Quick Hits: Ron Wyden vs. Sarah Palin
Kari Chisholm
- It's almost time for the 2008 general election edition of my punditology challenge. My question for you, dear readers, is this: What city and county races around the state are you paying attention to? Each time I run the punditology challenge, I get complaints that I left out a D.A. race or a county commish race somewhere -- so now, I put it to you. What should I include? (And be sure to tell us a little about the race. Who's running, what are the issues, and who should BlueOregon readers be cheering on?)
- Senator Ron Wyden is calling out Sarah Palin. She's been going on and on about how Alaska can be an energy source for America -- but it seems that she was a major mover behind the export of Alaskan natural gas to Asia. Time Magazine has the story:
According to Senator Ron Wyden, the Alaskan gas slated for Asia between 2009 and 2011 could meet the annual consumption of 1.4 million American families. The Oregon Democrat has accused Palin of a "major contradiction" between her support for gas exports and campaign emphasis on more drilling to slake US energy needs. "It's pretty outrageous to scare Americans about energy shortages while she has been approving export of billions of cubic feet of natural gas that could be providing energy to homes in Alaska and the lower 48 states," he said.
- Patrick Emerson, of the Oregon Economics blog, blogged about Paul Krugman and the Nobel Prize. While Krugman is most well-known for his political commentary, apparently his economics work really is first-rate:
What I have always said is that Krugman is a lock to win a Nobel Prize - he is that good an economist. I did think it was going to be another decade or two before he won it.... What is especially beautiful about his work, and what has echoes in his popular writing, is how simple and elegant his models are - something I strive for in my work. In the modern era, where a lot of credit is given for elaborate mathematical tricks in models (economics training is highly mathematical these days) it is rare to see such elegance. And herein lies the essence of Paul Krugman - a man with extraordinary economic insight that is able to translate that insight simply and plainly. I think this is a prize that is richly deserved and I am delighted to see him win it.
- Did you know that there's another Oregon Democrat running for Congress? Yup. Oregon native Nick Leibham is running for Congress in California's 50th District. That's the San Diego district formerly held by imprisoned congressional sleazeball Randy "Duke" Cunningham.
Leibham is running against Brian Bilbray - elected in a special election in 2006, though this is his second time around in Congress (the first ended in 2000 when he lost in a tougher district after voting for Bill Clinton's impeachment.) Bilbray's a real right-wing treat, having taken over the Immigration Reform Caucus for nutball Tom Tancredo. The district is a tough one (Bush won twice with 54% of the vote), but not impossible.
Leibham is a former teacher, congressional aide, and prosecutor - and he's pounding Bilbray for his vote against the new G.I. Bill. Learn more at PickNick08.com.
- Congressman Earl Blumenauer is now running a TV ad for his (admittedly-easy) re-election campaign. Why? To introduce himself to new voters in his district.
- Ben Westlund, candidate for Treasurer, is on the air as well:
- And running for the House in HD-52 (Hood River) is Suzanne VanOrman. Here's her latest spot:
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3:21 p.m.
Oct 15, '08
[Full disclosure: My firm built websites for Ron Wyden and Earl Blumenauer, but I speak only for myself.]
Oct 15, '08
Quick hit I could find no better place for:
Probe also under way in Oregon on [Republican] fraud allegations
Attacks on ACORN are meant as a distraction for Republican fraud and vote suppression.
Oct 15, '08
Old news Thomas! I posted that a week and more ago! :)... well, not THAT one. But several others!
GOP is even admitting to the tactics being used in swing states! And then changing the subject to ACORN...
Ego defense mechanism called disadvantageous comparison.
3:35 p.m.
Oct 15, '08
Punditology. I dunno; I always get killed. The more obscure you get, the more I get killed. I'd say have a kiddie table where the amateurs can sit so we don't make such asses of ourselves.
On the economic front, I'll put in a plug for Patrick's website, which has been one of those valuable sources I've been going to during the crisis.
3:46 p.m.
Oct 15, '08
Um, Tom? That article is from 2004.
Oct 15, '08
Aargh! Betrayed by a usually reliable source who was betrayed by a usually reliable source. Mea culpa.
Oct 16, '08
Kari,
You're probably already planning to inlcude it, but the Mult Co Commissioner #4 race is interesting. Carla Piluso and Diane McKeel, both Democrats, are on the ballot. Both have a history of service to their community---Carla as Gresham Police Chief and involved in social services issues, Diane as Director of the Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce and involved in economic/business issues.
My personal take is that the two both bring strong personalities and ideas to the table; however, their approach in how to bring prosperity to East County is different. Carla's approach appears to focus on public safety and social services--the idea being that businesses will follow once these services are in place and the businesses feel secure about investing in the area. Diane's approach appears to focus on economic development and getting businesses on board and then this will improve the livability of the area and thus improve public safety and social services.
I'm probably oversimplifying, but that's my take. Same ideas, different approaches on how to get there. But it makes for an interesting race and everyone in East County is talking about it. One of the constant discussions I hear out here is folks trying to guess which of these candidate's ideas and personalities would work best with the others on the Commission.
<h2>It's a race worth watching.</h2>