But It was only a loan!!!

Thanks
JK

"My client merely found those drugs, and was taking them to the nearest police station to turn them in."

To use a Bush-era word, do not misunderestimate how much fun it is to sign the recall petition. My wife and I had a democracy outing yesterday, and I came away feeling exhilarated.
First, we went to the election building on 11th and changed back from Democrat to Independent. Being a Democrat was supposed to be a temporary move to vote for Obama in the Oregon primary but you know how those little errands keep getting delayed.
We then swung over to the hardware store at around 37th and Division to sign the recall. There were no posters, etc...When you tell them why you're there, they take you to an office in the back, where this nice older gentlemen breaks out the forms and answers any questions.
Walking back out, I felt like I had taken a good, refreshing shower. It was downright fun.
So to the people who will sign if someone asks them, find a place on the Internet that's handling this and make an outing out of it. You'll feel a little of that election day magic, but even more since it's outside the official two-party machine.

By the way, I noticed a new box for the Independent Party on the registration form at the election office. If you want to be an old-fashioned Independent you have to check a box saying you're not in any party. Sensing a scam, I looked up the website and here's the reason for the new party:
"Unfortunately, it is now all but impossible to run for public office as an independent candidate in Oregon. In 2005, the Oregon State Legislature enacted House Bill 2614, a law intended to keep independent candidates off of the Oregon ballot by disqualifying all Republicans and Democrats who vote (on anything) in the primary election from signing any petition for a candidate seeking to qualify for the general election.
Even more important, the same Legislature passed a law to eliminate the word "Independent" on all ballots. Before 2006, any candidate who qualified for the ballot by collecting sufficient signatures of registered voters was identified on the ballot as an "Independent." But the Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature thought that word sounded too good. After all, someone who is "independent" is strong, resourceful, and smart. So they changed the word to "non-affiliated," which instead brings to mind someone who is a loner, misfit loser."

It all tied together. This wretched, entrenched status quo must be defeated. You can see its tentacles from Washington to Sam Adams.

Maybe this humble recall launched in the backs of hardware stores, will be the butterfly's wings that leads to a hurricane of change for America.

I certainly hope so, but meantime make an errand out of signing the petition. It was fun.

Hey people, get ready. Sammy thinks he gonna get a mandate by surviving the recall. The best is yet to come. Am waiting for the next psychotic break.

My wife and I ran into a very nice volunteer on the waterfront last Sunday. We were planning an errand outing to the same effect, but ran into the aforementioned gentlemen. He was affable and did not offer any commentary other than to say that we should write Portland and not use PDX as Scammy's camp is looking for anything to invalidate a signature.

The only way it would have been better is if we were able to sign while riding the tram, or the streetcar (neither of us have ever been on either).

Thank you volunteers!

Breedlove: "I am disappointed in Sam because he decided his reputation and career was more important than mine, so he felt it necessary and appropriate to sacrifice my reputation to further his political career"

If this doesn't hint at an upcoming defamation lawsuit against Adams, I don't know what does. Adams is the gift that keeps on giving....

The so-called recall leader needs to now average 700 plus valid signatures a day....As much as I would like to see Mayor Creepy booted, it ain't going to happen.. Wurster has screwed the pooch from day one.... He should have listened to the people....

"Wurster has screwed the pooch from day one...."

Give him a break, at least he tried which is more than anyone else has done to stop the circus running CoP.

Yes, he should repay the "loan". I doubt he will though, judging by the smirk on his face in the photo.

Bill McDonald, thanks for the tip about Division Hardware. It is always a treat to go there. The gentlemen in the back room know a great deal about a lot of things that people running a hardware store should know.

Fonzi, try to remember that Portland voters are always late. That it is summer and that this summer has been enervating means that we are especially late engaging in a democratic process. Besides, there's a critical health care discourse in progress. Expect a rush near the close of the gathering period. Will sufficient volunteers be available?

David Smoot, how tall are you? That is, how many of you, laid head to toe, does it take to cross the Charles at Mass Ave?

Bill - I'm still confused. I, too, want to re-register as someone not affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties. So should I check "Unaffiliated" or "Independent"? I still don't get it.

But thanks, as always, for your great comments. And thanks too, Jack, for your posts and providing this forum. The BS at some local liberal blogs (Blue Oregon - I'm lookin at you) is getting to be too much to take.

To be what used to be called Independent you have to be unaffiliated or not in any party.
The Independent Party of Oregon is definitely trying to be the place where an Independent would go, but as usual they have a platform, etc.. on some issues. Check their website for the details.

As I remember it, Independent is that misnamed monster which propelled jug-eared computer vendor Ross Perot onto ballots in Oregon.

"Independent" is a valid political party in Oregon.

To be an independent, one must register as "Not Affiliated With Any Political Party"...NAWAPP.

Come, join us on the NAWAPP bench. Make them work to garner our support and our votes. Make them work for it.

And Bill...Thanks for pointing out that my neighborhood hardware store is the locale for me to get my signture affixed to a petition.

Bill sez: "After all, someone who is "independent" is strong, resourceful, and smart. So they changed the word to "non-affiliated," which instead brings to mind someone who is a loner, misfit loser."

To you, maybe. But for those of us who know that the "Independent Party" is a political image scam to trap the willfully ignorant, we think the clarity of NOT being affiliated with any set of marching orders from some kind of self-appointed elite associated with the NAWAPP label says it all. We don't march to some political party's label...we think for ourselves!

Thanks. I think I get it now. I'll check the website too, but it sounds like I want to be NAWAPP.

Godfry,
The part you mentioned is quoted from their website. It's not me.
I signed up for unaffiliated with any party.

I guess the whole Sam Adams affair left a bad taste in his mouth.

I signed the petition and felt great for 20 or 30 seconds. And then I realized that signers are outnumbered by apathetic, ill-informed and unregistered voters by about a kazillion to one. And then I became very sad and depressed. But still, for those 20 or 30 seconds it was totally worth it. And so much better than nothing.

While riding the bus a couple of days ago, I watched an older lady brandish a copy of the current Willamette Week and say, to another lady across the aisle: "Look! Sam Adams's wife is on the cover of Willamette Week and she wants him recalled!"

There was a stunned silence in the bus and then one voice rose, saying simply, "The mayor isn't married!"

Classic Portland understatement.

As I remember it, Independent is that misnamed monster which propelled jug-eared computer vendor Ross Perot onto ballots in Oregon.

Nope. That was the (now defunct) Reform Party. The Independent Party of Oregon was formed by petition in 2006 and formally recognized by the Secretary of State in January of 2007.