Leslie pretty much nailed it with this post. Given Saxton's special interest-fueled campaign for Mahonia Hall, the suprising thing isn't that he would be a do-nothing Governor on global warming, but that Saxton doesn't even try to hide it.

VOTE Saxton: Because global warmming's no biggie...

And yes, "warmming" was an hommage to his quest for Governer.

Kudos to Leslie for highlighting this. And I have to say, I think the Oregonian's story does a good job highlighting not just the issue, but the way energy & global warming issues are becoming dominant environmental issues.

Ted's policies put Oregon in a leadership position with regard to global warming, and/but they're also policies with ample records of bipartisan support.

Clean Cars programs were enacted in RI and MA under Republican governors. And a certain Texas Governor named George W. Bush signed a renewable energy standard for Texas utilities into law (considered one of the more effective of these standards in the country); Colorado's passed on the ballot and their Republican Speaker was a chief proponent (chief petitioner on the ballot measure if I'm not mistaken).

Indeed, the automaker/Exxon/coal positions on global warming are becoming more absurd by the day. At least in blue and purple states, they are throwing their sponsored candidates a political anchor.

Hold on tight Ron!

Saxton made a tremendous gaff with his remarks on alternative energy ["gimmicks"] and global warming. Playing to the rightwing trogs has put him way out of step with the average Oregon voter.

At this point, Ted can probably run as poor a campaign as he did four years ago and still whoop Saxton.

Maybe Saxton can run for Portland school board director in a few years when folks forget his ignorant ruminations.

Global warming is going have a horrible impact on the quality of life that my generation is leaving for our grandchildren and great grandchildren. It is hard to see this as a partisan political issue. My Democratic friends in the UAW are just as opposed to legistated mandatory reduction of greenhouse gasses as any Republican you can think of. In my opinion, global warming is an issue that should transcend political parties or positions. But then again, I will be dead by the time it gets really bad, so who gives a damn, right?

and, to R and D legislators running for office: Where do you stand on global warming?"

To those R's who still think it's not a problem, perhaps that could become a campaign issue. Would love to see the OR House and Senate taking the lead on this issue going forward.

You can't get any more "special interest" than oil companies, petroleum marketers, big automakers and would-be polluters--I wonder if any have made big donations to his campaign?

I've heard rumors of some very large contributions from auto dealers pissed that Kulongoski beat them on vehicle emissions standards. (Even though by any reasonable assumption they'll only sell cars faster since the program will force Detroit to send them vehicles with better gas mileage and the same performance.)

Someone should confirm the dirt and go public.

I'm a lobbyist for auto dealers in Oregon. I find it interesting that Oregon businesses contributing to a candidate for Governor, based on our conclusion that the incumbent Governor has not served our state well (on a whole host of issues), is considered "dirt" that needs airing. C&E reports will detail contributions to both candidates and I suspect both campaigns will have plenty of "dirty" special interest money. That is, of course, unless you are so narrow as to suggest "special interests" are only those you oppose.

My guess is that if there were a lot of C& E reports on the front page of newspapers with explanatory articles, there would be people of all persuasions who might be unhappy. When database software was new, a friend of mine did one on organizational C & Es and showed it to someone he knew who had retired. This person had not known that an organization he belonged to had contibuted money to people he didn't support.

Darrell Fuller,

Thanks for posting.

Hey Darrell--

Good thing your bosses had the good sense to invest so heavily into single-digit gas mileage SUVs and light trucks, otherwise they might not be on top and doing so well.

I'm sure dumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into the Governor's race is just the type of bold move that will keep Ford et al on top.

Global warming is a voting issue for the well-left of center. The majority of votors will not factor in global warming. Issues such as financial well being, safety and immigration are voting issues.

When I show up at a meeting that is full of Libs and moderates, I'm always amazed how many SUV's there are in the parking lots.

Don't believe me...... next time you are at a Natures in the heart of liberal Multnomah county, count the number of SUV's. You'll be amazed. Then do it again the next three times just to make sure its not a fluke.

Sit down with a cup of organic coffee and watch the drive up window at a Coffe People. Same type of numbers. Make sure to write everything down on recycled paper using a soy-ink pen.

The West Coast auto emission standards might nick some people's pocketbooks, but global warming is going to mess up people's lives in the next 10-20 years, ruin the lives of our children and grandchildren, and may very well wreck our civilization. I certainly hope that enough voters are realizing this situation to make Saxton a joke in November.

Here in Oregon, there is considerable likelihood that global warming will drastically reduce snowpacks, which will largely eliminate irrigated agriculture and cut into municipal water supplies in a way which will do a lot more than nick our pocketbooks. Other climate alterations coming along have the potential to destroy the forest products industries in Oregon (along with the forests).

If these kinds of "pocketbook" issues won't move people to support candidates who will try to slow global warming, then I guess we'll deserve what we're going to get.

With the total abdication of the Bush administration in fighting global warming in any meaningful way, it will be up to the states and localities to pick up the slack. California and the northeastern states who are part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative have stepped up to the plate. Oregon and Washington should join California in enacting a law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Saxon's position of waiting for the Feds to take care of it is clearly just a dodge given Bush's proven record of obstructionism on the issue.

Tom: Thanks for the thanks.

Frank said, "Good thing your bosses had the good sense to invest so heavily into single-digit gas mileage SUVs and light trucks, otherwise they might not be on top and doing so well. I'm sure dumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into the Governor's race is just the type of bold move that will keep Ford et al on top."

Sorry, but this shows your enormous ignorance. I represent car dealers, not manufacturers. Your local Ford dealer has little influence on what the guys in Detroit do or make (or to whom they contribute). I can also assure you that neither Ford, nor any other manufacturer, has or will "dump" hundreds of thousands of dollars into any gubernatorial race in Oregon. If they do, it will be as big a surprise to me as it will be to you. OADA will be making a relatively modest contribution to the Saxton campaign.

Dan made a great point: "When I show up at a meeting that is full of Libs and moderates, I'm always amazed how many SUV's there are in the parking lots." How true!

I've attended the last two DPO Oregon Summit conferences at Sunriver. (My nonpartisan dealer association was a sponsor, by the way.) I was so amazed at the number of big trucks and SUVs in the parking lot with Kerry and other Dem stickers that I actually took photos. I still have them.

While one could argue it is impossible to know if all the vehicles belong to attendees, there were many more D stickers on trucks and SUVs than on cars in that lot.

That's what frustrates many of us in the middle and on the right. The true believers want government to force changes on all of society while they refuse to make voluntary choices that line up with their rhetoric. I said to many people last session that only when every donor to environmental groups is riding a bike or driving a hybrid should they come to the government and starting telling everyone else what they have to do to protect our planet. "Think Globally, Act Locally" should start at home, not at the House and Senate.

If anyone would like to see a montage of the photos, I'd be happy to supply BlueOregon with a pdf.

<h2>Saxton blows.</h2>