5 posts tagged “oregon”

Everyone is saying Obama is gonna take Oregon easy tomorrow and I semi agree.  That video from Portland is a clue, eh?  But... having lived in Oregon, I'd like to say he's only going to take Oregon because of Portland and probably Eugene.  I bet the rest of the state goes to Hillary.  I'm hoping the Oregonian posts by county on its site tomorrow so I can check, but frankly even though Oregon isn't racist enough to be scary like West Virginia was... It IS pretty hick and racist and yes scary in some parts when you get outside of the cities.   Hmm how often do you see a poll, even online, with a perfect 50/50 split down to the exact # of votes for each option? 

Oregonlive-poll

Hmm, so since I've lived about half of my life in Oregon and half in California I was in Oregon for the *cough* height of the Oregon Citizens Alliance and their anti gay ballot measures back in the 90s.  Besides the death with dignity laws, and stem cell research here in Cali, Measure 9 in Oregon is probably thee one thing I've been able to vote on that got me most worked up.  They had tried to claim it just meant gays wouldn't be given "special rights" in regards to hiring, housing, etc.  Because you know how being out of the closet gets you treated so well especially in the more hick areas of Oregon, I mean it's not like we had a family friend that dropped out of school because of the abuse he got over being gay there.  The actual text? 

"All governments in Oregon may not use their monies or properties to promote, encourage or facilitate homosexuality, pedophilia, sadism or masochism. All levels of government, including public education systems, must assist in setting a standard for Oregon's youth which recognizes that these behaviors are abnormal, wrong, unnatural and perverse and they are to be discouraged and avoided."

Yeah they were a great group, since pedophilia is already illegal it was clearly just designed to discriminate against gays.  I was wondering if they still existed as I never heard much of them after Measure 9, and figured with things like domestic partnerships in Multnomah county and Cali legalizing gay marriage just one state away, they must be in an uproar is they still exist. 

Imagine my surprise when I found that John McCain spoke at an OCA dinner back then. 
"After McCain agreed to attend the 1993 fundraiser for the OCA, an Arizona newspaper columnist headlined it this way: "Hate group finds friend in McCain." Then-Sen. Mark O. Hatfield, R-Ore., encouraged McCain to back out, but McCain felt he couldn't."

I'm sorry unless he lived in a cave back then or didn't talk to ANYONE in Oregon ever or didn't watch the National news (OCA and Measure 9 wasn't just on Oregon news back then it was a national, if not international story), he knew what the OCA was.  *adds this to the reasons to dislike McCain*

Stolen from Peter DeFazio's official page.  You can ask my mom, I've said for ages he should run for president as he's the one politician I have the most faith in.  And now he proves he has an awesome sense of humor too...

WASHINGTON, DC-Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield) today sent a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez requesting an investigation into potential voting irregularities in the recent Springfield Challenge, a contest to select a Springfield for the home of The Simpsons.  The competition was conducted by 20th Century Fox.  Thirteen towns named Springfield competed, and Springfield, Vermont was recently announced the winner.   A copy of DeFazio's letter is below.

Alberto R. Gonzalez    
Attorney General
Office of Attorney General
Robert F. Kennedy Building
950 Pennsylvania, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20530-2000

Heidely Ho Attorney General Gonzales:

I write to you to express the outrage that I, and all Oregonians, feel regarding a recent event.  I know there is a strong possibility that you may come back and say that you "don't recall" to what I am referring, so let me refresh your memory.  Recently, 20th Century Fox launched The Simpson's Movie Springfield Challenge where people could vote on the real-life location of the home of The Simpsons.  Naturally, most Oregonians felt confident that we would win, since it is obvious to everyone that Simpson's creator Matt Groening, who was raised in Oregon, modeled Springfield after his childhood home.  Oregon has over 363 miles of the most beautiful coastline in America, the Cascade Mountains, and is the grass seed capital of the world.  What does Vermont have?  Maple syrup.

This travesty must not stand.  Springfield, Vermont is a town of only nine thousand people; yet this community received over fifteen thousand votes.  Unless they passed a law giving cows the right to vote, this smacks of election fraud.  It also once again highlights the need for electronic voting with a valid paper trail.  Was Diebold in any way involved in tabulating the results?

Additionally, it's my understanding that Springfield, Vermont entered the competition after the deadline.  That's clearly an election violation since they should not have been listed on the ballot in the first place. 

Some people will say that we were rolled by the giant pink doughnut, but I believe there were significant voting irregularities.  Knowing how passionately the Bush Administration feels about counting every vote, I'm sure you will want to investigate this matter.  Additionally, I urge you to petition the Supreme Court to review the facts and consider whether or not this election should be set aside.  Given the Court's recent rulings on election proceedings, I'm sure they will be eager to review the case.  I demand that you investigate this miscarriage of justice and restore Oregon as the definitive home of The Simpsons. 

Get Springfield, OR it's hometown Simpsons movie premiere.  Trust me of all of the Springfields that deserve a "HOMETOWN" premiere it's the one in Oregon.  Everyone in Oregon KNOWS that Springfield is THEE Springfield. 

But voting time is limited (closes at midnight I think).  Keep in mind, Matt Groening is from Portland.  Many of the Simpson characters, locations, etc are based on things in Oregon. Most would agree that the 3 eyed fish is making fun of the Willamette for example.  They actually used to have (not sure if they still have it) the 3 eyed fish painted on one of the bridges or something in Portland.  Shelbyville would be Eugene.  And yes the cities are right next to each other and the we're better than you attitude is rampant between those who live in both.  Ohh and if Matt Groening's home state doesn't win as THEE Simpsons Hometown, I bet they'll hold a protest :P

Oregon has me convinced it's trying to kill people
As much as I miss my family (especially mom and KeeKee) I'm glad we're not driving up there this year. I wish they could be here, but I'm convinced it's a bad year for visiting Oregon.

First the Kim family. Now the hikers on Mt. Hood (though Mt. Hood searches are fairly common). Not to mention, it is sounding like a rough weather year. Last year, driving down here, Brian woke me up with his "Oh shit"s because all of a sudden you couldn't even see the front of the car. Some of the roads (especially Southern Oregon) can be scary as hell in good weather thanks to permanent construction lanes and trucks that don't seem to realize they're speeding and cutting off cars on narrow roads. And I can't forget the people who think that if you're from Oregon you can and should drive in any conditions at 85 mph because you've driven in rain. Drivers in Oregon scare the blankity blank out of me.

Sooo... I miss my family, but I really just have this "Oregon is trying hard to kill people" feeling. I know... take a plane. But that is what has me convinced that Oregon is bad news this year. A flight to there from here had to turn around and land back at LAX when passengers heard an explosion and a fire warning light came on. Last I heard they never found a cause for any of it as there was no actual fire.

Still, not being that superstitious etc, the news I've seen has given me a gut feeling like I missed going to Christmas with the family for a reason. And trust me for me to be relieved that I can't be with my family for the holiday, that's saying a lot as this will only be the umm second I've missed. I'm seeing more Oregon news than I saw when living there and watching the news every night. I'm convinced it really is a sign that something bad would have happened had we gone up.

As for me:
I'm very crampy, TMI but that also means I was woken by a headache that hasn't gone away, which I can expect to last for 3-5 days if my recent past is any indication *sigh* I was gonna say more but this is long enough. So Nighty night world, time to try to sleep some of this pain away, if it will let me.

♥ Ik hou van jullie allemaal ♥