Grassroots Page #3

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so if you have

any questions...

we need contributions

and, you know,

we need volunteers.

We can't do this on our own,

so, if...

You know, anything.

This is grassroots, folks.

These guys are the underdogs

because everything

they're saying

is not packaged or scripted

or paid for by big business.

Now, here's a guy

who actually believes

in something.

When's the last time you saw

a politician do that?

So let's give him

every penny we got.

Volunteer.

Let's see if this crazy

son of a b*tch

can actually get some good done

in this city for once, right?

[ Cheers and applause ]

Well, I think

you've actually

made a smart move

with this thing,

no matter what people

are saying.

What exactly

are people saying?

You got fired,

pissed off your boss,

now you got

a credibility problem.

But if you can get a

no-name clown like grant

decent numbers

in the primary,

there are people

who'll pay for that.

Really?

I've been covering

city council elections

in the weekly

for, like, forever,

so even if you think all

this sounds like bullshit...

Lunch is on you,

by the way.

Lunch, right.

How do we get

decent numbers?

Stay above the fray.

Ignore

the other candidates.

Fire only at McIver.

If you're running grant

as a populist,

make him look like one.

Have a crowd

of volunteers around him

wherever he goes,

an entourage.

Right, the entourage

strategy.

And never look like you

don't have an answer.

If someone asks you

something that stumps you,

ask him to repeat

the question.

It buys you time

to think

without making you

look like W.

Would you repeat

the question?

McIver's smart, he's

witty, he's friendly,

but he's not gonna have

a lot of volunteers.

He'll have money,

but you won't,

so you got

to start aggressive.

Pitch grant

to all the papers.

Strange if you don't.

It's unusual for Mr. Fredericks

to see someone

who drops by unannounced.

But he won't return

my calls.

I can give you

his voice mail.

Look, all I can offer you

is my silent support.

Simply isn't conducive

to my own platform.

Okay.

How do you plan

to support us silently?

Woman:
We're grateful

to be aware

of your candidate's

position,

but the king county

labor council

has already pledged

its support to Mr. McIver.

Can you explain to me

why you would do that?

McIver's record on labor

is only passable at best.

Sorry. [ Hangs up ]

Thank you.

My name's Phil Campbell

and grant's running

against Richard McIver.

Your name's

Phil Campbell?

Afraid so.

Don't you write

for the stranger?

Yeah, wrote, past tense.

You heard of the Aaron

Roberts shooting, right?

This is the guy

who dug up all that dirt

on the police

oversight committee.

I could tell you about it,

but then you might quote me.

What are these?

I'm running grant Cogswell's

campaign for city council.

Grant Cogswell?

Isn't he that music critic

who's suing the city?

He's got quite a temper,

doesn't he?

He's a very passionate guy.

Well, if circumstances

should change,

I've got a reporter

heading out

on maternity leave

in a couple of weeks.

That's amazing!

When do you start?

Could you repeat

the question?

What?

I'm stalling.

It's a political trick,

buying time by making the

other person ask you again.

Okay.

When do you start?

Well, I have to

tell grant first,

but the guy gave me

till Tuesday

to make

a final decision.

So...

It is gonna kill grant.

What are you talking about?

I mean,

grant's psychotic, Phil,

and you're playing into

his delusions of grandeur

by pretending with him that

he's running for office,

and that's

what's killing grant.

I understand.

I know, you're right.

Of course,

I've had my fun.

Well, I know this is hard.

No, it's okay.

First thing tomorrow,

it's done.

It's done.

I'm not nervous.

I didn't say you were.

You're implying if I

ask you how I'm doing.

I don't appreciate that kind

of affront to my confidence.

It makes me nervous.

Look at my hands.

McIver's gonna

be here today.

It's part of his job.

He must go down.

He must go down!

You're gonna stay on point,

though, right?

Right?

Only local issues,

no big talk about

multinationals and sweatshops.

Leave me alone!

The greed

of those at the top

has always affected the lives

of those less fortunate,

those less willing

to steal with impunity,

and that's why

I want to ensure

that our police

and firefighters

have better

training equipment.

We need to keep safe

those that keep us safe.

Who did you vote

for president in 2000?

I did not vote

for George Bush.

That's not answering

the question.

That's Pernell Alden,

fool of all fools.

He once tried

to punch me out.

I gave it to him,

though.

I'm sure you did.

He's nine points

ahead of you in the polls.

That's him!

That's the a**hole!

He's totally

oblivious,

just like his

leadership style.

And next on our list is an

incumbent, Richard McIver.

[ Applause ]

Beth.

Good evening.

How's everyone?

Good looking group, you are.

This primary brings us

into a new millennium.

Now, whether

that's meaningful

or just another date

on the calendar

depends on what we want

Seattle to be,

upon our ability to choose

our future willfully

and with our eyes open.

Now, how do we prepare

for this?

I have had the privilege

of being in position

on city council

to watch as our perspective

on the future

has changed over the years,

and changed radically.

Am I right, guys?

I mean, not to mention

the forces that are at play

whenever we try to peer

into that future,

forces that

I grapple with daily

as a city council member.

You know, he doesn't

seem like an a**hole.

That's what

a**holes do.

They get you by not

seeming like a**holes.

Decisions we make today will

have long-lasting impact.

Did you know he'd be

this good at it?

Actually,

this is the first time

I've seen him up close.

By expanding state route 520

over lake Washington.

How far

do we push development

at the expense

of our own environment?

Do we want to be a city

of automobiles, huh?

Or are we willing to make

the necessary sacrifices

to bring about

true mass transportation?

God, he's so

full of sh*t!

Look, there's the b*tch.

They're all here.

McIver:
These are

difficult choices,

but with choices

comes opportunity, okay?

Thank you for listening.

Oh, oh, and I would

appreciate your vote.

[ Laughs ]

So I'd like to see you all

at the polls, all right?

Thank you so much.

Thank you for your time.

[ Applause ]

The 36th district

will now hear a statement

from candidate

grant Cogswell.

[ Scattered applause ]

This is gonna be

interesting.

Hi. My name's

grant Cogswell.

I'll be running

in the primaries

for city council position

number eight,

Mr. McIver's seat.

Jesus Christ, with choice

comes opportunity?

What opportunity?

To expand the 520 bridge?

We can't do it!

I grew up in the area where

the I-90 freeway was expanded

and look at it.

It's a mess of dirt, grime,

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