The Oregon coast is predominantly Republican. Oregon is conservative west of the Coast Range, and east of the Cascade mountains.

The funny thing is, even the “Liberal” Wilamette valley is fairly conservative. Portland and Eugene are, to paraphrase Tolkien, the centers from which all the queerness emanates (as in oddity, not the other one). Unfortunately, they are also by far the largest population centers and like Browncoatone said, a lot of the folks here are traditionally Democrat (case in point, a friend at work who lives in Eugene, votes D, and identifies himself as a Liberal while being very much a social and fiscal conservative, albeit somewhat libertarian).

suck-up.

love it!

Hang on now, people. If it’s OK for the Republican presidential nominee, a Senator from a red state, to suck up to liberals, it’s OK for a Republican Senator from a wacky blue state. In fact, it’s even more understandable, isn’t it?

misterpeasea on June 25, 2008 at 1:51 AM

Talent hits a target no one else can hit, genius hits a target no one else can see.
- Schopenhauer

Well, others can see it too, but not the McCainiacs. Those who want to hang Smith from an old oak tree but still support Juan. Cognitive dissonance for sure.

It’s sort of a brain washing technique the Liberals use in the public schools around here. Green also lets you declare yourself distinctly Oregonian without having to boldly declare your political party.

The green color scheme with the “I’m good for all of Oregon” thing won him re-election last time around and with the Republicans in even lower polling than usual it looks like Smith is looking to distance himself from the party even further.

Oh, and he supports Immigration ‘Reform’.

Like Washington to our north, Oregon has had several efforts to sever the Liberal valley from the Conservative rural areas- the most recent began just last year.

Unfortunately, even the ‘Conservative’ areas of Oregon are overrun by Conservative, Christian, Gun Owning Democrats that view Republicans as the rich bad guys that are to blame for just about everything.

Things should be interesting here in Oregon the next few years as the Federal Timber payments have come to conclusion and inspite of decades of warning the local state and county governments have done nothing to prepare for the revenue shortfall. Most of the public services in the state will suffer between 60% and 70% shortfalls in their budgets with no idea how to make up the difference. Some counties are faced with the prospect of raising taxes 400% just to maintain current services which in many respects are not considered adequate. But not to worry! There is still a group pushing for ‘Universal Healthcare’ here in Oregon where if successful anyone who can make it to an Oregon hospital, citizen or illegal, will get free healthcare curtesy of the Oregon Taxpayer.

So he’s Hoping to ride Obama’s coat tails to get re-elected?

PappaMac on June 24, 2008 at 7:38 PM

I don’t think it’s Obama’s coattails he wants to ride.

But you folks go ahead and vote for John McCain. If he wins, it WON’T push the Republican party to the left.

Really.

Put it this way : if we were talking about the same distance from the east coast, we’d be in Ohio, heading west from New York City. Is Ohio on the East Coast?

I’m an Oregonian. My senator, Gordon Smith, is an ass.

Scribbler on June 24, 2008 at 7:35 PM

Here’s another Oregonian … agree with Scribbler and wish that Oregon had a Republican somewhere in Government, at this time we don’t. I’ve emailed G. Smith more than I care to remember, he couldn’t care less what we think, he wants to get re-elected.

These RINOS have got to go. Can’t we just start over?

NTWR on June 24, 2008 at 7:52 PM

Calling Gordon Smith a RINO is an insult to RINOs

Oregonians should know that Barack Obama supports Jeff Merkley for Senate.

And the republican party wonders why it’s on the verge of being voted out of power forever.

Does this mean Obama’s endorsing Smith for senate? Nope.

What an absolutely worthless tool. Another act in ‘Obama, the musical’ that is produced for all of our consumption.