Glad you're publicizing this. (4.00 / 2)

Merkley may be the most progressive, electable candidate this time, and he would replace a sitting R Senator.  

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by: Tom Wells @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 20:43:22 PM UTC

What's interesting to me about this story (4.00 / 3)

is that Smith's company decided not to use the e-verify system. Smith has claimed on the Lars Larson show that they do everything they can to make sure that they hire legal workers. But, if they really did everything they could, why did they opt out of using the e-verify system?

I'd also like to mention that I think it's pretty ridiculous for Smith to call his own employees "disgruntled parties." Are they really disgruntled? Or, did they just answer the reporter's question?

Oh, and it should also be noted that the Willamette Week is NOT a liberal tabloid. One of their reporters won a Pulitzer a few years back.  

Netroots Director for Oregon Senate Candidate Jeff Merkley

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by: sarahlane @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 21:04:01 PM UTC

This is crap, it won't matter to GOP voters at all. (0.00 / 0)

Last election cycle, my home away from home Chattanooga had a mayor running for Senate. Two weeks before the election the local authorities busted this ass's construction company, built on graft and pork, and discovered that it was overrun with undocumenteds. Even in Chattanooga, this got major air time. He went on to win the  Senate seat by a wide margin. You might recall, his opponent was a youngish black man named Ford. The GOP voter accepts corruption as business as usual unless it can be proven to be unquestionably costing white folks jobs that they want to do, not those nasty minimum wage hauling brick jobs. No effect at all on the voters unless unemployment in the area is sky high.

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by: Silence Doesnogood @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 21:36:15 PM UTC

Paul Wellstone-type candidate? (0.00 / 0)

I'm not sure where you see the connection, Matt.  I have no doubt that Merkley would be a huge improvement over Gordon Smith, but based on what I saw of his speech at the convention, he isn't anywhere near the orator/firebrand candidate that Wellstone was. Likewise, Merkley was a state legislator, not a community organizer that Wellstone was before and during his campaign.

Maybe they'll be similar legislators, but I don't see much similarity at all between them as candidates.

Netroots for Gore

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by: NYPopulist @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 21:52:06 PM UTC

Merkley was a community organizer (4.00 / 2)

He was also director of Habitat for Humanity, helped close down crack alleys in NE Portland, started affordable housing programs and started a program to help disaffected youth get back on their feet.

Merkley may not be a "firebrand" type of a speaker, but that doesn't mean he isn't a "firebrand" type of legislator. He led a band of progressives in 2005 and engineered a takeover of the Oregon House and ended 16 years of Republican rule. Once he became Speaker, he led the most progressive, greenest and most labor friendly session we've seen in 30 years.

Another example of Jeff's leadership that might interest you, was back in 2005 when Jeff was threatened by then Speaker Republican Karen Minnis to be removed by state troopers on the House floor. Jeff was fighting to get domestic partnerships a vote on the floor when Minnis changed the House rules to avoid a vote. Jeff wasn't having it. Check out the story:

http://www.gayrightswatch.com/...

I may be a staffer for Jeff now, but if you can look past that for just a second, I honestly think Jeff is one of the most impressive progressive Democratic legislators out there.  

Netroots Director for Oregon Senate Candidate Jeff Merkley

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by: sarahlane @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 22:19:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks for the post Sarah (4.00 / 2)

and I [happily] stand corrected on a number of points.

Netroots for Gore

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by: NYPopulist @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 23:02:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm really impressed (0.00 / 0)

that so many people are convinced that making excuses will make flawed strategy more effective.

John McCain opposes the GI Bill.

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by: Lucas O'Connor @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 22:30:30 PM UTC

And (0.00 / 0)

wrong thread. of course.

John McCain opposes the GI Bill.

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by: Lucas O'Connor @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 22:31:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I hope Jeff's camp can get some traction out of this (0.00 / 0)

and get that awful ad with Jeff at the barbecue talking about Georgia off our screens.

Put Gordo on the defensive.

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by: swag @ Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 22:40:16 PM UTC

Jeff Merkley Campaign, how the hell did this happen? (0.00 / 0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

I can't imagine a bigger fuck-up than this.

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by: swag @ Thu Sep 11, 2008 at 03:51:19 AM UTC

Jeff was traveling for three days non-stop in rural Oregon (0.00 / 0)

News had broke the night before, the Oregon papers published it that morning, and he had been on the road. Jeff was questioned by a Smith person that day on the issue. I think most people realize that Merkley was traveling, the news had recently broke, and actually think it's pretty low for the Republicans to attack him on it.  

There's no question when it comes to national security and international relations, Jeff has far more experience and sound judgment than Gordon Smith does. Just wait until Merkley and Smith go toe to toe on foreign policy matters in their debates.  

Netroots Director for Oregon Senate Candidate Jeff Merkley

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by: sarahlane @ Thu Sep 11, 2008 at 17:40:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]