The Great land of Oregon. Home of the Oregon Trail, the Trail Blazers, the very funny show IFC show Portlandia, and, apparently, some of the sanest voters the in the country as of this second.
Don't believe me? Check out the link. Jeff Merkley, an extremely progressive democrat, has been re-elected by an EXTREMELY wide margin, fighting a wave of koch brothers money. From the August Oregonian article:
Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce -- the Koch brothers' group reportedly planning to spend $3.6 million trying to unseat Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon -- opened a three-month advertising campaign Wednesday with a TV commercial attacking Merkley's votes on government spending.Despite the millions of dollars spent in favor of the republican candidate, Dr. Monica Wehby, Merkley still won by wide margins.
Our democratic governor is also projected to keep his seat, by smaller margins. As I have said in another diary, I am extremely glad that John Kitzhaber, former ER doc, was, and now will still be, the governor of Oregon.
The biggest Oregon political news comes in the form of the Ballot initiatives, I think. First of all, there was one big defeat in Oregon for an intiative I thought should have won, proving that while Oregon is still solidly democratic, there is still a conservative bent out there on one issue. Measure 88, which would have authorized undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses. My view on this is, honestly, if you fucking WORK in the United States, you should be able to DRIVE and be INSURED in the United States. Disagree with me? Frankly, I don't care. Immigrants are people too damnit. Everyone's gotta get to work, and with a bus system as shitty as Salem, Oregon's, there is no doubt in my mind that there are undocumented workers out there who have to rely on family, friends, coworkers, or their own fucking legs to get to work. Unacceptable in 2014, if you ask me.
Now, lets move on to the ballot initiative wins. First of all, HUGE FUCKING WIN for Ballot measure 89, which is an Equal Rights Amendment to Oregon's constitution. This won by large, large margins, we are talking a 20+ point spread, proving Oregonians are fucking sick of sexism in the workforce, in the economy, etc.
Secondly, there is Measure 91, which is Oregon's marijuana legalization measure. This passed by an 8 point margin, making Oregon the third state to make weed legal in the past couple of cycles. I think this was just smart politics for Oregon, personally, and the Yes on 91 ran a pitch perfect campaign, while the No on 91 campaign was virtually non-existent. Despite all of that, it was a hard fought win for proponents of marijuana legalization, but in the end Yes on 91 won pretty damn big. Good news for people who smoke marijuana, and people who are in favor of a sane and inexpensive justice system. Bad news for...I dunno, teetotalers? Squares?
All in all, bad night for us. I see that. It hurts. But, I can't help but feel a little bit of pep in my step considering the good night for progressives, Democrats and liberals in Oregon tonight. Diamond in the rough?
edit: here is my take from the election as a whole. I wrote this comment on another diary on the rec list
issues bring progressives outDemocrats please
1) Differentiate yourselves from the republican party by picking up and running with issues like marijuana reform, prison reform, the minimum wage, addressing the excesses of wall street and income inequality and tons of other issues out there that are clear winners with the american people.
2) Tout your damn successes. Don't run away from the President. I don't give a fuck about the map. When major candidates run away from the President, bad fucking things happen. Enough. Either embrace the core ideals and leader of the party or get the fuck out of the way.
3) Fight the republicans on the issues, on the substance, on their plan to lead. Republicans ain't got shit, we all know it. They have been needling us from the sidelines for years, criticize them on the substance, in a way the american people can understand, loudly and repeatedly. Move them as far left as possible.
4) Forcefully support our President at every turn going forward. Do not cave. Do not capitulate. Find ways to take advantage of what little power you have left to get what you can done, but fight as hard for your principles as republicans did when they were in the minority in the senate. But do it in a way that puts the american people on your side. No silent, anonymous filibusters. Roll out the cots. Speak for hours and hours. ARGUE YOUR CASE! That is how you start a movement beginning in 2016.
Look at Oregon. Seriously. Jeff Merkley is the FIRST senator to come out in favor of marijuana reform. He just won in a giant landslide in a republican year. He has pushed and pushed and pushed to differentiate himself in every way from his republican opponent. And it paid off. I know Oregon is friendly to dems, but if Merkley was as lifeless and spineless as the generic american "dem" it could have been much closer.
Dems don't turn out for midterms, especially when there is a democratic president, because what is the fucking point...? It seems like every single fucking democrat is running away from his or her own shadow. The american people want someone who will fight like hell, articulate their positions clearly, and stick by their progressive principles. Especially in purple and blue states.