tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41152602011-07-14T17:36:22.298-07:00The Oregon Blog<b>Under grey skies, self-medicating with black coffee</b>Jeffnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1090184016141174472004-07-18T13:12:00.000-07:002004-07-19T21:40:27.683-07:00Here Lies
The Oregon Blog
January 16, 2003 - July 18, 2004
Back in late 2002, Trent Lott eulogized Strom Thurmond by musing that if the former segregationist had won the presidency in 1948, we "wouldn't have had all these problems." The mainstream media--hell, all media--ignored the comment, and Lott prepared to take the position of Senate Majority Leader. On the very distant periphery Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1090182138802105522004-07-18T12:13:00.000-07:002004-07-19T21:38:48.070-07:00The new generation of blogging is officially--if not broadly--live. I am happy to join Kari Chisholm and Jesse Cornett in helping launch Blue Oregon. We've got a group of very interesting voices there, including (currently):
Jack Bogdanski
Chris Bouneff
Leslie Carlson
John Doty
Jason Evans
Lew Frederick
Charles Heying
Isaac Laquedem
Randy Leonard
Mari Margil
Anne Martens
Erika Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1085602944861841982004-05-26T13:16:00.000-07:002004-06-01T08:44:50.570-07:00Consider this an official announcement: the Oregon Blog is on hiatus. There are several things you can do about this:
1. Visit Notes on the Atrocities, my national blog, where I will be writing about Oregon issues.
2. Contact me and become a contributor to the Oregon Blog to help keep it going (emmasblog [at] yahoo [d0t] com).
3. Check back the third week of June, after which I will have Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1085435400629363492004-05-24T14:49:00.000-07:002004-05-24T14:50:00.630-07:00[Ummm]
Well, things are busy presently. No idea when I'll be blogging more regularly. It's possible the Oregon Blog is nearing the end of the road...Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1085169561075898442004-05-21T12:53:00.000-07:002004-05-21T12:59:21.076-07:00[GOP Watch]
Listen to this and tell me if it seems a little ... off. "We believe Asians share a lot of Republican principles; from hard working, entrepreneurship, lower taxes, family values, and quality education, to fighting for our liberty and freedom. Our party is the only party defending those principles. It is natural for our party to reach out and to invite more Asians to join our party,"Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1085077189892667072004-05-20T11:18:00.000-07:002004-05-20T11:19:49.893-07:00[National Politics]
Hey, Kerry didn't thank us! Below is an email Kucinich sent out this morning thanking Oregonians. Such a good guy--
Hello Oregon,
Thank you for the great support that you gave our primary election campaign. Because of you we'll be going to Boston with more delegates to the National Convention. Because of you we were able to travel the length and the width of Oregon to be Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1085004534874018102004-05-19T15:05:00.000-07:002004-05-19T15:11:26.656-07:00[Primary Election Analysis]
Another winner: Erik Sten. In what looked like a pretty risky venture, the Councilor decided to endorse Tom Potter. If Francesconi wins and becomes mayor, Sten has already given him the vote of no-confidence--not a delightful way to start a working relationship. On the other hand, if Potter wins...
Incidentally:
$22.20 - cost per vote spent by Jim Francesconi
Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1084985793945136802004-05-19T09:16:00.000-07:002004-05-19T13:31:40.126-07:00[Primary Election Analysis]
Whooee, whoever said this was going to be a boring primary didn't take into account the upsets. Although very serious results were at stake about our leadership, I have to admit, going into this election, there wasn't much excitement. Ameri-Phillips seemed intriguing, the fifth district race between Winters and Zupancic, the Portland mayoral race, Portland City Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1084920068502721232004-05-18T15:28:00.000-07:002004-05-18T15:41:08.503-07:00[Election]
Well, here we are in the national denoument--electing a nominee whose already been elected. I can't complain too much, though--at least Dennis Kucinich is still on the ballot. It's rare that I get to actually tick the box with the candidate I supported before Iowa.
Here's a question: should the primaries be held on a single day? (They won't, because the parties and the states Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1084842039805126212004-05-17T17:37:00.000-07:002004-05-17T18:00:39.806-07:00[Race]
Celebrating Brown
Despite Portland's multicultural values, Oregon's history with race is pretty grim. Here are a few of the key watersheds in our history.
Slavery was outlawed in 1844 (good), but lest black Americans feel too encouraged to move west, the "lash law" is passed. It required all blacks be whipped twice a year until they "quit the territory." Later reduced to forced laborJeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1084659099340942532004-05-16T20:50:00.000-07:002004-05-19T09:14:17.516-07:00[Endorsements]
Oregon Blog Endorsements
I'll keep these at the top of the blog until Tuesday at 8 pm. Don't fail to vote, folks! Scroll down for newer posts.
President
D - Dennis Kucinich
US Senator
R - Pavel Goberman
US House
First District
R - Tim Phillips
Fifth District
D - Darlene Hooley
R - Jackie Winters
Oregon Senate
District 25
D- Vern COok
District 28
R - Doug Whitsett
OregonJeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1084920488203425332004-05-16T15:42:00.000-07:002004-05-19T09:15:30.546-07:00[Election]
Here's an incredibly unscientific pre-election survey: a visual inspection of lawn signs in Sabin (where I live) and Irvington (through which I bike to work).
City Council
Sabin: Nick Fish leads Sam Adams marginally, say five signs for every four. Sam Adams is leading Fish strongly in Irvington, 2-1.
Mayor
Potter by a landslide. For every ten signs, seven are for Potter, two are Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1084565663424167052004-05-14T13:02:00.000-07:002004-05-14T13:14:23.423-07:00[State Politics]
I have spent the last week ruminating on the Goldschmidt news, waiting to see what bubbled up. You know what--nothing has. The truth of this story is that it resists clean conclusions. No matter how you try, you can't hang a single label on Goldschmidt. It doesn't function as metaphor. There's no "lesson." The two things exist there side by side, neither one refuting the Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1084389613321579732004-05-12T12:30:00.000-07:002004-05-12T12:44:53.993-07:00[US House - 5th District ]
EXCLUSIVE - The Oregon Blog interview with US House District 5 candidate Andrew Kaza.
I have a late-breaking interview for all you folks who (like me) haven't yet cast your ballot. Below is the text of an interview conducted this morning, via email, with Andrew Kaza, who's challenging Darlene Hooley in the Democratic Primaries.
Brief bio (from Kaza's webpage):
Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1084390015517881242004-05-12T12:29:00.000-07:002004-05-12T12:42:20.753-07:00[US House - 5th District]
EXCLUSIVE - The Oregon Blog interview with US House District 5 candidate Andrew Kaza.
Part Two: Policy Issues
Oregon Blog: The two main issues cited again and again by Americans are terrorism/Iraq and the economy. Let's start with terrorism. Broadly speaking, how would you make America safer?
Andrew Kaza: Invest in Homeland Security. Our ports remain porous. Our Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1084390040960917722004-05-12T12:27:00.000-07:002004-05-12T12:42:49.920-07:00[US House - 5th District]
EXCLUSIVE - The Oregon Blog interview with US House District 5 candidate Andrew Kaza.
Part THree: Election
Oregon Blog: In a House locked down by Tom DeLay and Denny Hastert, liberals cherish every Democratic seat. Why should voters risk sending an incumbent home in the primaries and open this seat up to Jim Zupancic or Jackie Winters?
Andrew Kaza: The conventional Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1084337585500247922004-05-11T21:31:00.000-07:002004-05-11T21:53:05.500-07:00[Primary Endorsements]
National Offices
President
Candidates: John Kerry, Dennis Kucinich, Lyndon LaRouche
Why should you vote for anyone but the candidate whose already got the nomination? Because you want to send a message. If you vote Kerry, you're showing party unity. If you vote Kucinich, you're speaking for the liberal wing. If you vote LaRouche, you are a nut. There's nothing moreJeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1084321366836121412004-05-11T15:55:00.000-07:002004-05-11T18:08:13.436-07:00[Primary Endorsements]
State Representative - Democrats
District 5
Candidates: Peter Buckley, Judy Uherbelau
The two candidates here are strong. Judy Uherbelau has served in the legislature ('95-'01), and co-authored the "Best Interests of the Child" act, which had a major influence on social work in the state. She was term-limited out and jumped into the race late when, she says, "there Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1084286590039324452004-05-11T07:35:00.000-07:002004-05-11T07:43:10.040-07:00[Apology redux]
I've obviously been pretty lame here lately. My calendar has become tighter and I've been putting all my blogging time in Notes. Two things. First, I hope to make a strong push here before the election (and have some post-game wrap-up). Beyond that, it's hard to say. Second, I think the intent of the Oregon Blog remains unique in the blogosphere, and I'd love to see it Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1083946533777772002004-05-07T09:15:00.000-07:002004-05-07T09:19:54.810-07:00[Doh!]
Two big, ugly pieces of news re Oregon:
1) Portland Seven Lawyer linked to Madrid Bombings
and
2) Neil Goldschmidt Got Busy With a 14 Year Old Girl While Mayor, Resigns
I don't have much to say regarding either, but I'm sure Jeff or Fred will chime in later with something relevant.iggihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06438541848983875049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1083795365689193432004-05-05T14:44:00.000-07:002004-05-05T15:20:53.623-07:00[Primary Endorsements]
State Representative - Republicans
Looking through the Republican candidates for the House is a depressing endeavor. There may well be a decent candidate or two in there, but the truth is, I don't care enough to put in the several hours of research it would take to learn--hey, Candidate X isn't a barking mad conservative nut! Mostly the candidates try to Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1083701673632429132004-05-04T13:14:00.000-07:002004-05-04T13:18:17.403-07:00[National Politics]
John Kerry's coming to town on May 25th. Details to come.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1083623623450082572004-05-03T15:33:00.000-07:002004-05-03T15:37:44.060-07:00[Apology]
Slow blogging lately. I'll finish up with my endorsements midweek.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1083348600026372442004-04-30T11:05:00.000-07:002004-04-30T11:14:11.950-07:00[Retraction?]
It's possible I jumped the gun on my endorsement of Vern Cook. Jack asked, "have you looked into this fellow's past?" Well, sure, I Googled him, found little, and called it good. I'm a damn blogger, for Pete's sake, not a real journalist--what do you expect, that I'll go to the library? On the other hand, I suppose I should have made my methodology more clear.
So, in the Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1083288340608693892004-04-29T18:25:00.000-07:002004-04-29T18:29:51.390-07:00In that press conference, reporters also asked about the "Mission Accomplished" debacle. Saturday will be the one-year anniversary. Q Scott, we're coming up on the year anniversary of when the President landed on the USS Abraham Lincoln and declared that major combat operations were over under the "mission accomplished" banner.... [H]e also declared major combat operations over, and gave the Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1083183909549050392004-04-28T13:21:00.000-07:002004-04-28T13:29:41.483-07:00[National Politics]
Analysis in the Boston Globe. Hey, if the shoe fits... Clouds over Northwest. Kerry trails by 2 points in Oregon poll, leads by only 5 in Washington State. Armchair Strategist knows Northwest. Oregon loaded with ornery, tax-hating rugged individualists not to be confused with Vermonters. Washington mellower Microsoft-and-Starbucks country. Kerry manager Mary Beth Cahill wonJeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1083172536507838302004-04-28T10:08:00.000-07:002004-04-28T10:23:48.983-07:00[Passing]
Thanks to B!x, I learned that over the weekend Ernie Bonner passed away. This is a terrible loss for Portland and Oregon. I had the very good fortune to meet Ernie recently and work with him briefly. I suspect many Portlanders can say the same thing--certainly a measure of his life.
Randy Gragg's article (linked above) is a nice piece. You can see Ernie's work and legacy at his Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1083109779242255942004-04-27T16:22:00.000-07:002004-04-27T16:59:43.076-07:00[Primary Endorsements]
State Senator - Republicans
As with the Dems, there's only one contested Republican primary race for the Senate, in district 28 (South Central Oregon). I suspect I have little credibility when endorsing Republicans ... but then I have little credibilty anyway.
My criteria for endorsing Republicans really has to do with how fastidiously they adhere to the radical Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1083098246409667942004-04-27T15:52:00.000-07:002004-04-27T16:13:42.936-07:00[Primary Endorsements]
State Senator - Democrats
Only one race has multiple candidates--District 25, where there are three. It's a critical seat, and control of the Senate may rest in the balance. The seat is currently vacant following Governor Kulongoski's appointment of John Minnis to the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. One of the three Democrats will be facing Ron Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1083088032665736222004-04-27T10:44:00.000-07:002004-04-27T10:51:57.543-07:00[Blogospherics]
The folks at the Oregon Bus Project are trying to move up their Zephyr Magazine on the Google charts. I'm encouraging bloggers to do a little googlebombing. So, link it up (post or blogroll): Zephyr Magazine + http://www.zephyrmagazine.com/ = exposure.
They have good content over there and deserve to be a little more accessible.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1083083301667799542004-04-27T09:27:00.000-07:002004-04-27T09:32:29.280-07:00[Religion]
Whose God?
A local controversy has erupted that sheds light on the issue "God" and the US government. Bear with me for a moment while I give some background. In Washington County (Oregon), where Portland's western suburbs are located, the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship arranged a Mayors' Prayer Breakfast for May 5. On a vote of 7-1, organizers decided to revoke an Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1083013911247795652004-04-26T14:11:00.000-07:002004-04-26T14:15:58.013-07:00[Blog Note]
I've been out of town since Friday afternoon. Blogging to resume tomorrow.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1082738202245866232004-04-23T09:23:00.000-07:002004-04-23T09:40:50.936-07:00[Trojan Horse]
The lede in the Portland Tribune's article "Activist tackles tax repeal -- twice" is misleading: Anti-tax activist Don McIntire hates Multnomah County’s income tax so much he wants to repeal it twice. It's misleading because what McIntire--who wants not only to repeal that tax but to make it retroactive--really wants is to destroy the Oregon government. In other words, if the Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1082673455912396932004-04-22T15:28:00.000-07:002004-04-22T16:26:55.560-07:00[Primary Endorsements]
Portland Mayor
This one was already a foregone conclusion, as I bribed Phil Busse with an endorsement to interview him. But my gross corruption aside, I'd like to mention a few things that would have made me choose Phil even if he'd punked me (of course, I would have been more grudging).
Portland is at a crossroads right now. We've spent the past 12 years on Vera's Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1082491658624443042004-04-21T13:35:00.000-07:002004-04-21T13:35:39.810-07:00[Primary Endorsements]
Multnomah County Commissioners
Three of five seats on the county commission are up for grabs this year, and all three looked to be easy wins for incumbents until the great gay marriage decision. At the last minute, a bunch of enraged challengers rushed to be put on the ballot to save citizens from the extra-constitutional cabal. Things are now more interesting.
As I goJeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1082579858489378052004-04-21T13:33:00.000-07:002004-04-21T13:41:38.250-07:00[Oregon Politics]
Maybe they should have given him a rubber ducky
In the old email inbox yesterday was this announcement: (Washington, D.C.) Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) has honored Kevin Mannix, Chairman of the Oregon Republican party with the Dragon Slayer Award, for his “leadership in the defeat of Measure 30.” This is the most prestigious award given out by the national taxpayer group Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1082489528932479392004-04-20T12:29:00.000-07:002004-04-20T12:36:07.403-07:00[Portland Mayoral Race]
B!x calls politics and beer a heady mix. Unfortunately, I did not make the rumble at the Alladin. Sounds like a good time was had by all (including B!x, whose prose shows he was still under said heady influence).Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1082489203770384452004-04-20T12:22:00.000-07:002004-04-20T12:31:03.856-07:00[Gay Marriage]
Halted! A judge on Tuesday ordered a halt to same-sex marriage in an Oregon county that for weeks has been the only place in the nation where gays can get married.
Judge Frank Bearden said he believes the Oregon constitution would allow either civil unions or gay marriage, but he said a state Supreme Court ruling is needed first. He also said "public debate and legislative Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1082391082581792292004-04-19T09:08:00.000-07:002004-04-19T09:15:19.826-07:00[Blog note]
My blogging may be intermittent this week. We're having our bathroom completely torn out and rebuilt from the studs up, which means I'm going to be itinerant. And therefore less able to blog.
Who knows what it means. I've never had a bathroom torn out before.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1082070324905200812004-04-15T16:04:00.000-07:002004-04-15T16:09:46.750-07:00[Oregon politics]
And speaking of endorsements, I'll try to get mine out beginning next week. No doubt your ballot depends on my recommendations.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1082070251159658022004-04-15T15:53:00.000-07:002004-04-15T16:08:03.576-07:00[Portland Mayoral Race]
Oregon Blog-endorsed mayoral candidate Phil Busse got a front-page article in the Oregonian today, but it seemed a little left-hand complimentish to me. First of all, the picture was strange. Surely they took several--that's the one they ran? Naturally, they also had to trash Busse's newspaper (probably a given if they were going to run an article about the editor of aJeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1082069473607970272004-04-15T15:40:00.000-07:002004-04-15T15:55:31.810-07:00[Environment]
The Times has an article about the Biscuit fire today. It's a fairly good article, explaining to the general reader what the stakes are: Environmentalists: About 12,000 acres of the logging would take place in what are known as Inventoried Roadless Areas, until recently exempt from development. Judge Clarence Brimmer of Federal District Court in Wyoming struck down the Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1082048706563530412004-04-15T09:55:00.000-07:002004-04-15T10:08:58.640-07:00[Taxes]
What Your Tax Dollars Buy
On this great national day of loathing, the Ides of April, it bears considering what Americans get for their taxes. It's a time-honored tradition to gripe about taxes, but something has fundamentally changed since the Reagan revolution (and especially since the Sizemore and McIntire revolt). What was before a slightly unpleasant but necessary task, akin to Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081983978734887332004-04-14T15:50:00.000-07:002004-04-14T16:11:18.856-07:00 [National Politics]
Two things to bring to your attention. The first is a roundtable I and a few other bloggers have going on at our respective sites. It's pretty damn good stuff, and although it's utopian and national, you'd do yourself a favor by having a look. Susan Madrak, Suburban Guerrilla, essay here.
Lawrence Krubner, Less is More, essay here.
Elayne Riggs, Pen-Elayne, essay here.
Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081899301323590062004-04-13T16:13:00.000-07:002004-04-13T16:40:52.106-07:00[City Council Race]
More calculations. These for City Council races in position 1 and 4. Figures show the amount each had raised as a percentage of the whole. Table 2: District 1 Fundraising as Percentage of All Funds Raised for Race
Total funds raised by all candidates: $466,803
Percent/Candidate/Total Raised
54.40% - Adams, Sam - $253,923
42.97% - Fish, Nick - $200,579
0.92% - Newell, Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081897617629056932004-04-13T15:24:00.000-07:002004-04-13T16:17:21.733-07:00[Portland Mayoral Race]
Along with everyone else in the blogosphere, I today perused the City Auditor's account of mayoral candidate fundraising total. You can find them here. For fun, I ran a calculation of the amount each had raised as a percentage of the whole. Below you can see the figures.
Table: Candidate Fundraising as Percentage of All Funds Raised
Total funds raised by all Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081872074518611832004-04-13T08:49:00.000-07:002004-04-13T09:05:04.216-07:00[Blazers]
Good news: we won't get beaten in the first round of the playoffs. Bad news: there won't be a 22nd season of playoffs for the mighty Portland Trailblazers. All good things must come to an end. Oddly enough, I'm far more positive about the home team than I have been in years, and the future looks much brighter. We might even win the lottery!
I predicted the Blazers would finish 41-Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081810800276257232004-04-12T15:54:00.000-07:002004-04-12T16:04:51.856-07:00[Misc.]
Most liveable Northwest city? Portland, Seattle, Eugene? No, Tacoma.
You can plan your relocation accordingly. Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081783577657036242004-04-12T08:19:00.000-07:002004-04-12T08:30:05.373-07:00[Nutball theories]
The newest report about James Jaher Perez causes me to have impure thoughts. Three experts in the science of drug abuse say they are surprised by a medical examiner's findings that a man shot by Portland police had a high level of cocaine in his blood but no sign that his body was metabolizing it. So has anyone irresponsibily suggested that the coke might have been "plantedJeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081530455415915712004-04-09T09:26:00.000-07:002004-04-09T10:15:25.310-07:00[Campaign Finance Reform]
The Portland City Council has introduced a plan for publicly financing elections. It's not the only campaign finance proposal on the books, and it's not a very good one. Let's be clear: politics are currently corrupted by money and where the process isn't corrupted, it's perverted by money from special interests. But what to do about the problem--that's not so easy.
Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081467219761107032004-04-08T16:20:00.000-07:002004-04-08T16:37:22.560-07:00[Beer]
It is my intent to get to the topic Jack touched on today--campaign finance. But instead, I offer the diversion of beer. This weekend is the Spring Beer Fest--sort of the little brother to the summer blow-out at Waterfront Park (or is the Winter Beer Fest the little brother...?). Anyway, some decent offerings, should you be in the neighborhood of the Convention Center. (Don't wait tilJeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081448949305132982004-04-08T11:24:00.000-07:002004-04-08T11:32:52.000-07:00[Blogospherics]
Looking for a (few?) good blogger(s?)
There's a groovy project starting up that requires at least one reliable blogger--more is perhaps better. It's a bit in the hush-hush stage, so I won't give you the full lowdown here. It's going to be an ambitious blogging project that will focus mostly on Oregon politics (from the progressive side, natch). No cash will change hands, but Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081381947855160682004-04-07T16:49:00.000-07:002004-04-07T16:57:19.233-07:00[blogospherics]
I recently got a number of referrals from this site, which as you'll see (or not, depending on your computer), is in Japanese. Intrigued, I ran down a translation:
"The nightmare of Somalia occurred again. Are the U.S. Forces withdrawn like Somalia? The weaker one of mind should not look at the following link."
I don't know about you, but I found it pretty darn cool.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081355804672539172004-04-07T09:17:00.000-07:002004-04-07T09:43:44.233-07:00[Oregon Politics]
Special Session--yay or nay?
The Oregon State Legislature is considering whether the protocol they established for calling a special session is legal. Rather than having the Governor call for a special session, they created a system to do it themselves. Now there are some questions about whether it's legal. A better question is whether meeting for a special session is a Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-108126770502901742004-04-06T09:02:00.000-07:002004-04-06T09:12:20.500-07:00[Grassroots politics]
Although I want to bury Ralph, I'd also like to praise him. If you forget the last 3 1/2 years, the man did more for progressive causes than the next 99% of people combined. We owe him a debt of gratitude for 35 years of great work. But if we really want to celebrate the power of energizing the grassroots, we should look to a different leader, Dennis Kucinich. He's not Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081266536933894332004-04-06T08:35:00.000-07:002004-04-06T08:54:32.780-07:00[Presidential Election]
Nader's Nadir
When Ralph Nader can only muster 750 people to a rally in Portland, Oregon, things are grim indeed. What happened to the 10k Ralph? What happened to Green Ralph, to "Voice of the Progressives" Ralph? What happened to reforming-politics Ralph? One finds it exceedingly difficult to buy the candidate's ownanswer--they're there, they're still supportive; Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081181294979047812004-04-05T08:57:00.000-07:002004-04-05T09:15:36.653-07:00[Portland City Council Election]
EXCLUSIVE - The Oregon Blog interview with Portland City Council candidate Randy Leonard.
As part of my continuing series of interviews with political candidates, today I offer you an extended four-part interview with City Council member Randy Leonard. Mr. Leonard has a reputation as a straight shooter, and he lives up to it in this interview. Enjoy.
_______Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081180508351129852004-04-05T08:50:00.000-07:002004-04-05T09:00:53.856-07:00EXCLUSIVE - The Oregon Blog interview with Portland City Council candidate Randy Leonard.
Part One: Economy
Oregon Blog: Despite slight improvements in some sectors of the economy, unemployment remains a pernicious problem in Portland, which had a 7.8% rate in February. What can the city do to bring good jobs to Portland?
Randy Leonard: The first step in fixing a problem is to at first Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081180145587872552004-04-05T08:42:00.000-07:002004-04-05T08:53:48.780-07:00EXCLUSIVE - The Oregon Blog interview with Portland City Council candidate Randy Leonard.
Part Two: Portland's Future
Oregon Blog: Next January, for the first time in twelve years, the city will have a new mayor. Vera Katz's tenure will probably be remembered for some high-profile successes (the Streetcar, Chinese Gardens, the Pearl, and so on), yet people feel she lacked an overall vision Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081179647008994852004-04-05T08:29:00.000-07:002004-04-05T08:45:41.043-07:00EXCLUSIVE - The Oregon Blog interview with Portland City Council candidate Randy Leonard.
Part Three: The Campaign
Oregon Blog: Let's talk about the campaign. Until recently, it looked like your seat was secure. Then came the "neighborhood rebellion," in which neighborhood leaders threw their names in the ring to try to force a run-off election with you. They charge you with ignoring Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1081178878771719432004-04-05T08:00:00.000-07:002004-04-05T08:31:37.233-07:00EXCLUSIVE - The Oregon Blog interview with Portland City Council candidate Randy Leonard.
Part Four: Education, Crime, Chianti
Oregon Blog: Will the Blazers hold off Utah and Denver and make the playoffs?
Randy Leonard: Absolutely...Go Blazers!
OB: Cities are increasingly finding themselves at the center of national debates--often in pointed disagreement with federal lawmakers. In the Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080938909979532702004-04-02T12:40:00.000-08:002004-04-02T12:52:08.810-08:00[Gay Marriage]
For some reason, b!X didn't cover the Multco commishes' public hearings on gay marriage (which shows, I suppose, how dependent I've become on his reportage). Fortunately, OPB did a great job. Selected highlights below.
Pro Bob Lawrence: This movement will not be turned back. Resisted yes. Defeated, no. History's on your side. Any movement that enhances the dignity of the Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080921598673692792004-04-02T07:57:00.000-08:002004-04-02T12:42:35.216-08:00[Teaser]
Later today Monday: an interview with a major Portland candidate whose initials may or may not involve the letters R and L.
Good stuff.
[Update: This figure also may or may not be on the cover of today's Portland Tribune. More: I've decided to wait until Monday to post the interview--I'm sufficiently excited about it that I don't want to inadvertently do a "Friday news dump" thing Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080864624154118872004-04-01T16:09:00.000-08:002004-04-02T12:58:44.123-08:00Recent reference to the Oregon blog:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=David+Reinhard+is+an+idiot
I'm the top of the list!
[Update: As Matt points out, you have to key it in this way: "David Reinhard" is an idiot. And even then, I'm edged out by LGF. All of which is rather more, I imagine, than you care about.]Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080836128536545592004-04-01T08:12:00.000-08:002004-04-01T08:19:03.390-08:00[International Events]
(I hate to crosspost, but the disconnect between the President's triumphal language and the events yesterday in Iraq made me sick. The following is what I posted on Notes.)
Cognitive Dissonance
"Four Americans working for a security company were ambushed and killed Wednesday, and an enraged mob then jubilantly dragged the burned bodies through the streets of downtown Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080771655167282582004-03-31T14:18:00.000-08:002004-03-31T16:12:01.483-08:00[Gay Marriage]
Multnomah County Public Meetings on Gay Marriage
Tonight
Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 4-6pm and 7-9pm
Multnomah Building, First Floor Commissioners Boardroom 100
501 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland
Don't read all about it here tomorrow--I can't go. (Bix will have all the coverage, anyway.)Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080765164164439262004-03-31T12:14:00.000-08:002004-03-31T12:36:16.170-08:00[Media]
This guy Ed Schultz is absolutely channeling Rush Limbaugh (I'm talking Air America again). His diction, emphasis, cadence--everything. It's freakin' me out. Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080754337850227272004-03-31T09:22:00.000-08:002004-03-31T09:40:47.140-08:00[Portland Mayoral Election]
EXCLUSIVE - The Oregon Blog interview with Portland Mayoral candidate Brad Taylor.
As part of the Oregon Blog's continuing series, today I have a three-part interview with a candidate for Portland mayor, Brad Taylor. Brad's candidacy isn't well publicized, so give this interview a look. If you want to meet him in person, he'll be appearing at these locations over Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080753612308449142004-03-31T09:18:00.000-08:002004-03-31T09:24:19.403-08:00EXCLUSIVE - The Oregon Blog interview with Portland Mayoral candidate Brad Taylor.
Part One: Background and Priorities
Oregon Blog: Most people don't know much about you. Tell them a little about who you are, your background, and why you're qualified to be the mayor of Portland.
Brad Taylor: I am a husband, a father, a friend, a social justice activist, and a professional social worker. My Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080753469295923982004-03-31T09:14:00.000-08:002004-03-31T09:22:06.326-08:00EXCLUSIVE - The Oregon Blog interview with Portland Mayoral candidate Brad Taylor.
Part Two: Economy
Oregon Blog: Portland has suffered through some long years of a down economy, and a lot of people are anxious about the future. What will you do to get things jump-started?
Brad Taylor: I will implement a City Jobs program that will offer non-traditional employment and schedules that will Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080753222959840072004-03-31T08:54:00.000-08:002004-03-31T09:17:15.060-08:00EXCLUSIVE - The Oregon Blog interview with Portland Mayoral candidate Brad Taylor.
Part Three: Policy and Vision
Oregon Blog: Mark Kroeker left a mostly negative legacy on the Portland police force. What kind of changes would you make?
Brad Taylor: Our officers need more training. As Mayor, I will advocate for: pairing younger officers with more experienced officers while establishing a Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080701805566699872004-03-30T18:45:00.000-08:002004-03-31T12:14:10.013-08:00[Media]
Tomorrow at 9:00 am, tune your radios to 620 am, where you will hear the first day of (voice of a monster truck announcer) Air Amerrrrrrrrrrrica. I'm skeptical that it'll be worth a damn, but I plan on taking a radio into work tomorrow to give a listen. The cool thing is that Portland is one of just 5 cities actually broadcasting it live (I think it'll be available via the internet, Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080681588606212032004-03-30T13:01:00.000-08:002004-03-30T14:34:53.450-08:00[Blogospherics]
Some interesting doings in the blogohood.
Rob Salzman brings this great news to our attention (hey, you gotta pay for those tax cuts somehow!): Nearly 2,200 low-income families in Portland and thousands of others around Oregon could lose their federal housing assistance in the next five years under cuts proposed by the Bush Administration, according to new data released todayJeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080589119309968442004-03-29T11:38:00.000-08:002004-03-29T16:22:18.043-08:00[State Senate Election]
In what I hope will continue to be a continuing series, below is an interview with Ross Carrroll, a Democratic candidate for District 28 in the Senate. As in the past, I sent Mr. Carroll questions, and he emailed me back the responses. Below is the full, unedited text of the interview. To introduce it, I’ll include here a brief note Mr. Carroll included in his email.
Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080588995064828982004-03-29T11:26:00.000-08:002004-03-29T11:41:35.606-08:00EXCLUSIVE - The Oregon Blog interview with District 28 (Southern Oregon) Senate Candidate Ross Carroll.
Part One
Oregon Blog: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Ross Carroll: I'm 56 years old. A little over a year ago I took early retirement from Oregon Institute of technology, where I taught communications for nineteen years. I left because of threats to PERS and because I wanted to do Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080588364884208242004-03-29T11:07:00.000-08:002004-03-29T11:45:03.653-08:00Part Two
EXCLUSIVE - The Oregon Blog interview with District 28 (Southern Oregon) Senate Candidate Ross Carroll.
Oregon Blog: Oregon is confronting some very serious funding shortfalls due to the failure of Measure 30. What solutions will you offer to ensure critical services are funded?
Ross Carroll: The next legislature needs to address ground-up tax reform. The first and easiest step willJeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080412309425473462004-03-27T10:04:00.000-08:002004-03-27T10:37:00.686-08:00[Portland politics]
The Problem with Vera
Two articles in the Oregonian, one yesterday and one today, do a great job of explaining the failures of Vera Katz in process and policy.
Yesterday's article describe how, with just 9-months left in her lame-duck administration, Vera plans to try to complete 15 major initiatives. Vera Katz, just nine months from retirement as Portland's mayor, won'tJeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080324559996455482004-03-26T10:08:00.000-08:002004-03-26T10:12:47.590-08:00I also want to discuss the Oregonian article about Vera Katz's massive agenda for the next nine months, but I'll get to it later today.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080323917102701912004-03-26T09:56:00.000-08:002004-03-26T10:02:07.716-08:00I also received an email from another candidate who's not well known: Brad Taylor. His web site's a bit skimpy, but I've offered to do an interview with him for the site, so stay tuned.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080323415214522442004-03-26T09:34:00.000-08:002004-03-26T09:56:05.543-08:00Quite a bit of Portland mayoral news to mention today--apologies to everyone living and yawning outside the metro area.
A couple of days ago, I mentioned the danger I saw in dismissing "minor" candidates (read: those without massive war chests who the media refuse to cover). In response, candidate Phil Busse wrote: A few quick responses: First, why should people believe in my candidacy? I Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080321740589708382004-03-26T09:18:00.000-08:002004-03-26T09:25:45.983-08:00Despite my recent run of very bad predictions, I nevertheless climb back on the horse. Here is how Utah, Denver, and Portland will finish the regular season, according to a detailed statistical analysis I conducted yesterday. (Actually, it was more the "visual inspection" model.) 8*. Utah, 43-39
9. Portland, 42-40
10. Denver 41-41
_______________
*Last playoff spot.So now that you have my Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080239835322102262004-03-25T10:32:00.000-08:002004-03-25T10:40:39.263-08:00While I've got unions on my mind, check this out: Bill Sizemore knows that wars can be profitable for wartime profiteers. So the anti-union activist has re-declared war against public employee unions and is asking his former contributors to pay for it.
In a fundraising letter to his Oregon Taxpayers Union mailing list last week, Sizemore wrote: "It is time to stop playing footsy with the public Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080235483790360062004-03-25T08:57:00.000-08:002004-03-25T09:28:07.826-08:00I've been meaning to comment on last week's Willamette Week about Portland State University. I have a more-than-average interest in PSU--it's where I work. If you read that article (I'll try to link later--WW's site, as usual, is inaccessible), you probably took away a sense that PSU is in great shape. It read something like those old filmstrips--"University on the move!"--all excitement and Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080157267572787362004-03-24T11:02:00.000-08:002004-03-24T11:44:30.216-08:00In the face of the ever-expanding influence of wealth in politics, it seems like elections are a foregone conclusion. It's easy to tell who's going to win--you just look to see who has the most money. That money's great for hit pieces to swing elections in the final days, but it's even more important earlier in the campaign. Dollars raised, far better than any other metric, show the "Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080095132788546022004-03-23T18:25:00.000-08:002004-03-23T18:32:17.576-08:00Prime Time Baby!
The other night I was enjoying my new cable television (yes, I know, welcome to the 21st century) when I saw an ad for the Oregon Lottery on Comedy Central...prime time no-less. I recently did some work on a local, commercial insertion program for a (now) bankrupt company so I knew this slot couldn't have come cheap (and not just the time slot -- the commercial itself had to iggihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06438541848983875049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080085759182909562004-03-23T15:49:00.000-08:002004-03-23T15:52:40.840-08:00More Busse campaign news. He now has his platform online. It's 109 STINKIN' PAGES and it's .pdf, but it's online. If you're like me, ain't no way in hell you're gonna read it. (Maybe that was the plan.)
He also has a far more digestable blog up and running. You may excoriate him for verbosity there.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080085730614759892004-03-23T15:48:00.000-08:002004-03-23T15:52:12.233-08:00Thinking Phil, but not sure? I doubt any other candidate will make this promise: Did you know if you get six or more people together, Phil will join you for coffee to talk about how our campaign--and your ideas--can make our city better. And the coffee? It's on him. Just call HQ, 503-249-0283 (And, you didn't hear this from us, but sometimes Phil will even bake a pie--and we're talking good pieJeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080074040580533602004-03-23T12:30:00.000-08:002004-03-23T12:37:22.013-08:00Oh, and while we're on gay marriage (still), on the national front, legislators there have decided to back off earlier language in their own proposal to sew bigotry into the US Constitution. The revised proposal, like the original, would define marriage as between a man and a woman. But new language, backers said, would specifically allow state legislatures to continue to determine what Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080073732819796022004-03-23T12:24:00.000-08:002004-03-23T12:32:15.043-08:00While we're on gay marriage, there was a story in today's print edition of the O describing the legislature's plan--or not--to address the issue in a special session. Karen Minnis hasn't decided yet whether to plunge the House into even more violent antipathy. Presumably, she'll be waiting to see how the bigots do on their effort to qualify a measure for the ballot.
(Guess what? I hope she Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1080073374162184952004-03-23T12:18:00.000-08:002004-03-23T12:26:20.030-08:00This is an interesting decision: Benton County commissioners reversed themselves Monday and then some, voting in an emergency session to stop issuing marriage licenses to anyone -- even heterosexual couples -- until the Oregon Supreme Court rules on whether gay marriages in Oregon are legal. Benton County is participating in a complex move orchestrated by AG Hardy Myers to push a challenge to Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1079974777899822792004-03-22T08:56:00.000-08:002004-03-22T09:02:58.216-08:00There's a local MoveOn-like organization forming called Onward Oregon. They're still in beta testing of their site, but you can check it out here. At the moment, they're trying to build an email list, so if you feel so inspired, cruise over and sign up.
I'll talk more about the project when they're further along. (I've seen the more complete beta site, and they look like a welcome addition Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1079675552006547252004-03-18T21:47:00.000-08:002004-03-18T21:55:47.903-08:00Al Sharpton was never a serious candidate for President. He didn't bother to set up a national campaign. Nevertheless, he is an active candidate and he has more delegates than Dennis Kucinich. So why isn't Bill Bradbury putting him on the ballot in Oregon?
If Oregon isn't going to bother to schedule elections early enough for our votes to count, the least the Secretary of State can do is Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1079575924343180132004-03-17T18:01:00.000-08:002004-03-17T18:15:18.543-08:00In case any of you are checking the blog before heading out for a wee dram, here's a tip that ain't no blarney. The Irish Ale recently purchased by Guinness that's made it into some bars around town is spelled Smithwicks. But it's pronounced "Smitticks." At least, that's what the publican told me when I was at the County Cork last week.
Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1079556096721532522004-03-17T12:21:00.000-08:002004-03-17T12:45:52.200-08:00The Rove Gay Marriage-Maneuver
With the news that Benton County has joined Multnomah County in issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples--even after Hardy Myers opined that it was in violation of state law--I think we can say things are getting interesting. This is the year of interesting. In December, who would have thought John Kerry would breeze to an easy nomination (secured yesterday Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1079543704572562712004-03-17T09:10:00.000-08:002004-03-17T09:18:18.200-08:00While we're on the topic of gay marriage, I'll post the big news for posterity. CORVALLIS, OR 2004-03-16 (Oregon Considered) - Benton County has become the second county in Oregon to allow same-sex couples to receive marriage licenses. The three-member board of commissioners made that decision Tuesday after two and a half hours of emotional testimony....
County commissioners also now have fourJeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1079543422114460922004-03-17T09:05:00.000-08:002004-03-17T09:13:35.793-08:00Congratulations to Bix, whose commentary appeared in yesterday's Portland Tribune. He's been at the center of the gay marriage story, and has provided substantial original content. This was a great reward for all his effort.
Bloggers are moving up!Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1079481358919911722004-03-16T15:36:00.000-08:002004-03-16T16:01:00.966-08:00For some reason, the beer companies have once again put me on the press release circuit. (I used to write "The Mash" for Willamette Week.) Last week, even more suprisingly, BridgePort dropped off a sixer of their newest offering, Ropewalk Amber. I figure it's the least I can do to offer them a review. Here goes.
If Ropewalk were a car, it would be a Miata--a stylish if somewhat underpowered Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1079397927681338112004-03-15T16:41:00.000-08:002004-03-15T16:49:57.640-08:00Tre Arrow nabbed. PORTLAND, Ore. - A fugitive radical environmentalist has been arrested by federal officials on charges of bombing logging trucks in 2001, the FBI announced Monday. He was apparently detained in BC on an unrelated charge, and when his fingerprints were forwarded to the feds, they realized it was the tre-ster.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1079370570387774012004-03-15T08:50:00.000-08:002004-03-15T09:12:41.450-08:00This is pretty cool: The Democratic Party of Oregon selected three people as candidates to fill a vacancy left by Rep. Deborah Kafoury.The Multnomah County Commission will choose from between JoAnn Bowman, Tom Markgraf and Joe Smith....
Markgraf is a policy analyst for U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore. Smith is a retired prosecutor from Pendleton and former chairman of the Oregon Democratic Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4115260.post-1079141830695921592004-03-12T17:09:00.000-08:002004-03-12T17:41:43.340-08:00Hardy Myers, the Oregon State Attorney General, today gave his non-binding opinion on the question of gay marriage. In very brief, he said Multnomah County's decision clearly violates state marriage law but state marriage law appears to violate the Oregon Constitution. His words: "We can summarize our conclusions as follows: (1) current Oregon laws prohibit county clerks from issuing marriage Jeffnoreply@blogger.com