Walt Cygan wrote: >Gee, I guess he had time to complain about Mr. Felien's article on 10/1, >but not to respond to questions from constituents. It makes one curious >about his priorities. >
There is clearly a notion here that politicians owe it to us to come on this list and debate issues, stances, and opinions with us. I don't think they do. It's sometimes helpful if they do, but it's not an obligation of office. =============================== EY: This is where I disagree. I think better of politicians who participate on this list. It shows how they think on their feet, and it shows willingness to hangout with others besides other pols. Is this list representative of Minneapolis as a whole? No. However, participants on this list general participate in campaigns - especially in terms of volunteer work -- and that often is more worthwhile than money. The other part of this is this. When politicians participate in a forum such as this, they are giving the message they don't think they are too good to mingle with the list members and engage in very public, public policy debate. They show they are comfortable defending their positions, and they are comfortable with learning new information that comes from this list. Mayor Rybak shows how a politician can successfully participate in this list, and use the list to get public support for his proposals. I hear whining from some that there is inaccurate information on this list -- if that's true, then the whiner on this issue, should post the accurate information. Personally, I think for the most part, the list is self correcting in that regard. I remember talking to Peter McLaughlin when I listened to Sharon Sayles Belton speak at a rally. I talked to him to ask him to encourage her to post to the Minneapolis Issues forum, and to tell us, clearly why she should get reelected. Peter asked if the SSB campaign could send a video message to this list. I told him that would just irritate people -- because of the massive size of such a message. Wizard writes: In election years like this one, politicians debate their opponents. Traditionally, they do it with League of Women Voters-type debates, meeting people face to face, giving speeches, and advertising. Certainly they're not likely to be gracious and post their positions if the request comes in a form like the above. ================================== EY: The risk for a candidate in not posting to this list, is that their message can be obscured by people who post in their favor. It works much better when the candidate speaks for themselves. Wizard: Peter McLaughlin made an excellent point that Ed Felein is playing two roles simultaneously and while they are mutually advantageous (newspaper publisher and candidate for public office), writing a purported story in one's own newspaper about one's opponent(s) for office certainly cannot be construed as ethical. If a third hand report purported to be the words of one's opponent does appear in a news story, the person so misquoted (in this instance) has every right to defend him/herself and to demand a retraction as prominently displayed as was the headline for the story. EY: Peter did that. I still think the jury is out on whether the statement is true or not. McGreavy did claim that Peter said that -- and he did claim that "on the record." I understand there is an elected official who is unwilling to go on the record, who has heard the same thing from Peter. When this first came out, Tom Johnson called me to tell me this wasn't true. He told me he had talked to Wells Fargo people -- and they told him it wasn't true. I told him, he should get the Wells Fargo people to post here that this deal wasn't true. Wizard: The damage is already done. All of those who read this list and Pulse have already carried a misperception beyond the rather wide limits imposed by a newspaper with multi-thousands of readers and an 850+ person e-mail list. EY: Anyone who has read this list read Peter's side of the story also. We are still awaiting Peter's answers to the other questions posed here by Jordan Kushner. Wizard: Anything purported to be the words of Peter McLaughlin in either of Ed Felein's newspapers, on this list, and in person is automatically suspect because he has formally declared himself McLaughlin's opponent. I would go further and say that any stories by Ed in his newspapers which concern any county functions will be so interlaced with Felien's desire to be county commissioner as to be virtually worthless, at least until after the election. EY: I think people who read Felien's stories, know that he is an opponent of Peter's and take that into account. However, the same can be said for anything Peter says about Felien. Lisa McDonald's post on this issue supports Felien's article. Her point that other cities are dismanteling flyover ramps is well taken. Where I live now, a downside is that it's quite close to a spaghetty junction of entrances and exits to 94 -- and there are roads on top of roads -- and the effect is very ugly. I've always thought better access to Lake St from 35W is a good idea. I don't think flyover ramps are necessary to get that access. Eva Eva Young Near North Minneapolis "You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone - not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be." --Article II of the Bill of Non-Rights. _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
