Democracy Has Prevailed.

January 1, 2010

Councilman Behaving Badly (More on City Council & Stalinstahl's Veto)

From The Pittsburgh Nonpartisan Examiner on last night's Pittsburgh City Council emergency meeting:
After repeated verbal disruptions, Dowd was told that as a member not present, he was not permitted to comment as a member in attendance. Dowd then leapt into the audience area, where he sat with journalists heckling, smirking, and commenting repeatedly that the council did not convene and say the "Pledge of Allegiance".

When challenged about his behavior, Dowd taunted Shields to have the Sergeant-at-Arms remove him. Due to the session's late hour, there was no such personnel present.
I guess now that Motznik is gone Dowd felt compelled to make a grab for the title of "Clowncilman."

I'm also compelled to repeat my favorite line from Chris Potter's Slag Heap on the upcoming Council vote for President:
But to cast a vote for anyone except Peduto is to say, essentially, that council is content being Luke Ravenstahl's bitch.
(h/t to Ms. Mon for "Stalinstahl")
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6 comments:

Ms. Monongahela, Ms. Chief Editor said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ms. Monongahela, Ms. Chief Editor said...

I actually first used "Stalinstahl" when he had his lawyer issue a warning to us that we had better not say anything about his "separation." (The announcement being another example of his strategic timing.) Someone came out with a poster after that depicting him as such ... but I don't recall who that was.

Ms. Monongahela, Ms. Chief Editor said...

Incidentally -- Stalin is the Russian word for STEEL.

Maria said...

Then Lukey can't object since he already called himself that (or close enough). :-D

n'at said...

So we can deride Payne and Motznik for openly damning the constitution and other questionable behavior within chambers, but when a councilperson's decision falls on our side we should rally behind them at all cost? Perhaps it's generational/experiential deferences, but given the circumstances, I agree with Dowd's position and his decorum.

Regardless of the subject, the action of council was flawed even if the will of council was just.

Jaywalking or numerical rounding
on a tax return is in a whole different realm than what council attempted on new years eve.

EdHeath said...

Dowd's position on the meeting, yes, N'at, but not his decorum. Calling his fellow Councilors "fascists"? Yelling from the visitors' seats? This is behavior sinking to the level of Joe Wilson.