BY TODD DYBAS / SEATTLESPORTSONLINE.COM

Still waiting for Dino Rossi to attack Gov. Christine Gregoire because the Sonics are gone.

Back in the spring and into the summer, politicians worried about the November vote while the fate of the Sonics was being determined. Those in power taking a stern cue from the dissent of anti-sports voters, the Olympians deciding to be undecided and cower during the Sonics debacle in order to protect themselves in the aftermath.

Now there is no mention of the Sonics departure in any fall campaign television slams. Only jilted Sonics fans will let the team's departure affect their lever of preference in a month. Beyond that, no one cares enough to let the settlement determine their vote.

Rossi fired shots directly after the settlement. After supporting Steve Ballmer's investment group and movement in Olympia to keep the Sonics, Rossi, in a comfortable position to do so, claimed this was another example of inactivity by Gregoire.

"I've met a lot of Clay Bennetts over the years and I've dealt with them," Rossi told Soundpolitics.com July 3. "The Governor is going around saying 'He lied, he lied'. Of course he lied. What do you think he bought the team for?"

Bennett lied, politicians ducked, local businessmen schemed. It was revolting, and amid all the muck, emerged definitives.

* With elections pending, the already elected officials took a staggeringly near-sighted view. A modicum of sports team-building understanding would have made the Governor and others understand the beneficial position the Sonics were in. Sure, they stunk last year and won't be very good this season. But with the number of pending high draft picks, maneuvering of the team's salary cap, and general manager Sam Presti and star-in-the-waiting Kevin Durant in the mix, what was formerly known as the Sonics operated in as good a position as any developing NBA team. Not to mention the Portland Trail Blazers, positioned a thimble from upswing themselves, would have remade a rivalry that would be a ratings boon for the league and all the extras that come with it for the two cities. You see any current athletic team in Seattle that will twist the national spotlight to the city? Didn't think so.

This was an opportunity for the politicians to look down the road and garner a positive future result. Instead, they pointed at the calendar as an excuse to remain inactive, a reasoning that should always earn politicians public contempt. At times action needs to be taken for the public betterment, but Democrats and Republicans need their weekends off. Just ask Congress.

* No one is more to blame than Seattle voters. Those are the people who overwhelmingly passed Initiative 91, which was designed to stop tax-payer funded subsidies for professional sports teams. Yes, Howard Schultz sold to out-of-towners. Yes, Bennett was not truthful. But this vote happened in November of 2006. Voters said no, constricting future options for KeyArena renovation or any other sports-related development.

People ranted and raved about the tax money being used to pay for Safeco Field and Qwest Field, though not one person in town can tell you what it costs them personally. No accountant ran through personal taxes last spring and said, "Well, you would have a return, but you paid $200 toward the construction of two downtown sports venues."

The tax was designed to be incurred by visitors so residents could benefit, but most never understood that, let alone what it cost them. Many seemed to not know it the tax is only collected in King County, and more than $6 million of it went to 4Culture, King County's arts and culture authority, to support local programs in 2004.

There were, and are, distinct groups involved in this discussion. The part of Seattle which vowed to never give a penny to aid millionaires attempting to profit from child's play. The part of Seattle which held the Sonics as a family tradition. Then, the unsure in between.

Opposing Initiative 91 with logic was a grand missed opportunity for those who wanted the team to stay. Surrounding any stadium discussion were enormous numbers normal people could not relate to. When Bennett blew into town, the number $500 million was thrown around when he talked of a new arena. A stake to the eye would have been easier to accept by city residents in a declining economy than hearing a Richy Rich from the midwest want millions of bucks from residents for a new toy.

It needed to be equated in relative terms. If a recognizable figure had told residents a tax extension would cost a median income family in King County $40 annually, based on the average number of times the family went out to eat and rented a car, then considerate decision could have been made. This has to happen next time around.

It's too late for revision. The election season is upon us, as is the NBA preseason. The Oklahoma City Thunder made their NBA preseason debut Wednesday night, losing 88-82 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. They played inconsistent basketball, shot poorly, defended poorly. Glad to see some songs remain the same.

While politicians on all levels charge into their silly season, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels put out the 2009-10 proposed city budget. There's a morsel in there, likely innocuous, but dreamy enough for desperate basketball fans:

Seattle Center project detail
KeyArena Improvements & Repairs
This ongoing project provides for major maintenance and improvements to KeyArena. Improvements may include, but
are not limited to, lighting upgrades, replacement of the basketball floor and other event components, creation of special
seating sections and partial house configurations to increase revenue, technology upgrades, and funding of concept plans
for future facility upgrades. These improvements both maintain basic building operations and facility integrity and
enhance KeyArena’s position in the highly competitive sports and entertainment marketplace.

Hmm.

During the course of the funding debate a slogan emerged, "Remember in November," it's purpose to unseat dissenting politicians who didn't keep the Sonics in town. But, the economy in the tank, the voters have forgotten, rendering the inactivity by Gregoire and others moot in this election.

Simply, they all got away with it.

Todd Dybas is the editor of Seattlesportsonline.com. Contact him at tdybas@seattlesportsonline.com