That's the spirit in which I will approach next Tuesday's election for the three seats on the Washington State Supreme Court. Not because I think that any of the incumbents are bums — I have no reason to believe that — but because I have become so dissatisfied with the performance of the court in the decade since I returned to Washington state that I am ready to turn out almost all of the incumbents.
I won't discuss specific cases, though you are more than welcome to do so below. Instead, I will identify what I consider the central flaw in the court. A court can follow the law and the constitution, which is what I would prefer. Or, if it chooses to act as a legislature, it can follow the will of the majority of the voters. I don't care for that, but I can understand how someone could justify it. Time and time again, majorities on Washington's Supreme Court have done neither. Instead, they have voted to please the state's Democratic political establishment. And I consider that way of deciding indefensible on any grounds. (And I would consider it equally indefensible if they were voting to please the Republican political establishment, such as it is).
I can not think of a single decision, except possibly the 5-4 decision not to establish same-sex marriage, where the court has displeased that establishment. (Even the same-sex marriage decision might have support from much of the Democratic establishment on prudential grounds. They might prefer a different decision, but they would prefer, even more, not to lose a friendly judge.) And a little bit of thought should show you that the Democratic establishment must be wrong in some of the cases that come before the court. But they don't lose many decisions. (If you can think of any exceptions to that generalization, besides gay marriage, please note them in a comment.)
Sometimes this desire to please the Democratic establishment has led to absurd decisions. Often, since Democrats generally want to extend government power (except in criminal cases), it has led to infringements on individual rights. A decade of watching these absurd decisions and these infringements is enough for me. Next Tuesday, I will vote to throw the incumbents out, and to elect Jeanette Burrage, John Groen, and Stephen Johnson.
Cross posted at Jim Miller on Politics.
Posted by Jim Miller at September 12, 2006
03:16 PM | Email This
Alexander isn't a BUM...
But he is out of touch and has been a Judge WAAAAAAY too long. And he will be 75 BEFORE his term expires meaning the Governor gets to appoint his replacement. And Alexander's decision that allowed the MURDERER of a 3 year-old boy to walk after serving less than 1/3 of his term was outrageous. Alexander has made many horrible Proerty Rights and Open Government decisions along with Owens.
Chambers isn't a BUM either but........
I already voted for:
STEPHEN JOHNSON
JOHN GROEN
JEANNETTE BURRAGE
Simple decisions.
Posted by: dude on September 12, 2006 04:10 PMPUKE
Posted by: Peter Vochick on September 12, 2006 04:44 PMWhose land are we talking about boy? My guess its not yours. Go buy some property then lets hear your opinion.
Posted by: joer on September 12, 2006 04:57 PMWhat, like Johnson and Groen wouldn't perform "judicial activism" for the land developers who have bought them, sold them, and now own them?
If you vote for those two, you are voting for corruption, plain and simple. If you vote for the unqualified wackaloon Burrage, you are worthy only of ridicule.
Posted by: ivan on September 12, 2006 05:01 PMA check of the King county Assessors' records will tell you that I have been a rural landowner for almost 30 years.
So take a hike, sonny boy. Take a nice long hike. Enjoy your vote for two corrupt Republicans, on the take, and an insane woman.
Posted by: ivan on September 12, 2006 05:04 PMBy the way, I hope that at least a few of those who disagree with me will make a civil argument. And I would be delighted if any of those who disagree would respond to my central point.
And, to be fair, I should warn everyone that I tend to view nasty personal attacks as tacit confessions of defeat.
Posted by: Jim Miller on September 12, 2006 05:38 PMYou sound like a liberal that has done his 'research' from a point of view quite different from mine. Thank you. You have cemented my vote for Johnson and Groen and tilted me toward Burrage. I get some clue about a candidate by what they say, what they do, who supports them and who doesn't. I appreciate your comments. Thank you.
Posted by: Curtis Mohr on September 12, 2006 05:43 PMIt's your blog and you set the rules. If you thought it fit to delete my comment, that's your call.
Curtis Mohr @ 9:
You are voting for corruption, live with it. Your candidates are bought and paid for by the BIAW. I know that's just fine with most of the posters here.
Your candidates are the tools of special interests, at a level unprecedented in this state's history. That isn't even debatable.
None of you who vote for Johnson or Groen can ever claim to be for clean government again, and have any credibility.
Posted by: ivan on September 12, 2006 06:14 PMYes, these incumbent justices are all of the above and thereby qualify as BUMs. Throw them out and replace with those who understand the role of justices on the State Supreme Court. They are there to interpret laws and cases insofar as they relate to our Constitution -- nothing more, nothing less.
Posted by: bulldozer on September 12, 2006 07:11 PMGo ahead and poke at Property Rights, open government and pretend the unions aren't shilling for morons like Owens.
Hey, I haven't seen Susan Owens lately.
What happened ivan, did you eat her??
I hope that everyone who respects law and order and calls the Constitution - the rule of law (not living and breathing) will understand that Alexander and Owens need to go (the stench on the bench is making me wretch !) - Alexander would have to have to retire before his term is up and both Alexander & Owens are in lock-step with the exteme left and legislated from the bench on numerous occassions.
Vote for John Groen and Stephen Johnson, not the imposter Michael Johnson - that I think that Owens coerced into this race to try and confuse the voters. As for Chambers vs. Burrage - I am still thinking about that one/both have their liabilities - it will be the lesser of two evils...
Posted by: KS on September 12, 2006 07:34 PMHmm, let's look at some of the endorsements listed on Owen's website. I guess in liberal lala land none of these endorsements are "tools of special interests" or entities who would buy and pay for a candidate:
Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA)
Western Washington Trial Lawyers for Victim's Rights
King County Labor Council
Washington Education Association PAC
Supported by the American Federation of Teachers
Thurston Lewis Mason Central Labor Council
Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Building & Construction Trades Council - Pierce County
Washington State Labor Council/AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education
Washington Federation of State Employees AFSCME/AFL-CIO
Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 46 PAC
Amalgamated Transit Union Legislative Council
Aerospace Machinists Industrial District Lodge 751
United Union Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers #153
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 502
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 612
United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners Local 1797
Service Employees Intl Union - Washington State Council
Retired Public Employees Council of Washington
Washington State Council of Fire Fighters
Bellingham Firefighters
Equal Rights Washington
Washington Won't Discriminate
National Women's Political Caucus of Washington
Washington NOW PAC
Preston Gates and Ellis Continuing Education PAC
Washington Conservation Voters
The Sierra Club, Cascade Chapter
Northwest Tribal Court Judges Association
Seattle Chinatown Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Washington State Democratic Party
King County Democratic Party
King County Young Democrats
Clark County Democrats
Lewis County Democrats
Snohomish County Democrats
Lincoln County Democrats
Benton County Democrats
Yakima County Democrats
San Juan County Democrats
10th Democratic Legislative District
11th Democratic Legislative District
Jeanette Burrage, John Groen, and Stephen Johnson. Good people and a good time for a change.
Posted by: alphabet soup on September 12, 2006 08:45 PM*Interestingly and unlike Owens he's not yet endorsed by (and likely hasn't yet received financial contributions from) gambling interests.
41st District Democratic Organization
Washington Federation of State Employees, AFL-CIO
Service Employees International Union
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
King County Bar Association Endorses Chief Justice
Washington Federation of State Employees, AFL-CIO
Service Employees International Union
Candidates in Judicial Elections
AWB Endorses Alexander, Johnson for Washington State Supreme Court
Other Organization Endorsements
Bellingham Fire Fighters, Local 106
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America,Local 1797
Retired Public Employees Council of Washington
Amalgamated Transit Union Legislative Council of Washington State
Constitutional Law PAC
Organization Endorsements
Association of Washington Businesses
Mainstream Republicans of Washington
Washington State Democratic Party
Washington Conservation Voters
Cascade Chapter - Sierra Club
Washington Education Association - PAC
Washington & Alaska Joint Council of Teamsters No. 28
Office and Professional Employees Local Union No. 8
Pierce County Building & Construction Trades Council
Martin Luther King Jr. County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 46 - PAC
Thurston Lewis Mason Central Labor Council
Snohomish County Democrats
Yakima County Democratic Party Central Committee
San Juan County Democratic Party
King County Young Democrats
Metropolitan Democratic Club
11th, 18th, 30th, 36th, 37th, 38th, 45th, 47th Legislative District Democrats
Go ahead and poke at Property Rights, open government and pretend the unions aren't shilling for morons like Owens.
Hey, I haven't seen Susan Owens lately.
What happened ivan, did you eat her??
STEPHEN JOHNSON
JOHN GROEN
JEANNETTE BURRAGE
Another satisfied customer who is tired of the Bums on the current Washington State Supreme Court.
You take our land, We take your job!
That sounds fair!
Posted by: GS on September 12, 2006 11:28 PMCandidate supported by conservative/Republican special interests = corrupt and on the take.
Candidate supported by liberal/Democrat special interests = bulwark of freedom and defenders of justice.
Don't mock his personal appearance; point out his hypocrisy, lack of principles and reactionary knee-jerking.
Posted by: jimg on September 13, 2006 08:25 AMAll the endorsers cut-and-pasted by Rant Buster @ 19 aren't buying the seat for Alexander like the land rapers are doing for Johnson and Groen.
Support them if it give you a thrill. But be honest about it, they're bought and paid for. We know the kind of government you lot want -- government for those who can buy it.
Posted by: ivan on September 13, 2006 01:02 PMGo ahead and poke at Property Rights, open government and pretend the unions aren't shilling for morons like Owens.
Hey, I haven't seen Susan Owens lately.
What happened ivan, did you eat her??
ivan has absolutely ZERO shame,pride or self respect. How could anyone allow themselves to become so grotesquely fat that really cared about the welfare of this State and it's citizens???
ivan SUCKS off Union Dues (where dues are MANDATORY!!!) and screams about BIAW where membership is VOLUNTARY!!
ivan is disgusting.
Owens' & Alexander's war chests don't look like chump change.
Fundraising
CANDIDATE AMOUNT TO DATE
Alexander $222,397.00 9/11/2006
Burrage $30,717.37 9/11/2006
Chambers $246,790.00 9/11/2006
Ericson less than $3,500 9/11/2006
Groen $419,688.65 9/11/2006
M. Johnson less than $3,500 9/11/2006
S. Johnson $208,208.42 9/11/2006
Owens $165,408.46 9/11/2006
Smith less than $3,500 9/11/2006
Dear Jim Miller,
Ran across your rant on my Letter to the Editor. To start off with, The Seattle Times put their own title on it, without my knowledge. Of course, you knew that the letters are heavily edited. "Eradicate" was too strong, and wasn,t part of my argument. When we get rid of someone in office in this country, we vote them out. Here is a copy of my complaint:
Letters Editor
Thank you for printing my viewpoint in the 7-26 edition. It is good to know that a private citizen can still be heard in public these days. On the down side, I feel that the title was a little strong; the "Eradicate" part. It sounds rather threatening...what I meant by "weeding out" the neocons and friends, I was more or less thinking legal action, impeachment and voting them out. Am I being too paranoid here? These days, a little fear may well be justified.
Thanks again
Mark L. Lemmon
So, there you have it Jim. Now as for the letter itself, I stand by it 100%. The title is not right, but the letter is right on. Glad that you are proud to be a neo-con supporter. You have a right to be one 24/7. When I was in Nam, I fought the right for you to think and say what you want. Now, if you got any balls, you'll print a retraction of your effort to incite violence against me. As far a the title is concerned, you can take it up with the Times. I am always open to political debate via email, if you still feel spunky. By the way, I am in no way, shape or form a Democrat or Republican. This country has been hi-jacked by the special interest groups, I don't like the hi-jacking so, I speak out. Admit it, what you don't like is anyone exposing the neo-cons. So, in your mind such an offense warrants revocation of that individuals freedom of speech. Where's you real argument, Jim? It is all about screaming "anti-defamation" at the top of your voice? Let's see what kind of person you really are. Print a retraction.
Mark Lemmon
You could have said "Weed the bums out!" also, Jim.
Now, if one said the same about your precious neo-cons...why, that would be the same as trying to start the holocaust again, according to you!
Could it be Jim that you're the "Moron"? O.K., maybe that's a little strong. Let's go with Bombastic hypocrite. Wouldn't that fit?
;)
Posted by: BRC on September 14, 2006 05:25 AMI guess that makes you....nothing.
Works for me.
Posted by: alphabet soup on September 14, 2006 10:07 AM