The O vs. Wheeler: tin foil helmet version
Portland's daily newspaper continues to pound away at State Treasurer Ted Wheeler for standing behind his "Masters of the Universe" investment advisors in their travel junket ethical troubles. The legal bills defending these birds and Wheeler's department over their alleged expense account misdeeds are now at $163,000 and counting.
But there's always more than meets the eye in an Oregon public corruption story. Why are the O and Wheeler behaving the way they are?
Let's start with Wheeler himself. Why does he stand up for the Masters? It's not as though he's worked with them for years, or is responsible for the system that they're abusing -- Wheeler basically just got there. So what are they so intent on hiding, and why does he go along? Maybe Wheeler himself has been in on the lush and extravagant junkets with the investment gurus, and he wants them to continue unabated. But that doesn't sound like him -- he's loaded, he doesn't need some Wall Street weasels to throw him a fat vacation once in a while. There's some other deal underneath this.
Now let's think about the O -- the sleepy O, that's never out front when the state's rich and powerful are committing unspeakably corrupt acts. Why the bee in their bonnet on this one? They've got two reporters working the story -- that leaves Peter Bhatia to have to go out for the office donuts every morning.
Maybe it's because Wheeler's on to some serious shenanigans that have been pulled by the Goldschmidt Gang, and he's keeping the option of blowing the whistle. Is it time to get him hounded out of office before he does something rash? The O could start with some muckraking articles. Kind of a warning shot. If that doesn't work, the Network could go with something darker. It's a dangerous world out there.
| Posted at 8:42 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (8)
I don't know whether you are right in the particulars but you sure are right to be asking the question. As always, it comes down to "cui bono."
Posted by George Anonymuncule Seldes | April 4, 2011 8:57 AM
I was thinking the same thing. Something doesn't quite smell right...
Posted by Mr. Grumpy | April 4, 2011 9:03 AM
Who are potential candidates against Wheeler in the next election cycle? What a coincidence if The Oregonian is silent or publishes glowing articles about them in the lead up. From what they're doing to Kroger and his staff, maybe the blossom is off that rose for the time being.
Posted by Mike (the other one) | April 4, 2011 9:10 AM
Follow the money? Or cherchez la femme? Or both?
Posted by Allan L. | April 4, 2011 9:16 AM
If Wheeler is loaded, sore spots could be down a layer or two -- conflicts or potential conflicts between Wheeler's personal masters and the state masters, won't look so good if there are intersections among them.
Posted by Newleaf | April 4, 2011 10:22 AM
Maybe it's because Wheeler's on to some serious shenanigans that have been pulled by the Goldschmidt Gang, and he's keeping the option of blowing the whistle. Is it time to get him hounded out of office before he does something rash? The O could start with some muckraking articles. Kind of a warning shot. If that doesn't work, the Network could go with something darker. It's a dangerous world out there.
Your last paragraph - food for thought.
Have wondered about Wheeler's mix up in this.
What is with the O lately? Reporting on matters that have laid silent for years, such as the local water issue as well?
Maybe the O is getting ready to promote Earl as the next Mayor?
Are insiders planning to promote him as the "savior" of our city now?
Do not want to see bow tie Mayor for the next four years.
Has been a great disappointment in Congress.
Am not in favor of any of the familiar names the insiders might be placing to further their agenda. We simply can no longer afford the same as usual.
Posted by clinamen | April 4, 2011 10:51 AM
Wow, says in the investigation background that the people involved would not be fulfiling their duties if they did not play golf.
How exactly does one get one of those jobs?
Living in western New York State I thought we had the most corrupt government in the U. S., and now I have to rethink that position.
Posted by Sid F | April 4, 2011 1:13 PM
http://portland.daveknows.org/2010/07/24/july-26-history-pub-dark-rose-organized-crime-and-corruption-in-portland/
July 26: History Pub: “Dark Rose: Organized Crime and Corruption in Portland”
Portland Corruption!The title of the intriguing sounding July 26th, 2010 edition of History Pub at the Kennedy School Theater (5736 NE 33rd) is Dark Rose: Organized Crime and Corruption in Portland:
In the mid-1950s, Portland’s dirty laundry was aired for the whole nation to see, when The Oregonian broke the sensational story of organized crime rackets, Teamsters Union involvement, and corrupt law enforcement officials, using information provided by the city’s infamous crime boss, James B. Elkins. Quickly, Portland was made the debut case in the U.S. Senate Committee investigation of racketeering by union officials in cities around the country. No less than Robert F. Kennedy oversaw the proceedings.
The presenter is Robert Donnelly, Professor of History at Gonzaga University, and author of the forthcoming book, Dark Rose: Organized Crime and Corruption in Portland, Oregon.
(Robert Donnelly’s book sounds like it visits the same topics covered by longtime Portland Journalist Phil Stanford in his entertaining book Portland Confidential: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Rose City)
Don't know if book covers current on-goings, if not, certainly material for another book.
According to link below, title will be released June 1, 2011
http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Rose-Organized-Corruption-Portland/dp/0295991119
Posted by clinamen | April 4, 2011 3:27 PM