I really don't think that sitting though a five-plus hour meeting where a bunch of people promote themselves for a mere 3 minutes is even slightly useful. The contenders were given their 3 minutes for the sake of "Seattle Process," but we all know that in the end it's going to come down to candidates who are already known to members of the council or their staff with the best resumes and connections, and whatever show is put on in the council chamber will be irrelevant.

I don't even see this as a bad thing. This is a job, not an entitlement and a temporary one at that. It's not about each candidate getting their fair time to convince the voters. It's not the voters that need to be convinced, its the members of the council. This is not a candidates' forum. The voters' time will come in September and November, and those upset with the process have a chance to get in on the fairer processes soon: the election.

In most other jobs most of the applicant's resumes would be rejected silently out of course, often with the applicants not even being notified that they've been rejected.

It would have made a lot more sense if the council had selected three or five finalists who could then give 20 minute, more meaningful speeches than the 3 minutes of "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and gosh-darnit people like me."

It's more intellectually honest to ask why did we put on this show, when we all know that it will inevitably come down to the candidates with the best resumes and connections.

I say bully for Conlin and Rasmussen, they're the ones who have their priorities straight.

Yeah right, "Yacht Clubber" ...

or should I say Richard Conlin!?!?

I'm sorry, but I just can't see Conlin on a boat, blowing bridges and snarling traffic--it would interfere with him smugly driving his convertible around.

I'm no fan of Conlin, but I agree with him in this: he had better things to do that day.