Jeff Merkley's candidacy had barely gotten going and surely hadn't had time to register with many voters

....yet he's still been coronated as the Democratic nominee by yet another political insider.

It's really not so much of a Democracy anymore, is it?

Thanks for the asterisk, Jeff, and B-bye, Gordo.

SAVE DEMOCRACY, VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!!

I find myself delighted with the prospect of a progressive, a true liberal joining Ron Wyden in the Senate from Oregon. I believe this would be among the most principled, and effective leadership from any state despite the fact that one would be a freshman Senator.

I would feel assured that when the Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act, FISA, and the myriad of executive orders that seem little more than an power grab by the President & Vice President, and the complete distortion of governance as a tool for enrichment and empowerment of the Republican National Committee, that either candidates will be diligent in standing against the administration.

I have been very impressed by Mr. Merkley’s legislative prowess, and rise in the Oregon Democratic Party, I was very please with the occasions to speak to him on a broad variety of issues, and I felt compelled with volunteering for his candidacy.

I have nothing negative to say of the opponents as I have always felt that if a candidacy had to destroy their opponent’s reputation to win they were never a real candidate to begin with. I believe Mr. Merkley has proven himself a candidate of progressive ideas, and deeds. I will be very interested in the primary for the Democrats, and will stand enthusiastically for Jeff Merkley's candidacy for the US Senate!

Let's throw the bumb Gordon Smith to the curb where he belongs!

Happy Thoughts;

Dan Grady

Ore. pres. primary is moved to Feb.5. Does that make us "academic"?

It does show the importance of electing progressive majorities to the legislature. I was at a meeting where they explained that both measure would most likely not pass if it were not for the Democrat majorities in Salem. By writing ballot titles that tell why we think they should pass, rather than the sterile titles written by the secretary of state, we move the polls by 40% or more.

So investing time and money in electing Democrats to Salem help by making us spend less money on ballot measure, the righties have to spend more, and we still win because people see our message when they vote. It all ties together.

That's right Jennifer G.

Having the majority means that "progressive" Democrats never have to settle for an impartial, neutral ballot title like the rest of us.

Congratulations. It's good to know that the arrogant culture of win-at-all-costs politics is not confined to the Bushies.

Your time is coming too, perhaps sooner than you think.

Don't get your panties all in a wad. Riley is the area's worst pollster.

Jennifer G, Usually the Attorney General’s office drafts ballot titles. In this case the legislature opted to draft the ballot titles for Measures 49 & 50. If my understanding of the process is correct, this is a very rare occurrence and can only be done for measures referred to the ballot by the legislature.

The ballot title is the single most important piece of information available to the voter in the voters’ pamphlet. Those first 15 words, the ballot title caption, is the first impression that most voters have of the measure. By taking that task away from the AG’s office for M49 & 50, the legislature is seen by many as unfortunately politicizing the ballot title process, and for some that’s enough to presume the titles are biased.

Over at Healthy Democracy Oregon we will be exploring some ideas around restructuring the ballot title process to be a more open and collaborative process. Much like it is done in Colorado. I encourage you to check it out. However important, the ballot title process is just one issue with the initiative process that needs work.

As we all know, ballot measures are a big part of Oregon politics. It’s long past due that we add some accountability and transparency to the process. At Healthy Democracy Oregon we’re working to provide an additional source of fair, trustworthy and easy to use information into the voters’ pamphlet. It’s called the Citizens’ Initiative Review. Let us know what you think.

I do wish we could get some standard metrics like re-elect numbers, favorability numbers, and comparative head-to-heads. I'm sure Frohnmayer threw people for a loop, given that he hasn't seemed to have made any noises about the possibility in over a year. That could easily throw people into the undecided camp, given they don't know where the guy stands on anything. Of the votes he did get in the poll, they came from Democrats 2-to-1 versus Republicans. He was, of course, a Republican candidate for Governor in 2000 and a Bush I appointee at NEA.

Tyrone, doesn't it make you pause when you consider the fact that LOTS of people vote on a measure based almost entirely on how the title is worded? Is this rational governance? Or ignorant mob rule?

If M50 passes, I'll know for certain that it's ignorant mob rule. That has got to be the DUMBEST idea I've heard in a long time, and it's a freaking constitutional amendment no less. How much political capital is going to be spent on pushing this financially unsustainable non-solution? How much attention is going to be taken away from fixing M37? Thanks to the ill-advised, illegal behavior of Multnomah County's activist commissioners, gay marriage took ALL the attention away from M37 in 2004. Are "progressives" going to sell the environment down the river yet again so they can push their social agenda?

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the proposed M37 fix, but M50 is just D.U.M.B. How is saddling the working class with yet another punitive puritanical sin tax "progressive"? How many of the so-called "progressives" here on BlueOregon smoke cigarettes? .......crickets....... So in other words, you're putting someone else's money where your mouth is. Y'all didn't feel strongly enough about poor kids' health care to actually spend any of your own money?

And how much of this money is going to be spent on the children of illegal aliens while Oregon children remain uninsured or underinsured? Didn't you all learn anything from Washington's failed attempt to reform children's health care? It's not like it's ancient history....

I won't expect an answer to any of these questions. Y'all can continue railing against Big Tobacco while remaining willfully and blissfully ignorant about the idiocy of this measure.

And no, I don't smoke.

Coyote, Yep, it gives me pause. I think it’s an unfortunate reality that for a lot of voters in comes down to the measure’s title alone.

However, I don’t think it proves that the process results in “rational governance” or “mob rule”. What it proves is that a lot of voters rely upon simplifications. There are a whole lot of reasons why you’d vote on the title alone (feel like that’s enough information for you, not enough time, no real interest, you vote with your friends, don’t feel like your vote matters anyway, etc., etc.), some better than others. (Same goes for signing petitions, which have that same 15 word title printed at the top.)

Regardless of how that title is put together I think we’re shortchanging ourselves by voting on those 15 words alone. When it comes to ballot measures oversimplifications often mask complex issues with broad implications (whether intended or not). So while those 15 words are important, the issue here is much bigger than the ballot title process.

When it comes to voting on measures, more readily available, trustworthy information would be a big plus to voters. How to do that in a way that’s meaningful, fair, and of real use to voters is the issue. Over at Healthy Democracy Oregon we think we’ve got a good way to do so, it’s called the Citizens’ Initiative Review. The effort to move this reform is still in its inception, and I encourage you (and of course anyone following this thread) to check it out.

Yo, Coyote... I got two words for you: Frank Luntz, A.K.A. "Big Lie" Luntz and/or Frankie da Fibber. He's the guy who figured out that if you put the right kinda lipstick on a warthog there'd be crowds of fools lined up to kiss it, even if the lipstick was the other end from the lips: The Clear Skies Initiative, No Child Left Behind, The Healthy Forests Initiative and, of course, proving his versatility by changing the perfectly appropriate Estate Tax to the Death Tax "because it only happens when you die."

Actually, I'm kinda pleased to see that progressives are finally learning the value of Orwellian doublespeak... except, of course, that I think Healthy Kids is actually about keeping kids healthy. That said, I'm just still not sure whether I'm voting for or against it.

It is disappointing to me to see pollster manipulation. It is awfully early for Novick/Merkley numbers, because both are not well known. But Novick has a right to complain about being left out. The good news is that Smith is not doing very well against two people who have not run statewide before. What I am worried about is that those advising Novick -- Weiner and Lisa Grove-Donavon are quoted in the Tribune -- are going to advise him to go negative in the media against Merkley, much like Peter DeFazio did against Wyden in the U.S. Senate primary a few years ago. It certainly plays with Novick's combative, gut-fighting personality. But it does not serve progressives well. Making Merkley out to be somehow less liberal or less progressive or the quintessential insider may help Novick in the primary at this point in time. But its not accurate based on the things Merkley has fought for and championed in the legislature and in his career outside the legislature. It will not serve the effort to defeat Gordon Smith for Novick to go negative against Merkley, and defeating Smith is what Novick SAYS he most wants. But I think things like assuming that Merkley has an easy win will set the Novick troops off on this negative kick, and I do believe that this is THE natural way for Steve to campaign -- he's a great critic, and that's his strength. I can see it coming, but I hope I'm wrong. Say it ain't so Steve. Save the negative stuff for another day.