Calling John Kroger (Jack Bog's Blog)

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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on December 11, 2010 8:11 PM. The previous post in this blog was Mmmmm... burning food slop. The next post in this blog is It would be funny.... Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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« Mmmmm... burning food slop | Main | It would be funny... »

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Calling John Kroger

Smell anything illegal here? Oh, no, wait -- I forgot -- silly me -- this is Oregon -- squeaky clean -- no corruption -- yeah, that's the ticket...

Posted at 8:11 PM | Permalink

Comments (8)

Weren't Oregon lawmakers misled about the cost and progress of the BETC, too?

Posted by jc | December 11, 2010 10:30 PM

This bill was my first introduction to the way that the legislature actually works. I was interning in the legislature when a staffer came up with the idea to establish a state wide standard for future radio purchases by first responders and state agencies.

The problem was, and likely still is, that each city, county, state agency, etc., purchase communications equipment independently. Often times, this equipment wasn't compatible with the equipment being used by other agencies which makes interagency communication in the event of a statewide emergency really problematic.

Originally, the bill would have cost nearly nothing and merely required that future purchases meet certain criteria so communications equipment would be compatible. Then the politicians got involved and the price tag on this thing got laughable in a hurry. The first week it went from near zero cost to taxpayers to $10 million and within a matter of weeks the total broke 9 figures.

I'm not sure if we're any better off now then we were then but I got a $600 million (and climbing) educational experience out of the deal. Can't say that nobody learned anything from this mess.

Posted by Pragmatic Portlander | December 11, 2010 10:47 PM

Why would Kroger investigate? This is a legitimate story, but not sexy enough to advance his political career. Besides, who knows who he would implicate that might be useful for him later.

Posted by Mike (the other one) | December 12, 2010 8:22 AM

Awww shucks Jack! This is just your every day example of people not getting whatever they want, so they start playing smoke and mirrors with the facts and figures, and...voila...they get what they want. What's truly ridiculous is how easy it is to con people whenever it comes to developing a truly honest budget for anything that needs to be built. The bigger the project, the easier it seems to be to develop a "liars budget". This is just politics as usual in the good 'ol USA. What is particularly laughable on this one is that they actually got people to believe that they would save money by having novice public employees do the work as opposed to competitively bidding it out to private contractors who have done it hundred of times before. The sad part about all of this is that lives may be lost and law enforcement personnel will be put at unnecessary risk due to the delays in completing this much needed project.

Posted by Usual Kevin | December 12, 2010 9:03 AM

Could they all just get along by friending every-'Emergen C'-body on Facebook ?

@crash #'s up, or sumpin sumpin?

Posted by Tenskwatawa | December 12, 2010 9:16 AM

Didya know ...

In September 2007, Governor Kulongoski gave Lindsay Ball (the director in charge of this mess) a 23% raise from $135,000 to $166,000. By the time he retired in August, Ball was earning more than $200,000 in total annual compensation and was one of the highest paid employees with the State of Oregon.

And that, my friends, it the top-notch type of expertise that only years and years in the public sector can bring.

Posted by Garage Wine | December 12, 2010 9:29 AM

And you folks voted to allow those "misguided lawmakers" to go to Salem EVERY year to approve this kind of stuff. Hoo boy!

Posted by cros | December 12, 2010 10:21 AM

Don't worry, I'm sure someone will get fired for this - BWA HA HA!!!!

Posted by Steve | December 12, 2010 3:40 PM

In Vino Veritas

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
Cameron, Chardonnay
B.R. Cohn, Cabernet, Silver Label 2006
Graffigna, Cabernet 2005
Palo Alto, Reserve Red 2008
Menguante, Garnacha 2008
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Felsina Berardenga, Vin Santo 1997
Anne Amie, Pinot Gris 2009
McKinley Springs, Bombing Ramge Red 2007
Vieux Papes Red
Dionysius Chardonnay 2009
Haden Fig, Pinot Noir 2009
Vega Montan, Mencia 2008
Chateau la Vernede, Coteaux du Languedoc 2007
Mount Defiance, Hellfire (White) 2008
Root: 1, Cabernet 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Pinot Grigio 2009
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 White, 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 Rose, 2007
Abacela, Grenache Rose 2009
Avia Cabernet 2004
Lemelson Pinot Noir, Thea's Selection 2007
Chateau de la Roulerie, Rose d'Anjou 2009
Casal Garcia, Vinho Verde Rose
La Ferme Julien, Rose 2008
Cana's Feast, Bricco Red, 2006
Hogue, Genesis Merlot, 2008
Owen Roe, Sharecropper's Cabernet, 2008
Kim Crawford, Unoaked Chardonnay 2008
J. Scott, Pinot Noir 2008
Edmunds St. John, White, Heart of Gold 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2006
Stevenot, Cabernet, Sierra Foothills, "Stanford" 2000
Portuga, Vinho Rose 2009
Taylor Fladgate, First Estate Reserve Porto
Franciscan, Cabernet, Napa 2006
Chaparral de Vega Sindoa, Garnacha 2008
Quinta da Aveleda, Vinho Verde 2008
St. Francis, Chardonnay Sonoma 2008
E. Guigal, Cotes du Rhone Blanc, 2007
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Noir 2008
St. Innocent, Pinot Noir 2006
Jigsaw, Pinot Noir 2007
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Indian Wells 2007
Charles Shaw, Chardonnay 2008
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Rosé 2009
Cameron, Willamette Valley Chardonnay
Il Valore, Sangiovese, Giovane, Puglia 2008
Duck Pond, Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope 2007
Kim Crawford, Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008
Domaine du Pesquier, Cotes du Rhone 2005
Cantina Zaccagnini, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006
Domaine Matrot, Chardonnay, Bourgogne 2007
David Hill, Oregon Sparkling Wine, Brut
Chandler Reach, Monte Regalo 2006
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2008
Kirkland, Columbia Valley Merlot 2008
D'Aragon, Old Vine Garnacha 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2005
Pavin & Riley, Merlot 2006
David Hill, Estate Pinot Noir, Barrel Select 2006
Castle Rock, Paso Robles Cabernet 2006
Magnificent, Cabernet, Steak House 2008
Conundrum 2008
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Saint Cosme, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
La Granja, Tempranillo 360, 2008
Santa Rita, Mendalla Real Cabernet 2006
Columbia Crest, Grand Estates Merlot 2006
Andezon, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
Collegiata, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Troon, Druid's Fluid 2008
La Granja, Tempranillo 2008
Monte Antico, Toscana 2006
Vieux Papes, Blanc de Blancs

The Occasional Book

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: 54
At this date last year: 50
Total run 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