I am sure that I speak for many who would welcome DeFazio to the race. Hopefully he is ready to engage the elctorate with informed decisions and an outgoing campaign that will have some real ability to speak to revenue issues, public education, taxation, land use and PERS.

The status Quo espoused by a former gov and gee shucks attitude are not going to get things done.

dont we want a real strong leader in oregon with a track record of getting things and actually being visible to the public unlike kulongoski who we actually never see and has no record of doing anything in 7 years in office?

Oregonian 37, Peter didn't say anything publicly that lots of other Oregonians in public haven't said privately about many campaigns over the last many years.

I agree with this:

"I am sure that I speak for many who would welcome DeFazio to the race. Hopefully he is ready to engage the elctorate with informed decisions and an outgoing campaign that will have some real ability to speak to revenue issues, public education, taxation, land use and PERS."

Peter would keep John and Bill on their toes (or he wouldn't be Peter) and that would bring us the intelligent discussion Oregon deserves.

As a mother of two, small business owner, and Kitzhaber supporter, I would ONLY hope that Defazio would not leave his Congressional seat -- where he can truly make a difference and has national influence with his established seniority. Why would he want to compete with a candidate who has already expressed his commitment to making Oregon great again and reforming small business health care by already announcing his candidacy? Why would Defazio disappoint us by leaving his seat open again for a Republican when John Kitzhaber is ready and embraced by his Democrat Salem peers and hard-working Oregon families like mine? The best interests of Oregonians are served if Defazio stays in Congress and John Kitzhaber is re-elected Governor.

Double hmmm. Matthew wants him out of D.C.

Glad to hear Kitzhaber is going to make Oregon Great again, just like he did 8 year ago, driving Oregon to high unemployment relative to other states, and disengaging before his term ended. Health care isn't this issue for this campaign.

what did kitzhaber ever do before ms barlow that we can throw a parade over?all he didi was tax,tax,tax,fee,fee,fee and regulate.he left us in a recession and had no passion for the job at all

In only eight years as Governor, John Kitzhaber launched the progressive Oregon Education Act, the Oregon Children's Plan, and laid the foundation for the Oregon Business Plan (as well as launching the Oregon Health Plan!) All these programs represent the innovation our state needs now to cure our sick health care and school systems while rebuilding our economy at the same time. Democrats and Republicans alike should not use political ”talking points” to criticize other candidates, but instead focus on which candidate has the most experience, creativity, and grassroots/legislative support to develop the ”greentech” jobs of tomorrow while protecting the unique beauty of OUR Oregon – a nonpartisan vision we can all share with Kitzhaber.

not use political ”talking points” to criticize other candidates, but instead focus on which candidate has the most experience, creativity, and grassroots/legislative support to develop the ”greentech” jobs of tomorrow while protecting the unique beauty of OUR Oregon – a nonpartisan vision we can all share with Kitzhaber.

But we should use history as a marker. Kitzhaber's history is not very successful. Is all experience the same? No.

And "greentech" will not employ 200,000 Oregon workers, with more future Oregonians arriving every year. I agree in general with the goals as espoused by progressives like Novick and Bradbury. But you're throwing a slogan at a problem. Talking about talking points.

The governor gets paid a lot of money and wields a lot of power. Sorry if other working-class and poor Oregonians have serious pause when we try to rush who we give that money and influence to.

Kitzhaber's made all his important meetings with the rich. The same people that move politics, it would seem, in this state, and the same people that made a killing when most Oregonians took a beating. Backdoor, greased candidates are not who this progressive wants in charge.

Well, no, actually. The Governor makes $90,000 a year

I wasn't unaware that 90,000 dollars is not a lot of money in a U.S. state at the dead median in income.

No, it's not the kind of money Gordon Smith made by scamming his factory workers, but it's a hell of a lot more than most Oregonians can ever imagine making in a year.

Then one must consider all the free lunches and dinners, all the paid for trips, all the perks and benefits that a pol like the Guv receives. Things ordinary people making 35 or 40K in a year have to pay dearly for. Skimmed from several million Oregonians, it might not hurt any individual that much, but this is only the least pro over the real juicy goal of the job--power.

correction: *was

American campaigns are too long. A year running for Governor? That should be a strike against. How about 90 days? Sounds about right to me. Could well be taken as a point in DeFazio's favor.

<h2>And it's practical. Will the Congress pass a decent, comprehensive health care bill? If I were in his shoes, the answer to that would be a whopper of a factor in whether I came home for a term.</h2>