Slog - Comments on Who's Biased Now? http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now The Downtown Republican Club is sponsoring a debate on Monday between state Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens and her challenger, GOP state senator Stephen Johnson. (The debate, the only one between the two candidates, will be broadcast on TVW and the Seattle Channel). I was asked to be the co-moderator of the debate along with conservative blogger Stefan Sharkansky. After I agreed to be in the debate, however, I was told that the Johnson campaign would not participate. The Downtown Republican Club caved, let Johnson call the shots, and I was ousted for Joel Connelly. I think it's ironic that... Copyright 2008 Fri, 20 Oct 2006 15:24:06 -0800 Mon, 23 Oct 2006 16:53:48 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by seattl98104 well there's still several issues of the stranger in print for you to make an issue of this idiot--before the election.

what was he thinking???

]]> seattl98104 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c478996 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c478996 News Fri, 20 Oct 2006 15:46:40 -0800 Comment by Sticks and Stones Josh,
Did you call your mommy and complain about this? Was Josh's feelings hurt?
There, there.

]]> Sticks and Stones http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479001 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479001 News Fri, 20 Oct 2006 15:51:42 -0800 Comment by Phil Bevis Josh,

Please accept my personal apology for this misunderstanding, for which I am completely responsible. As you know, this is the first debate I have organized, and it certainly showed.

My goal was to offer the citizens of our state a chance to see a real debate between the two candidates for the State Supreme Court, with a real nonpartisan approach. It is an important race, and if I had not done this, I believe that there would be no debate.

Given that I only started work on this 2 days ago, and that the election rapidly approaches (with many folks having already voted by mail), I could probably try to excuse a couple of the mistakes I made.

But that would be disrespectful to you, the staff of the Stranger, your readers, the two candidates, and the other folks associated with the event.

There IS no excuse.

I was excited about making the debate happen, and handled some things too fast and too informally by phone.

I do not dispute your right to disagree with the Johnson campaign about matters of policy... or whatever you want.

But the mistakes on this one were MINE.

I like the kind of issues advocacy the Stranger does, and I hope to put together more forums in the future with you, Dan, or other staffers. Because I think looking at issues can and should be more fun, and debate more spirited.

You have legitimate cause to be unhappy about the way things happened with this. All I can do is to accept responsibility for my mistakes, and work harder next time to make sure that I do a better job.

I hope your readers enjoy the debate. On a personal lavel, I hope that you can forgive my mistakes this time, and give me a chance to work with you on similar events in the future.

Phil Bevis

]]> Phil Bevis http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479015 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479015 News Fri, 20 Oct 2006 16:11:22 -0800 Comment by Andrew I'm surprised that more hasn't been made of the fact that the BIAW has basically, openly said that they're going to buy the Supreme Court through their candidate, Stephen Johnson, and current "Justice" Jim Johnson.

It seems that there would be more outrage in a state like Washington that still encourages people to believe judicial independence is real instead of admitting it's a just sham controlled by the richest, whitest and most heterosexual (hello Alabama, Texas, et al!).

]]> Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479016 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479016 News Fri, 20 Oct 2006 16:14:04 -0800 Comment by Gomez You hear the Dino Rossi radio spots for "independent candidate" Doug Ralstone in either District 1 or 2?

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479051 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479051 News Fri, 20 Oct 2006 16:47:23 -0800 Comment by Justin J Downtown Republicans Club? That's downtown Bellevue, right?

]]> Justin J http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479092 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479092 News Fri, 20 Oct 2006 18:08:47 -0800 Comment by seattle98104 well when i read his info in the voter's pamphlet and got to his endorsement by dino "where the fuck is he now" rosi, i knew he wasn't getting my vote.

]]> seattle98104 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479162 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479162 News Fri, 20 Oct 2006 22:47:42 -0800 Comment by George Bakan If the right wing buys a judical seat this round - god forbid what is next.

Susan Owens deserves the vote and support of every progressive reader of SLOG.

Mr. Johnson is a shill for the folks we have all been fighting for years. They have learned it seems that Ellen Craswell types are too obviously not qualified.

Slicker wrapped box, same old conservative garbage inside. Dino plus one.

Vote and support Susan Owens, I urge you.

]]> George Bakan http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479582 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479582 News Sun, 22 Oct 2006 14:05:50 -0800 Comment by Particle Man Well it looks more like a set up to me than anything else. Phil Bevis goes out and picks the most far right demogog he can find and in a week effort to have balance gets Josh to say yes. The Owens people say yes, time goes by and then Stephy says he will pull out. So, what does Phil do? Start from scratch or call Goldy? No, he keeps Stephy and gets Joel who is not likely to hold his own.
Look, this org is no league of woman voters. We are talking the downtown republican mens club, recently renamed. The same club that Jennifer Dunn installed Dino Rossi as president of.
Owens should pull out unless Stephy is replaced with David Postman.

]]> Particle Man http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479772 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479772 News Mon, 23 Oct 2006 09:33:12 -0800 Comment by Particle Man Owens has pulled out. This is the right move.

]]> Particle Man http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479878 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c479878 News Mon, 23 Oct 2006 12:24:57 -0800 Comment by Leonson Eh, we all lost with this one.

Feit/Sharkansky were balanced against each other, opinionated and intelligent. It would have been an excellent debate.

]]> Leonson http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c480066 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/whos_biased_now#c480066 News Mon, 23 Oct 2006 16:53:48 -0800