How about running Kari Chisholm?

I renew my call for the Honorable Secretary of State Bill Bradbury to stand against the Neo-Con running on the Republican ticket..

The U.S. Senator that ran in '02 against Mr. Bradbury will not be the same U.S. Senator that runs in '08! His hollow rhetoric will be free campaign adds against him in '08!!! Smith is tied at the hip to corporate lobbyists and will have an impossible hill to climb justifying his record since the last election. I see no better way to hightlight, and take advantage of this weakness than to have the same man stand at the podium that was their when these lies began!!

Flip-Flop, Flip-Flop that cost Oregonians blood and treasure, Flip-Flop, Flip-Flop that ran American prestige in the world in the ground, Flip-Flop, FLip-FLop that was the worst Congress and Senate in American history thanks to Republicans that most certainly include Gordon Smith!!!

Bill Bradbury stands a head above the proposed candidates aside from DeFazio, and Blumenauer, and I don't think the state or the nation will be well served for them to surrender their valuable committee assignments, and seniority!

Happy Thoughts;

Dan Grady

I still see a huge sake up about the happen...Blumenauer and Defazio both ran state-wide adds for the 2006 primary. That says they are running state wide for something in 2008.

Let’s see, both have been in the house for long time, both are beloved in their home districts and both see that Oregon is shifting from a "Mountain West Blue State" to a "West Coast Blue State."

An opportunity has shown itself and in 2008 I believe to very ambitious men are going to try to take that opportunity (Also this could be the most contentious democratic primary in Oregon's history with the Republic of Eugene facing off against the Republic of Portland...Good times).

So if my theory is right then Oregon will have two vacant Congressional seats. The Forth congressional will be wide open, which will not be a lock for a democrat and it will take a very politically moderated democrat with great credentials on land use to win. (Candidates include: Susan Castillo, Kitty Piecey, Bill Dwyer, Vicki Walker, Lee Beyer and major Dark Horse: Former Roseburg Legislator....John Kitzhaber).

And the Third Congressional will be open and it will be a bloodbath. But this is where Gardner comes in (not to mention every Democrat who has served in office higher then city dog catcher in the greater Portland-Metro area and Steve Novick).

This should be fun to watch...but one scary thing is if this happens coupled with an open Treasure's and Sec of State seat in 2008, Oregon Dems could lose 70% of its up an coming Democrats to higher office and/or contentious primaries.

Posted by: Walker - Texas Ranger | Dec 21, 2006 9:39:26 AM

Do you not think that a strongly endorsed candidate by the existing SOS Bill Bradbury would not have the sway to put another Democrat in the seat??

Kari,

I would like to agree with you that the two of them wouldn't square off against each other...but...Wyden isn't leaving anytime soon...this will be the last chance for both of them to make it to the U.S. Senate.

Maybe they will both just play chicken and then one will back down at the last minute....but neither of these guys are known for blinking.

I also don't believe losing an elections makes you a favorite next time (unless you're Gordan Smith)....the only thing losing an election makes you is a loser.

Dear Mr. Grady,

No.

Sincerely,

The 70% of Oregonians who don't know that Oregon even has a Secretary of State.

I still think Blumenauer would make a much better gubernatorial than senate candidate. And DeFazio's "as independent as Oregon" catchphrase is tailor-made for a statewide senate race. We'd have heavyweights like Castillo or Bradbury who could run in OR-04. If DeFazio really doesn't want to do this, Westlund would be a good choice. I'd like to see some polling on this race.

If we want to have ANY chance against Gordon Smith, it can only happen with someone with huge state-wide name recognition (Kulongoski, Kitzhaber, and Wyden are about the only three who fit that bill) or a clear path to winning a county that Smith must win (like Clackamas or Marion counties).

If Ted and John are out, we need to look for someone like Senators Kurt Schrader or Rick Metsger or House Majority Leader Dave Hunt.

Health Issue??? What are we talking about her, I had no idea that Bill Bradbury was ill??

Also, how did Bradbury get branded a partisan, and why??

The 70% of Oregonians who don't know that Oregon even has a Secretary of State.// Posted by: Walker - Texas Ranger | Dec 21, 2006 10:30:41 AM

Every business, every ballot, every security, every license process dealing with money touches the SOS and you think 70% of the Oregonians don't know we have a SOS???

You have a very low opinion of Oregonian! As a newer resident I have observed a much greater awareness than that, and I think Bradbury is seen as anything but partisan as well as elections go off around the state!

bradbury has multiple sclerosis.

bradbury has multiple sclerosis.// Posted by: peter | Dec 21, 2006 1:32:05 PM

This is a condition people live with for many years, so I'm wondering if he knew about it before his 2002 bid for the US Senate, as well I don't see him slowing down as the SOS!!

A debilitating medical condition doesn't mean they are unable to serve in a political office!! There are many examples of a vast range of medical conditions that has little to do with the service of many Representatives, and Senators!!!

I agree with Steve 100%, we need to campaign against him starting now--but not only too say:"Well he was doing what the other R's where doing, or He is a yes-man for Bushco, or He is just a neo-con R." Get the facts on why each of the votes hurts Oregon and USA at the same time. Make him defend himself on this and we can have a good shot of taking him out. If we wait or just do the typical anti-Bush statements--we will be crushed.

The SOS would be the best possible candidate to run against Smith, since he did it before-great statewide name-and he has worked on the other side of the aisle of him.

hey, i was just answering the question about what bradbury's health issue was. i think he'd be a wonderful candidate.

and steve's hit the nail on the head about gordo's potential oppenent. nothing is going to change with respect to iraq at all until january 21, 2009 at 12:01, the second a new president is in power.

Kari, my apologies for not realizing you have too much integrity to consider a political career. ;-)

Whoever opposes Smith may have a unique opportunity. I'm convinced that Bush's new way forward will closely follow the plan put forward by his neocons: escalation, more death, and bigger failure. The Democratic Presidential candidate in the aftermath of that will likely have long coat tails.

If I posted twice, apologies.

I'll take anyone-but-Smith. Would someone who has a chance kindly run against him in '08?

I'm all in and I think there are a lot of people who want Smith out.

I think Smith can be defeated by the right candidate.

Bradbury's illenss is something to consider. Every case of MS is different, but most who have it encounter enormous fatigue issues. I wonder if he would have stamina for a concerted campaign effort, or for the stresses of serving in Washington.

Some MS sufferers also have cognitive difficulties, but Bradbury is enough of a mensch that I think he would be honest about that if it becomes an issue.

DeFazio is too left for statewide consumption. Blumenauer is a more astute politician, astute enough to determine whether he can knock off Smith.

I find the postings regards to "whether" Gordon Smith is beatable or not puzzling!

I find the record of this Senator of little backbone as mostly a punch board version of a Senator that has shown himself to be without a genuine version of him. A follower, certainly not a leader!! The speech against the war timed liked a teenager's last attempt to avoid grounding! This kind of leadership in a Senate seat insures a partisan rubber stamp with no spine when a party, or president, or colleague needs to be stood up to for things like WAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The man has spoken out of both sides of his face for the 12 years he served, and I dare say a strong campaign pointing this out would be impossible to overcome!!

No matter his previous support in rural counties, this Senator is more than just vulnerable, and his record is packed full of castasropic failure!! The man sez he’s a conservative that has overseen the worse budgetary Senate in history, insane foreign military adventures, environmental decimation, and the most prolific attack against our civil liberties in American History , and stood silent, always silent!?!

If we can’t field a winner against this guy, war chest overflowing or not, we don’t deserve to lead!! Affability should have been worn out long ago on the most devoted Republican, and if your likeable or not should not be a hurdle with a simple contrasting of how “likeable” they kept saying Bush was!!!! The two have been tied to the hip until Gordon found the waters to deep and noticed his mentor drowning in his own rhetoric.

This other Senator has been a dismal example of Oregon leadership, and Oregonian values that I have observed, and I don’t think it should be to difficult to make a case that which party you belong to should have nothing to do with whether he should be sent back to Washington!!

Happy Thoughts;

Dan Grady

"DeFazio is too left for statewide consumption. Blumenauer is a more astute politician, astute enough to determine whether he can knock off Smith."

DeFazio is no further left than Blumenauer. In fact, he's probably more conservative on social, environmental, and immigration issues. And he's shown that his brand of economic populism can win over rural swing voters.

Again, the only way we beat Smith is by weakening his argument that he provides regional and ideological balance to our Senate delegation.

HOw about Barbara Roberts? She is one of the best campaigners in the state, is well known, and could have EMILYS List support?

Let's ask the folks in the 2nd, 4th and 5th Cong. Districts how well they think she would do. Or for that matter, would all residents of Washington and Clackamas County be receptive?

<h2>Not to mention whether she would want to re-enter elective politics. This is serious business, and how do we know that someone who has left elective politics would fit 2008 and would want to do it?</h2>