Hardball
The front page of today's Oregonian has an article worth reading about the brand of politics being played in the Capitol this year.
Discuss.
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July 01, 2005
Posted in in the news 2005. |
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Jul 1, '05
I will always regret Martha Schrader's overconfidence in thinking she could defeat Wayne Scott without heavy campaigning because she started out with a highly positive reputation in the Canby area. Instead, sleazy Wayne Scott is playing hardball, and the victim is the state, and the idealism of a high school principal. Honestly, who the hell messes with a high school principal, even one turned politician? That's like a Republican beating up a nun who happens to think JFK was cute.
I really hope this all turns out to be posturing, for the sake of needed improvements in Bandon. It is one of those situations where a politician's desire to do what he thinks is right, and what is best for his constituents, doesn't seem to have dovetailed thus far.
Jul 1, '05
I called my own Republican state rep. whose staffer admitted Scott did nothing for the reputation of Republicans or the legislature, and that perhaps many thought he was speaking for himself and not for all members of the majority.
I called Scott's office, and the staffer sounded stressed like there had been nothing but complaints coming into the office. GOOD!
I called other Republican offices with the message that ordinary Oregonians admire fair play, and the idea that Scott thinks for all Oregonians would be a good way for them to lose the majority. I suggested that voting for the airport would be a good way for members to show Scott doesn't speak for them--another way would be to say something to a reporter about their views of the Scott remark. I had mixed success, but was amazed by the number of staffers who agreed that yes, Scott's crack didn't make them look good; and yes, a Majority Leader shouldn't be blaming a freshman of the minority party.
2:52 p.m.
Jul 1, '05
Please.
This is the standard for Theo/NeoCon Republicans ever since they ran the moderates out of the party back in the '80s. They enforce discipline that Democrats can only dream of because Dem leadership, regardless of tactical or ideological disagreements, will never stoop to outright blackmail and punishment of dissent to this degree.
Scott's just showing us "the man behind the curtain" and that's the only thing that embarasses his peers in R leadership.
It'll provide some great ammo for Jon and the rest of the Gunslingers come election time.
The only thing worse than ignorant Repubs that actually buy the party line, and cynical Repubs that push it, is a weird hybrid like Scott who manages to be both.
3:14 p.m.
Jul 1, '05
So you got me motivated. Let's see if the O prints this:
Dear Editor,
Oregonians have become used to partisanship and deadlock in Oregon's do-nothing state legislature. We did not realize that legislative leaders are now resorting to petty games of revenge.
In order to punish a fellow legislator, Representative Wayne Scott quashed bipartisan legislation to run an airport upgrade in North Bend, something that both Republican and Democrats agree is sorely needed. What was Arnie Roblan's crime? Apparently, he had a principled disagreement with Scott on the amount of funding needed for Oregon's public schools in the next biennium, and voted with his principles (and his district).
In the Oregon statehouse, voting your conscience or having honest partisan disagreements has become an offense so severe that some politicians are willing to sacrifice our proud state's economic future. This is a sad commentary on Oregon's do-nothing legislature.
Jul 1, '05
As a resident of Coos Bay, I find it appalling that Representative Scott is "punishing" Representative Roblan for standing up for Oregon's K-12 students. I applaud Roblan for following through with his campaign promise. I only wish the Republicans would follow suit. If Wayne Scott believes so much in economic expansion for the betterment of Oregon, then why has he threatened to kill a bill that has bipartisan support from everyone but his members? It makes no sense.
I think it's time to let Rep. Scott hear that his Tom Delay-esque type of hardball politics makes all Republicans look bad. I called his office to let him know this and received the same type of indifference as LT. He may have been able to ignore LT and my own comments but he cannot ignore all of us. I suggest that everyone should call him at 503-986-1400 and let him know that his brand of politics hurts Oregon.
Jul 1, '05
If I lived in Coos County (and I might someday as I already own property there), I think I would find myself in the position of having to consider voting for a Republican - for only the fourth or fifth time in 30+ years of voting.
Jul 1, '05
Steve Bucknum, why? Do you support the actions of Wayne Scott?
1:08 a.m.
Jul 2, '05
I think if I lived in Coos Bay, I'd be so damned furious at the GOP majority for screwing around with my town that I'd a) work to re-elect Arnie Roblan, and b) go on the road to help defeat GOPers all over the state.
This is an abuse of power, plain and simple.
Jul 2, '05
Here's what I sent in (and cc'd Wayne "the Hammer" Scott, Arnie Roblan, and my own legislators--Roblan's staff wrote back a nice note of thanks and Rep. Nolan a note of thanks as well)
Dear Oregonian,
Thank you for today's front-page story on how Rep. Wayne Scott and the Republicans in Salem are choking economic development while exacting revenge on a Democratic lawmaker who dared to vote in support of adequate school funding. I am greatly disturbed by the Orwellian tactics at work here: the Republicans cynically dismiss the responsible, moderate Democratic plans to fund schools as "political stunts." (The House Republicans gave huge tax breaks to the wealthy and refused to consider increasing the $10 corporate income tax, thus making it impossible to find enough money for schools.) And now Rep. Scott is attempting to paint Rep. Roblan, the victim of a blatant political power play, as the bad guy.
We need responsible leadership in Salem. The Republicans' strong-arming and misleading tactics are bad for Oregon.
Jul 2, '05
How many more examples of pathetic leadership do we need before we get smart enough to throw them all out and start again? I am entirely repulsed by the petty game-playing, partisan infighting and outright chicanery at the Capitol...all while they're asking us to trust them and re-elect them as leaders.
No excuse for this kind of behavior.
1:44 p.m.
Jul 2, '05
It would be a mistake to dismiss the extension of the North Bend airport as a perk for owners of corporate jets tooling in for a round at Bandon Dunes.
If the extension makes the runway long enough for corproate jets, it also makes it long enough for the regional jets flown by Horizon Air, United Express and Delta Connection. Oregon's entire Bay Area -- the most populated area on the Oregon Coast -- is now served by Horizon Air's tubo prop airliners. Regional jets would offer greater range, more capacity and perhaps the choice of more destinations to the entire Coos Bay area.
Decades ago, the Transp[ortation Commission made a conscious decision not to build a limited access highway to Coos Bay, denying the area the economic benefts of greater access.
Now spiteful partisan politics is dealing another blow to this economically underdeveloped area of the state. Coos Bay needs the passenger and freight capacity a longer runway and larger pplanes will provide. Wayne Scott needs to be paraded on the Capitol Mall and whipped like a dog -- with tongues, of course ;-)
Jul 2, '05
Cab -
Ever read the paper at noon, and then blog much later thinking you understood something one way when it was the exact opposite?
Opps. I had the party affiliation exactly backwards.
Jul 3, '05
Good to hear. You think others who read this story will have the same reaction if they don't read a blog? I find many stories in the MSM are written overly confusing giving to much weight to obvious faulty arguments just to keep the supposed "balanced". This story is pretty simple Wayne Scott is being a petty ass.