May 23, 2005
It's in the P-I

The P-I's contumelious liberal columnist Joel Connelly shovels his usual abuse on me today, but at least he figured out how to spell my name (the third time's a charm).

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at May 23, 2005 01:31 AM | Email This
Comments
1. That guy gets paid for that stuff?

Here, let me give it a whirl...

oranges oranges oranges APPLES oranges oranges

There we are. Free. And flows better, too.

Posted by: Wind Rider on May 23, 2005 04:01 AM
2. Hey Stefan,

Did you use "contumelious" in your post because joel accused this site of being "vituperative?"

Posted by: Danny on May 23, 2005 04:41 AM
3. Connelly seems very upset at the idea tha parties might (gasp!) "control the party label."

I guess that means that Connelly would not object to a candidate claiming, say, an endorsement from Joel Connelly, regardless of whether Connelly had actually endorsed him or not.

Right? I mean, surely Connelly doesn't want to control the Connelly label.

Posted by: ScottM on May 23, 2005 05:37 AM
4. At least he calls him "The Shark." It gives Stefan an amount of authenticity to Connelly's readers, regardless of Connelly's opinion.

Posted by: VaCSProf on May 23, 2005 05:57 AM
5. Connelly's readers, uh that would be some Parakeets, a hamster or two, and Phoebe and Leon from Wallingford. Maybe a few public schoolteachers to boot.

Could you imagine being stuck in a room w/ that guy/ next to him on a plane?

Posted by: righton on May 23, 2005 06:13 AM
6. Stefan--
Criticism from Connelly means you are definitely on the RIGHT track.
Wear it as a "BADGE OF HONOR"!

Posted by: Mr. Cynical on May 23, 2005 06:17 AM
7. THIS IS WHY I AS WELL AS MANY OTHER READERS HAVE STOPPED READING THE PU (OOPS THE PI)BESIDES IT MAKES MY BIRD SICK EVERYTIME I PUT IT IN THE BOTTOM OF HIS CAGE!!!!

Posted by: TACOMA PHLASH on May 23, 2005 06:23 AM
8. Stefan -- seems Joel Connelly neglected to mention that you supported Sam Reed's Democrat challenger, Laura Ruderman, in the November 2004 election. Instead, you are simply portrayed as some extreme right-wing Republican ideologue.

Posted by: Richard Pope on May 23, 2005 07:01 AM
9. Stephan, or anyone:

Yesterday afternoon around 3 or 4, on KIRO radio, the host and guest talked about something I'd never heard before. They said Judge Bridges has/had contributed money to the Gregoire campaign.

Is this true?

Posted by: who'dathunk on May 23, 2005 07:07 AM
10. He says: "Ideologues appear to have targeted GOP Secretary of State Sam Reed. Reed defied party brass and defended the blanket primary, and has acted even-handedly in the endless battle over the governorship."

Even-handedly? I strongly disagree.

s'okay. Spin away Joel Connelley. We really don't care what you think as long as we have a legit governor.

Posted by: cc on May 23, 2005 07:23 AM
11. Stefan,
I look at it this way. It must have taken Joel, 2 to 3 hours to find out if a word like "vituperative" would work in a sentence. Plus, the educational benefit that was gained by parents having their children look up that word's actual definition. All in all, you provided a public service via an idiot.

Posted by: Mike P on May 23, 2005 07:30 AM
12. Hey RightOn: did the Olympian get permission to quote you?

Judge an unknown factor in vote trial

Posted by: starboardhelm on May 23, 2005 07:37 AM
13. There are bus schedules posted downtown that have more readers than Connelly.

Posted by: Larry on May 23, 2005 07:48 AM
14. The man is a jackass, making the paper The Jackassery. Ever write him a letter pointing out his errors? He has a stock reply that says "Message sinks beneath weight of sarcasm", or some such nonsense. He reminds me of the self-important blowhard professors in college, the ones with unimpeachable credentials. The ones that had no real world experience but were quick to speak in (usually liberal) absolutes. When challenged with actual fact, they would bluster and harumpff you into quietude.
It must be an interesting life...that of being a suck-up to the democrat power brokers. Do they make you feel important, Joel? So important that you are afraid to think anymore?

Posted by: Mike Palmisano on May 23, 2005 08:13 AM
15. Mr. Bloviate, er, Connery, ought to know the word "vituperative" quite well, as he is an expert in its application.

Once upon a time, he wrote an extensive and worthy series of articles about the WPPS debacle. Now his kitty liner of a newspaper is sinking while he spins into the ground covering up the sham of KC elections and the disgrace that is Sound Transit.

What a sad little man he has become, and he deserves to continue fading into obscurity with the Times and P.I.

Posted by: Shaun on May 23, 2005 08:36 AM
16. Is there no limit to how simple minded you can be yet still write for the Pee Eye?

Posted by: JDH on May 23, 2005 08:47 AM
17. Starboard guy..

No, but still trying to figure the guy out. Some blog, perhaps here, likely totally false and a rumor said they'd heard Kiro person saying he gave to Gregoire.

Posted by: righton on May 23, 2005 08:52 AM
18. "How does Vance explain the strong majority by which voters approved the "top two" primary?"

Well Joel, its really quite simple, the voters chose the new top-two system after having a system they were used to and for the most part liked taken away, then when they went to vote, most only read the part that said you can vote for whoever you want...not reading the bit that said, two Democrats or two Republicans could end up running against each other in the general election.

Posted by: Jason on May 23, 2005 08:55 AM
19. The FAT FABULIST strikes again. I'm sure the far left readers of the P (not very) I will be glad their man told them what they wanted to hear.

Posted by: Jeff B. on May 23, 2005 08:56 AM
20. righton,

Is that directed at me? The FACT is, the host on KIRO Radio, Sunday, May 22, 4:00 PM?/ gie or take, made the claim and the guest agreed (Pitman???).

I have no idea whether it was true or not. (Bridges contributing to Gregoire campaign) I thought coming here to ask the question would help set the record straight, regarding what was claimed by the host on KIRO radio. I thought this blog had some credible people capable of sorting out such media claims.

Posted by: who'dathunk on May 23, 2005 09:05 AM
21. I'm not against the primary system as it was approved by voters. You have to take a little bit longer term perspective to understand why.

The fact is, most of the time the only candidates that have a chance statewide are Democrats. Of course, this is because of King County. Most of population is in King County and, unfortunately, the area has attracted all sort of idealistic left wingers who think they have found a totalitarian utopia.

Add to that the fact that King County elections is corrupt as they come, and you can't get a Republican to win statewide.

But, what if two Democrats end up running against each other for a statewide office? They would have to differentiate from each other, so you will find one of them, at least, calling for better policies than the ones we get crammed down our throat.

More important, the underdog would be motivated to expose the fraud in the King County elections machine. This machine is exactly why the democrats are against the open primary - they want to protect it from scrutiny.

Unfortunately, Republicans are playing into their hands by opposing the possibility of two Democrats running against each other.

Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on May 23, 2005 09:29 AM
22. Man, nobody ever calls my blog "vituperative". I feel left out.

Posted by: James on May 23, 2005 09:51 AM
23. Vituperative. I was so excited to have to use the dictionary, I felt like I was reading the New Yorker.

Posted by: JM on May 23, 2005 09:57 AM
24. He's shoveling it at you because he fears you. Keep on keeping on.

Posted by: Michele on May 23, 2005 10:01 AM
25. "A moderate Democrat, Booth Gardner, overwhelmed the liberal Jim McDermott in Washington's 1984 gubernatorial primary."

Comic relief. This only works in an alternate universe where the Dan Rather is considered middle-of-the-road. I suppose in a world viewed with blue-colored glasses, pink is indistinguishable from red.

He really should be writing conspiracy novels. When pulp fiction and/or stringing together mostly unrelated near-factoids are your strength....

…it’s a sad thing when talent is misapplied.

Posted by: scott158 on May 23, 2005 10:02 AM
26. And yes, Mr. Connelly, CORRUPT ELECTIONS SHOULD be fought in court. You BET!

Posted by: Michele on May 23, 2005 10:11 AM
27. Iguana,

I see your point, but believe the top-two primary will produce two Dems that will only differentiate themselves by the promises they are willing to make, and later break with abandon, ala "no-higher-gas-tax" Fraudoire.

Cheers,
Shaun

Posted by: Shaun on May 23, 2005 10:22 AM
28. Looking past the fact Connelly is just another leftie journalist with no experience contributing meaningfully to a free market economy..

he's right about the Blanket Primary. So were the voters.

That Chris Vance and Paul Berendt both oppose it is enough right there for me.

Republicans all talk about the 'will of the people'.. but then you go and defend elitist party hacks subverting it like the good little toadies you are.

Time for another option in this state. Anyone who says Amen email me.

Posted by: exile on May 23, 2005 11:11 AM
29. I find it comical how everyone here is defending the Grand Old Party (and OBTW the Democratic party also, in this case). As a proud independent, I say the heck with parties. They both can go down in a pile of dust, for all I care. Here is a proud salute to the Grange and its courage.

Our answer to the parties is to not vote for any of their candidates in their so called rigged elections. It is time for candidates to run as independents and not tied to the tired old politics of the parties that do not amount to a hill of beans anymore. Both parties have been corrupted by the extremist. It is time for the majority middle to take back the state. Vote for the independents.

Posted by: tc on May 23, 2005 12:20 PM
30. Hmm, "contumelious." Nice word. Right up there with "scurilous." I'll remember that: "having or showing an insulting, scornful, or contemptuous attitude" - Microsoft® Encarta® Reference Library 2005. © 1993-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Being a little touchy, are we? After all, the article is mostly about the attempt to throw-out the voter-approved revised primary system with this single remark about SoundPolitics:

"The vituperative right-wing SoundPolitics.com Web site had this to say about him Friday: "Sam Reed is worse than worthless," wrote head blogger Stefan Sharkansky. The Shark pronounced Reed "unfit to be the state's chief elections officer."

So apart from "vituperative," everything else passes my fact check of what you said. Now there's another useful word: "an outburst of violently abusive or harshly critical language" - Microsoft® Encarta® Reference Library 2005. © 1993-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Seems apt to me. Maybe you see him as abusive elsewhere, but I don't see it here. The guy just can't match the intemperance of ideological bloggers, poor fellow.

I kinda liked the part about McDermott's failure to become our governor, too. Maybe he'll run again this fall?

Hmm, you think the new primary rules will apply to the 2005 general elections, assuming the Federal Courts allow the law to stand? Now *that* could be really exciting if we are electing the governor. Heh.

Posted by: orcmid on May 23, 2005 12:46 PM
31. Whatta drag!

I want to play, too, but what is the antonym to perspicacious (which would be Stefan)?

The dictionaries available to me show the following antonyms: dumb, idiotic, naive, obtuse, retarded, slow, stupid, unintelligent

So hey Joel, which one do you wanna be? ;'}

(As far as I can tell, all are appropriate!)

Posted by: alphabet soup on May 23, 2005 07:07 PM
32. The only time I read him is when you make me Stefan.

Please stop!

Posted by: Von Aras on May 23, 2005 08:35 PM
33. Joel Connolly is a pseudo-intellectual liberal twerp, whose shtick is making the preposterous lie sound reasonable enough for liberals. Joel has no enemies because he is uniformly loathed by everyone including himself. Imagine looking that in the mirror every day; we can all take satisfaction that he is forced to live with himself.

Most notable – and amusing – about the bloated pompous self important Joel Connolly is that he takes his own spiel seriously. You go there big guy – soon you might be allowed to write classified ads for the County Journal.

His interactive debating skills are marked by his sublime shameless delusion. He presumes to have won the argument anytime his pointless tactics are dismissed. Everyone but Joel and a few liberals think he is good at exposing conservative common sense as nonsense through his insistence on making no sense mean being “nuanced.” Ever the pseudo-sophisticated pretender, when Joel is constantly backed into a corner, he accuses his adversary of some phony breach of etiquette, though Joel has caused the breach. Then he tries to move on having avoided the issue.

In sum and to illustrate, if Joel Connolly disappeared from the scene never to be heard from again, hardly anyone would give a $hit. Maybe his mom?

Joel Connolly is a loser.

Posted by: Amused by liberals on May 24, 2005 12:22 AM
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