Again, lets be real--we could win this one, but not with Earl.

Yes! Run Earl Run! I've got your back!

The real question is, does Earl and do the constituents of OR-03 really want to give up his seniority in the House for a shot at the Senate?

What seniority? It will be years, if not decades, before he's a committee chairman. He can get much more done in the Senate, even as a freshman.

I gotta tell you guys, the Republicans would absolutely love to see Blumenauer run against Smith. All of them that are totally angry at Smith will hold their nose and vote against Earl and he cannot win any of rural Oregon. You'd be handing Smith a gift and I, a Republican that's had it with him, don't want you to do that.

While it's pure speculation on my part, isn't there some reason to believe that the Congressman is loyal to Speaker Pelosi, and that with the new Democratic majority in the House, he wants to fully explore the possibilities there?

Wake up guys and gals. 1) a progressive agenda is fine in oregon - TED K was not running a moderate agenda, he was running a progressive agenda and on a progressive record PRO - Choice, Pro - Gay marriage, Pro health care fore kids, Pro Increasing the tax burden on coorporations, Pro Education funding increase, Pro environment. He won with 12 counites by approx.114,000 votes. 2) John Kerry if i remember correctly only won 6 counties in oregon and won by approx. 76,000 votes 3) Al Gore i think only won 2 or 3 counties and won by Approx. 7000 votes 4) Out of 22 states polled George bush is less popular in oregon than anywhere else. 5) rural oregon is great but wake up it is not all that neccessary to win. a candidate needs to be able to win big in multnomah, and lane, and lose small in most other large counties. And the most important large counties after LANE and MULT are Washington and Clackamas and where are they located and who Do they keep electing Darlene hooley and David Wu. 6) Earl Can Win this come on he is one the smartest people in DC, Will Craft a Complelling and inclusive campaign and campaign agenda that has broad appeal, has the ability to raise money, communicate effictively, work hard, and truely cares about oregonians all oregonians. And probably the support of many national figures who he has been campaign and raisning money for, for several election cycyles now. 7) I would vote, contribute, and work for, Earl all day long and late into the night.

Middle to lower rung on Transportation and Infrastructure is a plum? Hell in the new Congress he isn't even on the Foreign Affairs committee anymore...

Earl no longer serves on Transportation. Ways and Means, on which Earl now sits, is an exclusive committee. Meaning, if you serve on it, you don't serve on any other committees.

Middle/low rung on that committee, though, is a huge plum. One that all nearly 435 members covet.

"BlueOregon is a place for progressive Oregonians..."

Blumenauer is not a member of the Progressive Caucus because...he's not a progressive. He is opposed to defunding the occupation as outlined in the work of Barbara Lee, Lynn Woolsey, Jim McGovern, Dennis Kucinich, et al (71 in all, last time I checked). He is opposed to impeachment of war criminals. He is opposed to ending support for Israeli crimes. If, in addition, and I'll take your word for it, he's "too liberal" for rural Oregon voters, why even bother?

You people need to decide if you're progressives (as you claim) or if you're merely shills for ideologically challenged Democrats.

If you're progressives, then support progressives and demand that they take progressive positions on those issues most important to their constituents.

If you're shills, then you better do a better job shilling because the public overwhelmingly believes that your primary positive quality is that you're not Republicans.

I'm just saying you want the republicans that are po'd to not vote. They won't not vote if you run earl.

Moderate republican-

What is it about Earl that so pisses off republicans, exactly?

As far as I can tell, he's a pretty middle-of-the-road kind of guy on just about every issue, and he'd probably do a pretty good job representing the rural interests of the state.

I would definitely encourage Earl to run for this seat. With the right campaign and team, he could win it. And his district is one of the safest Democratic seats in the nation, so there's pretty much no chance of a non-Dem replacing him in the House.

Plus, Wake UP mentioned, "election cycyles", which I can only interpret to mean bicycles involved in elections, and Earl is definitely our #1 pro-bike legislator. It would be great to have such a pro-bike voice in the Senate!!!

Wake up====you have to start paying attention. Teddy K has never run anywhere (accept away) on the gay marriage issues. yes, he does support the non discrimination, but he has never run for Governor in support of gay marriage

Earl... the serious candidate.

Wearing a serious bow tie.

Riding a serious bicycle.

With a serious campaign photo (see above).

Is this a guy going for the cover of GQ, or running a serious campaign for US Senator.

Don't get me wrong, I like Earl. Right where he is. In Mult Co. Earl does not wear as well in Clack or Wash Counties. And I don't think many ranchers on the East Side would think much of bowtie Earl riding his cute bike up their gravel driveways, mining for votes.

But GQ Earl, bowtie and bicycle, plays perfectly in the middle of StumpTown USA.

A fair number of progressive and green activists have still never forgiven the Earl Blumenauer who "Organized and chaired the Democrats for Hatfield campaign" against Harry Lonsdale in 1990.

If they haven't, that was 16 years ago and they long since should have. Blumenauer and Elizabeth Furse, who joined him in supporting Hatfield, both won Democratic primaries for congress shortly after that. While Blumenauer might not be the first choice of some of the natural resource groups, they certainly aren't going to lose their enthusiasm for beating Smith if Blumenauer is his opponent.

I don't think many ranchers on the East Side would think much of bowtie Earl riding his cute bike up their gravel driveways, mining for votes.

They will all vote for Smith anyway. No one should worry about Eastern Oregon. Smith isn't worried about how he will play to the Hawthorne crowd and there are almost as many, if not more, of them as their as there are ranchers on the east side. The election is going to be decided on the west side of the Cascades.

The larger question is who well Blumenauer plays to Clackamas and Washington Counties. My impression is that they see him as an effective advocate for Portland. If he convinces them he will be an advocate for them, I don't think his bow-tie or bike will stand in the way. Competence plays well in the suburbs.

I agree....rule out the country folk on the other side of the mtns...focus on Wash and Clack Counties...that makes sense.

So, does the Bowtie and Bicycle shtick work in the 'Burbs? I know if works well in the Hawthorne and Pearl districts, even TrendyThird St.

But the Burbs? I don't see Clack County giving Earl the love that the dense apartment dwellers would give him.

I mean, what has the Earl done for the Burbanites, anyway?

Bike lanes?

No Child Left Behind?

Help me out here!

Earl should run. People in Oregon -- all except hardcore koolaid drinkers -- are ready for dramatic change. Earl wouldn't even be that dramatic of a change. Just some needed clear thinking and honesty. Not enough posters here realize how vulnerable Smith is this time around, after all the repuking debacles. Earl can beat him easily. I say you should run, Earl. Declare Early, declare now. Go for it.

Jack wrote: ......the other Republican, Wyden.

Jack, I know that stuff just kills over at your blog, but if you're going to make another tired, drive-by comment about Wyden, how's about backing it up? This isn't new material for you. Here's Bill Hooker's unanswered response from more than a year ago:

Posted by: Bill Hooker | Feb 16, 2006 9:46:36 AM

[Jack wrote:] You keep calling Wyden a Democrat.

In the spirit of Kari's request: in the first 320 votes in the 109th Congress, Wyden voted with the consensus Democratic party position 93% of the time. That's a fairly narrow window on his career (and I haven't had time to add more data to the worksheet), but it still looks like a pretty party-line voting record to me.

Over at Project Vote Smart, you can read through Wyden's answers to the NPAT, check out his campaign finances (from OpenSecrets.org), see how his voting pleases or displeases a variety of conservative and progressive interest groups and go over his voting record.

A brief sampling: from the NPAT, Wyden is pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-affirmative action, pro-single payer HCS, pro-new stem cell lines, pro-UN and anti-travel ban to Cuba. From the interest groups, Wyden is pretty much in line with NARAL and Planned Parenthood, but opposes the preferred stance of the Natl Right to Life Committee; with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Americans for the Arts; against the National Taxpayers Union and Americans for Tax Reform; mixed on business groups but pretty solid with Public Citizen's Congress Watch; with the ACLU and even more strongly with NAACP and HRC; pretty solidly against all of the identified "conservative" groups (John Birch, CWA, Christian Coalition, et al.); with the Education groups; and so on and on.

Looks like a Democrat to me.

Your turn, Jack. Show me the data.

Anyone to the right of Ralph Nader and Dennis Kucinich IS a corporate sell out Republicrat. Compared to the majority of United States politicians Kucinich and Nader are extemeists, but compared to the rest of the world they are mainstream. The United States compared to the rest of the world is an extremist politically and we shouldn't re-align our political spectrum by absorbing the common extremism and accepting it as "centrist". Just because everyone does it doesn't mean it is centrist, it could be we are surrounded by extremists. ("Centrists" here support travesties all the time. Most recently pre-emptive attacks on Lebanon and Iraq.)

Wyden went from supporting repeal of the estate tax to carving out one of the most progressive positions in the US Senate on taxes in late 2005 primarily as a result of Katrina. He was also one of only 23 Senators to vote against the original war resolution -- a difficult and courageous vote at the time. I don't agree with all apects of Wyden's health care plan, but appreciate he's starting a conversation about universal coverage.

I don't see elected representatives having their positions evolve the great outrage that you do.

You working for Ron now, Charlie?

No Jack, I'm helping fix the NFL.

Before this speculaton goes any further, could one of the major wonks out there tell me if there ever was a congressman who walked away from a seat on Ways and Means to run for Senate?

Voters around the country are responding with astounding favor to progressive populists who take on the exploitive corporate cabal and their lobbyists on K Street (Beltway Bandits).

Schweitzer of Montana, Jim Webb of Virginia, Speitzer of New York, et al.

He have a talented potential candidate of that stripe here in Oregon: Peter DeFazio. DeFazio may not do it but I guarantee, Smith prays that Peter won't.

I'm one of those people Blumenauer repesents, or in my view, fails to represent, in northern Clackamas County.

I totally fail to understand the enthusiasm for milquetoast do-nothing Blumenauer.

Doesn't work for peace, doesn't work for labor, doesn't work for the enviroment. Appears to be totally locked in to pro-Israel imperialism and pro-free-trade imperialism. Afraid of his own shadow, or something, that prevents him from ever taking a strong stand on the environment, which one would think would be a big vote-getter in his district. Doesn't seem to care about democracy issues either.

Can anyone here explain why they think this do-nothing time-server would be either a good candidate or a good Senator?

Pacific Coast Ron Doesn't work for peace, doesn't work for labor, doesn't work for the enviroment. Appears to be totally locked in to pro-Israel imperialism and pro-free-trade imperialism. Afraid of his own shadow, or something, that prevents him from ever taking a strong stand on the environment, which one would think would be a big vote-getter in his district. Doesn't seem to care about democracy issues either. JK His primary calling is sellings bikes, and toy trains. Is a card carrying member of the congestion coalition which is working to make congestion worse.

Pacific Coast Ron Can anyone here explain why they think this do-nothing time-server would be either a good candidate or a good Senator? JK In my opinion he is not fit for office because he is trying to shove his carless lifestyle down our throats.

Thanks JK

I've been on the right side of the montians long enough to see many changes in political possilities. I lived here when Ron Wyden didn't have a snowball's chance of winning an election for the Senate. Then he won and he worked his a** off for the whole state. Then I lived here when Wyden won an election by a pretty healthy margin.

I lived here when Gordo Smith couldn't lose an election, not because he was a great politician but because he was a Republican. Then he won and didn't do much of anything except go along to get along.

Now I live here where the Wyden is the preferred Senator and Smith can be beat. But we have to come up with the right candidate to enable that to happen. Earl, as much as I like him, is not that candidate. Ben Westlund is.

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2007/02/354241.shtml

There are progressives here in Portland.

Here's a sample of what they have to say to each other:

"I wonder when Bush attacks Iran and begins WW3 how Blumenauer will live with himself. Not only is he acting in complete disregard for the constitution, which was expressly designed to protect against the abuses of power of the Bush administration, but he is doing so because of partisanship. He, like most politicians, is a disgusting excuse for a human being. I sincerely hope there is a solid candidate running against him in 2008."

Smith, Blumenauer, and a progressive candidate: Bring it on.

Joe Dough... I went and read that indymedia story. Those folks are upset because Earl isn't leading the charge for impeachment.

Can we put down the bong and realize that long drawn-out hearings on impeachment are exactly what the right-wing nutjobs want?

Does anyone think that it's actually possible to impeach the president? Are there really 16 Republican Senators who would consider it - under any circumstances?

If not, what's the point?

Nevermind, I'm bored already.

You "progressives" on blueoregon who get bored with concepts like morality, truth, ethics, and law are CORRECT. Those who tell you that you are nothing but cynical, bush-lite, fascistic scumbags should be ashamed of themselves, for obviously you are the brave new wave of the future.

When Ford picked DOle in '76, a columnist said that the ticket would play all the way from Grand Rapids, MI to Topeka. KS. Blumenauer for Senate would play all the way from Gresham to the to the West Hills. Of course, if the Republicans are as unpopular in '08 as during the '06 midterms, Earl could have a shot. Those years only come around one every one or decades, though. I think Earl is too identified with urban issues to win much outside of Portland. You can't compare a challenger by Earl to they Wyden/Smith race. either. Wyden was taking on a one term state senator, not a two term U.S. Senate incumbent. DeFazio would be stronger, but apparently isn't running.

I just put down my bong, and, gosh, you're right, Frank. That dope really gets in the way of seeing things the way they really are: two and only two parties, indivisable under corporatism, with liberty and justice for the rich.

How could I have thought that Americans are capable of supporting candidates committed to peace and justice? The one and only necessary qualification for office is whether the candidate can raise enough corporate cash to win the next election. I believe Earl Blumenauer can raise that cash! Run, Earl, run!

The wishes of Oregon Would Be Truly resolved We would get rid of The Elitist Earl and Get Gordo out of the Senate As well? Could It Really Truly Be? Run Earl Run

What's needed in OR 02 CD isn't a win, it's a decent percentage, a 40 would more than do. But, a 40 has to be done in the face of Smith's posturing on rural issues, that is a question. Earl does have name recognition out here, if that's a help or not is a real open question.

By the way, I've paid pretty close attention to Ron Wyden and some to Jack Bog, I vastly prefer what's been said and done by Ron.

Run, Earl, Run! Really? For whom? For himself or for Oregonians and this country? I have an evidence that he is ignoring, violating and criminal contempting our Constitution and the Code of Ethics for Government Employees. What he did for this nation? US government is funding many countries which do not support us, where people are saying "Death America" and are celebrating killing of our people. Fed government is giving money and food to countries where people do not work, but spending time in training terrorists camps to kill Americans. And same time fed government cut $200 million from American families, from the Oregon counties. And vote for Blumenauer? Oh, NO! This parasite of our society is in office 23 years and is sucking taxpayers.

Pavel Goberman - Candidate for US Senator in 2008

I am amazed at the off-the-wall comments Blue Oregon draws (not you Charlie). We should be so lucky as to have Earl Blumenauer take on Gordon Smith. He would have the best chance of anyone else in the State at this time -- anyone, and that certainly includes Peter DeFazio, John Kitzhaber or Ted Kulongoski.
Earl's record is, for 35 years, marked by real accomplishment. He has not ALWAYS been gutsy or wise. He has not always led the way on the most important issues. But he is smart, hard-working and a credibly progressive Democrat. I think his brand of politics would play pretty well in the suburbs of the Willamette Valley -- which are not just Clackamas and Washington Counties -- and which will decide the outcome. For those who care about actually beating Smith, not a lay-up by any means, you should hope Earl makes the race.
I do not expect he will get in, however, because of his newfound clout and role in the House of Representatives. People who wait for him to announce, before deciding what to do themselves, are foolish.