So why should we vote for McGinn? I looked at his website and frankly he is as short on details about policy as Mallahan.

We've got ourselves a situation where we could end up with a liberal or quasi-liberal version of George W Bush as Mayor of Seattle. I just wish a candidate could step forward as a write in candidate to bring reason, liberalism and experience to the table. I may just write in someone. I don't want to be liable for either of the two candidates.

McGinn, want my vote? Then start fleshing out policy detials now. And getting rid of the tunnel is not the solve-all solution to Seattle's problems.

Wow, the stranger has stooped to Fox News style journalism. They just call someone an idiot but provide nothing SPECIFIC to back it up. He doesn't call you guys because since your mind is made up that he's an idiot and I doubt that anything you would write will change that, regardless of "facts" that you seem to report at the level of Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity which is to say a bunch of negative attacks that either have little substance or are unimportant when taken in the context of the real world.

You don't bother looking at the issues and where the candidates actually stand, probably because McGinn isn't specific enough on things he would actually DO to stand up to a comparison of that nature. So he financed part of his own campaign. Big deal. I sense jealousy in not having that kind of money. He's a successful businessman, accept it. But now, let's look at your points one by one, shall we?

First, you mention him not voting. So what? Lots of people don't vote. I could even make the point that by not voting, he didn't contribute to the mess we're in by supporting a crappy candidate or a stupid ballot measure. Do we know why he didn't vote? Also, how does not voting affect his policies or positions on the issues (which he has finally gotten into specific details about on his website if you'd bother to check it).

Next, he doesn't know "what makes the city tick?" What the fuck does that even mean? Can you offer something specific? Give me an example of "what makes the city tick" and him "not knowing it" and I'll take you seriously.

Not doing his homework- I'll give you that one, although when McGinn was asked what organizations he would work with to improve Seattle's night life, he couldn't name a single one either. This occurred at the Bus Stop bar on the night he did his bar crawl through capitol hill. McGinn has come out strong on "tunnel bad, green good" but has never said anything specific about what he'd do about these things.

His private sector experience wasn't at a progressive company. Ok, that's true T-Mobile isn't progressive but we're not voting for T-Mobile for mayor, we're voting for Joe Mallahan. What's your point?

Finally, he hasn't done anything for the environment. He's a regular guy who lives in Seattle, what's he supposed to have done? I care far more in his environmental priorities if elected than this.

One final word: although Joe may not have the background on every single issue in this city, he's far more receptive to input than McGinn is. I have talked to both and offered suggestions to both. McGinn dismissed my questions, ignored my suggestions, and generally smiled and nodded at me. He clearly didn't care. Mallahan listened to my suggestions (the same ones, a big one of which is to make busses run when the bars close instead of shutting down at midnight) and thought they were a great idea. He was very receptive and happy to have input. If he doesn't know all the issues, at least he's willing to take input from someone who does and potentially act on it rather than dismiss it outright in favor of his own agenda.

Can The Stranger stop this attack-style Fox News journalism and actually provide some facts? What is McGinn doing to DO compared to what Mallahan is going to DO and how does that make one candidate better?
Remember, "supporting" something isn't DOING something. Fighting for something is vague, did he go out and beat down the opposition with a baseball bat or did he shake his fist angrily and how did either of those things help? Provide some substance, something specific, particularly something that's actually important and relevant directly to the issues in Seattle and I'll start caring. Otherwise, shut up.

After the primary when the candidate I voted for, McGinn, did so well, I was eager to pitch in with time or money. As this article demonstrates (however shrilly), it is important that Mallahan not be mayor, and the only way to make that happen was to get out there for the only alternative, a guy who might at least be half-decent at the job.

But now I'm ruined. Now I avoid thinking about the race, since the name Ed Murray is what pops up. Ed may never enter the wacky write-in campaign he'd have to, but when I think of Ed I realize, that's a person up to the job. That's what one looks like. What a proven, trustworthy, responsible public servant looks like.

Mallahan doesn't, clearly. But now I don't think McGinn does either. And I doubt I'm alone in feeling stuck there.

98%?! Did she just insult Seattle voters when over 140,000 Seattle residents just cast their ballot in last weeks primary? The primary also had the highest level of voter turnout in at least 16 years. If Mallahan's own spokesperson is this disconnected from Seattle, how much more disconnected is he?

Sorry, but you don't get to be an elected official if you vote only when you feel like it. Voting is the ONE civic reponsibility spelled out in the US Constitution.

And I'm working hard to make voting for Ed Murray as our next mayor to be the second civic responsibility.

"Murray for Mayor, let's bring FABULOUSNESS to Seattle once again!!"

Dominic,

I'd sure like to hear more about Joe's specific accomplishements at T-Mobile. How many people worked for him? Budget? What exactly was the job? How did these "initiatives" he developed actually work.

My beef with Mallahan is that the city doesn't run on profit. The city doesn't have "customers". I nearly fell out of my chair when I read Joe's quote on his website:

"As mayor, I will transform our city government to make it lean, efficient, and customer-driven."

Corporate buzzwords asside, I see no evidence that T-Mobile is customer-driven.

Does he understand that it's just not kosher to call for the head of employees for political reasons without even knowing their actual performance. Does he even have the slightest clue how to manage people that you can't fire in a fit of pique?

The city of seattle employees union, police, fire, etc, must be shaking in their boots right about now. Labor, as well.

"lean and efficient" are code for "BRING ME A RED PEN and the BUDGET". Effeciency is all great and good, but we have to remember that all great organizations are fueled by people.

The mayor shouldn't be worried about customers. The City of Seattle doesn't have a "mission statement" that includes profit.

Holden did a great job outlining why Mallahan is an idiot. I presume the anonymous posters are form Mallahan's campaign.

Mallahan is an idiot for not knowing his bread and butter company rated so low on the corporate equality index. If he cared, he would know. Boo!

And if Mallahan is so good at helping hurricane victims get good cell phone service, why does T-Mobile suck so bad in Seattle?

Mallahan is an idiot.

The Stranger is fuckin blowing it on the mayoral election coverage. I usually agree with most of the SECB Cheat Sheet picks, but I can't stand the newfound slurping of McGinn's McJizz.

Ditto on the other comments above:
McGinn is a fucking idiot, too!

"Spite is a step beyond anger. It happens when anger has hardened, you've polished it shiny, and you've fallen in love with it. Now in dangerous territory, you nevertheless can't stop, and you decide it needs a monument."

~ Jen Graves, The Stranger, Vol. 18 N0. 50

In this case, what might that monument of spite be? Could it be a newspaper article?

I don't understand the purpose of all this. The election is already over and Mallahan lost, but The Stranger published this drivel (true or not) anyway. I feel like I’m at a Town Hall meeting with The Stranger in the back screaming for attention and holding up a doctored photo of President Obama with Hitler’s mustache. If there’s something important to say Holden doesn’t say it here. There is no point to this story. It’s a bid for attention. It’s a bit for this comment (and I guess they got it). Don’t hand me a melted candy bar and tell me it’s a rocket launcher. Mallahan might be an idiot, but Dominic Holden just shit his pants and tried to rub our faces in it; and you know what, I’d rather hang around an idiot than a guy who smells like feces and wants me to smell like doodoo too.

+

More and more The Stranger publishes these pieces which say nothing except: “HEY GUYS, LOOK AT ME GUYS. I’M OVER HERE EVERYBODY! HEY, DON’T YOU SEE ME?” Yes, we see you, unfortunately. Is this supposed to be a stab at the Seattle Times? If so, say so. Isn’t there something else, something more important, that you’d like to impart to readers.

Dear Holden & The Stranger,

Please stop treating us (the public) like we’re morons. We'd have to be slow to read this and think that it’s anything but your version of “shock and awe.” You’re making yourself look desperate. You have nothing to say here, you smell like poop—and YOU would have to be an idiot to think we wouldn't figure that out.

Congratulations to Mike McGinn. The Stranger, at least sometimes, gets it right. I’m just sorry McGinn had to be tainted by their endorsement.

Also, can we have some highlighting of the fact that McGinn's "big plans" are to improve both bus service (wrong office- run for King County council or Exec) and our schools (wrong office-run for superintendent or school board)?

The idiocy abounds in this election and is being reflected in the coverage thereof.

@ A. Osel: I voted for McGinn and think he's the better man. That said, I want to thank you for setting Holden and The Stranger strait. Mallahan sounds like an idiot to me but why exactly does that matter now?

@ The Stranger & Holden: Get real.

@ JeffT: Not quite Fox News style but they seem to be on their way.

--Kelly Macintosh, Seattle

As upper-level management, Mallahan doesn't HAVE to work for T-Mobile. I'm sure he has skills and would be employable at any number of corporations in the Puget Sound region. But he's CHOSEN to work for T-Mobile.

If he so strongly disagrees with their policies (anti-union, anti-gay, etc.), why does he CHOOSE to continue to work there??? Why doesn't he work for a company with values that match his own? He does have many options in the region. My only conclusion is that he continues to work at T-Mobile because he LIKES IT, and is only concerned with one thing, making money.

I concur with 14 above: The Stranger is blowing it on election coverage.

I was going to comment on this article but #15 pretty much says it all.

I agree with JeffT.

I also went to the Bus Stop and to an event with Mallahan to do Q&A.

Here's my rundown with McGinn:

He's running for mayor because "we're in an era of new change." Wow, change. Haven't heard that before.

Q -- He was asked if he'd be a competent bureaucrat -- would he know the agency to call or employ if a disaster happened or a conflict came up.
A --- Lawyerly nonsense. The question was asked again and he couldn’t give a simple “Yes, and here’s why” answer.

Q- -- He was asked about the homeless and how we can address their needs.
A --- Sidesteps the question and says the mayor’s office has limited control. He rambles on a bit and gives a cursory understanding of the issue.

Q --- I personally ask him how we can bring transportation into the 21st century in Seattle
A--- Gives a 3 or 4 minute long, rambling answer. Begins promisingly, but basically ends up being that (a) we have to make new choices as a city, (b) we have to walk more and (c) we have to ride our bikes more. No real cohesive, complex transportation plan aside from that. No longer-term vision. No discussion of how our neighbors would be involved in other cities like Federal Way, Tacoma, Burien, Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, etc. Just a simplistic answer after a rambling response.

Q --- Is asked about the whole tunnel issue.
A --- Advocates his vision but ignores the federal funding we’re receiving for the tunnel, doesn’t seem to understand it’s a fucking state highway where we have limited control.

Q ---- I live in West Seattle and commute to Redmond…
A --- He scoffed at the man working in Redmond instead of realizing that 250,000 car rides go across 520 daily. No response on how we can work with our neighbors and other cities to create viable transit solutions. He said we need to focus on rides happening within Seattle first --- OK, fine, but what about the thousands of cars that use 520?

He also spoke about education and he used such great, specific ideas as “we need to invest in education.” No fucking shit. Tell me how.

I can’t defend Mallahan not voting in elections. But if I were going to write an article called “Joe Mallahan is an Idiot,” I’d at least have the journalistic integrity (and innate curiosity) to go to the campaign websites, read, research and compare Joe’s ideas against Mike’s ideas on the issues. If you do that now, you’ll find that Mallahan DOES have ideas and so does McGinn, and that both candidates often lack the specific road map on how they’ll achieve it. The opposite is true on other issues.

For example – Mallahan wants to cut city contracts by 25% to shave tens of millions off of the wasteful $125,000,000 the city spends. He has a lot of other specific ideas, too. The Stranger would be better served making Mallahan explain EXACTLY how he’ll go about achieving these goals, the specific ACCOMPLISHMENTS at his job that prepared him for this, etc.

There’s no need to call someone an idiot to grab attention. And make McGinn answer the same questions, too – like JeffT said (he and I went to the same events), McGinn was very evasive and totally lacked specifics. He spoke like a lawyer evading a question.

I don't see how you could argue with anything in this article. Yes, it's a bit harsh, but it's also funny.

And we all know Mallahan wouldn't be here if it weren't for his deep pockets and paid staff, that he doesn't have the right experience or knowledge, and and T-Mobile is not the progressive company you'd want to come from if you're running for mayor.

McGinn has a history of grassroots engagement and political wins, he's progressive (as in actually progressive, not progressive-except-when-you-decide-to-cave-to-special-interests), and he's very knowledgeable. Just listen to interviews, such as the recent interview on KUOW: http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=18240

I like the comments that ask about McGinn's qualifications and positions. The article has nothing to do with McGinn. It's the pretty childish tactic of "I know you are, but what am I?"

It seems that neither of the two men who will stand in the election are as qualified as the current mayor, who certainly deserved the chastisement of his primary defeat. Seattle may be looking at its own version of the 2004 US Presidential election, where neither of the top two choices were very attractive.

Mayor McCheese just might keep his job if he runs a shadow campaign and lets the two rookies shoot themselves in the feet.

Surely the people who are going to vote in this years election will be aware of all the facts and why McGinn is the very best choice for Mayor. And I will do all that I can to make that happen. Will you?

Hmm, a swarm of unfamilar commenters defending Mallahan at the beginning of the comments, then a more predictable pro/con trickle beginning some eight or ten comments down. One thing you can say for Mallahan's people, they keep their finger in the wind.

If Seattle isn't bending over far enough for big business already, a Mayor Mallahan should complete the soul-sucking of this city.

One final question:

What's wrong with spending $200,000? He's not a multi-billionaire like Michael Bloomberg, a businessman who became one of the most popular mayors in New York City history.

Mallahan had to compete, and he did by giving his campaign money instead of squeezing it from the rest of us.

I AGREE WITH THE ARTICLE. BUT, #15 HIT THE NAIL ON THE FUCKING HEAD.

@27, MEET ME TODAY AT STARBUCKS ON DENNY AND OLIVE AND LETS DEBATE!!!! I'll take the Pro- Murray side and you take the Mallahan side!! Tonight at 7pm!! BRING IT ON!!!!!

*note to Sloggers, sorry I'm feeding the trolls but I am sick of this unregistered pro-Mallahan shit!

I guess I'm also tired of how stupid our electorate is in the sense that 75% didn't even fucking vote. And about 90% of us all hate career politicians. Our two candidates are NOT career politicians, and now a career politician might do a write-in campaign.

Fucking Christ.

And BTW --- we all need to work our fucking cocks off to make sure Susan Hutchison is defeated. She's awful

Have you ever heard of emotional intelligence? Well McGinn doesn't even reach the scales to see what his is. I know. I worked in the community with him for 10 years of his late or missing in action participation. When he did show up, it was super annoying to watch him be yet ruder than just showing up late, but then blather on out of turn about which pickle jar he was just sitting around and with who. Forget it. Mike may bike, albeit with an electric bike, but Joe manages.

The Stranger really blew this one.

Not that this paper's endorsments have meant anything for the last decade, but we now have two front runners who know nothing about managing a large city. Nickels was the only candidate with the experience to push this city forward (pro-business, yes, but this frigging country was founded on pro-business principals).

These two guys do not have the fortitude or clout to stand up to the backwards city council to push items like density and public transit. Here's to four years of Seattle sliding back to its bumpkin origins thanks to an impotent mayor.

I have to agree with # 14, 15 & 16- targeting one candidate for being a moron, whilst sucking off the equally idiotic other is a shabby excuse, even for an op-ed piece.

Also @ 33- I couldn't agree more- McGinn is a condescending, over-talking piece of environmental rhetoric that can't even show up for meetings- not just on time, but not show up at all. His camera charisma belies an aloof mentality I wish people could see for themselves.

Can't stand this race, but I can't stand McGinn even more. Sorry that money runs this country, but it does. It even runs Cuba and Venezuela and it did run the former Soviet Union, so quit crying about being pro-business. I'm not sure why some people think that a city doesn't need growth while at the same time remain attractive to current businesses. Unreal.

We really appreciate the insights of all the businesspeople who think this country was "founded on pro-business principals," even if they can't spell.

Wow. This article sounds like immature rantings full of teenage angst. Sorry guys, if anything, you've pushed me towards voting for Mallahan.

And no, I'm not connected to either race.

Fine, Cato, I registered just for you. That doesn't make my critique of Dominic, or The Stranger editors for okaying it, any less valid. I even stated that some of those critiques of Mallahan may have some weight if written in a better way. This article just can't be taken seriously.

Did you really think that two random people debating Mallahan vs Murray would carry any sway? Regardless, I have a life and can't make it. I at least agree with you that McGinn should be ignored regarding who should be next mayor ;)

McGinn thinks he can control the school district and Metro Transit, anyone with any knowledge would realize the Mayor's Office does not have the authority to do either, as one is run by the state and the other by King County.

We do not need another spineless hippy in Seattle that will not make tough decisions...I just hope he doesn't stop the tunnel and we have an earthquake killing people on the viaduct.

Plus have you seen his house? Get a lawn mower...you could park 4 cars on his lawn and they would go perfectly.

Like I said in my original post (http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/joe-m…), this article is futile and thick, not because it's false (I don't know if it is or isn't), but because IT’S A GIMMICK BY THE STRANGER AND HOLDEN. The election is already over and the article doesn't make any difference one way or the other. Why was it published? It's neither timely nor relevant. It doesn't include any practical information. It's just a smash job on Mallahan (who is now a private citizen) and doesn’t do anyone any good. The whole article reeks of an outright attention grab. The Stranger wants us to call this journalism? It doesn't matter who you liked better for Mayor. THIS COMMENT IS ABOUT THE ARTICLE ENTITLED "JOE MALLAHAN IS AN IDIOT" BY DOMINIC HOLDEN. It is Not about Mallahan, McGinn, or anything else. The Stranger has tried to pull a fast one on us by publishing an article with a provocative title but zero relevance. NO MATTER WHO’S SIDE YOU’RE ON try to wake up and smell the putrid self-importance with which this article was written and published. It’s a slap in the face to readers, advertisers, and anyone with even the slightest bit of sense. That’s all.

This is the first article I've ever read by the Stranger and it might be the last. Thank you to posters #14, #15, and #41 for writing somthing of substance. Without you I might feel like moving back to Boston because of this childish and shallow article.

@46 - buh bye.

@ 39

At hem.... principles. And, no, I've never been able to spell without the aid of teknologee.

Thank you.

@44 The election isn't over...now it's down to just McGinn versus Mallahan for Mayor. Hence, Mallahan-bashing, though somewhat distasteful, is quasi-relevant and Mallahan is not yet a "private citizen."

Jason at 27,
your roads and transit paragraph is off base. the only serious maintennace pieces in the 2007 measure were a regional share for the SR-520 project and the replacement of the south park bridge. the bulk of the roads projects in terms of funds were expansion of unpriced limited access highways. McGinn and the Sierra Club bucked the establishment, opposed the RTID piece as unfair and contributing to global warming and sprawl, and asserted that ST2 could return on its own, as it did in 2008.

@45 - I bet some reporters would love to talk to you about Joe's "effective management" style. You're right, no one's even looking behind the curtain. Just because Joe keeps saying he's an effective manager doesn't make it so (WMDs anyone?). I strongly suggest that you talk to a reporter (avoid the Stranger, they already hate him) and let the public know the truth about this arrogant, egotistical, clown of a candidate.

It's so refreshing to read such unbiased and dispassionate coverage of our local politics. Thanks Dom - you're a model journalist! Real cutting edge how the Stranger donated it's operation to the McGinn campaign.

I always trust the seattle times.

Well, about issues that have to do with the Eastside.

But not about Seattle.

McGinn = Trying to stop the waterfront tunnel that has already been decided upon, and more endless years of the Seattle Way, getting nothing done.

Mallahan = An executive who doesn't know what the hell is going on.

Which is worse? Because this is all about the lesser of two evils. A competent guy with a deeply flawed agenda versus a political neophyte with a nice and vague agenda.

@52, you're just wrong. Go back and read the measure and look how much safety & improvements for roads & bridges was slotted in there. Yes, there was money to connect some highways. That wasn't the primary focus as a lot of those "new lanes" were expansion of HOV lanes or for re-aligning the HOV lanes (as on I-90) and to add park & ride lots (good for both highways and mass transit). Some of those improvements would have helped with chokepoints and dramatically increased safety for drivers.

They worked for years to come up with a good long-term plan & then screwed up by placing it on the 2007 ballot. It probably would have passed on the November 2008 ballot given the higher overall voter turnout. A better information campaign to fight the lies about what was being funded would have helped, too.

Conventional wisdom was always wrong, as it often is. McGinn was fighting a strawman campaign as it's clear a transit-only package would have passed at any time. I give him no credit for fighting the establishment when he now wants to be a gadfly within the establishment. McGinn is for more process and burnishment of his own ego.

would you vote for him?

Wow...you guys really had to word-craft that blurb as to hide the glaring parallels to your beloved BHO.

@57 Thank you for bringing up the tunnel and McGinn's commitment to "more endless years of the the Seattle Way, getting nothing done." That issue alone makes me not want to vote for McGinn since at this point the viaduct is a serious safety hazard. Isn't it more responsible to work toward getting it replaced than to whine petulantly about how we're going about how it is being done incorrectly?

Dominic - THANK YOU! Finally a reporter who is piecing together the story on JBUB (a nickname given to him by his old boss…that is short for Joe Bubba – a good ole boy). He is an idiot - having worked with him for 7 years I can tell you first hand this guy is bad news. A deep pocket opportunist with political stars in his eyes. One thing I will say for Joe, he is consistent. He consistently makes poor decisions, drinks his own kool-aide, berates and belittles peers and employees, and brown noses to keep his job. The largest team he ran had 20 staff, he has only had a budget of $3m or so and has no idea what it means to roll up your sleeves and get the job done.

McGinn wants to eliminate the viaduct AND the tunnel and fix by eliminating some downtown exits and adding an extra I-5 lane and expanding surface streets. I'm not sure the latter half is a good idea environmentally.

To McGinn's credit, I see a lot of people who bitch and gripe that he's an "evnirongelical" nutcase, and I've never been satisfied this HIS positions (versus the Sierra Club) are extreme. Aside from attendance at meetings, I haven't seen really anyone offer a valid criticism that his work as an activist or environmentalist is damaging to his candidacy and would be more so for the city of Seattle.

It'd be great if just one of our newspapers --- The Seattle Times, Stranger, Seattle Weekly, etc --- would actually start writing about the ideas and policies of this race. I'm so tired of this shit. We don't have a single fucking newspaper that dives deep into the policies and proposals of both candidates, why voters should think about these issues, what they'll mean, the sacrifice involved for the public.

I feel like the media, as always, is doing a huge disservice to us all.

Now that we've read an article called "Joe Mallahan is an Idiot," I'd like the Stranger to personally take the time to really write pieces on these candidates on the areas I mentioned above. We're a better city than this.

@64 I don't understand why Mallahan's coworkers, past and present, feel that their only outlet is the comment threads. Why don't you talk to a reporter (at a serious newspaper/blog) and get this story out? Mallahan is running on his executive experience and performance, but nobody seems interested in actually reporting on this.

The comments here (mostly) are really a tribute to the intelligence of The Stranger's readers. They see a shitty attack article with no substance for the substance-lacking shit that it is!

(sigh)

The obvious thing that came to mind while reading the article was:

"Okay, fair enough. And what was McGinn's voting record over those same 10 years?"

All the article needed was that one sentence. Something simple along the lines of, "During that same period McGinn voted in ___ out of ___ local elections," would have done it. (Although at the least, one `graph would've been preferred.)

No matter where you come down on the debate (I voted for McGinn, btw) you have to at least expect that little bit of equanimity to be present. That alone is so obvious, I figured, that it surely would be pointed out in the first few comments, right?

But... no.

Maybe a few further down... and...
and... er...

Nope.

67 comments later and the obvious still remains elusive here.

(SIGH)

OK Mallahan is an idiot. And McGinn is moron. End of story.

Hmmmm....lawyer or businessman? I'll take the businessman every time. Lawyers produce nothing useful.

"T-Mobile is not a progressive company."

Ummm...then why was McGinn their lawyer? See report via Publicola:

http://publicola.net/?p=11631

Wouldn't that jump out of the Obvious Can if you were a reporter writing a story on this against Mallahan?

Can we just ship Mayor Daley from Chicago so he can put the fear of God in all these "captains of industry" and "ecogelicals" in this city? I've spent my whole life in Chicago and, though it's not perfect, the political machine and the "Chicago Way" got shit done for the citizens, political corruption notwithstanding. Maybe it's time that we dump the airy-fairy Kumbyah, hand holders that permeates the political climate here and get someone who isn't afraid to get a bloody nose and bloody some noses to for the good of the city.

@79, I don't think McGinn picked T-Mobile as somebody to work for. I believe him when he says to Publicola that he just did some limited research and drafting. Remember, he was just a junior partner at Stokes. That usually means you still do what the senior partners tell you to, just at an hourly rate that costs a little more to the client.

When you don't give a SHIT enough about the political process to vote, why the HELL should I elect you as Mayor!!! (p.s. I have voted in every election since I was 18 and I'm 52 now. do the math)

dominic or whoever is absolutely right. obama and lincoln didn't have much experience in politics either when they ran for office, and they are/were the biggest idiots ever.

this reminds me of mr. smith goes to washington. sometimes well-intentioned idealism and a solid work ethic can accomplish a lot of good. mallahan should have been given a fair shake in this article. doesn't matter now, so oh well.

There are still a lot of open questions about Mallahan, but I am sad to see such a tasteless hatchet job come form the Stranger. Much of this information was already published in the Times.

F this S, I'm voting for McCain...

Get Real:

What are you talking about? This is the average reporting from this wing of The tranger. Holden is a bias hack who can only mock and hate what he does not agree with or understand. He is a pothead in his spare time who uses the Internet as a juke box for sex. What do you expect? Find better sources for your political information.

I don't care about what Holden does in his private life. I just hate to see a good liberal publication undermine its own credibility by publishing ad hominem attack ads.

I agree - McGinn is no answer either. Recently I spoke with someone who tried to nail McGinn on how he feels about Ref 71 and he would not answer - point of fact he has attended several town meetings and McGinn will not even acknowledge him. I firmly believe we need to come together and support Senator Ed Murray as a write-in candidate for mayor and help impede R 71. I also support building a tunnel to replace the Alaskan Wy Viaduct.

Holden’s private life does influence his work.

For example:

If Dominic Holden were a Bible thumping Christian Conservative would it matter about his private life? Most the read The Stranger would say, yes.

What if he were a child molester or a radical believer in the prophet Mohammad? Most folks with an IQ above 90 would concur his private life influences his judgment.

In opinion pieces such as Dominic produces, of course it matters what is in his private life; it influences Holden, it weights in his writing. From what I have observed from reading his work, Holden has just two modes. Dominic is either in favor of his subject and praises it’s virtues or condemns his subject beyond any recognition of objectivity.

This may work selling ad space at The Stranger, but it reduces the publications value as a useful source of anything but factual reporting and liners for birdcages. After all, lining a birdcage with The Stranger’s political analysis these days would be redundant…

Watch the venom spew from Dominic Holden now that Referendum 71 has enough signatures to be placed on the ballot…

The Stranger is lost a lot of credibility for me on their endorsements this year. Both candidates are similar, neither are top notch but you treat McGinn as if he were only to write "F3ck Joe Mallahan". Don't say that about anyone running for mayor...you're not running for mayor, why show a potential future leader that disrespect? BC it gets people to pick up the Stranger.

You are little more than concert reviews anymore.