Slog - Comments on Diversity=Consensus? http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus Gov. Christine Gregoire appointed an Eastern Washington judge, Spokane Court of Appeals Judge Debra Stephens, to Washington's Supreme Court last week. Gregoire touted Stephens's Eastern Washington status, arguing that the nine-member Court needed more geographic diversity. (There hasn't been an Eastern Washington judge on the Court since 2000.) In a statement hyping the appointment, Gregoire said: "It is very important that the Washington State Supreme Court have the diversity of viewpoint that a justice from Eastern Washington brings to the bench." But Gregoire also told the AP that another main reason she picked Stephens is because the Spokane judge is... Copyright 2008 Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:20:13 -0800 Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:25:37 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Hal You really need to quit with the slamming Eastern WA. As I've commented before in Slog, I've met WAY more conservatives in Western WA than I ever have in Eastern WA. It's purely a stereotype. Get over it already.

Thanx!

]]> Hal http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871439 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871439 Politics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:22:57 -0800 Comment by ivan Diversity is not necessarily what Josh Feit says it is.

Consensus is not necessarily what Josh Feit says it is.

"Progressive" is not necessarily what Josh Feit says it is.

Gregoire's base is not necessarily what Josh Feit says it is.

"Appeasement" is not necessarily what Josh Feit says it is.

Most important, Justice Stephens is not necessarily who Josh Feit appears to think she is.

The Governor is putting "One Washington" into action, whether Josh Feit likes it or not. She is trolling for votes in Eastern Washington, as she had damned well better be doing.

Josh Feit is, as usual, just throwing shit up against the wall. He is not going to vote for Dino Rossi, and he, the Governor, and I all know it.


]]> ivan http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871458 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871458 Politics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:31:37 -0800 Comment by paul Well said #2. Josh Feit is hardly one of the greatest political minds of our time, nor is the stranger brimming with real journalism.
It's a "what's on" rag, with the occasional "yes to monorail! no to monorail! yes to monorail!".

]]> paul http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871480 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871480 Politics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:42:19 -0800 Comment by jamier Well, I think the Stranger has by far the best news and political reporting in Seattle.

]]> jamier http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871523 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871523 Politics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:59:39 -0800 Comment by elenchos When the idea of someone from Eastern Washington (diverse!) and a liberal (consensus!) is too far out for Josh to wrap his mind around, it means you should probably keep searching for your Political Reporter of the Year.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871530 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871530 Politics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:03:17 -0800 Comment by $$$$$$ Stephens had one client for years - WSTLA. For those of you unfamiliar with that group, it is the advocacy arm of the personal injury trial lawyers. Her legal career amounts to drafting/arguing appellate briefs to further the interests of ambulance chasers. Trial lawyers pay big money to Dems, and Gregoire in particular. Stephens is not conservative - she's a single interest rep.

]]> $$$$$$ http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871537 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871537 Politics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:11:34 -0800 Comment by Gustavo Diversity the way ultra liberal seattle poseur wannabes flog everyone else with a differing opinion SUCKS!

]]> Gustavo http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871541 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871541 Politics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:15:14 -0800 Comment by ivan jamier @ 4:

The level and the substance of your comments suggest that the Stranger is probably your *only* source of news and political reporting.

]]> ivan http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871581 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871581 Politics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:44:27 -0800 Comment by max solomon its the same story: gregoire panders to the right to secure her re-election.

what's the left going to do, vote for joe swaja?

]]> max solomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871587 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871587 Politics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:46:16 -0800 Comment by chas Redmond don't like the governor, vote for someone else. I will. What has she done - really - that you consider worthy? Oh, right, she recently signed a pact with SDOT, WSDOT and KC DOT to get everyone all in line for whatever we're going to do with the Viaduct. Bold, brazen, - nah, dumb and clueless, actually.

]]> chas Redmond http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871615 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871615 Politics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:04:47 -0800 Comment by Ed the Head Josh, Gregoire didn't have the opportunity to "appoint some liberals who will nudge the court left for some 6-3s." She was replacing the very liberal Bobbe Bridge, so appointing another liberal would only serve to maintain things as they are.

]]> Ed the Head http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871642 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871642 Politics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:29:51 -0800 Comment by Ed the Horse @11 - No shit. What's Gregoire supposed to do, try to pack the WA S Ct a la FDR during the New Deal?

Mission accomplished for Gregoire: appoint a slightly-to-moderately left S Ct justice while getting tons of press over the fact that the appointee is from eastern Washington.

]]> Ed the Horse http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871654 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871654 Politics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:41:36 -0800 Comment by Gitai It's not a bad move. She picks up a few percentage points in Eastern Washington, and it doesn't really cost her anything in Western Washington, because what, we're gonna vote GOP?

]]> Gitai http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871820 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871820 Politics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:23:49 -0800 Comment by herbert browne Re .."To me Gregoire’s “diversity” seems like reverse double back flip code for her kiss up to conservatives. It’s a sort of cute FU to liberals.."-
No... it's "foot in mouth" Christine saying "diversity of viewpoint" when she means "diversity of Experience" (of culture, primarily- if you observe a cultural diff between those on opp sides of the "Cascade Curtain").
There ARE "people in the Middle" on both sides of the mountains... and it's unlikely that jurisprudence only nests on the wet side... ^..^

]]> herbert browne http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871850 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/diversityconsensus#c871850 Politics Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:25:37 -0800