1. First, condolences to the Maleng family, and thanks for his years of public service.

Second, I suggest that each and every person who uses this blog to post political potshots at him get their IP's banned.

Posted by: Cliff on May 24, 2007 10:47 PM

2. Wow!

Posted by: Daniel K on May 24, 2007 11:05 PM

3. I won't miss him - I've considered him to a corrupt old SOB for years. His handling of many issues reeked of pandering to political interests, how he kept getting elected was a mystery to me.

Posted by: H Moul on May 24, 2007 11:08 PM

4. Condolences to his family.

Posted by: Daniel K on May 24, 2007 11:09 PM

5. H Moul, that comment is appalling. Whatever disagreements you might have had with some of the man's public acts, he was a human being, a husband and a father before anything else. Let's show some respect to his memory and to his family.

Posted by: Stefan Sharkansky on May 24, 2007 11:17 PM

6. Please take down H Moul's comment, and I recommend you ban him.

Posted by: Cliff on May 24, 2007 11:27 PM

7. I saw him everyday for the last year, knowing full well who he was. I finally took a second for the first time yesterday and said hello to him. He was cordial in his response.

My condolences to his family.

Posted by: Michael H on May 24, 2007 11:31 PM

8. I saw him everyday for the last year, knowing full well who he was. I finally took a second for the first time yesterday and said hello to him. He was cordial in his response.

My condolences to his family.

Posted by: Michael H on May 24, 2007 11:32 PM

9. I will add my own condolences to the Maleng family as well. I hope Norm finds himself reunited tonight with his daughter Karen, who died in that very tragic snow sledding accident 18 years ago when she was only 12.

Posted by: Richard Pope on May 24, 2007 11:52 PM

10. Norm was a great man and a dedicated public servant. He was tireless in his efforts for the people of King County. It is too bad for the people of Washington state that he didn't make it to become Governor in his one race for the office 20ish years ago.

May he rest in peace. As a good Norskie, it is nice he made it past one more Syttenda Mai.

Posted by: Anthony H on May 25, 2007 12:14 AM

11. Thanks for your post and your comment above, Stefan. And to all the rest, of all political persuasions, who truly regret this sudden, shocking news.

Norm Maleng was a good man and a great Washingtonian.

Personally, cannot say I agreed with all of his decisions (from a different perspective than most SP posters) but I always had confidence in the way he tried to do his job - one of the toughest in government or anywhere else - in his dedication, integrity, professionalism and most of all his humanity.

Would also add that, as far as I could see, Mr. Maleng was a sincere, loyal Republican - even when GOP voters thwarted his personal ambition for higher office. Why? Because he believed in what he stood for - which is something that the great majority of Republicans, Democrats and Independents can appreciate together.

As for those who cannot respect his memory and his public service, well, that's THEIR problem, and I'm sorry for them. OUR problem is that Norm Maleng is gone too young and too soon.

Posted by: Mike Snyder on May 25, 2007 01:24 AM

12. My condolences also. Norm Maleng served many years in office, doing what he thought was best for Washington.

Posted by: steve miller on May 25, 2007 04:27 AM

13. With Norm Maleng what you saw was what you got. Irrespective of whether you thought his decision in a particular situation was good or bad, he made it in an honorable manner based upon what he believed the law and the facts in a case to be.

Many would have liked the death penalty for Gary Ridgeway, yet he believed a greater good could be accomplished by sparing Ridgeway in order to get him to tell about all his victims and where he'd disposed of them. In subsequent capital murder cases, Maleng's office has taken a lot of heat, but I have no doubt he did what he believed was the right thing to do.

I remember very clearly when his daughter was killed several years ago in a sledding accident. Not even the powerful and important are spared human tragedy and suffering. As a father, my heart broke for him then.

Norm Maleng was an honest man, and he served the people of King County to the best of his ability. His was a life that made a difference and King County is a better place for his service.

Best wishes and sympathy to his family, friends, and associates.

The Piper

Posted by: Piper Scott on May 25, 2007 05:42 AM

14. I didn't exactly have anything nice to say when Falwell died either - trust me, I felt like being much more scathing.

Just because someone has died doesn't absolve them of their actions....

Posted by: H Moul on May 25, 2007 07:24 AM

15. To H Moul;

Your assessment of Norm Maleng politically may have been spot on, however, this is an inappropriate time to do this. Try and lift yourself above the typical way liberals act.

He can do no more harm, so why make any derogatory comments at all at a time when people who love him are hurting?

Posted by: REBEL on May 25, 2007 07:33 AM

16. Norm Maleng was an outstanding public servant and I knew him well on a personal basis. He was a good family man with compassion for those who suffered in this world (including and especially those victims of crimes) and he had tremendous leadership skills. He will be sorely missed and may he RIP.
H Moul,
Disparaging a good man upon the occasion of his death, such as a Norm Maleng, is despicable. If you think there are no consequences for saying nasty things about the recently departed, trust me when I say that no one offer a kind word about you when you kick the bucket.

Posted by: too tough on May 25, 2007 07:40 AM

17. Perhaps so, H. Ghoul, but you could at least wait until the body is cold. No reason to act like a hungry vulture.

Posted by: katomar on May 25, 2007 07:44 AM

18. My condolences to the Maleng family.
I am troubled by the comments posted here, on the Falwell thread and regarding the Nickles family and their grief concerning the loss of the Mayor's father and the situation regarding his son. "To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven...." Maybe the way to handle personal tragedy is to offer two threads. One thread for those of us that recognize that no matter what one's status, part of the human condition is that no one is immune from loss and that in recognition of that fact we join to offer what solace we can. The other thread for those who cannot let go of whatever grievance they hold against that person(s) both real or imagined and they can then unleash their vitrol. For those who practice schadenfreude, there would be a place to store their toxic goo.

Posted by: WVH on May 25, 2007 08:32 AM

19. Henry: I don't think anyone here is trying to hold Maleng up as a hero. I do think that commenters here are attempting to maintain a sense of respect for a person who has just passed, say some nice things about them, since almost every person who lives has something nice that can be said about them. It's what polite, compassionate people do in consideration of the feelings of the family in mourning. What is it about that process that you cannot understand? There is such as thing as "a sense of decency", which means, hold off on your criticisms of a person until appropriate. Remember the saying "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything?" It doesn't apply to all circumstances, but it certainly does apply here. Save your trashing for another time.

Posted by: katomar on May 25, 2007 08:32 AM

20. Hey Henry and Ghoul or Moul or whateverthehellyournameis,

I agree wholeheartedly that at a time like this, common courtesy and human decency dictate compassion and respect, not snide attacks. If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

In that vein, allow me to suggest that at your respective passings, my guess is that the mourner at your funeral will be heard to comment that it's nice you're no longer around to ruin our day!

The Piper

Posted by: Piper Scott on May 25, 2007 08:40 AM

21. Too Tough:

"Disparaging a good man upon the occasion of his death, such as a Norm Maleng, is despicable."

I suspect Norm isn't too concerned about what is said about him now.

Posted by: Ken on May 25, 2007 08:43 AM

22. Our deepest condolences to the Maleng family.

~~~

The vicious attacks from the left on the dead and infirm (Maleng today, Falwell last week, Pope John Paul, Reagan, Heston, etc) is the expected and predicted by-product of their own culture of death. Nothing, including and especially the human life of someone with whom they disagree has value. I suspect they'd wail and moan if a local zoo animal suddenly died or someone crushed their Lenin statue. THINGS (yes I'm including animals) have more value to them because THINGS and animals can't prove them wrong, THINGS and animals can't challenge their validity, THINGS and animals can't humiliate their intelligence, THINGS and animals can't mock their ideas, THINGS and animals can't argue back. The fault in their "logic" is that they are stuck being human and are predictably terrified at being thought of as useless as they think of others.

~~~

We are all praying for you Norm, that you rest in peace and that somehow your family finds comfort in your life well lived.

Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on May 25, 2007 08:46 AM

23. Henry;

I agree with WVH and katomar. The point is that he aint even cold yet. Jeez man, save the rhetoric for another time. I remember when Nixon died how the lefties couldn't control their glee over it. I refuse to act like them. Clinton, a man I completly despise could die today and I would still say the same thing... My condolences to his family and no more. My purpose is not to cause extra grief. Now do you get it? All we're saying is have some class.

Posted by: REBEL on May 25, 2007 08:53 AM

24. Ken: No doubt Norm wouldn't care. However, his family, who are grief stricken over a man they loved personally, outside of his political career, might just be deeply hurt by senseless, spiteful comments. Once again, let's just all have some class and save the nastiness for another time when the family can no longer be hurt so maliciously by it.

Posted by: katomar on May 25, 2007 09:10 AM

25. Well, Henry, many years from now, your grandchildren will be standing to give your eulogy, and will probably be saying boy, grandpa sure was a rude A$$hole.

Posted by: katomar on May 25, 2007 09:14 AM

26. I voted for Norm Maleng for AG in '92. I am a hard core Democrat. I think that Norm was a genious in that he was able to combine the best of both parties and was able to win consistly. My deepest sympathy to his family.

Posted by: Mike Barer on May 25, 2007 09:16 AM

27. Henry,
The Mainstream Repubs may be the (and your) enemy, but attack them on another thread or venue.
May Norm Maleng rest in peace.

Posted by: too tough on May 25, 2007 09:17 AM

28. My condolences to Mark and his mom. Farewell to one of the classiest men in politics. Norm set the bar HIGH, and Norm will be missed!

Posted by: Kristi Brown on May 25, 2007 09:24 AM

29. Hey Henry!

Burned anyone at the stake lately? Why don't you spend the rest of the day pulling the wings off flies someplace else, and let the rest of us remember the good in a man while we join his wife, son, and others in mourning his loss?

Honestly, you remind me of those awful cretins who picket the funerals of soldiers and Marines. And I doubt your underlying political POV will ever prevail in you attaining power...Satan doesn't like competition.

The Piper

Posted by: Piper Scott on May 25, 2007 09:25 AM

30. Norm Maleng was a good person and a conscientious public servant. I crossed party lines to vote for him. I am sad to hear of his passing, and my condolences go to his family.

Posted by: ivan on May 25, 2007 09:32 AM

31. Henry;

What the hell is so hard to get here? I'm not going to agree or disagree or make any comment about Norm Maleng today. The lefty people I despise the most do this. And class is NOT for losers. Lack of class is for the likes of the Democrat leadership. Do not mistake my silence on Norm Maleng's past to mean I liked him. Damn it man quit acting like a stinking Democrat. I am definitely not one for sugar coating things for them, especially when they are alive to hear it and it matters. Bad mouthing a dead man is futile at best. No one was writing history here. A few people who seemed to have known him personally had some nice things to say. So what?

Posted by: REBEL on May 25, 2007 09:33 AM

32. Ragnar Danneskjold, Norm Maleng did not live a life well led, can we at least get that straight here? Posted by Henry at May 25, 2007 09:10 AM

I didn't realize you annointed yourself God with the ability to judge who has or has not had a life well lived.

Your audacity almost matches your rudeness and thorough lack of class and decorum.

Those that knew the man, those that loved him are far more qualified to judge his life than a rude, shameful, frustrated little man as your self.

Again, you are to be pitied for sinking so thoroughly into your culture of death that you can find no value in a very human life.

Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on May 25, 2007 09:34 AM

33. Ragnar Danneskjold, Norm Maleng did not live a life well led, can we at least get that straight here? Posted by Henry at May 25, 2007 09:10 AM

I didn't realize you annointed yourself God with the ability to judge who has or has not had a life well lived.

Your audacity almost matches your rudeness and thorough lack of class and decorum.

Those that knew the man, those that loved him are far more qualified to judge his life than a rude, shameful, frustrated little man as your self.

Again, you are to be pitied for sinking so thoroughly into your culture of death that you can find no value in a very human life.

Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on May 25, 2007 09:35 AM

34. Henry,

Response? No, there doesn't need to be a response. There needs to be discretion, respect and dignity, character qualities you seem to lack in spades!

Consider the words of Ecclesiastes:

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

What part of "a time to be silent and a time to speak" do you not understand?

The Piper

Posted by: Piper Scott on May 25, 2007 09:35 AM

35. Norm came from a different era in politics, and one that I wouldn't mind going back to as evidenced by some of the assinine comments above.

Condolences to the Maleng family.

Posted by: jimg on May 25, 2007 09:44 AM

36. I am torn between whether I am more put off by personal attacks on the dead or by those who as this piece pointed out go to the other extreme. Personally I despise insincerity above all else and while one can express condolences, public displays of personal grief regarding someone one has no personal connection to smack of opportunism more than any thing else.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/medialog/?id=65000207

Posted by: JDH on May 25, 2007 09:47 AM

37. Hypocrites...if Mayor Nickels suddenly died I'm sure you would have no trouble using this forum to pot shots at him. What a farce.

Posted by: Cato on May 25, 2007 09:53 AM

38. "Henry" is a familiar sh*thead troll who posts under a variety of names using an anonymizer, and is hard to ban, but I delete his/her comments when I can. Please stop responding to him/her.

Posted by: Stefan Sharkansky on May 25, 2007 10:03 AM

39. For Cato and Henry... I broke my own rule and went over to HA... surprisingly, refreshingly, they have more class than either of you.

Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on May 25, 2007 10:05 AM

40. There's a vast difference between hypocrisy and tact.

I'm no fan of Greg Nickels, but right now I do have compassion for his personal situation. His father just died and his son finds himself in a pot load of serious trouble.

Any of you out there so quick to judge and condemn ever lost a parent or had a kid get in trouble? Tell me, then, what's about the last thing in the world you need to hear from others?

And to all you Maleng haters...If it were you we mourned, and your wife and son read some of the genuinely mean and I-don't-care-to-what-faith-you-subscribe-your-venom-violates-its-tenents bile spewed by the likes of you, how do you think your family would feel?

Even if you have no respect for the dead, can you have some for the living?

The Piper

Posted by: Piper Scott on May 25, 2007 10:09 AM

41. My condolences to the Maleng family.

You right wing wackos are showing your true colors today.

Posted by: Bob on May 25, 2007 10:10 AM

42. Christ, swallow a few prunes and head to the crapper Henry: you need a good BM.

Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on May 25, 2007 10:11 AM

43. Hmmmm...No wonder when I hit refresh the number of postings went from 42 to 40...

The Piper

Posted by: Piper Scott on May 25, 2007 10:12 AM

44. I find it reprehensible that intelligent, grown men are incapable of simply saying "My condolences to Mr. Maleng's family." My thanks to those who have simply stated their regrets, and to Stefan for posting this topic. However, there are those childish individuals to whom statesmanship continuously presents itself, and they, in their self-centered superiority, laugh in it's face, choosing instead to delve into a childish "I'm more conservative than you," tit for tat. This should not be a surprise for me, and I suppose it's not really.
It's rather a disappointment.

My most sincere condolences to the Maleng family during this difficult time.

Posted by: David Hoffman on May 25, 2007 10:13 AM

45. Oh stuff it, Cato, Henry and Bob. There's exactly one troll here who hasn't shown respect for Maleng and his family, and you indict everyone. It's you showing your true colors.

Posted by: Palouse on May 25, 2007 10:15 AM

46. This was certainly an unpleasant surprise when I read it. And 68 is far too young.

Posted by: Don Ward on May 25, 2007 10:15 AM

47. Yeah Cato, some likely would, but most probably wouldn't, at least not 'til the body was in the ground for a few days. It's called having some class, something many of the hard left are lacking.

Henry, please just be quiet. You'll have plenty of time to go after Maleng's legacy in the weeks and months to come. Whether one agreed with him or not, most thought he was a decent man. Is it too much to ask to let it go for a few days 'til the casket is buried and those that knew him had a chance too mourn?

Show some class, for Pete's sake, and bite your tongue for a few days 'til the dead are buried.

Posted by: Mike H on May 25, 2007 10:17 AM

48. As for Cato, who should know better, it's not really the nature of most folks on the right side of the political spectrum to "Falwell" an opponent after they pass away.

Posted by: Don Ward on May 25, 2007 10:18 AM

49. Bob @ 41;

One of the many reasons I genuinely hate lefties is that you say BS like you just did. You know that many people on this site have been telling the A-holes to stop politicizing Norm Maleng's death. Many of us are, if not right wingers, certainly farther to the right than you probably are. But no, you gotta go ahead and start calling names like all of you typical immature lefty's do. Go ahead and act the fool. Go ahead and paint all people to the right of you with the same brush that you use to spew your stereotypes with.

Posted by: REBEL on May 25, 2007 10:24 AM

50. May he find the peace in his afterlife that his political opponents refused to give him in life and in some cases even in death.

Deepest sympathies to his family.

Posted by: Ken on May 25, 2007 10:26 AM

51. I've had concerns about Maleng myself for quite some time. Today may not be the time to raise them, but soon it will be.

There was a time when he may well have been the best person for that time - that was probably at least 20 years ago.

Most notably he was to much of a gentleman to hold his female staff accountable the same standards he holds the rest - after all racism is a white man's disease, is it not?

Most saliently, he should have been disbarred for his poor oversight of the KC elections process.

As they say, you can fool 96% of the people all of the time, but you can't fool everyone all of the time...

-Douglas Tooley
(Don't insult me by calling me a Republican or a Democrat)

Posted by: Douglas Tooley on May 25, 2007 10:35 AM

52. I've had concerns about Maleng myself for quite some time. Today may not be the time to raise them, but soon it will be.

There was a time when he may well have been the best person for that time - that was probably at least 20 years ago.

Most notably he was to much of a gentleman to hold his female staff accountable the same standards he holds the rest - after all racism is a white man's disease, is it not?

Most saliently, he should have been disbarred for his poor oversight of the KC elections process.

As they say, you can fool 96% of the people all of the time, but you can't fool everyone all of the time...

-Douglas Tooley
(Don't insult me by calling me a Republican or a Democrat)

Posted by: Douglas Tooley on May 25, 2007 10:35 AM

53. Shame on those who can't let a man rest in peace.

I strongly disagree with much of what he did and stood for, but would never stoop so low as to the comments made here by the supposed "right wingers" or the comments recently all over the place from the tolerant diverse left, when Jerry Falwell passed on.

As always, so very glad I'm an independent.

Posted by: Independent Voter on May 25, 2007 10:36 AM

54. This is ME thumping my head for being a dope... the classless, hate filleds ugly trolls don't hate Mr Maleng for his politics, they hate him for successfully prosecuting THEM and or their "loved" ones.

Got it now!

Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on May 25, 2007 10:50 AM

55. Here's to Norm.

He did a good job during his stay here on earth. Now he's reaping the fruits of his labors (assuming, of course, that God is a Democrat)

Posted by: Ken on May 25, 2007 12:00 PM

56. Condolences for the family of Meleng. While I'm sure many loved him, I don't see how anyone can forgive him for allowing Gary Little to physically and sexually abuse young boys within the juvenile justice system for years.

Posted by: Don on May 25, 2007 12:14 PM

57. Please stop responding to bait people are throwing out there. Just ignore their occasional comments.

Mr. Maleng was a fair man filled with integrity. He went by the law as attorneys should always do. I think he exemplified what every elected partisan should achieve to do/be: be a member of "the club" (Dems, GOP) but not let "the club" interfere with the duties and laws of the office. From what I've heard he was an anchor and simply a good man.

Thank you.

Posted by: Jon Ammons on May 25, 2007 01:59 PM

58. Please stop responding to bait people are throwing out there. Just ignore their occasional comments.

Mr. Maleng was a fair man filled with integrity. He went by the law as attorneys should always do. I think he exemplified what every elected partisan should achieve to do/be: be a member of "the club" (Dems, GOP) but not let "the club" interfere with the duties and laws of the office. From what I've heard he was an anchor and simply a good man.

Thank you.

Posted by: Jon Ammons on May 25, 2007 01:59 PM

59. Please stop responding to bait people are throwing out there. Just ignore their occasional comments.

Mr. Maleng was a fair man filled with integrity. He went by the law as attorneys should always do. I think he exemplified what every elected partisan should achieve to do/be: be a member of "the club" (Dems, GOP) but not let "the club" interfere with the duties and laws of the office. From what I've heard he was an anchor and simply a good man.

Thank you.

Posted by: Jon Ammons on May 25, 2007 02:00 PM

60. My condolences to the Maleng family.

Posted by: Mr. Cynical on May 25, 2007 02:19 PM

61. My deepest sympathy goes to the Maleng family. One thing thta transcends political affiliation or idealogical differences is the fact that death strikes both sides of tha aisle. Whatever I may have thought about Maleng the Prosecutor, what is more important here is that his wife has lost her husband and his children have lost their father. That sucks no matter who you are.

My heart goes out to them.

Posted by: ERNurse on May 25, 2007 04:24 PM

62. Article I Section 17 of the Washington Constitution reads:

There shall be no imprisonment for debt, except in cases of absconding debtors.

Unfortunately this provision does not seem to apply to all of us, and is violated by Norm's Family Support Division.

If you are offended by that, well I am offended by your refusal to support my rights under the Constitution, and willingness to violate or tolerate the violation of said Constitution.

My condolences to the family, I like his wife, she is a good person, but I am finding the praise extremely hard to take.

Posted by: Roger Knight on May 25, 2007 07:16 PM

63. Norm was an 11 in a 10 world. My condolences to the family and close friends, which I am certain Norm and his wife had plenty of.

Posted by: GS on May 25, 2007 07:59 PM

64. Norm may well be an 11 as a person - certainly many of those who work for him blossomed fruitfully under his tutelage.

However, in his tolerance, he let a few sub-fives, if not sub-zero's get through. If you tolerate a one or a two in your profession who turns Eight or Nines outside of the profession into zeros, what are you then?

I never wanted to criticize him too much out of respect for those I know who did benefit from him. If you are so damn holy though that you fail to feel the need to hold those few employees of yours who are losers you have failed.

In the final analysis Norm was a plus in this world. Now though is a good time though to get rid of those parasites who leeched off of his reputation... even if it takes him from an 11 to an 8 or 9 himself.

We are all human.

Posted by: Douglas Tooley on May 26, 2007 07:50 AM