Wa Gov Candidate Gregoire's dilemma: fight or settle? | Seattle Times

[Ediacara]

Gregoire's dilemma: fight or settle?

By Ralph Thomas
Seattle Times Olympia bureau

Christine Gregoire

Case continues to cost taxpayers 4 years later
In the fall of 2000, after months of bad publicity for failing to appeal a record $17.8 million verdict against the state, one of Attorney General Christine Gregoire's top aides lamented in an e-mail, "How many more times do we have left to die on Beckman?"

Four years ago, Gregoire called the bungled appeal in the so-called Beckman case the low point of her professional career — "nothing else approaching this," she said. To make matters worse, it happened just as she was launching her campaign for a third term as attorney general.

Now Gregoire is heading into the election of her life — trying to become Washington's next governor — and the Beckman controversy is roiling again.

More at the Seattle Times

[barbaraann]

1. Because of the coffin story, the Gregoire headline RIGHT NEXT

TO IT ON THE FRONT PAGE of the Seattle Times, has received incredible nationwide publicity.

The thought has crossed my mind that the Times (which endorsed Bush in 2000) only printed the coffin picture to draw attention to their Gregoire story. I personally refuse to subscribe to the Times because they are so rightwing.

Just today, on one of the network political talk shows I saw the front page of that issue of the Times with the Gregoire story clearly visible. It's really hurting her campaign.

It's possible that I'm being paranoid, of course, but it sure is a mighty coincidence that the most important photo published in a long time by the Times was right beside the most damaging story about a Dem gubernatorial candidate in this entire campaign and that the Gregoire story is receiving far, far more attention than it would have without the photo flap.

[ashling]

2. Your attempt to diminish the impact of Gregoire's mismanagement

is, at best, just silly. At worst, your statement looks like something that would come from the White House Press Office.

This story has its own legs, and is not supported by the photo of the coffins

Gregoire's office mismanaged the appeal, the cover up, and now is trying to cover up the cover up? Does this scenario sound familiar? Watergate, Irangate, 9-11, Iraq ...

Phil Talmadge for Governor.

:dem:

[barbaraann]

3. Um, I live in Washington State and I want Talmadge, too.

But I have not seen ONE article in the Times that attacks Bush the way that article attacks Gregoire and I would say that Bush is at least a million times more deserving of an attack than she is.

I would guess that the Times is figuring out a way to attack Talmadge also, but doesn't have an investigative journalist assigned to Bush. Just a guess.

[ashling]

4. I don't disagree with you that the Times is too conservative

I was just countering what I assumed was your supposition that the only reason that the Gregoire cover up story is getting attention is that it was positioned next to this photo.

Gregoire is guilty of mimanagement. Her handpicked "investigator" told her story the way she suggested that it be told. Then she fired someone on the basis of that "unbiased" investigation. Now the state is being sued by that person. Not a new story, but one that needs to be told - and retold if necessary.