Oregon Politics: Wrestling Match

I did a little Face Book stalking this morning. Boy, that’s a depressing way to start the day.

It leaves a bad taste in my mouth and a sick feeling in my belly.

When it comes to elections and politics it’s sad to see how much we vote or support only people who agree with us.

Our personal baggage causes us to pick our pet issues and if a candidate has a different idea on those issues, they are out.

I watch as terms like conservative and progressive are lobbed as if Holy and righteous.

We are unwilling to listen to people who do not put our values (which are always correct) ahead of all others.

We look for reasons to disagree when we should be finding common ground.

The legislature starts today and talk show radio hosts and bloggers will find self-importance as they gear up to rip apart the competition.

It’s a big game and the only way to stop it is to ignore it.

As the political spam begins to fill the airwaves remember these people have personal agenda’s that filter everything they see and say. They may sound like they know what they are talking about but their motivations may be selfish and geared at stirring up not mixing in.

Remind yourself that they don’t speak for everyone in fact their majority is only in their head.

A growing number of people in this state are right where you are, in the middle. We just want people to work together. We’re looking for someone to truly look at the people of Oregon not their person self-righteous agenda.

The Public Eye has Limited Vision. Chip Kelly

Have you noticed how quick we are to offer our limited vision when something happens in the public forum?

Chip Kelly was in the news the other night and people were going nuts speculating about what he was doing and why.

I had to laugh. When I left KEZI the rumors were flying and people were dying to give their two cents (which was really worth about ½ a cent).

When I ran for office the speculators knew exactly what I was planning, why I was planning it and the reason I was doing it and they were all wrong.

Reporters used to ask me what my plan “B” was if I lost. I’d say I don’t have a plan “B” I’ll figure it out when I get there.

They just wouldn’t or couldn’t believe me. They thought sure I was feeding them a line. How can anyone leave a job, run for office and not have a plan “B”?

My thought was how could I give this my all if in the back of my mind I’m planning to lose?

I’d hear conservative radio hosts bitch and badger me for not being conservative enough and the liberal folks were scared to death I was going to win.

Everyone had a story, everyone had an answer and most of them didn’t know s..t.

My wife, my staff and my advisors and I would sit there scratching our heads. It was a great education for a former reporter. I saw the ugly side of the business, the industry and quite frankly people.

So when someone like Chip Kelly looks at other options I figure that’s life. Only he knows what he’s truly doing. You can speculate if it makes you feel better but chances are you don’t know the whole story and you may end up with egg on your face.

The Guy Is Back; “Disaffiliate”

This is getting a little odd. The guy in the mask, he’s back. I thought it was a one time thing when I saw “Disaffiliation” on the running trail the other day.

I don’t know his name but call him “Disaffiliation” because that’s what he whispered as he ran past me.

At the pool the guy was just there when I came up for air at the end of my lane.

I looked up the word “Disaffiliate” it means to remove from association or to end an affiliation.

When I got into the locker room I found a note in my bag that said: “We The People” and it was signed Disaffiliate.

I haven’t got a clue what he’s up to or why he’s chosen me to stalk.

I’ll keep you posted I’m pretty sure he’s not done with me yet.

Mask Man is Stalking Me: Calls Himself “Disaffiliate”

I went for a run this morning but this guy kept following me. I’ve seen around you can’t miss him. He runs along the bike trails dressed like something out of comic strip

I usually run around the Walterville Pond but the fog was clearing up more quickly in town so after a swim I put on some warm clothes and headed to the path along the Willamette.

I see this masked man out there from time to time but he’s never said anything to me. Today was so different and a bit unnerving. This super-hero-wanna-be is becoming bolder and more brazen with his tactics.

The masked man ran by me a number of times whispering: “Disaffiliate”.

I know what it means to disaffiliate from institutions or even political parties but why is he following me?

When I came back to my car he was there and by the picture was a little surprised that I caught him.

I’m back home safe and sound but I can’t get his face out of my head or that whisper.

I don’t know what else to call him but “Disaffiliate”. I guess until I figure out what he wants or why he’s following me that will have to do.

Oregonians: Stop Labeling Please

Oregonians have a problem. I am one so I can say that if I want. We are label happy. Admit it, how many times in a day do you label someone?

I was talking with a leader at a local company the other day. She moved here from another part of the state and said she has never been to an area that lobs labels at people as much as she has experienced in Eugene/Springfield.

Republicans, Democrats, Liberals, Conservatives, Progressives and it goes on and on and on.

Aren’t you tired of it? Don’t you think its time we use our brains and try to describe our neighbors with something other than a label?

Party huggers use labels to discredit one another. They throw out terms like damn liberal or stupid conservative or brag that they hold the market on the term progressive.

I got news for you, when it comes to politics progressive is an oxymoron heavy on the moron.

Just stop it. Labels really are just a smoke screen for laziness. A label is a trap that someone who disagrees with us uses to try to discredit what we believe in.

So, what should you do? Try to catch yourself by biting your tongue. I still slip up but at least I’m trying to be aware of it.

Another thing you can do is when someone tosses a label at you, point it out to him or her and remind the labeler what little thought and intelligence it takes to call people names.

You Can’t Always Say What you Want.

A Google Alert pops up on my mail. That means someone in the media is talking about me, again.

During the campaign for Secretary of State my heart would skip a beat when that little flashing emblem showed up in my email. That skip was usually not a good thing.

Last night the alert showed up. KATU in Portland wrote a story on the upcoming Secretary of State’s Race. In the article, again, was my name and how I had lost the race to the current S.O.S.

Today I’m headed to a candidates’ announcement press conference telling the world he is running for SOS in 2012.

He wants me to say a few words and I’m happy to help out because I’ve meet with the guy and I think he’ll do a great job but it feels funny.

I don’t want to run for office right now that is the farthest thing from my mind but when you put so much into something like this it brings back some interesting memories.

I had no idea going into the race in 2008 what I was up against.

I would say more but I can’t, the media is always sniffing for a story.

After I leave his press announcement I’m headed to a funeral for a friends father. This friend called me yesterday to ask if I’d give the closing prayer at his dad’s memorial.

This is the point in my writing where I like to make a deep analysis of my feelings about these two events and how they relate but I cannot write what I’m really thinking. Why? it is far too deep for the media to understand. They would twist my words as they try to “Guess” what I’m saying.

So I will hold my analysis of these two events to myself.

Let me just say that a closing prayer to bless a family and honor a man’s long, successful life, is right up my alley.