Quick Hits: Catching up
Kari Chisholm
So, I was on the road last week at Netroots Nation - and I'm just getting caught up on all the news. Some items that grabbed my attention and probably deserve your comment:
- Will John Kitzhaber run for Governor? And, what of Bill Bradbury, Brian Clem, Steve Novick and others? OPB had a story yesterday. Most hilariously, Oregon GOP chair Bob Tiernan claims that "[Kizhaber] hasn't run any major organizations." Um, yeah... except the state of Oregon. Unless Bob doesn't think the state government is a major organization. Bizarre.
- Saturday night, Senator Ron Wyden did a full 20-minute interview on KGW's Straight Talk - entirely about health care. Watch the video here (since KGW won't allow us to embed it here.)
- It seems that the battles over the UGB are upon us again. Over at the Oregonian's editorial blog, Metro Council President David Bragdon takes issue with the critics of the urban growth boundary:
These claims surface every five years, when state law forces the Metro Council to evaluate the UGB. The stakes are especially high this fall when we'll also be considering designating urban reserves for up to 50 years' worth of potential additions to the UGB.
It's predictable that some combatants will take advantage of our nation's economic woes to try and make us believe that growing our citizens' economic opportunities somehow depends on growing the supply of cheap vacant real estate around our region. But I'd rather be guided by common sense and facts.
- Meanwhile, Congressman Kurt Schrader says he's open to a public option on health care - with some caveats:
Oregon's lawmakers left for their August recess wrestling with perhaps the most contentious element of the roiling health care debate — the public option.
This still-evolving plan would allow any American unhappy with private insurance, or unable to get it, to buy a policy from either a government program or some nonprofit entity.
Democratic Rep. Kurt Schrader is on board with a public option, but only with conditions aimed at cost containment. ...
Schrader said he could support a public insurance option, but it would have to be a non-profit system, and free of the government.
"Let's see if something like that can moderate the (insurance) rates a little — to provide some good competition," he said. "There could be some government seed money to get it started, but it would have to be paid back."
- Props to local union printer Witham & Dickey. After all the rancor around renaming 39th Avenue to Cesar Chavez Blvd., they've decided to help affected businesses make the transition - with free stationery and business cards. Details at the O.
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10:37 a.m.
Aug 18, '09
Pardon the mixed metaphor, but since it's the height of "Shark Attack!" season: Hasn't the "Will John Kitzhaber run for __ " teaser jumped the shark by now?
11:39 a.m.
Aug 18, '09
I wonder how long the ORGOP will keep letting Tiernan spin their wheels before they opt out?
Aug 18, '09
The Wyden interview was very disappointing. He spent a lot of the time repeating Republican talking points. Among them, that any Medicare savings in the House or Senate Dem. bill will do harm to seniors.He also attacked the Dems for not pursuing his brand of "bipartisanship." Thanks for the shiv, Ron!
In the meantime his negotiating partner, Chuck Grassley says he probably won't vote for his own negotiated bipartisan bill. And today Sen. Jon Kyl said there was no way Rs were going to vote for any bill coming from the Dems.
WTF do you think you are doing, Ron?
Aug 19, '09
Let's be clear about one thing, because Kari just really isn't that smart.
Shrader has NOT demonstrated here he is for true public option. What he has done, just like some Blue Cross Democrats, and our Senator Wyden, has just been a sleazy politician and tried to steal that term for something quite different.
But Shrader was part of the arrogant, sleazy faction of the Democratic Party in our state legislature so this type of low-class attempt to deceive voters is no surprise coming from him.
Aug 19, '09
"Shrader was part of the arrogant, sleazy faction of the Democratic Party in our state legislature"
Cong. Schrader arrogant? Depends on who you talk to. His Cong. staff have been very friendly and positive, and his legislative staff were extremely helpful. I was looking for actual budget information, and was provided that information very clearly.
Anon, you are not the first person to misspell the name. The last person who did that -in an attack email--didn't fare very well politically.
If one side is yelling Nazi and socalism, and the other side is complaining about "just like some Blue Cross Democrats", how does actual legislation get written?
Steven Pearlstein has a column on the Washington Post, "Time to give up on the public option". Claims it is no more than a litmus test for the left.
Those who are really supporters of the public option would do better to go to washingtonpost.com, find the column, click on the his name and send him an email.
<h2>Of course, that might require some thought.</h2>