Portland Mayor Sam Adams was conspicuously absent from Senator Ron Wyden’s noon press conference at the Multnomah County Building, announcing Oregon’s portion of the $780 billion federal stimulus package just passed by Congress.
The gathering, which included Adams’ council colleagues, Randy Leonard and Nick Fish, was also officially attended by a role call of Portland’s powerful, including Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler, County Commissioners Judy Shiprack and Diane McKeel, Chief operating officer for Portland Public Schools Cathy Mincberg, AFLCIO boss Tom Chamberlain, Metro Regional Council President David Bragdon, and even Multnomah County District Attorney, Mike Schrunk:
ADAMS: Disinvited?
Wheeler used the press conference to announce Multnomah County’s wish list for pockets of the cash. He’d like $300m to rebuild the Sellwood bridge, and another $8.1m to upgrade the Broadway Bridge. Not to mention $750,000 for a new laundry facility at the Inverness Jail.
Wyden said the package’s investment in tax provisions, roads, bridges, and transportation, energy, and healthcare meant Oregon would be able to “focus like a laser beam on our ailing economy.” His fellow senator, Jeff Merkley, said the package could plug a “vicious vortex” in the national economy.
Bragdon compared the package to Theodore {corrected, Monday 16, 3:21 pm} Franklin Roosevelt’s efforts in 1933, saying “they built things that lasted, and that’s what we intend to do here.” Fish said $3m for housing projects was one of the reasons there’s “an awful lot to like in this bill.” Mincberg said the money “will make a difference” to Portland’s public schools.
Nevertheless, Adams’ absence was a distraction. Just a month ago, Adams announced Portland’s $503m economic stimulus package to a packed press conference at city hall. The three tenets of his election campaign were education, the environment, and the economy, and yet, he appears to have been marginalized this morning.
Did Adams’ absence matter?
“No,” said Fish. “We had two able representatives to pitch the city’s point of view, and this morning I was honored to represent the city.”
“No,” said Leonard. “We’ve been doing our work, and that’s what’s been demonstrated here today.”
“I felt Nick and Randy spoke very well on city interests,” said Wyden. “I just want to keep the focus on the economy, and I don’t want anything to distract from that.“
Was it fair to say that Adams had been disinvited?
“We need to go,” said a Wyden staffer, interrupting Wyden’s “no…”. “Thank you,” said the staffer, and the Senator was shuffled along.
Well, I guess that answers that question. With all the efficiency of a laser beam in a vicious vortex, I mean…
Did Bragdon really say “Theodore” Roosevelt… or is that a typo. Teddy Roosevelt was a great president… thirty years earlier.
“role call?” nice.
No, I said FRANKLIN Roosevelt and referred to his efforts in the 1930s. I hate to say it, Matt, but the reporter got it wrong.
This does seem like a red flag to not include the mayor.
Thanks David, for the clarification. Actually, both the Roosevelts did great public works projects that benefitted Americans for decades to come. In Teddy’s case it was the Panama Canal and the National Parks system, to name a couple.
I think I’d give Matt a bit of a pass on the Roosevelt thing. Matt is British, and their educational system is on par with their dental system.
Not to mention they eat kidneys… and kippers.
Well, Adams basically did it too himself.
His continued presence is a distraction.
He’s a joke.
(not a particularly bad mayor, but a joke none the less)
For clarification: He said FRANKLIN. My mistake. Apologies.
You really buggered the family dog this time, Davis.
The Adams thing will continue to be a distraction only as long as people like Wyden allow it to be. I wish my senator would focus his laser beam on his job instead of my mayor’s sex life.
Happy Presidents Day! All of them!
WOW!
Sam Adams screwed a emotionally impaired kid and Wyden and his cronies screwed all of us!
There’s a whole lot of “screwing” going on.
$trillions for banks and a weenie “tax credit” for the unemployed and soon-to-be-starving citizens!
“helluva job Brownie!”
May be a song in all of this………….
Paul,
I don’t think Wyden is focused on Adams’ sex life. I think he is focused on his behavior. Lies, coverups and possibly payoffs to win an election are not sexual by nature. They are Nixonesque.
EARTHMAN FOLLOWUP:
One of the most striking thing about all of this is neither Wyden or Sam the clam exhibit any shame, guilt, or remorse for their criminal conduct.
Think about it. The Banks, and the other Wall Street pirates, have utterly destroyed our economy and may have destroyed our civilization.
What does our congress of nitwits assembled do? They give the very people who caused this mess $trillions of dollars, we don’t have, and expect the ones stolen from, us, to make good on the bill.
And Wyden has the gall to show his face in public as if he’s “Big Daddy from DC” bringing presents for the kiddies!
Well, Slick, you and your buddies-in-crime blew it!
What do you think the unemployed, and soon to be unemployed, are going to do when they wake up to the fact they have been totally screwed?
As more and more people end up on the street, starving, they can warm themselves with a feast of “tax credit.”
You imbeciles, and the weak minded who support you, literally make me sick!
Why Mike Shrunk? Since the courthouse was closed he couldn’t stimulate the economy by prosecuting a few more naked/unarmed/non-resisting bike riders?
Or is it more a reference to his father’s urban renewal projects?
Or it it because he should be charging Sam Adams with Sex Abuse III they had an excuse to un-invite Sam Adams. You can be sure Sammy boy’s lawyer told him NOT to talk to law enforcement. Awkward conversation at the snacks table after the big photo.
EARTHMAN follow up:
EARTHMAN is a homophobic paranoid asshole. His opinions can be safely disregarded. Please ignore his tl;dr tirades. Go about your business.
Earthman to Graham:
“Homophobic?” I have no fear of Man. I fear viruses; In fact I fear all pathogens; pitbulls; rattlesnakes, and other mindless critters.
I also fear psychopaths and serial killers; mass murders, and crazy people like Bush, Cheney, Pol Pot, and others of their ilk.
But I do not fear Man. Just crazy men. Men who are utterly dysfunctional. Predatory men who would groom young boys for sex. Crazy men who lie, cheat, steal, and kill. Yes, these are monsters disguised as men who roam our streets; who seek political power so they might dominate and rule over the rest of us as slaves.
I am also disgusted by people who do not know the meaning of the made-up psychobabble compound term “Paranoid.” It means “para” = out of, beside, “noia” = the mind. It was re-invented” by a European “mental Hygienist” psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin in his 1896 works to describe, among other things, delusions of persecution. The Nazi’s and Communists really liked the works of Kraepelin and adopted the word to ‘paint’ anyone who saw them for the monsters they were, as “delusional,” and marked them for extermination.
So, Graham, be very careful how you use words. It’s really easy to come off as really stupid.
EARTHMAN, after another tl;dr random verbal diarrhea from you…
I’m not the one who needs to worry about looking stupid.
But I do notice that you attempt to refute my calling you homophobic and paranoid. But not the asshole part; so at least you accept that part your personality.
“Predatory men who would groom young boys for sex.”
Evidence?
Bob, please don’t encourage EARTHMAN to try and spout “facts”. Let’s take a look at other “facts” that this guy has spouted off
“historically homosexuals, and other sexual deviants, have shown themselves to be very dangerously flawed critters.”
“How is it that every tyrant throughout history was/is a homosexual or afflicted with some other horrific form of sexual deviancy?”
“the most insidious part of the homosexual disorder is their pathological lust for absolute power over other people”
“In my irrelevant, humble, biased, and worthless opinion”
This guy is either a troll or crazy. Either way, arguing isn’t worth it. Fuck, even NOT A CAT will give you a better dialogue.
Graham –
So dirtdude is saying that Bush was gay?
Bob, I don’t really know. I just wanted to make sure that you knew what you were getting into. 100% not worth the effort.
OK thanks… glad to know another night owl is watching out for me. 🙂 Well, off for now…
You guys should really consider starting your own forum. It might keep every comment thread (at least on blogtown) from turning into your own public pissing match.
Thanks CH, that was really helpful and informative. You have blessed us with a priceless nugget of wisdom.
Point proven.
What point was proven? That you are doing the same thing that you’re railing against?
But looking at the commentary you’ve left in other threads… dude… for real… you’re no better than me. Actually much worse. My personal favorite quote is this one:
“If you think spending $35,000 to rename a street with a perfectly good name is anything but fucking stupid, then you’re an idiot. Period.”
Reall classy there.
Perhaps “Graham” can enlighten us all by naming just one tyrant or serial killer who was not a homosexual or afflicted with some other sexual deviancy?
earthman, lets make it interesting
correct answer = you leave blogtown for good
Earthman just moved the goalposts a lot: “some other sexual deviancy” … that includes heterosexual serial killers as well (whose MO or crimes involved some pattern of sexual behavior). That’s casting a pretty wide net, and of course proves nothing.
Put another way: Perhaps “Earthman” can enlighten us all by posting just one comment which does not have logical errors or is afflicted with some other fallacy?
Cypselus
Now shut the fuck up and get out.
Glad thats over
Bob R didn’t you post something about Jan 19 website registration here? I cant find it. It was interesting. Might be important.
Billy –
It was on another thread:
http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/Blogto…
Guffman suggested I re-post it — I’m waiting for a fresh thread in which somebody (not me) starts yet another Adams-fate debate.
EARTHMAN TO Graham:
“Cypselus
Now shut the fuck up and get out.” (Graham commands)
Graham – you make my point that people can never give power to deviants and moral cripples.
What makes you believe you have the horsepower to make anybody “…shut the fuck up and get out.”
As it is, it appears you can only hide under a disguise of shades and shit on your face barking commands that are merely ‘checks written with your mouth that your ass can’t cash.’
I’ll just bet you use that phony tough-girlyboy-attitude to impress confused nine year olds.
I’m not nine years old, and I’m not impressed.
EARTHMAN, this will be our final communication. Please learn how to communicate effectively. Until you do so, you are not relevant.
“Cypselus”
Well played, sir. I got as far back as Stalin and stopped. Too easy.
Re “disinvited,” Matt Davis was probably the distraction wyden had in mind.
EARTHMAN to Graham:
I don’t allow shitheads, or anyone else, to define me.
Especially some deviant little scumbag like you.
“Earthman” –
That’s some nasty language to be tossing around, for someone who pretends to be so morally-superior.
What the hell, this threads dead anyway.
“I don’t allow shitheads, or anyone else, to define me. “
dont ALLOW?
Interesting fact, the First amendment gives pinheads the same right of free speech as Graham & I enjoy. SO much is allowed. its a wonderful country.
“As it is, it appears you can only hide under a disguise of shades and shit on your face barking commands that are merely ‘checks written with your mouth that your ass can’t cash.'”
as opposed to earthman. thats his real name. the icon is his real face. and when he says he DONT ALLOW you to define him, that command has teeth. hes cashing that check. you betcha.
troll or crazy? I vote troll.
EARTHMAN to Billy:
Pay attention Billy. You have it backwards. I don’t allow shitheads like Graham to define me.
As for the First Amendment, it guarantees everyone’s right to free speech. It’s Graham, and his perverted ilk, who demand others “Shut the fuck up and get out!” Not me.
Graham, as everyone else, can have all of the “opinions” he/she/it wants. Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.
You seem to ally yourself with Graham’s perverted and control-freak ideology. What else do you have in common? Leathers? Whips? Chains?
Whatever it is, I could care less unless you want to rule the world and control what others think and express.
You conveniently miss my point. Graham was right way up thread, you do exactly what you rail against. Spelled tht out pretty clearly, myself. you cant ‘allow’ or disallow anyone to ‘define’ anything.
we can however opinionate & demand & shake our fists & hold our breath until we turn blue & the world is not obligated to care. i dont care what you dont allow.
‘perverted’ – evidence? libel?
‘unless you want to rule the world and control what others think and express’ – I take back what I said earlier, mental illness is a possibility. delusional disorder? paranoid schizophrenia? whatever, if that’s the case i shouldnt be poking at you.
Billy –
Do we have to pick one, or can more than one mental malady apply simultaneously in “EarthMan”‘s case?
🙂
i think delusional disorder & paranoid schizophenia are part of the same spectrum of ‘mood disorders’ but only DSM-IV & a qualified shrink know for sure.
seriously, no shame in mental illness, earthman.