*UPDATE* – Mayor Pike has just sent me the letter he sent to Comedy Central. You can check it out at the bottom of the page.
Mount Vernon might have Glenn Beck as their soon-to-be-newest holder of the key to the city.
But Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike thinks the city to the north can do better.
Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, is being offered the key to the city, and Pike says he thinks it’s appropriate.
Pike and Stewart both graduated from the same high school in New Jersey, though they didn’t know each other, the mayor said.
The mayor’s invitation comes after Mount Vernon Mayor Bud Norris announced that conservative Fox News commentator and radio show host Glenn Beck would come to the city on September 26 to receive the key to the city. The decision raised the ire of some locals who oppose the honor to Beck, and six of seven Mount Vernon City Council members have refused to participate in the event. Tickets to the event with the national figure sold out less than a day after availability.
Beck is a native of Mount Vernon and ended up graduating from Bellingham’s Sehome High School.
Locals are also supporting Pike’s invitation to Stewart.
Right now a “twition” — a petition using similar social networking techniques, and a very same look, as the social networking site Twitter — is being circulated by Scott Pierce, a local social networking consultant. So far, 46 people have signed the petition, which was created 17 hours ago, according to the information on the petition. You can check it out yourself or sign it, right here.
“I just wanted to be able to capture the grassroots feedback,” Pierce said by phone, “And then arm the city with it.”
Pierce said he’s spoken with a city spokesperson about coordination as well.
“Right now the city isn’t officially on Twitter, but they wanted to gauge the feedback in order to come with those numbers to The Daily Show,” he said. “It’s kind of a nice community one-two punch.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Pike says he sent both an e-mail through Comedy Central’s Web site as well as a follow-up letter about his invitation. He’s not optimistic about hearing back, however.
“To be honest, I don’t think that I will, but I did offer an inducement that we’d try to track down Stephen Colbert’s eagle,” Pike said.
He is, of course, referring to “Stephen Jr.,” named after Colbert Report host Stephen Colbert who parodies conservative Fox News entertainer Bill O’Reilly on Comedy Central. The eagle hatched at the San Francisco Zoo and officials there had notified Colbert of the naming before it hatched and he would often visit the eagle’s nest via Web cam prior to it hatching. The bird has been sighted up and down the West Coast, including through Washington in to British Columbia.
The mayor isn’t a fan of Beck, either, and that’s how the journey to invite Stewart began, with an off-handed joke about inviting The Daily Show host and then some encouraged from an acquaintance.
“The mayor of Mount Vernon is free to do whatever he wants, but I think Glenn Beck is out of touch with, what I think, certainly most of the constituents I talk to believe,” Pike said “I actually think Jon Stewart does a lot better reporting.”
Pike pointed to Stewart’s reporting and harsh grilling of “Mad Money” TV show host Jim Cramer regarding the banking sector collapse, where he used video of the host against him to illustrate that Cramer might be more part of the problem than being a responsible member of the national media.
Pike knows it’s a longshot, he said, and tried to be cordial and casual in the letter to Stewart.
“I said to him in the letter, I didn’t know you, you didn’t know me,” Pike said. “We’re looking for a bigger and better star.”
Here is Pike’s letter:
September 4, 2009
Jon Stewart
c/o The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
733 11th Avenue
New York, NY 10019-5051Dear Mr. Stewart and Daily Show Producers:
My name is Dan Pike, and I am the Mayor of Bellingham, Washington. I also went to Lawrence High School, Jon Stewart’s alma mater, a few years ahead of him (Class of 1975), though I never knew him and doubt he ever knew me.
I am writing because I am currently the Mayor of Bellingham, Washington, a community of about 80,000 between Vancouver, BC and Seattle, WA. The next city south of us on I-5, Mount Vernon (pop. 30,000), has just announced they are giving the keys to that city to Glenn Beck, a native son. The news got me to thinking that if they could give Beck a key simply for being born there, perhaps Bellingham could provide a key to Mr. Stewart for the better reasons of providing cogent yet comedic analysis of news events and personalities on a daily basis, as well as being an alumnus of the same high school as Bellingham’s Mayor. I was particularly moved and informed by the Daily Show’s recent analysis of the evolution of Glenn Beck’s feelings about the US healthcare system over the past couple of years.
We are bigger and better than Mount Vernon, and so are interested in a bigger, better star to receive our key. As an added bonus, should Mr. Stewart accept, we would try to track down Stephen, the eagle from the Colbert Report who frequently lives in our county, so Jon could have a personal sighting. If Mr. Colbert would like to receive a key to Bellingham, too, he is also welcome. If Mr. Stewart cannot come to Bellingham to accept, perhaps I could deliver it at some time in the months ahead, when I come to Lawrenceville to visit my mother.
While this is a joke of sorts, intended as a counterpoint to the Beck event in Mount Vernon, the offer is serious.
I may be contacted through my office at (360) 778-8100, on my cell phone at (redacted), or via email at dpike@cob.org.
Thanks for your consideration; keep up the great work!
Dan Pike,
Mayor
City of Bellingham, Washington
Yay…an old fashioned peeing match….at least Glenn Beck KNOWS where Mt Vernon is!!
If he wanted to gauge local feedback couldn’t they have used a poll of some sort rather than a petition that only allows people for the idea to sign it?
Also, if Scott is a “local social networking consultant” who is he working on behalf of? Sounds like the city is actually paying for this.
At least he didn’t give the keys to Van Jones, since he is now locked out of the White House!
AFY!! (informally know as AFY!!!)
LOL AFY!!!! You are absolutely right!
They’re not paying for it, Bellinghammer. Pierce runs the popular Maple.st Facebook page and is friends with the person who spoke to Pike about the idea.
Methinks our mayor wants to get on MSNBC!
AFY!! (informally known as AFY!!!)
Got it Sam, thanks for the clarification.
Just to be clear, City resources are not being used for this, and no one at City Hall is contacting The Daily Show (beyond the letter and email I sent), or working on the ‘Twitition.’ For better or worse, I thought this up–in a conversation with friends–and thought it might inject a little more levity into our civic dialog.
Trying to make Bham into a bigger joke than which it is should always be of the highest priority!
AFY!! (informally known as AFY!!!)
Bellinghammer, I like the way you think. Unfortunately, were it so.
I’d love to find the guys who actually *do* get paid to start petitions, because I’d like to see how they pay the bills. The tools are essentially free, so even I cringe at the term “local social networking consultant” – feels as if it makes my work sound like “online buskering”: Find something interesting, do a little dance, hold out a hat. Now, on reflection, that part’s more accurate than I’d like to admit; however, in terms of our local government being a well-funded, well-oiled propaganda machine, we’ve both been denied that reality.
No, the chatter (or let’s invent an annoying term like consultants do: “the chtwatter”) was coming in bits and pieces to our account over the weekend. It didn’t start there. At the same time, there was no tracking, apart from doing keyword searches on Twitter. I’m a stat junkie, and the feedback was a mess, so the most efficient way to do a hand-count of support on Twitter was to capture signatures on a Twitition:
http://twitition.com/kby9y
I’ll clarify again that it’s independently-collected support in the name of entertainmnet. I highly doubt the COB will have any use for something that’s not even an accurate sample of the population. I’m having to check against signatures, and there are a few people that don’t even live here!
I can’t even take credit for the idea. There’s a few well-organized followers that suggested it 24 hours ago to get the word out to my larger audience. It just sounded entertaining, and gauging by the reaction, I was right. My only regret is that I didn’t form a “Jon Stewart, Avoid Bellingham At All Costs” petition at the same time.
Also, from the article, the City of Bellingham is one of the last mid-sized towns that doesn’t have a solid official presence in social media. There’s WiMax rolling out all over town, and I personally find it a disconnect that in the age of high-speed wireless, issues aren’t discussed in real-time as much as we’d hope. That’s why what you, me and every Bellinghamster does online is so important.
It’s sad that Pike won’t agree to meet with Bellingham residents about important issues, but is only too happy to invite a celebrity to town to spend time together.
Can’t wait until the next election.
Scott, unfortunately, I can’t allow you to try to out another poster here with their real name. Some people are on here anonymously for a reason. Your post has been hidden pending approval. I’m more than willing to repost it without that person’s alleged name if you’d like me to. The post was valuable, but I protect people’s anonymity on here, liberal, conservative, alien, etc.
Alien, like in ET?
AFY!! (informally known as AFY!!!)
Good job, Dan. Our coverage on the Colbert Report a few years back when Stephen highlighted “the Fightin’ 2nd” was great, and with some luck, Jon will give us some great coverage as well.
Of course, if he accepts, we will have to find Stephen Jr. Does anyone know a good eagle call?
Thanks for the catch, Sam! I tend to drop a first name to be colloquial, and to respectfully show that I am paying attention to the poster. But I do see your value in anonymity in this forum, so absolutely, go ahead and do the edit and repost. Didn’t want it to be more work than necessary, though
Done and done, Scott. I appreciate your agreement.
This would be a perfect time for Ferndale to give the key to the city to Stephen Colbert. Stephen could lead the Ferndale Eagles marching band in a parade up Main St.
I don’t have anything constructive or overly critical here to say, but I felt that I should say something.
[x] BRING ON JON STEWART!
[ ] wat is twitter
[ ] i’m just looking for something to get riled up over since I don’t have anything better to do.
where do you stand, Bellinghammer? Here’s your poll. I’m sure a couple of those checkboxes are for you.
Great idea Dan!
Never mind the naysayers.
BTW, I forget who it was, but one of you conservatives owes me a beer!
mf.
I second the esteemed Mr. Flanders.
Keep it up Mr. Mayor! A good move as far as this citizen/voter is concerned.
I really hate to bring this up, as I could be branded a politcal extremist, but Colbert’s eagle that open’s the show is a fake.
It’s actually lip-syncing with a red-tail hawk.
Classic comedy.
Hats off to Mayor Pike for the invite.
Moved up several notches in my eyes.
Not neccessarily a great endorsement,I would understand.
Here’s hoping Comedy Central and Jon Stewart see the publicity and comedy potential and agree to accept.
Way to go, Mr. Mayor! What a great way to generate some positive publicity for our fine city, and in the process establish us as the NOT MT VERNON!
The most telling Pike quote: “but I think Glenn Beck is out of touch with, what I think, certainly most of the constituents I talk to believe,”
Perhaps talking with more constituents, and a wider variety of constituents, would provide a better sampling.
This is a first and credit should be given where credit is due, today for the first time in the history of the internet, BhamBill did a post without calling anyone a rightwinger or extremist or some other disparaging word.
So with that thought in mind, if Steward can have that kind of effect from the distance he is currently located, just think; him being here in the city by the bay, you know close up and personal, what he might just achieve!
It’s a miracle!!! Glory be!!
AFY!! (informally known as AFY!!!)
Man, not feeling the love on the politics blog these days. That’s for sure.
Glenn Beck and Jon Stewart share some commonalities:
Both gave fair interviews to a certain libertarian presidential candidate.
Both do a good job of investigating (albeit one-sided and usually with many “cuts”) issues not reported by other media outlets.
And for those things I am glad both are doing what they are doing.
I simply disagree with the Mayor in that offering a key to Stewart will provide levity to the local civic discourse. Look what it’s done for Mt. Vernon. It doesn’t seem like everyone is rallying around the decision to offer a key to Glenn Beck down there, so why would we want to invite the same type of polarization up here?
While we are all arguing about which partisan performer we can bestow local awards to the State’s unemployment rate continues to rise, the federal deficit continues to balloon (need to raise that debt limit again), and the rest of the world (and UN) is considering how to replacing the US dollar as the defacto global reserve currency.
Levity – Canning citizen workers and then dumping hundreds of thousands of dollars on an administrator.
Bellinghammer, you equate Beck to Jon Stewart???!!! Absurd! The Mt Vernon mayor’s pimping for Beck has polarized his community because Beck is a liar and a hatemonger. Stewart is intelligent, witty and a superb peformer – the exact opposite of Beck.
Meanwhile, the furor continues to rage over the mayor’s incredibly poor judgement. Six out of seven city council members plan to boycott the ceremony giving Beck the Key To the City. Take a look at this blog from Skagit County, with over 200 comments, almost all against the mayor:
http://www.goskagit.com/blogs/article/councilman_speaks_out_on_glenn_beck_day/
Yeah Pike, quit screwing around and explain to the UN and the IMF, which they have been unable to figure out on their own for the last 40 years, how to make SDRs work as a global reserve currency and keep future imbalances from creating any future global economic crises – keep you eye on the ball, man.
BhamBill’s empty, and hateful in it’s own right, comment reminded me of the equally baseless Bush lied, People died mantra.
Are we to the point of Beck lied, People ___? with hatred of the right as the only required support?
Accusing someone of being a “liar and a hatemonger” without providing specific facts doesn’t sound too civil. Sam, need you be reminded of your own rule: be civil. You know that Golden Rule you tell your children about? Yeah, there you go.
Wally – Bhambill’s comment was directed at a national public figure, not a participant on this blog and there is give when people are discussing public figures as opposed to each other on here. The goal is to have civil discussion toward each other.
Thems the rules.
I watch Glenn as offen as I can and as any one who comes to this blog knows I also watch/comment on this blog as much as I can and I can say without doubt when it comes to hate mongering, Glenn will never hold a candle to some of the people who post on this blog!
I think people have a right to believe what ever they may even if they want to be a hatemongerer and each and every one of us have the right to draw what ever conclusion we choose from/about what opinion anyone has.
But what I find dispicable are the low life’s who believe they are so right, whether it be because of religion, politics, whatever, that they have the right to deny anyone else their right to believe in what ever they choose.
So for those of you who hate Glenn and want to destroy Glenn, know this, there are many more from where he came from and you will never be able to destroy us all.
Here’s one for you to chew on:
http://www.pjtv.com/video/Sonja_Schmidt%27s_Left_Exposed/The_House_That_Americans_Built%3A_Reminding_President_Obama_Where_He_Lives/2381/
AFY!! (informally known as AFY!!!)
Sam, it is your blog and your rule, but you might take some time and study the Golden Rule if you are going to cite it.
It’s all about treating other with respect regardless of their station in life. It’s about everyone having the right to be treated decently and in turn a responsibility to treat others decently. Sort of the opposite of your comment.
Wally – I’ve noticed that you generally only come on here to tattle on people these days. How about contribute something to the actual discussion taking place?
I did comment on Chet’s PAC, but here’s a little input on this topic also.
I think Mayor Pike’s invite is a bit more mature than mooning Mt. Vernon as he drives by, but only a bit more mature, not much. (perhaps BhamBill should drive ’cause mooning has got to be more dangerous than a cellphone while driving) And if Mayor Pike’s immature behavior towards Mr. Beck is truly in touch with his constituents, then the people of Bellingham are out of touch with much of our nation.
Glenn Beck is a top rated radio and talk show host with a local connection in Bellingham and many supporters throughout the county. If it weren’t for him being a conservative who supports individual liberty, he would seem a more likely candidate for keys to the city than an unconnected comedy channel host. If comedy is the magic though, then how about Ryan Stiles?
Oh, and with regards to social networking, a poll has been circulating around Facebook about whether Glenn Beck should be fired. I’m not exactly sure why that is even a topic, but he is running an 80% don’t fire him. I’m not privy to Facebook’s demographics, perhaps 20% are from Bellingham.
When you do do, yes I wrote it, do do that research into the Golden Rule, you could share it with your mayor.
Hmmmmm…how interesting. I’ve hit enough nerves with the rightwingers that they are trying to censor me on this blog. Coming from them, what an honor!
A few random thoughts: Beck said Obama is a racist and he “hates white people.” I say that is a scurrilous lie, and I challenge any of you Beck people to prove it.
Beck said that a person logging on to the government website to participate in “Cash For Clunkers” would allow the government to take control of his computer and gain access to all his confidential personal information. That is a hysterical lie that would be comical if it were not for the millions of sheeple who believe it.
Beck again and again repeated the outrageous, preposterous Palin lie about “Obama death panels.”
And on and on and on…
If this doesn’t qualify him as a card carrying hate monger, I don’t know what does.
Don’t be so full of yourself to think anyone would want to censor you. We with the nerves sometimes just wish for a civil forum now and then. Calling Glen Beck names didn’t seem to civil and I called the moderator on it. He didn’t appear to care, so by all means be uncivil.
To the nut:
Where did Glenn Beck actually utter your so called “scurrilous lie” that President Obama “hates white people” I watched the clip again and this is what I get: “you can’t say he doesn’t like white people,” “I’m not saying he doesn’t like white people, I’m saying he has a problem, this guy is, I believe, a racist.”
Liar? no. Glenn Beck’s take on President Obama’s behavior with support? Yes. Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIZDnpPafaA
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I listened to part of the show with cash for clunkers story you speak of and it seemed pretty clear to me that Glen was talking about dealers rather than individuals when it came to computer privacy.
Liar? no. Concerned about government intrusion? Yes.
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Death Panels? huh? Again what was the lie? That they are called “death panels” or that end of life counsel actually exists in Democratic Party supported healthcare proposals?
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Back to the start; you could have included any support or you could have been uncivil and just simply called the man a liar as you did. Being uncivil seems to be aligned with this Herald blog, so have at it.
That’s just it. There is no “death panels” in the any of the four bills passed out of committees. I’ve been working on the “death panel” issue for a while. There is no such thing. There is a minor provision that provides for counseling for those with terminal illness, just as it provides counseling for people with depression or other psychiatric diseases. This death panel nonsense is just that, nonsense.
Beck’s verbatim quote re Obama is included in today’s NYTimes, a genuine news medium as opposed to Faux News, the 24/7 right wing propaganda machine:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/us/10vernon.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
And Wally, as for your accusation that I am “uncivil,” clearly you do not grasp the level of my indifference to your opinion of me.
What a farse and foolish thing to do! If he is going to award a celebrity a key to the city, at least make it Ryan Styles. He actually lives here, has a comedy improv club here, and is planning celebrity charity events in our community!