This election shows Clatsop County to be a rural county with decidedly metro county tastes.
While most rural counties in Oregon came out strong for conservative candidates, Clatsop County aligns itself with the crowd in Multnomah county when it comes to state leadership choices.
That's not to say that conservatives made no in-roads in this election, quite the opposite. I believe that many people voted in this election as the result of a strong showing in key races by republicans. I don't remember a time here when republicans like Bob Horning and Lew Barnes were able to make any impact at all.
The Tea Party has had its impact in elections across the country and that was true here in terms of providing a moral support structure for races that everyone knew would be difficult. It's tough to beat a Betsy Johnson. Slamming her over a "possible" conflict of interest was a stretch and a critical error.
It will be interesting to see how a more equal politically populated Oregon legislature grapples with the budget, amongst other things. The Democrats have lost the super-majority to pursue their party agenda without the republicans so we are likely to see some fireworks over a number of key issues. Reaching consensus will be challenging and I suspect we may see a return to less civil discussion in Salem.
At this writing the Governor's race is still too close to call but with ballots yet to be counted in Multnomah and Linn counties it's looking better for John Kitzhaber.
Tom: Pretty sad when seeing Dudley was approved by 28 counties but the Portland area and lowly Leftist Clatsop county were the few who approved the levi wearing doctor. What is wrong with people, cannot they see he cannot create jobs, just promises and more promises. His past record proves this. The state legislature is nothing but a tax and spend what we don’t have body. Standby by for another push for a sales tax that will destroy all the border businesses if ever passed. Will we ever learn::::::NO and NO. Another 4 years of excess spending and high pers benefits.
ReplyDeleteAnd will we see another 4 years of you hiding behind your anonymity pissing and moaning about change, too many taxes, taking back government, pinning a ribbon on a pig and calling it a reace horse and still unwilling to stand up under your own name as a member of our community to protest or support those issues?
ReplyDeleteUntil we get a new owner of the Daily paper, and a DA who isn't in the Daily papers office everyday telling them who to politcally support or slam next our community will remain just as it is. You bet I'll be anonymous, saying who you are isn't safe unless you believe what they believe.
ReplyDeleteMcGee: Enough of your anonymity pissing and moaning. We are tired of your tirades because your stupid enough to Google your name and read the results. When is your plane leaving for Thailand????
ReplyDeleteThe word is...."You're"...Y-O-U-'-R-E a shortening of the words "You Are" Anonym. Gives you away everytime.
ReplyDeleteTHEY'RE right McGee. I'm new to town, but because of what I've read here I would never do business with you.
ReplyDeleteOn womf you told me to go to the furniture store downtown, and I avoided that specifically because it came from you....
That is why some of us post as anonym. People are vindictive.
OMG!! WTF?? LOL!!! McGee giving grammer and spelling lessons!?!> HAHAHAAA !! HAHAHAH!!!
ReplyDeleteThe demos have run this state into the ground and thats fine with the elitist leftist newcomer scum who are infesting our beloved state. If the shoe fits,McGee, wear it.
Pretty good post-election indicator why "The Tea Party" pretty much got its butt kicked around these parts, one would surmise you think?
ReplyDeleteAnd still, no names but, one has every right to make that choice as well as who they do business with even if they are open on Sunday as was the WOMF complaint.
When three new commissioners were elected earlier this year, it signaled the strength and size of the liberal electorate here in Clatsop and on the coast. To overcome this political bias was a very tall order for any conservative candidate. Lew Barnes came closest, and might have prevailed but for the dominance and vindictiveness of the local paper, who's editors could not create enough in-kind donations (the kind that never get counted in Orestar) for their automatic list of liberal endorsements.
ReplyDeleteThe Tea Party both locally and nationally had a great effect on this election. That it wasn't enough to win seats locally is really unsurprising, but you can be sure that Betsy and Debra heard the footsteps of their opposition, which is why you saw them actually decide to campaign despite their not wanting to. It's like they had to be dragged kicking and screaming into actually having to ask for votes--why would anyone not vote for them, they're so perfect for the coast--and maybe they are. But no debates, please. And their shrill whining, especially Betsy's, was evidence of her lack of previous competition, for suddenly she had to actually respond to questions no one has ever dare raise. Bob Horning wasn't someone who was afraid to intimidate her, and this was something foreign to Betsy, who loves to do the intimidating. Bob may not have run the smoothest campaign, he's not nearly as polished, but his effort was genuine, and Betsy may indeed be better for it. I'm hoping that all her constituents including those who didn't vote for her, will benefit from it, for if she adjusts her attitude to where she realizes not everyone loves or is intimidated by her, perhaps she'll be more willing to listen to the other side more often, and not just the enviro/union crowd who handed her another term.
As for Debra Boone, I see her as the nice next door neighbor who is completely over her head in the details of government. She nevertheless was able to garner the votes by promising more and more handouts and goodies from Salem to the locals who ate this promise up. And she cares--which bland condition is tantamount to an announcement of Season's Platitudes, where no one can challenge the blandness. No liberal oriented voter wants to hear about the limits of government, the overspending, the need for self reliance, the unfunded liabilities, the phoniness of the state budget, or worse, the so-called cuts that Debra says she and her fellow liberals accomplished despite increasing the spending every session. No, these kinds of facts are something to avoid, and so the myth of good government continues as before. Too bad for Oregon's coast, for we are in for a tough time when promises of more of the same are met with financial facts of life in the coming two years. Earth to Debra and the others: Uncle Sam is out of money, Salem is out of money, and neither has the capacity to borrow as before. So just where are you going to find the giveaways, the loans, the grants, the increased costs of PERS, the salary increases for union employees, and the list goes on. Oh, well, good luck, perhaps there's a pony somewhere in the mess of liberal politics on the coast. I'm not counting on it. In fact, I'm moving to WA, but that’s another story only partially related to election politics. And I’m a Husky anyway.
For 2012 Art we best be studying the life and times and magic of Tom McCall who was custom made for Republican politics in Oregon.
ReplyDeleteQuite frankly, in my opinion, if your entire slate of candidates had run as just plain old mainstream Republicans, I think the party would have swept itself to a historic and shocking victory but, as it is with all hindsight, woulda, shoulda, coulda don't mean diddley does it?
Art Says:"Oh, well, good luck, perhaps there's a pony somewhere in the mess of liberal politics on the coast. I'm not counting on it. In fact, I'm moving to WA, but that’s another story only partially related to election politics. And I’m a Husky anyway."
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you Art......with all your success here on the coast, I am sure Washington will be encouraged to know that you are coming.