I'll say this for the Strib edit folks: the election results didn't puncture the hubris over there.
Two parts of the editorial leaped out at me: "Three murky factions have emerged: Ostrow's button-down caucus intent on restraining the budget as a way to preserve progressive government for the long haul; a group of inner-city and Green Party members tending to see government as mainly a therapeutic force, and a remnant of labor-dominated politics long familiar at City Hall." What an exceptionally patronizing description of Zimmermann, Johnson Lee and Lilligren (and perhaps Schiff). Though I do fear the sideshow of the reparations issue, I can't wait to see several among this group exceed the Strib's low expectations. Robert Lilligren is as sharp as they come and Dean and Natalie have already beaten the Strib's anointed candidates straight-up. Also, in trying to make the tortured point that Rybak had been as bitter and petty as the council: "Likewise, Rybak didn't do himself any favors with his in-your-face appointment of the controversial John Moir as city coordinator and his ill-advised canning of Community Development Agency Director Steve Cramer. Rybak cannot thrive as mayor until bitterness and pettiness recede on all sides." I have the image of the Stribites as post-World War II Japanese soldiers hiding in caves who weren't told their candidate lost the war by 30 percentage points. Look, you can disagree with John Moir's appointment, but he was part of the previous administration the Strib loved so much, and he left on his terms when his fiscally cautious advice wasn't followed. He did so, publicly at least, with grace. It's funny, but in any other context (state government especially), if an avatar of fiscal prudence had left government unappreciated and then been invited back by the next administration, the Strib edit page would cheer. As for Cramer, Rybak made no secret of massive changes in development structure and philosophy, and the voters gave him that 30-point bulge. It's fine to appreciate Cramer, but it's hardly fair to say Rybak's a jerk for doing exactly what he told the electorate you would do. To me, if the Strib had wanted to critique someone for being bitter and petty, it should be the former mayor for not gracing the inaugural, and not doing her final duty to symbolize the peaceful and responsible transition of power from one elected administration to another. If Al Gore could shake George Bush's hand last January, Sharon Sayles Belton can do the same to R.T. this January. As a citizen, I found her absence indicative, in the Strib's words, "that Minneapolis is an exotic and dysfunctional mess." I hope everyone had a ball at the Gala tonight. David Brauer King Field - Ward 10 _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
