Gregoire's Jenny On the Spot

Seattle Times ^ | February 11, 2005 | David Postman

[srm913]

Gregoire's Jenny on the spot

By David Postman Seattle Times chief political reporter

When Christine Gregoire needs an attorney, she turns to Jenny Durkan, a Seattle attorney popular among the prominent and the political who find themselves entangled with the law.

But Durkan is also friend, confidante and political counselor to Gregoire. It's a bond formed during Gregoire's 12 years as attorney general, when, as the state's chief attorney, she needed a private lawyer to avoid any conflict between her public and private lives.

With Gregoire's election as governor facing an unprecedented trial and Republicans trying to remove her from office, it is Durkan again who argues for Gregoire in court.

Not officially. Gregoire is not a party to the lawsuit filed by Republican candidate Dino Rossi and other party members, something she is quick to say when asked about her involvement in the case. And this time, Durkan is working for the Democratic Party, not Gregoire.

But there's no question that when Durkan stands up in Chelan County Superior Court or plots strategy with the Democratic legal team, she's there for Gregoire.

Durkan was the Gregoire campaign's counsel, and from the earliest post-election legal discussions, Durkan was seen as "essentially an agent for Christine," said state Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt.

Durkan was involved in plotting court strategy and developing legal arguments. But she didn't appear in court.

Gregoire said she didn't ask Berendt to include Durkan on the legal team. But after Durkan's mostly behind-the-scenes work, the message came through.

"It was important to Christine that Jenny have a greater role in these later court cases, and she made that really clear," Berendt said.

[srm913]

First of all, the title of this article has to be one of the best and most apt ever written. They get an A for wit on that one.

Second, the extent of the corruption and conflicts of interest in this case could rival the U.N. in some respects. The most nauseating part is when they connive and whine afterward. "I'm not the loser, I am the weiner!" Pathetic.

[snugs]

For your interest

[Malesherbes]

Washington State surely needs a political housecleaning. With the retarded Murray and the invisible Cantwell in the Senate, and the illegitimate Gregoire in Olympia - and, I believe a $ 1.8 budget deficit - things can't get much worse.

On the other hand, Murray does have one thing going for her. Since Minnesota's Mark Dayton has announced he is leaving the Senate, Murray will no longer be the second-dumbest Senator.

[Astronaut]

I disagree. Patty Murray has been the dumbest member of the senate since the day she took office. The "mom in tennis shoes" is a moron in tennis shoes.

[llevrok]

How many old timers remember her father (acorn does not roll far from the tree)

"She is the daughter of Martin Durkan Sr., a former state Senate Ways and Means chairman and the mentor of former governor and former congressman Mike Lowry."

I recall that Sen. Durkan was brought up on ethics charges or some frivolous thing.......

[Steely Tom]

This sounds interesting to me. Kind of like those little ripples in the teacups on the tables in the Titanic's first-class dining room.

They were just little tiny ripples, but why were there any ripples?

(steely)

[jtminton]

For your WA enjoyment.

[Vicki]

Washington State surely needs a political housecleaning.

It sure does. Our legislators are going wild down in Olympia trying to turn back everything we the voters have done. I-200, the three-strikes you're out, guns, smoking.

I think we need to organize and begin an all out campaign. We should write our legislators and let them know we don't appreciate what they are doing and remind them that they hold an "elected" office. Next we need to write and keep writing to the media. Our own legislators are trying to take our initiative process away from us. They do not want us, the citizens of this state involved in decisions.

Our legislators are a bunch of arrogant, self-absorbed blow hards.

[randog]

Patty Murray calls herself a "mom in tennis shoes"??! She's the NEA's main plant in congress!

[GretchenM]

Gregoire said she didn't ask Berendt to include Durkan on the legal team. But after Durkan's mostly behind-the-scenes work, the message came through.

Like I believe these people are all telepathic.

Thanks for the ping, snugs.

[They'reGone2000]

[They'reGone2000]

The lovely Ms. Durkan:

[holyscroller]

You picture of Madam Gregoire in Post 13 looks like she has hair covering her horns. No kidding.