Ron Edwards does not say that Sharon lost because she would have opposed redistricting. Ron says she lost because she was no longer of use to the DFL at the same time that she was trying too hard to please the DFL. In terms of RT and Lisa, Ron does not say RT was a better candidate but rather that his campaign strategy was better. He says that Lisa too was short changed by the DFL (which I believe Lisa would agree with), which was necessary and needed to be done in order to clear the way for RT to not have to run against Lisa as, in Ron's view, Lisa would have won in a head to head against RT. Ron is not writing on the basis of what he wanted or didn't want but on the basis of the dynamics of what happened and why. He wrote about what he saw. Please read Chapter 11 of his book The Minneapolis Story, Through My Eyes.
As for the Twins: I was in Minneapolis during the closing of the campaign and followed it during several trips before and on the Internet. This is the first time I've seen anything linking the Twins stadium and her loss. By way of understanding regarding the stadium issue, I refer you to Chapter 15 of Ron's book. I know I sound like a broken record when it comes to my referring to the book, but Ron's book is probably the single most important book on Minneapolis written in many a year and the one most helpful in understanding Minneapolis politics today. If you like the way thing are, Ron's book will outline for you how they got this way. If you don't like the way things are Ron's book will explain how they got this way and steps to take to make changes. Thus the book is a handbook for what to do if you want the status quo to continue (hence the subtitle to Chapter 16: "Unrest, Disturbance: The Status Quo Price Minneapolis is Willing to Pay) and what to do if you want to change the status quo (hence the subtitle to Chapter 17: "Positive Possibilities for Minneapolis"). The book, therefore, should be on everyone's desk. And if you can't decide whether you should promote the status quo or seek to change it, the book will help you make that decision as well. The book is well written, well reasoned, and shows both sides. And Ron makes very clear this is an open political question, not a Black and White one (although the way it has been answered has negatively impacted worse on Blacks). Blacks are just as divided as Whites in the sense that there are those who want the status quo and those who don't (see Chapter 14). The problem for everyone, historically, regardless of what they want, is that the status quo always gets harder to maintain. Something always has to give. Ron's book is a guidebook for those who want new change and those who want to change things to keep things the way they are. Ron clearly addresses many of the concerns addressed by this forum. Enjoy the read. Peter Jessen, Portland www.TheMinnneapolisStory.com -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, February 28, 2003 8:54 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [mpls] H.F. 67 Defeated - Just Not Officially In a message dated 2/28/2003 5:35:48 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Chapters 12-13 of The Minneapolis Story, Through My Eyes," by Ron Edwards > provides helpful background on the political manipulation of which this is > but the latest attempt. I submit that this is the other side of a single > coin of political manipulation, with one side being redistricting and the > other side being reelectioning. I think Ron Edwards is dead wrong when he argues that Sharon Sayles Belton lost the election for Mayor because she would have opposed the redistricting plan -- if she had been re-elected. If that were the case, why didn't she publicly oppose the redistricting plan? Sayles-Belton wasn't stabbed in the back by the DFL establishment. She committed political suicide by taking the job as head cheerleader for a new Twins Stadium. I agree with Edwards that, so far as the people who pull the strings of these politicians are concerned, Rybac was a far better candidate than Lisa McDonald. -Doug Mann, King Field http://educationright.tripod.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
