Speaking of party leadership, word is swirling on the rightwing blogs that Walden is planning to run for Governor in 2010 now that he's in the minority.

I now predict that Kitz will run for Governor again (and win) if he doesn't challenge Smith in 2008 (which he would win too, and may be the only Oregon Dem to be able to do so).v

Jack Bog,

Don't forget that the House Democrats while at the festival were having gay sex with illegal immigrats and then later fed christians to lions.

I've spent some time with Merkley, Hunt, and Buckley, quite an impressive group. Counterpose W Scott...

Thanks, Chuck.

This entire new House Leadership Team is impressive. In fact, the whole House Democratic Caucus is amazing, as I was reminded yesterday as all 31 of us met together for the first time in Salem. What a thoughtful, energetic, experienced, diverse group -- all committed to rebuilding Oregon's schools, health care, public safety, jobs, civil rights, infrastructure, and ethics.

When you couple that team with Governor Kulongoski, the Oregon Senate, and at least a handful of very thoughtful House Republican members, it's clear that 2007 is going to be a great year for Oregon. To whom much is given, much is expected.....and we're ready to get to work.

Yay, team!

On a side note, Oberfuhrer Kos has posted about early efforts in Minnesota to replace their Republican senator with a Democratic one. No use waiting until the last minute in '08.

So... where do I go, what do I do, to get connected with the team that's working to replace Gordon "So Not a Moderate" Smith with a Democratic senator?

Beating Smith will take support from our neighboring senators to the north and south because the 4 women have safe seats and almost unlimited fundraising power. Millions of dollars of advance money will be required to convince Kitz to run, since hard-core fundraising is not his thing.

All other considerations aside, I predict that whether Gordon Smith is beatable or not will depend on the popularity in Oregon of the Democract candidate for president. If you get somebody like Hillary running, I predict that every racist and sexist moron will turn out, and Dems will get slaughtered. On the other hand, a popular Dem presidential candidate may sweep Gordon Smith into the gutter.

Stop the War Now!

Sorry Sir! I take back all Gordon Smith comments!

Before my eyes glaze over, is there anyone on the new "leadership team" that is from NW Oregon and interested in trying to help stop the LNG terminals on the Columbia River? That hissing noise you hear is (a) leaking liquified natural gas, or (b) profits for Cheney/Haliburton. If you guessed both of the above, you are correct!

Stop the War Now!

My great hope is that the new leadership will act like adults and not like whining spoiled 6-year-olds. I also hope that there will be no more of the petty and spiteful actions that have been done in the past.

With Dave Hunt, who endorsed Measure 46, as majority leader [damn, that sounds good] and Peter Buckley, who admitted that something like Measure 46 is necessary to limit campaign contributions in Oregon, as an assistant majority leader, it goes without saying that the House will pass a referral of a constitutional amendment to allow campaign contribution limits.

<h2>Right, guys?</h2>