For a good laugh, don't miss this morning's Standard-Examiner editorial, an unabashed and romantic pean to Blessed Boss Godfrey. "Prickly character" though he is, the Standard-Examiner plainly loves him, and will continue to do so, until he's unceremoniously ushered out of office by the taxpayer-citizens, in January of 2008.We say January of 2008 can't come soon enough.
A few select quotes from today's editorial:
The mayor's a prickly character, not much given to smooth public relations.Godfrey's critics and opponents, of course, are the citizens of Emerald City, the very same folks Boss Godfrey was elected to represent.
He doesn't seem to mind a fight, and has stood toe-to-toe with critics too many times to recall.
It's true this newspaper's editorial board has disagreed bitterly on some occasions with the way Godfrey has gone about his job.The editorial board has disagreed bitterly? We don't recall that ever having happened even once. Perhaps our gentle readers can help us out on this.
By way of that aggressiveness -- so unusual in some politicians who crave respect and admiration -- Godfrey has achieved quantifiable triumphs in the city's attempts to revitalize and re-brand itself.Translation: Godfrey has a public be damned attitude. He simply doesn't care what the lumpentownsfolke think; and neither does the Standard-Examiner. As for the "quantifiable triumphs," the jury remains out. After seven years, Godfrey has yet to show one project of his that runs cash flow positive. And of course there's that mountain of public debt that he's "created."
Is Ogden there yet? Well, we're not sure where "there" would be, since success ought to be measured on a continuum and constantly compared against progress or setbacks in the city's many spheres of responsibility -- taxation, fiscal management, maintenance of infrastructure, social well-being, etc. But the Junction City one sees now is indisputably better off than it was a decade ago, and part of the credit for that progress can be given to Godfrey's administrative team.We suggest Emerald City won't "be there," until the city's credit is completely maxed-out, and every free-and-clear City and RDA property has been either sold at bargain-basement prices to Godfrey cronies -- or hocked. Our precious Mt. Ogden Parklands hasn't been yet transferred to Boss Godfrey's crony Peterson, however. Perhaps we can use that as the benchmark to tell when we've arrived "there."
Aside from the few remaining twisted folks of the Emerald City Gondola Cult, the Standard-Examiner remains the sole voice in Emerald City still able to hold its nose and slavishly sing praise of the Tyrannical Boss.
And for those who think Boss Godfrey doesn't play the public relations "game," check out this morning's dandy Blake Fowers letter, straight from the Boss Godfrey Campaign Form Letter Mill.
Comments, anyone?
