[Vision2020] The Recall

[Janice Willard]

Hi,

I agree with John that this discussion would be better if it took place with
a minimum of name calling, impolite language and sarcasm.  I also feel that
people should realize that some people are more effusive than others and
have a colorful writing style that is more a reflection of their own
communication style then an attempt to put others down.  (Constantly looking
for reasons to take offence is, honestly, just as annoying as someone who is
constantly tripping over their tongue and being offensive- neither is
conducive to communication and understanding).

However, I do feel that the so called recall does bear examination, even if
it doesn't come to fruition.  I remember when these council members were
campaigning and it was clear that they presented a message of change from
"business as usual."  The voters responded to that message and voted for
these candidates--expressing their preference for a change from "business as
usual."

Now we have a set of "un-named businessmen" who are backing a recall of
these council members, even through these council members are representing
the interests of the voters who elected them to office.  Even if they don't
succeed, the threat is obvious: they are telling the three named council
members "toe the line or we will come after you."  The greatest likelihood
is that they are the people most threatened by a change from "business as
usual."  For that reason alone, we should know who they are.  We should know
if they are disgruntled council-candidate also-rans, if they are receiving
money from the city budget, if they sit on influential committees.  What
"business as usual" do these people represent? Should we trust these people
in other walks of civic responsibility? What is it they have to hide?

Curious that Dr. Weitz, who is rarely lacking for something to say, is now
so mum about his allies.

JW

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce and Jean Livingston" <jeanlivingston at turbonet.com>
To: "Carl Westberg" <carlwestberg846 at hotmail.com>; <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 9:52 AM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] The Recall


> This whole recall thing seems like a tempest in a teapot.  Given Dr.
Weitz's
> acknowledged errors of fact and emotional overstatements in the quotes in
> the Daily News article, why concern ourselves with tentative, speculative
> possibilities?  Let the supporters of a recall (if any) file a petition
with
> the City Clerk if they get enough signatures. Then we'll know who's
> supporting a recall.  Until then, it's not worth further discussion, in my
> book.
>
> By the way, I am an MCA member, speaking for myself, and I oppose an
> expensive recall election, as I expect the MCA itself and the vast
majority
> of the community does.  There is an election in less than a year for mayor
> and four of the six Council positions (if I am correct in my belief that
> appointed Council members must stand for election at the next general
> election).  The normal political process (a general election, fancy that!)
> is the way to effect change on the City Council if one is unhappy with the
> current situation, not an expensive and extraordinary recall election.
>
> Bruce Livingston
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Carl Westberg" <carlwestberg846 at hotmail.com>
> To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 8:02 AM
> Subject: RE: [Vision2020] The Recall
>
>
> > Putting my toe, with some trepidation, into these waters, I think John
has
> > a valid point.  I don't think inflammatory language serves any good
> > purpose in Moscow's latest controversy.  For the record, I support the
> > three council members being targeted by Mr. Weitz, and I am not a member
> > of MCA.  I'm an independent liberal reprobate.  The single overriding
> > question I have is: who are these anonymous people behind the petition?
I
> > don't know anyone who has a clue who, other than Mr. Weitz, is
responsible
> > for this effort, or how many there may be.  Perhaps, if they would come
> > into the sunshine, identify themselves and their reasons for the recall
> > petition, we'd get somewhere beyond suspicion and harmful rhetoric.
> > Carl Westberg Jr.
> >
> >>From: "John Danahy" <jdanahy at turbonet.com>
> >>To: "Vision2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> >>Subject: [Vision2020] The Recall
> >>Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2005 17:59:54 -0800
> >>
> >>All;
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>      I am generally opposed to the St Mary's gym because I do not think
> >>there is a valid solution to the parking problem in the surrounding
> >>neighborhood.  That said:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>I find it shocking to my poor progressive sensibilities that this issue
> >>should incite such vitriolic language.  Hear we have an individual,
> >>disagreeing with a council decision, seeking to recall some council
> >>members.
> >>This individual, sometimes known for excessivieness, does not live in
the
> >>city, and therefore cannot vote.  But he does own businesses in the city
> >>and
> >>therefore pays city taxes.  Taxation without representation this was
once
> >>called.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Now this recall is certainly an issue that should be discussed here
But
> >>instead of discussing the issue, the pros and cons, the reasons good and
> >>bad, we see another side of our community.  We see words like sleazy,
> >>snakeoil, sinister, irrational, little boy and GET REAL.  These words do
> >>not
> >>pretend to relate to the issues at hand but are referenced to
individuals.
> >>How truly sad.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>I would expect that Bill London and Lois Blackburn, founding members of
> >>the
> >>MCA, would wish to defend and support the council members the
organization
> >>endorsed.  This is not the way.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>John
> >>
> >>_____________________________________________________
> >>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
> >>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> >>                http://www.fsr.net
> >>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> >>¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
> >
> >
> > _____________________________________________________
> > List services made available by First Step Internet, serving the
> > communities of the Palouse since 1994.   http://www.fsr.net
> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
>
> _____________________________________________________
>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>                http://www.fsr.net
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯