Goldy

Tonight on “The David Goldstein Show”, 7PM to 10PM on Newsradio 710-KIRO:

7PM: The Stranger Hour: Will Josh kick Will’s rhetorical ass?
The Stranger’s Josh Feit argues that “anyone who fills in the bubble for 50 new miles of light rail … is also filling in the bubble for sprawl and environmental degradation.” Fellow HA blogger Will thinks that makes Josh an uppity urbanite with “too much passion.” Josh joins me for the hour to talk roads, transit, and the local political races.

8PM: Are the righties gonna get sick over Sicko?
I had the privilege of watching a preview of “Sicko” this week, and when I posted some brief observations of Michael Moore’s new documentary (shorter, shorter Goldy: the film is funny, touching and infuriating,) I got just the sort of bile-spewing, anti-reform comment thread I expected. Why does the thought of universal health care make righties so angry? Does wanting the same sort of health care security available in the rest of the industrialized world really make me a dirty, America-hating commie?

9PM: TBA.

Tune in tonight (or listen to the live stream) and give me a call: 1-877-710-KIRO (5476).

The King County Democrats have just issued a brief press release, disavowing themselves of HA regular Richard Pope.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 15, 2007

The King County Democrats would like to go on record opposing the candidacy of a former Republican PCO who filed as a Democrat in the King County Council District 6 race. He is not a Democrat and we will not embrace him as such. In fact, he denied the Democratic Party the right to do a party file during the week of June 11 – 15, 2007 and we had a candidate ready to file.

We do have a write-in candidate for King County Council District 6 – BRAD LARSSEN, 45th LD Democrats Vice Chair and an elected Democratic PCO in KIR 45-2923. Brad is a committed, dedicated Democrat and will launch a write-in campaign early next week.

BRAD LARSSEN, DEMOCRAT
For King County Council District 6

Susan C. Sheary
KCDCC Chair

A little advice to Susie. You may not consider Richard a Democrat, but for the moment at least, Richard does. So that means you better be awfully careful with your PDC filings this season.

As for the race itself, all I’ll commit to at the moment is to support whoever ultimately wins the Democratic nomination.

Michael Moore was in Seattle tonight previewing his new documentary Sicko, and I was privileged to be there in the audience. I sat next to Postman, who took copious notes, so I’ll leave it to him to describe Moore and his movie in objective detail. But I did want to briefly pass on my immediate impression.

The film was funny, it was moving, and yes, at times it was uplifting. I laughed out loud throughout, which those who know me well will tell you is a huge compliment indeed. The film also brought tears to my eyes on a number of occasions. (Postman was busy taking notes, so I don’t think he noticed. Good. I wouldn’t want him to see through my fierce facade.)

But as I sat there watching the film, I just found myself getting angrier and angrier and angrier. Angry at our health care industry, our political leaders, my nation… and myself.

Sicko opens June 29th. Watch it.

Yesterday, GOP frontrunner Rudy Giuliani sent out an email to supporters boldly proclaiming his “12 commitments to the American people”:

1. I will keep America on offense in the Terrorists’ War on Us.
2. I will end illegal immigration, secure our borders, and identify every non-citizen in our nation.
3. I will restore fiscal discipline and cut wasteful Washington spending.
4. I will cut taxes and reform the tax code.
5. I will impose accountability on Washington.
6. I will lead America towards energy independence.
7. I will give Americans more control over, and access to, healthcare with affordable and portable free-market solutions.
8. I will increase adoptions, decrease abortions, and protect the quality of life for our children.
9. I will reform the legal system and appoint strict constructionist judges.
10. I will ensure that every community in America is prepared for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
11. I will provide access to a quality education to every child in America by giving real school choice to parents.
12. I will expand America’s involvement in the global economy and strengthen our reputation around the world.

And Giuliani will be able to fulfill all these campaign promises because… well… I guess, because he’s God. An angry, Old Testament God. And a somewhat nutty one, at that.

Let’s just consider Giuliani’s “12 Commitments” one at a time.

“I will keep America on offense in the Terrorists’ War on Us.”
Because “if we don’t fight them over there…” blah, blah, blah, and all that. Though a little defense wouldn’t be so bad either. You know, like protecting our ports, securing our nuclear facilities, inspecting cargo containers, and other boring stuff like that. On the bright side, in promising America an endless war, you can’t accuse Giuliani of pandering to voters by, um, actually listening to them.

“I will end illegal immigration, secure our borders, and identify every non-citizen in our nation.”
Just like he did in New York — all we need are 12 million taxi medallions. But really… identify every non-citizen in our nation? How’s he gonna do that? How large an immigration gestapo is he gonna need to “check the papers” of all 301,139,947 US citizens and residents? How militarized a border is Giuliani envisioning, and what exactly does he plan to do with the 12 million “illegals” he rounds up? I’m not sure what’s more frightening — that Giuliani thinks he can deliver on this promise… or that he wants to?

“I will restore fiscal discipline and cut wasteful Washington spending.”
For example, just think of all the wasteful spending Washington could save if the Justice Department doesn’t have to respond to habeas corpus writs from the 12 million Mexicans Giuliani plans to round up? On the other hand, fighting the eternal “War on Us”, building a wall around our nation, and identifying, detaining and deporting 12 million people, well, that costs big bucks. So I suppose to both restore fiscal discipline and pay for his ambitious foreign and domestic agenda, Giuliani is going to have to raise taxes, right?

“I will cut taxes and reform the tax code.”
Oops. My bad.

“I will impose accountability on Washington.”
And, um, I suppose if Giuliani “imposes” accountability on Washington, that must mean Washington will be accountable to him? Is he running for President or Dictator?

“I will lead America towards energy independence.”
The rendered fat from an average Mexican immigrant could fuel a bio-diesel powered SUV for a week. Hmm. Giuliani’s immigration plans are beginning to make sense.

“I will give Americans more control over, and access to, healthcare with affordable and portable free-market solutions.”
Because the ultimate “portable free-market solution” is for Americans to pick up and move to a country that actually offers affordable health care. You know, like Canada. Now if we can only sneak past the troops at the border….

“I will increase adoptions, decrease abortions, and protect the quality of life for our children.”
Just like he did as Mayor of New York. And of course, nobody is better qualified to “protect the quality of life for our children” than a man whose own kids won’t campaign for him.

“I will reform the legal system and appoint strict constructionist judges.”
We need judges who will strictly construct the US Constitution. Except for those pesky Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Ninth Amendments. And possibly the First. And certain inconvenient paragraphs in Article I, Section 8. And some other parts. Other than that, we need strict constructionist judges.

“I will ensure that every community in America is prepared for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.”
You know, just like Giuliani prepared New York City for 9/11 by ensuring that police, fire, and other rescue workers used communications systems that could not communicate with each other, and by insisting on locating the city’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) crisis center in the heart of New York’s most likely terrorist target. (The thousands of gallons of diesel fuel stored in WTC 7 to power OEM’s backup generators was a particularly bright idea… except for the part where the fuel spilled, burned, and likely led to the building’s collapse.) With preparation like that, who needs terrorists?

“I will provide access to a quality education to every child in America by giving real school choice to parents.”
And nothing increases access to quality education like defunding public schools by siphoning dollars to religious institutions and for-profit “charter” schools. After all, an unfettered free market always leads to the most efficient allocation of resources. (You know, except when market forces entice 12 million Mexicans to come across the border to fill low wage jobs.)

“I will expand America’s involvement in the global economy and strengthen our reputation around the world.”
… By deporting 12 million workers, and staying the course in Iraq.

Giuliani doesn’t bother to tell us how he will keep these commitments, just that he will keep them. Apparently, all of our nation’s problems could be easily solved if only America had a president who had the will to solve them. And the power to impose his will.

No, Giuliani isn’t a God, he’s just a man. A man who would impose his will on the American people. A man whose apparent embrace of unitary executive theory makes George Bush look like James Madison.

All hail Benito Giuliani.

Seattle City Council candidate Joe Szwaja sent out an email this morning announcing that he has raised $20,121 thus far — $17,091 at his Kick-Off party alone. Considering his late entry into the race against incumbent Jean Godden, I suppose that’s not bad.

The Council is technically non-partisan, though we all know that all of the current council members are at least nominally Democrats. We also all know that Szwaja is a key member of the Washington State Green Party. Which leaves me a bit conflicted about this race.

On the one hand, ideologically, I align myself very closely with much of the Green philosophy. On the other hand, politically, I find both the local and national Green Parties to be misguided, self-destructive, vindictive… and strategically retarded.

On the one hand, while I like Godden personally, I’m having a hard time recalling what, if anything, she’s accomplished during her four years on the City Council. On the other hand, while I came away rather impressed the one time I had the opportunity to speak with Szwaja at length, um… this is apparently the guy who vetted Aaron Dixon. Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

That said, my main criticism of the Greens has always been strategic: their eagerness to play the spoiler in high profile races for US Senate and President, while refusing to do the gritty, hard work necessary to actually build a party. Most of electoral politics is tedious, time consuming and far from glamorous. Sure, it might be more fun for a third party candidate to run for Congress or Senate, than, say, fire commissioner, but barring substantial electoral reforms like proportional representation or ranked-choice voting, such high profile candidacies are at best futile, and at worst, a dangerous distraction from the real candidates.

So I guess I should congratulate Szwaja for finally entering a race he has a snowball’s chance of winning. City Council is not exactly starting at the bottom — which is exactly where the Greens need to start if they’re ever going to build a base — but it is local, it is nominally non-partisan, and it is nominally winnable.

This is a race that’s worth watching.

In explaining why state Republicans chose to replace Diane Tebelius with Luke Esser as WSRP chair, one GOP wag privately remarked that “Luke has balls.” I suppose that’s true. Most dicks do.

And as evidence of the WSRP’s ballsy dickery under Esser’s new leadership, the state GOP (or one of their surrogates) is preparing a TV ad attacking Gov. Chris Gregoire for denying Washingtonians the right to vote. How can I be so sure? Well, I happen to have come into possession of a preliminary storyboard:

Storyboard text — Per Account 1267 — DHG, Com5

Followup with client re: cable buy dates, saturation, and market analysis

===Bill 4 hrs===

(6/1/07, 6/2/07) @rate1

Ad specs per conv. 5/31 4:32pm

==Board 1==

[Elderly voters, Am. flag in breeze]

< Screentext >

All over America…

On Febuary 5, 2008…

…People will be going to the polls

…For AMERICA’s First National Primary Day

< /screentext >

< narration: same; soundtrack: "upbeat", "patriotic" >

***

==Board 2==

[Gregoire stock photo, b/w, low contrast]

< screentext >

Except You!

< /screentext >

< soundtrack: file, "despair" >

< narration: same, "angry voice" >

***

==Board 3==

[Prison bars over ballot box]

< screentext >

Gov. Gregoire and her party…

…Don’t want you voting on Feb. 5!

< /screentext >

< narration: same, melodramatic >

< soundrack: same >

==Board 4==

< note: discuss with client*** >

Why?…

…What are Gregoire and the Democrats so afraid of?

< discuss >Why doesn’t she like you?! < /discuss >

That’s pretty much the storyboard as I received it, though I’ve inserted the attached images in their appropriate places in the text.

What a bunch of dicks.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) requires state parties to choose all their delegates by either a primary or a caucus, and it was the 178 members of the WA State Democratic Central Committee (WSDCC) who voted to choose the latter. So of course, Gov. Gregoire had absolutely nothing to do with the decision.

But that’s besides the point, and the Republicans know it, because what this ad is really intended to say is: GOV. CHRIS GREGOIRE STEALS ELECTIONS!

I mean, that’s clearly the subtext. Hell, it’s not even subtext, it’s the whole ad… the script, the music, the images — stern Gregoire, elderly voters, prison bars — the whole point of this ad is to remind voters of the disputed 2004 election, and all the lies and misinformation the GOP disseminated about it.

The presidential primary? That’s just a springboard for an attack ad, and the WSRP couldn’t care less how tangential or intentionally misleading it might be. There are legitimate arguments, pro and con, for selecting delegates via caucus, but all the R’s want to do is dumb down the debate into a smear on Gregoire.

Like I said… what a bunch of dicks.

With the U.S. Senate preparing for an afternoon “No Confidence” vote on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, the word is that senators are receiving relatively few calls on the subject, with those coming in falling substantial against Gonzales (ie, for the vote.) Sure, the vote is purely symbolic, but symbolism counts, and this is a great opportunity for Democratic and Republican senators alike to display their displeasure with the Bush administration and its cynical politicization of the justice system.

So if you have a few minutes to spare, here are some toll-free numbers for the U.S. Senate switchboard — give ’em a call and let the other Washington know that you have no confidence in AG Gonzales.

1 (800) 828 – 0498
1 (800) 459 – 1887
1 (800) 614 – 2803
1 (866) 340 – 9281
1 (866) 338 – 1015
1 (877) 851 – 6437

More from Firedoglake…

Update:
…or call your Senators directly:

Senator Maria Cantwell (202) 224-3441
Senator Patty Murray (202) 224-2621
More Senate office numbers.

Tonight on “The David Goldstein Show”, 7PM to 10PM on Newsradio 710-KIRO:

7PM: Is Bill Sherman the next King County Prosecutor?
Longtime King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng recently passed away, suddenly turning the election to replace him into the marquee race of the political season. One of the two declared Democrats, Bill Sherman, joins me in the studio for the hour to take your calls and make the case for his candidacy.

8PM: When is Rep. Adam Smith going to fire his communications director?
First, Congressman Adam Smith subjects himself to the inevitable humiliation of going on The Colbert Report, and now he lowers himself to an extended segment on my show. Rep. Smith joins me by phone for a half hour to discuss what it is like to “spar” with Colbert, and to take your calls on the issues of the day.

9PM: The blog that time forgot.
TRex lives! And he joins me for the hour by phone to talk national politics. A popular contributor to the widely read blog Firedoglake, TRex always brings snark and wit to his biting commentary and analysis. I’ve got a feeling we’re going to bring up Fred Thompson’s name a lot.

Tune in tonight (or listen to the live stream) and give me a call: 1-877-710-KIRO (5476).

Again, forgive my cynicism, but considering the Seattle Times editorial board’s track record of transparently passing off Frank Blethen’s narrow partisan agenda as the public interest, I instantly assumed the worst when I read today’s headline: “Watch carefully as Justice is named.”

And I wasn’t disappointed. Or, uh, I was disappointed. Um… you know what I mean.

The Times argues that the public should carefully watch Gov. Chris Gregoire as she appoints a replacement for retiring Justice Bobbe Bridge, and while the unsigned editorial offers no names, it does “have some thoughts on qualifications.”

• It would be good to add to the diversity of experience on the court, which has a former appellate judge (Gerry Alexander), tribal judge (Susan Owens), special prosecutor for child abuse cases (Barbara Madsen), specialists in voter initiatives (Jim Johnson) and bankruptcy and collections (Mary Fairhurst) and several trial attorneys (Charles Johnson, Richard Sanders, Tom Chambers). What it does not have is someone with major experience as a criminal prosecutor.

• It would be very good to have more geographic diversity. The court is all from west of the mountains. Its gender diversity is good, but its ethnic diversity is not.

• It is essential the appointee be willing to discuss his or her judicial philosophy. Some candidates have declared it is improper to talk about such things. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled it is all right, and we believe the voters need to know, so candidates for the court should speak their mind.

Uh-huh.

Let’s just be brutally honest. Quite simply, this editorial clearly assumes that its readers are a bunch of fucking morons.

Huh… let’s see… the new justice should be a criminal prosecutor from east of the mountains. Oh, how coy. How clever. You mean… a Republican.

And while they “offer no names,” the qualifications the Times lays out are clearly designed to eliminate all of the top names I’ve heard being bandied about by Olympia insiders. In fact, it is fair to speculate that the editorial is specifically aimed at Jenny Durkan, a prominent Democrat and close friend and advisor to Gov. Gregoire. Durkan is probably best known to Times readers as the kick-ass attorney who humiliated Dino Rossi’s lawyers in that Wenatchee courtroom. Durkan is one of the most highly respected attorneys in the state, and I’m guessing the Times is guessing that the appointment is hers for the asking… if she’s willing to give up her lucrative private practice.

To dismiss this editorial as sophistry is to give the anonymous writer too much credit. It is bullshit. Ridiculous, illogical bullshit. Complete and utter bullshit that totally disrespects the intelligence of the reader.

We need a criminal prosecutor on the bench? Why? If the argument is that we need somebody experienced in criminal law, why not a trial judge or criminal defense attorney? What’s the problem? Is Washington soft on crime? Don’t we lock up enough of our citizens? The Supreme Court doesn’t rule on evidence, it rules on points of law, an exercise whose primary requisite is constitutional scholarship and a sharp legal mind. That skill-set doesn’t exclude a criminal prosecutor, but it doesn’t particularly recommend one.

And the Times laughably argues for more diversity (other than gender) at the same time slamming the court for failing to block Seattle Schools’ racial tiebreaker? What’s up with that?

No, the Times didn’t put forth its “thoughts on qualifications” in pursuit of a qualified jurist, but rather a conservative one. What the Times wants is a court that will toss out the estate tax, legalize dog shooting and bust up organized labor. Let’s face it, Frank Blethen’s personal Hell would be a unionized Heaven.

Washington voters elected Chris Gregoire governor, presumably because we thought she was the candidate who best reflected our values. And Gov. Gregoire should follow suit, appointing the best qualified justice who best reflects her values. That’s what executives do. That’s what we expect of them.

That’s what Gov. Gregoire will do, and the Times knows it.

When the Times lays out a set of narrow qualifications, and then writes that “Gregoire needs to choose a candidate who can be defended,” what they are really saying is that she needs to choose a candidate who can be defended against attack from the Times.

Whoever the appointee is, he or she should consider today’s Times editorial as the opening salvo in their 2008 election campaign.

Tonight on “The David Goldstein Show”, 7PM to 10PM on Newsradio 710-KIRO:

7PM: Does the US have an immigration problem, or a Mexican problem?
The Immigration Reform Act failed to pass the US Senate when President Bush failed to get his own party to support his own compromise bill. Meanwhile, an amendment did pass this week making English our “official language.” Do we really have an illegal immigration problem, or is the problem with immigration in general? Or is it just a problem with those Spanish-speaking brown people in particular?

8PM: Filing deadline shenanigans?
Richard Pope a Democrat? Scott Noble or Jim Nobles? Yesterday was the filing deadline for the November election, and former Stranger writer Sandeep Kaushik comes into the studio to talk about some last minute surprises, and some surprisingly exciting races. Kinda “The Stranger Hour” once removed.

9PM: What’s up down in Oregon?
Fellow blogger TJ from Loaded Orygun joins me by phone for our monthly conversation about what’s going down, South of the border. A scandal that isn’t and some bipartisanship that shouldn’t be, tops the list of topics. Plus we ask the critical question: are Portlanders too polite?

Tune in tonight (or listen to the live stream) and give me a call: 1-877-710-KIRO (5476).

PROGRAMMING NOTE:
Tune in tomorrow night when guests include Democratic candidate for King County Prosecutor Bill Sherman, Colbert Report star Rep. Adam Smith and blogger TRex from Fire Dog Lake.

I guess if I had the opportunity to ask Rep. Adam Smith a single question, it would be not why did he choose to subject himself to the inevitable humiliation of a Colbert interview, but rather, how did he manage to keep a straight face throughout?

Fortunately, I’ll have the opportunity to ask Rep. Smith several questions, Sunday night at the top of the 8PM hour on The David Goldstein Show, Newsradio 710-KIRO.

Speaking yesterday on KUOW’s The Conservation, Gov. Chris Gregoire stated that she has “no reason to disbelieve that” Sonics owner Clay Bennett is negotiating in good faith.

Uh-huh. Me, I’m more of a cynic. In fact, I’m not convinced that Bennett has actually negotiated at all. Perhaps its a cultural thing, but I’ve always thought of “negotiation” as a back-and-forth process, in which the two sides haggle until they reach a mutually acceptable compromise. Laying out plans for a half-billion dollar hoops palace, and then declaring “I’m out of ideas” upon its inevitable rejection? Well, that sounds to me more like an “ultimatum.”

Whatever. The point is, an Oklahoma City kajillionaire — who has long dreamed of bringing an NBA franchise to his city — bought the Sonics, and from the moment the sale was announced, we all understood how unlikely it was to keep the team in Seattle under his ownership. To look at this as just another business deal would be naive, as bringing the team home has a value to Bennett and his partners that far exceeds simple monetary considerations.

The Storm on the other hand, well, Bennett really couldn’t give a shit about bringing a WNBA team home to Oklahoma City, and from what I understand, the feeling is mutual: Storm star Lauren Jackson has already said she wouldn’t follow the team to Oklahoma, and faced with all the uncertainty, Sue Bird only signed a one-year contract.

For Bennett, the Storm is little more than an afterthought, and likely a money-losing one at that, moved to a smaller market and missing its two biggest stars. But in Seattle, the Storm has built a devoted and profitable following.

So if Bennett really wants to show Washingtonians a little “good faith”, the least he could do is divest himself of the Storm before packing up the Sonics and heading East. Besides, the Storm is worth more to us than it is to him, both monetarily and otherwise, especially in the absence of the Sonics. Rumor has it that a group of local investors is willing to put up the estimated $10 million fair market value of the team, and if Bennett is the “stand-up guy” Gov. Gregoire says he is, he’ll entertain a reasonable offer.

All that’s required is a little good faith negotiation.

King County Councilman Bob Ferguson is not running for County Prosecutor, and that means (a birdy tells me) Bill Sherman definitely is.

Sherman a longtime deputy prosecutor and a former aide to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbit, was one of the most pleasant surprises coming out of last year’s hotly contested 43rd Legislative District race. But don’t listen to me heap praise on Sherman, read what the Seattle Times had to say in endorsing his candidacy:

Sherman is a bright new entrant to elective politics who brings a very promising résumé and set of skills.

[…] Sherman has the right mix of temperament, attitude and résumé.

Sherman was an aide to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt during the Clinton presidency, so he comes with political savvy and awareness of public-policy issues.

Sherman is currently a deputy prosecutor for King County who focuses on domestic violence, something that always can use extra awareness and voice in Olympia.

Sherman is a solid environmentalist with endorsements from Washington Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club.

He is also supported by Allied Arts of Seattle, and is an advocate for improved public education.

His law-and-order job helped draw support from former Seattle City Attorney Mark Sidran, who describes Sherman as a pragmatist and common-sense Democrat best qualified to work with Democrats, Republicans and suburbanites in Olympia.

[…] Sherman is the best all-around candidate. He is a very strong newcomer who will represent the district admirably.

I don’t mean it as a knock against Ferguson, but the Democrats ended up with a better candidate in Sherman. He’s an experienced prosecutor, who, well, is simply much more qualified for the job. And while he doesn’t have Ferguson’s winning track record at the polls, he came from nowhere to be surprisingly competitive in the 43rd LD race.

Sherman will also match up better in the general, pitting his years in the courtroom against Acting Prosecutor Dan Satterberg’s years as an administrator. This’ll be a great race.

UPDATE:
Bill Sherman has confirmed via email:

I’ve decided to run, and will file tomorrow afternoon. I decided to run because I can bring the perspective of a front-line trial prosecutor, working with victims and offenders every day. The Prosecutor’s office needs to focus on protecting the most vulnerable among us; on leading the way in dealing with criminals with severe mental health problems, and stopping the cycle of crime by probationary offenders. I’m excited to lead that effort, and it starts tomorrow.

Sherman has also confirmed that he will be a guest on “The David Goldstein Show“, Sunday night on Newsradio 710-KIRO.

Rep. Adam Smith will appear tonight on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, as the latest victim in the show’s “Better Know A District” segment. Why? According to Rep. Smith’s press release: “A lapse in judgment on the part of Smith’s communications director.”

No truer words were ever spoken. Or, um… written.