Mayor Taylor won't run

[cks511]

Good riddance...go have fun with bam bam.....

[Gold]

Viewing the options we have so far for Mayoral candidates, I'm gonna go ahead and say it..

Tay in '10

I see your Tay and raise you one Bikerfox.



His awesome trick will stun the city council into submission . . . for five seconds.  But they'll do whatever he says as long as he doesn't show up to city council meetings and lame it up.

[Nik]

Are the DA elections in November as well?

[cannon_fodder]

5 possibilities I see:

1) Screw you guys.  I worked my butt off and get railed constantly.  It's not worth it.

2) Layoffs/furloughs/cuts are coming - I may as well go out while popular

3) Times are tough, unpopular decisions need to be made and I'm going to make them.  May as well make all that need to be made and take one on the chin

4) Running for higher office

5) Screw you guys, I'm going back to Florida.
- - -

I didn't agree with moving city hall.  I thought she moved too fast and strong armed the ballpark.  Not happy about the way Expo was treated either.  But on the whole, she has been a professional public servant.  I haven't seen a better choice waiting to take her place.

Paul Tay will probably get my vote.  He is my defacto vote if I've given up on the system.

[Conan71]

Here's some observations on Sullivan's seat:

-Just because he checked himself into Betty Ford, it doesn't make him politically vulnerable in our district.  This seat has typically been an "appointment for life", remaining in the incumbent's hands until they are ready to move on or retire.  I really couldn't imagine Mayor Taylor pulling the drunk card on Sully, it's not PC these days.

-Head-strong and bright as Mayor Taylor is, I really don't see her as a rank-and-file member of Congress.  She's not a good sheeple.  I think she'd grow frustrated real quick figuring out there are too many games to play to bring the bacon home for her district.  I'd tend to believe she'd run for Governor over any other potential post.  I could envision her taking a post in the Obama admin. in the interim and using that as some additional ammo in her campaign.  She'd be far better suited for Governor, though she'd face the frustration of opposition of a House and Senate, not just a nine member council.

-If I were as well off, I'd kick it in the Caribbean and wouldn't screw around with politics anymore.  I think she usually had Tulsa's best interest in mind, though I believe she had tunnel vision at times.

-Here are Sullivan's weak points: He's sponsored 30 bills since 2001.  26 have died in committee.  He's missed 7% of the votes in the last 7 years which is higher than the average in Congress, but still lower than the total missed by Senator Obama and Senator McCain, even before either of them was running for President.  He's the perfect rank-and-file party-line Congressman.  Nowhere close to being a MENSA member, he pretty much does as he's told.  FAIK, he only holds one committee post.  He's definitely a lack-luster representative, but again, this seat historically belongs to the incumbent until they are tired of it.

Love her or hate her, Tulsa will look different for her admin.  We needed to do something about City Hall, did we do it 100% correct?  I don't think so, but what were the alternatives and how long were we going to maintain that embarrassment of a City Hall and Civic Plaza right in the middle of the section of downtown we are trying to change the image of?  Progress isn't free.  I far prefer the direction Tulsa is heading than how it would have looked in 20 years without some vision and leadership. 

[Gaspar]

Conan,

The only reason I strongly suspect it, is that I know a couple of prominent Democrats who were given the full court press over the years to run against Sullivan, by some very strong, very wealthy interests. 

They declined, regardless of the persistence with which they were pursued.  After Sullivan's announcement, you would expect that the courting effort to be renewed with increased vigor.  It was not. 

It vanished! Crickets still.

Days later Mayor Taylor makes this stunning announcement.  I may be wrong, but I am convinced that she will run, and I am not alone. 

[DTowner]

Seems there are 4 likely possibilities:

1)  She's sick of the crap.  The bickering with the council seems to have intensified in recent months, to the point that a few weeks ago Mayor Taylor walked out of a meeting with several councilors after repeatedly being interrupted.  With the current budget, tough decisions have to be made, and it is probably not nearly as fun a job as it was a year ago.  In February, Mayor Taylor made a quasi announcement for reelection, only now to say she's not running.  Something has changed.

2)  Something big or bad is looming over the horizon, such as scandal or investigation.  Nothing really to support this, but if it is over the horizon, we probably wouldn't know anything about it, yet.  Alternatively, maybe her family's connections to some potential Tulsa development opportunities make it too problematic for her to be mayor in the future.

3)  In line for an appointment in the Obama administration.  She's denied it, but doesn't everyone right up the point they announce it?  Plenty of mid-level and slightly higher appointments (most not requiring Senate confirmation) left to be filled.

4)  Make a run for Cong. Sullivan's seat.  The timing of her change of mind on the mayor's election is suspicious.  Some of Mayor Taylor's biggest Tulsa fans could very well be pushing her to make a run at a potentially vulnerable Sullivan.  Problem is, popularity as mayor may not translate well to a run for Congress – the issues and positions you have to take are very different.  How many times did Inhofe run and lose to Jim Jones?  Besides, Taylor's popularity in Tulsa may not translate well to the surrounding communities that are an important part of the 1st District electorate.  Her abrupt departure from the mayor's race doesn't help her either.

Ultimately, I'm not sure Sullivan's current situation will create much of an opening.  Attacking him for his problem and his seeking help is very high risk with a low return (now that he is in treatment).  Plus, it's not like his past issues with alcohol haven't been brought up in past campaigns and failed to get much traction. Moreover, doing so creates the possibility of reminding everyone about Taylor's daughter's past DUI (I know, not the same thing, but it is politics).

[Conan71]

Conan,

The only reason I strongly suspect it, is that I know a couple of prominent Democrats who were given the full court press over the years to run against Sullivan, by some very strong, very wealthy interests. 

They declined, regardless of the persistence with which they were pursued.  After Sullivan's announcement, you would expect that the courting effort to be renewed with increased vigor.  It was not. 

It vanished! Crickets still.

Days later Mayor Taylor makes this stunning announcement.  I may be wrong, but I am convinced that she will run, and I am not alone. 

Quite well aware there are plenty of people stoking the rumor mill and her interview on KRMG didn't do much to dispel it.  I simply think her skill set is above being a member of Congress.  She's a leader, and even in her own words said she's not very fond of the politics.

Her achilles heel is she would be very easy to label as a "tax and spend Democrat" by the Sullivan campaign.  Republicans who did not vote for the Porkulus package or who are challenging Democrat incumbents are going to be all over national debt and deficit spending.  If you think McCorkle had some slimey people digging around on Mayor Taylor, just wait and see what Sullivan's operatives do to her.  She's got thick skin, but I really don't see a masochistic streak in her.

[FOTD]

Sully's a drug addict. Come on folks. Play that sympathy cards you die hard Goppers.

CF and DT laid it out ....they just can't believe that a man with just an alcohol issue would be pounced on....

[Gaspar]

Sully's a drug addict. Come on folks. Play that sympathy cards you die hard Goppers.

CF and DT laid it out ....they just can't believe that a man with just an alcohol issue would be pounced on....

As usual, thanks for your contribution.

[Conan71]

Sully's a drug addict. Come on folks. Play that sympathy cards you die hard Goppers.

CF and DT laid it out ....they just can't believe that a man with just an alcohol issue would be pounced on....

So was POTUS Obama at one time in his life, by his own admission.  What's your point?

[Gaspar]

Quite well aware there are plenty of people stoking the rumor mill and her interview on KRMG didn't do much to dispel it.  I simply think her skill set is above being a member of Congress.  She's a leader, and even in her own words said she's not very fond of the politics.

Her achilles heel is she would be very easy to label as a "tax and spend Democrat" by the Sullivan campaign.  Republicans who did not vote for the Porkulus package or who are challenging Democrat incumbents are going to be all over national debt and deficit spending.  If you think McCorkle had some slimey people digging around on Mayor Taylor, just wait and see what Sullivan's operatives do to her.  She's got thick skin, but I really don't see a masochistic streak in her.

Tax n' spend is the new style, and with the same Washington political machine behind her as Oliver et. al. had, I think that will become small talk in the shadow of her real "brick & mortor" successes.

I think she is far more tough skinned than people give her credit for.  Small stature and a diminutive presence may continue to work in her favor.  Her leadership skills actually become her strongest battle weapon against Sullivan, and I have a hard time recognizing any ability on his part to combat that.

But you are correct.  Rumor is rumor.  Lets see what happens.

[FOTD]

So was POTUS Obama at one time in his life, by his own admission.  What's your point?

POTUS OBAMA has never been an addict....toking is not in that league. Experimentation is human nature. Losing control is human nature for weak and unstable folks.

She's running for his seat. Book it Conoh.

Sully is toast.

[PonderInc]

I am so frustrated and sad right now for Tulsa.

You can be a buffoon and be a City Councilor.
You can be a drunk and be a US Congressman.
You can be a sociopathic dinosaur and be a US Senator.

Just don't dare to be a brilliant, visionary, generous, assertive woman, working 100 hour weeks FOR FREE, trying to do what's best for your city.

We won't stand for it.  Not only that, we will do our best to stone you to death every day in the media.

It's funny that Tulsans wonder why we can't keep bright, young people in our city.  Gosh, I wonder why they leave?

Perhaps they see that this is not a place that appreciates talent, intelligence and the desire to move forward.  The message?  We like our stagnant little pond just the way it is.

Question for all her detractors:

What have you done for Tulsa lately?

[FOTD]

I am so frustrated and sad right now for Tulsa.

You can be a buffoon and be a City Councilor.
You can be a drunk and be a US Congressman.
You can be a sociopathic dinosaur and be a US Senator.

Just don't dare to be a brilliant, visionary, generous, assertive woman, working 100 hour weeks FOR FREE, trying to do what's best for your city.

We won't stand for it.  Not only that, we will do our best to stone you to death every day in the media.

It's funny that Tulsans wonder why we can't keep bright, young people in our city.  Gosh, I wonder why they leave?

Perhaps they see that this is not a place that appreciates talent, intelligence and the desire to move forward.  The message?  We like our stagnant little pond just the way it is.

Question for all her detractors:

What have you done for Tulsa lately?

TRUE! SO TRUE!