Oregon News
Blue Oregon: Giving the Push for Clean Energy an Artistic Spin
Progressives sometimes have a tendency to get caught up with numbers: the number of uninsured Oregonians, the amount of pollution coming from the Boardman Coal Plant’s smokestack, or the number of jobs that can be saved through progressive tax policies. But while numbers and statistics are incredibly important, sometimes progressive activists need to remember the power art holds to convey a progressive message and spur people to imagine the future they want.
Blue Oregon: I cannot reconcile the Two Americas
Despite being a rather small community, the town where I was raised had a rather wide variety of religions and houses of worship from which to choose. At it's population apex during my youth, there were no more than 2000 people living there, and it was the most populous town in the geographically large county where it is situated.
Blue Oregon: The Media Continues to Swallow and Regurgitate the Big Corporate Lie About Measures 66 and 67
The corporate lobby that opposed Measures 66 and 67 has taken to heart the old adage that if you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it. Sadly, it’s the media that’s swallowing and regurgitating the lie.
How else to explain the steady stream of poorly researched stories (three cited here) giving the false impression that there’s evidence the tax measures are driving businesses away?
The latest piece of shoddy journalism concerning Measures 66 and 67 appears in the Daily Journal of Commerce. In Businesses antsy to flee Oregon, the DJC reported:
Blue Oregon: It's election day in Washington
Across the Columbia, our neighbors to the north have an election day today. Here's a little preview.
First, a note about the rules of the game: In Washington, the primary election is an all-comers top-two primary. All the candidates run on the same ballot, all the voters get to choose among all the candidates, and the top two - regardless of party - move forward to November. In short, it's a general election with a November runoff (except that if you get a majority, you still have to run against the second-place finisher.)
This is the system that Oregon voters rejected in 2008 and California voters approved in June.
To the races:
Blue Oregon: Social Security: As Scott Bruun waffles, Jim Huffman brings the dork robot to town
Even now, after the meltdown of the global financial system, there are candidates for high office running in Oregon that believe we should invest Americans' Social Security funds in the financial markets.
Hard to believe, but it's true.
On Friday, Senate candidate Jim Huffman hosted publishing heir and two-time vanity presidential candidate Steve Forbes, who endorsed him. As reported on KOIN-6, "Forbes and Huffman both would like to eventually replace Social Security with private savings accounts."
Blue Oregon: Shifting the conversation about Health Care Reform
The past year the two things that have been on our minds as Americans has been the economy and health care. And, while BPs fireworks in the Gulf have been a distraction of late, I think a reflection on national health care reform is in order.
But before we get there, I’d like to reflect on how we, as progressives, interacted with that process. I think the health care reform debate is a perfect example of progressive-myopia.
Social change is glacial. It is evolutionary. It moves ahead in fits and starts. It is difficult and uncomfortable. And it is ongoing, constant, and never ending.
Throughout my graduate school career, I studied social change. And I think this is the part that hung me up. I was looking for a discrete moment in time in which 'social change' happened. But, social change is a process. And there are many actors who take the lead during different parts, but it is this process that is the key to real social change.
Blue Oregon: Spanning the State: Turn off your computer and enjoy the sun edition
This morning as I sat here gathering the clips for this piece, I couldn't help but be distracted by the absolutely gorgeous blue sky, beckoning to me from out my window. We waited an extra long time this year for a stretch of weather like this--the kind that most Oregonians find a bit much but my dahlias and tomatoes have been begging for--hot. The lush, green trees that drank so fully from what seemed a never-ending cool Spring are swaying in a light breeze, green leaves popping against the blue sky. I feel a lot like Maria in the opening act of Sound of Music, when she talks about the outside being so green and fragrant, she just has to be a part of it. Kinda corny, I know. But I'm anxious to get out there so let's Span the State!
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::gong!::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Blue Oregon: Venture Capital Continues to Say Oregon Has Good Business Climate
If venture capitalists’ money could talk, it would be telling you that Oregon is an inviting place to do business.
The latest bit of anecdotal evidence that Oregon’s business climate is good, and wasn’t harmed by Measures 66 and 67, is the news that Bend, Oregon-based G5 Marketing just landed $15 million in venture capital and plans to double its workforce. G5 Marketing’s success, The Oregonian reported, comes on top of what “has been an unusually strong year for venture capital in Oregon, which had its best first-half in four years.”
Blue Oregon: OR-3: FEC complaint filed against Delia Lopez; calls into question NRCC "Young Guns" program
For the second time, Delia Lopez is challenging Earl Blumenauer for Congress - despite the fact that she lives 150 miles from the district in Douglas County.
And while serious political observers may discount her chances in the solidly blue 3rd District, that didn't stop the NRCC from making her one of their targeted "Young Guns" candidates. (No, I have no idea what the heck they're thinking.) Rob Cornilles and Scott Bruun are also so-called "Young Guns" as well, in their races in the 1st and 5th districts.
That targeting - and, presumably, coming investment from the GOP into her race - has led to greater scrutiny of her operation.
And now, the DPO has filed a federal complaint against Delia Lopez. It seems that she's not filed the legally-required disclosure forms in her campaign for Congress.
Blue Oregon: Metro President David Bragdon to resign 9/7; appointed to top post in New York City
Metro President David Bragdon announced on Tuesday that he is resigning his post - roughly four months before the end of his term - to accept a position in long-term planning and sustainability with New York City. The announcement was made by NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg and by Metro. Bragdon was Metro's first president, twice elected regionwide - and also served one term on the Metro Council, much of it as the council's presiding officer.
Blue Oregon: Anna Griffin's Challenge (Plus Lemonade)
Before I get to what this post is really about, I have to point out that the Lemonade Crisis that Jeff Cogen faced last week was a near carbon copy of the Batboy Crisis that Robert Reich, as Bill Clinton’s Secretary of Labor, faced in 1993. An overzealous Labor Department inspector told the single-A Savannah Cardinals that having a 14-year-old batboy work past 7 at night violated child labor laws. Peter Jennings was gearing up to slam the government on World News Tonight when Reich contacted ABC, just in time (Jennings was already on the air), to say that the inspector was “off base” and that the batboy could keep his job. Sports Illustrated’s year-end roundup listed Reich’s move as one of the top ten feelgood sports moments of 1993.
Blue Oregon: They're getting married in the morning (of August 18th)
Most here are likely aware that U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled last week that California Proposition 8 is an unconstitutional double-standard. Details and the BlueO conversation about the original ruling can be found at Evan Manvel's great post on the topic.
Earlier today, Judge Walker refused to permanently stay his ruling overturning Prop 8. Instead, Walker issued a temporary hold through August 18 to give supporters time to appeal:
Blue Oregon: Reefer Madness-or the song remains the same
Ever since Kari decided to tie Blue Oregon to Facebook, a bunch of us have migrated conversations to that platform. It ain't long form or comprehensive, but it's quick and affords the reward of instant feedback, and the cherry on top is that I now have a whole bunch of new "friends" who are obliged to attend my funeral. It's your own danged fault Kari.
Blue Oregon: Central Oregon’s Rooster Rock Fire and the Conservation of the Skyline Forest
During the 2009 Legislative session, Central Oregon LandWatch helped broker a significant piece of legislation creating a unique opportunity to permanently protect over 66,000 acres of working forests in the Eastern Cascades. In exchange, the landowner – Fidelity National Timber – could site a modest development on 1,200 acres of their land in the Skyline Forest area south of Sisters.
Blue Oregon: OR-Gov: Kitzhaber challenges Dudley to seven debates
Update: 3:45PM: Dudley has agreed to appear at a debate, but not until October 7 --and it's not one from Kitz's list. According to Mapes, its a debate sponsored by Portland's KGW TV and The Oregonian. As I understand it, that's barely a week before ballots go out. Apparently Dudley thinks we don't need to know his actual positions on issues before then. Dudley's spokesperson LeRoy Coleman tells Mapes that Dudley doesn't want to debate until the fall because that's when voters are paying attention. Um...LeRoy, if voters aren't paying attention, then why are you guys shelling out giant piles of cash for TV ads? Gimme a break.
Blue Oregon: Oregon Progressives: it's time to build our brand - not react to the other guys
By Brian Fuller of Portland, Oregon. Brian is a media consultant and film & video producer.
I had a drink with some friends yesterday and the conversation rolled around to a perennial Progressive question. It’s framed different ways,
“How forcefully should we argue back?”
“Democrats aren’t angry enough!”
“We have to take the fight to them!” And, of course,
“Democrats have no balls!”
But it always means the same thing, what is the right tone?
It’s an vital, if emotional argument, and we need to find our answer.. I earnestly believe that we must not succumb to the heady and consuming joy of hitting ‘em back, as much as we must maintain a strong tone of compassion and solution. Solutions aren’t shouted, they are explained.
Blue Oregon: The history of athletes who run for office, and what it tells us about Chris Dudley
Over at Portland Monthly's August issue, Bart Blasengame takes a look at the history of professional athletes who run for public office. After all, Chris Dudley's just the latest in a long line.
As someone who blogs about sports (specifically, the Heisman Trophy race), they asked me what I thought. Here's what I told 'em:
Jumping between the two big leagues - sports and politics - isn’t new. But according to Kari Chisholm, who blogs about sports at stiffarmtrophy.com and progressive politics at blueoregon.com, the most successful jock-to-pol transitions often begin on political farm teams.
Blue Oregon: Medford Mail Tribune Cartoon: Sal Esquivel's Hot Air
The Medford Mail Tribune published a political cartoon on Sunday on their editorial page submitted by Jack Ashcraft.
Picture a weather map of the Western side of the US with a large arrow pointing from Oregon to Arizona.
"This just in! We're experiencing a big flow of hot air...it seems to be originating in Oregon's Rogue Valley.
"We have no clue where all this hot air will go next...
"Maybe Utah...
"Is it a Tornado? A micro burst? A Santa Ana? Let's ask our weather expert, Dr. Doom...Dr?
"No...looks like we'll have to call this an Esquivel!
"Is it more evidence of global warming?
"Nah...it's just an election year!
"Sal's hot air flow.
For those of you who don't know, State Rep. R-Sal Esquivel traveled to Arizona last Saturday to speak in favor of Arizona's immigration law. He's promised to bring a similar law before the Oregon legislature.
Blue Oregon: Designing the Right Columbia River Bridge for the 21st Century
Jill Fuglister, Co-Director, Coalition for a Livable Future; Mel Rader, Co-Director, Upstream Public Health; Jon Isaacs, Executive Director, Oregon League of Conservation Voters; Rob Sadowsky, Executive Director, Bicycle Transportation Alliance; and Brock Howell, State Policy Advocate, Environment Oregon
Last week, the independent Columbia River Crossing review panel, appointed by Governor Kulongoski, published a critique of the CRC project. Their review calls into question several major elements of the current proposal, including the design, financial plan, and environmental impact of the project. Their findings echo the concerns of project opponents who worry that the project is overly expensive and is completely out of line with Oregon’s vision for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Blue Oregon: CRC Compromise?
I think it's important to give credit where credit is due. While I have differed with Mayor Sam Adams on many issues, I think he deserves kudos for hammering out a potential compromise, along with Metro President David Bragdon, on the contentious Columbia River Crossing (hats off to Chris Smith for posting this on his blog).
Up to now, I've been pretty frustrated with the debate over the CRC. It seems as if the only two positions were completely in favor of the "mega" bridge, and thus in favor of all sort of evil things like sprawl and pollution, or you thought we could continue to survive with a Model-T vintage bridge, and you were anti-growth, anti-car, and anti-development.