Category: metonymy of Olympia (Page 2 of 5)

Its getting to be that time of year when the metonymy returns to Olympia.

And, if you were wondering, down below where I reply to a tweet about a post by Sarah Schacht about the budget bill over the weekend and how it appeared out nowhere? That post is simply brilliant. Sarah’s exactly the right type of person we need blogging, her stuff certainly needs more attention.

And, my little snarky exchange with her is exactly the reason why I sometimes go overboard caring about how people use the term “Olympia.” Christ almighty, Emmett, get some perspective. There are bigger fish to fry, you know?

• Arg @seattletimes “Olympia knew the lucrative rip-off was going on, and said nothing” and its because we don’t like you #metonymy

• MLAS: Pension Games, Seeds of Revolt http://is.gd/iN0JY #WA #Olympia #tcot #taxpayers #publicsector #p2

emettoconnell: @mlas seeds of revolt just in Olympia or across the entire state of Washington? I’m confused #metonymy

emmettoconnell: @SarahSchacht no offense but don’t peg #Olympia for a lack of sunshine in Washington state govt #metonymy

 SarahSchacht: @emmettoconnell I don’t think you read my blog post; I documented a lack of public access to the budget bill, not transparency across WA.

emmettoconnell: @SarahSchacht I did, great post, I was replying to an earlier tweet of yours in which you used #Olympia in a metonymic fashion

• pnwlocalnews: @GovGregoire proposes health care, pension modernization in biennium budget reform http://t.co/J5bpdVi #wabudget #olympia

emmettoconnell: @PNWLocalNews how about a hashtag for state politics that isn’t about just one town? #metonymy

I protest your cruel and evil metonymic use of Olympia.

Yes, Olympia is also a beer. Very cute. Now stop it.

From their Union-Bulletin: Olympia comes east for tour.

They might not have been able to tell, but that was actually a group of legislators not from Olympia and not Olympia itself. I wasn’t there, we didn’t send a delegation of our city council.

Rep. Brendan Williams (who I like in a lot of cases, but not in some) is blogging at the Seattle PI nowadays, and his new column starts out well in the metonymic sense. “What’s the Matter with Washington” (not Olympia) this and “Democrats in Olympia” that.

But, then it all falls apart in the last paragraphs:

With our economy reeling, our education system declining, and our Earth imperiled, my 6-year-old’s future cannot afford more incremental, play-it-safe politics. Democrats in Washington, D.C. – from President Obama on down – are effectively projecting an urgency Olympia utterly lacks.

Indeed, Olympia’s past session made all the more laughable Republican assertions that Democrats are business “job-killers.” With the public denied a choice on progressive tax reform, the only jobs killed were those of thousands of health care workers, state employees, and teachers dependent upon adequate state funding.

I lack urgency and I hosted the legislative session. Neat!

This sucks because Williams is actually from Olympia.

As Olympia (in one sense) seeks to lead Olympia (in the sense I prefer).

A kind, knowledgeable correspondent this afternoon reminded me that with Jeannine Roe in the mix, two people off the list of staff at the state senate Democratic caucus.

I wonder why this year there are more folks from the metonymic Olympia coming down the hill to run for the real Olympia’s city council. The only thing I can figure is that running for local office is something that runs in the blood of the senate Dem caucus. Or not.

Chief of staff Rich Nafziger resigned from the Olympia school board when he took his job at the caucus, citing conflict-of-interest. Nafziger said at the time (via 5/17 blog):

Nafziger, who was elected to the board in 2003 and re-elected in an uncontested race in November, said Thursday that his position on the board conflicts with his job as chief of staff of the Washington Senate Democratic Caucus.

…

Nafziger said he hoped to find a way to avoid the potential conflicts and stay on the board, but “I wouldn’t be able to do either (job) well,” he said.

…

Education will be a hot topic in the upcoming legislative session, and attorneys with the caucus and the Senate Ethics Committee said there would have been a perceived conflict of interest between Nafziger’s new job and his elected position, he said.

“My job is to give senators information on education policy,” he said.

Sermonti seems to have sidestepped this issue as a communications staffer. Because, you know, what the Olympia city council does, seemed to be a hot topic during session:

And while Sermonti is ready to wade into the heady world of Olympia city politics, he said he checked first with Senate counsel to make sure it was not breaching any regulations.

It’s not, in part because he does not draft any legislation as communications staff, he said. “Those are two very distinct aspects of my life and I do not mix them.”

Roe is listed as an executive assistant (to Nafziger or just the entire caucus staff?) with a focus on “Pages, Gubernatorial Appointments.” So, not really sure if she has more impact on legislation than Sermonti, but she seems to have waited until after session to launch her campaign.

(The metonymy will not die)

As I just emailed a friend, wroughting all over Austin J’s front yard turned out to be a big mistake, because, guess what guys. He freaking noticed: What hath Olympia wrought?

I guess its time to go over there and clean things up. That’s what 1-day sessions are for, no?

In “what ain’t metonymy,” Niki Sullivan at the TVW blog does a great job pointing to some end of session resources without bringing up our local wroughting problem.

Quick Update: Dear Seattle Weekly,

Your blog is not as cool as the Strangers. I think you know that and you’re ok with that. Which is cool in its own way.

So, Josh Feit (who is cooler than you) has stopped trying to ruin Oly (apparently). So don’t you either.

Thanks!