Could the Seattle Times editorial board be any more dense or dishonest? Well yeah, of course they could. But that sloppy, wet kiss they planted today on Rep. Dave Reichert’s manly punim is one humdinger of a premeditated prevarication.
The Times celebrates Reichert’s “independence” and congratulates him for speaking out in defense of ousted U.S. Attorney John McKay:
Reichert picked a good cause and a good time to push back on a White House that clearly blew it by firing McKay.
No doubt it’s a good cause and a shrewd (if obvious) piece of political maneuvering. But a “good time”…? Um… wouldn’t a better time to have displayed his “conscience-driven independence” have been way back in December… when McKay was fired?
Let’s look at the time line here. We heard nothing but crickets chirping from Reichert when news of McKay’s ouster broke back in December, and when Reichert was asked to submit candidates for the office, McKay’s name was noticeably absent from the list. Wouldn’t that have been the “occasion where sticking his neck out really counts”…?
It is not until months later, with the scandal threatening to take down Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and drag our nation into a constitutional crisis, that Reichert finally sticks up for McKay. And even then, he didn’t actually submit McKay’s name for consideration, or formally request he be reinstated. No, he just made a statement to a reporter.
Not exactly a profile in courage.
The only thing accurate about the Times editorial is the headline: “Reichert reacts.” A real leader — a real independent — would have been proactive in defense of John McKay and our justice system, instead of sticking his finger in the political winds and spitting out a sound bite after the fact.
The Seattle Times is such a piece of shit…
The Blech-then family is at it again…
So Congressman Reichert. Do you agree that the White House Staff should honor the subpoenas and testify under oath to what part they played forcing the justice department to fire prosecutors that were not “Bush Friendly” enough, or not?
We are waiting…..
By the way, there is no way Hair Spray would ever take a tough stance demanding the Bushies to tell the truth about how hard they were trying to tip the scales of justice.
If he ever gets in trouble he can count on Bush firing the prosecutor if they get too close to an indictment….. You would never want to let go of this trump card….
So sheriff, influencing investigations by promoting or firing prosecutors during investigations is a crime, right?
Hmmmmmmmmmm????
If you add the crime of influencing investigations to the long list of other crimes the Bush White House has committed, they may not live through this.
All the right wingers are saying there is “no there there” but they always claim they are innocent before pleading, or getting convicted.
I think there is an overwhelming amount of evidence they were influencing ongoing investigations, dozens of people know about it, and they are going down.
Ol Schumer wouldn’t be smiling so much if he didn’t know a few things that he knows will come out in testimony. They wouldn’t crank up the heat unless they knew there was something they are hiding, and I am sure it is big.
Hitler respected the Jews more than Bush respects our nations laws.
Well put!
And despite the fact that Reichart is not a leader; was not a good cop; isn’t the brightest bulb; and can’t think for himself, he still managed to win re-election as a freshman in a Democratic district (Kerry got 51% in D8 in 04) during the biggest Democratic landslide since FDR… that just goes to show how pathetic Burner really was as a candidate. Gosh, simply being able to raise money from liberal interest groups doesn’t equate to being qualified to be in the Congress? Really, who but Goldy was surprised that voters thought that?
Most any competent Democratic politician with any record of positive public service could have easily beat Reichart. Instead, the Dems put forth a Microsoft low level manager type who had never done anything in the public sphere and not much of distinction in the private sphere either (hell, there are at least 200 “group program managers” on the Redmond campus – it isn’t any big deal to achieve that second level management position, and most of them who started taking advanced degrees finished them).
The one consolation – it isnt’ possible the Dems will run a weaker candidate in 2008. You can’t find one, unless you take someone straight out of the sex-offender program on Macneil Island.
What about the IRS warning the one church that one pastor had one anti war sermon, but ignoring all the other churches that were actually working the GOP get out the vote machine for them.
Power is to be abused as far as Bush is concerned.
The IRS is part of the same political machine. Obviously.
They opened a can of worms a nuclear canner won’t be able to close this time.
Bush thinks he is the emperor, and has never once listened to anyone other than Haggard, Dobson, or Faulwell…… Not that he turned our government into a theocracy like they wanted, but at least he listened to them…..
It gets even worse for our brave Congressman….
Which reporter will ask Rep. Reichert if he agrees with President Bush’s interpretation of the constitution where “Congress has no oversight” ability?
Tony Snow was all over TV pushing the line that Congress has no oversight ability. So let’s see if our brave independent Rep. Reichert agrees with being neutered by the White House.
This just seems increasingly bizarre. How can any person who believes in limited government and/or fiscal responsibility be a Bush Republican? Apparently they are trying to shore up the neo-fascist wing of the American body politic. They can have it.
This district has never elected a Democrat. It is not a red district, and Sheriff Hairspray is a name known by the 50% of the people in his district that do not pay attention.
He had the only name on the ballot they knew.
Period.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17739868/
Puffybutt’s close family members profiled on MSNBC.
andhewon, did you watch her slaughter him at the debate? I actually felt sorry for him. He was pathetic.
There is one thing he could do to help him win re-election.
Switch parties.
After watching 2 more years of the GOP slime machine being exposed by congressional investigations, and prosecutions, every night on TV by the people in his district, there is no way he will win a reelection, even if he runs against the McNeil Island reject!
Even the brain dead, cave dwelling, raw meat eating, talibangelical, nazi, zero tax traitors are going to switch to the Democratic Party come ’08.
The investigations have just started…….. More to come….
Lies told before the war investigation.
Outing Valerie Plame investigation continues.
Illegal wiretapping investigation.
War profiteering investigations.
And many, many, many, many more!
Stay tuned.
They have just started turning over the rocks!
He won by a whisker. If the Times hadn’t endorsed him, those “moderates” that were swayed by this travesty of a newspaper wouldn’t have voted for him.
Remember: He was the incumbent and a well known political figure in the area, and still, he just barely won over a newcomer who was most definitely NOT the annointed candidate of the Holy Rahm Emmanuel.
But I, and many others, will not forget what side that rag comes down on when it really counts. The Times may discover too late that pissing us off is ultimately more damaging than pissing off a few Home Depot execs.
Are you guys just jealous because the Blethens are rich? I know I am! I could use a couple of million bucks!
Let me get this straight… Baghdad Jim thinks the “American Dream” is to come here and live off The Producers as a parasite?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.c.....ip22m.html
“…McDermott said. “We take them in with the promise of the American Dream and then say to them, ‘We’re not going to help you, do it yourself.’ ”
Ummm…. yeah Jim…. that’s the way it works in the land of opportunity. That’s the real promise of America.
“Even the brain dead, cave dwelling, raw meat eating, talibangelical, nazi, zero tax traitors are going to switch to the Democratic Party come ‘08.”
LOL. You basing that assumption on the Democrat congress’s 28% approval rating?
How old are you? Seriously. 14? 15?
<ROTFL>
WHAT’S WRONG TL? DOESN’T MR. INTELLIGENCE KNOW HIS HTML?
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<LMAO!!>
EVEN PUDDY “MR. GOOGLE” BUD CAN HANDLE THIS!! ..I THINK!
</LMAO!!>
Facts @ 11
“Even the brain dead, cave dwelling, raw meat eating, talibangelical, nazi, zero tax traitors are going to switch to the Democratic Party come ‘08.”
We don’t want them. We are the party of moderation, foresight, and responsibility. We are also the majority party when it comes to the values of the American people. The puppy-barbecuers that form the heart of the Republican Party can just stay where they are–that helps us see what is at issue in every election. Surely, none of us want some pipsqueak blusterer like Mark the Redneck voting Democrat.
re 13: That’s an old righty meme. Any criticism of a rich person is attributed to “jealosy” of their money.
Most rich people are jealous of me because I get more pussy than Frank Sinatra. That is what their criticism is all about.
Broken record @6: You forgot to mention Burner’s kid. Wasn’t that part of the wingnut spewing line, too? Or have you guys dropped that one, now that McMorris is going to be a mom too?
C’mon — be honest now — don’t you really, really, REALLY deep down inside think McMorris should resign from Congress and be a stay-at-home mom? Isn’t that what a good Republican gal is supposed to do when she becomes a mom?
I’m waiting for your answer.
6, 9 – Burner, a novice, came within a couple percentage points of knocking off a popular, well-known incumbent in a district that has never elected a Democrat.
One of two things is true: Either Burner was a very impressive candidate, or Reichert was (and is) a very weak candidate.
@13 couple million? The Times company is worth $900 million, and the Blethen family owns 51% of it, so by my calculator they’re worth at least $459 million.
I say “at least” because, unless they’ve very stupid, they’ve used some of their income over the years to diversify their portfolios and also have holdings in stocks, bonds, real estate, and other investments. So it seems very likely this family, as a group, is worth half a billion dollars or more.
Frank Blethen’s house, which sits on two prime Lake Washington waterfront lots, is worth over $4 million.
Stefan Sharansky, whose shack does not sit on waterfront or even have a view worth spitting at, paid $858,000 to a flipper who bought the same house six months earlier for $360,000.
(snicker)
HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR
(And this guy would hold himself up as a political and economic mentor to the rest of us???)
You gotta admit that dropping half a million dollars of net worth in 5 minutes is impressive.
@14 Funny you bring that up, Welsher. In case you haven’t noticed lately, all the immigrants you leeches hate have been doing your work lately while Republicans sit around on their duffs living off capital gains and interest. What do YOU produce, besides hot air? You’ve never told us. You’ve often intimidated that you have some skill your employer values highly and pays you handsomely for — does this mean you stuff envelopes at home for 1/2 cent per piece? With no benefits … ? Funny how the Republicans whining the loudest about immigrants collecting welfare shriek even louder when INS agents pay their businesses a visit and haul off 85% of their workers! Employing those welfare-sucking ragheads under the table sure beats paying minimum wage and payroll taxes, doesn’t it?
Cheap labor conservatives bashing immigrants … how quaint …
@15 You’re confused. That 28% approval rating was for the REPUBLICAN congress that existed up until January. Congress is under new management now.
DARCY THE WONDER GIRL OF THE LEFT TOOK IT IN THE SHORTS SHE LOST GET OVER IT
@27 THE DEMOCRATIC DO NOTHING CONGRESS THEY ARE GOING TO GET SHIT ON AND PUT IN JAIL FOR STINKIN.
Roger Rabbit @ 24
The flipper improved the hell out of Sharkansky’s house, but still made a helluva lot of money out of the deal. And Sharkansky’s house is worth a lot more today than the $858,000 that he paid. Zillow says it is worth $1,157,977 today.
Imagine that — gaining $300,000 in net worth in less than 4 years. Pretty impressive.
@30 Only if he can find a buyer with that kind of money; and buyers of million-dollar houses don’t grow on trees — even in Seattle.
“No, he just made a statement to a reporter.”
Rep. Reichert is a moderate because he says he’s a moderate. Even though he has said, in public, on record, that he fakes his moderation for public consumption, he remains a moderate to those who find his “moderation” convenient. Like the Blethen family fortune. You can tilt at this meme all that you want, but you cannot kill it.
Ms. Burner lost by ~5 votes per precinct. We can do better for her next time — when Rep. Moderate is out defending his votes against stem-cell research.
30. Surely you’re kidding. First of all, there’s not a whole lot you can do to a house in 6 months. Most of that money was pure profit. Secondly, assuming the Zillow valuation is accurate, that home’s appreciation averages less than 8% annually. Even for a high-end home, in this region that’s so much less than “impressive”.
Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with buying a house that’s not a great investment. But when that’s what the numbers indicate, it’s just pathethic to try to spin it otherwise.
14. That’s a typical comment from someone who has no idea–not a clue–how hard it is to start from nothing. I’ve known a number of businessmen who bragged about being self-made men. And in every case, they were so very much not. People who’ve actually made something from nothing–and there’s precious few of them–don’t knock those who haven’t been able to pull off such a herculean task. More often than not, they’re acutely aware how much time they spent being one illness, one misfortune away from having everything knocked out from under them. Until you’ve spent years laboring under the certainty that every decision you made had the potential to bring everything you’ve worked for crashing down, until you built your margin from scratch, you don’t know what you’re talking about when you’re criticizing people who live without a margin.