Ooohh. I love it when you mention my name! Totally ballistic. Hmmm. I wonder what that entails...
Never mind. An apology? For what? Hmmmm, let's see.... Nahhh. Don't deserve it. The specious statement that Thune bungled this business reflects an exceptional ignorance about the entire process, of which I was an integral part from the outset. But...wait...did you say, "all would be just fine if we all, especially Dave, had read your post? You mean the post that contained absolutely nothing that we hadn't already know for, oh, say, 20 years or so? I wonder what color the sky is over this man's world. So, the questions must be asked - but only because you mentioned my name, of course - why is it you really think your statements connecting Kelly's umbilical cord to the Mother Chamber are a revelation to anyone, let alone David? Tune in, Russ. Cop psychology or no (and I agree there's enough of it), some members of the Council are as much in the pocket of the Mayor and/or the Chamber of Commerce as the Mayor himself. Again, how does knowing this affect Thune's competence leading this issue? How could he or any of the others been able to overcome this very obvious fact? So, now, let's see - knowing that the Mayor and his three henchmen/woman on the Council are in cahoots means that...the majority should *never* propose legislation? Saayyy, now *that's* good governance. Look at a possible veto and - forget it. (I hate the term, "Gang of Four", by the way. It suggests, meanly, that the majority is not interested in working for the people, merely for themselves, and I'll tell you now the record reveals the reverse.) So. Now we have a bungling councilmember whose three progressive colleagues get hammered by a self-proclaimed "progressive" because the ordinance they propose can't override an expected veto, not because it doesn't meet the public health need the "progressive" himself defines as needed. [pause] OK, I guess we ignore this guy. He must be talking to himself. Except that he mentioned my naaame! Ooooo. And he doesn't even read the latest polls correctly. Wheee. This my cue to exit stage left, but allow as how the entire idea of smoking bans was initiated by Dave Thune, picked up by several other jurisdictions, passed in strict forms and is becoming the railroad train it was intended to be. Dave wins this, if not by a slam dunk, by enough points to stay in the playoffs. PS: A lot of people are laughing over Russ's comment that Dave is my buddy, knowing we opposed each other for several years of St. Paul politics. Of course, it's Dave who came around to my way of thinking, doncha know. If you light 'em, we'll snuff 'em. And that's the truth. Andy Driscoll Crocus Hill/Ward 2 ------ Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2004 07:48:46 -0700 (PDT) From: popman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Status of the Smoking Ban: Bungled! Or �Hey Dave, got a light ? I posted before on this issue and Andy Driscoll went totally ballistic on me for posting it. I made my point loud and I made it clear that this so-called bar and restaurant ban is about to be bungled and his buddy Dave Thune bungled it! I said that Thune was basically wrong in the way he approached it and that he should have looked around first for some alternatives, i.e.: checking the existing laws, etc� The chickens have come home to roost, along with other economic realities. I think that I would be in my rights to humbly ask for an apology. Here's the truth on the failure of the much needed Smoking Ban: First of all, Dave, the bungler, Thune should have realized these 3 things BEFORE he started all this smoking ban business: 1. Our mayor is a shill for the republican party and always has been. It should not have taken a public endorsement to the POTUS convince Thune of this. Trying to negotiate with Hizzoner is a total waste of time and shows Thunes' political ineptness. Thune should have READ MY POST on the mayor's status way back when Mr. Birrenback was having his problem with the stink plant on West 7th when I, CORRECTLY, identified the Mayor's loyalties, for the first time, ANYWHERE! If Dave would have read my post, he would not be the failure that he is today. 2. There's too much cop psychology on the city council. Montgomery and Bostrum are both cops. They've both been trained / brainwashed for years in line with businesses / republican perceptions of the evils of creeping liberalism. (You must be a right wing nut-job to be a cop in good standing. It's required in this town.) I don't know if wavering Montgomery voted for or against the ban, but if she was finally "for", she WILL BE disciplined down the line. Thune should have known that it's not enough to just to win in the council chambers, but he must be able to defeat the Mayor's veto. He didn't have the support and never did and he should have realized it before he started all this. I knew it and why didn't Dave Thune? For that matter, why didn�t Andy Driscoll realize this and thereby advise his friend accordingly and save him from all this embarrassment? The lesson here is this: "You can take the cop out of the force but you can't take the training out of the cop."���ya'all can quote me on this: Once a cop� always a cop! The stench of cop-psychology is as tough to get rid of as is the cigarette stenched-bars. 3. The gang of four, should know one simple little fact: Any law that puts the interests of the people directly ahead of perceived profit-gatherings is simply not going to fly in a republican-controlled St. Paul. There's going to be no much needed official smoking ban in the bars unless things change. Sorry Andy, but your pal bungled this. Moreover, Democrats have bungled everything that they have put their hand to for the last 25 years on ALL levels of government! That's why they lose! President Bush has make some very serious mistakes�but�he's STILL AHEAD OF KERRY IN THE POLLS�go figure. In sum: We are a divided country because capitalism demands it. What's good for the people, in general, is AUTOMATICALLY bad for business. What's bad for the Labor side is AUTOMATICALLY bad for management. You all better love it and learn it� because you all are going to live it! You don't pull the mask off the ol' Lone Ranger and you don't mess with THE TRUTH! Rowdy Russ Hanson. The Undisputed Truth in St. Paul. Smoke 'em �if ya got 'em. _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
