Thanks for adding the new word to my vocabulary: dyspeptic

Had he any integrity at all, Adams would have resigned.

I don't care, none of my friends care, none of my coworkers care. Once Kroger dismissed it it became about the sex. He committed no crime other than in someone elses eyes. Personally I don't give a rip if he lied about sex. Our former President did it once and I didn't give a rip then either. Mark Sanford did it and I don't care (other than to giggle because of his previous moral high horse riding image). Boo hoo if anyone cares that he lied to the press...happens all the time and its going to happen again.

Jeff Alworth:

Will this turn into a partisan crusade by anti-government libertarians, righties, and dyspeptic bloggers?

Bob T:

Where does progressive Democrat Marc Abrams fit in among those three?

I'm signing it because of the idiot's support for the stadium deal (and I'm still aware that had Adams been a teacher, and Breedlove a 17-year old female student, he would have been gone in January).

Bob Tiernan Portland

Carla,

Have to disagree with you on this one.

In my lifetime I have never seen a political figure more closely resembling Richard Nixon than Sam Adams.

Adams' ambition knows no bounds.

Don't you remember, when the rumors first surfaced, how he absolutely destroyed Bob Ball? He sent out an open letter to all Portlanders insisting his innocence, and blasting Ball for promoting the homophobic stereotype of forty something gay men preying on teenagers. Well, he WAS a forty something gay man preying on a teenager. In some circles I think they call that a chickenhawk.

After he effectively destroyed Ball, he ran a ruthless, slash and burn campaign against Dozono. He tied up Dozono's public funding through a set of legal maneuvers, even though Dozono had more than exceeded the mark required for public financing... under the plan that Adams himself had helped implement.

I was an Adams supporter when he ran for council. Between myself personally and my company we contributed about five thousand dollars to his campaign. I backed the wrong horse and I regret it now.

Sam Adams is all about Sam Adams. His jobs at city hall, his tenure as a commissioner and his election to the mayor's office is all about moving on in the political arena. He doesn't care who he steps on, he doesn't care whose throat he slits. He is nothing but a political animal.

Look at the tripe he pedals now.

He's going to work on the dropout rate. Fine. But the city charter gives the city no authority over schools. He's going to work on the unemployment rate. He once said that he was the brains behind Katz's economic development strategy... a strategy that ran Columbia Sportsware off to Washington county and saw our region attain the second highest unemployment rate in the current recession and the prior. The business friendly, fiscally responsible mayor has two properties going into foreclosure and his renters will probably end up on the street because HE didn't pay his mortgage.

I'm telling you, the emperor has no clothes.

He talks the talk. He's hip and he's gay and he rides a bicycle. But in the final analysis he'll cut your throat if he thinks he needs to and not give you a fare-de-well.

Mark my words. The dirty tricks you will see coming out of Adams' office to fight this recall will rival Watergate. And the sad part is he will probably get away with it.

Maybe good politicians have to be sociopathic. Maybe good politicians can't be empathic or have a concience.

But a politican is all Sam Adams is, or ever will be.

Someday perhaps, in the far future, while he is in his rocking chair under his shawl Adams will realize that he is totally alone in this world, because his blind ambition has allowed him to screw everyone he has ever dealt with. Perhaps then he will know remorse.

But I doubt it.

Yawn.

What is it with Republicans and their public therapy sessions these days?

He's not my mayor either. I really don't care, but found the report from Kroger to be more about stating that they couldn't build a case (even though it isn't illegal to lie to an Oregon Law Enforcement Officer), than exonerating Adams.

Face it - your Mayor lied in order to get elected. While not a crime, it is certainly low brow.

I think there could be a whole lot of petition signers who are pissed about the stadia and public money give-away. But then thats just me.

Better question - can someone with his baggage effectively advance the the issues they elected him to handle?

My answer - For whatever reason, no. Once you can't do what you were elected to do, then you're a liability to your cause. Sticking around is just ego. Whatever happened to sacrificing personal ambition for the larger goal?

Comrads, Sam Adams is part of what it means to Keep Portland Weird. The guy did a teen in the City Hall men's bathroom and got away it. In your face! Portland is about being sex positive and Weird. Get used to it.

Solidarity, Karl

My fantasy has Sammy facing a recall election, then surviving by something like 10 votes or so, making it excruciatingly close enough to keep the sideshow and jokes going on for the remainder of his term.

For instance:

Sam Adam’s Chief of Staff: “Mayor Adams, you’ve just received a huge financial contribution from a prominent political group on the East Coast!”

Sam: ”Finally some good news! Which group is it from?”

Chief of Staff: ”I’m not sure. What does N.A.M.B.L.A. stand for?”

We’ll keep ‘em coming Sam!

No, yes, yes, yes, strengthened, probably not.

So is Wurster part of the Kevin Mannix Measure Hell team or the Bill Sizemore Measure Hell team?

"In my lifetime I have never seen a political figure more closely resembling Richard Nixon than Sam Adams."

Dude, you need to get out more.

"Had he any integrity at all, Adams would have resigned."

Oh, lookie, Boats is studying a foreign language. He said "integrity".

I don't know. With a bridge to build, A MLS stadium to build, a baseball team to relocate, a headquarters hotel to get off the ground.... I don't think the city can survive without Sam Adams as mayor. He is almost irreplaceable. I think that we should forgive him of all sins and focus on helping him bring all those living wage soccer jobs to Portland. Best dam use of the city's bonding authority I have ever seen. Common Portland, who's with me?

Hi Alicia and AdmiralNaismith,

Please do not attack me, we Democrats are much better than that. Here is my current voter registration info:

Name: WURSTER, JASUN EUGENE Voter Status: Active County: Multnomah County Party: Democrat Residential Address: 5769 N VANCOUVER AVE, PORTLAND, OR 97217

More so, you can learn more about me at: http://forwardsupport.com/about_us

Or this Anna Griffin article: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/anna_griffin/index.ssf/2009/06/its_all_about_integrity_recall.html

With much respect,

Jasun Wurster 503-799-7919

Will this turn into a partisan crusade by anti-government libertarians, righties, and dyspeptic bloggers?

That's all it has been from the very beginning. Not to mention the people who aren't even residents of Portland proper. I'm looking at you, Clark County and Lake Oswego wingnuts.

Yep. It's all a homophobic high tech lynching. Adams is adamantly not the predatory pedophile his actions paint him out to be.

"Adams is adamantly not the predatory pedophile his actions paint him out to be."

OK< but the issue is with him lying. He could have said no comment all along. However, he went out of his way to smear Bob Ball and paint himself as a sacrifical lamb - which he wasn't.

Realize Portland - If he gets away with this scale of lying, just think what's in store.

Give me a break. If this was a 42 yr straight guy that had sex with a 17 year old girl and then lied about it he would be in jail with the key at the bottom of the river. It angers me that public officials get away with damn near anything and then the liberal media buries the story.

Get a grip. The facts speak for themselves. He had a relationship with a former aid and he was potentially underage. That is statutory rape in every state that I know of. Lady justice must turn a blind eye on the "alternative lifestyle" crowd in Portland. Furthermore, if the AG had pressed charges and won would they have required S.A. to register as a sex offender? There are tons of straight guys every year who have a relationship with an girl that is 17 and her parents press charges and that guy's life is ruined because is required to register as a sex offender.

It is about time the people take back their city, state, and country and stop letting the reckless politicians destroy our freedoms and bend the system to their advantage.

Don't you remember, when the rumors first surfaced, how he absolutely destroyed Bob Ball? He sent out an open letter to all Portlanders insisting his innocence, and blasting Ball for promoting the homophobic stereotype of forty something gay men preying on teenagers.

Bullshit.

1. Bob Ball said Sam was having sex with an underaged minor. The AG said there was "no evidence" of that. No evidence. None. (Not "insufficient" or "not credible." None.)

2. Bob Ball is a gossip and a scamp. There's not a political operative in this town who hasn't heard Bob passing along some rumor, usually overdone if not untrue.

3. The reason Randy Leonard took Sam's side against his friend Bob was because Randy knows first-hand that Bob isn't a reliable source.

If this was a 42 yr straight guy that had sex with a 17 year old girl and then lied about it he would be in jail with the key at the bottom of the river. It angers me that public officials get away with damn near anything and then the liberal media buries the story.

Get a grip. The facts speak for themselves. He had a relationship with a former aid and he was potentially underage. That is statutory rape in every state that I know of.

Christ, you people won't even let FACTS get in your way.

The Attorney General said there was "no evidence" of sex with an underage minor.

The AG is a prosecutor, not "liberal media".

Breedlove was never an aide to Adams. He was an intern in the state Capitol for Republican gay-basher Kim Thatcher. (Any wonder why the kid reached out for help?)

You've never heard of Washington? Because the age of consent up there is 16, as it was in Oregon until just a few years ago.

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air jordan shoes

Robert Collins:

...and he rides a bicycle.

Bob T:

Well, if cameras are around he will. Otherwise he drives a big gas-guzzler up to Jantzen Beach Mall when he could have taken his bicycle on the Yellow Line and gotten most of the way there before cycling away.

I never liked him because he has the cold, icy eyes of a killer. But that's just me. The stadium (and hotel scam) deals in the works are enough of a reason.

Bob Tiernan Portland

My summary: Portland DESERVES better than Sam Adams, and we CAN do better. Sign the petition and let's move forward.

As I'm not a Portland resident, I've got no dog in this hunt. But I am curious:

The recall effort---will the way the MLS deal has been handled affect the recall numbers in a telling way? Are there many people out there who would wish to recall Sam not because of the Breedlove situation but because they don't like how the MLS situation has been handled?

Second question---if Adams was recalled, who do you think would replace him?

I don't think it's right to recall him if you don't like his policy. The mechanism for removing him for that sort of thing is called "elections" and should wait until its proper time.

That would leave the sex thing as the reason for recalling him. Do you want to do that? If so, sign the petition.

My biggest concern is, should the recall work, who would succeed him? Until I know the answer, and until it's an answer I like, I'm not signing anything.

The recall gang lacks balls to face actual problems so they obsess over other peoples sex lives. How Republican. Until their own laundry spills, that is, then they get all Sanford soul-matey on us. hypocrites.

I think that if someone posts on this issue, they should start the post by stating if they are in any way connected or get money from the City of Portland and it's agencies or work for, or have worked for Sam Adams and/or M&R.

I get the feeling a lot of people posting here have a lot more invested in Sam Adams than just wanting good government.

FYI, I do not nor have ever worked for Sam Adams, the City of Portland or it's agencies.

Hahaha. Only 10 states have an age of consent that's 18. Thanks.

I am so tired of people beating up on Sam. He's working hard for the people of Portland. If he wants to have sex with teens it's his own business!

To PSJackson: I get no money from Portland and have never worked for Sam Adams. I voted for him for mayor, but voted for Nick against him in the Council race. Like criticisms of most people, I think some have some truth, and some are exaggerated.

Ditto to Carla and some others -- if you don't like Sam, let him ride out his term and then vote for someone else. A recall election, and if successful the following election to replace him, will be too expensive in this present climate, particularly where it would be following by regular elections in a couple of years.

What I like best about today's comments is this underlying theme: "We need to stop him now so his otherworldly political talents don't get Sam elected to higher offices."

Has the Portland electorate really become Christopher Walken to Sam Adams' Martin Sheen? We are in The Dead Zone.

I think this is a waste of taxpayer money at a time when we can ill-afford to waste any money. I'm not particularly a fan of Adams, though I did vote for him with some misgivings. Those misgivings have largely been born out with the stadia fracas, sit/lie extension attempts, and CRC manoeuvring that could have been handled much better. (OTOH, he delivered a pretty great budget proposal that managed to avoid mutiny -- no small feat when there just isn't much to go around.) None of these nor anything else I have seen rises to the rather extraordinary measure of a special recall, especially when, as Eric Ramon says, I have no idea who would replace him. Adams may be "the devil you know," but that's better than ... you know the rest.

I won't venture to guess what's motivating this report effort, just like I won't venture to guess what motivated Palin's resignation, but I don't get it, don't like it, and won't support it.

Oh, and I agree -- it's quite absurd that our age of consent is 18, especially given that the age of consent for marriage is 17 -- except, of course, if you're gay, in which case you can't get married at all, thanks to the good people of Oregon. I'd have a lot more respect for Jasun Wurstler and his cohorts if they would put 1/10th the effort into righting that injustice that they are putting into demonizing a gay man while, of course, bristling at charges of homophobia. At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words, and it's clear where these people are focusing their actions.

Posted by: Richard Smoker | Jul 8, 2009 10:06:50 AM

You can end the recall effort, then. Thing is he has delivered nada on that "working hard" bit. Is he incapable, or have we missed some great deliverable? Show me the beef!

You show me one thing substantive that he has delivered on- including as a concillor- and I'll stop my recall effort in a heartbeat. This is the participation generation again, isn't it? Motivation is everything, evaluating results is simply a brutal gauntlet to avoid, a left-over from yesteryear.

Besides, you show me a politician that lives by, "but he's trying hard and means well", and I'll show you a politician that ain't doing shit, has never worked at anything in his life, and thinks form can cover substance in every case. In Portland, he might just be right.

Posted by: torridjoe | Jul 7, 2009 11:41:31 PM

Also an injustice. Wouldn't it be nice if we weren't hung up on sex? We would either not be having this debate, or having it about something that clearly violated the public interest.

Our age of consent is 12 (NL). They can opt for death with dignity. They don't drive until 21. Our military only go into areas with multinational forces, on UN mandate, unlike your hired thugs. Our society is more successful, and more livable, at every level. Wake up and learn something!

And, BTW, we would recall Sam Adams for being a liar and disrespecting his own party. Truth be told, ANY pol that had to issue all the reversals, and "the latest true story", that he did that first week it broke in January, would have the self-respect to resign. Looking at Adams' resume, kissing Vera's ass was his only qual. That don't exactly breed self-respect. Do you have it?

Here's a question I have - I know of at least one recall effort against Adams, but are there others? Could say, several groups launch efforts and without any one of the efforts getting the required number of signatures to put the thing on the ballot cause the recall drive to fail? Or is it the total number of signiatures? I ask because if the former is true and I'm an Adams supporter, I'd get as many people as I could out on the streets getting sigs to dilute the chances of the recall going through.

Hi Leinad,

Thanks for your questions:

-Who is funding your effort?

All financial info, per Oregon elections law is here. Right now we are a little over $3000. Most of our donations are $99.99 and less because people fear Adams. This is not a healthy democracy when citizens fear their leaders.

https://secure.sos.state.or.us/eim/sooDetail.do?sooRsn=44886

-Are you going to run for mayor once you oust Adams?

I have not really given any though to this silly question. I am a 34 year old PSU student who wants increased civic participation, positive campaigning and government accountability. Do you really think I have a snowballs chance?

The Recall campaign will not endorse or support any one running for mayor.

We are focused on providing citizens the opportunity to hold Adams accountable for his civic and ethical transgressions against the citizens of Portland.

-Do you think you can run the city?

This Recall is about Sam Adams, not Jasun Wurster. Please stop attacking me and focus on the willful lies Adams told to get elected, his orchestration of an elaborate cover-up and abuse of power.

-Do you have zero skeletons in your closet?

No, I just moved into my new rental home and the all the closets were empty.

-Do you think elected officials should have to pass a personal life test before they run?

I believe that the deliberate lies and negative campaigning that Adams participated in should be a test (which he failed) to having the honor of representing your fellow citizens.

-How does this not turn ugly and homophobic?

By you realizing that this recall is not about sex. It is about righting the wrongs of Sam Adams' bid for mayor and sending a clear message to future Portland politicians that negative campaigning and lying to get elected are no longer acceptable in our city.

-Why do you think going door-to-door to get 50,000 signatures more effective than standing on a busy street? -Are you vetting every signature gatherer about their intentions?

Absolutely, this allows neighbors to talk to one another and start the process of healing our communities. This also provides us the ability to verify address on the door step with our voter lists.

As for "vetting every signature gatherer about their intentions", you are setting me up. I will do the best that I can to educate people that every citizen has the right to the pursuit of happiness, and it is the job of government to protect individual liberties. Deliberately lying, masterminding cover-ups, and abusing power are traits of a corrupt politician and has nothing to do with sexual orientation.

For those who keep trying to make this Recall about sexual orientation, partisan politics and prejudice values, please stop, as you are not welcome in this Recall and we do not want your signature.

I know that any answer I give you will never be good enough... but it is the best that I can do.

Together we will make our government better,

RecallSamAdams.com Jasun Wurster 503-799-7919

Hey David Lee Donnell, you talking about the "NL" Netherlands where gay politicians get assassinated?

http://tech.mit.edu/V122/N24/long_324.24w.html

"By you realizing that this recall is not about sex"

Nope not at all no SEX SEX NAMBLA PEDOPHILIA mmm homos kissing in BATHROOMS sex sex sex homos having sex sex breedLOVE ("breed" hahaha) David says the age of consent is 12 in the NL oboy! Let's all get UNZIPPED!

Nope not at all. No sex.

Stay in school Jasun. You need it.

[Trademark infringement removed - editor.]

The concept of "stop digging" really doesn't dawn on Dems, does it?

I fucking hate censorship. Especially on a blatantly political issue like this. The poster was right. You are censoring references to

[Trademark infringement removed -editor.]

How hard would it have been to deal fairly with a site you don't agree with? Instead you keep beating the hornets' nest.

As I sit here, I am watching 15 highly motivated people, tired of being called trolls, contacting every news outlet in the state, to make sure they know that "blue oregon is recalling sam". Eat it.

Posted by: Alicia | Jul 8, 2009 11:29:04 AM

http://tech.mit.edu/V122/N24/long_324.24w.html

Yeah. For being stupid, not gay. Nice trend.

[Trademark infringement in comment author name removed -editor.]

So assissinating gay politicians is a "nice trend" if you think they're stupid. thanks for making that clear.

Adams has really never represented the majority of the people of Portland. He was elected due to name familiarity and catering to the special interest, often by taxing the opposition to supply public funding for his allies and ambitions. He uses fear tactics and socialistic style politics to control and manipulate people. In that regard, he is a representative of the progressive movement. Should he survive the recall, he will clearly demonstrate that lying has become a critical component for socialist progressives, including that of moving forward the directional route the Democratic Party in Oregon is taking to implement an oppressive socialistic agenda that endeavors to make choices for and manage the lifestyles of Oregonians.

"Conservative Democrat" means "Republican until last weekend, when Soulboy Sanford and Moonbat Palin" made me run screaming into a wall

I think the problem for Sam is almost everyone is mad at him about something. I don't give a rip about the sex, but I was bothered by the lies, and now I'm livid about SE 39th. I will sign a petition to recall him, and I don't care if Charles Manson is his replacement.

And I have never worked anywhere near Sam Adams, or the city, or any other government.

"Highly informed?" That's certainly debatable. There's lots of reflexive liberal orthodoxy to be found here.

So I am watching the "Cash Cab" and one of the questions:

"What Oregon metropolis is referred to as 'little Beruit'"?

Answer: "Portland".

Portland has a nation-wide reputation, and it isn't all good. Sam Adams isn't doing Portland any favors. There's plenty of other talented democrats that could take over for him.

To: Conservative Democrat - exactly what is your defintion of conversative democrat? A hetro w/no tattoos/piercings?

Respectfully Rev. Currie,

Since July 22nd at 12:28 when you wrote "this news from the OAG’s office takes the wind out of what was a doomed to fail recall effort from the start."

We have had over 150 more volunteers sign up.

As I have done many times, I would like the opportunity to have coffee with you to hear your concerns and explain how the recall campaign is addressing them.

Feel free to call me at 503-799-7919.

RecallSamAdams.com Jasun Wurster

Please pass the popcorn. With the renaming fiasco of 39th this will get interesting.

You stay weird Portland.

Sam is gay, he should be waterboarded and killed.

leinad, do you really think renaming a street is no big deal? What street do you live on? Let's rename it Sam Adams Avenue. Where does it end? Look at the time that has been wasted on this renaming issue. Look at the thousands of dollars that will be spent to rename the street. Look at the fact that a vast majority of Portland residents don't want a numbered street changed to a named street. You live on the west side, don't you? That explains a lot. Let's rename Hall Blvd. Let's rename Oleson Rd. When would that ever be a good idea? My anger is over the proof that our city council doesn't give a damn about what makes sense, or what is actually best for Portland, only what will look good to a minority community.

Someone give me one good reason why changing a numbered street to a named street benefits Portland in any way. And please don't go in to the specifics about which name it is, because thatis completely immaterial.

"President Bush after violent protests during his visits to Oregon in the early 1990s, " - lienad

Pacifists getting violent! Buwahahahahha... attack of the conversative Democrats?

There are additional reasons to recall Adams. They include the following control mindset agenda items:

Ramming the divisive Chavez street renaming decision down the throats of those who live, own property and have businesses 39th Avenue.

Ramming through his oppressive Climate Action Plan that aims to tax everything he doesn’t like to create power over, and excessively control the lifestyles of Portlanders.

Ramming through his costly over priced Streetcar System Plan that is being decided on by a hand picked committee without any comprehensive, in-depth or independent studies of any other alternatives

Ramming his Bicycle Master Plan (including costly unnecessary bike boxes) down the throats of drivers who actually pay for the roads, and recommending that additional taxes be included on the utility bills of everybody instead of having the bicycle user community having to pay for it.

Ramming through his high priced Willamette River plan (North of the Broadway Bridge) that is opposed by virtually every business and business-related organization in the Portland Harbor.

And finally, his desire to ram through excessively high tolls on drivers who Cross the Columbia River.

Not only is Adams reckless when driving himself, ramming his pickup truck into two other vehicles (most bicyclists rarely pay attention motor vehicle right hand turn signals and pass on the right anyway), but he is even more reckless when it comes to his taxing agenda and spending the public’s money. Portlanders can simply no longer afford to pay the excessively high price tag for the Sam Adams costly version of socialism.

Alicia:

Hey David Lee Donnell, you talking about the "NL" Netherlands where gay politicians get assassinated?

Bob T:

And get beaten up by Muslim immigrants who are going to make Western Europe very un-liberal in a few decades (and liberals won't do anything about it, except maybe move to America before they get their throats slit for being, well, liberally decadent).

Alicia:

So assassinating gay politicians is a "nice trend" if you think they're stupid. thanks for making that clear.

Bob T:

That's a good comeback to Mr. Puphead there -- apparently he needs to label as "stupid" those he disagrees with so he can justify doing what Lenin's crowd did - shooting people in the back of the neck because he disagreed with them.

Bob Tiernan Portland

"I don't think it's right to recall him if you don't like his policy."

Everyone turns this around to being about sex and it is about the lying. Not just a no comment which Sam could have easily said, it is about making a story out of whole cloth and going out of his way to make himself look like an innocent victim when he was not.

Again, we now know Sam, if he will lie to save himself, he will probably lie to ge what he wants whether its subisdies for developers like Ashforth or Williams or neon roses or 250ft tall condos on the river bank.

If you want a sociopath for Mayor, then by all means don't sign the petition and wait until the next election so he can do some real damage to this town.

There must be at least one progressive that can do a better job than Adams if that is what you are worried about.

"will be too expensive in this present climate"

Any comment on Randy and Sam throwing yet another $40M at PGE Park and Paulson?

"what I said was that the County (you) griped about what they were not getting from the City"

Can I gripe what CoP doesn't get from TorridTroll as he spends his day blogging instead of working?

"Posted by: Disgruntled | Jul 7, 2009 10:51:43 PM

Give me a break. If this was a 42 yr straight guy that had sex with a 17 year old girl and then lied about it he would be in jail with the key at the bottom of the river. It angers me that public officials get away with damn near anything and then the liberal media buries the story.

I have never heard of a state where having a relationship with a former aid who was "potentially" underage is a crime. Is this some sort of place where everybody is named Benjamin Button: "Well, I'm 88, but potentially I'll be 17!"

Without getting into the ridiculous idea of a liberal media, since you claim the story is buried, please show us the facts that you seem to possess. If you don't have them--and if you do please forward them to John Kroger immediately--take your own advice and get a grip.

Leinad: [in italics]

Jasun Wurster,

-Who is funding your effort?

Bob T:

The issue is what's more important, tho' you can always find out who's funding something. I hope you don't judge this by who might be funding it - after all, the "dreaded" Loren Parks bankrolled the fight against the referendum to repeal the assisted suicide law.

Are you going to run for mayor once you oust Adams?

He doesn't need to in order to have the right to start a recall. To impose that as a requirement would be a restriction against the right of the people to recall an elected official. Do you want such a restriction now?

Do you think you can run the city?

He doesn't need have that ability, either.

Do you have zero skeletons in your closet?

He doesn't have to meet that standard, either. If he were mayor, maybe it would be an issue for his own recall. But as a private citizen the only reason any skeletons would matter would be to provide someone like yourself to mention these in opposition to the recall effort - you have that right.

Do you think elected officials should have to pass a personal life test before they run?

That's not what this is about.

How does this not turn ugly and homophobic?

If it just did, it's because you mentioned, not Jasun.

Why do you think going door-to-door to get 50,000 signatures more effective than standing on a busy street?

Why do you care?

Are you vetting every signature gatherer about their intentions?

Why should he?

Take your time...

I can see that he didn't need much time at all.

My own opinion is that it won't even make the ballot because of the poor strategy in gathering the sigs.

Bob Tiernan Portland

It's time Adamas does the right thing and for the good of Portland resign. He can spare us all a lot of grief and embarrassment.

It looks to me like Mr. Wurster is breaking the law. According to his website, he is requiring all prospective signature gatherers to sign a statement that includes the following language:

"As a volunteer signature collector for our Recall you agree that you will only collect signatures from active registered Portland voters that [sic] want Sam Adams recalled for the reasons listed on the SEL 350. You agree not to collect signatures from individuals who [sic] goals are to remove Sam Adams from office based on sexual orientation or religious social conservative reasons."

Now, I don't pretend to know exactly what he means by "religious social conservative reasons" but it certainly looks like religious discrimination. Can otherwise-qualified voters be barred from signing an electoral petition based on their religious beliefs? I'm no legal expert but I would bet money the answer is no.

"then it doesn't meet the threshold for a recall."

With all due respect, the only threshold I know for a recall election is if we can get 32K+ valid signatures in 90 days or whatever.

I feel with Mr Adams pattern of lying, this is probitive enough to not trust him and I will sign a petition for a recall election.

If you feel you can trust someone like Adams after his past behavior then don't sign.

"I don't think it's right to recall him if you don't like his policy."

He trashed the lives and reputations of other people and lied to get elected - all to save himself and so he could assume supreme control over the people of Portland. Now it seems other collective progressives also want to save Adams – obviously protecting their own - all of which are good reasons to recall him. And oh yes, unlike far left progressive democrats (like Adams) that aspire to manage how other people live their lives, a conservative democrat is a true Democrat that believes in the constitution, believes that freedom of lifestyle choice and means of transport choice are worth fighting for, and believes that the Democratic Party should be “The Party of the People” (as it used to be) protecting the rights of the people, especially working class people - not the party of power that is currently bit by bit taking those rights away with socialistic minded tax policies and collective controls..

"...unless the lying is criminal or unless you can demonstrate that he's using his office for illegal or unethical purposes, a recall is frivolous and a waste."

So it's OK to be unethical (and most would agree lying is unethical) to get into office, but not OK to be unethical in office? I don't get that.

"...unless the lying is criminal or unless you can demonstrate that he's using his office for illegal or unethical purposes, a recall is frivolous and a waste."

So it's OK to be unethical (and most would agree lying is unethical) to get into office, but not OK to be unethical in office? I don't get that.

"And just because it's possible, doesn't mean it's appropriate--which is my point."

Uh, hate to say this, but I disagree.

I think it is appropriate. If we elect leaders, we have to be able to trust them and I think by his behavior that Mr Adams is less than trustsworthy.

If you are satisifed with that, fine, but I'd like to have higher standards.

"He was elected based on those things, not his private life."

"Just because the law is loosely written to allow for other reasons, doesn't make it right."

"At this juncture, this recall effort is frivolous and wasteful." With all due respect Carla, those are just your opinions. And obviously they aren't shared by a good number of people. I, like many others, don't give a damn what politicians do in their private lives. Adams could have said it was nobody's business. But he lied. To get into office. That says something about him, whether you like it or not and whether you think it matters to you or not. You're entitled to your opinion, as is everyone else. I happen to believe that someone who lies in order to gain office isn't someone you can trust. If Adams really is the best Portland can do, then another election will prove that. Let the voters decide - with all the info this time - whether Adams' lying to get in office is an issue or not.

I don't know. Since he was elected as an openly gay man, I think your argument is a bit disingenuous, Leo. I understand why he did it, I'm not ignoring the historical treatment of gays, I just think it wasn't up to him to decide that the same openminded people that elected him, couldn't handle the truth.

But I guess we both agree that this doesn't excuse lying.

Peace

Were it not for the massive spike to stand-up comic material in this otherwise sleepy town this whole thing would be a retro-prude, homophobic crypto-rightwing snear/smearfest.

Who gives a flip if Sam swapped spit with a 17yr old?

It is time to see this whole drama for the farce it is and realize that a signture for recall is pure and simple homophobia, ableit supported by a few very confused gays.

Key-rist almighty! The whole world econony is teetering on collapse, the Middle East pot is boiling over and much of the rest of the world is exploding at the seams.

Intelligent adults have more compelling passtimes than following this pseudo-scandal.

I'm with Richard Smoker (above): if a public official can't kiss a teenager in City Hall, who can?

The hipsters and bike nazis are right: we need Sam to make us look normal. Please respond to my email, especially if you have daughters. If you will INVITE ME TO YOUR DAUGHTER'S 18th Birthday party I will present her with a gift certificate valid for 24 hours of sweaty pillow biting back bleeding fun. She will be a grownup when I'm done with her, and she will know what it means to be truly mentored, in a sticky and rug burn kind of way.

Word.

Carla, Sam's most aggregious lies to the public are not about private personal matters.

--Does it matter that Adams lied to Portlanders about Bob Ball during the campaign, purely for political gain?

The long-ago meetings became a public matter because Pearl District developer Bob Ball, who, like Adams, was considering a mayoral run, raised questions about whether the relationship between Adams and Breedlove was sexual.

Because Breedlove was 17 years old and a minor when he first met Adams, then 42, the corollary question was not just if it happened, but when.

Ball—who, like Adams, is gay—spoke to his then-close friend, City Commissioner Randy Leonard, in August 2007.

In WW’s story (“Mayor’s Race Off to Brutal Beginning,” WWire, Sept. 17, 2007), Adams acknowledged meeting Beau Breedlove during a trip to Salem.

They met again in the spring and early summer of 2005, including a lunch at the downtown Macaroni Grill and a dinner on June 9, 2005, at the Lotus Cafe near City Hall.

Adams had also said that he and a friend drove down to Salem for Breedlove’s 18th birthday party on June 25, 2005.

Adams, now 45, also acknowledged then that his encounters with Breedlove distressed his staff, because they looked inappropriate.

“We made it clear that Sam should be careful,” Adams’ chief of staff Tom Miller told WW in 2007.

At the time, Adams said he was mentoring Breedlove, and both men said their relationship was just platonic. And Adams claimed Ball was engaged in a dirty tricks campaign.

“I have been the target of a nasty smear by a would-be political opponent,” wrote Adams in a Sept. 18, 2007, email released to the public. “I didn’t get into public life to allow my instinct to help others to be snuffed out by fear of sleazy misrepresentations or political manipulation.”

--And does it matter that Adams lied about the reason his spokeman, Wade Nkrumah, resigned? It apparently matters to Nkrumah who is suing Adams for damage to his reputation.

“In fact, when Claimant resigned, and Adams stated that stress was a reason, Claimant made it clear to Adams that ’stress’ was not an issue,” according to the notice of tort claim. “Rather it was Adams’ lying as a public official (with ethical obligations to avoid even the appearance of impropriety and a duty to treat the office of mayor as a public trust) that created intolerable working conditions. Adams’ continued issuance of false statements to the electorate made it impossible to continue in good conscience as his spokesperson. As Claimant informed Adams: ‘The reason I am resigning is because of the lies.”

Carla - You seem to be fond of stating things in a way that makes it seem like it's not just your opinion, but a fact. For example:

Unless there's something criminal in that element of lying, then it doesn't meet the threshold for a recall.

And I guess if you want to parse your ethics to say it's ok to lie unless it's about policy, that's your privilege too. Can you just accept that some of us don't think lying is ok, no matter what it's about? Also, as DJ reiterated, we don't all agree that Adam's lies were restricted to those about his private life.

Leo - Boy, that's quite a leap there. Not sure where you got your "seeming premises" of mine from since I neither wrote nor meant either of them. I said that I understand why Adams lied. How you take that and jump to the "seeming" conclusions you did, are beyond me.

No Leo. I think lies told by a politician - no matter the reason for telling them - in order to gain office are sufficient grounds to recall a politician.

I am no saint, nor do I hold others to that standard. But I do strive to live and act with integrity, and I accept the (sometimes very harsh) consequences when I fail, for whatever reason. I do work hard every day to live up to the moral standards I "project" on others. It's what good people in just societies do.

Oh, and save your Bible quotations (especially immediately after grouping historians with "fableweavers"). I'm not religious, but I do know the Bible and every religion I've ever heard of put a high premium on honesty. No matter what the cost.

I guess I missed the day in Sunday school when they taught that lying was ok if one has a good enough reason.