Interesting thought on the open primaries. Not sure I want to empower ‘independents’ any more than they already are.
As for Oregon being deep blue… the Oregon legislature is split right down the middle… it would be nice if it was weighted more towards the population and less towards arborvitae and cows.
Monica Wehby was interviewed on OPB and let me just say I would definitely be looking at a second opinion if she was my kid’s neurosurgeon.
http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/thinkoutloud/segment/senate-republican-challenger-monica-wehby/
Jeff is OK, I really have no beef with him I’d just like to see more legislative results. Maybe it’s difficult for him being in Wyden’s shadow, he does not seem all that productive.
He was the major push behind filibuster reform. For a first-term senator in a highly dysfunctional Senate, I’d say he’s been unusually productive.
Wait. You’re blaming Merkley because he hasn’t had any legislative successes in the most divided and non-productive legislature in the past 100 years? In a Senate that blocks routine cabinet appointees, you think a freshman senator who is 1 of 100 should have written and enacted some signature legislation?
Are you really that dense or are you just one of those people who believe in unicorns?
Yep, it gets pretty red outside of the Portland metro area, Eugene and Corvallis and this is reflected in the legislative split. Our congressional delegation however does reflect the population.
As for the open primaries I’m independent and have no power at all under the present system. I am allowed to vote for whomever the two parties generously spin up for me. I’m pretty damn certain there are better candidates out there than Monica Wheby and Dennis Richardson. Republicans in Oregon produce miserable candidates. I’d rather have two good choices than a decent choice and an abysmal choice.
Cue the Crickets on 3…2…1
That much is true.
Don’t wet your panties people. I voted AND volunteered for Merkely both in 2008 and this season. That does not mean that I wear blinders however.
Oh, I thought we were having a pretty reasonable discussion, but I see we’ve just made the leap to gendered insults. Okay then.
KXL Radio - Home of Lars Larson and every other right wing nut job in the state. pffft…
Sooner. The point of the top two vote getter measure is to make Democrats fight it out in the primary AND the general. It’s designed in this state to weaken the democratic party. Don’t get sucked in!
Welcome to my world in California, chief.
Thanks to our version of Open Primaries, euphemistically called “Top-Two”, My choices in a large California city are the following:
I am not allowed to even write-in a candidate in the general election.
Now I am a union supporter…but the unions in California expect everyone other than them to tighten the belts in tough times (which we have had all to many of in the recent past).
And, I am a registered Democrat…but they take my vote for granted and are much more interested in very narrow, special-interest legislation like foie-gras bans and allowing 5 year olds that consider themselves to be transgendered to use the opposite-sex bathroom – as opposed to working on the very real economic problems this state has.
We were sold a bill of goods with Top-Two, and I’m sorry I voted for it. We were told we would get ‘moderates’, which has not happened. Instead, in Democratic districts we get Loyalist vs. Loyalist, and in Republican districts we get Tea vs. Tea. If this came up for repeal, I would happily vote to scrap it.
So be careful what you wish for sir.
Yah sure…I guess that’s why a former Democratic Secretary of State is a major proponent.
And everyone thinks polls are for our information, not manipulative?
Yes we are a mail in state, our ballots are here, and some probably mailed back in. Mine however are still sitting on the counter.
It would take a hell of lot more than this issue to make me vote for Dennis Richardson.
More evidence of “working the refs” by the Reich-Wing in an attempt to sway the low-information-voter to vote for their candidate.
We are seeing these co-ordinated “information” releases in many states now that there is only a week left to campaign (too little time to effectively debunk bogus polls and outright lies in ads.)
The “poll-for-hire” low-lifes who will say whatever the people paying them want them to say are coming out of the woodwork now, as are the “pundits-for-hire” who will tell you in confident terms that “candidate-A” is now the “clear leader” based on the bogus poll-for-hire.
Anyone who has not been paying attention can be swayed by these tactics and it’s up to the rest of us an the REAL JOURNALISTS (few and far between) to correct these statements (no thanks to shills like Chuck Todd who “don’t think it’s their job to call out falsehoods by candidates”.)
Voting and volunteering for Merkley isn’t the issue here. It’s your unrealistic expectations and apparent cluelessness about how government works or, in this case, doesn’t work.
Please DO tell me more about my beliefs and expectations oh wise one! You are so very prescient…
lol!
Yep, that’s something of a concern here also and it does seem a valid one in districts that lean heavily in either direction and it’s a real problem, one that warrants non-partisan redistricting.
How is it affecting your state-wide races?
So far we haven’t had a Dem-Dem contest for high constitutional office…yet.
But it’s been close. And we have also come close to having too many Dems splitting the pot in one office, and there being an outside chance of a Rep-Rep contest.
But downballot in our congressional, state assembly, and state senate races, there has been a good deal of Dem-Dem and Rep-Rep…and the third parties/indies have been completely shut out.
(which I suspect was one of the more desirable unstated hopes of the Big Two when they crafted the law)
We have the same concerns here over the state senate and representatives. Probably better to have a choice between decent candidates than between Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
Surprised to hear that the Big Two crafted your bill, they’ve been fighting it tooth and nail here.
Kitzhaber will still likely win because Oregon voters are locked into a party mentality. Anyone else tired of the two party system? When will politicians AND voters do what’s good for the people, instead of the party? Hope you might consider me as your Write In Candidate for Oregon Governor. I’m not affiliated with a party and I don’t accept donations.
Royce Cantrell for Oregon Governor
The “Write In” Candidate for You!
Website: www.democracy.com/roycecantrell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Royce-Cantrell-Candidate-for-Oregon-Governor-14/730306123717994
Twitter: Royce Cantrell @roycecantrell14
Email: roycecantrellgov@gmail.com
Campaign Headquarters: 541.409.2218 (Issues and Interviews)