Peggi:
>Given my choice I would have preferred DeFazio, as I feel he's more
>environmentally conscious. However, I'm delighted Wyden won over Smith.
>THAT would have been a nightmare!

It would've been a daymare, too.

I voted for DeFazio in the primary largely based on my believe that
he would've creamed Smith, Wyden's two problems being that he is
a Portland Democrat (eastern Oregon swings very big against Portland
candidates) and that he's what I'd call a traditional city Democrat,
whose interests are largely urban. Thus the lukewarm support from
the conservation commmunity as well as a great deal of the reason
for the hatred expressed by Eastern Oregon, where in essence Wyden
didn't even bother campaigning in person.

But...given the result, I'm now glad it's Wyden instead. Gordon
Smith was quoted on Monday as saying "if I can't beat Wyden, I
can't beat anyone!". Wyden was the most vulnerable Democratic
candidate, Gordon Smith - smooth, telegenic, intellegent, well-spoken,
expert at masquerading as a moderate despite his right-wing voting
record - the conservative wing of the Republican Party's strongest
candidate.

DeFazio has an excellent chance in November to fill Hatfield's seat
(he's retiring). So, Wyden is our first Democratic Senator since
Wayne Morse, who lost to Packwood when I was in junior high school
and, as I realized this morning, during the year that my most
politically-oriented barista at Coffee People was born. That's
amazing (she's 26). We have an excellent chance to turn this into
the first time in a very, very long time - maybe "ever" - that we've
had two Democratic Senators from Oregon. I need to check the records.

In the very teeth of the Republican revolution!

I think this also may give steam to some of the true moderate
Republicans in our state - we still have some, believe it or
not. We could see Norma Paulus make a bit of a comeback.

The Oregonian printed some comments about Oregon made by Rush
Limbaugh yesterday - he doesn't like us, we're a whacko,
ultra-liberal state, etc etc!

Wyden, though he's been wishy-washy as a leader, does have a good
record voting on conservation bills, and he recognizes that
the he owes his office in large part to Gordon Smith's abysmal
voting record on environmental issues (i.e. he was the force
behind the State Legislature's resolution calling for de-listing
the spotted owl, came out in favor of the Savage Timber Bill
with no change, etc). He certainly is not in Big Timber's pocket,
as Hatfield and your Senator Slade are. That's one scary thing
about Gordon - the timber industry didn't even need to buy him
off, leaving them with additional resources to pour into other
races. At least Hatfield kept the price of selling out high.



- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>