. It's official. Sam Adams, unabashedly out Portland City Councilman is in the race for Puddletown's Mayor.
It seems even Sam's own media consultant was kept in the dark until the last moment garnering yours truly my first kudo over at Blue0 after a lengthy list of complaints (and even temporary, accidental bannination) for my critiques of another one of Mandate's client's, candidate Jeff Merkley.
Normally you wouldn't find me anywhere near Sam Adams and a pub. Traveling outside of Oregon i've asked, "Do you have any microbrews?" "We have Sam Adams lager!" No thanks. Portland's Sam Adams isn't anything like his namesake's distinctly average ale. His choice for tonight's announcement underscores this. Roots is the region's only all-organic brewery.
The event (whose hosts donated all tips and a portion of the receipts to the Leukemia Society) was a chance for normal folk to swim with the big fish in our small pond. I spotted pollster Mike Riley, who recently got a roasting for his polling tactics. In his defense, how can a guy who answers "wine" in a brewpub can't really be trusted to ask the right questions.
Also on hand were City Commissioner Randy Leonard and County Commish, Maria Rojo de Steffey. Underneath a portrait of Bob Marley, Sam gave credit to Portland's mayors present and past and went on to articulate his vision for Portland's future. [Disclaimer: I voted against Sam before i voted for him. Maybe it was simply Katz fatigue. After hearing his plan for small businesses, i was sold. As a successful small business, Roots lends Sam an important endorsement.
As Sam again steps into the media glare, he emerges perhaps scathed but strong following a failed smear campaign. That's partly why i was there, to keep good on a promise. Sam has been a good public servant. He's already earned my respect. He'll still have to earn my vote, but it was my pleasure to cheer him on in the process.
See also: Blumenauer impeachment vigil [Week 10 / Week 11]
When i heard that the City Council was hearing testimony calling for the impeachments of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, i knew i wanted to be there to show my support. The chambers were full by the time i pedaled across the Willamette. Imagine my surprise when i saw sitting among the dozen or two bright red IMPEACH T-shirts none other than Oregon's soon to be ex-Speaker of the House, Jeff Merkley.
Imagine my disappointment when i learned that he had just shown up with a few other legislators in order to receive a deserved pat on the back. Still, this is the closest Speaker Merkley has come to supporting impeachment. Well... it's the closest he's come to so many impeachment supporters. There was that other time at the recent vigil on the Hawthorne bridge. The Speaker showed up and spoke about ending the war and holding bush accountable. But then he left, leaving the protest to the actual protesters. According to Merkley's media man at Mandate Inc., "Candidate time is the scarcest resource any campaign has."
The Mayor invited the politicians to stay for the upcoming testimony urging the the Council to join other cities in saying the time for dithering is over. The time to take a stand for the Constitution is now. But Speaker Merkley (and his internet spin-mistress, Carla "raving hypocrite" Axtman) had to leave, not wanting to squander the valuable capital which is "candidate time." On the plus side, with the pols leaving, they freed up some more seats for the people; normal people who assembled peaceably to petition their City Government. Sometimes, We the People must lead, especially when our elected leaders are beating a hasty retreat.
Grant from Veterans for Peace addressed the council. (I'll come back and post some of his cogent testimony - in the meantime, we can reflect on an earlier comment he made...)
My question related to whether Sen. Wyden thought the invasion/occupation was in violation of the Constitution, specifically Article 6. I whipped out my pocket Constitution edition copy ala, Sen. Byrd, just because I like to read from it instead of relying on memory. He went on to answer that he argued this on the floor during the debate. Well that's nice but what has he done about it since then? If it was in violation of the Constitution then it still is and his first duty is to uphold his oath of office.
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.[
It seems there are too many members of the House and Senate that put politics and party above their sworn obligation. They don't seem to realize they can "multi task". Did the Congress come to a screeching halt during Watergate? During Monicagate? No. Committees met, floor debate continued and bills were passed.
The Portland City Council voted unanimously today to endorse a federal Department of Peace with a cabinet level leader.
The last time i sat in the City Council chamber it was shortly before the launch of the Iraq war. Commissioner Erik Sten had introduced a resolution in opposition to the policy of "preemptive" war. His was an obvious yes vote. Following this, Commissioner Randy Leonard spoke; first in favor of the resolution but he ended up voting 'no' having not yet heard enough on the topic. I was so angry it wasn't until recently i could even listen to the guy. Of late, i've been thinking of volunteering for him. Commissioner Jim Francesconi, who was already contemplating a mayoral run, put his finger in the air and told the packed chamber that while he was personally opposed to the imminent invasion, he didn't feel it was the Council's place to pass such resolution. He's no longer in City government and this argument wasn't brought up this time around. Outgoing Mayor Vera Katz who was born in Germany in 1933 spoke sagely regarding war and peace and voted in favor. Commissioner Dan Salzman was not present.
The resolution was 2-2. It did not pass. After three hours of near unanimous testimony in favor. I didn't speak out back then, and i was left speechless. And so i was thankful today that Commissioner Salzman brought forth this resolution.
