Optimizing McCain--Free and Easy Widgets!

Wyden's Hostage Siege on HCR Ends; Reid Agrees to "Free Choice"
As you may have heard, Senate leadership have agreed to support a scaled-down version of Ron Wyden's "Free Choice Amendment," which would attempt to open up health exchanges to those who currently have employer-based health care, but would wish to switch: As part of an agreement hashed out at the end of the Finance Committee mark up process, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) will join forces to amend the Senate health care bill with Wyden's "Free Choice Act." If it can attract 60 votes, it would give low- and middle-c

Tax Fairness Opponents Get Double-Blow from Courts on Ballot Titles
It's not been a good week for those who are trying to build opposition to the tax fairness bills passed in the Leg last year and now referred to January's ballot. In two separate rulings at both the lowest and highest levels of Oregon's court system, teabagging plaintiffs who had sued for a change in the ballot titles were dealt strong rebukes--all but ensuring that the original (or even improved) titles will remain intact. Our friends at Yes For Oregon have the details on both. First, their statement on

Live Blog with OLCV's Isaacs on M66/67, NOW!
A quickie: right now (4pm) the new head of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Jon Isaacs--late of the victorious Merkley for Senate campaign--is conducting a live blog on Measures 66 and 67. Why would an environmental advocacy concern take the time to talk about tax fairness? Isaacs has already responded: These measures will preserve our environment for future generations by preserving funding for vital environmental programs - -clean air monitoring, clean water protection, investments in renewable energy, reducing pollution. all of these things req

Wyden in Trio Urging PATRIOT Delay...and Rushes the Senate Chamber!
The O carries a story from this afternoon describing a trio of Democratic Senators who are seeking a slowdown on the potential extension of some of the more egregious USA PATRIOT provisions otherwise set to expire. (Betcha didn't know the Act's title was actually in acronym form, didya? It's short for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism...Act.) Along with Russ Feingold of Wiscosin and Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois is our own Ron Wyden, who--compared to his stance on healthcare--is well out in fr

Blazers Update: On the Road, Punking the Chumps But Not 2Nite
Fans, we're nearing the end of the first extended road trip of the season--which has seemed awfully long already, even though only seven of the first dozen have been away games. I think it's just the newness of the season, getting only a couple of home-cooking games at a time before being subjected to those crazy pre-7pm starts when they go on the road. In any case, tonight's early rematch with Atlanta's Hawks proves to be the sternest test yet for this still-young and changing group of ballers we call our own.  Everything and nothing rides on the game, if you can parse that odd concept: the Blazers are 4-0 so far on the trip, and any time you go out for more