Carla–Netroots Outreach, Jeff Merkley for Oregon

In 2005 when Merkley and the Democrats were in the minority. Karen Minnis use an underhanded rule change to keep Merkley from bringing a Civil Unions bill to the floor and passing it less than a year after the state banned gay marriage. Merkley wouldn’t take Minnis’ flack and refused to stop questioning the rule change. Karen Minnis cut off his mic on the House floor and threatened to have state troopers remove him. But Merkley kept right on fighting and in 2007 won passage of historic legislation for basic rights and domestic partnerships.

That doesn’t sound like the DLC (of which Merkley is far far to the left of) to me. That sounds like the man I want to be my next US Senator.

For the record, I am not a pro-Merkley guy. I think Merkley is a rather tame and vanilla candidate and being associated with the DLC makes me cringe.

At the same time, I felt that Novick did come off badly in that debate. It wasn’t anything that Steve said or Merkley said necessairly. It was that Merkley made himself seem much more statesman like, which isn’t something that I care for….except Steve came off really bad in my opinion.

I then read his comments on Blue Oregon about Bono and became livid. His “Bono is after your tax money to countries that won’t pay it back” is fear baiting at worst at a time when 25 of the 38 million people who are infected with HIV. Before Bono started his campaign maybe 11 percent of that 25 million would get medication. Because of the US that number is up to 31 percent. So yeah, I am happy that for once my tax money wasn’t bombing someone recklessly.

Him being trapped in a declarative statement about Bono is silly and I am having much difficulty in supporting him right now.

Of course the glaring flaw in your truly lame attempt at a smear is that Peter Courtney has endorsed Jeff Merkley for Senate and, by every conceivable way of measuring these things, stands by it. That coupled with Occam’s Razor guts and fillets your hysterically funny arguement.

Or alternatively, Novick has a strong record of getting things done when the traditional politicians can’t or won’t, as people believe about Jeff Merkley. When the going gets tough, the tough punt!

What might happen if Jeff Merkley goes to Peter Courtney and says “I know I threw a temper tantrum and threatened your agenda, but I need your help?” The sad thing is that Merkley is far nastier and far more personal in his attacks, particularly when he is losing. And we’re seeing that again with the ridiculous personal attacks that Merkley is forced to make because he knows he can’t make the argument that he’s the better progressive.

Merkley is yesterday’s failed approach. Good luck selling your stewardship of a body almost 3 of 4 Oregonians think is useless.

http://progresive2008.org/

It didn’t stream on my broadband connection, so prepare to wait for it to download before you can play it.

After reading both the LO and FO narratives, I have an opinion as to relative objectivity, understanding that both sources are partisans in this race. I’m one myself, so I’ll spare you my take.

And as always, I need to mention that I serve as Communications Coordinator for Progressive Democrats of Oregon, which has not endorsed either candidate, neither of whom fully support our Progressive Challenge 2008.

My personal support of Jeff Merkley is based on my own assessment that his policies comes closer, and his proven record of passing progressive legislation, and yes, ability to engage those with differing views without berating or demeaning them, makes him more likely to actually deliver on those policies.