I'm Speechless (Me?)

Lynne Varner of the Times wrote what is probably one of the least clear editorial columns I have ever read I just don't know what to make of it so I leave it to you to decipher it.  (She does use her fav phrase "Sturm und Drang" which I never thought of as all-purpose but okay.) Hint: I think it's about ethics.

Here's one of the weirder lines:
Wow, is city government so clean Barnett has time to police the educational equivalent of Libya?

I'm a pretty big critic of the district but I do not believe it is the educational equivalent of Libya.

Comments

Zulu said…
Strum und Drang?!?

http://www.sturmunddrang.fi/

That is one convoluted editorial. And why is she talking about a Finish "metal" band?

I really enjoyed Varner's last platitude...it's not often I get to hear that sunshine is the best disinfectant. If only there were some bloggers out there that could bust SPS wide open. Dang! To dream.....
3/22/11, 11:05 PM
Northender said…
Well, she does seem to imbue the gentleman from the city's Ethics Commission with near superhero capabilities - does she think he can drill the tunnel and solve that whole nuclear issue in Japan too? :)

and the Libya reference is beyond extreme - and perhaps even a bit culturally insenstive - but reality does not appear to be her strong suit - aiyiyi!
3/22/11, 11:29 PM
Unknown said…
Maybe she had to write her own piece, rather than getting a pdf by email from Bill Gates.

MY favorite Lynne Varner quote, in describing the former Superintendent: Lynne referred to her "laser-like focus."

Sweet.
3/23/11, 6:36 AM
Dorothy Neville said…
I thought it was pretty clear and some pretty strong words. Sure, there's some hyperbole we could complain about, but she addresses a lot of the issues. Croneyism, favoritism, indifference, illegal activity, First AME, providing incomplete or erroneous information to the board and public.

Maybe all this is just to protect the F&E levy, and maybe some board members will be active as they run for re-election, but a lot can get uncovered in 8 months. Seeds of change can grow. Looks like we have a lot of gardeners to help, including Seattle Times, even if some enthusiasm might wane after November.
3/23/11, 7:55 AM
hschinske said…
Yeah, I don't get how it's so unclear, either. The Libya comparison was the only really off-the-wall bit to me. (Zulu: see http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sturm%20und%20drang)

By the way, Durmstrang in the Harry Potter books is a joke about Sturm und Drang.

Helen Schinske
3/23/11, 8:14 AM
mirmac1 said…
Maybe she got sent to woodshed for that earlier, crap piece she "wrote".

Notice how she is posting to the comments in a dialogue?! The almighty Times actually interacting with the rabble?
3/23/11, 8:27 AM
Melissa Westbrook said…
Speaking of ethics, I note that in 2006, our Facilities head, Bill Martin, had to pay a $2500 ethics fine. He was working for the City at the time in transportation.

He had signed a contract with a company in 2004 and neglected to report to his boss during negotiations that his roommate (at the time) who was also a friend worked for the company receiving the contract. He was supposed to recuse himself from City business involving friends and relatives.
3/23/11, 9:17 AM
wsnorth said…
RE: Libya, maybe she missed that we got rid of our evil dictator peacefully. :-]
3/23/11, 11:53 AM
Wanano said…
Here is a link to times article on Bill Martin:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com
/html/localnews/
2002838354_ethics02m.html
3/23/11, 2:50 PM
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