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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Politics Dow Vs. Susan, Round III

Posted by Jen Graves on Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 6:53 PM

6:53 pm: Okay, almost go time. Live stream it here.

7:01: Everybody wearing the same damn color, including, basically, the stage. It's, you know, stage color. (Graybluegray.)

7:03: Dow's opening: "It's about values. I voted for President Obama. ... I've leveled with the people of King County. ... My opponent has not leveled with the people of King County. She's attempted to hide her true values."

7:04: Susan's opening: "People are yearning for change. ... People are so tired of partisan politics. They know that divisive politics doesn't get anything done."

7:05: Is his shiny tie a nod to UW colors?

7:06: Susan: "There are two kinds of experience. Experience that leads to success, and experience that leads to failure. ... I solve problems and fix things." Now she's boasting about saving the Seattle Symphony, "the largest cultural organization in the state"—largest? How? She forgot to mention that it is also the most moribund. But, yeah—I guess balanced budget covers it.

7:08: The brooch is meant to distract from when she avoids answering something, like Dow's question to her, which was: Why is Seattle Symphony so moribund again? (Basically. Or maybe I was fantasizing. And looking at her brooch.)

7:09: Susan: We have been making "major cuts to the most needy and vulnerable among us." We have been amputating the poor!

7:11: I think Susan's head may be flat. I am waiting to see her from the side.

7:15: Susan is doing math. She says the county pays $1100 per month per employee for health benefits; calls it a gold-plated benefits package that Dow signed into office in March.

7:15: "Thanks for trying to credit me as the incumbent, but there's no incumbent in this race. Ron Sims is gone. He's in D.C. If you want to run against him, you know where to go and find him."

7:18: Dow lands on funny words. He lands. on. funny. words.

7:20: "Susan, you're not running for commander-in-chief. You're running for county executive." He didn't land on any funny words there, because he actually seemed to be talking, rather than S.peak.ing.

7:23: If you can't nail the opponent for giving money to Mike Huckabee, well, then, you can't nail the opponent. This feels so familiar.

7:26: Susan says law enforcement is her top priority. She also said flooding is the number-one most important issue.

7:28: There's a little bit of a Mulder and Scully thing going on here. Except not the Scully part, really.

7:31: Susan says jail guards like her. She says she doesn't like beavers. They are unrealistic!

7:32: Slog Tipper dunneiv would like to know: "Is Susan Hutchison wearing a nazi eagle, with a pink ball where a swastika should be?"

7:41: Dow really has to stop saying that Susan's wishy-washiness on taxation "Is not leadership." It's not a line worth this much airtime. I've heard it three times tonight and knew it already from last time.

7:45: Susan: "85 percent of us are in cars, and [money] needs to be used for roads."

7:49: Dow talks about a vision of a united region through transit (you know, the voter-approved light rail system); Susan talks about "efficiencies" and "cutting waste."

7:51: "Elections that are bought and paid for by unions," she says to him.

7:53: Something is going terribly wrong with his upper lip while she talks.

7:54: Susan's closing: "I believe that we are going to win and set a new direction for King County that we haven't seen for a long, long time ... It's going to be a new day in King County and we are filled with hope ... free nation. ... We've got a great day coming. We're going to move through this recession and make sure this is the best county to live and work." I am scared. Free nation! Great day! New direction! New day! Best county!

7:55: Dow's closing: "We have one candidate who's pro-environment ... we have one candidate who's pushed to get light rail built ... we have only one candidate who's pro-choice ... The choices here could not be clearer." Ah, yep.

Comments (34) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

"the difference between my opponent and I" - lovely, Susan.

Posted by gloomy gus on October 20, 2009 at 7:05 PM

2 Comment Pulled (Spam) Comment Policy

Susan has Darth Vader helmet head.

Posted by kurisu on October 20, 2009 at 7:17 PM

Constantine's facial expressions are the single greatest thing I have ever seen.

Teevee hates him. Literally hates him.

Posted by Cow Donstantine on October 20, 2009 at 7:19 PM

Do people really think that condescending smirk of hers is more telegenic?

Posted by Zebes

on October 20, 2009 at 7:25 PM

Although Dow doesn't seem to watch his expressions much. Still, the whole 'smirk and shake your head' thing seems better suited to a Jerry Springer audience than a political candidate.

Posted by Zebes

on October 20, 2009 at 7:27 PM

What is her pin all about?

Posted by stinkbug on October 20, 2009 at 7:30 PM

Susan isn't using actual departmental examples in her replies, Dow is giving details.

Regarding the jail - the Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention is under a number of legal agreements to maintain certain levels of care and attention. Moving jurisdiction from DAJD to the Sheriff's office in the middle of a monitored agreement would leave the county open to a huge legal challenge from the Federal Government. It's the worst idea I ever heard.

Posted by badbarky on October 20, 2009 at 7:31 PM

That's helmet hair, that's what that is. She's your basic lady-who-lunches nightmare.

Somebody should look up her record on keeping household help - I bet it's lousy.

Posted by Catalina Vel-DuRay

on October 20, 2009 at 7:32 PM

Oh and Dow's facial expressions and anger are setting my Mother in Law against him. He looks like someone's touching him below the desk.

Posted by badbarky on October 20, 2009 at 7:33 PM

The constant split screen makes it look like they're about to kiss each other any moment now.

Posted by stinkbug on October 20, 2009 at 7:39 PM

Did he just call her Suzie??

Posted by Jenny from the Block on October 20, 2009 at 7:47 PM

WTF, Susan, GPS is on track to be on Metro buses by end of 2010 or so. She just acted like she came up with the idea of putting GPS on buses.

Posted by stinkbug on October 20, 2009 at 7:52 PM

jen graves? the art critic? lol what is up with the stranger?

Posted by ian on October 20, 2009 at 8:29 PM

"7:04: Susan's opening: "People are yearning for change. ... People are so tired of partisan politics. They know that divisive politics doesn't get anything done.""

Republicans are eternally consistent.

If they're the majority, her statement means that Democrats need to shut up and obey.

If they're in the minority, her statement means that Democrats need to shut up and obey.

Posted by undead ayn rand on October 20, 2009 at 8:41 PM

"Free nation! Great day! New direction! New day! Best county!"

NORTH KOREA IS BEST KOREA

Posted by undead ayn rand on October 20, 2009 at 8:42 PM

Inside the mind of Dow Constantine:

"I can't believe it...I can't believe it! I've carried water for Nickles for 8 years waiting for a job like this to come up...and now, this...this...WOMAN...has the gall to take it from me. I mean, look at her...that hairdo! I'm so much cuter and more Seattle...look at this suit...I mean...look at this suit! Now look at her...see what I mean! I need a drink...Fraedo, pour me a Bailey's!!"

Posted by Dow's Mind on October 20, 2009 at 9:20 PM

Is it my imagination, or is the Car Pros guy on TV more subdued lately?

Posted by the analyst on October 20, 2009 at 9:51 PM

You guys, I can't stop glancing at the boobs on the sidebar ads. It's freaking me out a little bit.

Jen Graves I love your writing.

Posted by rubus on October 20, 2009 at 9:55 PM

Inside the mind of Susan Hutchinson:

God, that bitch hairdresser really fucked with me tonight. I look like a fucking clown. I'll get that fucking faggot if that's the last thing I do. When I'm done, he'll be lucky to get a chair at the Fantastic Sam in Burien.

At least I'm not sweating like a pig tonight, but my falsies are killing me, and I've really got to pinch a loaf. I can't think about that though, because I've got to hold it in for Kemper. Jeez what a perv that guy is: Who'd think that at fifty-seven I'd be squatting over a glass coffee table, taking a shit for some old man. But he's paying the bills for this farce, and he promised if I get elected, he'll get me that clit piercing.

Gee, I'm pretty.

Posted by Amazing Kresgin on October 20, 2009 at 10:13 PM

I hate the idea of putting money into roads because 85% of people now are hermetically sealed in their individual vehicles. That kind of planning was modern when we build the interstate system, but we know now that it's not scalable. It's a lame answer that's equivalent to, "We'll do the same thing we're doing now, but we'll do more of it!" Head in the sand.

Posted by mark on October 20, 2009 at 10:18 PM

What a completely useless post. It makes no attempt to actually let readers in on the debate, and instead represents Jen Graves' failed attempt to be cute/clever/insouciant/charming. You can be witty and ironic and above all the standard political bullshit and still actually report the event you're trying to cover. Well, maybe YOU can't, Jen Graves', but one could. Maybe the Stranger sends someone else next time?

Posted by Not as cute as Jen on October 20, 2009 at 10:26 PM

@9: I'm sure the household staff is pleased to work for the Hutchisons. No dirty socks and pizza boxes to pick up -- like over at the Constantines.
Oops, Can't say 'Constantines' as he and his honey are cohabitating without benefit of clergy, or to use the vernacular: shacking up!

Posted by raindrop on October 20, 2009 at 10:36 PM

If King county has a balanced budget and the symphony has a permanent deficit after taking govt. bailouts like AIG at a time of cuts to services, Suzie Symphony stands for helping the rich and ripping off the public so fucking rip her face off with that. Suzie Symphony Suzie Symphony Suzie Symphony how many black tie dinners did she organize after taking millions in taxpayer funder benefits from the taxpaying working stiffs in Des Moines and Renton?

Posted by Suzie Symphony Put Her Hand in Our Pockets on October 20, 2009 at 10:57 PM

#20...next time, try not to come on like a ton of bricks.

Excuse me, but I am just loading the DVD of "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly". It a cineaste's night of joy!

Posted by Randy Rhubarb on October 20, 2009 at 11:31 PM

Wow #23, Dow Constantine has sex outside of marriage? How scandalous. Next you'll be telling us he believes in evolution.

Posted by How did these rednecks find King County on October 21, 2009 at 12:16 AM

If/when we hear that Susan's boss' girlfriend, Martha Stewart, thinks that Susan is 'a good thing', then it's all over but the shouting. If Susan gets elected and thereby inherits a bankrupt King County - caused exclusively by Dow - will she just phone up the Benaroyas, the Alvords, the Runstads, the Woodards and the Clowes for cash infusions? I love that she continues to talk about how often she takes public transit - about as much as Princess Margaret took the tube in London.

Posted by Rhett Oracle on October 21, 2009 at 12:22 AM

She is going to win.

And, king couny is out of money.

Welcome to the real world Susan.

Shack job with a girl friend - no big deal in Seattle, but, among conservative, big deal.

Posted by Ace, number One on October 21, 2009 at 1:40 AM

24 suzie can put her hands in my pockets anytime she wants...

Posted by Yeoowie! on October 21, 2009 at 7:35 AM

Just look at it this way, if the ho from the eastside wins we just may have a sitting County Executive recalled before the next election.

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on October 21, 2009 at 7:38 AM

Dow killed her. Good stuff.

Posted by Medina View Home on October 21, 2009 at 8:30 AM

A big performance for the kid from West Seattle. Susan was odder than usual, but he just crushed her with facts.

Posted by J.R. on October 21, 2009 at 8:33 AM

Did anyone else watch in closed captioning? When she was talking about her D endorsements the person typing stated that Brad Owen supports her because she "is a hottie . . .moderate" Anyone else see that?

Posted by ovrobinson on October 21, 2009 at 10:21 AM