Don't like either one of them.

Smith is so blatantly making overtures to a wider voting audience now that he's up for re-election it's sickening. 6 years ago, try communicating with his office about anything even remotely centrist. You got nothing -- or, rather, I got nothing time and time again.

Clinton is just a dancing marionette to political winds, and I don't like her one bit either. Too bad Wellstone's bloodline has stopped with the death of his entire family, we need more like him, these people drive me crazy.

It is precisely these instances that reinforce the idea that she's a wolf in sheep's clothing.

It would have been politic of her to mention only senators who are not up for reelection next year.

Who will rid me of these triangulating politicians?

Just kill me now.

Why would Clinton entangle herself in what will be one of the closest Senate races in the country?

The answer to this question, I think, is a lot simpler than you guys want to make it: she was answering the question honestly. I'm sure she doesn't agree with all, or even most of their decisions. Her record definitely says that she doesn't. But what's wrong with saying that you have respect for another person, even if you disagree with that person's political views?

I agree with the ideology of a lot of the posts on this site, but I think it's disgusting when a politician is criticized for simply declaring genuine respect of someone from another party, whether that person is running for reelection or not.

Respect should not be in short supply on Capitol Hill or in the White House.

I think we found the source of Hillary's "stay the course" quotes.

Mr. Holland,

Hilary showing respect for Gordon's position were it based on education and conscience would be one thing. Hilary highlighting and giving respect to Gordon's political, election year pandering is another.

Gordon grew his conscience after the 06 election, where the winds appeared to dramatically change. Gordon made his first comments in November 06, although he claims that he reached " the end of his rope " the previous summer.

This is merely one political panderer giving credit to another. It would be amusing were it not the fact that people are being killed everyday.

I'm still deciding who I want to vote for, and the biggest hawk isn't going to do it for me. Too bad I'm not being offered an alternative, especially when I am hearing statements from Ron Paul that should be coming from the Democratic Party, but isn't.

Respect should not be in short supply on Capitol Hill or in the White House.

Given the folks on Capitol Hill and in the White House, I can't imagine why respect would be in short supply.

All Hillary said was that she could work with Gordon Smith. Wyden has said the same thing. I don't doubt its true in both cases. So what? Lets not build that into some sort of endorsement. Gordon's problems aren't with his ability to get along with a lot of people, including Hillary. Its that the people he goes along with most are the current folks in the White House.

I fully support and will vote for Steve Novick, but Gordon Smith has done a lot to earn the respect of some Democrats. Just this week he is working to fight new CMS (Bush Admin) rules that will make it nearly impossible for states to provide health insurance to kids over 250 percent of the federal poverty level, including under Measure 50. He consistently fights for access to primary health care and mental health care for kids. I don't think Hillary should be dissed for saying she would work with him...

Stephen Holland is right: Respect is important, even for those we disagree with. We would get a lot more done in this country to solve the difficult issues if people from both parties could respect instead of demonize one another.

There are two thoughts someone can have after reading Hillary's quote: 1) Hillary is a triangulating, neo-con wannabe, wolf in sheep's clothing politican; or 2) Gordon Smith is not the demon that Blue Oregon wants him to be. So far, Blue Oregon commenters are forming a posse to get Hillary.

Raul, Hillary didn't cite any reasons why she respected Gordon Smith in the article; I'd be interested to hear why she respects him at some later time. She didn't cite opinions on the Iraq war, or anything else. Let's not read too much into this comment by Sen. Clinton. She respects him and probably sees some areas where she might be able to work on some projects with him.

Meanwhile, let's send someone who she'll get along with even better, whether she's in the Senate or the White House: Jeff Merkley.

Well now, praise for Smith??!!

I now support Hillary Clinton for President

---- of Honduras.

Well I guess Merkley and Novick can close their campaigns now. The "inevitable nominee" for President has spoken.

(insert double sarcasm symbol here)

Whatever dim hope Hillary had of finding support in the Oregon blogosphere appears to be waning fast ...

heh she's never cared one whit about the blogosphere or Oregon. Remember when she came to town during the 2004 elections to raise money for her own friggin NY Senatorial campaign? I mean, you know, New F'ing York is such a barren place for donations.

It was only after I called in to Thom Hartmann, and people started calling the DPO that she finally caved and agreed to give a pittance of her take here to the local Dems running for Congress. She could have lent her considerable star power to Hooley, Wu, and the rest. Instead she had to be guilted into it.

So what if I'm a woman. No way Hillary, no way.

All Hillary said was that she could work with Gordon Smith.

She said more than that:

"Obviously, I have a great deal of respect for Dick Lugar and Gordon Smith. I am more than willing [to work with them]."

she was answering the question honestly.

Fair enough! So we shouldn't question her motives, just her judgment.

Pat, You should absolutely question her judgment. I would suggest to you that respecting a former Senator and being willing to work with them isn't a bad judgment call. There's a difference between respecting somebody professionally and agreeing with all of their views. This is the same sort of hyper-partisanship that we criticize when it's done by the Republicans.

This has not been a good past few days for the Clinton campaign.

Her husband's former Sec. of Transportation Fredrico Pena endorses Obama.

Obama brings in $3 million in donatations at Oprah's fundraiser.

She announces that she

And now this.

Refunding $850,000 in donations bundled by Mr. Hsu.

Hillary continues to give me reasons to vote against her but none to vote for her. As she moves to capture the "center," she insists on distancing herself from progressives and looking more and more like Bush-lite.

As far as I'm concerned, she can do whatever she wants. She is responsible for her decision to take the base for granted, and the base should respond accordingly. As for me, I stopped voting for the lesser of two evils years ago.

Jeesh, folks. Of course there is nothing wrong with a Democratic senator being able to work with a Republican senator. It is a faux pas, however, for a presidential candidate to talk about that when her party is actively working to replace that Republican. Is that so difficult to understand? Evidently, for Hillary Clinton it is.

Tom -

Its an even bigger faux pas for the folks working to defeat that Senate candidate to repeat an obscure comment saying nice things about him from an interview in a fading news magazine that 99% of Oregonians would never have noticed otherwise. That it is clearly has more to do with the Presidential race than the senate race.

Why are any of you surprised by this?!?!?!?!?!

SAVE DEMOCRACY, VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!!

"I have a great deal of respect for Dick Lugar and Gordon Smith. I am more than willing [to work with them]." // Hillary Clinton

She is a Senator, in the 100 vote U.S. Senate that by attrition relies on working with the other side if you have any idea of making laws, effecting policy. She was elected to a Senate Minority that relied even more so on her ability to build consensus! I have no problem with the process of compromise and making compromise a tool in your law-making belt. I think the problem comes when you sell your principles for expedience, and political positioning en lieu of good governance, and good public policy!

NAFTA, CAFTA, and the alphabet of trade give away of our middle class that has destroyed the strong manufacturing industries, and a large number of service jobs be exported to the Far-East, Mexico, and most of the Third World. This wasn't a hand up to them; it was a concerted effort to devaluated labor across the board, and makes a new under-class of cheap labor in America!

So, compromise, civility is a very good thing until it's not! This is the grey area, the art that is the legislating in the Senate, and Mrs. Clinton has a mixed bag of success in my eyes as I would have been on board had she stood up against the rhetoric selling the Iraqi Invasion, and the Patriot Act, among other things she went along with. I would have been a supporter had she stood with Sen. Russ Feingold before tossing her hat in with Gordon Smith, or Rick Santorum!

Happy Thoughts;

Dan Grady

"Whatever dim hope Hillary had of finding support in the Oregon blogosphere appears to be waning fast ..."

1) Hillary isn't pandering to the blogsphere. That isn't where the votes are at.

2) The blogosphere encompasses the true hard base, whether from the left, or right. If Hillary is your candidate come next year, she will have the support of the blogosphere as there is no way that the hard left will EVER vote for anyone in the Republican party.

If Mickey Mouse where the candidate for either party, the hard left or right would support him.

She just needs to apeal to the left leaning that are more moderate in their views. That's it. Bloggers won't make that much of a difference. Sorry.

It will be the typical working person who just has enough time (between working full time, raising children and trying to have a life) to read the headlines in the Oregonian.

Stephen,

I can decide for myself whom I will reserve my respect for. But thanks for your patronizing advice.

It will be the typical working person who just has enough time (between working full time, raising children and trying to have a life) to read the headlines in the Oregonian.

Well, a government of the people who aren't paying attention isn't going to be a government of the people for very long, is it?

Freedom isn't free, Dan. Benefiting from democracy without caring enough to pay attention is like stealing.

Respect is earned not given, its obvious that many of the people responding to this blog lack this quality, read the quote ”Obviously, I have a great deal of respect for Dick Lugar and Gordon Smith.” Just because someone has a D or an R behind there name doesn’t mean you can’t respect them. Good quote Miles “Stephen Holland is right: Respect is important, even for those we disagree with. We would get a lot more done in this country to solve the difficult issues if people from both parties could respect instead of demonize one another.” I may be an R but I have great respect for a number of D’s. As far as the people blogging on this thing, I have yet to see anyone earn respect!

I have no respect for murders and those who elect them. You R's have blood on your hands.

12 billion a month for an illegal, immoral, unChristian invasion of an innocent country. One million Iraqi people dead. So much for fiscal conservatism. Respect? Ha!

i have no problem with her having respect for gordon smith and being willing to work with him. it would be nice if she could find a republican who isn't up for re-election that she respected as well, and mentioned him or her instead.

unless, as someone else pointed out, it was a brilliant power play on her part to alienate his right-wing base from him. in that case, my respect for her political acumen just ratcheted up several notches.

hard to say the consequences of that though, if her "endorsement" such as it was helps or hurts his re-election campaign. if it helps with the moderates, than shame on her.

i have no problem with her having respect for gordon smith and being willing to work with him.

I do. He has been and continues to be a party to murder of innocent people. He votes with bush 90% of the time, votes that hurt We The People. He deserves our scorn, not respect.

Gordon Smith said the way the war is being carried out is "criminal" yet he makes no acknowledgment of, or takes no responsibility for, the fact that this very outcome was predicted by many intelligent and loud voices around the world.

What steps did Gordon Smith take, as the Senator representing all those Oregonians about to head into war (and as a self-proclaimed "personal friend" of the president about to send them), to make sure there was a plan in place for the peace?

What steps did Smith take to address the many questions being asked about Iraq's future after Saddam? You didn't have to be a genius to know there was a long history of sectarian violence that Saddam had oppressed with an iron fist. What was going to happen when the iron fist was gone?

Smith never been asked or answered those questions.

For him to call the well-foreseen outcome in Iraq "criminal," without taking responsibility for his role in creating it, is slippery, and maybe even verging on criminally negligent.

Where's the remorse? Where's the lesson learned? Where's the personal responsibility and accountability?

None present on this issue for Smith.

I don't respect that. And I haven't come to expect Hillary Clinton to understand (or at least acknowledge) that either. So sue me.

It seems to be snowballing.

It’s obvious that backbeat12 does not care about America or the people who live here. The United States waited and waited till we were attacked before we went in and pummeled Germany, and leveled Japan. We should have jumped in much sooner with the brits and ended that war much sooner. We have been attacked many times before 9/11, the trade centers were attacked twice before 9/11 and the US Cole and a number of embassies were attacked. Those people were attacking us and now they deserve a good Butt kicking and if that takes 10 years so be it. It took over ten years to get Germany back to normal. How many times were we attacked during Bills Presidency??? Ya, a bunch and what did we do…hmmmm nothing!!! Push down on that gas peddle even harder I say and keep them on the defense, some day they will learn that they can’t beat us, or if they are lucky enough to have a Dem in there as Pres they will be invited to come here to America. Son (backbeat12) you need to sign up for the military and take your turn and defend this great nation, and then maybe you will earn some respect around here.

I think it was Sen. Webb who said at the hearings today that the "failure in Iraq would be catastrophic" crowd were only predicting what those like him had predicted way back when before the war started.

Seems to me Gordon was gung-ho on the war as long as his party was in the majority. What has he done for veterans? For military family support? Has he ever said anything disparaging about Gen. McPeak, or Brian Boquist, or Paul Evans, or any other combat vet?

I like the last line of inthewoods's comment.

Here is a link to letters to the editor about Gordon: http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2007/08/13/news/opinion/0edi02_lets0813.txt

Iraq played no role in "attacking" the United States. So inthewoods entire post is based on a faulty premise.

It's the morons like inthewoods who aren't paying attention that allow Bush to steamroll the country into a war of choice against a nation THAT DID NOT ATTACK US.

That kind if ridiculous ignorance --even after all the information that's come down the pike since Bush's pre-war PR campaign-- is simply dangerous.

Inthewoods, I get the feeling there's been some extensive clear-cutting in the space between your ears.

Posted by: Inthewoods | Sep 11, 2007 10:36:56 PM

This guy has got to be over 50! What kind of person would rail about a fight with the wrong foe? An Idiot??

Bill Clinton stil did far more to combat Bin Laden than this administration, and turned over a $220 billion dollar surplus and a stern warning about Al Quada! He was ignored, and we now have a $400 billion deficit, and a good $500 billion dollar deficit in off the books emergency supplementaal bills that has not bought us any strategic,tactical, or political benefit!

Bush has managed to demoralize American Honor in way never seen in American History! He has managed to allienate all of our closest allies, empowered our enemies including Osama Bin Laden with the Bush/Cheney Neo-Con/Texas Oilman vision of a "New American Century" making America the new corporate mongol on the planet with the largest nuclear arsonal in human history!

Please go hide inthewoods!

Happy Thoughts;

Dan Grady

P.S.: I served, but I never had to serve 3-4 tours in the worst kind of urban combat, in an occupation that sees them in harms way now up to 15mons at a stretch. When did we ever ask so much of so few for the power of a few greedy men??

Maybe, just maybe, Hillary Clinton praises Gordon Smith because, maybe, just maybe, he's not quite the ogre Blue Oregon politicos and netroots want to make him out as?

If Hillary gets elected President (I'd give her even odds right now) and Gordon Smith is re-elected Senator (I make him a 1-2 favorite at this point) she's going to have to work with him, because there aren't many other Republican Senators who aren't complete loons. Hillary's not stupid.

SAVE DEMOCRACY, VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!!

Maybe, just maybe, Hillary Clinton praises Gordon Smith because, maybe, just maybe, he's not quite the ogre Blue Oregon politicos and netroots want to make him out as? / Posted by: Urban Planning Overlord |

We are on the brink of invasion in Iran, hopelessly entangled in a quagmire that has no strategic, or political net value for America while sinking into huge budget & trade deficits; we are on the verge of the worst recession in modern history, our civil liberties have been surrendered to fear, and a power grab, and we are on the verge of breaking the greatest military in human history for no good end, and you think he is not an ogre for having been at the forefront of this whole process!

The facilitator and ally of every law, and decision this administration has proposed from Bush's inauguration, thus not so bad?!

Happy Thoughts;

Dan Grady

hahahaha I'm a 50 year old suburban sports/music mom working my uniquely 2 american jobs to put food on my family. You war mongers will not draft my beautiful sons into your pointless wars. War is never the answer.

You are the biggest kool-aid drinking shit eating liberals i have read to date. Gordon Smith is a good guy, whats SO wrong about someone who does not fully agree with him to still give him respect... answer is: nothing.

GO SMITH

.........all i read is that she was being politically pure saying she "respected "them" and "would be willing to work with them". this is bad because it would be a bi-partisan effort to accomplish something? we need people from all points of any issue to work together.

just to clarify, i am a gordo constituent, as far as im concerned he is toast politically, never wanted him, dont want him now and next week is not looking any better. i am undeclared re: my support for prez..just too damn soon. but i surely dont understand all the kerfluffle over her comment, i think way too much is being made from it.