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Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

O’Brien as Conlin

News   November 13, 2009 at 4:21 pm Erica C. Barnett

[Editor's Note: This was originally posted around noon today. We're moving it up because we love it, and we want it to be at the top of the site.]

Incoming city council member Mike O’Brien stopped by the PubliCola offices the other day to talk about his campaign, his relationship with close friend and incoming Mayor Mike McGinn, and what he hopes to accomplish as a freshman city council member. I’ll publish a story on that soon.

For now, here’s a snippet from our interview.

Over the course of a months-long campaign, O’Brien has probably heard every candidate’s stump speech at least 100 times. So, at the end of our interview, we asked him to pick any candidate in any race, and give us their rap.

He picked council president Richard Conlin. Conlin, a 12-year incumbent now entering his fourth term, has indicated he plans to take back some of the power Mayor Nickels took away from the council over the last eight years. It’s not clear where O’Brien fits into that strategy. O’Brien will certainly have to balance his close relationship with the incoming mayor and his role as a council member.

On the other hand: O’Brien and Conlin, both strong environmentalists, are ideological allies and will be the council’s two “greenest” members.

If you haven’t seen Conlin speak before, trust me: O’Brien’s impression (right down to the thoughtful pauses, the rocking stance, and the repeated references to “the great work I’ve done”) is spot on. All he needs is a fleece vest.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4AbW4mXmjg[/youtube]




  • gloomy gus

    O’Brien is one of the most exciting new council members in, hell, I don’t know how long. I love that he doesn’t take himself, Sweet Baby Conlin and especially his friend Beardy Oprah McGinn too goddam seriously. All while he actually truly madly deeply giving a shit about the progressive values everyone and their grandma’s been claiming lately.

  • gloomy gus

    O’Brien is one of the most exciting new council members in, hell, I don’t know how long. I love that he doesn’t take himself, Sweet Baby Conlin and especially his friend Beardy Oprah McGinn too goddam seriously. All while he actually truly madly deeply giving a shit about the progressive values everyone and their grandma’s been claiming lately.

  • gloomy gus

    O’Brien is one of the most exciting new council members in, hell, I don’t know how long. I love that he doesn’t take himself, Sweet Baby Conlin and especially his friend Beardy Oprah McGinn too goddam seriously. All while he actually truly madly deeply giving a shit about the progressive values everyone and their grandma’s been claiming lately.

  • Scott

    absolutely priceless!

  • Scott

    absolutely priceless!

  • Scott

    absolutely priceless!

  • gloomy gus

    Er, please to remove “he” from that last sentence fragment. Larding on adverbs, a curse word, and a backhanded insult left me too dazed to edit.

  • gloomy gus

    Er, please to remove “he” from that last sentence fragment. Larding on adverbs, a curse word, and a backhanded insult left me too dazed to edit.

  • gloomy gus

    Er, please to remove “he” from that last sentence fragment. Larding on adverbs, a curse word, and a backhanded insult left me too dazed to edit.

  • better-future-now

    Oh…my….god. That was fabulous.
    Thank you for this wonderful gift on a Friday afternoon.
    =)

    Cows.

  • better-future-now

    Oh…my….god. That was fabulous.
    Thank you for this wonderful gift on a Friday afternoon.
    =)

    Cows.

  • better-future-now

    Oh…my….god. That was fabulous.
    Thank you for this wonderful gift on a Friday afternoon.
    =)

    Cows.

  • Will in Seattle

    They sell fleece vests in Fremont …

  • Will in Seattle

    They sell fleece vests in Fremont …

  • Will in Seattle

    They sell fleece vests in Fremont …

  • http://www.worldchanging.com/ Alex

    That’s hilarious, and hits the impression sweet spot of being right on without being unkind!

    Mike O’Brien rocks.

  • http://www.worldchanging.com/ Alex

    That’s hilarious, and hits the impression sweet spot of being right on without being unkind!

    Mike O’Brien rocks.

  • http://www.worldchanging.com Alex

    That’s hilarious, and hits the impression sweet spot of being right on without being unkind!

    Mike O’Brien rocks.

  • dacoach

    mike’s a very dynamic guy, witness his turn from one trick pony candidate to a candidate who could really talk about a host of issues with knowledge and passion.

    conlin is a wet noodle.

  • dacoach

    mike’s a very dynamic guy, witness his turn from one trick pony candidate to a candidate who could really talk about a host of issues with knowledge and passion.

    conlin is a wet noodle.

  • dacoach

    mike’s a very dynamic guy, witness his turn from one trick pony candidate to a candidate who could really talk about a host of issues with knowledge and passion.

    conlin is a wet noodle.

  • Michael M.

    Ahhhh…That was just fun. I really do like that guy, Mike O’Brien. Although, he better watch out for Sara!!!!

  • Michael M.

    Ahhhh…That was just fun. I really do like that guy, Mike O’Brien. Although, he better watch out for Sara!!!!

  • Michael M.

    Ahhhh…That was just fun. I really do like that guy, Mike O’Brien. Although, he better watch out for Sara!!!!

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/tag/2009+election Gomez

    “And for my next impression, I’ll imitate a City Councilmember for the next four years!”

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/tag/2009+election Gomez

    “And for my next impression, I’ll imitate a City Councilmember for the next four years!”

  • http://gomezticator.livejournal.com/tag/2009+election Gomez

    “And for my next impression, I’ll imitate a City Councilmember for the next four years!”

  • Left bottom corner of the ball

    ‘miniture cows’ would have made it even better.

  • Left bottom corner of the ball

    ‘miniture cows’ would have made it even better.

  • Left bottom corner of the ballot – NO!

    ‘miniture cows’ would have made it even better.

  • Pygmy capri

    Don’t forget the little, pygmy goatee.

  • Pygmy capri

    Don’t forget the little, pygmy goatee.

  • Pygmy capri

    Don’t forget the little, pygmy goatee.

  • ktstine

    i just fell in love with obrien a little.

  • ktstine

    i just fell in love with obrien a little.

  • ktstine

    i just fell in love with obrien a little.

  • Heh

    @ ECB

    Are you looking for a legislative aide job?
    Why don’t you make a video for Bagshaw? She is
    looking for some aides.

    Btw, I think Mike O’brien is a decent guy and I don’t
    see eye to eye him on many things, but we can still
    go get a beer at the end of the day.

  • Heh

    @ ECB

    Are you looking for a legislative aide job?
    Why don’t you make a video for Bagshaw? She is
    looking for some aides.

    Btw, I think Mike O’brien is a decent guy and I don’t
    see eye to eye him on many things, but we can still
    go get a beer at the end of the day.

  • Heh

    @ ECB

    Are you looking for a legislative aide job?
    Why don’t you make a video for Bagshaw? She is
    looking for some aides.

    Btw, I think Mike O’brien is a decent guy and I don’t
    see eye to eye him on many things, but we can still
    go get a beer at the end of the day.

  • eddiew

    so how many fleece vests does Conlin have?

  • eddiew

    so how many fleece vests does Conlin have?

  • misha

    Uh, Richard Conlin – a “strong environmentalist”? His two latest environmental efforts have been his successful efforts to push a new waterfront highway through Seattle and to remove $15 million of bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure by eliminating the commuter tax.

    How in the world can you justify calling Conlin an environmentalist, unless you consider the inside of an SUV part of the environment?

    Mike O’Brien is an environmentalist, Mike McGinn is an environmentalist, Greg Nickels was somewhat of an environmentalist, Richard Conlin is certainly not.

  • misha

    Uh, Richard Conlin – a “strong environmentalist”? His two latest environmental efforts have been his successful efforts to push a new waterfront highway through Seattle and to remove $15 million of bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure by eliminating the commuter tax.

    How in the world can you justify calling Conlin an environmentalist, unless you consider the inside of an SUV part of the environment?

    Mike O’Brien is an environmentalist, Mike McGinn is an environmentalist, Greg Nickels was somewhat of an environmentalist, Richard Conlin is certainly not.

  • misha

    Uh, Richard Conlin – a “strong environmentalist”? His two latest environmental efforts have been his successful efforts to push a new waterfront highway through Seattle and to remove $15 million of bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure by eliminating the commuter tax.

    How in the world can you justify calling Conlin an environmentalist, unless you consider the inside of an SUV part of the environment?

    Mike O’Brien is an environmentalist, Mike McGinn is an environmentalist, Greg Nickels was somewhat of an environmentalist, Richard Conlin is certainly not.

  • amigaboy

    take Conliar, Please! Hopefully next election we can get his do-nothing, lying a** outta there and get another Licata or someone with real VALUES and INTEGRITY in there.

    in attacking Conliar’s bona fides, you forgot his two-faced attempt (sadly far too successful) to kill the monorail dead while lying about it.

    Get Rid of Conliar!

  • amigaboy

    take Conliar, Please! Hopefully next election we can get his do-nothing, lying a** outta there and get another Licata or someone with real VALUES and INTEGRITY in there.

    in attacking Conliar’s bona fides, you forgot his two-faced attempt (sadly far too successful) to kill the monorail dead while lying about it.

    Get Rid of Conliar!

  • amigaboy

    take Conliar, Please! Hopefully next election we can get his do-nothing, lying a** outta there and get another Licata or someone with real VALUES and INTEGRITY in there.

    in attacking Conliar’s bona fides, you forgot his two-faced attempt (sadly far too successful) to kill the monorail dead while lying about it.

    Get Rid of Conliar!

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Now, if we could get Conlin to do his impression of O’Brien.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Now, if we could get Conlin to do his impression of O’Brien.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Now, if we could get Conlin to do his impression of O’Brien.

  • light rail is coming

    @16 patience, patience….we now have a mayor committed to light rail to West Seattle and Ballard. He cites the Portland fifth line at $575 million for 8 miles, so the 16 miles for the WS Ballard line would only be about $1.1 billion.

    Oh wait, it crosses water two places, so add another $400 million for bridges.

    So that’s $1.5 billion for a surface light rail in the street, stopping at lights sometimes, blocking traffic, with speeds reduced because it’s in the street….I am sure you will be able to get from Crown Hill to downtown in no less than 37 minutes.

    far superior to taking busses and limiting their stops and painting the word “TRAIN” on them!

  • light rail is coming

    @16 patience, patience….we now have a mayor committed to light rail to West Seattle and Ballard. He cites the Portland fifth line at $575 million for 8 miles, so the 16 miles for the WS Ballard line would only be about $1.1 billion.

    Oh wait, it crosses water two places, so add another $400 million for bridges.

    So that’s $1.5 billion for a surface light rail in the street, stopping at lights sometimes, blocking traffic, with speeds reduced because it’s in the street….I am sure you will be able to get from Crown Hill to downtown in no less than 37 minutes.

    far superior to taking busses and limiting their stops and painting the word “TRAIN” on them!

  • light rail is coming

    @16 patience, patience….we now have a mayor committed to light rail to West Seattle and Ballard. He cites the Portland fifth line at $575 million for 8 miles, so the 16 miles for the WS Ballard line would only be about $1.1 billion.

    Oh wait, it crosses water two places, so add another $400 million for bridges.

    So that’s $1.5 billion for a surface light rail in the street, stopping at lights sometimes, blocking traffic, with speeds reduced because it’s in the street….I am sure you will be able to get from Crown Hill to downtown in no less than 37 minutes.

    far superior to taking busses and limiting their stops and painting the word “TRAIN” on them!

  • http://www.lightandair.wordpress.com/ David Schraer

    Thanks for the mental health break Mike (and Publicola). A curse on City Hall: may your good humor follow you to City Hall and infect the place top to bottom. As for Richard, he rocks.

  • http://www.lightandair.wordpress.com/ David Schraer

    Thanks for the mental health break Mike (and Publicola). A curse on City Hall: may your good humor follow you to City Hall and infect the place top to bottom. As for Richard, he rocks.

  • http://www.lightandair.wordpress.com David Schraer

    Thanks for the mental health break Mike (and Publicola). A curse on City Hall: may your good humor follow you to City Hall and infect the place top to bottom. As for Richard, he rocks.

  • SEN

    @8: Michael M, I’m flattered to be considered such an enforcer but truth be told, I was just about to compliment Mike on his heel-toe body rock and right hand, three-beat, I’m-making-an-important-point flourish (esp. at :24 and :38-:41). Bravo! If I were to imitate Mike’s stump, it would go something like: (referring to all the candidates on stage at a forum) “We all want to tell you what you want to hear, that we’ll get you more sidewalks, more police on the streets, more parks — but ya know what? It all takes money, and I’m not gonna make promises to you that I can’t keep. (Now about that tunnel…)” Good straight talk.

  • SEN

    @8: Michael M, I’m flattered to be considered such an enforcer but truth be told, I was just about to compliment Mike on his heel-toe body rock and right hand, three-beat, I’m-making-an-important-point flourish (esp. at :24 and :38-:41). Bravo! If I were to imitate Mike’s stump, it would go something like: (referring to all the candidates on stage at a forum) “We all want to tell you what you want to hear, that we’ll get you more sidewalks, more police on the streets, more parks — but ya know what? It all takes money, and I’m not gonna make promises to you that I can’t keep. (Now about that tunnel…)” Good straight talk.

  • Wow… leadership at its best.

    Are you all kidding? This is news? O'Brien should spend more time working on Phone Books for or other far more important issues facing this City… Certainly glad we are paying him to be… “a leader and representative” of our City.