Jennifer Keenan of Planned Parenthood has a team of writers working for her. She came up after Jefferson Smith and ripped off a roll call of shouts against Chris Dudley, firing up the crowd before John Kitzhaber and POTUS clamber on stage. Sharp or cheesy? Or sharp cheese? You be the judge. “Do you believe […]
Election 2010
Posted inElection 2010
Obamagasm! Jefferson Smith Starts the Show
So Jefferson Smith, the Bus Project impresario and a state representative, has taken the stage. He’s effervescent, as always. And he made a funny: His first anecdote gets in a good shot at GOP governor hopeful Chris Dudley’s quasi-promise to slash down Oregon’s minimum wage. But mostly he started with a lot of hollering about […]
Posted inElection 2010
Obamagasm! Shouting and Shirts from Ghana
We caught a few folks offering these for sale outside the convention center, right across the way from the people shouting “We Love America.” They’re available to anyone willing to fork over $25, and they’re from Ghana, I’m told. Not long after we passed the shirt-sellers, a shouting match erupted between an angry Brit and […]
Posted inElection 2010
John Kitzhaber (Or His Staff) Is Taking Your Questions Online
If there’s anything you want to ask Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Kitzhaber before you fill out your ballot—any question at all—head on over to a little corner of the Interwebs we call Electionland. And you should probably go do it now. RIGHT NOW. November 2 is less than two weeks away. It’s easy: Kitz has […]
Posted inElection 2010
10 Questions (and Answers) You Might Have About Your Ballot
You just got your Multnomah County Election ballot in the mail, and you’re panicking. “I’m going to fuck this up,” you tell yourself. “I just can’t seem to pull it together.” Photo by Sarah Mirk Well, friend, we’re here to say, “You can do it — we can help.” Here’s 10 questions you might have […]
Posted inElection 2010
Missing (Apparently): One GOP Candidate for Governor
Denis C. Theriault Bet you didn’t know the Mercury has its own very special wishing tree. A little while ago, some enterprising “good person” turned a normal, humdrum tree outside the Mercury‘s front door into a magical, cloth-and-slogan-festooned “wishing tree.” Its maker even left a box with markers and more cloth strips to write more […]
Posted inElection 2010
LIVE BLOG! Tale of the Tape: Dudley vs. Kitzhaber!
Good evening, Blogtown! Your Mercury’s Very Own News Team—Denis C. Theriault and Sarah Mirk—is camped out with a couple dozen debate watchers down at Claudia’s Sports Bar on Hawthorne. There are many TVs, a row of high-backed blue leather chairs at the bar and very, very good food. No, seriously. The soup is to die […]
Posted inElection 2010
At Last Night’s North Portland Candidates Debate
They went last, after almost hour and a half of political speechifying. First, John Kitzhaber regurgitated his stump talking points, then the two candidates for Metro president made their respective pitches, and finally Ted Wheeler spoke about the treasurer’s race. Karol Collymore But when Karol Collymore and Loretta Smith strode behind the twin lecterns on […]
Posted inNews
Ballot Measure Update
On your November ballot, you will see measures to create medical marijuana dispensaries, strengthen mandatory minimum sentences for felons, and permanently diverting 15% of lottery proceeds to build habitats for wildlife. The DJC MULTNOMAH KENNEL CLUB: Could have been a casino. Won’t be. What won’t you see? A new casino in Wood Village (the measure […]
Posted inNews
Fun with Failed Ballot Initiatives!
Jon Sperry We told you about the petitions that made it into the Secretary of State’s office by Friday, July 2—in time to qualify for the November ballot, if they have enough valid signatures. But what about the ones that didn’t make it? Here are a few of the standout petitions that were just too […]
Posted inElection 2010
A Running Start for Anti-Dudley Site
The Democratic Party of Oregon has unveiled its ready-made website slamming Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Dudley. The site, DudleyDoLittle.com, focuses on the former NBA player’s lack of detailed proposals. (WW noticed it last night.) “Throughout the campaign we’ve been trying to figure out exactly what Chris Dudley stands for,” the website says, and it provides […]
Posted inElection 2010
$29 Of Your Money Per Vote: Are Voter Owned Elections Dead, Now?
The big story last night was the trouncing of Jesse Cornett. I was on KBOO this morning with Lisa Loving, trying to find the right word for it. The thrashing of Jesse Cornett? The whipping? What? It’s obviously embarrassing for me, personally, as the outgoing news editor of the only paper in town to endorse […]