Wednesday, March 4, 2009

The Old Standard Bearer



Peduto Press release from a few days ago:

PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh City Councilman William Peduto will introduce a resolution at this morning’s City Council meeting calling on Pittsburgh to join the international effort to combat global warming
I am constantly amazed by Bill Peduto and his leadership on issues that are so vitally important but city officials knowingly or unknowingly ignore. Its things like taking care of the environment and improving public transit, things that Peduto advocates for, that will help bring about a new Pittsburgh renaissance.

I, unfortunately, didn't have the pleasure to experience Peduto's first mayoral campaign and only the very tail end of his second, short lived, mayoral campaign. Have the progressives and the bloggers left Bill in the dust? Where were the cries for "Draft Bill" this time? Why so fast to jump from an elected official who has always stood up for what alot of the blogging progressives are all about and switch over to what appears to be a "not-always-too-progressive" candidate in Dowd? What has Dowd done in his just over one year on council to steal the progressive crown from Peduto? Is Dowd really the one we bloggers want as our front man, or is he severely lacking in credentials for this title?

If my commenters could enlighten me, I would gladly hear it.

To Bill Peduto: I still like you, don't let Dowd steal your progressive thunder

and a side note: Why doesn't Dowd have one of these yet?

9 comments:

  1. Well, he attempted to help pass campaign finance reform, to curtail certain loyal city employees receiving free auto, gas, and maintenance perks. But somebody had to veto those.

    He did get all city officials to commit to paying +15% of the minimum into our pension funds, but somebody had to go back on that pledge without warning or explanation.

    He did get the URA to cease stealing grant money from the City of Pittsburgh for their own staff salaries, and he did put that money into a legal program which is currently being used to spur development in his own district.

    He is presiding over the major new development that is Childrens Hospital, which is smack dab in a residential neighborhood -- and I don't know what he's doing, but you know I haven't heard ONE COMPLAINT about anything, about traffic, access, nothing? HOW OFTEN DOES THAT HAPPEN? Must be doing something right.

    He did do something with bike paths or whatever.

    He did kick off an overhauling of the city's street names.

    As a school board member, he did have some kind of effect on the School Board.

    And in April, he did file some kind of zoning appeal that resulted in some beneficial things occurring.

    Other than that ... yeah, busted. Anybody but Luke. What did he ever do to deserve his position, conduct himself just slightly more ethically on council than Twanda Carlisle? Seriously, I don't think Bill Peduto is losing any sleep over his popularity. Progressive Pittsburgh can like them both.

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  2. And they do like both of them, unless of course we're talking about the fake progressives. From what I recall of Peduto's early days on council he didn't exactly set the world on fire. It took a couple terms in council before he became the innovator and leader that he is today. Now, I think the biggest reason people weren't pushing Peduto to run this time is that most felt he wasn't electable. In a citywide race, I agree with them, and while it's going to be difficult for Dowd to win he has so far been able to put together a strong network of volunteers and is out there raising money, so it could get interesting.

    Now, if the mayor ends up winning another term I would look out for Peduoo in 2013. He is crossing into the mainstream. Don't believe me? Even Matt Hoagie is a fan of Peduto's now. Going from being primarily an east end candidate to now getting support from the Godfather of the West End - that, my friends, is called crossing the chasm.

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  3. Peduto is ok - when he's not whining like the rest of these unemployed bloggers. I have no idea if you are just masking your Luke hatred, Leftie, but at least you aren't like these blind Luke haters liek the Masseuse. Yes, yes, bram reichbaum. Rumor has it that Bram is a masseuse at Club Pittsburgh downtown.

    As for Patrick Dudd, he "attempted" campaign finance reform. Umm, that's Peduto.

    He had nothing to do with Children's Hospital. In fact, he's been more of a hindrance. Ask the Lawrenceville and Garfield community leaders and UPMC itself. Busted, Masseuse.

    Street renaming was Darlene Harris. You know when she beats you to the bunch, you are something of a slacker.

    His only effect on the school board was to fire it's black superintendent and close neighborhood schools.

    That's Patrick Dudd. No accomplishments. Just pure ambition.

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  4. The RIVERS CLUB. Not Club Pittsburgh. VERY big difference, from what I understand -- not the least of which is that Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Michael Lamb, Jim Motznik and other local political luminaries are members of the Rivers Club. How do you think I get so much inside information? And by the way, certified massage therapists who are male (if you are speaking French) are called "masseurs".

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  5. Bramo, although that guy was an ass with the name-calling, what about the other stuff he said?

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  6. You gave up your sources Bram! AHHHHH

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  7. Matt H - Wouldn't that be something? Luke Ravenstahl is my secret inside source.

    Anonyta - I'd answer back, but I'd rather not get drawn any further out ahead of the candidate. I'd be interested to hear more about how p-diddy "hindered" Childrens' Hospital, though.

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  8. LUKE IS A PUSS BAG &SO IS HIS SIDE KICK TONY CEOFFE.................

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  9. Just one question for Schultz, which one don't "fake progressives" support, Peduto or Dowd? Or is it either? Just what exactly is a fake progressive and why does not supporting one of those two (again is it a specific "one" or just either) make someone a fake?

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