I guess the mayor's office is bought and paid for just like the corporate boards who pay those executives who get those big dollars for bankrupting their companies.
The teeny boppers aren't the only ones being scr*wed in Portland town.
It is too bad everyone is so scared, including me. I confess I am scared to sign my real name for fear of repercussions like recurring $400 'inspection' visits to my business from the fire marshall, or other even more invasive harassment.

Adams is *counting* on being tried in the court of public opinion.

Because to him, it'll never be about doing what is right--it'll be only about doing what is merely legal.

So, I'd say to focus on whether the recall folks are anonymous or not is to play into the Adams strategy--that is, to focus on the critics, not him.

I've yet to hear a reasoned opinion in his support--they're either (a)"you're all homophobic prudish haters" or (b)"Portland needs Adams as Mayor".

neither reason addresses Adams lying. but they do focus on the critic, not Adams.

Adams is hanging on by a thread, and that thread is the implicit support of the landed gentry who have always supported him and may or may not support him come a recall campaign.

Many people are staying quiet in fear of retribution, but every day his support base narrows a little more.

The only real question is not "if" but "when" he'll lose support from the guys with the money. Then he's toast.

I don't know how many households there are in Portland, but I'll make a very crude estimate: 600K people at 3 people per household = 200K households. Let's suppose that at least 50% of the people want to get rid of Adams --> 100K households. If 10% of them pony up $50 apiece, that's $500K.

I'll be happy to make a $50 contribution. And you?

The Obama on-line fundraising effort seems rather pertinent here instead of waiting for Mr. Deep Pockets to step up.

Slate has a pretty good column on the front page about Scummy Sam.

www.slate.com

Hey, people Adams sees his support as 50-50, so why should he have quit?

I think his sense and what I get from readings his hey-boys comments, is that Sam did nothing illegal and all the soccer moms will forget it in 6 months. So at least you get the idea of what they think of you the voter now.

The idea of a fund to run a recall campaign would work and I'd contribute.

Jack, you are right as many bloggers have posted lately, Sam is in the process right now of "cutting deals with unions and developers".

Look for some interesting arrangements in the news soon about SoWhat with backscratching between Sam and the "Stakeholders". But I hope these attempts, and probably some that come to fruition, will be exposed and simply explained. The average voter doesn't know how these backscratchings occur, how they affect their pocketbooks.

With this knowledge and other things likely to come out about Sam, it will be even more very interesting for him.

What about a recall fundraising campaign ala' Grumpy Potter style ??? Place a cap on the donations ????

That type of fundraising worked pretty well for Grumpy Potter's run for mayor...

Thanks,

I am in city council meeting right now and promise to respond as soon as I can. BTW, a citizen made a great speech to day during the communications period.

I do ask that people call and put pressure on Commissioner Fritz at 503-823-3008 to place the non-binding resolution on next weeks regular agenda.

This will allow the people of Portland to speak directly to the Council and force them to act.

The best think that can happen is for Adams save us a lot of money and resign.

As always great points made in this article.

Jasun Wurster

Adams is in full pay to stay mode with as many heavy hitters he can whallow with.

His desire to stay makes him a chump in office for the taxpayers.

He's a despicable, sleazebag politician.
Among other things.

Commissionersam.com is back online, but now requires a logon id/password to post new comments.

Nixonian twist: there's no link to create a new logon id/password.

Did the "Beau B" posts survive the scrubbing?

From http://www.eff.org/issues/anonymity

Anonymous communications have an important place in our political and social discourse. The Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that the right to anonymous free speech is protected by the First Amendment. A much-cited 1995 Supreme Court ruling in McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission reads:

Protections for anonymous speech are vital to democratic discourse. Allowing dissenters to shield their identities frees them to express critical, minority views . . . Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority. . . . It thus exemplifies the purpose behind the Bill of Rights, and of the First Amendment in particular: to protect unpopular individuals from retaliation . . . at the hand of an intolerant society.

Also, can we start putting pressure on Fritz and company via a recall of one of THEM? I know she's knew, but Randy or someone has been around. What if we recall him unless he steps up?

but he could also ride out the storm and find the public willing to forgive or forget—not least because no local leaders appear eager to lead a recall push and risk the charges of homophobia.

This is the money line in the Slate article.

Oh, one more thign to think about the blog people being anonymous. If you remember, the loudest voice for reacall Sam was the Police Union.

Guess which group gets the budget cuts?

Bill, I think I have the delivery just about done:

===

Did you hear about the Beau Breedlove career ladder?

You start out as a city hall intern, and the next thing you know, you're sitting on the Mayor's staff.

Now wait, don't laugh, the Mayor has been very supportive. He's been behind Beau all the way!

I hear the job had lots of hands on experience.

Beau's resume:

Strong written and oral skills.

Jack, I see that you got a mention in the Oregonian this morning:

Metro, C2
"Adams staff reopens part of old Web site"
paragraph 9:

"Portland blogger Jack Bogdanski criticized Adams' decision to take the site private over the weekend."

While the paragraph is abominably written and typifies the failing editorial standards of the only surviving Statewide paper, it was nice to see your name in print.

It seems to me there needs to be a viable candidate to replace Sam ASAP if a recall is going to happen.......
any prospects?
Steve Novick?

When is the last time we had an actual grown-up as mayor? You oppose Potter's plan to rename Interstate Avenue, you are labeled a racist. You opine that Sam Adams lacks integrity, you are labeled homophobic. I guess that is what progressives do, they simply call you names if you don't agree with them. No wonder any recall advocates prefer anonymity right now.

I'd drop $20, maybe even $50, on an organized recall. As for Novick being mayor, I'd ask for my money back. We need a bland accountant type running the city, not another spendthrift democrat, or even "Rockfellar-type" republican for that matter.

Yeah, well asking for registration to post comments on commissionersam did not happen soon ehough apparently, considering there are several SPAM comments and even POSTS, resulting in the second link on his "recent Posts" lists (visible on the main page) to be for "Vintage Gay Porn". An unintended coincidence surely. His web staff may want to take the site back down until they can clean the database.

Hi All,

Thanks for the wealth of information in this posting and comments.

It is a work in progress but here is a response to some of the great points brought up in this blog post:

http://www.citizenrecall.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=142:response-to-bojack&catid=48:political&Itemid=41

If you have any questions you would like answered privately please email press@recallsamadams.com and one of our volunteers will reply back to you as soon as they can.

Thanks,

RecallSamAdams.com
Jasun Wurster

I have been "putting presssure" on Amanda through e-mails and phone calls to her office. She has responded back to one of the e-mails saying that she feels the Attorney General's office investigation needs to play out. To my mind, she wants to DISREGARD ORS regs. and the idea, (as other licensing boards across the state hold certain certain professions to higher ethical standards not just criminal standards)that an elected official needs to be held to a higher standard. I guess that makes her a theif for taking our money and not listening to her constituents and Sam a Liar.

I say out with them both and maybe the whole group. Keep the pressure on....

I am interested in the way our mayor has been weakened by staying on, and by the way the whole city will suffer from city players' legitimate fear of retaliation. I think that the idea of a commission meeting to air citizen concerns is a good one. By the way, what happened at the economic cabinet meeting last Wednesday? I thought it was unfortunate that Julia Brim-Edwards, who has represented the Portland School Board for many years, was scheduled to represent Nike at the meeting. It seems like a no win situation for her, given Sam Adams' conduct with a seventeen year old and his mendacity with the voters.

I would be very willing to take a leave of absence from my job and lobby for the Mayor's resignation full time; but I will require $3,500/month in salary.

I believe Mayor Adams can be recalled, but only if the AG's investigation yields new lies/indiscretions or an indictment.

Jack,

The Facebook page you refer to is done by me and I have no connection to the recall effort. I am just a person who feels Adams needs to be held accountable for his lies. I really have no idea who is behind the "official" recall effort. I just started the Facebook group to get the word out about Adams and start a group of like minded people.

I think it's a good thing to do, especially given how viral Facebook has become. I just joined your group, and think others should do the same.