On May 13, 2005, at 10:23 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I've not decided who I'm supporting tomorrow, and his rhetoric maybe over the top... perhaps a little sloppy. However, this is a bizarre place to attack R.T... In context, he was saying that Peter is using fear as a way to win which is exactly the way Karl Rove and kronies operate. From seeing some of the debates and one on one conversations and mailings it doesn't seem that far off.
In my opinion, the attacks McLaughlin is making on Rybak's record are no different in scope and tone than the attacks Rybak made against Sayles Belton in 2001.
That's what happens when you're an incumbent running for re-election -- your record gets attacked. The only difference between R.T. and Sharon in this regard is that R.T. appears not to understand that attacks and harsh criticism are part of the job.
The question is not whether negative attacks occur, but whether they hit the mark or not. In 2001, they hit the mark. In 2005, the jury is still out. R.T.'s problem is that there are very legitimate concerns about the direction of crime and neighborhoods in the city -- the only real question is the level of culpability R.T. has for the current state of affairs.
And a "Karl Rove" reference goes well beyond invoking fear. There was an Atlantic Monthly article last year about Rove, and his M.O. includes a level of deception and dirty tricks that is light years beyond what anyone in Minneapolis has ever done. My original point stands - R.T. is invoking the dread name of Karl Rove, despite its inapplicability, as a dramatic rhetorical device to get attention. And regardless of whom one supports for mayor, that's a bad thing.
Greg Abbott 13th Ward Linden Hills
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