Wanted: Viable Democrat to run against Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR)

[Guest Paul J. Berg]

~

 

From The (Portland) Oregonian - July 18, 2007

 

A poll released today by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

found that 34 percent of Oregonians surveyed think they will re-elect

Republican Sen. Gordon Smith next year while the remainder either oppose

him or are undecided.

 

The poll of 500 likely voters, conducted for the DSCC by Grove Insight

from May 31 to June 3, found that while 34 percent said they think they

will re-elect him, 24 percent would "consider voting for someone else,"

21 percent "will vote to replace" Smith and 21 percent don't know.

 

The survey also found that 6 percent of those surveyed think Smith is

doing an excellent job, 31 percent think he is doing a good job, 38

percent think he is doing "only a fair job," 16 percent think he is

doing a poor job, and 9 percent don't know.

 

"Oregonians have been paying close attention to Gordon Smith's election

year makeover and they're just not buying it," DSCC spokesman Matthew

Miller said in a written statement. "Gordon Smith has proven he knows

how to read a poll, but Oregonians want a senator who will stand up for

them all the time, and not just when campaign season rolls around."

 

-- End of News Article --

 

Poster's Note: Yes, Senator Smith is beatable. But, the Democrats, as

of date, have not put up a candidate who could do that.

 

~

[Guest Don Homuth]

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 08:58:03 -0700, pjberg@webtv.net (Paul J. Berg)

wrote:

>~

>

>From The (Portland) Oregonian - July 18, 2007

>

>A poll released today by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

>found that 34 percent of Oregonians surveyed think they will re-elect

>Republican Sen. Gordon Smith next year while the remainder either oppose

>him or are undecided.

 

Not a particularly happy poll number for an incumbent. He should be

at or near 50% anyway.

 

But we don't know that much about the internals and cross-tabs of the

poll either.

>Poster's Note: Yes, Senator Smith is beatable. But, the Democrats, as

>of date, have not put up a candidate who could do that.

 

Much will depend on future outcomes of matters not yet decided. He

still has a chance to vaccilate on any number of matters.

 

More importantly, do folks like Scratch -- who has said that he and

his consurrvative friends won't Ever vote for Smith again -- have a

candidate that they can throw into the mix to screw up the numbers

even further?

 

It's been done before -- by the selfsame group.

[Guest Paul J. Berg]

~

 

As of today, I only see three Democrats capable of beating Senator

Gordon Smith. They are Governor Ted Kulongoski, former governor John

Kitzhaber or Congressman Pete DeFazio. And, all three of these

individuals have express publicly no interest in a race against Smith.

 

If the Democrats are pinning their hopes on beating Smith, by either a

damaged Smith coming out of the Republican primary or a conservative

third party candidate in the general election, in lieu of putting up a

strong Democratic candidate, we will see Senator Smith taking the oath

of office for a third term in January 2009.

 

~

[Guest Paul J. Berg]

~

 

From Ashland (Oregon) Daily Tidings - July 17, 2007

 

Jeff Golden sounds like a candidate for the U.S. Senate, but the key, he

thinks, to a successful bid is presenting a new vision for how a senator

must act if Americans are going to "take back" control over their

government.

 

That's the challenge facing the former Jefferson Public Radio talk-show

host from Ashland during his two-week tour around the state geared to

share his progressive vision with friends and potential supporters.

Golden's tour comes at time when the incumbent he hopes to challenge,

Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., announced he has already amassed $3.5 million

in campaign donations.

 

Undeterred, Golden is spending time with Democratic stalwarts in living

rooms in Eugene and Portland, the state's two population centers that

analysts call must-wins for any Democratic candidate.

 

"I am trying to assess whether my vision for the state is the same size

as a lot of other people's," Golden said in a telephone interview

Monday, taking a break from a casual evening with potential supporters

in the Portland suburb of Hillsboro. "I want to know what they see as

the future for their kids and grandkids, and they're telling it," he

added.

 

Golden, 57, who spent nearly 10 years as the host of JPR's "The

Jefferson Exchange," said he will likely announce in August whether he

will try to unseat Smith. A crowded field of other Democrats that also

lacks the big-name punch of the state's leading contenders is expected

to compete for the party's primary nomination.

 

Golden said if he decides to take on Smith, he will ask Oregonians "to

think really big" in terms that have less to do with the amount of money

they can contribute. Golden knows he can't outspend Smith, but believes

a vision of substantial change could unseat him.

 

Among questions the former Jackson County commissioner is asking: Do

people want slow, incremental change because they believe that is all

voters will support, or do Oregonians agree with him that a dramatic

shift is necessary "for this nation to thrive and maybe survive"?

 

"I am interested in a really large-scale vision because I think it's too

late for Band-Aids," Golden said. "We've come to accept way too quickly

that we can't have what we want for our country."

 

He added: "I look down the road at what I want to leave to my kids and

their kids, and I just don't think we can get there with a timid,

incremental approach. I think we have to go big."

 

Smith vulnerable?

 

Smith, 54, since being re-elected handily in 2002 when he defeated

Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury with 56 percent of votes, has

come under intense fire from Oregon's Democratic machine, which

criticizes him at every turn for his support for most Bush

administration policies.

 

"His positions are diametrically opposed to Democrats in Oregon," said

Marc Siegel, a spokesman for the Democratic Party of Oregon.

 

As a member of the moderate Republican Main Street Partnership, Smith

too has drawn the ire of conservatives in his party for voting in favor

of expanded federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and for

supporting legislation to extend hate crimes to protect gays and

lesbians.

 

"He may have aligned himself with moderates in the Senate, but he hasn't

voted with them," said Paulie Brading, chair of the Jackson County

Democratic Central Committee.

 

She added, what Smith has in his campaign coffers will pale in

comparison to what he will ultimately raise to help paint himself as a

moderate.

 

"I think Senator Smith can come up with $12 million bucks easily,"

Brading said. "He knows that he's vulnerable and he's going to run

hard."

 

Still, Rogue Valley Republicans stand by Smith.

 

"He votes his heart and his conscience and what's best for his

district," said Medford-based GOP strategist Bill Maentz, questioning in

an earlier interview whether Smith is as vulnerable as Democrats like to

say he is.

 

Voters, he said, appreciate Smith "sticking his neck out" for his

constituents.

 

Other Democrats

 

Among those also considering jumping into the May 2008 Democratic

primary: State Sen. Alan Bates of Ashland; Oregon House Speaker Jeff

Merkley of Portland; and Eileen Brady, co-founder of Portland-based New

Seasons Markets.

 

Steve Novick, 44, the only Democrat formally campaigning in the race,

said Smith's fundraising total is "entirely predictable" and evidence of

his commitment to the rich and powerful.

 

"When Oregonians see those numbers they'll realize that they're

reflective of the fact that he represents the interests of the people

who own the corporate jets that he spends so much time on," he said.

 

Novick, who raised $19,000 from more than 600 donors during the second

quarter, said he hopes to raise at least $1 million before the general

election.

 

As for Golden, he said it is clear to him that he won't have the largest

campaign war chest, so he is focusing on building "an extraordinary"

volunteer base.

 

~

[Guest ChrisT]

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 08:58:03 -0700, pjberg@webtv.net (Paul J. Berg)

wrote:

>~

>

>From The (Portland) Oregonian - July 18, 2007

>

>A poll released today by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

>found that 34 percent of Oregonians surveyed think they will re-elect

>Republican Sen. Gordon Smith next year while the remainder either oppose

>him or are undecided.

>

>The poll of 500 likely voters, conducted for the DSCC by Grove Insight

>from May 31 to June 3, found that while 34 percent said they think they

>will re-elect him, 24 percent would "consider voting for someone else,"

>21 percent "will vote to replace" Smith and 21 percent don't know.

>

>The survey also found that 6 percent of those surveyed think Smith is

>doing an excellent job, 31 percent think he is doing a good job, 38

>percent think he is doing "only a fair job," 16 percent think he is

>doing a poor job, and 9 percent don't know.

>

>"Oregonians have been paying close attention to Gordon Smith's election

>year makeover and they're just not buying it," DSCC spokesman Matthew

>Miller said in a written statement. "Gordon Smith has proven he knows

>how to read a poll, but Oregonians want a senator who will stand up for

>them all the time, and not just when campaign season rolls around."

>

>-- End of News Article --

>

>Poster's Note: Yes, Senator Smith is beatable. But, the Democrats, as

>of date, have not put up a candidate who could do that.

>

>~

As a smoker, gun owner and land owner it will be a cold day in hell

when I ever vote for another democrat.

[Guest Scratch]

Paul J. Berg wrote:

> ~

>

> As of today, I only see three Democrats capable of beating Senator

> Gordon Smith. They are Governor Ted Kulongoski, former governor John

> Kitzhaber or Congressman Pete DeFazio. And, all three of these

> individuals have express publicly no interest in a race against Smith.

>

> If the Democrats are pinning their hopes on beating Smith, by either a

> damaged Smith coming out of the Republican primary or a conservative

> third party candidate in the general election, in lieu of putting up a

> strong Democratic candidate, we will see Senator Smith taking the oath

> of office for a third term in January 2009.

>

> ~

>

 

 

Let's hope there is someone better then the rino smith running when that

time comes. Smith never responded to my emails in the Illegals issue but

stange enough, WU did. I have to give credit to WU for that.

[Guest Don Homuth]

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:43:49 -0700, pjberg@webtv.net (Paul J. Berg)

wrote:

>~

>

>As of today, I only see three Democrats capable of beating Senator

>Gordon Smith. They are Governor Ted Kulongoski, former governor John

>Kitzhaber or Congressman Pete DeFazio. And, all three of these

>individuals have express publicly no interest in a race against Smith.

 

Back in 1986, there was a fellow in Nordakoda who was the assistant

tax commissioner. He was persuaded to run against an R who had been a

5-6 term congresscritter and a US Senator.

 

Nobody thought he could win either.

 

His name is Kent Conrad and he is now Chair of the US Senate Finance

Committee.

>If the Democrats are pinning their hopes on beating Smith, by either a

>damaged Smith coming out of the Republican primary or a conservative

>third party candidate in the general election, in lieu of putting up a

>strong Democratic candidate, we will see Senator Smith taking the oath

>of office for a third term in January 2009.

 

Yep -- and Frohnmayer really did win the governorship when the Ds had

no candidate who could Possibly beat him too.

[Guest Bill Shatzer]

Paul J. Berg wrote:

 

-snip-

> Poster's Note: Yes, Senator Smith is beatable. But, the Democrats, as

> of date, have not put up a candidate who could do that.

 

Despite the rush of the current pack of presidential candidates (of both

parties) to jump the gun and campaign (vigorously) out of season, we are

still four to six months away from the traditional dates for state

candidates, credible or otherwise, to announce.

 

All in good time, child, all in good time.

 

The democrats will put up a solid candidate when the time comes for that

to happen.

 

That time is just not yet.

 

Peace and justice,

[Guest Bill Shatzer]

Paul J. Berg wrote:

> ~

>

> As of today, I only see three Democrats capable of beating Senator

> Gordon Smith. They are Governor Ted Kulongoski, former governor John

> Kitzhaber or Congressman Pete DeFazio. And, all three of these

> individuals have express publicly no interest in a race against Smith.

>

> If the Democrats are pinning their hopes on beating Smith, by either a

> damaged Smith coming out of the Republican primary or a conservative

> third party candidate in the general election, in lieu of putting up a

> strong Democratic candidate, we will see Senator Smith taking the oath

> of office for a third term in January 2009.

 

Fifteen months before the election, who'd have thought that a relatively

unknown state representative could oust four-term incumbent senator

Wayne Morris?

 

Fifteen months before the election, who'd have thought that a senior

citizen advocate who'd never held elective office, could defeat

three-term incumbent congressman Bob Duncan?

 

Fifteen months before the election, who'd have thought that a relatively

unknown tavern-owner could oust incumbent Portland mayor and long time

Portland politico Frank Ivancie?

 

Patience child, patience.

 

Peace and justice,

[Guest hohenseerick@yahoo.com]

On Jul 18, 5:46 pm, Bill Shatzer <bshatze...@comcast.net> wrote:

> Paul J. Berg wrote:

> > ~

>

> > As of today, I only see three Democrats capable of beating Senator

> > Gordon Smith. They are Governor Ted Kulongoski, former governor John

> > Kitzhaber or Congressman Pete DeFazio. And, all three of these

> > individuals have express publicly no interest in a race against Smith.

>

> > If the Democrats are pinning their hopes on beating Smith, by either a

> > damaged Smith coming out of the Republican primary or a conservative

> > third party candidate in the general election, in lieu of putting up a

> > strong Democratic candidate, we will see Senator Smith taking the oath

> > of office for a third term in January 2009.

>

> Fifteen months before the election, who'd have thought that a relatively

> unknown state representative could oust four-term incumbent senator

> Wayne Morris?

>

> Fifteen months before the election, who'd have thought that a senior

> citizen advocate who'd never held elective office, could defeat

> three-term incumbent congressman Bob Duncan?

>

> Fifteen months before the election, who'd have thought that a relatively

> unknown tavern-owner could oust incumbent Portland mayor and long time

> Portland politico Frank Ivancie?

>

> Patience child, patience.

>

> Peace and justice,

 

Cindy Sheehan.

 

Rick Hohensee

[Guest jbohren]

"Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:hJmdnWVHvo_UFwPbnZ2dnUVZ_smonZ2d@comcast.com...

> Paul J. Berg wrote:

>

>> ~

>>

>> As of today, I only see three Democrats capable of beating Senator

>> Gordon Smith. They are Governor Ted Kulongoski, former governor John

>> Kitzhaber or Congressman Pete DeFazio. And, all three of these

>> individuals have express publicly no interest in a race against Smith.

>>

>> If the Democrats are pinning their hopes on beating Smith, by either a

>> damaged Smith coming out of the Republican primary or a conservative

>> third party candidate in the general election, in lieu of putting up a

>> strong Democratic candidate, we will see Senator Smith taking the oath

>> of office for a third term in January 2009.

>

> Fifteen months before the election, who'd have thought that a relatively

> unknown state representative could oust four-term incumbent senator Wayne

> Morris?

>

> Fifteen months before the election, who'd have thought that a senior

> citizen advocate who'd never held elective office, could defeat three-term

> incumbent congressman Bob Duncan?

>

> Fifteen months before the election, who'd have thought that a relatively

> unknown tavern-owner could oust incumbent Portland mayor and long time

> Portland politico Frank Ivancie?

 

Ivancie the terrible? Hell, Crusty the clown could have beaten him.

>

> Patience child, patience.

>

> Peace and justice,

>

[Guest Bill Shatzer]

jbohren wrote:

> "Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message

> news:hJmdnWVHvo_UFwPbnZ2dnUVZ_smonZ2d@comcast.com...

 

-snip-

>>Fifteen months before the election, who'd have thought that a relatively

>>unknown tavern-owner could oust incumbent Portland mayor and long time

>>Portland politico Frank Ivancie?

> Ivancie the terrible? Hell, Crusty the clown could have beaten him.

 

Recall that Clark ended up running against Ivancie because all of the

better known politicos 'round town were unwilling to take him on. That

was at least partially because he was perceived as unbeatable.

 

Recall further that in 1980, Ivancie beat the then incumbent mayor by

over 14,000 votes in the primary and amassed a sufficient victory margin

that he was unopposed on the general election ballot and didn't have to

face a run-off election.

 

In politics, 15 months is an eternity. Those who might appear unbeatable

now may prove profoundly vulnerable come November, '08. And those who

appear marginal candidates now may well be the odds on favorites come

election day.

 

Peace and justice,

[Guest jbohren]

"Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:FKidnUg71oY17T_bnZ2dnUVZ_tzinZ2d@comcast.com...

> jbohren wrote:

>

>> "Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message

>> news:hJmdnWVHvo_UFwPbnZ2dnUVZ_smonZ2d@comcast.com...

>

> -snip-

>

>>>Fifteen months before the election, who'd have thought that a relatively

>>>unknown tavern-owner could oust incumbent Portland mayor and long time

>>>Portland politico Frank Ivancie?

>

>> Ivancie the terrible? Hell, Crusty the clown could have beaten him.

>

> Recall that Clark ended up running against Ivancie because all of the

> better known politicos 'round town were unwilling to take him on. That was

> at least partially because he was perceived as unbeatable.

>

> Recall further that in 1980, Ivancie beat the then incumbent mayor by over

> 14,000 votes in the primary and amassed a sufficient victory margin that

> he was unopposed on the general election ballot and didn't have to face a

> run-off election.

>

> In politics, 15 months is an eternity. Those who might appear unbeatable

> now may prove profoundly vulnerable come November, '08. And those who

> appear marginal candidates now may well be the odds on favorites come

> election day.

>

> Peace and justice,

 

Then recall how unsafe downtown PDX was in 1982 and that it wasn't getting

better. An awful lot of people were fed up with Ivancie. Clark did a hell

of a job. Unfortunately that bitch took over from him.

[Guest Bill Shatzer]

jbohren wrote:

> "Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message

> news:FKidnUg71oY17T_bnZ2dnUVZ_tzinZ2d@comcast.com...

>

>>jbohren wrote:

>>

>>

>>>"Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO@comcast.net> wrote in message

>>>news:hJmdnWVHvo_UFwPbnZ2dnUVZ_smonZ2d@comcast.com...

>>

>>-snip-

>>

>>

>>>>Fifteen months before the election, who'd have thought that a relatively

>>>>unknown tavern-owner could oust incumbent Portland mayor and long time

>>>>Portland politico Frank Ivancie?

>>

>>>Ivancie the terrible? Hell, Crusty the clown could have beaten him.

>>

>>Recall that Clark ended up running against Ivancie because all of the

>>better known politicos 'round town were unwilling to take him on. That was

>>at least partially because he was perceived as unbeatable.

>>

>>Recall further that in 1980, Ivancie beat the then incumbent mayor by over

>>14,000 votes in the primary and amassed a sufficient victory margin that

>>he was unopposed on the general election ballot and didn't have to face a

>>run-off election.

>>

>>In politics, 15 months is an eternity. Those who might appear unbeatable

>>now may prove profoundly vulnerable come November, '08. And those who

>>appear marginal candidates now may well be the odds on favorites come

>>election day.

> Then recall how unsafe downtown PDX was in 1982 and that it wasn't getting

> better. An awful lot of people were fed up with Ivancie. Clark did a hell

> of a job. Unfortunately that bitch took over from him.

 

Ivancie didn't get beat on the crime issue - which really wasn't an

issue in the mayoral campaign.

 

He got beat on the arrogance issue - which was an issue.

 

And while Katz obviously wasn't perfect, the pejortive epithet is hardly

appropriate.

 

Peace and justice,

[Guest Steven]

I believe the Gordon Smith is the same one who is mad as hell at Steve

Appleton, CEO of Micron and wrote a letter to the Idaho Statesman?

 

If so, he has this Democrats support still. Somebody needs to get a

life.

[Guest ChrisT]

On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 19:35:58 -0700, Steven

<thisjukeboxplays33rpm@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I believe the Gordon Smith is the same one who is mad as hell at Steve

>Appleton, CEO of Micron and wrote a letter to the Idaho Statesman?

>

>If so, he has this Democrats support still. Somebody needs to get a

>life.

 

He has my vote too. Smith is the only one who will vote for his

country. The rest, mostly democrats,vote for the destruction of the US

every chance they get.

The democrats in Oregon have done nothing but increase taxes, form

new bureaucracies, and support illegal aliens.

Hopefully in the next election they will learn the republicans lost

support, democrats didn't win except by default.

Perhaps we can get an independent in office and shuck the other two

parties.

[Guest Scratch]

Steven wrote:

> I believe the Gordon Smith is the same one who is mad as hell at Steve

> Appleton, CEO of Micron and wrote a letter to the Idaho Statesman?

>

> If so, he has this Democrats support still. Somebody needs to get a

> life.

>

 

 

he HIS a democrat in republican clothing. Much like McCain, luger

specter e.t.c.

[Guest Baxter]

-

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Free Software - Baxter Codeworks http://www.baxcode.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

"Scratch" <Larry_Tigard@lefites.aretraitors.nut> wrote in message

news:zd6dnWL8mOjUljnbnZ2dnUVZ_h7inZ2d@comcast.com...

> Steven wrote:

>> I believe the Gordon Smith is the same one who is mad as hell at Steve

>> Appleton, CEO of Micron and wrote a letter to the Idaho Statesman?

>>

>> If so, he has this Democrats support still. Somebody needs to get a

>> life.

>

> he HIS a democrat in republican clothing. Much like McCain, luger specter

> e.t.c.

>

So, anybody who is not an insane idiot is a Democrat?!

[Guest Lobby Dosser]

"Baxter" <lbax02.spamguard@baxcode.com> wrote:

> -

> -----------------------------------------------------------------------

> ------------- Free Software - Baxter Codeworks http://www.baxcode.com

> -----------------------------------------------------------------------

> -------------

>

> "Scratch" <Larry_Tigard@lefites.aretraitors.nut> wrote in message

> news:zd6dnWL8mOjUljnbnZ2dnUVZ_h7inZ2d@comcast.com...

>> Steven wrote:

>>> I believe the Gordon Smith is the same one who is mad as hell at

>>> Steve Appleton, CEO of Micron and wrote a letter to the Idaho

>>> Statesman?

>>>

>>> If so, he has this Democrats support still. Somebody needs to get a

>>> life.

>>

>> he HIS a democrat in republican clothing. Much like McCain, luger

>> specter e.t.c.

>>

> So, anybody who is not an insane idiot is a Democrat?!

>

>

>

 

So, what are you? Independent?

[Guest Steven]

I'm really hungry and haven't had a decent feast today and that's the

full extent of my disclosure.

 

I kept Denny Jones in office as long as he wanted to also. Fine

gentleman, he was.