Well, I'm glad he let Rosie go. However, it's telling that he removed her, not for any number of PPB missteps (Campbell shooting, Chasse beating/killing), but rather because she had the temerity to criticize his budget in public.

As one reader told me yesterday, Adams "has a tendency to 'freak out' and become enraged when he is threatened. I bring this up because he will always lie (or do whatever is necessary) to position himself as the victim with no regard for the truth."

It's days like this that the word fubar comes to mind.

There is kind of a one-two punch in the Oregonian metro section today questioning his leadership. One by Anna Griffin and one an article on the fumbling and rewriting of the budget.

There's a third article inside about his Breedlove lie and why it isn't a felony like the lie of the West Lynn mayor.

I think the tone towards the mayor has never recovered from the scandal and he's starting to get pissy about it. He understands that there is a lack of enthusiams for him (at best) and what that means for his re-election.

Now that Rosie has been cut loose I wonder if the truth will now come to light about the "zipper down" traffic accident Mayor Adams was in last year.

As far as Adams taking over the PPB, it will be very interesting to see how it all plays out. I'm glad to see Rosie gone. Her out of touch and insensitive remarks yesterday alone warrented her dimsmissel.

Boy, Adams didn’t think that one through. He basically made Saltzman irrelevant so he has even less of a chance to get reelected. Adams needs Saltzman’s vote to further his agenda and now that most likely won’t happen.

You know even if you take out the Breedlove controversy, Sam Adams just isn't a very good mayor. He can't seem to handle the job... ...which means he'll get re-elected. It's the Portland way.

"Boy, Adams didn’t think that one through. He basically made Saltzman irrelevant so he has even less of a chance to get reelected. Adams needs Saltzman’s vote to further his agenda and now that most likely won’t happen. "

Good point, I wonder if the writing is already on the wall as far as Saltzman not getting re-elected. Maybe Adams is cutting his ties to a sinking ship...

Jack, you nailed it. The Mayor has not shown leadership, only vindictiveness because Rosie spoke the truth about the budget and briefing the Mayor.

She told him, as we all know if you read the newspaper, that the bureau was finally at full strength and to please not cut officers as the city has made significant investment in these new officers. Sam said he was never told. Rosie is fired because Sam can't be wrong.

Count the number of seasoned professionals (approx 30) Sam has fired or "laid off" because they would not go along with his mis-truths.

AND, his appointment of Reese is Leonard's choice.

Sam acts like a little kid. He is mentally unstable and vindictive. Does he actually have common sense, or is it always about Sammy?

That "freak out" comment really rings true. There are definitely times when it can be personally advantageous to create a crisis, and somebody as intellectually immature and emotionally unstable as Adams certainly isn't above an "I'm feeling cornered" meltdown.

Guy likes to keep people as off-balance and uncomfortable as he is.

so..he fires her 'cause she "disses" him about the budget and removes Dan for agreeing with her. we have not seen even the beginning of this...what's the story on Reese?

"Check mate. I win", Sam said to Sizer.

Don't worry Portland, we won't suffer from the loss of police officers. Remember this: BIKE LANES!!! WE ARE BIKE CITY USA!!!! BIKES ARE THE ANSWER!!! In Bike We Trust.

Oh, aren't you glad we aren't cutting bicycle infrastructure funding?

I'm working on a theory to chart the drama in Portland. It started when Kroger investigated Sam and concluded the envelopes of money left at city hall for Beau were just a wonderful guy being nice to a friend.
Somehow - like in that island in Lost - this catapulted Portland through a strange vortex of space and time where every number now has meaning.

These things are complicated but I think every time the number of Kroger's press releases is exactly double the number of Kate Brown's, Portland enters a period of extreme chaos or stability or both.

This happened back when Kate had 24 and Kroger had 48, and now if Kroger just cranks out 3 press releases before Kate fires off another, we'll be in another perfect cycle of 28 to 56.
According to these numbers when Kroger hits 70 to Kate Brown's 35, Sam will announce he is resigning after the pro-Sizer forces retaliate with their secrets.
Stay tuned.

Saltzman will spill some dirt on Adams in a vain effort to save his job.

Really? I imagine Dan's as pleased as anyone that he's not commissioner of PPB anymore.

I think some comments from former officer Kelly Krohn on the new chief and his past blind eye towards police brutality might be in order. The new chief used to be head of vice and maybe that's why Sambo picked him ... you the car accident.

Reese is a good guy...but he is Randy's pick. Guess who's getting the police bureau now...give it till July.

No, Mary, Sam is going to give it to you in December.

Saltzman's people will be painting him as the victim now, at least for the last six days of the election. Poor, poor, courageous Dan.

I mean January.

He wanted to be the big dog....the Mayor of this town, it's his job! He just doesn't want the bad press.

Mary's right. Sam won't keep the bureau long. He wants to get back on his top priority: schoolchildren... oops... I mean schools.

I seem to remember at one forum Mary being asked about her relationship with the mayor after her involvement in the recall effort and how she would work with him if elected, and her response was along the lines of "known him for years....we'll get along great....he's a good guy..."

That tune seems to change daily.

Mary, I hope you win and shake things up at city hall. I don't know what I'd do if I saw a competent city counselor.

"Adams "has a tendency to 'freak out' and become enraged when he is threatened."

Standard for any pathological behavior like lying AND Randy gets his way.

Sam Adams (2009) on why he gave away the Police Bureau according to Anna Griffin:

"he said it [giving away the Police Bureau] was so he could focus on his bigger priorities: Planning the city's physical future, lowering the dropout rate and putting our economy in position to rebound quickly once the national fiscal crisis passes."

Sam Adams (2010) on why he gave away the Police Bureau:

"I gave away the Bureau to make structural reforms that had gone lagging for decades. We've completed them."

I'm confused. Are we to believe that Adams somehow accomplished (a) planning the city's physical future, (b)lowered the dropout rate, and (c) put Portland's economy in a position to rebound? And that somehow he intended to run the Police Bureau all along?

Anna Griffin had it right when she said "When the pressure rises, Adams' basic tendency seems to be to fudge the facts."

I'd say it a little differently: when under pressure, Adams lies.

I'm relieved that Adams didn't pick the Nazi to be the new police chief.

I wonder what we'll all be doing on the day that Reese is fired in the midst of another scandal.

Actually Branch, I have never said that. I was asked could I work with him and I said I have known him for 16 years and as long as we can discuss how best to serve the citizens, we we'll get along just fine. BIG difference.

I am the only one on record from the beginning in this race that I supported the recall. I will not be a go along to get along commissioner but as commissioner will raise questions when needed.

Mary, I hope you win and shake things up at city hall. I don't know what I'd do if I saw a competent city counselor.

Sadly, I think if she wins she is going to find out that you follow along with the status quo or end up like Sizer.

"Sadly, I think if she wins she is going to find out that you follow along with the status quo or end up like Sizer."

Sizer was apointed and could be fired, Mary will be elected and would have to be recalled, big difference with more room to rock the boat.....

And if by some miracle we could also get rid of Fish, I think there could be a power block to stifle anything the SamRand twins come up with. That is just a fantasy right now though.

So when the next unarmed man gets backshot by a hopped up cop, you think Scam is going to take the heat?

Oh, no. He's gonna fire this hot potato to the next city councilor that he wants gone long before PPB gets the chance to kill again. The only question is if it's going to be whoever gets elected on the 18th, or Amanda Fritz.

“Oh, no. He's gonna fire this hot potato to the next city councilor that he wants gone long before PPB gets the chance to kill again. The only question is if it's going to be whoever gets elected on the 18th, or Amanda Fritz.”

That’s why it is so important to get rid of Fish also. I think Fritz would go along with the two new elected commissioners and that could change the whole composure of the city council.

the good: Finally, he does something mayoral that needed doing.
the awful: He did it for all the wrong reasons.
Still, Rosie stunk up the bureau and was awful as a leader. She was obviously just riding it out until her PERS kicks in. She'll be fine. She'll get a lot of loot every month and when you add that to the pile her hubby Noelle gets every month it's nothin' but sunshine and margaritas...

It's going to Randy. Saltzman will take the fire bureau.

Gawd this is exciting! You can't write this kind of fiction. Who would believe you?!?
The Samster is melting in front of our eyes.

I think Potter is the only Cheif in recent history whose departure was both planned and dignified.

Will Rosie claim wrongful termination? and get a big settlement ala Penny Harrington?
Mike Houze is probably at Rosies house right now...

I could not, would not, in a house.
I would not, could not, with a mouse.
I would not eat them with a fox.
I would not eat them in a box.
I would not eat them here or there.
I would not eat them anywhere.
I would not eat green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

In the infamous words of Bud Clark "Tits up" Rosie!

Yes, Sam is wretched, pathetic excuse for a mayor (and a human) and Dan is a spineless, dithering coward. That aside, it's inevitable that if the chief of police independently holds a news conference in which she calls the mayor a liar, she's going to get fired, even, or perhaps especially if he is.

Rosie was just ~10 weeks from hitting her 30 year service mark and was going to retire. . . And Adams couldn't wait?

She questioned his budget decisions in public, so he punished her.

Well, if Al M is going to start down this path:

"Will you lead the boys in blue?
Will you tell them what to do?"
"I would not lead them through these shocks.
I would not lead them with a Fox-
worth; even if their hearts were true,
Not Harrington or Sizer too.
Even though they're hanging loose,
I would not lead them with a Moose.
A Potter'd be extraordinary;
We need to hire Tom -- or Harry."

Oregonian reports two Hibbitts polls released last night -- on Kitz and Dudley leading in their respective parties. They were probably not the only ones that got delivered to their subscribers late yesterday.

Rosie was just ~10 weeks from hitting her 30 year service mark and was going to retire. . . And Adams couldn't wait?

My sense of things is that they're going to count accumulated/unused vacation/sick time against that, and let her take a full chief's salary for her pension. I think Sam's smart enough to know that she's got enough on him to make life tough if he plays cheap with her retirement like that.

You can't make this stuff up!

Time to lay off the french fries and ice cream, Mayor.

here's the REAL DEAL: Sam got a heads up
that FBI investigations into Civil Rights
abuse and Steroid abuse at PPB are going to
be rather nasty, naming names, etc. etc.
and it's like piling on the punches to an
already beleaguered fighter that is going
down for the final count, and so, he just
positioning himself ahead of the news so
as to appear to be in charge and above the
stench created by "others" (now gone) and
there will be more firings, more bad news
for our bad news boys and the clean-up will
inch along in earnest...it will get done!

Mayor Creepy will now need to hire another team of "staffers," for his increased work load. Probably in the neighborhood of 10-15?

Hey, everybody! Major League Soccer 2011!

To my fellow bloggers:
Since I now live in the Lloyd Center bulletproof jacket area my next move in this great area of the city is buying a used ARMORED TANK which will replace my current mode of transportation to commute to and from
my place of work in Gresham, Oregon. If someone even looks at me cross eyed I will take NO HOSTAGES and in the words of my hero Clint Eastwood " Make My Day ! "

Scary times. Who do you trust.

Bad Brad - 10-15 is too young for Sam - he goes for 16-17, so he can claim they're legal. Goldschmidt and Matt Hennesee are the ones who go for the 10-15 set. [sorry]

Yeah, he'll probably buy off another investigative reporter to be his police sustainability advisor....

Sorry, but that photo of Sam just reminds me of Ian Holm's portrayal of Napoleon in Time Bandits. "Dat's what I like: LITTLE THINGS HITTING EACH OTHER."

Pardon if this is a statement of the obvious.

Adams did this to give the bureau to Leonard, who has been diligently trimming his fat and shutting his mouth, and actually doing something productive about the police problem. Leonard gets Sam to choose a police chief he can work with, while simultaneously unleashing this media s***fest in the hopes of getting rid of Saltzman, Randy's biggest foe on council. (Please recall Memorial Coliseum and Lents Park fracas, and Leonard emerging as a clear loser in all senses of the word, and Saltzman having a glimmer of hero-dust on his eyelashes, briefly).

This is what's called a PR coup. Only the people involved are not friends of the citizenry.

Someone brought up Nixon. Good analogy.

Now I really need to hold up my ballot and seek guidance on Mary versus Jesse. Time to get out the i ching, or whatever it's called..

"The solitary ego that revolves around itself and feeds upon itself ends up strangled by a great cry or a great laugh."
-- Stendhal, on the Italian border, via "8 1/2"