Looks like Randy could save some bucks by buying these from Seattle...

At first, I read the auction company's name as Bidaloo. I was wondering just how much of a market there is for these things that there's an entire company dedicated to auctioning toilets.

Get it. It's got sort of a Cray Computer look to it, which would make it good for the new bojack.org colocation center. Plus, you'd probably have the nicest outhouse in Irvington.

Get in there and bid! The top bid when I checked was only $200.

I wonder if they have any without bullet holes in the door?

Be sure to have your sound turned up when you follow the link. Now that's salesmanship!

Randy and the rest of the city council usually thinks that they have to reinvent the wheel each time. We're so creative!

WTS?

Randy and the rest of the city council usually thinks that they have to reinvent the wheel each time.

I submit that they're so willfully clueless (oxymoron alert) that they think THEY invented the wheel...

and the cart...

and the tram...

...ad infinitum.

Can't believe there is no reserve on these things. Last I saw, the bid was $360. I wonder if you had a store or restaurant and was required by the ADA to put in a handicapped restroom if these would qualify. Way cheaper than installing one from scratch.

Way cheaper than installing one from scratch.

Hey, Gil, I don't think it comes with hookups.

Allan, who needs hookups, we have the Willamette.

Randy probably thinks it would look stupid if he bought those.

Once again, will someone remind me HOW MUCH OF OUR MONEY Randy Leonard is willing to spend on his toilet contraption which is available on EBay for highest bid... is it over $360 yet? It is continuing evidence of the failure of Portland leadership. Maybe Randy Leonard will disappear like John Edwards, off the political map.

Portland needs an astute, honest, HUMBLE politician who understands that revenues through taxes IS NOT THEIR MONEY. It's the citizens money, to be INVESTED in our city. It is not politicians money to be spent on their pet projects. And it they don't think that is wht is happening, then again, their stupidity OR denial is extreme.

The issues to be addressed aren't hard to identify; safety, security, financial bleeding brought on by (power) drunk power brokers, pay down our debt, address the infrastructure needs (what's so hard about filling pot holes if people want it done?), stop funding the personal memorials to our politicians (trams, convention centers, hotels for non-existent convention goers, etc.).

Are we approaching the collapse of the entrenched political machine in Portland... Tom Potter, Randy Leonard, Sam Adams, and others? I think so. In history, every culture (micro-culture?) comes to a turning point in time where significant change is inevitable. I believe that Portland is there. Will the right leaders please be identified? And don't expect them to stand up and say "I'm your leader."

Despite how swell it is to "have a beer" with Randy, he is inept just like the others on the council.

They are hobbled by being excessively impressionable while not perceptive enough to recognize either their own responsibilitites or what truth and sound policy looks like.

Thanks for the poop on this one.

Obviously the devil is in the bidadoo-doo details (the bastardized French bidadoo is hilarious - even funnier than "bidaloo").

Shipping will be outrageously expensive even if purchaser can meet all of the stipulations . . . probably far more than the winning bid.

My favorite part of the listing: "Unit has been in a public environment for just over 4 years & has an average amount of scuffs, scratches, small dents and/or other signs of use."

On the bright side, it does seem to be going cheap and they will ship worldwide.

Local-politician (mis)behaviors don't swirl my juices quite that much, that I rant wholesale in public. Since I can walk over and talk to them -- they're neighbors. I had a 'problem' with Randy L., one time, and I got around to see him, and we talked, and I got my 'representative' recourse in grievances redressed. Subsequently, a fax or a text or a call to his office and him, also satisfied my urge to be heard.

Compare: I also met up with Sam A., and got the same satisfaction of engagement. Although we have (had) a 'charismas conflict.' Still, we made and now keep an open line of communication. Similarly, Tom P. and me, though without the conflict of charismas, (which takes two to tango).

On local issues and in local matters, speaking for myself, I effectively get results by dealing in person, face to face, more than I effect by public oratory. In Oregon matters, I apply both personal acquaintance and public redress. In federal matters, political representatives hide-away in bunkers full of fear, so my approaches are restricted and I do what I can ... most of my personal contacts is only with staff.

However, and all that, and be that as it may, and speaking on topic of going in the crapper: Since today the public -- We, the Peeps -- know The Terrorists who we don't want to see 'win' are persons IN our federal govt, (not foreigners), who direct the allocation of anthrax, then, now therefore, the CoP mullahs and sheik'ers should revisit the issue of JTTF agents infiltrated in PDX environs, ascertaining what they knew and when they knew it, toward deciding whether now or not is the time to dump and flush them away, outta here, down the river.

Disestablishing the locally (dis)approved federal JTTF -- so inept that it didn't detect 'the T-word' within its own membership -- at least saves the expense of their salaries and equipments in the federal tax waste of OUR OWN MONEY.

Tensky,
Is someone, besides yourself, supposed to be impressed with your lofty self image and personal acquaintance and public redress?

Tensky,
Nothing you post swirl my juices.

Actually, Ben, I am agreeing with your characterization of Leonard, "inept" and the rest of what you said.

Futhermore, everyone else is (inept), too. Many folks are competently 'ept', with aptitude, to govern or manage civic affaris or stand council or whatever you want to call it. That is, they (we) can do it under, and adhering to, certain conditions -- such as, on the condition that civic affairs are lawful and are not criminal. And such as, people convene in discussion and debate, not surrogate or proxy 'participation' by only listening to radio or watching TV.

I mean just ordinary conditions being the climate in which the 'governing' job occurs, then many people are not 'inept' at it. Those condition are not today's climate. Federal oppression squeezes the city and state governance between a vise against the constituents' votes and support. In extraordinary climate extremes -- I might say an absence of conditions, and destructive nihilism -- in today's chaos NO one is competent to govern.

Many can stand the heat in the kitchen. None can stand dynamite in the kitchen. Leonard is as 'inept' at governing dynamite as I am. And you are.

And it ain't ALL your failing, and it ain't my failing, and it ain't Randy's failing -- responsible blame is PARTLY the failing of The System, systemic, and unless it is fixed, everyone fails and looks 'inept.'

The civic 'polarity' sides have to agree on that least amount: that there have to be 'rules' for this politics 'game.' We can write out what those rules are, later. First, though, all parties have to agree that rules must be written. And then it can go, (recover? rebuild?) constituted from there.

Today's climate seems to lack even that simplest agreement. And I accuse some 'parties' of intentional chaos, causing chaos for chaos's sake, and bleating to disagree with everything that every other party says. No matter what is said. Always disagree with it. And do not offer any original action proposal that others can disagree, or agree, with. That's nihilistic, and that climate grows militantism and fascist authoritarianism, autocracy.

Which is what we see happening around us. Mainly because we don't write rules for our civics, conditions on ourselves, and stand by them.

Almost everyone in office, on any given day, I support and aid as best I can. The thought is the Woody Allen Rule, as I call it: 80 percent of the job is just showing up. Allen was describing being a movie actor. It seems to me it describes elected office, or public employment, just as well. I applaud those who step up, show up, give their chops, and do the job. Some kind of job. Almost any kind of job, in that office. Most of the time, most of the politicians, do an average job at it. That leaves a lot to be desired. Yet some things get done. And ... it's chaos. (Again, a lot of chaos because of the societal affect from broadcasting -- it's plain to see and it's significant and relevant to see. And our constitution, our ethics, the 'old laws,' were drafted when broadcasting was not in effect.)

Some office holders actively work in the job to intentionally harm their constituency, at the least to advantage themself apart from and beyond the 'written rules' everyone else plays by. I do not support them, and my primary condemnation of judgment is when I hear myself thinking: I can do better than that. Maybe I can and maybe I can't but I would 'show up' and try, drop everything else I am doing, sooner than let them keep at it another single day. My poster boy for the harmful politician group, is Gordon Smith. Yeah, he's inept. Worse, he is criminal, and outlaw.

I don't think Randy is criminal. Inept is as bad, and as good, as it gets.

---
No, I don't try to impress anyone. I write to supply information others don't have the luzury of time to find, themselves, and offer a framework which connects with or shows a context for the information.

"in today's chaos NO one is competent to govern"

Oh BS.

Tensky,
Your long winded premise is as lame as it gets and could be apllied to just about any arena.

The chaos in Portland is caused by incompetent people with names sitting in elected and agency offices.

Your take that the chaos just is and no one can deal with it is laughable.
There are specific decisions and misrepresentations by the electeds that are spawning the chaos.

You left out "Liars Larson" but
managed to blame the chaos on the "societal affect from broadcasting"

You say,
"Almost everyone in office, on any given day, I support and aid as best I can."

That's irrational and likely doesn't include any Republicans.

But then you tee off on Gordon Smith as an example of a "harmful politician group, he's inept. Worse, he is criminal, and outlaw."

All of that longwindedness just to take another shot at a Republican.

A take: "... that the chaos just is and no one can deal with it ...."

That is NOT my take. I explicitly stated everyone must "deal with it," (systemic failure into chaos), and the only way it can be dealt with: "(We, the involved 'parties') have to agree on that least amount: that there have to be 'rules' for this politics 'game.' We can write out what those rules are ...."

I also said, and say, there are some who refuse all participation to agree and then claim -- impossibly -- their refusal to participate is participation. Wear that ash-cloth if you feel it is fit for you, Ben.

I can go on leaving out 'LIARS Larson', since his pained knowing cohorts now all tag him with that. As you said.

"... blame the chaos on the 'societal affect from broadcasting'."

Exactly as seen by many very perceptive people: Robert Parry, for example -- The ability to ... have the major media constantly repeat the propaganda is an EXTRAordinarily powerful force in deciding American elections. Given the persistent superficiality – and cowardice – of the major U.S. news media, there’s even the larger question of whether a meaningful democracy can survive when the public is so thoroughly misinformed. ... many Americans may set aside what may be good for the country ... more based on perceptions than reality.

Ben: "That's irrational and likely doesn't include any Republicans."

That is nonsense conjecture. Besides, in reality, it is untrue.

Speaking of "really rich" and what 'rich' can buy ... a country's seat at the U.N. -- way!

Bolivia Racked by Political Divisions on the Eve of a Recall Vote, by Medea Benjamin, August 8, 2008 .

On one side of this struggle is the impoverished indigenous majority in the western highlands who, along with Bolivia’s first indigenous president Evo Morales, are trying to redistribute power and wealth towards poor communities. Pitted against them is a mostly white elite based in the eastern part of the country who want to keep tight control over the nation’s wealth and are using their money and control of the media to foment widespread discontent. Sadly, the U.S. government, instead of embracing social transformation in Latin America’s poorest nation, is aiding and abetting the opposition.

[ Our tax dollars at work. ]

Morales said at the scholars’ meeting, “but in Bolivia the press is engaged in media terrorism. ... They manipulate the news and the polls; they lie to the public.”

[ The petroleum-rich eastern province is about 35 km (real close) next to USmilitary-surrounded Bush-Moonie hide-out bunkers -- here: ... Dubious Paraguay Land Deal, By Mark Boyer, Columbia Journalism Review, 25 Oct 2006 -- ... Bush recently purchased nearly 100,000 acres of land in the Chaco region of Paraguay ... there’s a huge chunk of land right next door that’s owned by the Bush family good buddy Sun Myong Moon of the infamous Moonies … It’s perfect. Does Bush plan on being charged with something in the future? ... and feels a strong need to have a place to cut and run to ...? writes DownWithTyranny! “Paraguay has some bizarre relations with the Bush Regime and in the past is known to have given safe haven to a wide array of dictators and war criminals from Juan Peron to a dozen escaped Nazis.” ]

If you got the money, Honey, the music is supposed to not ever stop. NOT!

About (in)competences in office ... (and Hedges is soft about it; read: a milquetoast).

Chris Hedges' Columns - What’s Sex Got to Do With It?, Aug 9, 2008

Political leaders no longer need to be competent, sincere or honest. They only need to appear to have these qualities. The most essential skill in political theater, which has no room for knowledge or debate or trust, is artifice. Those who are most able to entertain, that is, to deceive, succeed. Those who cannot play these roles, like Ralph Nader, are pushed to the sidelines.

There are worse things done by politicians than illicit sexual adventures. Ask an Iraqi. Ask an Afghan. Ask a detainee at Guantanamo. Ask an unemployed steelworker in Ohio. But in an age of images and entertainment ....