Sound Politics: Credit to Tim Eyman

July 22, 2008

Credit to Tim Eyman

Long-time readers will recall I'm not Tim Eyman's biggest fan (ahem), but it must be noted he deserves particular credit for a recent turn of events.

When Eyman was making the rounds at the Snohomish County GOP convention this year, part of his pitch for I-985 was that the initiative's efforts to reduce traffic congestion would draw environmentalists into the fight - thus limiting their resources spent against Dino Rossi.

Well, the urban enviros sure are concerned about it. And low and behold, the group forming to combat the initiative is heavy on greenies.

I don't believe left-of-center groups pummeling Rossi on behalf of Christine Gregoire will actually end up wanting for money. But, every effort to weaken it helps. As much as this initiative no doubt isn't actually about the Governor's race, Eyman was right...even if it still felt like he was about to sell me a set of steak knives in the middle of what was otherwise a pretty interesting pitch.

Posted by Eric Earling at July 22, 2008 08:09 AM | Email This

Comments

1. However, the politicos are still run by the old crowd and they don't seem to "get it". If they "got it" Eyman would be out of business.

Until the time comes when the R party turns over the reins to your generation, Eric, I don't have much hope. Rossi, maybe, for a short term fix.

The state and world has changed for the worse since Evans, Spellman and Gorton. It is time for new leadership and the GOP shouldn't be trotting out these old nags.

Posted by: swatter on July 22, 2008 08:43 AM

2. It's the perfect political storm. Really high gas prices, transportation policy failure, very high gas taxes that have amount to nothing tangible for the average Joe to see.

A and along comes a sensible initiative that calls for common sense ideas like opening the HOV lanes when no one is using them, and timing traffic lights. Don't the enviro nuts see how improved traffic flow means less carbon spewed in to the atmosphere?

The left has already lost this fight.

Posted by: Jeff B. on July 22, 2008 09:34 AM

3. Eric,

I was wondering when you were going to acknowledge how absurd it was for you to claim Eyman's "15 minutes were up." That was 2 years ago, and he's still going strong.

Posted by: Michelle on July 22, 2008 10:25 AM

4. I actually liked this initiative too at first glance, but honestly don't know about enough of the details. If it were just a matter of requiring HOV lanes to be opened up during non-peak hours and requiring cities to time traffic lights, I would be all for it. But if the plan is to also *require* specific funds be taken from a budget pool and applied to another specific budget pool, then I begin to have my doubts... or rather begin to get suspicious about the true motives of the Initiative.

Posted by: Splinter on July 22, 2008 10:36 AM

5. And there is another common sense idea that Mayor Nickels and Ronald Simms should implement and I think this is a good time as any to propose it.

Mandatory public transit to work for all Seattle and King County government employees.

Think of the carbon savings! Think of all the barrels of oil saved! Think about the instant 25% reduction in traffic during rush hours!

I believe with the latest environment saving initiatives enacted or proposed like the bottled water ban and the plastic & paper sack taxes, now is the time for government to get really serious and ban it's employees from using personal transportation for commuting to work. They obviously should lead the way to cleaner environment.

Posted by: G Jiggy on July 22, 2008 11:07 AM

6. It is not so much Tim Eymen that is popular, it is his ideas! If we did not have such an incompetent local government that refuses to implement common sense solutions, then Eymen would be out of business. I mean I have thought for a long time...why the hell do you not time the lights?? Of course Nickels and his boys will claim that "we are already doing this and to put this initiative into effect will cost the taxpayers of our city" The only time they are against spending money is when a Republican comes up with a good idea to save money in the long run.

Also why are environmentalists against this? If traffic is flowing better then that is less time spent in the car which means fewer emissions and less gas being used.

Posted by: jk on July 22, 2008 01:08 PM

7. "Long-time readers will recall I'm not Tim Eyman's biggest fan"

Most leftists aren't. So what else is new?

Posted by: hinton on July 22, 2008 01:49 PM

8. #5 - Amen on that one.

I don't think I've ever seen a city/county government vehicle with more than one person in it.

(Unless we're talking about Mayor Nickels or Ron Sims, where the car will also have a driver, a $150,000 a year spokesperson and at least one lobbyist or union boss.)

Posted by: johnny on July 22, 2008 02:08 PM

9. I'm grateful for Tim Eyman. Nobody else in Olympia is acting on behalf of taxpayers like he does. Property taxes would be higher, car tabs would still be way too high and being used for non-roads things, etc. His current initiative seeks to take concrete action on problems Olympia refuses to deal with. I'll take him over the current legislature any day.

Posted by: Michele on July 22, 2008 02:31 PM

10. Until the time comes when the R party turns over the reins to your generation, Eric, I don't have much hope.

I agree, and I'm not of Eric's generation; I'm a lot older. My generation's political leaders have screwed the pooch: out of control spending, unfunded entitlements, and political corruption through earmarks. Time to throw the bums out and give a new, younger, generation of leaders a chance. This must be done in the primary, as throwing out a republican for a democrat will only make the situation worse.

Posted by: Obi-Wan on July 22, 2008 03:03 PM

11. If Eyman's initative passes maybe Tacoma will finally move out of the stone age as far as traffic light timing goes anyway. My daily commute includes several intersections where if you are stopped at one light, it is impossible to make the green light at the next interesection. Also, on the way home I use a different street that has the lights timed so that if you go about 40MPH you can four lights in a row. Unfortunately, this is in 25MPH speed zone.

It is hard for me to believe that this city actually has anyone involved in traffic flow..

Posted by: RJK on July 22, 2008 03:31 PM

12. Actually, I find that the downtown Seattle grid is about the only place where lights are timed. Obviously timing can only do so much at the bottle-neck spots such as Denny, but 1st, 2nd and 5th all seemed to be timed pretty well once you can work you way onto them.

The places that drive me absolutely nuts are cities like Redmond and Sammamish. I sometimes think it's a concerted effort to make everyone stop at every possible signal on the way through town.

Posted by: Splinter on July 22, 2008 04:44 PM

13. Hasn't anyone noticed that the traffic lights are timed perfectly, they're all red!!!

Posted by: Dawn Courtney on July 22, 2008 07:11 PM

14. Oh brother.

Sure, some enviros will fight Eyman on his latest gimmick. But so what? He's just trying to raise his value so people will give him more money. Now Eric is trying to help him.

It won't work. Eyman has been exposeed. He doesn't seem real interested in much but raising his own profile so he can earn more money running initiatives.

There are some good ideas somewhere in this latest gimmick. But the trust factor is way low these days. When Eyman failed on a similar initiative a few years go he said something like people don't trust him when it comes to methods for fixing traffic.

Nothing has changed since then. He's an initiative expert, hardly a traffic expert.

Posted by: jan on July 22, 2008 08:54 PM

15. So Jan, you're happy sitting in the traffic that's going to remain status quo for years under the current methods?

Posted by: PC on July 22, 2008 09:06 PM