The "clean money" checks must have cleared -- Jim Middaugh for City Council lawn signs are cropping up like weeds over here in Northeast Portland. No mention of his current employer on the signs -- you were expecting "I was the Brains Behind Erik Sten"?
As eager as I am to see an end put to Opie-ism, I'm awfully concerned that Nick Fish, Middaugh's main opponent in the race, is completely off the average person's radar screen at this point. I don't know what the heck Fish is busy doing these days -- raising money, maybe? But he sure isn't making contact with everyday voters. So far I haven't seen a lawn sign, a bumper sticker, a button, a bus bench, a mailer, a media ad -- nada.
Fish blew an enormous lead over Sam "the Tram" Adams the last time he ran for the council, four years ago. Fish trounced Adams in the primary, but then fell back on endorsements and overconfidence while Adams and Sten stole the runoff election from him. I was stunned as the Tramster's sickeningly hypocritical "Shake Up City Hall" lawn signs appeared all over town, and Fish never responded with a barrage of his own.
The signs were the tipping point. And sadly, it's happening again.
Sten timed his resignation perfectly for Middaugh, who golly, was the only guy who had time to get "clean money," and he raised the necessary signatures in, like, an hour. How long before Sten announced his mysterious retirement did he tip Middaugh off? A month? Two months? Six months?
The Sten machine, which I hear is now referring to Fish as "a perennial candidate," is in serious butt-kicking mode. The bike helmet, the Gorge people, the streetcar people, plaudits from Middaugh's pals in Eugene (including DeFazio) -- if you want this, Nick, you'd better wake up soon. If you lead with Barbara Roberts again, the Bus kids will be laughing you right out of Candidates Gone Wild.
Comments (4)
I would be shocked if Nick Fish owns any camouflage. Somebody is worried about name recognition if they're already calling him a "perennial" candidate.
I voted for Fish when he ran against Vera's lapdog. He knocked on my door during a heavy spring rainshower and talked to me for ten minutes.
I'm voting for Dozono, Fritz, Fish, and ABR (anyone but Randy). As much contempt as I have for the Fireman, I have no idea who's running against him. But s/he has my vote!
He may have spent too much energy talking policy and not enough time/money washing off the slime the Weinermobile dumped on him. But I'd rather vote for a wonk than Sten's handpicked successor.
With three council seats on the ballot (plus the mayor's race), does the average voter even know who's running against who until the voter's pamphlets arrive?
Sten's Chief of Staff might get the condo mafia and Bus Kids support because Opie endorsed him. But their Fearless Leader just fell on his sword, which has got to put some of those votes into play. And I wonder if a Serena Cruz or Rep. DeFazio endorsement will have much impact this time around.
If the voters are in the mood for change, I'm not sure the guy with the most lawn signs wins.
2. Recent transplant from Hollywood, CA: Strike 2.
3. Union shill (they're already voting for Middaugh): Strike 3.
Sorry, Ed. Unless you got a horse that can talk, you're a high probability footnote to this election.
I would think about adding a few photos of you on your bike, or standing next to a fountain with helmet hair. That might peel off a few BTA votes for you.
Charamba, Douro 2008
Horse Heaven Hills, Cabernet 2010
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Grigio 2011
Avignonesi, Montepulciano 2004
Lorelle, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Antinori, Toscana 2007
Mercedes Eguren, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Lorelle, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2011
Purple Moon, Merlot 2011
Purple Moon, Chardonnnay 2011
Abacela, Vintner's Blend No. 12
Opula Red Blend 2010
Liberte, Pinot Noir 2010
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Red Blend 2010
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2011
King Estate, Pinot Noir 2011
Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2010
Columbia Crest, Les Chevaux Red 2010
14 Hands, Hot to Trot White Blend
Familia Bianchi, Malbec 2009
Terrapin Cellars, Pinot Gris 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2009
Campo Viejo, Rioja, Termpranillo 2010
Ravenswood, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2010
Waterbrook, Reserve Merlot 2009
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills, Pinot Grigio 2011
Tarantas, Rose
Chateau Lajarre, Bordeaux 2009
La Vielle Ferme, Rose 2011
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio 2011
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir 2009
Lello, Douro Tinto 2009
Quinson Fils, Cotes de Provence Rose 2011
Anindor, Pinot Gris 2010
Buenas Ondas, Syrah Rose 2010
Les Fiefs d'Anglars, Malbec 2009
14 Hands, Pinot Gris 2011
Conundrum 2012
Condes de Albarei, Albariño 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2007
Penelope Sanchez, Garnacha Syrah 2010
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2007
Atalaya do Mar, Godello 2010
Vega Montan, Mencia
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2009
Portuga, Rose 2011
Revelation, Chardonnay, Pays d'Oc 2010
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 2005
Monte Alto, Tinto Reserva 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2009
Espiral, Vinho Rose
Vin-Koru, Pinot Gris 2011
14 Hands, Hot to Trot Red 2009
Rodney Strong, Cabernet, Sonoma 2009
Abacela, Vintner's Blend #11
Portuga, White 2010
La Bourgeoisie, Red 2009
Januik, Red 2009
Three Rivers, River's Red 2008
Kirkland, Alexander Valley Merlot 2008
Muga, Rioja Rose 2010
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
The Occasional Book
Hope Larson - A Wrinkle in Time, the Graphic Novel
Rudyard Kipling - Kim
Peter Ames Carlin - Bruce
Fran Cannon Slayton - When the Whistle Blows
Neil Young - Waging Heavy Peace
Mark Bego - Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (2012 ed.)
Jenny Lawson - Let's Pretend This Never Happened
J.D. Salinger - Franny and Zooey
Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol
Timothy Egan - The Big Burn
Deborah Eisenberg - Transactions in a Foreign Currency
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. - Slaughterhouse Five
Kathryn Lance - Pandora's Genes
Cheryl Strayed - Wild
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - The Brothers Karamazov
Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt
Road Work
Miles run year to date: 32
At this date last year: 66
Total run in 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (4)
I would be shocked if Nick Fish owns any camouflage. Somebody is worried about name recognition if they're already calling him a "perennial" candidate.
I voted for Fish when he ran against Vera's lapdog. He knocked on my door during a heavy spring rainshower and talked to me for ten minutes.
I'm voting for Dozono, Fritz, Fish, and ABR (anyone but Randy). As much contempt as I have for the Fireman, I have no idea who's running against him. But s/he has my vote!
He may have spent too much energy talking policy and not enough time/money washing off the slime the Weinermobile dumped on him. But I'd rather vote for a wonk than Sten's handpicked successor.
With three council seats on the ballot (plus the mayor's race), does the average voter even know who's running against who until the voter's pamphlets arrive?
Sten's Chief of Staff might get the condo mafia and Bus Kids support because Opie endorsed him. But their Fearless Leader just fell on his sword, which has got to put some of those votes into play. And I wonder if a Serena Cruz or Rep. DeFazio endorsement will have much impact this time around.
If the voters are in the mood for change, I'm not sure the guy with the most lawn signs wins.
Posted by Mister Tee | March 10, 2008 9:45 PM
If it's the guy they never heard of before, that's not to Fish's advantage.
Posted by Jack Bog | March 10, 2008 9:50 PM
Hello !!! Is anyone noticing? Someone is, I've had 15,000 hits on my web site in a month.
Seat #2 isn't just the Jim and Nick Show, I'm in this race too, offering a viable alternative to either of the two "most visible" guys.
Check out my web site, decide for yourself who the "most viable" candidate REALLY is.
Ed Garren
www.edforportland.com
Posted by Ed Garren | March 12, 2008 6:07 AM
Community activist for over 30 years: Strike 1.
2. Recent transplant from Hollywood, CA: Strike 2.
3. Union shill (they're already voting for Middaugh): Strike 3.
Sorry, Ed. Unless you got a horse that can talk, you're a high probability footnote to this election.
I would think about adding a few photos of you on your bike, or standing next to a fountain with helmet hair. That might peel off a few BTA votes for you.
Posted by Mister Tee | March 12, 2008 7:22 AM