Mayor Taylor won't run

[PonderInc]

Having read the article in the TW, that showed possible candidates, I'm downright depressed.  Are the pickings really this slim?  Sadly, the people most qualified to be mayor (or run for any public office) have no desire to deal with the constant b.s.  I'm sure Mayor Taylor is sick of it.  (Most of us probably couldn't deal with it for a month, much less 3 years...)

I'm sure that being mayor used to be a good gig.  I get the feeling that you used to  sit around in back rooms with cigars and scotch and make the big decisions with your buddies laughing their way to the bank.  The press would turn a blind eye to a few personal peccadillos like the occasional visit to a prostitute...or perhaps they'd join you there.  You'd get the best seats at restaurants.  People treated you with respect.  And there were no such thing as blogs.  (People who wanted to write a letter to the editor actually had to put it on paper, look up the address, find a stamp, and mail it in...not just anonymously click "send" after every news article.)

There are people I would gladly support if they wanted to run for mayor.  However, I doubt they ever would.  Why would you give up a happy and successful life to deal with a bunch of crapola: idiots, a_s-kissers, conspiracy theorists, personal attacks, hostile / uninformed loudmouths, "professional" politicians, and a big pay cut?  Just so you can do something good?

There's a great quote from the movie, "The Contender"...
Napoleon once said when asked to explain the lack of great statesmen in the world, that "to get power you need to display absolute pettiness; to exercise power, you need to show true greatness." Such pettiness and greatness are rarely found in one person...

Politics is an ecosystem that is sadly uninhabitable to many smart, reasonable people.  Indeed, I think Kryptonite might be the proper metaphor for its affect on them.

Many of us assumed that Mayor Taylor was tough enough to withstand the relentless b.s....while spending every ounce of her energy trying to do what she felt was best for Tulsa.   We watched her be 10 times stronger and smarter and tougher than Lafortune was ever asked to be....and then we watched her be criticised for THAT.  (See Ginger Rogers quote about getting no credit for performing the same dances as Fred Astaire, only backwards and in high heels...) 

I don't think Mayor Taylor was perfect.  In hindsight, I recognize a couple cases where I wish things had been handled differently.  But in general, I've had complete confidence in her abilities as a thoughtful and intelligent leader; and total faith that she was working selflessly to do what was best for Tulsa.

How many elected officals can you name that pass that litmus test?

[waterboy]

Ponder. Your first mistake was perusing the UT for possible candidates. That's about as helpful as reading comments in the TW. Its a few months out before any serious politicking is going to occur and any conjecture now is pretty useless, imo. I could still see some unknowns or little knowns emerging and spoiling several councillor's plans.

I like the idea of a former insider from previous decades coming back to help the city. Perhaps someone having been witness to the folly of past mayors and councils yet who remains unsullied. I think that person may be quite similar to KT. I liked her boldness, especially contrasted with her small presence. It concerns me deeply that it appears much of her detractors' motivation seemed gender related.

Chin up. Its only politics. Real life trumps it every time.

[FOTD]

"The scenario presented by my friend was intriguing, but I'm still inclined to believe that Taylor is setting herself up to run against Congressman John Sullivan next year. It would look crass if she said anything now, while he's still in rehab, but if she waited until he returns --"

Bates, what a party boy. Sully is unfit and that's not crass. It's reality. What's he done for Tulsa other than further our place in the Nation known for vile politicians.

"There's something else going on here, and the decision to run slickly-produced campaign ads after officially "ending" her campaign only solidifies that suspicion."

duh

The return of Susan Savage approaches?

[Conan71]

Ponder. Your first mistake was perusing the UT for possible candidates. That's about as helpful as reading comments in the TW. Its a few months out before any serious politicking is going to occur and any conjecture now is pretty useless, imo. I could still see some unknowns or little knowns emerging and spoiling several councillor's plans.

I like the idea of a former insider from previous decades coming back to help the city. Perhaps someone having been witness to the folly of past mayors and councils yet who remains unsullied. I think that person may be quite similar to KT. I liked her boldness, especially contrasted with her small presence. It concerns me deeply that it appears much of her detractors' motivation seemed gender related.

Chin up. Its only politics. Real life trumps it every time.

No, I don't think it's gender-related.  I think it's some councilors who spend too much time with their head up Hannity or Limbaugh's a$$ and assume partisan politics has to be played out at the local level. 

Speaking of, one of those "R"'s I'm referring to thought we should have taxed and spent $2bln on streets all at once and didn't seem to agree there's ever been any sort of wide-spread mis-management in public works nor a looming downturn which would have bred skepticism in voters. 

[buckeye]

At one time or another, I've heard something stupid from a city councilor and thought, "Wow.  Gotta remember not to vote for him!"

This has happened, several times...well, as many as there are seats on the council...

[FOTD]

At one time or another, I've heard something stupid from a city councilor and thought, "Wow.  Gotta remember not to vote for him!"

This has happened, several times...well, as many as there are seats on the council...

Amen Buckey.

Looks like our city may get their own version of Dumbya and the consequences that follow such lameness....

[HazMatCFO]

I am curious at a politican who's not running for re-election is spending money on TV ads to tell us she's not running for re-election.

End game is John Sullivan's seat, however I don't think she will win.

[FOTD]

I am curious at a politican who's not running for re-election is spending money on TV ads to tell us she's not running for re-election.

End game is John Sullivan's seat, however I don't think she will win.

He should not run. He has an illness.

[Gaspar]

I am curious at a politican who's not running for re-election is spending money on TV ads to tell us she's not running for re-election.

End game is John Sullivan's seat, however I don't think she will win.

Yeah and about 4 or 5 spots a day on KRMG in prime time slots.  7:35 AM, 5:05 PM, Lunch 12:10 and 12:45. 

[Conan71]

He should not run. He has an illness.

You don't practice discrimination at all, do you?

[joiei]

You don't practice discrimination at all, do you?

Conan71, we all know that FOTD is the one with the illness.  Not voting for Sullivan because he has admitted he has a problem and is doing the work required to learn to live with it is being a bigot. 

[waterboy]

Conan71, we all know that FOTD is the one with the illness.  Not voting for Sullivan because he has admitted he has a problem and is doing the work required to learn to live with it is being a bigot. 

One person's bigot is another's pragmatist, I guess. Alcoholism, like most addictions, has a certain personality framework associated with it. Those who know recovered alcoholics can still recognize the traits in them and how they affect their decision making.  Its those traits that she can run against.

I think she's preparing to run for something, somewhere. Its doubtful she spends this money for the ego, though occassionally you do see a "SOLD" sign on a for sale by owner, its rare.

[tim huntzinger]

Conan71, we all know that FOTD is the one with the illness.  Not voting for Sullivan because he has admitted he has a problem and is doing the work required to learn to live with it is being a bigot. 

No that is just plain rationale.  The relapse rate for treatment is dang near 100%.  How do you know he 'is doing the work'? Something happened, IMO, over Memorial Day weekend.

[Cats Cats Cats]

Before you talk about how great he is and how alcoholism makes him a better candidate for the Republican party. There are a few more questions that should be answered.  (Although I do think its great Oklahoma might have its own Ted Kennedy!)

1) How long has he needed to get treatment.
2) Did he ever go to work drunk.  (3 different votes on the same bill on the same day makes me think yes)
3) Which celebrity autographs did he get in rehab?

Maybe we can throw 3 out

[Conan71]

The substance Sullivan should be judged on for job performance is legislation accomplished.  What'd I say?  Something like 26 out of 30 bills he authored died in committee?  Missed 7% of the votes since '02 which is higher than average but still lower than the absentee records of Senators John McCain and Barack Obama.

Now, is that due to an alcohol problem, or does he simply have a work ethic problem?  He's a good follower, the perfect rank-and-file go-along guy.

I really don't see this job, the most junior seat in a five-member delegation, being a meaningful target for someone as driven as Mayor Taylor.  She's not a good follower, she is a trail-blazer and has leader's personality.  That's why I don't see her having her sights set on this.  I'd think Governor or Senator, aiming for Coburn's seat.  He's up next, Inhofe is safe for 5.5 years.

Here's the other problem she's got to face in a national race: people are going to be deficit leery by 2010.  That's going to be the battle cry of the GOP.  Her actions as Mayor can easily be spun into irresponsible spending during a time of tight budgets.

Sully has the machine to keep his seat if he wants it.  The DNC isn't ever going to summon the kind of money and support they need to take this seat from Republican hands.  Oliver was the first serious challenge they've made to the seat and Sully's crew did a good job of making her look like a carpet-bagging outsider. 

There will be a strong effort by the DNC to un-seat Coburn if they want to maintain their majority in the Senate.  I could see them heavily backing Mayor Taylor for a Senate run, unless Brad Henry seems to think that's the next logical step in his career.  I wouldn't rule out Tom Adelson running for that seat either, sort of a Boren Democrat, comes from a family of physicians, former State Secretary Of Health.  I believe he's also a healthcare reform advocate.

I've said since '02 if the Dems would put up a good candidate I'd vote for them.  Thus far they have not.  Mayor Taylor is someone I'd vote for in that race, but I honestly don't see her being attracted to it and it's not as much a necessity to the DNC for her to win that seat as it would be for U.S. Senate or Gov.