in a mayor: lack of policy focus, lack of community involvement, lack of actually voting, surrounds himself with negative and mean folks and he doesn't understand the issues.
Gee, Mallahan has what I really want in a mayor: lack of policy focus, lack of community involvement, lack of actually voting, surrounds himself with negative and mean folks and he doesn't understand the issues.
3
Come on, the guy caved on his number 1 issue. He's Number fucking 1 issue. For a while, it was his only fucking issue and he just tossed it overboard.
But then again, most Sloggers like to be people's bitches, so no doubt they'll keep their lips wrapped firmly around McGinn's scrotum.
But then again, most Sloggers like to be people's bitches, so no doubt they'll keep their lips wrapped firmly around McGinn's scrotum.
7
Neuman's comments in the article are SPOT ON! Noone will trust this candidate's word. How can they? Just like Neuman said, "I don't think anyone is gong to let him off the hook for going from a one-issue candidate to a zero-issue candidate with no management experience,"
Precisely!
Sorry Dom, but that "platform" you espouse is basically worthless now too... it is blatantly obvious that the "talking points" within it, are nothing more than thinly veiled pandering and promises to special interest voters. McGinn will say/do anything to get into office, and this just proves it! How can we take ANY of his "platform positions" seriously knowing that he doesn't believe in his most passionate stance enough to not flip flop on it when the pressure mounts, and public opinion is clearly elsewhere?
Really?
You..... with all your masterful use of words, positioning and framing can't see that line of logic?
Or are you just conveniently framing the argument here too?
You pundits really need to analyze your reporting.. it is NO wonder that journalism is dying considering all the advocacy hackery that is taking place nowadays.
And it makes Dan's thread about the journalism job available for $8/hour that much more ironic!
:)
Precisely!
Sorry Dom, but that "platform" you espouse is basically worthless now too... it is blatantly obvious that the "talking points" within it, are nothing more than thinly veiled pandering and promises to special interest voters. McGinn will say/do anything to get into office, and this just proves it! How can we take ANY of his "platform positions" seriously knowing that he doesn't believe in his most passionate stance enough to not flip flop on it when the pressure mounts, and public opinion is clearly elsewhere?
Really?
You..... with all your masterful use of words, positioning and framing can't see that line of logic?
Or are you just conveniently framing the argument here too?
You pundits really need to analyze your reporting.. it is NO wonder that journalism is dying considering all the advocacy hackery that is taking place nowadays.
And it makes Dan's thread about the journalism job available for $8/hour that much more ironic!
:)
8
x-posted for Reality Check:
None of this makes Mallahan anything but a half-assed corporate shill who's never lifted a finger for our community but who now wants to buy it. Good on McGinn for accepting the facts and being honest about what he can and cannot do.
You haters realize the unanimous city council vote changes everything, right? It's out of the mayor's hands and McGinn is admitting that.
None of this makes Mallahan anything but a half-assed corporate shill who's never lifted a finger for our community but who now wants to buy it. Good on McGinn for accepting the facts and being honest about what he can and cannot do.
You haters realize the unanimous city council vote changes everything, right? It's out of the mayor's hands and McGinn is admitting that.
9
Could the Stranger please commission a new portrait for the McGinn religion gallery? It could be titled: "McMoses revises his Ten Commandments based on his new polling results".
Although I disagreed with him before, I now disrespect him as well.
Although I disagreed with him before, I now disrespect him as well.
10
I think McGinn may have realized that the way he presented his position was killing the credibility of his position, failing to attract us fencesitters annoyed by both men.
New position, new presentation style. It's a twofer.
Seems like a politically smart risk for him to take at this point. Supporters he got more than a month or so ago are stuck with him for keeps, since they've all convinced themselves in the interim that Mallahan is some sort of cross between Boss Tweed and Nosferatu. They have nowhere to go, and will follow where he leads.
But I wonder how many voters were supporting or leaning Mallahan mostly because he wasn't McGinn. They'll be looking harder at their own guy now that McGinn doesn't technically exist any more. McGinn 2.0 might grab some if he moves fast enough.
New position, new presentation style. It's a twofer.
Seems like a politically smart risk for him to take at this point. Supporters he got more than a month or so ago are stuck with him for keeps, since they've all convinced themselves in the interim that Mallahan is some sort of cross between Boss Tweed and Nosferatu. They have nowhere to go, and will follow where he leads.
But I wonder how many voters were supporting or leaning Mallahan mostly because he wasn't McGinn. They'll be looking harder at their own guy now that McGinn doesn't technically exist any more. McGinn 2.0 might grab some if he moves fast enough.
11
McGinn hasn't flipped on anything. What bullshit! The city council and mayor have signed a memorandum of understanding going forward with the project. The idiots in the city council have forced this upon us. like it or not McGinn's hand are now tied. But what is good is that at least he will know the hard questions that must be asked when this thing comes to a screeching halt with cost overruns.
Plus, this is not McGinn's only issue. He has issue policy statements on a variety of issues.
http://mcginnformayor.com/issues/
He has a lot more knowledge of the issues than the former Slade Gordon intern Mallahan, that's for sure.
PS TMobile's service sucks!
Plus, this is not McGinn's only issue. He has issue policy statements on a variety of issues.
http://mcginnformayor.com/issues/
He has a lot more knowledge of the issues than the former Slade Gordon intern Mallahan, that's for sure.
PS TMobile's service sucks!
12
@8 X posted back here is my reply..
@10 if you mean by haters .... all the McGinn Kool Aid drinkers? All the Mallahan supporters support the tunnel idea.
The hipster McGinn Kool Aid drinkers think they have the power to stop the tunnel still even after this vote. They still don't "get it". that they have very little actual power at all in this city. They like to think they do, and they have lots of big scary sounding words they can type on SLOG posts, but at the end of the day, they are all just lemmings.
They actually believe in their little insulated worlds that McGinn still has a snowball's chance in hell at getting more than 40% of the vote, let alone enough to make it a close race!
Even after all of this .... they still find ways to excuse McGinn's behavior, and justify his "new" platform! They still won't admit that they have been completely betrayed and mislead that their hero is a zero!
So you really don't expect them to accept any facts do you?
Really?
Didn't McCain pull a similar stunt when he was losing badly? Something about a controversial running mate to fire up his base, in an all out last ditch effort to garner a precious few extra votes?
We all know how that worked out for him!
@10 if you mean by haters .... all the McGinn Kool Aid drinkers? All the Mallahan supporters support the tunnel idea.
The hipster McGinn Kool Aid drinkers think they have the power to stop the tunnel still even after this vote. They still don't "get it". that they have very little actual power at all in this city. They like to think they do, and they have lots of big scary sounding words they can type on SLOG posts, but at the end of the day, they are all just lemmings.
They actually believe in their little insulated worlds that McGinn still has a snowball's chance in hell at getting more than 40% of the vote, let alone enough to make it a close race!
Even after all of this .... they still find ways to excuse McGinn's behavior, and justify his "new" platform! They still won't admit that they have been completely betrayed and mislead that their hero is a zero!
So you really don't expect them to accept any facts do you?
Really?
Didn't McCain pull a similar stunt when he was losing badly? Something about a controversial running mate to fire up his base, in an all out last ditch effort to garner a precious few extra votes?
We all know how that worked out for him!
13
11&12 are right on. The city council vote today was 9-0. Nine fucking zero. If McGinn was going to say he was going to roll a unanimous council (okay, 8-1 council after O'Brien is elected), he'd look really fucking stupid. Good for McGinn for knowing when to move on. That is, moving on until the inevitable cost overruns and engineering realities start rearing their ugly head.
14
@11 see my reply @ 7 for my thoughts on his policy statements... and subsequent credibility going forward!
How can we trust he won't flip flop on other policies?
Hint: We can't.
How can we trust he won't flip flop on other policies?
Hint: We can't.
15
@14 - you mean like Joe?
.... real mayors adapt and focus on the priorities - like making sure we get Olympia on the hook for the inevitable $0.5 billion overrun, and that the city gets more freight capacity, not less (current tunnel plan, which hasn't even had public hearings)
.... real mayors adapt and focus on the priorities - like making sure we get Olympia on the hook for the inevitable $0.5 billion overrun, and that the city gets more freight capacity, not less (current tunnel plan, which hasn't even had public hearings)
16
So how all all you Greenies who are opposed to the tunnel going to vote for a man who is now in favor of it?
Or are you going to pretend to believe McGinn when he says he's not gonna come in your mouth?
Or are you going to pretend to believe McGinn when he says he's not gonna come in your mouth?
19
McGinn's fixation on axing the tunnel was the only thing I didn't like about him. Nice to see him come to his senses on that issue.
21
I'm enjoying how some people think the timing or result of this long-scheduled vote came as some surprise to either Man Who Would Be King.
Like it or no, McGinn's repositioning statement wasn't spontaneous in any sense of the word. Delivering it as he did to teevee cameras next to a bus stop may have lent it an air of the impromptu, but that air was about all the impromptu it had.
Like it or no, McGinn's repositioning statement wasn't spontaneous in any sense of the word. Delivering it as he did to teevee cameras next to a bus stop may have lent it an air of the impromptu, but that air was about all the impromptu it had.
22
i'm one of those people that like mcginn but was annoyed at his anti-tunnel stance (well, not so much that he was anti-tunnel, but that he was pro-let's-vote-on-it-5-times-and-have-nothing-happen. which may be unfair, but living in seattle for10 years has made me wary). i'm on the viaduct twice a day, five days a week and imma gonna super pissed if i die in its collapse before i move closer to work in two weeks. i don't care what they do with it at this point, just do something! (i know i don't have to take it, but i commute from ballard to west seattle -monorail!- and the viaduct is the easiest by far.)
so i'm pretty pleased, actually.
so i'm pretty pleased, actually.
23
#14: If he flip flops on all of his progressive policies, worst case, what are we left with? Joe Mallahan. I'll take my chances that he sticks to at least one smart position.
24
Wasn't McGinn on TV last night saying he was absolutely against the tunnel? Is this kind of like 'nearly' being a virgin?
25
Mallahan is a joke. Still, I was going to vote for him because the last thing Seattle needs is a mayor picking fights with Chris Gregoire over a transportation project with no right or wrong answer.
Now I will vote for McGinn.
P.S. "Flip flop" is just Karl Rove speak for "compromise" or "facing reality". A flip flopper is anyone who doesn't exhibit the stupid, stubborn, black and white thinking of the Bush administration.
Now I will vote for McGinn.
P.S. "Flip flop" is just Karl Rove speak for "compromise" or "facing reality". A flip flopper is anyone who doesn't exhibit the stupid, stubborn, black and white thinking of the Bush administration.
26
time for the stranger to stop the douchebaggery and stop backing the bearded asshole with no relevant opinions. you've insulted the next mayor enough - nice work turning him off your rag for the next 4 years. dicks.
27
seandr, you are so right about "flip flop." It's such a sloppy shortcut soundbite thing. When McGinn used it against Nickels on the head tax I thought, oh shit, you will reap what you rhetorically sow, dear sir.
28
You have to forgive McGinn's cult followers. You see Mike promised not to come in their mouths, and now that he has, they are all here smiling and pretending that foul, salty, slimy taste in the back of their mouths is actually his political maturity they are swallowing.
No doubt, tomorrow the McGinn Cultists are gonna give him a rimjob after he 'promises' that he wiped after his morning dump.
No doubt, tomorrow the McGinn Cultists are gonna give him a rimjob after he 'promises' that he wiped after his morning dump.
30
@25 agreed. I appreciate that McGinn knows when to compromise. And I think he's played it well, making it seem like he would pay special notice to keeping the tunnel on budget as mayor.
31
I'm thinking Charla's Slog avatar is Davy Jones. That and Reality Check has waay too much time on his hands.
32
This is a great example of why people should hold off filling out their ballots until the campaign is actually over. Campaigns do change and opinions might well do the same.
33
I wonder what the odds are that Charla Neuman was just borrowing a phrase used to describe her own candidate:
"I don't think anyone is going to let him off the hook for going from a one-issue candidate to a zero-issue candidate with no management experience," says Mallahan spokeswoman Charla Neuman.
I wonder what the odds are that Charla Neuman was just borrowing a phrase used to describe her own candidate:
I would make the case that Joe Mallahan is really a zero-issue candidate who has only taken up the tunnel issue because Mike McGinn made it one.
34
Zombie Mind Controllers have seized the brains of all Seattle politicians!
Avoid wifi zones -- that's how they send their signals.
Vote I-1033; cut the juice...
Zombie Mind Controllers have seized the brains of all Seattle politicians!
Avoid wifi zones -- that's how they send their signals.
Vote I-1033; cut the juice...
35
Jan Drago said that she would get this done before she left office. Mallahan evaluated the situation and saw it for what it was, something that would be decided before he could take office, and what would the mayor have to do after taking office. In January the issue will be (and has been) how to manage the risk of the project that would already be committed to by all levels of government.
This is in stark contrast to McGinn's managing by belief. He has ignored the fact that bills were passed, and the city council has been meeting on this issue for months. How long could he string his supporters along? Was he trying to make it past the date that ballots arrived in mail boxes? That has to be the "timing" of this decision that was most damaging to his campaign.
How many voters filled out their ballots on Saturday and dropped it in the mail this morning, now wishing they could get that ballot back.
The inevitability of this project was something McGinn was simply not honest about. His supporters, and media supporters can spin this as somehow bad for Mallahan, having McGinn be exposed earlier than he would have wished, as a guy that is willing to say anything, crafted by a guy who has spent a few years as a lobbyist/lawyer/advocate, mistakenly assumed as proven leadership.
He got paid for his lobby over the past few years. He has convinced plenty of people to support him in his efforts, and get paid for it. The difference here is that many people were paying him, and supporting him, on a position that was soft to begin with, and now he has abandoned.
He WAS going to stop the tunnel. I think he would still try to stop it by sandbagging the project at every turn. I could be wrong on that point, I could be right, and McGinn is in no position to convince me either way.
More...
This is in stark contrast to McGinn's managing by belief. He has ignored the fact that bills were passed, and the city council has been meeting on this issue for months. How long could he string his supporters along? Was he trying to make it past the date that ballots arrived in mail boxes? That has to be the "timing" of this decision that was most damaging to his campaign.
How many voters filled out their ballots on Saturday and dropped it in the mail this morning, now wishing they could get that ballot back.
The inevitability of this project was something McGinn was simply not honest about. His supporters, and media supporters can spin this as somehow bad for Mallahan, having McGinn be exposed earlier than he would have wished, as a guy that is willing to say anything, crafted by a guy who has spent a few years as a lobbyist/lawyer/advocate, mistakenly assumed as proven leadership.
He got paid for his lobby over the past few years. He has convinced plenty of people to support him in his efforts, and get paid for it. The difference here is that many people were paying him, and supporting him, on a position that was soft to begin with, and now he has abandoned.
He WAS going to stop the tunnel. I think he would still try to stop it by sandbagging the project at every turn. I could be wrong on that point, I could be right, and McGinn is in no position to convince me either way.
37
What a dumb move. McG should have just feigned outrage that this thing was getting railroaded, and left it at head-shaking. Why on earth would he make a big announcement that he's caving?
38
Count me in the club @25. I just changed my vote to McGinn. I got my ballot a couple of days ago and I didn't want to fill it out right away because I wanted McGinn to have a chance to prove that he can be progressive without having the Jimmy Carter disease.
39
you were sucking his asshole when he was anti-tunnel... that's the main reason most of his supporters cite for liking him... now he's not anti-tunnel.
Wait, I take that back, he's anti-tunnel but he will go along with the tunnel...
He's sounding more and more like the person he's been trying to portray Mallahan as in the 'gun-ban' arena.
EVERY news organization admitted after the primary, including The Stranger (Eli -I think it was - on KUOW), that McGinn had NO platform outside the tunnel and attempting to push the liberal agenda had been their primary reason for supporting him... essentially wanting to force Nickels further left.
My Grandma says she'll be anti-tunnel if you'll coddle her asshole like you did McGinn's!
So, next week's headline will either read "Fuck McGinn" or some version of "Electric Bicycles for ALL!"
As far as I can see it's, "Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead!"
Wait, I take that back, he's anti-tunnel but he will go along with the tunnel...
He's sounding more and more like the person he's been trying to portray Mallahan as in the 'gun-ban' arena.
EVERY news organization admitted after the primary, including The Stranger (Eli -I think it was - on KUOW), that McGinn had NO platform outside the tunnel and attempting to push the liberal agenda had been their primary reason for supporting him... essentially wanting to force Nickels further left.
My Grandma says she'll be anti-tunnel if you'll coddle her asshole like you did McGinn's!
So, next week's headline will either read "Fuck McGinn" or some version of "Electric Bicycles for ALL!"
As far as I can see it's, "Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead!"
40
It's as if McGinn was a multi-issue candidate.
Next thing we'll find out that the Sierra Club cares about multiple things - like energy, green jobs, transit, pollution, fishing, agriculture, clean rivers, development that doesn't look like a Russian monstrosity ....
But if we're to believe Mallahan, then we have to believe that Seattle only has one issue.
Which, naturally, we all know is gay baby pit bulls for Jesus.
Next thing we'll find out that the Sierra Club cares about multiple things - like energy, green jobs, transit, pollution, fishing, agriculture, clean rivers, development that doesn't look like a Russian monstrosity ....
But if we're to believe Mallahan, then we have to believe that Seattle only has one issue.
Which, naturally, we all know is gay baby pit bulls for Jesus.
41
You bet on the wrong horse Stranger. McGinn is showing his true colors. First it's the fear drenched Republican style robo calls now he losing the tunnel debate so he jumps ship on that. The policy wonk elitist crap is not selling with the people who drive back and forth to work each day on the viaduct and are sick of the 10 years of conjecture on how to fix the problem.
McGinn may be a fine fellow to have a latte with but he's cut of the same boring all talk and no action cloth that has been holding Seattle back for years. Intellectualizing about the viaduct fix this late in the game is ridiculous. If the tunnel is built it will be a resolution of 10 years of jibber-jabber from the likes of Nick Licata and the rest of the feeling groovy get nothing done crowd. Also building the tunnel will be a billion dollar stimulus package for the city. JOBS Union JOBS. You folks are so busy trying to restrict the business sector or people who create jobs pretty soon you all be working for McDonalds or Wallmart.
McGinn may be a fine fellow to have a latte with but he's cut of the same boring all talk and no action cloth that has been holding Seattle back for years. Intellectualizing about the viaduct fix this late in the game is ridiculous. If the tunnel is built it will be a resolution of 10 years of jibber-jabber from the likes of Nick Licata and the rest of the feeling groovy get nothing done crowd. Also building the tunnel will be a billion dollar stimulus package for the city. JOBS Union JOBS. You folks are so busy trying to restrict the business sector or people who create jobs pretty soon you all be working for McDonalds or Wallmart.
42
@40....
Not to waste my time in every non-point but ... agriculture? What the f does Seattle have to do with Agriculture any more? I've been involved with it my whole life and I see no remnant of it in the city limits but that is much higher representation than McGinn's knowledge of the issue.
I've been waiting for a McGinn campaign outside Tunnel=BAD and it hasn't happened other than him saying random crap that is not linked to reality in any way.
Please, Will, Please!!!! Tell me how Mike is going to fix the vast issue of agriculture in the city of Seattle! (I'm guessing something similar to how he's going to fix schools and buses from outside those systems)
Not to waste my time in every non-point but ... agriculture? What the f does Seattle have to do with Agriculture any more? I've been involved with it my whole life and I see no remnant of it in the city limits but that is much higher representation than McGinn's knowledge of the issue.
I've been waiting for a McGinn campaign outside Tunnel=BAD and it hasn't happened other than him saying random crap that is not linked to reality in any way.
Please, Will, Please!!!! Tell me how Mike is going to fix the vast issue of agriculture in the city of Seattle! (I'm guessing something similar to how he's going to fix schools and buses from outside those systems)
43
Sorry but nothing McGinn does is going to put substance in that empty suit that he's running against. He didn't need to emphasize the tunnel issue so much from the beginning. The thing is going to die of its own weight when the real numbers start coming in. What the mayor says or does won't matter in the end.
Re Mallahan, the plain fact is that he cared so little about this city he didn't even bother to vote in most of the recent elections. His civic life was non-existent until this year. Suddenly he wakes up and wants to become mayor? Sorry fella; not with my vote.
Re Mallahan, the plain fact is that he cared so little about this city he didn't even bother to vote in most of the recent elections. His civic life was non-existent until this year. Suddenly he wakes up and wants to become mayor? Sorry fella; not with my vote.
44
So, what does Mallahan have now?
He says he'll fix the cities finances, but his campaign is in debt.
He says he'll (insert Nickels initiative)
Other than that, nothing. McGinn has been dominating this campaign, and Mallahan has only been able to react-react-react.
The City Council reaches a rare unanimous decision and McGinn releases a statement as though he's already the mayor, promising to work with the council but not to let it get out of hand. He's handed the tunnel over to the Council (since this is how this particular system works). If one i lacks a dot or one t isn't crossed, it's on the Council.
Mallahan can call McGinn a flip-flopper all he wants, but Mallahan was against the first hill streetcar, then for it. Against the mercer mess, but for it. Against light rail, but for it. Against arts funding, then for it.
He says he'll fix the cities finances, but his campaign is in debt.
He says he'll (insert Nickels initiative)
Other than that, nothing. McGinn has been dominating this campaign, and Mallahan has only been able to react-react-react.
The City Council reaches a rare unanimous decision and McGinn releases a statement as though he's already the mayor, promising to work with the council but not to let it get out of hand. He's handed the tunnel over to the Council (since this is how this particular system works). If one i lacks a dot or one t isn't crossed, it's on the Council.
Mallahan can call McGinn a flip-flopper all he wants, but Mallahan was against the first hill streetcar, then for it. Against the mercer mess, but for it. Against light rail, but for it. Against arts funding, then for it.
45
@ 44:
So what does Mallahan have now? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Except for one thing. The "new urbanist" cult crazies who support McGinn are left on the outside looking in -- where they belong.
I'll wave to them as I cruise by at 50 on the Viaduct, which should be good for at least another 10 years -- toll free, bitches!
So what does Mallahan have now? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Except for one thing. The "new urbanist" cult crazies who support McGinn are left on the outside looking in -- where they belong.
I'll wave to them as I cruise by at 50 on the Viaduct, which should be good for at least another 10 years -- toll free, bitches!
46
It's not so much that I was wavering about whether or not to vote for McGinn, but I had strong reservations about doing so precisely because of his stance on the tunnel. I like his policy positions on other aspects of city government. I can live with this "flip-flop" because a) I agree with the reasoning, and b) in other areas of city policy I clearly favor McGinn's positions.
And c'mon, there's no way I'd vote to elect a Mayor who can't even be bothered to vote most of the time. If you repeatedly refuse to participate in the most basic element of a democratic society, you don't deserve to hold elected office.
And c'mon, there's no way I'd vote to elect a Mayor who can't even be bothered to vote most of the time. If you repeatedly refuse to participate in the most basic element of a democratic society, you don't deserve to hold elected office.
47
@42 - there are farms in this county and some people have orchards and chicken coops and goats in this city. Maybe if you got out more you'd know that.
48
I would say McGinn's move is dumb in the sense that (a) there was never any mystery the council would vote this way and (b) he should have made this decision long ago and well before ballots went out.
That said, I'm sick of the Joe Mallahan campaign for a variety of reasons.
For starters, the campaign only speaks in generalities like "moving forward" and "driving efficiencies." Aside from giving cheap cell phone service to people in poverty, I have ***NEVER*** heard Mr. Mallahan talk about big business decisions he has ever made or a project he lead. He doesn't talk about anything he's actually done.
This goes for his fucking pathetic voting record. How can you excuse that? THIRTEEN missed fucking elections, including the two previous mayoral primaries? This is fucking ridiculous. He has no connection to the city other than living in it. He has no record of any public or civic engagement on even a single issue. Being an Obama delegate isn't the reason you become mayor; it's the reason a college student gets a fucking internship to fetch coffee and doughnuts for someone else in a high position.
McGinn was really fucking stupid to do this, it just makes him look Kerry-esque, but Mallahan's mean-spirited campaign totally lacks any fucking substance whatsoever --- much like their candidate.
So, fuck this. I'm not voting for either one. Fuck it.
That said, I'm sick of the Joe Mallahan campaign for a variety of reasons.
For starters, the campaign only speaks in generalities like "moving forward" and "driving efficiencies." Aside from giving cheap cell phone service to people in poverty, I have ***NEVER*** heard Mr. Mallahan talk about big business decisions he has ever made or a project he lead. He doesn't talk about anything he's actually done.
This goes for his fucking pathetic voting record. How can you excuse that? THIRTEEN missed fucking elections, including the two previous mayoral primaries? This is fucking ridiculous. He has no connection to the city other than living in it. He has no record of any public or civic engagement on even a single issue. Being an Obama delegate isn't the reason you become mayor; it's the reason a college student gets a fucking internship to fetch coffee and doughnuts for someone else in a high position.
McGinn was really fucking stupid to do this, it just makes him look Kerry-esque, but Mallahan's mean-spirited campaign totally lacks any fucking substance whatsoever --- much like their candidate.
So, fuck this. I'm not voting for either one. Fuck it.
49
Mike is an arrogant irritating guy who with no effort at all pisses off most all in his path....except of course the doe-eyed neophytes in his campaign. He can't even get to a meeting on time or remember the name of the name of the person (who may have a status he considers lower than his own) sitting next to him for the 10th time at a meeting. After working with him for about a dozen years in the community, I know he's really a lobbyist saying whatever the talking points are. He'll find the next issue we should all start over on at this point now that his main one has been legislated out from under him.
50
@45, sorry but they are going to start tolling the viaduct to pay for the tunnel. So you can cruise by at 50 miles an hour, or 80 or whatever but you will be paying 2 to 6 bucks each way. I hope you enjoy paying for the tunnel!
51
I had a dream there other night where I ran into McGinn at a party and told him that I would vote for him if he would just change his stance on the tunnel. He said that he just believed getting cars off the road was important and since we can't make busses more attractive, we needed to make driving a car more painful. I told him that I couldn't disagree more with his approach, but at least respected the fact that he had principles. Now that he has changed his tune, I worry that he is just saying whatever he can to get elected. I won't be sad if he wins and actually keeps his word by not being objectionist and fights hard to make sure we aren't paying cost overruns. But, I just can't shake the feeling that he may be a liar. If he is lying about this just to get elected, what else will he lie about once he IS elected?
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