December 02, 2007
Mayor Nickels Talks To Seattle Kids
And sounds like the Grinch.
A grim Christmas message for kids from the mayor of Seattle. Greg Nickels told small children he's
launching "Operation Save Santa" to protect the big guy from global warming. At a Christmas tree
lighting, Nickels warned the kids they had to use energy efficient light bulbs, or climate change could
melt the North Pole --- and drown Santa, his elves and all his reindeer.
(Actually, it was a "holiday tree" lighting. This is Seattle, after all.)
He may have scared Seattle kids, but he amused an
Australian.
Cross posted at Jim Miller on Politics.
(Those not familiar with Seattle may need to know that the city's efforts to drive out children have
been so successful that the mayor may be unused to speaking to children.)
Posted by Jim Miller at December 02, 2007
01:16 PM | Email This
1. Progressives exploit children. Any chance to begin the indoctrination, they will take. Environmental scare tactics. Because they can't persuade us with reason, all they have left is the force of threats. I wonder how much of a kickback Nickels will get from the Compact Flourescent Mfgs.?
2. If possible, I will obtain the transcript of his Santa anti-pep-talk and distribute it.
I'm sure every last one of us wishes that he had given his talk during our snowstorm. Afterall, it is the duty of our leaders and educators to bewilder the children.
My living room temp is 59 degrees. I'm minimizing my carbon footprint and saving money on heating bills in an effort to, with good conscience, purchase my eco-vacation to the predicted ice-free North coast of Baffin Island.
If my eco-liner sinks, I will cheerfully swim the temperate arctic waters to the toasty shoreline. And then light the ship diesel drenched beach on fire to enjoy my own northern lights.
3.
Santa's Sled is a single occupancy vehicle...are all those reindeer really needed? And Rudolf's nose is using incandescent technology! What's more, while Santa discourages the use of coal by only awarding it to bad children, there are so many bad kids in Seattle that he's actually promoting it!
Yes, Nickels would insure that Santa could never make his deliveries, by forcing to use crowded lanes, and taxing him by the hoof for every mile....
4. I am waiting to see if...Reindeer really know how to swim...but on the other hand... if Santa and all of the Elves were caught on the last vestiges of the North Pole...wouldn't it be a bonanza for all of the hungry Polar Bears!!!
5. What Greg Nickels gives with one hand, he takes away with the other. He's condescending to the browbeaten children by purporting to save Santa - and all his City departments are doing their utmost to drive Santa out of the public consciousness for fear the old red-and-white geezer with the sled might 'offend' someone who isn't Christian or European stock.
But our overfed Mayor could do better with his silly message to kids. If global warming is indeed so horrendously important, he could reduce his own carbon footprint publicly - by losing 50 pounds by the Fourth of July. All those extra vittles he consumes cost energy to grow, energy to ship, energy to prepare, energy to eat and digest, and energy at the wastewater treatment plant to render sweet again.
Oh, and he could hasten the process by selling off his chauffeur-driven City wheels and using nought but a bicycle for moving around Seattle. Handsome is as handsome does, Mayor.
6. I liked the title of the blog from Australia:
"Fairytales collide in Washington State"!
7. Jim, this was really fun in the holiday spirit.
The Mayor rides around in 3 vehicles, with a driver that has to go to and from his esteemed location each day.
Maybe the Mayor could take a bus to his locations if he was so damn interested in saving Santa.
Maybe Santa could take him on a ride Christmas eve, to show him how many contribute to the real spirit of Christmas.
I'd love to see the mayor going up and down a chimney! Thank goodness there is a burn ban most of the time in his Emerald City!
8. Come to think of it, Nickels kind of looks like Santa, only fatter and without the white beard.
No wonder he got involved with Santa. Progressive Economics use the same "Free Toys" concepts as Santa.
9. Would hizzoner endorse Santa as much if he was referred to as Saint Nick?...or would that change the equation?
10. But... what about that new controversy .. the one about the new lightbulbs use mercury??? I hear the greeners are in great dismay as to 'oh, what to do!'
11. Nickels would have been better off warning the kids about the dangers of cheating as tribal casinos.
12. Next he'll follow up with a heartwarming chorus of "I'm dreaming of a guilt-ridden Christmas..."
13. You know, lately Seattle and/or the State of Washington are the subject of national cable news coverage at least three times a week for their stupid antics. Really, it's embarrassing to have the whole nation laughing at your state. Just ridiculous!
14. katomar, you may not believe this, but I was actually in Broward County, FL this past summer, listening to a presentation from a couple of representatives from the Republican National Lawyers Association (i.e. the GOP's Quick Reaction Force for suspected vote fraud). And there in Broward County, where that famous picture was taken of the canvassing board member looking through a magnifying glass at a ballot (and looking pretty silly), who were training most of their derision on? King County.
But (back to our originally scheduled programming), we should support Grickles when he actually does something right -- no worries, this *won't* be a major time commitment. And in this case, he is continuing to drive children out of the Emerald City like the Pied Piper. As it's probably the only way to save them from the Seattle Schools, we should thank him.
15. One of the few times in my life, I'm speechless. I voted for this? I should have voted for Sidran.
16. Nickels strikes me as a person who is hurting emotionally, searching for meaning in his life and career. We should cut him some slack.
17. Cut him some slack? After his recent silliness on top of his involvement in the Sound Transit ripoff?
Vote NO for Nickels next election.
18. He may win any way. Unless there are different menu choices other than what is offered, he will win. I understand that Peter Steinbruck quit the council to run for mayor. I don't know that his policies would be different, probably more like the current mayor of SF, Gavin, whats his name.
So, even if one votes for Micky Mouse, the wingnuts will probably win.
19. Organization Man -- This is one of those rare times when I must respectfully disagree with you. I don't think Grickles wakes up in the morning and asks himself, "What sort of evil can I perpetrate today?" Only a few random sociopaths do that. But, you volunteer to run a city with a half million people in it, and assert that you are the best man for the job, you've signed up to take the consequences. Not unfair consequences. Not cheap-shot personal attacks. Not general harrassment of no redeeming value. But for taking up completely idiotic positions on matters of public policy, you've signed up for criticism. The public has a right to have an opinion. The public should have an opinion. In a democratic republic, the public needs to have an opinion. Your sympathy for him is commendable, and on a personal level, I am completely happy to pray for his happiness and well-being. But running a big city is the major leagues, and if the blogosphere can't whack on someone for abject idiocy in public policy, who can?
20. 16 org man--explain further why you think that. Interesting observation.
21. Wow, the myth of Santa being used to sell, via chicken-little fear tactics, the myth of anthropogenic causes to global warming.
Absolutely incredible.
The govenrment is trying to indoctrinate the children. They are not content to do it via the government monopoly school system, but it also has to come from the mayor, himself.
Re-education. Indoctrination. Propaganda. Pseudo-science.
It's darned near Soviet.
22. Don't forget to phone Greg Nickels and Ron Sims to wish both of them a Happy Winter Solistice Diversity Day
(tukes off to Kirby Wilbur for coming up w/the politically correct holiday greeting term)
23. http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/Environment/PRSanta2007.html
24. http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/Environment/PRSanta2007.html
25. Climate change is happening, linking it to what Seattle and King county are doing to reduce green house gases is nothing further from the truth.
Both Nickels and Sims are using global warming as a political platform for their next political appointment when the Democrats move back in power. We all know that.
Even scientist at the IPPC level do not agree that CO2 from humans is the cause for global warming. Less than 5% of the total CO2 released into the atmosphere comes from humans and there is no scientific link that C02 alone is causing the global warming.
So by telling kids at a tree lighting ceremony that Santa was in trouble and that the reindeer will drown is even for Nickels is abusive.
Guess we all know now why his kid is going to jail.
26. Could someone more intelligent than I please explain how switching to CFLs in this state will make an impact on Global Warming?
First of all, isn't the majority of our electricity produced by hydroelectric... meaning very little of it is from hydrocarbon-burning power plants? So much so that the net saving impact of CFLs is minimal. Incandescent bulbs, even statewide compared to aviation or trucking fuel usage, have a tiny impact.
Also, I work in West Seattle on home remodels. A coworker pointed out Mayor Nickels home on a nearby street and I went by out of curiosity during a break. I couldn't help but notice he has SINGLE PANED windows. Large ones. Very, very inefficient, allowing heat to be wasted daily... FAR more CO2 impact that many light bulbs, as furnaces burn gas (maybe he has oil heat, even worse).
Granted, double-paned windows are only R-2, versus R- .85, so their net effect is negligible unless inert-gas-filled, but WA state building codes require at least two panes in NEW home construction (via the IECC). Some windows (superwindows) like VinylMax, Kensington and Penguin/Uniframe have R values of 9.9 in the glass (krypton filled). So why isn't the mayor remodeling his house to get maximum efficiency? Could it be that he's a hypocrite?
27. Booth, the assumption is that reducing a 60 watt incandescent light to a 13 watt CFL, we will reduce our need for future generation. While true, there is much more we can do.
You are right that more viable reducing areas exist, wall, ceiling and floor insulation, insulated windows, efficient appliances, and thermostats that set back temperature when not needed, especially for heating.
And correct again, 70% of our power is hydro, but this does not count for carbon reduction.
As for Nickels, he will tell you he buys green power, so he off sets his "waste".
But let's look at the real hypocrite, Gore. Made $100 M on his preaching of the sky is falling, wins the Nobel Peace Prize, and lives in a 10,000 square foot Manson, but buys renewable/green power to offset being an energy hog. So in other words, while still producing higher levels of carbon themselves Nickels and Gore buy their way out of conserving, yet expects us to follow there demand for conserving.
And in Gores case, he has a vested interest with ownership in carbon trading companies. He is pushing for a national carbon market so he can benefit even more financially.
Now spell hypocrite.
28. Lumps of coal for Mayor McScrooge for Christmas! (and I don't mean the politically correct energy efficient kind either!)
29. Seattle deserves this creep. Bag of methane loser!
30. The Mayor's office was kind enough to provide me with a copy of the announcement his staff circulated to those attending the Westlake mall "apology to Santa" address.
What the Mayor actually said in that address is not documented in print, but King 5 recorded the event.
Here it is: =============================
November 21, 2007
Dear Santa:
It's raining and dark in Seattle which can mean only one thing - the holidays are here! But instead of sending you my wish list this year (Hint: Mariners win the World Series), I figure it was time that Seattle did something nice for you.
Talk about thin ice! It sounds like you had one doozy of a summer up in the North Pole, and quite frankly I'm worried. I read the stories about how the arctic sea ice shrank to a record low this year and that scientists are pointing the finger at global warming. Some say that if we don't do something to cut greenhouse gas emissions soon, the North Pole might be ice free in summer as early as 2030.
Reindeer fly, but can they swim, too?
I for one would rather not find out. That's why we are launching "Operation Save Santa."
I know you are coming to town on Friday to help us light the tree at Westlake Center (check out the LED lights!) and join the Macy's parade. So I'm sending some of my little helpers to the event to give out free energy-efficient light bulbs and guides for reducing climate pollution. Look for the people in the funny green hats and T-shirts.
It is just one of the things we are doing here in Seattle to help people make smart choices for the climate. Our Seattle Climate Action Now campaign is helping them conserve energy at home and making it easier to get around town by foot, bike and transit (I'm assuming your sleigh is carbon-neutral). There are a lot of great ideas at the website, www.seattleCAN.org.
Since you are keeping track of all things naughty and nice, I think the people of Seattle deserve a big check mark on the good side of the ledger. Thanks in large part to Seattleites' efforts to conserve energy, our city was the first in the nation to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 8 percent below 1990 levels. Way to go!
I'm really proud that Seattle is making progress on protecting our climate (and the North Pole). Wish our federal government could say that. Even so, maybe you ought to skip the lump of coal in the White House stocking this year. Someone there might use it to start a new coal-fired power plant.
I know a few light bulbs won't fix the ice-maker at the Pole, but it's a start. And when we all work together, we can make a difference.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know we are on the case in Seattle - and so are 728 other cities across the country that have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. So keep up the good work and we will do the same.
Merry Christmas and Save Santa!
GREG NICKELS
Mayor of Seattle
31. Well my kids cried and asked why the mayor was talking about Santa that way.
They have no idea about global warming and whether CO2 from humans is causing the problem.
Unfortunately I am a PhD scientist and while concerned, there is more than political rhetoric that is need to convinced me that 5% of the CO2 attributed to humans has caused global warming. Other scientists at UW agree, other than our solutions group. Mr. Nickels that was a bad speech.
Reindeer poop in your stocking!
32. I wonder who's gonna save Santa and the reindeer from mercury poisoning caused by the disposed CFL bulbs?????
33. What a jerk, did this guy not get a pony as a child or something?
34. Mayor, How mental are you to force your religious cult on my children?
Geez, go talk to Algore about his jets, and his two mansions in TN with rolling hills of green grass that are mowed with several gas powered mowers.
Then explain to the kids how your eco-terrorists pals sunk the MV Explorer in Antarctica, carrying 48,000 gallons of diesel. sheesh.