|
India, I had a different point I was making. I acknowledged what you have said that the listserv Bikies is for bike advocacy. And, I do not live in the Madison area as you know from my past writings. Nevertheless, it seems this woman does represent her constituents and in this group it has been suggested she runs unopposed since her voters choose her. I questioned whether a special interest--even one as close to our hearts--as our own biking--should organize an overthrow of this Alderman because she has opposed some bike position. But you have made it clear that special interests are part of the process and that a function of this list is to organize solely to promote bike initiatives. I would not be surprised that if one calculated all the bike initiatives accomplished or on the drawing board before Governor Doyle took office, that more would have accrued to Republican Tommy Thompson than later under the Doyle regime? As I stipulate--accomplished or on the drawing board. And if that is the case, this forum might become an advocacy for the Next Republican candidate for Governor? Eric India Rose Viola wrote: Eric, I hear you, but do not agree. We actually ARE the bike lobby. That is pretty much what bikies is, does, and wants to be- discussing, debating, and above all promoting all things bike around Madison. As far as politics go, I think it is completely legitimate (if not boring at times) for us to tread as far as policy impacts bicycling. As a loosely affiliated group on a listserve, what we all have in common is that we are pro bicycle. Then it makes complete sense that we get up in arms- en masse- when a local politician basically takes an anti-bicycle stance, for (seemingly) no better reason than because it is an easy target. From what I've heard of the recorded meetings, Thuy's rants on bikes are off-base and extremely negative. You seem to enjoy being odd man out, but I am not sure that it's worth it on this one.-India *********************** India Viola UW-Madison Stretton Lab 115 Zoology Research Bldg. 1117 W. Johnson St. Madison, WI 53706 608.262.3336 *********************** "How can we learn from our mistakes if we don't first acknowledge them?" -Anonymous "We exist in the bacterial world, not bacteria in ours" -Stuart Levy ----- Original Message ----- From: Eric Westhagen <[email protected]> Date: Monday, September 14, 2009 6:33 pm Subject: Re: [Bikies] Who voted 4 this person? To: Mitchell Nussbaum <[email protected]>, BikiesSubmissions <[email protected]>Dear Group, I presume your excuse is that this Alderwoman in the Madison 20th voted against some bicycle initiative? Is that the excuse for twenty post on the subject of unseating a woman who has been claimed popular in her ward? Isn't that what she is supposed to do? Isn't she supposed to represent the average voter and not just the shrillest special interest group--such as THIS BIKE GROUP? Put up your candidate--that is fine. I don't think this listserve should be a political arm of the BIKE LOBBY, though. How long would it be before I might be cut off if I put up twenty or a hundred posts on how to get rid of THE DEMOCRATS RUNNING IN PLACE OF GOVERNOR DOYLE? Just how long before I would be told to stick to the topic and off politics--even if I could show that a REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR might have a policy statement favoring some aspect of BICYCLE TRANSPORATION. EW _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org |
_______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
