About Forward Oregon

We created this joint venture between, jraad and bdunn to examine the 2008 Oregon Senate Race, Oregon politics, and public policy. But Why? With three thesis to write, internships to complete, and an election to win why have we started ForwardOregon?

We have become dissatisfied with our options. The main stream media covers neither the horse race nor policy like junkies require. The blogosphere has its offerings but recently some have been hijacked by people that push distasteful debate and do not let reality and objectivity skew their one sided analysis. We need a new path forward.

This place is that path, somewhere that we can express our opinions, a place where we can dig deep and find the truth behind the lies and the lies behind the truth.

19 Comments Add your own

  • 1. torridjoe  |  November 12, 2007 at 9:34 am

    The truth could start with the disclosure that one of the founders is on the campaign staff of Jeff Merkley for Senate.

    Promising a product that is real and objective is a mighty high standard. I wouldn’t blame you if what you really wanted was not “objectively” but a place to express your opinions–which of course are framed by “objectivity” for no one–but own up to FO being your version of the truth, at least. If this blog simply becomes an astroturf farm for Jeff Merkley, it will be apparent fairly quickly.

    Good luck with the new venture!

  • 2. torridjoe  |  November 12, 2007 at 9:35 am

    the word in quotes should be “objectivity” both times, of course.

  • 3. bdunn  |  November 12, 2007 at 10:31 pm

    Thanks TJ for coming by to say hi. Jamal doesn’t have a staff position he is an unpaid intern. I said that we had internships to complete and he hasn’t actually written anything yet, so cool it. Furthermore, if we had to disclose every campaign we ever volunteered for, we wouldn’t have space for writing the blog. We will disclose any relationship that we or our families have a financial stake in. Will we ever be “objective”, probably not. I don’t think there is truly objective commentary. What we aspire to be is closer to objectivity and better than what is currently out there. I think that is something we can be proud to attempt.

  • 4. torridjoe  |  November 13, 2007 at 1:22 am

    “Intern” is a staff position; he is featured in the website with a title. He’s part of the organized campaign.

    I wouldn’t suggest you disclose any campaign you ever worked for–just those where you’re going to be praising an active campaign…and one of you is on the campaign team.

    The financial stake is a copout. People deserve to know why you’re so high on Merkley, and what the direct connection is to his campaign.

  • 5. bdunn  |  November 13, 2007 at 4:00 am

    I think your argument is specious TJ. There is nothing that ties either jraad or I to the Merkley Campaign besides our support of the candidate. Just like there is nothing (to my knowledge) that ties you to Novick besides your support. Yes we both volunteer our time. Yes jraad gives as much of his time as he can and they have allowed him to post on the website about a canvass that we ran and what its like to be an intern. The direct connection you speak of implies we have a vested interest in Merkley’s success besides us supporting him. In reality, since our livelihood is not based on the campaign, we are free to do what we will with our time. Currently we believe supporting Jeff is the right decision. However, if the campaign does something we disagree with, that jeopardizes our support. What your saying essentially boils down to, we should be stigmatized because we care enough to get involved and I don’t think that is acceptable.

  • 6. Oregon Dem  |  November 27, 2007 at 5:33 am

    Why not just come clean about your ties to the Merkley campaign? Better full disclosure now than to set yourself up as a potential liability for the campaign down the road.

  • 7. bdunn  |  November 27, 2007 at 5:47 am

    Again I have no ties to the Merkley Campaign besides supporting the candidate.

    Jraad and I came up with the idea of a blog over a pot roast that I made and a bottle of wine. If and when Jraad, who does intern for Merkley, writes something, he will disclose what he sees fit to disclose. As of now he has not written anything.

    Do you want to come clean about your support for Novick?

  • 8. Onlurker  |  November 28, 2007 at 2:19 pm

    I didn’t know that a pot roast and a bottle of wine could serve as evidence of your lack of ties to the Merkley camp…

    BTW: the link attached to your name takes people to forwardoreogn, not forwardoregon.

  • 9. bdunn  |  November 28, 2007 at 2:32 pm

    I have know Jamal for more than 3 years, were both a part of College Democrats, we hang out often and thats how I finally decided to start my own blog despite a long history of thinking about it.

    Once again he hasn’t written anything and at this point its looking increasingly unlikely that he will. I really see this as a contrived issue pushed by a noted Novick hack who in the past has unsuccessfully tried to use the fact that I am a younger activist to discredit me. TJ is trying to keep people from believing any analysis that doesn’t come from camp Novick.

    That being said I really encourage you to read the posts and comment with your thoughts. I am really happy to talk about issues of substance :-)

  • 10. bdunn  |  November 28, 2007 at 2:37 pm

    BTW thanks for the letting me know about the link

  • 11. jraad  |  November 28, 2007 at 7:57 pm

    Well I guess the good thing about the TJ “Jamal is a staffer” blah blah line, is a bump in traffic. Everyone loves controversy.

    Anyways, to clear this all up, bdunn and I were trying to start a blog, but it turned out I had too much work to do. Between school and helping out on the campaign, there wasn’t much extra time. Frankly I haven’t even had time to keep up with the internet circus.

    Regardless, bdunn is a great writer and has been penning some great posts, so I hope that the attacks stop and there can be a lively discussion on the issues that we face as Oregonians.

    Cheers to Bdunn for starting this blog! here here!

  • 12. bibomedia  |  March 4, 2008 at 12:54 pm

    :)

  • 13. Stinky Vase  |  May 1, 2008 at 7:04 pm

    I just want to point this out: This blog isn’t a progressive blog. As far as I can see, the only purpose of this blog is to promote Merkley. If this were a progressive blog (or a professional blog), it would include a link list of blogs regardless of who they support. One look at your list reveals the fact that you’re a shill.

  • 14. bdunn  |  May 1, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    Stinky:

    What are you talking about? Talk to the numberous other progressive candidates that I support like Cyreena Boston in HD 45, or Kate Brown running for SoS or John Kroger and see if they don’t think that this is a progressive blog. Your assertion based on a list of blogs I read, many of which who haven’t taken a position in th race, six months ago when i started this and haven’t changed since is laughable.

  • 15. Stinky Vase  |  May 1, 2008 at 10:47 pm

    :Oy!: You’re right. You’re one of those ’selective’ progressives. …Those people that follow the lock-step commands of those they deem to be followable. Right-wing authoritarians do exist on the left. I guess you’re like a science experiment, someone to be monitored closely in the event that they yield some mysterious piece of information that was unavailable to the public previously.

    I guess I’ll watch.

  • 16. bdunn  |  May 2, 2008 at 5:42 am

    What a farce you call me a right wing authoritarian because I support progressive candidates you oppose and don’t put blog links up to site you like? If I did what you wanted me to do wouldn’t i be “follow[ing] the lock-step commands of those they deem to be followable”?

    What a joke.

  • 17. j savage  |  May 6, 2008 at 11:08 am

    Hi there, it was nice to meet you yesterday at the Uncounted opening at cinema 21, despite the competition I had to deal with from you and the Novick people in getting people’s attention (not to mention a few disparaging comments about Steve and my own candidate Nick Fish, I would like to think that we are all above negativity & pessimism; otherwise it’s only our ideology that makes us better than right wing crazies). I like your blog, although I would promote it more as a Merkley endorsing blog if i was in your shoes (there’s nothing to be ashamed of flying your colors, or wearing it on your sleeve if you will). Good luck with everything and remember to vote for Nick Fish for portland city council position #2
    The Time Is Now.

  • 18. bdunn  |  May 6, 2008 at 11:19 am

    Mr. Savage.

    I enjoyed meeting you yesterday (though i don’t really remember saying anything about Fish besides that hes a nice guy and that I had the opportunity to meet him. As for the design of the blog, wordpress runs it.

  • 19. j savage  |  May 6, 2008 at 11:48 am

    Oh n/m- jus’ something about how many times he’s run, it’s okay though i’m not offended or anything. Best of luck, hope to see you out in the field in the lead up to the general, when we’re really gonna have to dig in, to buck the R wing and put america back on track

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