Deep Thought

I thought Nickels was ousted by voters for the City’s non-response to the snow crisis and his general disconnect from voters as developers sunk their claws into him.

I thought Nickels was ousted by voters for the City’s non-response to the snow crisis and his general disconnect from voters as developers sunk their claws into him.

@1,

Maybe. But according to Nickels, it was the tunnel that killed him:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/183119.asp

@1,

Maybe. But according to Nickels, it was the tunnel that killed him:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/183119.asp

Yes, you can study culture and ours is one of endless complaints until someone has a clear solution, then we all gather around against implementing that, too. Teh goal is avoid confrontation to preserve pseudoconsensus, at all costs.

Yes, you can study culture and ours is one of endless complaints until someone has a clear solution, then we all gather around against implementing that, too. Teh goal is avoid confrontation to preserve pseudoconsensus, at all costs.

2. Yeah, I recall his statement. Sounds like political CYA for him to cite that as his downfall… since the snow response and developer connections are a bit more politicially damning. Maybe he’s leaving the door open for a comeback in 2-4 years.

2. Yeah, I recall his statement. Sounds like political CYA for him to cite that as his downfall… since the snow response and developer connections are a bit more politicially damning. Maybe he’s leaving the door open for a comeback in 2-4 years.

@2 Josh

It’s not what Nickels accomplished, it’s how he accomplished it. No one has unlimited political capital. Your Nickels – McGinn comparison in the original post is dead on.

@2 Josh

It’s not what Nickels accomplished, it’s how he accomplished it. No one has unlimited political capital. Your Nickels – McGinn comparison in the original post is dead on.

im with gomez, it was mos def the snow. nickels says the tunnel to make himself feel better.

most people, ive talke to, are kind of sorry that they booted nickels out, not so much because of him, but because the two remaining candidates are lame.

im voting for chubs because he is the least lame. mallaspam is too much of a joke.

is not just seattle, in most elections, its usually a lame issue.

im with gomez, it was mos def the snow. nickels says the tunnel to make himself feel better.

most people, ive talke to, are kind of sorry that they booted nickels out, not so much because of him, but because the two remaining candidates are lame.

im voting for chubs because he is the least lame. mallaspam is too much of a joke.

is not just seattle, in most elections, its usually a lame issue.

@4 – I’m honestly not sure how much of it was the snowstorm. The incompetent handling was awful, but he was able to pull an environmentalist reason for it (no extra salt in Puget Sound). Yeah, it was annoying, and was yet another ding against SDOT, but I really do think it was his way of getting things done by pushing them through the council, and cutting the council off from department heads.

He was sort of the anti-Conlin in that respect – not enough process. And while the process annoys the hell of out me, there has to be a happy balance between too much and not enough.

I actually think the bag tax also was none-too-helpful, pushing that through during an economic shit-time. Priorities? Sometimes I wish that we could get stats from the elections offices that tell us things like: this many people voted for this candidate, and of those, this many voted for this other candidate and this proposition, etc.

@4 – I’m honestly not sure how much of it was the snowstorm. The incompetent handling was awful, but he was able to pull an environmentalist reason for it (no extra salt in Puget Sound). Yeah, it was annoying, and was yet another ding against SDOT, but I really do think it was his way of getting things done by pushing them through the council, and cutting the council off from department heads.

He was sort of the anti-Conlin in that respect – not enough process. And while the process annoys the hell of out me, there has to be a happy balance between too much and not enough.

I actually think the bag tax also was none-too-helpful, pushing that through during an economic shit-time. Priorities? Sometimes I wish that we could get stats from the elections offices that tell us things like: this many people voted for this candidate, and of those, this many voted for this other candidate and this proposition, etc.

What I hear is people are afraid that McGinn will make alot of noise and accomplish nothing except drawing attention to himself.

What I hear is people are afraid that McGinn will make alot of noise and accomplish nothing except drawing attention to himself.

What I hear is people are afraid that McGinn will make alot of noise and accomplish nothing except drawing attention to himself.

What I hear is people are afraid that McGinn will make alot of noise and accomplish nothing except drawing attention to himself.

but now the tables turned, it’s mallahan that’s for the tunnel literally at all costs to Seattle taxpayers, that’s quite pushy.

and mcginn saying okay i will not lie down in front of bulldozers, my role is to ask questions.

so now mcginn is in line w traditional Seattle culture (opposing but a bit passively) while Mallahan is not (going for something come hell or highwater).

but now the tables turned, it’s mallahan that’s for the tunnel literally at all costs to Seattle taxpayers, that’s quite pushy.

and mcginn saying okay i will not lie down in front of bulldozers, my role is to ask questions.

so now mcginn is in line w traditional Seattle culture (opposing but a bit passively) while Mallahan is not (going for something come hell or highwater).

If it wasn’t the snow storm itself, it was Nickels giving himself a “B” grade for how well he thought the City responded to it — thereby demonstrating his disconnect from average citizens.

And Nickels had nobody watching his back for him, nobody who could call him up during that snowstorm and say, with authority, — “Greg, this isn’t working. Time for a mid-course correction RIGHT NOW”. Had that happened and the mayor responded appropriately, none of that negative snowstorm fallout would’ve occurred.

If it wasn’t the snow storm itself, it was Nickels giving himself a “B” grade for how well he thought the City responded to it — thereby demonstrating his disconnect from average citizens.

And Nickels had nobody watching his back for him, nobody who could call him up during that snowstorm and say, with authority, — “Greg, this isn’t working. Time for a mid-course correction RIGHT NOW”. Had that happened and the mayor responded appropriately, none of that negative snowstorm fallout would’ve occurred.

We lost a good mayor who knew everything about Seattle and every issue, he fought had for some things that will change the city for better.

golf claps seattle voters.

We lost a good mayor who knew everything about Seattle and every issue, he fought had for some things that will change the city for better.

golf claps seattle voters.

Nickels had no one watching his back for him, WTF??????

He saw HIS OWN STREET getting plowed in front of his freaking eyes and DID NOTHING to give SDOT crap like calling up and saying “are you insane plowing my own street when the arterials aren’t even plowed around here!”

And who’s supposed to watch his back? His gal Crunican who was away on vacation.

And who’s reporting to her? Paul Jackson, the incompetent whom SHE promoted AFTER the $1.5 million outdie study showed SDOT street maintenance was rife with hostility, claims of discrimination and in general, just poorly run. So in response to guy gets promoted, go figure.

And then Nickels gives himself a “B”.

‘Nuff said.

Nickels had no one watching his back for him, WTF??????

He saw HIS OWN STREET getting plowed in front of his freaking eyes and DID NOTHING to give SDOT crap like calling up and saying “are you insane plowing my own street when the arterials aren’t even plowed around here!”

And who’s supposed to watch his back? His gal Crunican who was away on vacation.

And who’s reporting to her? Paul Jackson, the incompetent whom SHE promoted AFTER the $1.5 million outdie study showed SDOT street maintenance was rife with hostility, claims of discrimination and in general, just poorly run. So in response to guy gets promoted, go figure.

And then Nickels gives himself a “B”.

‘Nuff said.

Nickels lost because of snow and because 8 years burnt bridges. It wasn’t the tunnel.

Nickels was, and remains, completely oblivious to the fact that anyone who takes credit for everything his allies do, and who blames all his failures on someone else, is going to eventually suffer some serious blowback from the people he has screwed. Being able to share the spotlight when you win, and to own your mistakes when you suffer a setback, is a key part of surviving in politics these days. Anyone who takes credit for being mr. pothole ranger, then can’t even admit when he has completely failed in delivering basic services (like snow clearance), has set himself up for a big fall.

It is very ironic for Nickels and Co. to blame the stupidity of the electorate, or even the city of Seattle, for his ouster. Because it shows he really has no idea that it was his contempt for voters and overall hubris that brought him down in the first place.

Nickels lost because of snow and because 8 years burnt bridges. It wasn’t the tunnel.

Nickels was, and remains, completely oblivious to the fact that anyone who takes credit for everything his allies do, and who blames all his failures on someone else, is going to eventually suffer some serious blowback from the people he has screwed. Being able to share the spotlight when you win, and to own your mistakes when you suffer a setback, is a key part of surviving in politics these days. Anyone who takes credit for being mr. pothole ranger, then can’t even admit when he has completely failed in delivering basic services (like snow clearance), has set himself up for a big fall.

It is very ironic for Nickels and Co. to blame the stupidity of the electorate, or even the city of Seattle, for his ouster. Because it shows he really has no idea that it was his contempt for voters and overall hubris that brought him down in the first place.

Of course Nickels will spin that it was the tunnel that defeated him. That makes him look good and why not try to make yourself look good on the way out?

People didn’t like Nickels (and understatement; really, they HATED him), but they figured “well, at least he knows how to manage the city”. And then the snow debacle happened. Now they didn’t like him AND he wasn’t a good manager. OUT!

I don’t’ think Nickels is a great source for the questions “why was Nickels’ ousted?” If he knew the reason, he wouldn’t have been ousted.

Of course Nickels will spin that it was the tunnel that defeated him. That makes him look good and why not try to make yourself look good on the way out?

People didn’t like Nickels (and understatement; really, they HATED him), but they figured “well, at least he knows how to manage the city”. And then the snow debacle happened. Now they didn’t like him AND he wasn’t a good manager. OUT!

I don’t’ think Nickels is a great source for the questions “why was Nickels’ ousted?” If he knew the reason, he wouldn’t have been ousted.

“And who’s supposed to watch his back?”

that would be the shark, tim ceis.

“And who’s supposed to watch his back?”

that would be the shark, tim ceis.

I know this is off topic a bit, but when people say they won’t vote for McGinn because they worry about his temperament I have to laugh. Instead, they would rather vote for a man that is clearly an empty suit surrounded and supported by the local political machine and moneyed interests.

If people care about Seattle’s future they will choose the candidate that understands what the challenges are going to be in the future– the environment is going to be one of the biggest challenges, and McGinn knows it. We need to prepare now with more transit, sound environmental design, and building community.

Mallahan “just doesn’t get it.” Sweeping the streets to protect Puget Sound is a joke; a temporary bandaide at best, which fails to address the root cause which is too many cars.

This city needs to become a lot more like Portland, and McGinn will take us in that direction. Mallahan will not get us close.

I know this is off topic a bit, but when people say they won’t vote for McGinn because they worry about his temperament I have to laugh. Instead, they would rather vote for a man that is clearly an empty suit surrounded and supported by the local political machine and moneyed interests.

If people care about Seattle’s future they will choose the candidate that understands what the challenges are going to be in the future– the environment is going to be one of the biggest challenges, and McGinn knows it. We need to prepare now with more transit, sound environmental design, and building community.

Mallahan “just doesn’t get it.” Sweeping the streets to protect Puget Sound is a joke; a temporary bandaide at best, which fails to address the root cause which is too many cars.

This city needs to become a lot more like Portland, and McGinn will take us in that direction. Mallahan will not get us close.

Nickels was widely hated before the snowstorm. That certainly didn’t help him, but he was in trouble long before that.

Nickels was widely hated before the snowstorm. That certainly didn’t help him, but he was in trouble long before that.

Josh’s Deep Thought has been the basis of my argument fir Mallahan, and against McGinn for the past 3 weeks.

Jan Drago was right about style, even if I think she was wrong on so many other things.

Josh’s Deep Thought has been the basis of my argument fir Mallahan, and against McGinn for the past 3 weeks.

Jan Drago was right about style, even if I think she was wrong on so many other things.

16, I already watched McGinn mouth those talking points in newly found moderate tones.

Unwinding agreements on AWV, 520, and blasting Mallahan in the King5 debate for not agreeing with him did not make anybody that would have to deal with that guy pause. It was great moral booster for Will in Seattle, but requires a predisposition to wanting to like everything McGinn says, the more forcefully done, the better for those folks.

Is he really going to get the state and the east side to agree to changing 520 to 4 lanes?
And the state to unwind the tunnel, and accept his solution?
His tone toward the legislature expressed while making his points in the debate about them accepting his solution was condisending. They love that.
Even if I thought those things were possible I have doubts that he could get them done.

16, I already watched McGinn mouth those talking points in newly found moderate tones.

Unwinding agreements on AWV, 520, and blasting Mallahan in the King5 debate for not agreeing with him did not make anybody that would have to deal with that guy pause. It was great moral booster for Will in Seattle, but requires a predisposition to wanting to like everything McGinn says, the more forcefully done, the better for those folks.

Is he really going to get the state and the east side to agree to changing 520 to 4 lanes?
And the state to unwind the tunnel, and accept his solution?
His tone toward the legislature expressed while making his points in the debate about them accepting his solution was condisending. They love that.
Even if I thought those things were possible I have doubts that he could get them done.

At this point I’m not sure what McGinn believes in given he’s all over the place on the tunnel. But I guess that’s better than Mallahan, whom I have no idea what he believes.

The saddest thing of all? I miss Greg Nickels.

At this point I’m not sure what McGinn believes in given he’s all over the place on the tunnel. But I guess that’s better than Mallahan, whom I have no idea what he believes.

The saddest thing of all? I miss Greg Nickels.

And I’ve been around and around with people on what effect the snowstorm response had on this election. And yeah, while the snowstorm wasn’t the end of Nickels, it certainly was the catalyst for all the problems people had with him and his management style. After the snow you heard people talk more and more about his problems, problems which had been there and people had complained about, but it was as if everyone started openly talking about his replacement after December.

As is, I’ve never heard of a mayor ever surviving a poor snow response to win re-election. I tried to convince one of the political stringers here in town to write about it, but their editor insisted it wasn’t the snow. But at the same time no one attempted a poll asking residents why they voted the way they did.

And I’ve been around and around with people on what effect the snowstorm response had on this election. And yeah, while the snowstorm wasn’t the end of Nickels, it certainly was the catalyst for all the problems people had with him and his management style. After the snow you heard people talk more and more about his problems, problems which had been there and people had complained about, but it was as if everyone started openly talking about his replacement after December.

As is, I’ve never heard of a mayor ever surviving a poor snow response to win re-election. I tried to convince one of the political stringers here in town to write about it, but their editor insisted it wasn’t the snow. But at the same time no one attempted a poll asking residents why they voted the way they did.

A lot of people also insist that the snow is not a big deal because it’s a one in 100 years thing, even though last winter’s snowstorm was the 3rd major street/ice crippling snowstorm in two years. The same people that complain about climate change act like these annual snowstorms are still an anomaly, even though they’re likely going to become the norm.

And I know what Mike McGinn believes in: Saying whatever to the public he feels he needs to in order to get what he wants, no matter whether or not what he’s saying is based in reality.

A lot of people also insist that the snow is not a big deal because it’s a one in 100 years thing, even though last winter’s snowstorm was the 3rd major street/ice crippling snowstorm in two years. The same people that complain about climate change act like these annual snowstorms are still an anomaly, even though they’re likely going to become the norm.

And I know what Mike McGinn believes in: Saying whatever to the public he feels he needs to in order to get what he wants, no matter whether or not what he’s saying is based in reality.

Ryan P (11): Well said. I miss Paul Schell.

Nickels lost because of the tunnel, the monorail, the snow and his style. The tunnel and especially the monorail lost him the support of the progressives. Imagine if he had lifted his finger and supported the monorail. Folks from the Stranger would not have called him “Gridlock Greg” (their phrase, not mine). Instead, the would have praised his style (aggressive, finally a mayor who isn’t mired in “Seattle style” politics, etc.). Instead, he went the opposite route, and let the monorail die (despite the fact that we voted for it three times and it was on schedule and on budget). He also ignored the voters wishes (and the committees wishes) on the tunnel.

Meanwhile, the folks who never read the Stranger (my God, they talk about sex in that paper, how could it be any good?) and thus missed the fact that the editorial staff is now (and has been for a few years) the best in the city* don’t care about any of that. They wonder why we don’t salt the streets, like in other cities. Combine those two groups and Nickels is out.

Of course, with Mallahan we have the image of a person willing to work with people, but policies that are the opposite. Consider the following questions: Which candidate rejects the expert committee’s recommendations on the tunnel? Which candidate wants to stop the Burke Gilman extension, despite a compromise worked out amongst the major stake holders? That candidate is Mallahan, and that strikes me as arrogant.

*OK, the P. I. gets some credit for having Horsey, but that’s about it.

Ryan P (11): Well said. I miss Paul Schell.

Nickels lost because of the tunnel, the monorail, the snow and his style. The tunnel and especially the monorail lost him the support of the progressives. Imagine if he had lifted his finger and supported the monorail. Folks from the Stranger would not have called him “Gridlock Greg” (their phrase, not mine). Instead, the would have praised his style (aggressive, finally a mayor who isn’t mired in “Seattle style” politics, etc.). Instead, he went the opposite route, and let the monorail die (despite the fact that we voted for it three times and it was on schedule and on budget). He also ignored the voters wishes (and the committees wishes) on the tunnel.

Meanwhile, the folks who never read the Stranger (my God, they talk about sex in that paper, how could it be any good?) and thus missed the fact that the editorial staff is now (and has been for a few years) the best in the city* don’t care about any of that. They wonder why we don’t salt the streets, like in other cities. Combine those two groups and Nickels is out.

Of course, with Mallahan we have the image of a person willing to work with people, but policies that are the opposite. Consider the following questions: Which candidate rejects the expert committee’s recommendations on the tunnel? Which candidate wants to stop the Burke Gilman extension, despite a compromise worked out amongst the major stake holders? That candidate is Mallahan, and that strikes me as arrogant.

*OK, the P. I. gets some credit for having Horsey, but that’s about it.