Does that include being arrested in peaceful non-violent civil disobedience?

Maybe so. And he wouldn't be alone.

Here's the headline which prompts such thinking: Steinbrueck to "stop at nothing" to stop new viaduct. Bold words.

And I am not at all surprised at this twist and have been predicting it; the issue of a new Viaduct — the Rebuild — is explosive. I believe that Steinbrueck is making no idle threat. He is quite committed; I have a strong sense that he would be willing to be arrested in peaceful non-violent civil disobedience. Chaining oneself to a bulldozer and so forth. Such discord is a very real threat to the Democratic hegemony in Washington State because it makes many of the elected Democrats look like blundering incompetents — which unfortunately is all too true; it also has troubling implications for the Presidential election in '08.

Conversely, some sort of "Repair & Prepare" would satisfy Steinbrueck, his fans and allies, and also save the bacon of Governor Chris Gregoire, Speaker Frank Chopp and other electeds who will be happy to be out of a jam and will throw their support to Peter in his future endeavors. It is the grand compromise which will save the day.

Peter will be Mayor if he can pull this compromise off. And I think he has a very strong hand. Just about every other Democrat (a few such as Chopp, Dickerson, Somers, Licata excepted) have been dream-walking. They need help. Repair & Prepare is the route out of the mess and Peter Steinbrueck is a civic figure of sufficient stature around which a coalition can gather.

Comments

[peter steinbrueck]

You've got it right, David!

I don't pretend to have all the answers. Friends, please email me with your thoughts and advice, at peter@petersteinbrueck.net.

David is sensible, supports civic dialogue, and is trying to advocate for the right thing. What are your ideas?

Cheers, Peter

[peter steinbrueck]

David, you've got it right, again. I WILL STOP A NOTHING to defeat the Governor's insane, environmentally irresponsible plan to force auto-driven, climate warming, 20th century, unsustainable solution on Seattle and the region. There's just got to be a better way.

Please, people, let's work together on this!

Cheers, Peter

[Gomez]

Peter's announcement was a quite surprising development. I hope this leads to repair and preparation.

[David Sucher]

Gomez. I am optimistic.
Peter's move to not run again (and I'd better figure a way to distinuish Steinbrueck from Sherwin as they are both thinking along parallel lines) has the potential to change the entire dynamics of the discussion.
Did you see Trahant's column in last Sunday's P-I? If not I recommend it highly as it is yet another indicator that the notion of Repair & Prepare will not be scorned by the downtown elite. These downtown interests -- much as I disagreed with them about the Tunnel -- are rightfully scared witless of the Rebuild. They recognize that it is an idiotic idea. Even the rest of the City Council (maybe the mayor at some point too) will recognise that Repair & Prepare is far superior in every way to the rebuild. So Peter will have some very powerful allies in this public conversation.