Politics In Small Bites.

[March 26th, 2008]

Trail Mix

There are no do-overs in politics, as Democrats in Florida and Michigan at one point may have hoped. Makeovers, however, are another matter. Exhibit A: The position of U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) on the Iraq war. Exhibit B: A proposal by Smith’s wannabe Democratic opponent Steve Novick to overhaul the $20 bill. Huh?! Yes, it’s true. Novick, a candidate in the Democratic primary, says Andrew Jackson, the seventh U.S. president, should be removed from the $20 bill. The reason? Jackson was responsible for the “Trail of Tears” that killed thousands of Native Americans in the early 1800s. And who should replace Jackson, according to Novick? Sitting Bull.

DEMOCRACY LIVES : Vote now at candidatesgonewild.com for the City Hall contenders you want onstage at America’s most kickass political event April 28 at the Roseland Theater. Meanwhile, tickets are available for $4 at WW, 2220 NW Quimby St., or at the Bus Project, 333 SE 2nd Ave.

When Candidates Blog

Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley logged on to the Daily Kos last month to explain why he’s running for Gordon Smith’s U.S. Senate seat. A reader, “SensibleDemocrat,” then wrote that the two had met in Salem and went on to tell Merkley, “if I was an Oregon resident you would have my vote. (I’m from WA).”

Merkley responded: “Move now! (Just kidding, it’s too late to register). But it’s not too late to come to Oregon and volunteer for the summer. We’d LOVE to have your help.”

Then “Oregon Bear” chimed in: “Speaker Merkley, you should know that the voter registration deadline for the primary is April 29.”

Finally Carla Axtman, Merkley’s netroots coordinator, responded: “It’s 21 days before the election. I’ll make sure to mention that to Jeff. He probably already knows but was working on these comments so fast in order to get to as many as possible.”

Calendar

Wednesday March 26

Organizers are calling it “The Big One,” and this candidates’ forum fits the bill, sprawling across races for Portland mayor and city council, the Multnomah County commission and the Metro commission. There were 28 candidates confirmed to participate and possibly more on the way. Seating is first come, first served. Ambridge Conference Center, 300 NE Multnomah St. 6:30-10 pm. Free.