Dude is toast.

The guy's resume is loaded with empty rhetoric: e.g. "law school grad" (doesn't include failure to pass bar exam).

Tack another one onto the list: "candidate for City Council" (don't include the qualifier - "emberrasing failure to execute con job via Voter Ownded Elections - cut rate Barack Obama impersonation totally unwarranted.")

This has MELTDOWN written all over it.

Question: The City of Portland has essentially been paying for this ego trip. Shouldn't we exact some pleasure from this fool's errand? Can somebody get a petition started forcing Branam to hold a ridiculously grandiose press conference where he states is bowing out of the race based on personal considerations? Can somebody make this happen?

I think we'd at least get our money's worth then.

Additionally, I'd like to do some "consulting work" for the Branam campaign before the VOE spiggot is turned off. Here's my advice: Bow out dude, you're emberrasing yourself.

That will be $15,000 please. Make your check out to Reggie Theus. I'm in Sacto - hook me up asap.

Yet another vignette demonstrating how when idiots in government appeal to man's better nature, they pave the way for scam artists and abusers instead. From Dignity Village to MAX to Fareless Square to SoWhat ad infinitum.

The lesson learned?

Do it again...

...and again.

Jack,

In WillyWeeks "Politics in Small Bites" editorial, their list of invitees to CGW begins with (6th place finisher) Chris "Streetcar" Smith, and includes ALL SIX candidates for Commissioner #1 seat. It seems they couldn't squeeze Chris Smith into the top 3 CGW vote winners, so they decided to invite everybody. Trust me, if that stage can accomodate Chris Smith, there's room enough for anybody.

Fish and Middaugh are still the only Commissioner #2 invitees on the list (Garren and Stewart are pissed). While Tram Boy and Dozono are the only mayoral candidates invited (wouldn't want to siphon any votes from the Presumptive Primary Winner by inviting a black woman).

Rules are fungible when your advertisers support the Streetcar Mafia.