Does anyone remember the Star-Tribune from the day Rybak won the primary election in 2001? Rybak was not on the cover, rather the World Trade Center in flames was the cover story.
The Sayles Belton cabal couldn't manage the city with the wind at their back during the Clinton boom years (a time when the state was awash in cash), and yet Rybak takes control of the city in what is arguably one of the most difficult times in recent history. He inherits a city saddled with debt. Our state and national governments are openly hostile towards our left-leaning metro area. Cuts in funding come from all levels. Businesses are contributing significantly less tax money to the local coffers. Terrorism readiness, the war in Iraq, an economic downturn, "no new taxes"--this is the environment under which Rybak has had to govern. In my humble opinion, the guy has done an amazing job with very little support and very few resources. It hasn't been pain free, but thinking it would be is living in a world that doesn't exist. Peter has not made the case, to me at least, that he would or could do things better. He's just been doggedly negative since day one. And I don't long for a return to the days of the SSB governing philosophy--a school of thought to which Peter most certainly belongs. The DFL would do well to endorse R.T. Rybak on Saturday and let DFLers use their collective energies not tearing each other down on the way to September/November 2005, but preparing ourselves for the real fights in 2006. Dale Cooney Whittier REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
