Brutal, yes. But - and I say this as someone who fervently hopes Dunn loses - possibly also slimy. Under the American criminal justice system, the conviction rate of people who go to trial is incredibly high, especially if the evidence isn't total crap. Also under the American criminal justice system, in a feature I understand is less pronounced in other systems, some of which give such power only to the judge, the prosecutor has the ability to strike a plea bargain where the accused is rewarded for a guilty plea. This means that most people seriously accused of criminal charges "strike a deal with the prosecutor". The only question is whether they're fair deals, or corrupt sweetheart deals. Nothing in this ad says these were examples of the latter.

I voted for Bob Ferguson. I can only describe it as "a great feeling."

More like fighting shit with shit - but so be it!

I know this is just a response to Dunn's ridiculous adds ("fighting shit with shit" as RonK mentions above), but isn't cutting deals most of what prosecutors do?

Should we continue to encourage the sort of 'tough on crime' one-upmanship that leads to crazy minimum sentences, expands our prison industrial complex, and unnecessarily disenfranchises segments of our population?

Serious question: can someone explain to me why the trolls don't register their commenting names? It's not like you have to pay money. Heck, you don't even really have to use a genuine email address if you're not so inclined. It's nice of them to agree to have their comments automatically censored - but why do they do it?

Just saw the ad. As ridiculous as the ads against Ferguson. Shit like this make me want to write in a candidate.

When you come out swinging low, you deserve to get hit in the balls.

@1 And the $2.5 million worth of ads from a Karl Rove run PAC have been attacking Ferguson as being soft on crime for having worked on the appeal a convicted murderer, while Ferguson was in law school. Giving the accused a competent defense is part of the American legal system too.

I suppose our side could just choose to take the high road AND LOSE. Is that what you'd prefer?

Taking the high road denied us the possibility of having one of the best presidents this country could have had, John Kerry. I for one am glad Dems punch back hard, kick em in the balls and pee on them when they're down.. They're more than glad to do it to you. John Kerry took the high road and they turned him, a war hero pacifist into some pansy coward and a draft dodger president got a second term. Rip their guts out I say.

The AG ads are ridiculous on both sides. Dunn was one of my two Republican votes this year, the other being McKenna. He's a moderate, and moderation ought to be encouraged in the Republican Party.

John Kerry would still be giving his 2004 inaugural speech.

I voted for Bob Ferguson then laughed my ass off as I imagined the look of utter disbelief on Reagan Dunn's face when he will discover that he's gotten his ass whooped by Bob Ferguson. Again. I hate these scary ass ads by both sides, but I happen to know Bob Ferguson and his record. I know he'll do an awesome job for our state. That's why it pays to get to know these politicians before the election year. Show up to a public hearing. See how they vote, IF they vote. Ferguson isn't gonna be a cowboy bloodthirsty AG that tries to throw everyone in jail for jaywalking. He'll be cool-headed and reasonable and patient, like he's been his entire life. I have a feeling if Reagan Dunn should ever get elected, he'll be so desperate to impress the national Republican leaders that he'd introduce the most extreme criminal sentencing imaginable, just to claim that he's "tough on crime." And he'd be lazy enough to not even think through the details, meaning tons of inner city youths will be locked up in record numbers. Or maybe that will be by design, according to Republican doctrines.

I voted for Bob Ferguson then laughed my ass off as I imagined the look of utter disbelief on Reagan Dunn's face when he will discover that he's gotten his ass whooped by Bob Ferguson. Again. I hate these scary ass ads by both sides, but I happen to know Bob Ferguson and his record. I know he'll do our state proud. That's why it pays to get to know these politicians before the election year. Show up to a public hearing. See how they vote, IF they vote. Ferguson isn't gonna be a blood-thirsty cowboy AG that tries to throw everyone in jail for jaywalking. He'll be cool-headed and reasonable and patient, like he's been his entire life. On the other hand, Reagan doesn't exactly strike me as bipartisan or moderate. Didn't he piss off the entire King County Council by storming off in the middle of a budget session?
Dunn, should he ever become AG, will be so desperate to impress the national Republican big wigs that he'd introduce the most extreme criminal sentencing imaginable, just to claim that he's "tough on crime."