Does Schrader have a website up yet? As he spoken out on issues yet?

I'm not a constituent (Blumenauer's my rep), and although I do hope that this seat remains Democratic, I'll be focusing all my efforts this year on the Senate seat (Merkley) and the Presidential (Obama). Nonetheless, I can only imagine that the apparent lack of a groundswell so far comes from the absence of much outreach from Schrader and, perhaps, from the possibility that others (Steve Marks?) may yet enter the race, especially individuals with a more progressive track record (despite whether or not that would be the winningest strategy).

Yeah, what verasoie said...

Kari, I get your point about the need to start fundraising now, but I'm not going to express support for Schrader, let alone give him money, without some reason other than that he's the only Democrat who has declared for this seat so far.

Maybe that means that I need to do a little research, but it would certainly help if you had provided a little something alongside your fundraising pitch.

A link, an issues list... anything!

Don't you just love comments from people who pick a single wedge issue and base their entire evaluation of a candidate on that? If Mother Teresa supports ABC then I won't support her, but Attila the Hun is against it, so he's my guy.

Bear in mind that Kurt Schrader was in the middle of the 3-week legislative session and was hardly in a position to even start thinking about issues, websites, etc. until just now.

It's also worth noting the lower-profile candidates who have filed.

Today, a man named Richard Nathe filed as a Democrat for the Fifth Congressional District seat.

Apparently he was a RFK delegate in 1968. Here's his occupational history, courtesy ORESTAR:

20 years with the Oregon Depart of Transportation 10 years with "Caltrans" California Department of Transportation 3 years with Humbolt County, California, Public Work City of Woodburn Marquess Engineering Co.

I emailed him through his legislative website regarding his position on an agriculture issue. I followed up with a call to his office and received an email that the questions had been sent on to him, so until I hear his position I'm not going to commit one way or another. How he responds will determine whether he gets a lot of support from small scale farms and homesteaders or not.

Jeff Mapes on his website reports Kurt came into an inheritance. So maybe contributions should go to the nominee or to candidates less well off financially.

I lived in Clackamas County for almost 20 years before I moved to Portland, and Kurt was my representative, then Senator. Both he and his wife are a treasure to Oregon Politics, I would have gladly supported either Martha or Kurt to replace Darlene Hooley, whose 1st campaign I supported and went one of the first fund raisers at the Oregon Trail Museum fund raiser back when the wagons still had covers and they hadn't disintegrated off. Martha chaired an ethics and government conference that I went to at PSU, while she was a student, and it was one of the most thought provoking conferences I ever went to. I will never forget the lecture on "A Man for All Seasons" where the proctor showed the more we think things have changed in ethics in government the more we fool ourselves.

So...when is the D-I-V-O-R-C-E?

Sometimes when I see blind loyalty to a political party I'm reminded of the lemming story. Just because someone says they will do the right thing doesn't mean they will.

In the last 4 1/2 years I've written Schrader with earnest concerns and asked him to get back to me on at least 13 occasions. Guess how many times he has? 0

What's his position on withdrawal from Iraq? Is he going to be another Bush-dog Democrat? Is he going to keep this Iraq occupation going?

[anonymous, unsourced personal attack deleted. -editor.]

<h2>We need to get a solid candidate in this race ASAP if all of the rumors about a pending WW story are accurate. I hope the right people are following up on this and taking measures so we don't lose out on this one.</h2>