Mikey 32% 24%
"The mayor is making tough choices in tough times," Bloomberg spokesman Ed Skyler said on Friday. "Leadership is about doing what is right, not what is easy or popular."
If true, that would be good news for Mikey, because he sure ain't popular. Unfortunately for Mikey, however, Mr. Skyler leaves out one essential component of leadership - inspiring people to do what is right, rather than what is easy or popular. Mikey and inspiring are two words you wouldn't use in a sentence together without a "not" between them.
By that definition, Ed Koch was a leader. He did a lot of the same things Mikey is doing now (minus the ticketing pregnant women for sitting on subway steps kind of things), but he got New York City behind him. "Uncle" Ed, as he was affectionately known, went to the people and made his case. Most New Yorkers loved him. Mikey, on the other hand, sits in his office and just gives orders. When criticized, he falls back on the old "right, not easy or popular" schtick. Nobody is going to call Mikey "Uncle" or even "hey, Mayah!" He's just Mikey 24%.
Thanks to Andy for sending me the article.
Comments
I don't know when people started to call Ed Koch Uncle Ed -- I never heard it.
But oh, 'da mayah,' 'hey, mayah' and even just plain 'mayah' bring back wonderful memories. He's such a good guy.
And yes, even though the rest of the country mocks him, New Yorkers did and do love him.
Posted by: Mom | June 13, 2003 12:38 PM