Five peeves, including uninspiring local campaigns
Let's get down to some serious issues, rather than side shows about racism, public options, trade wars with China, Hutchison's past political leanings, and cynical appeals to quickie light rail lines.
By Ted Van Dyk
September 18, 2009.
Several things are vexing me in this political season:
Our feckless mayoral campaign. Now we know why it would have been best had a well-known, experienced local figure (such as former and present City Council members Peter Steinbrueck or Nick Licata) decided to challenge outgoing Mayor Greg Nickels in the primary election. Michael McGinn and Joe Mallahan are engaged in a discouraging race to the bottom.
McGinn, until now, has run mainly on a "stop the tunnel" platform, generating support among Seattle voters who do not like the notion of a deep-bore tunnel replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct. State, county, and local governments previously had agreed on the tunnel option to replace a viaduct which has been an eight-year public safety hazard.
McGinn's success on this issue predictably has aroused and frightened supporters of other big public-works projects, including Sound Transit light rail and the Mercer Project, designed by Mayor Nickels to benefit Vulcan Inc.'s South Lake Union commercial real estate development McGinn's apparent olive branch to this community was his announced support Wednesday for extension of Sound Transit light rail to Ballard, Interbay, Queen Anne, Belltown, downtown, West Seattle, and perhaps Fremont.
Whoa! The present light rail plan, narrowly passed in 2008, calls for $23 billion, and probably more, in tax increases for a three-county light rail system — the largest local-level tax increase in U.S. history. McGinn's proposed extensions would cost many times more than the deep-bore tunnel he now criticizes for its costs. This is a hyper-cynical proposal on behalf of a system which would be far more costly, and carry fewer passengers, than a simple expansion of bus service to the Seattle neighborhoods involved.
Mallahan,for his part, still has a slight lead in polls and has drawn a number of establishment endorsements. But, given his financial advantages over McGinn, Mallahan by now should have a crushing lead in the race. He has performed indifferently at joint forums, proved tone-deaf to questions raised at district Democratic meetings, and still appears less than knowledgeable about salient city issues. His campaign also has become notorious for unreturned phone calls — even those placed from mobile phones (and Mallahan is a T-Mobile executive). Mallahan worked for a time in a congressional office, organized for President Obama, and is a marketing executive. He shows little sign that these experiences have rubbed off on him.
It's perplexing. McGinn appears slippery and calculating, Mallahan out of his environment. Small wonder that "undecideds" are so numerous.
Racism raised as an issue. Some politicos and media figures have raised racism as the motivating factor in the heckling of President Obama during his speech to the Congress last week and, for that matter, in recent criticisms of his health-care proposals. Too many good men and women have shed too much blood and effort, over too many years, to fight real racism to have a phony "racism" issue raised over what clearly was a foolish, emotional outcry of "liar" by Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina in response to Obama's remarks. The congressman has apologized. He has been chastised by his House colleagues. Subsequent charges of "racism" by former President Jimmy Carter, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne, and several TV commentators and Democratic elected officials have lacked any substantive foundation.
Moreover, these charges are hurting rather than helping Obama. Upcoming polling is likely to show that most Americans see this as a cynical political tactic more identified with race hustlers such as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson than with serious people of any race or ethnicity. It is far worse in degree than former President Bill Clinton's misstep in the 2008 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, when he attempted to introduce race as an issue. Conservative media and commentators are having a field day milking public reaction to the phony racism charges. Let's get back to the real issues and away from this nasty distraction.
The cynical, sad Constantine campaign. I looked forward to a county executive candidacy by either Ross Hunter or Fred Jarrett, Eastside legislators with reformist, can-do credentials that would have made either one a credible change agent in the November elections. There was insufficient political space for both candidacies, however, and veteran county council member Dow Constantine emerged as the finalist against former TV anchorwoman Susan Hutchison.
Constantine made hay in the primary by draping himself with a Democratic label and pasting a Republican label on Hutchison. He was at it again Wednesday in a public debate between the two. This is a non-partisan office. Hutchison has made clear frequently that she is genuinely independent, has voted for both Democrats and Republicans, and has been endorsed by both Democrats and Republicans. She clearly wants the job out of a genuine desire for public service.
It is time for Constantine to join on the issues. He has found it convenient to pursue the Hutchison-must-be-a-Republican theme. This is an effort to make Hutchison the issue, rather than his own multi-year association with policies that have put King County government in its deep financial hole. Polls show Hutchison and Constantine quite close in the race. But Constantine is hurting himself and losing votes with continuing low-politics tactics. If Hutchison's supposed partisan leanings are Constantine's major issue, he deserves to lose.
Health care confusion. Beleaguered Montana Sen. Max Baucus finally unveiled Wednesday a bill that will be the basis for Senate Finance Commitee consideration next week. It notably omits the so-called "public option" — a government entity to compete with private health insurers — which Obama already had in effect tossed overboard in his speech to the Congress last week. That omission did not satisfy Republican Senators who had been working with him to develop a bipartisan bill. Nor did it please his fellow Democrats. Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Ron Wyden immediately made strongly derogatory public statements about Baucus' bill. Sen. Maria Cantwell, strangely, reacted by calling Wednesday for inclusion of a public option, after it clearly had become past tense. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Thursday morning expressed disagreement with several parts of the Baucus bill.
Three House committee bills must be melded into one before a House vote on a final consolidated bill. Much of October is likely to be consumed with Finance Committee and then full Senate debate, and votes on amendments, before any legislation reaches a final vote. The Senate bill will be different than the House bill. The real and important differences between Democrats and Republicans — and, more importantly, between moderate and liberal Democrats, who combine into strong majorities in both House and Senate — deserve a serious airing. The legislation was framed hastily, sub-contracted by Obama to Democratic congressional committee chairs, and without any attempt at bipartisanship except by Baucus. Here is a good analysis of the costs of the Baucus and other bills.
I felt sympathy for Baucus Wednesday when he stood alone at a podium to discuss legislation which he had fought to produce over many day-and-night weeks. No Democrats or Republicans stood with him. The White House made bland approving noises. His bill is, truth be told, the only one presently under consideration that has a chance of final passage. This is a time for some stand-up leadership all around.
Tread Wars. President Obama unaccountably has launched a trade war with China, slapping restrictions on Chinese tire exports to the United States at the request of U.S. unions at American tire plants. China, predictably, is restricting an equal volume of U.S. exports (including auto products) to China.
There are many aspects to this. Some of the tire plants in China, doing the exporting, are U.S. owned. The manufacturing now is likely to shift to non-U.S.-owned plants in low-cost countries. There also is the practical matter that China is financing our record deficits and buying U.S. assets, including some "toxic assets" left over from the derivatives crash. If China stopped doing so, our financial system could tank. In other words, China's leverage is much greater than our own.
The closest parallel to the tread war is the infamous Chicken War undertaken in the mid-1960s, when President Johnson raised tariffs against several European Union (then Common Market) products because Arkansas Sen. William Fulbright and Rep. Wilbur Mills, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, complained that Germany was not importing enough Arkansas chicken products. Fulbright, known as an internationalist, went so far as to threaten U.S. withdrawal from NATO if Germany did not buy his state's poultry products. Europe, predictably, retaliated by banning an equal volume of U.S. exports. Both sides quickly backed off without a squawk.
The international climate now is far more protectionist than it was in the free-trading 1960s. Once set in motion, the present U.S.-China conflict will be harder for both sides to abandon than the U.S.-EU conflict was 40-plus years ago. This was a dumb, pointless move which Obama's financial and economic team should have headed off.
Comments:
Posted Fri, Sep 18, 9:38 a.m. Inappropriate
It's hilarious that McGinn, the ebike rider, wants to light rail to Ballard, Interbay, Queen Anne, Belltown, downtown, West Seattle, and perhaps Fremont. It is possible for cyclists to travel with ease to all of these neighborhoods on their bikes, with the exception of West Seattle, which is a dicey ride because of the lack of a safe bridge trail, and Queen Anne which is a hump even for very fit cyclists.
I totally agree that for the foreseeable future--especially because light rail is staggeringly expensive and we got a very late start building it, compared to cities like SF and Portland--future lines should connect Seattle with cities to the east, north and south. The best way to improve transit in Seattle is by expanding service--perhaps by adding smaller buses to the mix--and building more bike trails.
Posted Fri, Sep 18, 10:35 a.m. Inappropriate
What is so bad about having someone whose values you agree with?
As a young independent an am happy to have a non partisan race, however that does not mean that I will ignore the past positions and affiliations of the candidates. I am glad that Dow has been quite clear with his beliefs and I wish that Hutchinson would do the same so I a truly informed decision. As to not focusing on the issue I have been more impressed with Dow’s plans then Hutchinson Ideas again because he offers more information.
Because I understand his vales and think that they are right for a more progressive county, I have to go with Dow.
Posted Fri, Sep 18, 12:41 p.m. Inappropriate
The charges of racism lack "any substantive foundation"? Look at the signs and flags at that Washington,D.C. "tea bag" rally last weekend. Here's one that was captured in a photo I saw: "Homey don't play dat!!!"
Here are more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earl-ofari-hutchinson/racism-marched-at-taxpaye_b_285007.html
Packs of taxpayer marchers shuffled down Pennsylvania Avenue proudly waving signs. "The Long Legged Mack Daddy," "Where's the Birth Certificate," Mississippi Freedom Riders," "Whoa Boys Take it from Here" (Obama waving to black and Islamic militants). Many defiantly waved Confederate flags and the Texas state flag (separatist movement emblem).
Mr. Van Dyk has been around long enough to remember the long exploitation of racism by Wallace, Nixon, Reagan, Atwater, Rove and others. They didn't necessarily have to use the N word to tap into it.
Posted Fri, Sep 18, 1:26 p.m. Inappropriate
The whole subtext of the "Obama is a Nazi" meme is indeed racist. When you hold up a sign with a nonsensical claim like "Obama is a Nazi," you get to say, "Well I can't be a racist because *Nazis* are racists, and Obama is the Nazi, not me." It's latent racism, sure, but it's textbook and classic projection, too, and only someone who's not really paying attention can't see that.
Harris is right that nearly every picture of signs being held up at anti-Obama rallies include overtly racist ones in the mix. Flying a Confederate flag is at the very least literally anti-American, by definition, and almost always racist, by definition, as well. So, the racist attitudes are also tolerated by the other protesters at these rallies.
Posted Fri, Sep 18, 3:16 p.m. Inappropriate
Proposition 1 "narrowly passed in 2008"??? It passed with 2/3 of the vote in Seattle--over 80% in some districts! 68% in the Rainer Valley, where you'd think people would be the most suspicious of SoundTransit:
http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/11/24/partial-prop-1-vote-breakdown/
Maybe you'd like all-bus transit, but until we come up with some massive funding for that, I'll stick with my "5 cents on a $10 purchase" sales tax increase.
McGinn also made it clear that he supports creating a plan for expansion, and the voters can look at the plan and decide if they like it.
Posted Fri, Sep 18, 3:52 p.m. Inappropriate
"This is a hyper-cynical proposal on behalf of a system which would be far more costly, and carry fewer passengers, than a simple expansion of bus service to the Seattle neighborhoods involved."
McGinn has been a mass transit and light rail advocate for years. This proposal is a logical part of his surface transit plan for the Viaduct, giving people a way to get around and get out of West Seattle without a traffic meltdown. Maybe you don't like his idea, but how is it hyper-cynical? And what does "hyper-cynical" mean, anyway?
Posted Fri, Sep 18, 4:14 p.m. Inappropriate
Back to Mr. Van Dyk's denial of the racial component of opposition to President Obama, E.J. Dionne just said it eloquently on NPR, responding to David Brooks' denial of the racist element.
Dionne: Most of the President’s opponents are against him based on politics or ideology or the state of economy, not race... But there's no denying that race is motivating some of the opposition, maybe even a significant part. Limbaugh goes on the air and says, "In Obama’s America, white kids now get beat up with black kids cheering, 'Yeah, right on, right on, right on.’ " That’s about race. A leader of tea bag movement saying Obama is "racist in chief," and calls him "an Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug." That’s about race. These signs portraying the President as witch doctor, that’s about race. Race should not dominate our discussion, it’s not the only thing out there. But I think we need to face up to the fact that there is racial feeling, and in some cases racist feeling, here.
Posted Fri, Sep 18, 5:25 p.m. Inappropriate
Of all the topics discussed, the issue of race is by far the most sensitive.
I entered politics principally motivated by civil-rights issues and
participated directly in the political action and legislative processes of the 1960s and 1970s--including passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts. I spent time voluntarily helping black and Latino candidates in the South and Southwest and raising money for black local-level candidates in the South. So I am not some theorist issuing views from a distance. There has been dramatic change for the better in our country since then.
Of course racism still exists. There will always be haters out there
who oppose people or policies on irrational bases, including race.
But to attribute Rep. Wilson's outcry to racism, or any major share of opposition to health-care reform to racism, is way off base. There are always off-the-wall signs at rallies, ranging from those on the Hard Left to Far Right. But perspective is needed. What proportion of opposition to President Obama is race based? He won the Presidency by nearly 7 percentage points. Racial hostility clearly did not block his election.
Several political and media figures, including the aforementioned Sharpton and Jackson, have hustled a good living by seeing racism everywhere. Other well meaning people---many having no prior involvement in or even recollection of the struggle for racial justice---find satisfaction in attributing racism to others. To magnify its importance in a particular instance, or to see it where it is not a major factor, is "to cry fire in a crowded theater."
The big, significant victories over racism were victories of reason and fair-mindedness. When those who say they oppose racism abandon reason and fair mindedness, we are in trouble. Bull Conner and George Wallace are long gone. Their present-day counterparts are pale and pathetic imitations whose influence is about as large as that of the "Communists" right wingers see lurking within the Obama administration. Perspective and proportionality are badly needed.
Posted Fri, Sep 18, 6:04 p.m. Inappropriate
http://horsesass.org/?p=20502
My sentiments, exactly.
Only in the land of Ted Van Dyk can 68-32 be characterized as "narrowly passing".
Posted Fri, Sep 18, 7:39 p.m. Inappropriate
Racism is a sideshow issue? What century are you living in, Ted? You've got Fox TV hosts trumpeting Obama's alleged hatred of white people and idiots across the land comparing Obama to Hitler for wanting to reform health care. This isn't about Joe Wilson. This is about a loud, vocal minority who clearly have the president's race in mind when they criticize his policies. Have you honestly heard anyone with a substantive, policy-based disagreement over health care reform? I'm not sure how demonizing your opponents qualifies as reasoned debate over health care. Meanwhile, who cares who Newsie Susie voted for: She has no relevant experience and few ideas of any substance.
Posted Sat, Sep 19, 7:47 a.m. Inappropriate
The percentages in 2008 authorizing new taxes for a three-county light rail system were 57 percent yes, 43 percent no. A similar measure in 2007 was defeated.
I had remembered the margin as far more narrow. It was not, however, as large as that claimed by MadisonAve, the ever present Sound Transit advocate.
Posted Sat, Sep 19, 8:12 a.m. Inappropriate
@Ted -
It would be a delicious irony to have those same interests who sought to profit from an unjustified regional system bankrupted by their own enviro harrassment machine.
Posted Sat, Sep 19, 12:54 p.m. Inappropriate
So, let me get this straight. McGinn wants to dump cars on the surface, and then take away more of that surface to put light rail on it? What kind of voodoo transportation policy is this? His talents must be as an attorney, because I certainly don't see a planner in him.
Posted Sat, Sep 19, 11:04 p.m. Inappropriate
Ted Van Dyk laments the absence of a Steinbruek or Licata from the Mayor's race. If either, or both of them were in the race, Van Dyk would be tearing into them for their lefty ways.
See his comments about Constantine and the non-partisan Hutchinson whose only agenda is to simply serve the people. Her history on the Discovery Institute's board (an organization that famously attempts to sell creationism as Intelligent design) shows she is comfortable with con-men and liars. It's not Huchison's partisan leanings that are an issue it's her unwillingness to tell the truth.
Senator Baccus stands at a podium and delivers the health care legislation
that the insurance and pharma companies paid him to deliver and when he doesn't get much support Van Dyk weeps for him.
How you do go on Ted.
Posted Sat, Sep 19, 11:24 p.m. Inappropriate
Five pet peeves of mine.
*Seattle schools are underfunded.
*Homelessness in Seattle is increasing.
*Gang crime is increasing.
*Seattle mainstream media is corporate controlled for the benefit of the wealthy.
*Politicians, at all levels,are controlled by the corporations.
Posted Sun, Sep 20, 8:55 a.m. Inappropriate
Reverandmoney's Pet Peeves Prevail under the Party in Power.
Seattle Schools are underfunded- By a community that self identifies as Democrat.
Homelessness in Seattle Increasing- Despite Democrat controlled Federal, State, County and City Electeds...how can this be?
Gang crime increasing- Democrat majorities in Federal, State, County and City officials controlling law enforcement agencies.
Seattle mainstream media is corporate controlled for the benefit of the wealthy-like the Bullitt's?
Politicians, at all levels, are controlled by corporations.- Democrats control all levels of government,Federal, State, County and City, therefore all Democrat politicians ar bought and paid for.
Right on the Reverandmoney.
Posted Sun, Sep 20, 10:52 a.m. Inappropriate
Joe Mallahan is the heir apparent at a time when a clean sweep of City Hall, especially SDOT, is needed. I have to agree that McGinn's proposal for light rail to the areas of town affected by a decommissioned SR-99 AWV makes sense. Sound Transit has also considered light rail to these areas, therefore McGinn is not out of line. I believe monorail is the better choice and possible. I believe WsDOT's Scenario 'G' 4-lane Cut-n-cover is the best option to replace the AWV. I believe Sound Transit should not have given the U-Link tunnel top priority. I believe Joe Mallahan will take over where Greg Nickels left off. I believe Mike McGinn is not crazy and will do what's best for Seattle despite the will of the powers-that-be behind the scenes framing the debate and calling the shots. I believe most Seattlers (Seattlites, Hah!!) want a clean sweep in City Hall.
Posted Sun, Sep 20, 11:43 a.m. Inappropriate
A slow day at SLOG Cameron?
The ReverandMoney shares Cameron's disdain for the Democrats. It was Democrats (with the help of Republicans)who over-rode my vote against subsidizing a Mariners stadium. It was Democrats (with the help of Republicans)who gave my money to the 6th wealthiest man on the planet Earth to build a Seahawks stadium. It was the Democrats (with the help of Republicans)who gave Boeing $3,000,000,000 in subsidies a couple years ago and are gearing up, in the face of Boeing extortion, to do it again.
The only good thing I can say about the Democrats is that they are not not whackjob religious nut public restroom cruising hypocritical Republicans. The Republicans who holler "small government" while running up deficits. The Republicans who holler "keep the government out of my business" while trying to pass laws that dictate who I can marry and what medical procedures women can have. The Republicans who pack assault weapons and semi-auto handguns to meetings about health care. The Republicans who call Obama a Fascist, Socialist, Nazi, Kenyan born, Muslim terrorist. This is good: Today the Republican Party's chairman, a black man, accused Obama of racism because he has suggested that the ineffectual black governor of New York not run for re-election. Only a Republican would have the balls to do something as stupid as that. And only a Republican would support him doing it. by the way-why is it that all the Republicans on the National Sunday talk shows have Southern accents?
Yes Cameron the Democrats suck. But they look pretty good in Republican context-don't they.
ReverandMoney suggests that you vote none-of-the-above, as he will, in the Seattle Mayor and KC Exec races.
Posted Sun, Sep 20, 4:23 p.m. Inappropriate
I guess that's why you fight so hard to maintain the status quo Reverand. It gives you something to complain about and you can languish in your own inaction.
I didn't know that NJ Governor McGreevy was an atheist, but I'll take you word on it. He certainly was a public restroom cruiser by his own admission. You will get to test your theory about medical procedures in the very near future. Wasn't it Seattle Jew that wanted to have progressives pack fire arms to the Glenn Beck event?
The only person I hear declaring racism is a washed up former D president, who was roundly critized by the current D president for misrepresenting the motives of the opposition.
If you don't vote why should anyone listen when you whine? Suggest a couple of write-ins, you never know the outcome in Seattle.
Posted Sun, Sep 20, 4:40 p.m. Inappropriate
Van Dyk's inability -- or refusal -- to grasp basic numbers makes everything else he writes suspect. Light rail romped to a resounding victory in 2008, passing by 57 to 43. That's a landslide.
In King County, it passed by better than 60 to 40. And in Seattle it passed by far wider margins. In other words, the bag tax -- which we're told failed miserably - was more popular than Van Dyk's anti-rail position.
Posted Mon, Sep 21, 8:22 a.m. Inappropriate
"I didn't know that NJ Governor McGreevy was an atheist, but I'll take you word on it."
I didn't say that.
"He certainly was a public restroom cruiser by his own admission."
he had an affair with a gay man. But that's far different than cruising
rest rooms for sex.
"Wasn't it Seattle Jew that wanted to have progressives pack fire arms to the Glenn Beck event?"
Don't know a thing about that.. Who is "Seattle Jew"? Why do you refer to his race?
"The only person I hear declaring racism is a washed up former D president..." Jimmy Cartewr "washed up." Compared to who? Bush?
In addition to the incident with GOP chairman Steele, I mentioned above, calling Obama's act racism, Glenn beck who shares de-facto chair of the GOP with Rush Limbaugh recently called Obama a racist and has lost numerous advertisers because of that statement.
Do you really think the politicians listen to those who vote? Check out that Mariners stadium.
Posted Tue, Sep 22, 8:39 a.m. Inappropriate
Here is a quote from a source even you will agree with Rev. Jay Leno on McGreevy and his book.
"Let's see what's new with New Jersey Governor Jim 'Keep On Truckin' McGreevy. ... Former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevy has written a book where he said he used to cruise highway rest stops looking to have anonymous sex with gay truckers. ... At what point do you stop having anonymous sex at truck stops and say to yourself I'm tired of this, I'd rather be governor?" --Jay Leno
Seattle Jew is the moniker of a UW professor who writes a blog under that name. Is being a Jew a "race" comment? I thought it was a religon, but you can go to his blog and ask him.