Kate Brown will resign as Senate Majority Leader
Sunday night, Senator Kate Brown (D-Portland) announced that she'll step down as the Senate Majority Leader at the end of the session.
At a meeting today of the Senate Democratic Caucus, Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown (D-Portland), informed her colleagues she would be stepping down as Majority Leader after the 2007 Legislature adjourns and a new leader is elected.“It has been an honor to lead this caucus for the last nine years, and I want to thank my caucus members for their support,” said Senator Brown. “We have done remarkable work together, and we have delivered on our commitment to bring real progress for all Oregonians.”
Over at Ridenbaugh Press, blogger Randy Stapilus has already started the guessing game:
What’s the reason Oregon Senator Kate Brown said, as she did this evening, that she will step down as Senate majority leader (though presumably not from the Senate)? She said today that she’s doing it, but not why. ...Another prospect is an impending run for higher office, an idea which is bound to raise some interest. Does she have interest in the U.S. Senate next year, or something else?
Not many answers yet.
Discuss.
|
June 25, 2007
Posted in in the news 2007. |
More Recent Posts | |
Albert Kaufman |
|
Guest Column |
|
Kari Chisholm |
|
Kari Chisholm |
Final pre-census estimate: Oregon's getting a sixth congressional seat |
Albert Kaufman |
Polluted by Money - How corporate cash corrupted one of the greenest states in America |
Guest Column |
|
Albert Kaufman |
Our Democrat Representatives in Action - What's on your wish list? |
Kari Chisholm |
|
Guest Column |
|
Kari Chisholm |
|
connect with blueoregon
Jun 25, '07
Oregonian: "In an interview Sunday night, Brown confirmed she will not seek re-election for her senate seat next year"
6:19 a.m.
Jun 25, '07
From that same article:
"Some have suggested she might run for U.S. Senate next year, although she has denied plans to do so. She also is on some lists as a contender for governor in 2010."
It'll be interesting to find out what her plans for the future will be.
Diane Rosenbaum and Carolyn Tomei are the two state representatives for the senate district. I'd imagine one of them will end up running for the senate seat.
That would mean another state representative seat in Portland that would be up for grabs.
Looks like there's going to be an even more interesting primary season in Multnomah County this coming May.
Jun 25, '07
When did Brown rule out a US Senate run? I guess I missed that.
7:26 a.m.
Jun 25, '07
Seems likely she would run for SOS, then maybe Governor after that?
7:33 a.m.
Jun 25, '07
It may be that she was asked by reporters and said she didn't plan to.
SOS was something that came to mind when I heard she was giving up he Senate seat.
Jun 25, '07
But why resign now for an SOS or gubernatorial election in November 2010?
Jun 25, '07
Gee, I wonder if the Democrats who will sing Kate Brown's praises out of one side of their mouth, and then whine about name-calling out of the other here, will let Brown know they just don't appreciate her name-calling style when it comes to consider her if she runs for other office. From today's Oregonian:
Brown called opponents of ATV regulation "e-mail wackos" who flooded legislators with comments. She commended her colleagues for passing the bill. "The fact we were able to find middle ground and pass anything on ATV safety legislation is amazing."
I don't care about name calling, and I care so little about the ATV legislation that I didn't even know about this until I read about it today. But I'm a true-blue liberal Democrat, and I do thnk supposedly adult legislators would have better ways to spend limited time. Like trying to find a secure funding base in the general fund for health care for kids, rather than being petulant and trashing our constitution. Seems I was wrong. She's going to have to go a long way to prove to me she's what we need in other elected office, rather than just be glad she's opened up a seat for the kind of Democrat I'd like to see in there.
8:44 a.m.
Jun 25, '07
James:
If she's running for SOS, then announcing now isn't surprising, since we're only days away from the end of the Session.
She'd want to be able to get off the ground rolling on her election bid (SOS is up in 2008) right away. As majority leader, she'd be needed to spend a good amount of time working on recruiting candidates, working with candidates, etc. By stepping down and allowing someone else to be majority leader, she's making sure the person in that position would have the time needed to do that work - which she wouldn't if she is running for office.
However, I must say that I don't have any insider information. So this is all speculation.
Jun 25, '07
Wikipedia, which everybody knows is infallible, claims that Bradbury's term ends in 2011. Not true?
9:35 a.m.
Jun 25, '07
No, it's not true. Bradbury was re-elected in 2004. He's termed out, and will leave office in January 2009 - after his successor is elected in November 2008.
9:38 a.m.
Jun 25, '07
Wikipedia is fixed.
Jun 25, '07
As long as she runs for an office where she doesn't have to be accountable.
Jun 25, '07
But I'm a true-blue liberal Democrat ... trying to find a secure funding base in the general fund for health care for kids, rather than being petulant and trashing our constitution.
HOW TO SPOT A TROLL IN DISGUISE, EXAMPLE 1:
"I'm a (bleeding heart liberal/true Democrat/super-duper progressive)
BUT
"(insert right-wing message here)"
Who do you think you're fooling? Anytime someone says, "I swear I'm so liberal" and then spouts a right-wing message is a troll.
The Republicans are already starting with the "hail the Constitution" business about Healthy Kids to cover the shameful fact that they didn't step up and pass the damn thing when they should have.
Jun 25, '07
I am very happy with my Senator Kate Brown. She has been a true supporter of equal rights. She has the courage of her convictions.
Conservatives hate her because she gets things done. While they sat on their asses the last several sessions doing nothing, she has gotten things done.
Whatever she decides to run for, she will be a serious challenge to any Republican.
1:59 p.m.
Jun 25, '07
Wonder if the neutron bomb that was averted in the 11th hour (Senate Bill 965) might have something to do with it? I know that there was some serious juice behind it (banking/credit union money as well as union groups like OurOregon) and Brown lent her name to champion it (it was Metsger's boondoggle when all was said and done) ...yet it ran into the brick-wall (or third rail if you like) of pitting Oregon directly against the fair-lending act which did not sit well at all with the House leadership (Merkley cut his teeth with Habitat for Humanity after all).
Brown if she is a sharp as a tack lawyer as her creds are always lauded as, should never in a million years have brought that bill forward, yet her imprimatur got most of the caucus to rubber stamp that turd. The amount of damage politically and otherwise this bill would have wrought is damn near incalculable, and I wonder if the serious minds in the caucus saw just how much her head has not been in the game this session and made it known.
Jun 25, '07
I'd love to see Rosenbaum in that Senate seat.
Jun 25, '07
If Kate Brown wants to run for SOS, I'd have to hear her views on relevant topics (campaign finance reform, election reform, all other things SOS deals with) before deciding if I support her. It is an office where the customer service ethic is vital.
Jun 25, '07
LT,
Hearing Kate Brown's views on relevant topics like reform and ethic might take a long dang time to hear. You got time for 24 amendments?
Jun 25, '07
Rosenbaum in that Senate seat is a major step backwards. She's the last person in the House who can successfully negotiate amongst differing interests. She's also extremely unpleasant and disliked by many members of the caucus.
Jun 25, '07
HOW TO SPOT A BLUE OREGON MORON, EXAMPLE 1:
So let's see
(insert right-wing message here) = I do think supposedly adult legislators would have better ways to spend limited time. Like trying to find a secure funding base in the general fund for health care for kids, rather than being petulant and trashing our constitution.
That is, Kate Brown-style Democrats are now advocating that we should NOT make health care a general social obligation that we all share, and NOT fund health care for children, and everyone else, through the general fund (or, obviously, an equivalent shared funding mechanism)?
Wow, who ever would have thought that:
Every Democrat starting with FDR who has fought to give us and defended Medicare and Medicaid, and candidates like Edwards who propose a national health insurance system analogous to Medicare for the rest of us, really are right-wing trolls?
Every Democrat who has defended constitutional principles against Republican depredations from Nixon down to Bush is a right-wing nutjob?
Those of us fighting for SB27 against dishonest Democrats who oppose it, because they claim Republicans could use it against Democrats in 2008 (I have yet to figure out how), are really devious right-wing agent provocateur?
js, your tin foil hat is way too big and it's falling over your eyes right down to your chin.
8:18 p.m.
Jun 25, '07
Rosenbaum in that Senate seat is a major step backwards. She's the last person in the House who can successfully negotiate amongst differing interests. She's also extremely unpleasant and disliked by many members of the caucus.
That's absurd. Diane Rosenbaum is a rock star - and one needs look no further than her election, by the members of her caucus, to the #3 leadership post for proof.
Personally, I think Diane should stay in the House where she's in the leadership -- rather than move to the Senate.... but that's because I think as my state rep, she's doing a great job.
8:35 p.m.
Jun 25, '07
Rosenbaum is "extremely unpleasant?" Now I am certainly biased (I work for her), but that is crazytalk. Have you actually met this woman?
The rest of your comment is ridiculous on its face--name one legislator who has moved an agenda as ambitious as Rosenbaum's...
Only a couple hours ago, she got Paid Family Leave through the House, which joins contraceptive equity, emergency contraception in the ER, fire-safe cigarettes, smoke-free workplace, the Initiative Reform and Modernization Act, SB2 and HB 2007, "revolving-door" restriction on legislators becoming lobbyists, several smaller-scale exansions of Family Leave and a bunch of other stuff on the list of bills Rosenbaum either chief-sponsored or sheparded through her committee and carried on the floor. That might be a run-on sentence, but it is also a list of bills that have passed. All but one have made it through both chambers and been signed by the Governor.
Rosenbaum moves good, important bills through the Capitol as well as anyone. She also represents inner SE Portland, and is as progressive as her district. What's not to like? Isn't this Blue Oregon?
9:30 p.m.
Jun 25, '07
Hey Patton... don't sweat "PO'd Democrat". Over on the healthy kids thread, POD made some crack about "poor Democrat politicians" -- proving that he/she is a right-wing troll pretending to be a Dem.
9:30 p.m.
Jun 25, '07
Patton, how in the hell could you forget HB 2372, the Breastfeeding-Workplace bill?! I suppose that was a long time ago. Rep. Rosenbaum also carries almost every difficult bill for the House Dems, which is no easy feat considering the types of questions the House Republicans have asked about civil unions, etc.
Jun 25, '07
Once I heard Hardy Myers give an AG campaign speech explaining all the different duties of AG. That may not be flashy enough for some people, but as the granddaughter of a state AG from a different state, I thought it was a great speech showing a serious person was running for the office.
All I was saying was that if Kate wants to run for AG, she needs to be able to give a similar speech. Also I say that as someone whose state rep. got herself elected SOS (Paulus) and who first got to know Barbara Roberts when she was running for SOS. Big shoes for anyone to fill.
Jun 25, '07
I'd like to point out that POD has been using some phrases that Coyote (from NWRepublican) likes to use in his posts that seem... well, unique.
Calling something a "red herring," "tawdry," or "tripe." Calling the blog moderators "commentators." (As Coyote says: "However in the future, I think commentator would be a better fit.")
Now, far be it from me to just come out and say something like "I think POD is Coyote," but perhaps he's been reading a lot of NWR?
Jun 25, '07
Of course, I meant if she wants to run for SOS.
But Kate running for AG might also be interesting.
10:29 p.m.
Jun 25, '07
Now, far be it from me to just come out and say something like "I think POD is Coyote," but perhaps he's been reading a lot of NWR?
I have a vague recollection that Ted Piccolo once said that he used to be a Democrat. I could be getting confused here, but that might explain "PO'd Democrat."
Jun 25, '07
Hey Patton... don't sweat "PO'd Democrat". Over on the healthy kids thread, POD made some crack about "poor Democrat politicians" -- proving that he/she is a right-wing troll pretending to be a Dem.
Go read the rebuttal Patton, particularly that about what an idiot Kari is for trying to blow up a typo into something it's not because he's too stupid to be able to argue about what we Democrats stand for. And a quote from an earlier post in which I referred to those from our party as "Democratic leadership".
Jun 25, '07
"Go read the rebuttal Patton, particularly that about what an idiot Kari is for trying to blow up a typo into something it's not because he's too stupid to be able to argue about what we Democrats stand for."
Please learn to speak before posting. This made no sense. Troll!
Jun 25, '07
"Not A Republican" provides an example of how too many folks here can't take on a substantive argument and then start throwing out crazed theories and accusations to distract from the fact they don't take on the substantive argument
I'd like to point out that POD has been using some phrases that Coyote (from NWRepublican) likes to use in his posts that seem... well, unique.
Not that you'll believe me, but his is the first I've heard of "NWRepublican". Some of us don't live to read all the blogs, but mainly focus on the substance of the political values we defend. That includes focusing on forums that are appropriate. This is a forum where are lot of people who profess to be progressive Democrats throw a lot of BS that is anything but defending progressive Democratic Party values.
Calling something a "red herring," "tawdry," or "tripe."
Some of us have a vocabulary that reflects a few more years of life experience and other exposure. "Red herring" is the best and proper term for a lot of what people here think seems to be forensic argument. "tawdry" and "tripe" certainly reflects much of what I see here, and is certainly quite common in more literate circles. Trying picking up serious political commentary sometime and you might learn some new words that are commonly used.
Calling the blog moderators "commentators." (As Coyote says: "However in the future, I think commentator would be a better fit.")
How did you get that I was referring to the moderators, in the other quote you cite, when clearly I use that term to refer to all the people who posted comments ("commentator" being a more formal appellation for the colloquial "commentor" - which isn't even a real word")
Now, far be it from me to just come out and say something like "I think POD is Coyote," but perhaps he's been reading a lot of NWR?
So let's see, aside from the dubious parallels you draw (like your misinterpretation of how "commentator" was used), you find the fact that two people use a vocabulary that reflects wider and more formal literary experience, must mean they are the same. So much so that you think that those similarities must mean they at least have the same political proclivities, if not are the same person?
I think this illustrates so much about that segment of folks who claim to be progressive, or a Democrat, or both, that is such an obstacle to what the real progressive Democrats I know are trying to accomplish in this state and in this nation. If Kate Brown does run for some other office, I'm going to be very interested to see what part of the "grassroots" comes out for her, and what effect that has on her fortunes.
Jun 25, '07
RBM, I'll write real slow and parse it and caption it for you. You might want to turn the speed down on your computer to keep up.
"Go read the rebuttal Patton,"
Maybe this should have ended with a period. Sometimes apparently slow children like you have less trouble with short sentences expressing simple thoughts, rather than complex sentences expressing complex thoughts.
"particularly that about what an idiot Kari is"
If your "learning" is kind of limited, you might not have the experience to know that this is ever so slightly literary for "Particularly that (part in the rebuttal) about what an idiot Kari is".
"for trying to blow up a typo"
You know what a "typo" is, don't you?
"into something it's not"
You got me, you impressively semi-literate. This phrase probably should be delimited with a comma.
"because he's too stupid"
No comment.
"to be able to argue about"
Again, no comment.
"what we Democrats stand for."
Yes, I ended the sentence with a preposition. That it is now acceptable in colloquial speech.
Please learn to speak before posting. This made no sense. Troll!
Okay. Put your ear up real close to your computer and listen carefully as I read the above clearly and slowly to you. Moron!
What I said in the previous post goes double for this one. If Kate Brown does run for some other office, I'm going to be very interested to see what part of the "grassroots" comes out for her, and what effect that has on her fortunes. From what I've read here, she's in trouble if she's depending on folks here as part of the "netroots" that will propel her to success.
Jun 26, '07
Okay. Put your ear up real close to your computer and listen carefully as I read the above clearly and slowly to you. Moron!
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
5:30 a.m.
Jun 26, '07
Red Herring? Tawdry? Tripe?
Hmmm.... I am not so much a fan of Red Herring. I got nothing against it, but prefer "Straw Man." I don't remember using "Tawdry." Perhaps there was a time.
However if someone were to use "canard" or "moonbat," then... Then you have yourselves an impersonator on your hands.
Oh and don't forget,
Yip Yip
6:41 a.m.
Jun 26, '07
What rebuttal am I supposed to read? I don't get it.
Jun 26, '07
Patton -
What rebuttal am I supposed to read? I don't get it.
Gertrude -
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
Care to actually refute anything argued, rather than prove you're just another typical low-functioning Blue Oregon snarker?
8:26 a.m.
Jun 26, '07
please folks, let's not feed the coyot...er... troll.
9:03 a.m.
Jun 26, '07
Dear everyone that matters nobody that doesn't:
This post is about Kate Brown. Kate Brown is awesome. This post isn't about Diane Rosenbaum, though she's pretty much a rock star too.
Blue Oregon is about lefties talking to one another. I don't give a rip if Ted "shut yer piehole" Piccolo or any other righty comments here. I wish they wouldn't. Not that I don't care what they have to say, this just isn't the forum for it. They should be ignored, they have about 17 of their unsuccsesful own blogs. If you want to be a trog, go post over there.
10:55 a.m.
Jun 26, '07
So I've been out of town and away from my computer for four days. Kate Brown steps down and the Beavs win another one. Zow!
So help me out--is there any chatter that Kate's eyeing Gordon's seat? Just wondering.
Jun 26, '07
Seems likely she would run for SOS, then maybe Governor after that?
I think Kate Brown would make a great United States Senator. But serving as Secretary of State would give more people around the state a chance to get to know her. She could run for Governor, or Senator is Smith is reelected, in six years.
As for Diane Rosenbaum, she is one of the nicest and down to earth politicians I have met. She would be great as a State Senator. Not that Carolyn Tomei wouldn't be.
7:30 p.m.
Jun 26, '07
This post is about Kate Brown. Kate Brown is awesome. This post isn't about Diane Rosenbaum, though she's pretty much a rock star too.
While the post may be about Brown, Rosenbaum and Tomei are extremely relevant to this discussion as well. Since they're the two members of the state house that cover her district, they are the two most likely to run to fill her seat.
Jun 27, '07
My post about Rosenbaum was contrasting her style to that of Kate Brown. Brown has the unique ability to negotiate between legislators who span the political spectrum, both within her caucus and on the other side. The politicians who are real leaders and have longevity in this process are those who can bridge those divides and negotiate policy accordingly. Diane Rosenbaum was specifically not given the Majority Leader position because she doesn't have this ability. She turns off moderates, and she's completely close-minded when it comes to listening to an idea that's not her own and trying to find a compromise. She does not possess the qualities of great Oregon leaders like Kate Brown, Dave Hunt, Tom McCall, Ron Wyden, Vera Katz, and many others, who know/knew how to accomplish what's best for Oregon.
Jun 27, '07
I don't see her running for Gov in 2010, not when Kitz himself speaks openly about wanting to do so.
Jul 20, '07
If Kate Brown's great strengths are that she "works across the isle" and "pushes conservative issues" then maybe we're better off to keep looking for a statewide candidate - whatever the office may be (AG, SOS, or GOV).