Ranking the top Oregon political stories of 2008
Kari Chisholm
Carla did a great job pulling together a bunch of the top political stories of 2008, but declined to rank 'em. But since I can't stand to look at a list without putting it in some kind of order, I'll share with you my personal ranking for the biggest Oregon political stories of 2008.
Disagree? Then, tell us how you'd rank these top 12 stories of 2008. If you've got a 13th "other" story, post it in the comments.
Here's my personal ranking of the top 12 Oregon political stories of 2008:
- Jeff Merkley defeats Gordon Smith, the first incumbent Senator defeated in Oregon in 40 years.
- Oregon actually gets a meaningful vote in the presidential primary race - capped by Obama's huge crowd at Portland's Waterfront Park.
- Sam Adams elected in a primary election landslide, becomes the first openly-gay mayor of a major U.S. city (and nobody cares about that detail.)
- Steve Novick's upstart Senate campaign takes off and very nearly wins the primary race.
- Bill Sizemore goes to jail, faces continuing legal jeopardy.
- Sizemore's and Mannix's right-wing initiatives all lose.
- Supermajority for the Oregon House Democrats, and the youth movement continues (at least ten Democratic legislators under 40.)
- Five-time loser Kevin Mannix loses to two-time loser Mike Erickson, who loses to Kurt Schrader to replace Darlene Hooley in the 5th CD.
- Four Democrats win statewide offices; Republican losing streak enters second decade.
- SEIU flexes its muscles, donates $300,000+ to fuel John Kroger's winning primary campaign against Greg Macpherson.
- Rob Drake loses bid for fifth term as mayor of Beaverton (one of two full-time mayors in Oregon.)
- Arlington mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist gets recalled after her racy lingerie photos on MySpace go public.
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Dec 30, '08
Silverton's Mayor.
Dec 30, '08
<Posted by: Of Course there's always... | Dec 30, 2008 10:59:44 AM
Silverton's Mayor.
I would put that at #10 (to keep it Oregon) or replace it with "Arnie Tactics Become Mainstream with Palin, Franken Candidacies".
12:03 p.m.
Dec 30, '08
"The 50 State/36 County Strategy is wholeheartedly endorsed by the Obama campaign, resulting in a massive surge in Democratic voter registration and identification up and down ticket"
That is the underlying cause for at least half of the stories you listed.
There's an under-reported story I discovered myself, which was the qualification of Nader to the ballot through the creation of the Oregon Peace Party by paid operatives. (I asked directly at the Washington Fair Grounds as they were gathering signatures, and while I never got an answer who was paying them, it's not exactly hard to guess. And no, this isn't a repeat of the Nader ballot fraud stories from 2004.) It hardly mattered though - the devil's bargain between Republicans and the nutcase left was swamped by the progressive tsunami that rolled over the country. I doubt the GOP will try that strategy for a long time.
1:13 p.m.
Dec 30, '08
Not a bad list, Kari, but you might blush a little at the "sponsored advertisements" that are popping up on Blue O. now; probably because of your last line: "racy lingerie photos." Indeed!
No mention of the county timberlands payment saga?
Dec 30, '08
The answer to this question depends upon how much of a historical perspective one adds. We all add some trying to look ahead to see what's significant in the present. I agree with #1, For number #2 I'd say : Democrats become the clear governing party of Oregon with all the responsibilities that come with it. For number #3 I'd say: the election of Sam Adams and, from my perspective, his trade trip to China.
I hope as history plays out that the youth movement among Democratic legislators will be seen as more significant than #7. Much hoped for change rides on them. If they deliver, they should be ranked much higher.
In my view, which I think will be shared by historians writing 100 years or more in the future, there will be a large negative: the failure of the Oregon governing party (Democrats in the executive and legislative branches) in 2008 even to consider the rise of China (no reports, proposals or hearings) much less begin to develop an Oregon response (Mandarin and study abroad programs, targeted trade missions, a variety of exchanges). The rise of Asia, especially China, is the big historical event of our lives. More significant that Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet our leaders have done nothing. Not even one hearing to see what ideas there are. Their only saving historical hope is that leaders in other states and nationally have also done little.
Dec 30, '08
I'm not sure Oregon's vote was seen as significant in the Presidential race. It certainly didn't make national news to speak of -- folks were more interested in West Virginia's race.
3:30 p.m.
Dec 30, '08
what Pavel Goberman's 184,919 votes didn't make the top list?
Dec 30, '08
All too easy to overlook among the many statewide issues is the (apparent) end of diversity in the Oregon legislature.
I brought the issue forward in my comments, titled: "White tide, not blue, sweeps Oregon House! The Senate is next!"
The retirement of state senator Avel Gordly, the first African-American woman elected to the Oregon Senate, marks the end of an era.
Her Senate District 23, including House districts 45 and 46, the most racially and ethnically diverse senate district in the state, is now represented entirely by white politicians.
With the historic 2009 election of Barack Obama, the blue side of the aisle in the Oregon House is now completely white.
This story really belongs up there on your list somewhere.
The Oregonian ran a version of the piece here:
http://blogoliticalsean.blogspot.com/2008/11/oregonian-prints-white-tide-op-ed-on.html
The original posting is here:
http://blogoliticalsean.blogspot.com/2008/11/white-tide-not-blue-sweeps-oregon-house.html
5:02 p.m.
Dec 30, '08
The lack of diversity isn't for lack of trying on the Democrats part, Sean. For whatever reason, we just don't get as many people from minority communities who want to sign up for the admittedly not always most wonderful task of running for, and being in, the State legislature.
But I would call Sam Adams a non-traditional office holder, don't you agree?
But if we really want to handicap ourselves, we should run an open atheist. According to polls, people who positively deny the existence of God (or other religions) are by far the most hated by other Americans. Nationally, only 6% of Americans say they wouldn't vote for a well qualified member of their own party who is black. 12% for a well qualified woman. 37% for a homosexual. 38% won't vote for a Muslim. But a whopping 50% won't vote for an Atheist.
Dealing with prejudice is like whack-a-mole. Soon as you educate about one thing, another pops up (Barack Obama/California Prop. 8 comes to mind.)
Dec 30, '08
I completely forgot about Stu Rasmusen's election as Silverton mayor. And I grew up there. Maybe it's because Silvertonians didn't elect the nation's first trans-gendered mayor. They elected Stu Rasmussen. Likewise - as Kari alludes to - Portlanders couldn't care less about someone's orientation.
I have this for ninth of nine: US Rep. Peter DeFazio gains national attention for his vocal, principled opposition to the $700 billion bailout of the financial industry.
Novick was the number one story, IMHO.
Dec 30, '08
The economy should be in there. It's shaping everything that's happening right now (state budget) and how the Dems will handle that - at State and National level.
have a huge environmental wish list, and am hoping that more of these stories make it into the 2009 list!
Dec 30, '08
I believe that prior to Sam Adams' election, Providence, RI was the largest city in the U.S. to have elected a gay mayor. Nowhere near the size of Portland, though.
Dec 30, '08
But I would call Sam Adams a non-traditional office holder, don't you agree?
In terms of transport and parks and OHSU and contracts and approaching City gov, he feels the same. I feel like Vera Katz was more progressive. We have to be more results orientated. Who would have thought that we'd have the same crappy Police Bureau after the current Mayor's term?
The crazy Russian may be the big story in 2 if people are less than satisfied with "change"...
Jan 1, '09
John Kroger got more votes in Oregon in the General Election than did Barack Obama. So, clearly, he has a larger supporter base than just the SEIU union. He ran a fantastic campaign, overturned some pretty entrenched expectations, and is carrying our own "Yes, We Can!" type of mantra for change here in Oregon.
7:55 p.m.
Jan 1, '09
Susan, I did not say - and I don't think I implied that Kroger was supported only by SEIU. But it was certainly notable that they spent so much money in a Democratic primary. That's our system and I don't begrudge them playing by the rules. I'm a huge SEIU fan, though we were on opposite sides on this one. (Without SEIU, it's possible that we'd be talking about the reelection of Gordon Smith.)
As for "more votes than Obama", well, not having a Republican opponent will do that for you.
Jan 2, '09
I thought Nick Kahl's election to HD-49 deserved at least an honorable mention. Here is a complete political neophyte who had the guts to enter the race when the state Democratic establishment chose a conservative Democrat to win the district, presumably because the party is still wedded to the outdated idea that the only way to win close districts is to nominate candidates who fight over the mushy middle. Nick came in, beat the establishment's candidate in the primary and then beat a better-funded and better known Republican in the general. The result is that HD-49 is being represented by an intelligent, thoughtful, passionate liberal. Now that is what I call a big (and encouraging) story. Every district in this state needs a Nick Kahl.
Jan 2, '09
" Nick came in, beat the establishment's candidate in the primary and then beat a better-funded and better known Republican in the general"
All the more reason to talk with the newly elected members (incl. Nick) about discussing this in caucus and with party leaders.
Is there really a group of Democrats in this state which is infallible in judgement of who can win, and who deserves the most support? The names Adamson and Brading come to mind to say that such infallibility does not exist.
What is the point of "professionals" saying there is a lousy R to D ratio or an underfunded candidate "lacks steam" or some other snide remark? Who does that help? Or is helping ALL Democrats get elected secondary to an attitude that a small group is better informed, more politically savvy, better people, more "professional" in their politic work and we should give them homage and not ask any questions?
Perhaps it is time to ponder 2 definitions from dictionary.com. dem·o·crat·ic Of or for the people in general; popular: a democratic movement;
political machine noun a group that controls the activities of a political party;
Do the folks who actually live in the districts know less about politics than "the professionals"? Are staff supposedly better than anyone with decades of volunteer experience? Maybe it is time to follow the suggested legislation of the Public Comm. on the Legislature and have non-partisan legislators.
No caucus is "entitled" to control who runs or who gets funded. The "we have limited resources, we have to target" attitude which says that if a targeted candidate loses no one is held accountable has got to stop. Just because there is a supermajority this time doesn't mean that the supporters of "forgotten" candidates (why was a "chosen" candidate who lost a better choice for funding?) are going to forget what it was like to see someone get more funding and still lose.
I vote for individuals, not for members of a caucus. I am glad there is a supermajority because the Republicans needed to be taught a lesson. However, that does not mean that the caucus leadership does my thinking for me or that the "political professionals" should not be held accountable if their favored candidates lose.
And where on the heirarchy does FP fall, anyway? Are there only 36 people (majority) who have the right to make decisions and direct staff? No one else in any position of the Democratic Party has any input except to talk to those 36 members? When did that happen?
If that is the case, then I call on Nick Kahl, Jefferson Smith, and the other new state reps. to address these issues. "The caucus " did not choose who was a target candidate and who was forgotten. A specific person or people made those decisions. They should be held accountable. Those of us who had great candidates in 2008 but were treated with "you can't win", "your candidate lacks steam" or some other remark wonder why it is called the Democratic Party of Oregon if so many of our races are ignored.
And those of us who thought there were better legislators back a couple decades ago before the creation of caucus campaign arms like FP (which don't seem to be responsible to the general public) have every right to be outspoken about this until some action is taken. I have already talked to a caucus staffer about this.
Jan 2, '09
LT, your post lacks steam.