- You can't count on the same people to support you from election to election.
- Troutdale is bigger than you think when you're going door to door.
- The best ideas come in the middle of the night.
- People in Troutdale are friendly. Except for the guy who told my wife I'm a "bad guy".
- It's no fun going door to door in the wind and rain.
- Everyone in Troutdale has a dog.
- People think Troutdale City Councilors get paid big dollars.
- Yard signs are the sacrificial pawns of local campaigns.
- Coffee is the mother's milk of campaigning.
Showing posts with label Oregon Elections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oregon Elections. Show all posts
Nov 1, 2010
Reflecting on the campaign
Our campaign for Troutdale City Council is now complete. There is little to do now but wait for the election results tomorrow night. The past few months have passed in a blur. Some days I literally could not remember what day it was. Thank goodness for calendars, eh? Anyway, here are a few things I've learned about campaigning in Troutdale.
Mar 7, 2010
Enthusiasm Aside, Republicans Have Uphill Climb Against Dems
On this morning's Kremer & Abrams KXL show, Mark Abrams and fill-in host Jim Pasero were discussing the upcoming political races. Pasero indicated that he believed Republican candidates for Governor had a shot at winning, referencing a recent Rasmussen poll which suggested that the race for Oregon Governor wasn't exactly a lock for Democrats.
Au contraire, I said to myself. So I called into the show, got on the air, and pointed out that despite Republican enthusiasm, Oregon Republicans face an uphill battle because of their infrastructure shortcomings. I pointed out that the state races revolve around Multnomah County, and Republicans also have significant shortcomings in basic infrastructure and money. I said Republicans have no grassroots machine comparable to left wing groups such as the Bus Project and cannot come close to matching the money contributed by public employee unions.
Bam, just like that, they cut me off and I heard Jim Pasero on the radio disagreeing with me, saying that a Republican could carry Washington and Clackamas counties and overcome any Multnomah County result. Oh, really, Jim? Democrats in Multnomah County Democrats hold a 233,686 -68,825 lead in registered voters. In Washington County, Democrats hold a 32,000 - 8,100 lead in voter registration. Clackamas County's web site didn't provide voter registration numbers, but the large voter registration lead by Democrats will be difficult to overcome by any Republican candidate for Governor, regardless of who the Democrat candidate is.
When you add in the permanent grassroots infrastructure provided by the Bus Project and the public employee unions, combined with union money, any statewide race for Republicans is, unfortunately, mostly a done deal for Democrats. The story is not so bleak for Republicans in Oregon House and Senate races on a district by district basis. But that's another story.
I usually agree with you, Jim Pasero. But not this time.
Au contraire, I said to myself. So I called into the show, got on the air, and pointed out that despite Republican enthusiasm, Oregon Republicans face an uphill battle because of their infrastructure shortcomings. I pointed out that the state races revolve around Multnomah County, and Republicans also have significant shortcomings in basic infrastructure and money. I said Republicans have no grassroots machine comparable to left wing groups such as the Bus Project and cannot come close to matching the money contributed by public employee unions.
Bam, just like that, they cut me off and I heard Jim Pasero on the radio disagreeing with me, saying that a Republican could carry Washington and Clackamas counties and overcome any Multnomah County result. Oh, really, Jim? Democrats in Multnomah County Democrats hold a 233,686 -68,825 lead in registered voters. In Washington County, Democrats hold a 32,000 - 8,100 lead in voter registration. Clackamas County's web site didn't provide voter registration numbers, but the large voter registration lead by Democrats will be difficult to overcome by any Republican candidate for Governor, regardless of who the Democrat candidate is.
When you add in the permanent grassroots infrastructure provided by the Bus Project and the public employee unions, combined with union money, any statewide race for Republicans is, unfortunately, mostly a done deal for Democrats. The story is not so bleak for Republicans in Oregon House and Senate races on a district by district basis. But that's another story.
I usually agree with you, Jim Pasero. But not this time.
Jan 19, 2010
May 21, 2008
Reality TV Night: Elections, Hells Kitchen, Dancing w/Stars
What a night for reality TV! Last night's results show for Oregon's primary season brought few surprises. My very own House District 49 was as close as I expected on the Democrat side, with Nick Kahl ahead of Barbara Kyle by about 300 votes. You'd think $78,000 would buy more than a 300 vote lead. I guess those campaign dollars don't stretch as far as they used to.
Next door in House District 52, Matt Lindland's victory over fellow Republican Phyllis Thiemann was an interesting turn of events. Way to go, Elaine Franklin.
I was surprised that Republican Mike Erickson beat Kevin Mannix by such a large margin in the Oregon CD 5 race. I'm glad I don't live in that district. I didn't care for the ugly campaigning from either candidate. No, thank you.
In the Republican Presidential Primary, John McCain won handily. But you know what? I voted for Ron Paul. I knew Paul was off in the fringe, but I couldn't bring myself to vote for a DEMOCRAT in the Republican primary race. I might have to hold my nose and vote for McCain in November. I really haven't made up my mind. McCain is running as a Democrat, which he's entitled to do. But I don't have to vote for him, no sir.
Of course, Obama Gantry beat Hillary by a wide margin here in Oregon. This isn't news. No man bites dog story here.
Much more entertaining was the final results show for ABC's Dancing With The Stars. The Mrs. loves this show. I watched most of it with her. Very entertaining. Maybe they should have Presidential Candidate Dancing With The Stars. Naah. I just had a terrible mental visual image of Presidential candidates in skimpy outfits. Think about it.
My favorite reality show this season is Hells Kitchen. I'm trying to memorize all of the insults dished up by Chef Ramsey. "Shut it down, you donkey". I love that one the best. Except when I try to imitate Chef Ramsey, I sound more like Shrek. This is actually a scary show. Maybe I don't want to know that restaurant chefs sometimes cut off the tips of their fingers and they can't find the fingertip amongst the risotto.
Oops I almost forgot. American Idol's final showdown between the two Davids was tonight. We watched a few minutes. But hey! I don't care about this show! I haven't listened to top 40, hip/hop, country/western, or alternative radio for years! I couldn't tell you what's popular right now. But I can tell you that when I watched the American Idol contestants slaughter Beatles and Andrew Lloyd Webber and Neil Diamond songs earlier in the season, I wasn't thinking to my self this could be heaven or this could be hell. Nope. I was thinking that American Idol has finally jumped the shark.
(By the way, 58% of voters think Hell's Kitchen hasn't jumped the shark yet. But over 50% of voters think American Idol jumped the shark on day one. Interesting, eh?)
What about Hillary? Obama? John McCain? Have the jumped the shark yet? If so, when did they make the leap?
Next door in House District 52, Matt Lindland's victory over fellow Republican Phyllis Thiemann was an interesting turn of events. Way to go, Elaine Franklin.
I was surprised that Republican Mike Erickson beat Kevin Mannix by such a large margin in the Oregon CD 5 race. I'm glad I don't live in that district. I didn't care for the ugly campaigning from either candidate. No, thank you.
In the Republican Presidential Primary, John McCain won handily. But you know what? I voted for Ron Paul. I knew Paul was off in the fringe, but I couldn't bring myself to vote for a DEMOCRAT in the Republican primary race. I might have to hold my nose and vote for McCain in November. I really haven't made up my mind. McCain is running as a Democrat, which he's entitled to do. But I don't have to vote for him, no sir.
Of course, Obama Gantry beat Hillary by a wide margin here in Oregon. This isn't news. No man bites dog story here.
Much more entertaining was the final results show for ABC's Dancing With The Stars. The Mrs. loves this show. I watched most of it with her. Very entertaining. Maybe they should have Presidential Candidate Dancing With The Stars. Naah. I just had a terrible mental visual image of Presidential candidates in skimpy outfits. Think about it.
My favorite reality show this season is Hells Kitchen. I'm trying to memorize all of the insults dished up by Chef Ramsey. "Shut it down, you donkey". I love that one the best. Except when I try to imitate Chef Ramsey, I sound more like Shrek. This is actually a scary show. Maybe I don't want to know that restaurant chefs sometimes cut off the tips of their fingers and they can't find the fingertip amongst the risotto.
Oops I almost forgot. American Idol's final showdown between the two Davids was tonight. We watched a few minutes. But hey! I don't care about this show! I haven't listened to top 40, hip/hop, country/western, or alternative radio for years! I couldn't tell you what's popular right now. But I can tell you that when I watched the American Idol contestants slaughter Beatles and Andrew Lloyd Webber and Neil Diamond songs earlier in the season, I wasn't thinking to my self this could be heaven or this could be hell. Nope. I was thinking that American Idol has finally jumped the shark.
(By the way, 58% of voters think Hell's Kitchen hasn't jumped the shark yet. But over 50% of voters think American Idol jumped the shark on day one. Interesting, eh?)
What about Hillary? Obama? John McCain? Have the jumped the shark yet? If so, when did they make the leap?
May 3, 2008
Kahl, Thiemann, McKeel Shmooz Troutdale's First Friday
Multnomah County Commission candidate Diane McKeel. House District 49 candidate Nick Kahl. House District 52 candidate Phyllis Thiemann. Troutdale's First Friday event last night was a target rich environment for these candidates.
The Mrs. and I spent a couple of hours talking with Nick Kahl and Troutdale General Store owner Terry Smoke. We didn't agree on much except the following: we don't like politicians who refuse to take a position on anything, Governor Kulongoski hasn't been very effective, and Ted Wheeler still hasn't figured out he's only one vote out of five on the County Commission.. We also agreed that tossing down a Corona or two after a long day is a great way to end the week. Then we went over to Taste of Village Chinese Restaurant and joined Ed & Phyllis Thiemann and the other 18 or so usual suspects at the monthly post-First Friday chinese food fest.
With Thiemann, we discussed the challenges of campaigning in a large geographic area. She also told us about her experience on KXL's Kremer & Abrams last Sunday. She said she felt ambushed by Rob Kremer's questions. That's not a surprise. A quick check on ORESTAR shows that Kremer's Conservative Majority Project has made significant campaign donations to Thiemann's opponent in the HD 52 primary race. But if you go on a radio talk show, you should be prepared for anything. It's a political jungle out there!
Thiemann should win her primary race. She's well connected in her district. I haven't detected much of a buzz from her opponent, except for what I read at NW Republican. Kahl has been front loaded with $$$$$ in union money. He's been hitting the streets hard. He has a decent chance of winning the democrat primary. (Sorry, Nick. Even though you're a nice guy, I'm supporting John Nelsen in November) And McKeel? She and I both thought no candidate for her race would gain 50% in the primary, which would result in a general election final battle between the top two candidates.
(Fine. typos fixed. I forgot to spell check.)
The Mrs. and I spent a couple of hours talking with Nick Kahl and Troutdale General Store owner Terry Smoke. We didn't agree on much except the following: we don't like politicians who refuse to take a position on anything, Governor Kulongoski hasn't been very effective, and Ted Wheeler still hasn't figured out he's only one vote out of five on the County Commission.. We also agreed that tossing down a Corona or two after a long day is a great way to end the week. Then we went over to Taste of Village Chinese Restaurant and joined Ed & Phyllis Thiemann and the other 18 or so usual suspects at the monthly post-First Friday chinese food fest.
With Thiemann, we discussed the challenges of campaigning in a large geographic area. She also told us about her experience on KXL's Kremer & Abrams last Sunday. She said she felt ambushed by Rob Kremer's questions. That's not a surprise. A quick check on ORESTAR shows that Kremer's Conservative Majority Project has made significant campaign donations to Thiemann's opponent in the HD 52 primary race. But if you go on a radio talk show, you should be prepared for anything. It's a political jungle out there!
Thiemann should win her primary race. She's well connected in her district. I haven't detected much of a buzz from her opponent, except for what I read at NW Republican. Kahl has been front loaded with $$$$$ in union money. He's been hitting the streets hard. He has a decent chance of winning the democrat primary. (Sorry, Nick. Even though you're a nice guy, I'm supporting John Nelsen in November) And McKeel? She and I both thought no candidate for her race would gain 50% in the primary, which would result in a general election final battle between the top two candidates.
(Fine. typos fixed. I forgot to spell check.)
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