October 28, 2007
The uninspiring King County Prosecutor's Race (VI)
This series is not limited to criticism of Dan Satterberg. It's about why I'm uninspired by both of the candidates, their campaigns, and the mainstream media coverage of the race.
Today I'm uninspired by the Seattle Times article "Satterberg GOP cash is issue for Sherman"
Democratic candidate Bill Sherman says opponent Dan Satterberg's willingness to accept donations from the Republican party undermines Satterberg's pledge to keep partisan politics out of the King County prosecutor's office.
Oh, please. This whiny nonsense is newsworthy?
So far the "campaign" has been following this script:
Sherman: I'm a Democrat!
Satterberg: But, I'm not really a Republican
Sherman: Yes you are!
Maybe it's time for a reporter to ask Satterberg what being "non-partisan" actually means. e.g. if it means something other than
protecting a misbehaving King County government from its citizens and whether Sherman would take government corruption more seriously than the incumbent does.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at October 28, 2007
12:39 PM | Email This
1. "Non-Partisan" is the new leftist doublespeak for "acceptable," There were plenty of laudatory commentaries from the P-I and all of the lefty blogs that described Norm Maleng as "non-partisan." Of course it's completely fine to be a partisan, even an outlandish partisan, filled with the exuberance of profanity, as long as one is on the Left, and supportive of those with a "D" after their name.
Satterberg is signaling to Sims, and the rest of the King County Democrat Kingmakers that he will where the "kid gloves" as appropriate in exchange for political endorsement. And to the Puget Sound Left, that's "acceptable", whoops, I mean ... "non-partisan."
2. This is the dictionary definition of non-partisan:
Main Entry: non·par·ti·san
Function: adjective
Date: 1885
: not partisan; especially : free from party affiliation, bias, or designation
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/non-partisan
I don't think that the definition is either rightwing or leftist.
As I understand the role of a prosecutor, they are to do justice. They as I understand it, are not solely to go after convictions, but to do justice. One of the worst recent examples of a partisan prosecutor was Nifong. So, what exactly are you advocating? What is wrong with the term,
"non-partisan."
3. Being non-partisan is fine. But using that as one's primary self-definition is a cynical cop-out. It's like refusing to tell people what you really believe or what standards you apply when you make decisions.
4. Hello Stefan,
First, as an indie, I don't agree with your decision, but I support it. I pick and choose all the time.
Second, if you are saying that Satterburg might need to more clearly define his positions on certain issues, then I might agree with you and say that that is a fair line of inquiry. I do believe that line of inquiry should be addressed to both candidates, however.
5. Just amazing. So are we to expect that Sherman has taken NO money from the democrat party?? It isn't even okay to take money from the party you're representing? Now we've heard everything. Sherman isn't up to the job, imo.
6. No Michele, Sherman is criticizing Satterberg for taking incredibly large sums of money from the party and all the while saying how he's non-partisan and independent of the KCGOP. It's kind of hard to believe him when his campaign is being bankrolled by the same people he claims to be independent of.
7. O'Leary's cow has been cloned -- many times. One copy is on a train from Chicago bound for Seattle.
8. Blake, if you can't take money from your own party---a lot or a little--then nobody should try for office. Sounds like Sherman is really reaching for some reason to criticize. I put no stock in his complaint. If you want to see how Satterburg has been, look at this work for the past few years. It's likely a very good look at how he'd do the job he's running for. It's quite possible to take money from your own party and do your job in the fairest way possible. Look at Brian Sonntag---I'll bet he gets money from the democrat party yet he seems like a very trustworthy guy---one of the few in Olympia--who gives a yip about his job and tries to really bring accountability to the citizens. I'm betting that Satterburg will be same. In fact, he'll probably err on the side of giving democrats way too many breaks, which is sad. Sherman is really reaching. If I was running for this job and received money from my own party, I'm sure I could still be quite able to do the job in a fair, non-partisan manner. I wonder though why if you're concerned that someone will act partisan why you're not concerned about the unbelievable partisan manner in which Ron Sims has run KCE? Now THERE'S an example of the very thing which you speak. I haven't seen anything remotely close to that coming from Satterburg.
9. Mr. Sherman, look at all the free press you have just gotten. That is more valuable than the money Satterberg received. Thank your astrological sign that they aligned for this stupid complaint.
If it had been a R, there would have been no article but if it had been, it would have been derogatory to the R.
10. and I believe that Sherman has no republican endorsers. Satterburg, meanwhile, has plenty of endorsements from people of both parties. What say you, Blake????