I have to admit that in the run up to Oregon's May primary, I was more of a Steve Novick guy. I liked his attitude and his spunk. I liked his activism and his sense of humor. I liked his positions.
It's not that I didn't like Jeff Merkley. As Speaker of the Oregon House, he led a remarkable session in which the Democrats were able to pass legislation including (but not limited to) increasing primary education funding by a billion bucks, higher ed by a billion four, outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and providing same-sex couples with state granted rights, immunities, and benefits (this, after voters banned same sex marriage). This was no small feat, considering the slim majority that Democrats held-31-29.
But I leaned Novick.
Now jump with me to see if I flail or fly...
So when Jeff Merkley won, I wasn't about to bolt to John McCain, Er, Gorden Smith, but I definitely lost some of the passion that I had felt.
I mean, after almost 2 years of Nancy "off the table" Pelosi and Harry "huh? What? Oh, ok" Reid, the low key Merkley just didn't get my freak on. I wanted Peter DeFazio (look him up). I wanted Russ Feingold. I wanted Paul Wellstone. Hell, I wanted Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and Benjamin Franklin (and Al Franken) rolled up and tossed into a party suffering from Battered Democrat Syndrome like a bomb!
And Jeff Merkley seemed like such a-well-SAFE Democrat to me.
Um, would you pass me the sugar? Yeah, yeah, I know it's bad for me, given my hypoglycemia, but it would really help sweeten the words I'm about to eat. You see, Jeff Merkley is really a closet progressive.
Without the closet.
I'll let him speak for himself, via Huffington Post.
"We disagreed on FISA," Merkley said when asked how he differed with Barack Obama.
I like it. Not quite the tone hit by most progressives in the last few weeks, but let's see what else he has to say;
"...I think we have an emerging difference on NAFTA, where I am very concerned about jobs being swept out of the United States by these trade treaties combined with tax policies, and I gather we were closely aligned but as we go to the general election here, we find that Barack is changing a little bit."
O.K., Got some starch-I'll bite-what else you got to say, Jeff?
By redefining abortion to include the most common and effective methods of birth control, including oral contraceptives and emergency contraception, the Bush Administration is attempting to deprive basic contraceptive services to women around the country.
This is George Bush's parting gift to the far right-wing of the Republican Party. It is a shameful attempt to deny women complete, accurate information regarding their health care options. Health care experts and choice organizations in Oregon and across the country are speaking out in protest. Yet, the Bush Administration is refusing to comment on the rule change and our own Senator Gordon Smith is refusing to comment as well.
I'm lovin' it! Who doesn't love gravy? How about a little bit more red meat?
"A major mistake has been not to force the Republicans to filibuster day and night on these issues," he said. "The public does not see that obstruction because they don't see on their televisions a senator on the floor of the senate going through the night reading out of a thick tomb of law, if you will, in order to block bills from being considered. We have to put that on show to the American public and show that it's unacceptable... And I am [prepared to start standing up]. FISA is a good example right there. I was proud of Senator Dodd and others for what they did. They lost the vote, but I'm proud of them."
Badda bing, Badda BOOM! THIS is what I want to see! As Chris Bowers says
Hell yeah! That is what it means to be a Better Democrat.
Holy Vision of Christ on a kaiser Roll, Batman! Looks like I've got a full meal deal! Meat, potatos and a healthy side of crow (thanks for the sugar-crow is a dish best served with compassion)!
After I eat, I'm givin' a little lovin' to Jeff (most likely more time than money, due to my circumstances).
You can too.
Here-yeah, I could've taken you to his donate page, but I really love his front page!
Andat Actblue
Cross posted at my own humble blog columbiablues.