WPXI's Rick Earle: You weren't involved in an altercation with the police officer?
Mayor Ravensthal: Absolut--
Earle: You categorically deny that?
Ravenstahl: Absolutely not.
That's it. Once the fiery meteor of McIntire's story entered our atmo-sphere, most of it burned up in a harmless spectacle. The above sniplet from a 3-month old investigative report is all that remained, solid to the core, striking young Luke in the tuchus.
The Comet transcript is in agreement with the one over at TPJs, if you allow their edit of the confusing double-negative in the Mayor's clear denial, and if you allow our emphasis on "categorically" as appropriate. Now then:
1. Some people will view Ravenstahl as a liar, who can never again be trusted with public business.
2. Some people will forgive the lie as a miscalculation, intended to cover-up a meaningless but embarrassing personal incident, which could too easily be exaggerated and lampooned by unscrupulous political enemies.
3. There is no reason to believe that the group represented by #1 will reach anything like critical mass.
4. If your political fortunes are tied directly to either Peduto or Ravenstahl, your brain will make you believe either #1 or #2, respectively, and that anyone who reaches the other conclusion must be stupid or insincere.
MOVING FORWARD:
The good news for Bill is that people are paying attention. His challenge now is that he has to be for something -- he has to be for something popular -- and he has to be for something popular that Ravenstahl is against.
That's easier said than done. It is Ravenstahl's job to support things that are popular. But it is not impossible.
The kerchief drops tomorrow.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Bill's position isn't so clear cut as you state. Being for something, and something popular.
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of things to do. But, doing the popular thing isn't what we need -- often.
And, being a nay-sayer (of sorts), it is okay to be against something too. And that invite is still there for Peduto to say, "I'm against the tunnel under the river for LTR extension." And, if elected or nominated, we'll do everything in our power to put a fork in it."
But, Bill Peduto is for big government. Bill Peduto is for tax cuts for the special elite.
At the end of the D's primary, I dare say that there will be not a dime's worth of difference. Perhaps a nickle -- but not a dime.
Being against the tunnel, presumably, would be being *for* the preservation of many exiting transit routes. Which would impress some.
ReplyDelete