I dont mind if you change the definition of what is and isnt a grass roots campain. But dont be suprised if readers call you on your BS when you mock similar grass root operations.

See, from their perspective, we all go to the same Seattle parties.

Which is strange, because quite frankly, I tend to see all the anti-Seattle pro-Tunnel people at the same parties (sometimes they forget to uninvite me) and if anyone is a cabal it's them.

Freedom ftw (except in Dubai and Libya which are being flooded by foreign mercenaries as we speak).

By the way, if the budget deficit really is that bad, and they're saying WSDOT can't afford to maintain our state roads and ferries, how come we're building the Most Expensive Least Capacity option of the three official options in the DEIS?

Or did some Magic Funding Fairy appear to Joni Balter in a dream while I wasn't watching?

JF - men? are you sure about that statement?

Speaking as a Jimmy John's delivery guy working in fucking Northgate who's donated $20 to the campaign, I definitely agree with the Times. I am about as City Hall insidery as you can get. I mean, I ride a bike, Mayor McGinn rides a bike--what more proof do you need?

It's time we face the facts. We're trying to undermine the democratic process by allowing the people to vote on something that directly affects them.

80 people in 2 weeks. Yeah, that's a real groundswell

By the way Goldy, you have something against good union jobs? You do know how the unions stand on this issue, don't you?

Wait, I've donated more than some of the mayoral staff. Does that make me an insider?

@3,

Tim isn't a nobody, but he sure as hell isn't some insider mover/shaker like Bruce Fucking Chapman, and he ain't nobody's surrogate. Jesus... I don't know how much more grassroots you can get than Real Change.

If the Seattle Times is unwilling to denounce Eyman's farces under the same qualifications, we'd better off with them bankrupt and broken.

ian @6... I never said I supported the referendum. All I'm saying is that the Seattle Times editorial is hypocritical and stupid.

Ben @7... I guess that makes you The Man.

#8 Clearly "grassroots" means whatever you want it to mean to suit your argument. Does he have the mayor's ear or not?

#9 It's a two way street, dude. Why is this sham "grassroots" referendum with paid signature gatherers suddenly A-OK among liberal/progressive types? The same folks who criticize Eyman for this very thing?

I've got no problem with however the campaign raises money, or from whom. The Times ed board is being silly, as always (durr...). That said, it's still fun to read about. Publicola added a fun angle to its own coverage this morning:

As we’ve reported, political consultant Bill Broadhead—the campaign consultant for the city’s leading tunnel opponents, Mayor Mike McGinn and city council member Mike O’Brien—has donated $5,000 to the anti-tunnel signature gathering campaign.

That could end up being a wise investment. Although campaign manager Ainsley Close said she couldn’t speculate about the campaign’s plans after it gathers the required 16,000 valid signatures, Fizz predicts that once it does, the campaign will hire Broadhead to do its paid media—making Broadhead’s $5,000 contribution a smart down payment on future work.

http://publicola.com/2011/03/14/the-osca…

It's actually 138 contributors now (checks in hand) plus another 40 or so pledges. Compare that to the contributors to the 2009 anti-bag tax referendum: three. Oh, and the http://www.protectseattlenow.org/donate contributors are actual people, not the American Chemistry Council, the 7-Eleven corporation and some guy named Gary Rebholz.

But, Joni Balter, PLEASE keep telling people who oppose the deep bore tunnel they're just stooges for the mayor. Last time you said that, we got 15 PayPal donations in two hours.

It's the mayor's job to provide effective leadership to more than his political base. If you think McGinn has been providing effective leadership to the city of Seattle I think you're going to be quite surprised when election day rolls around.

Regardless of your opinion of the anti-tunnel campaign the perception that the general public has is that this isn't a grassroots campaign because it's actually a premeditated move by McGinn and his inner circle. He planned this kind of stuff all along and lied to the city about not being an obstructionist to get himself elected because a big chunk of voters didn't want to vote for an obstructionist and he knew that. That's the perception. It's not an unfair perception because it's the truth.

Regardless of how you feel about his ideology, Mike McGinn is a horrendous politician. He either has to start being truly honest about his intentions for the city or find a new team to pitch his ideas or get ready to lose. The message is falling short and it's not the fault of the Seattle Times writers or their readers. It's not the fault of the city council. It's not the fault of the state legislature. It's not the fault of the governor. It's his fault for lacking the political credibility to sell his message to anyone that didn't already agree with him before he got elected.

The product is great. The sales pitch sucks. It's time to start facing up to this reality.

Cary Moon for Queen of England!

@16 Queen Joni's just upset cause we won't build her a fancy tunnel that will only preserve views for people who live North of Denny (the zoning changes at Denny to preserve the Space Needle sightlines, but increases South of Denny.

Which part of Fiscal Emergency don't you GET?

Howcum my contribution isn't showing? Does it hafta be more than 20 bucks to show up on the city ethics site?

Goldy-You are a Douche Bag...how dare you say shit about Tim Harris...WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU DONE IN YOUR 7 YEAR CAREER AS AN ASSHOLE??? "I mean...have you looked at the committees board???" What??? Are you looking to get laid Goldy, or would you feel better if they all looked like rich conservatives??? REAL CHANGE is about REAL PEOPLE and the issues that effect them directly. Go Fuck Yourself-I hope The Stranger fires you, you fucking loser...

@18 I think it's $50. This is why I always give them 20 Euro notes.

According to comment #11, as soon as anybody gets the Mayor's ear, they are an insider and no longer grassroots, or "common people." The necessary corollary to that is that the common people, the "true grassroots," must never get the Mayor's attention, or we will instantly be invalidated as "true grassroots" people. The Mayor only listens to insider elites; ergo, everyone the Mayor listens to becomes an insider elite.

K. Harris, comment #19: Tim IS a scruffy-faced, gray-haired fucking hippie. That's why we love him. :)

Anitra @22,

My recollection is that "Scruffy-Faced, Gray-Haired Fucking Hippie" is actually on Tim's business card.

@24 which means he qualifies as a random stoner off the street.

Hmm, maybe he should run for Council?

http://publicola.com/2011/03/14/whos-rea…

#21 - Yeah, if you have the Mayor's ear, you're an insider. That seems so self-evident I can't believe it even needs to be stated. But I guess by your definition, the Mayor is himself not an insider -- not if you like him!

(Seattle-Times-mocking-irony)For any common citizen of Seattle to actually have their opinion regarded seriously by the mayor of Seattle would obviously be a gross violation of the very definition of the term "grass roots."(/Seattle-Times-mocking-irony)

Rockin' post Goldy. Thanks. Makes up for the shitty 'disaster porn' disaster from the other day.

Goldy speaks the truth. When I worked in a homeless shelter in Boston more than 20 years ago, the guys used to give me shit because they generally dressed better than I did. "What kind of an example are you being to us," they'd ineffectively complain. I have to say, there has been no wardrobe upgrade to speak of. Also dug the "don't know how much more grassroots you can get" and the not "some random stoner off the streets" bits. Speaking humbly as an honorary political genius, this is a totally rockin' post.

Oh, and yes, Cary Moon for Queen of England. She'd be awesome at it.