From someone who borders on being an anarchist in the DFL being called "Old
Guard" is more than amusing. Though it does show how out of touch the Rybak
campaign has become.
As a start perhaps Chris and the Rybak campaign should learn to count a
little better. I believe either Peter, McLaughlin, or heir apparent
(alluding to McLaughlin) were mentioned in at least 10 paragraphs. Only
perhaps 2 or 3 paragraphs of the entire Lynnell Mickelsen article were not
about McLaughlin; in fairly disparaging context.
Don Fraser did not mention Rybak or even allude to the failed promise of
Rybak being the reason the City of Minneapolis now needs a real leader
rather than just fluff and photogenic style. Did not mention that this very
need was why the heart of RT Rybak's support from the last campaign now
supports McLaughlin.
But then this has been the nature of this years campaign. Rather than
seizing the opportunity to overcome the failed leadership of the last four
years the Rybak campaigns only recourse is to attack McLaughlin as if he
were the incumbent. Well perhaps in a way he is! For the last several
years McLaughlin has supplied the quite work and leadership on behalf of
Minneapolis that should have been the role of the Mayor but for which he was
simply too busy doing Photo-Ops and news conferences to be able to
accomplish. So I guess Peter McLaughlin is the incumbent leadership, but
only because there was such a vacuum created by the absence of leadership
from the Mayor's office.
The Mayor CLAIMS leadership in public safety - perhaps that is why the vast
majority of Police and Firefighters support McLaughlin so strongly?
The Mayor CLAIMS leadership because he "streamlined the city's maze of
development agencies", - perhaps that is why the entire professional staff
of CPED begs for a new Mayor to remove the layer upon layer of meaningless
red tape Rybak's people have added to that already bogged down system?
Professionals who must deal with CPED say it takes six months longer and
costs ten to twenty thousand dollars more per unit of affordable housing
because of the Rybak.
The Mayor CLAIMS his "administration added more affordable housing", - yet
the units he claims are clearly the responsibility of others, and a good
deal of that credit should go to McLaughlin, not Rybak. It takes three to
five years to bring large projects on line, and even longer under the Rybak
"administration".
The Mayor CLAIMS to have "Saved NRP" - yet every neighborhood knows he and
his Mayor's office appointments have raided NRP like a slush fund and fought
"Neighborhood" empowerment at every turn. I believe that is why the
neighborhood activist who so strongly supported RT Rybak last time now
support his opponent.
and -
The Mayor claims he "became a visible, engaging spokesman for the city." -
and in this I must agree he has. RT is if anything visible and engaging.
Heck, he has done nothing but run for office since being elected. It is the
reason I believe he should be the anchor of the Channel Five or some other
channel's evening news. RT is a wonderful, entertaining, engaging person to
go partying with, but Minneapolis needs actual work and leadership from that
office; not cute PR. Unfortunately that has been the 95% of present
administrations activity, and the actual work is left with only the 5%
remaining. Unfortunately the politicians at the State and other levels of
government after only a couple of weeks of welcome saw that there was only
flash and promise and no substance. So that "spokesman" for the City was
quickly discounted as not being a serious player. You can only promise so
much before someone realizes that all they are going to get is "promise".
Don Fraser's article only talked about the positives of Peter McLaughlin and
the need for Mayoral leadership for a change. Mayor Fraser is too much of a
gentleman to point out the shortcomings of the present Mayor's
administration. Though I am sure he could quote chapter and verse about
them. Don stuck solely to the positive. Coming from a more "earthy"
background I have no problem calling the hand. You can paste feathers on it
and call it a duck, but even if you teach it to quack this old country boy
is not going to believe that pigs can fly. Especially if he was one of the
"suckers" who bought the poke last time.
My hero, ole Will, once advised something the Mayor should attempt to
remember, "If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now
and then to make sure it's still there."
Jim Graham
from the porch steps in Ventura Village
Where I learned,
"If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in
the other direction."
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