[Mpls] Who's got the voting power in Minneapolis

[BLACKSHAWJ at aol.com]

I read Nikki Carlson's post with sadness.  Invoking the name and  memory of 
Paul Wellstone to suggest that Mayor Rybak is less than  honorable in his 
failure to endorse Mr. Lopez - for whatever reason  - is disrespectful.    
 
Like many on this list, I loved and adored Paul Wellstone. I had the  
privilege to work very closely with him and I learned a lesson or two  from him as 
well.  One lesson Paul taught me was that one  must respect the decision of 
others, particularly in  politics, regardless of whether you agree with that 
decision. The  suggestion that Ms. Carlson is making that the Mayor is somehow  
unWellstone-like because he didn't support an underdog candidate and therefore  
was against bringing people together is contrary to the kind  of politics Paul 
believed in. Clearly, Ms. Carlson wasn't listening close  enough or didn't 
understand what Paul was teaching all of us.  
 
I agree that Mr Wagenius' comments were idiotic and full of naive  bravado. 
Even Paul had a few staff members like that over the  years.  I also agree that 
it was rude for the Mayor not to return Ms.  Carlson's phone calls. But, Ms. 
Carlson is making  a troubling leap from Mr. Wagenius' idiot comments to  the 
lessons of Paul Wellstone to indict Mayor Rybak.  
 
Clearly, Ms Carlson is entitled to her opinion and I respect her right to  
express it. My hope is that she is more careful when invoking Paul  Wellstone's 
name when criticizing the Mayor. 
 
John Blackshaw 
Linden Hills