Where the deer and the watermelons play....

Carla Axtman

Shorter East Oregonian:

Okay Merkley, we didn't vote for you but we're stuck with you. Your Eastern Oregon satellite office can't be in Pendleton because Gordon Smith might have to look at it when he comes into town for his latte. Wyden and Walden have dibs in LaGrande. So its off to Hermiston for you, son.

  • Tide (unverified)
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    Still trying to figure out the point of this post.

    OK, I've got it. I think the point Carla is trying to make here is that it's a very slow news day and she 's veeeery defensive about all things Merkley.

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    Or the point could be that the East Oregonian is utterly over-the-top in defense of Smith..and throws away perfectly good editorial inches on telling Merkley to open an office in Hermiston..?

    Its a complete disservice to their readership, especially with all the other vital issues in Oregon at-large and in the region.

  • Weston! (unverified)
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    Merkley should set up shop in Weston, OR. It's even smaller than Hermiston, and there's probably an available storefront in "downtown" Weston.

    It's also a "major" manufacturing center of fine frozen foods. Merkley would do well to put an office there.

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    he should have his office in Burns.

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    I think Sen. Merkley should open an office in whichever city he feels he can be most accessible to the people of Eastern Oregon. He is one of our senators - whether the East Oregonian likes it or not.

  • Eric Parker (unverified)
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    Hermiston would be a good choice. The city is a lot more active than Pendleton is on a daily basis even though Pendleton is the county seat of Umatilla County and has that big horse manure and dust show they put on every September.

    Maybe if Merkley sets up shop in Hermiston, the citizens of that town could finally have the clout to wrestle away the county seat away from Pendleton. They have been trying or conspiring to do that for years.

  • jonnie (unverified)
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    Does it matter if he even sets an office up in Eastern Oregon? Since it doesn't matter, perhaps he should have chosen Troy.

  • Ten Bears (unverified)
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    How 'bout we just give Pendleton and LaGrande to Idaho?

    Better still, let's just take Idaho for Oregon, and ship all these bozos off to Israel, they love it so much.

  • Bill Bodden (unverified)
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    Merkley should set up an office in Pendleton - across the street from the East Oregonian's office with a statue of a hand with middle digit erect pointing at the editor's window.

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    LOL - I second Bill's suggestion.

  • Idran (unverified)
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    @Ten Bears: Hey, not everyone over here is a Republican. Just because we're a red region doesn't mean you should just write off the entire area like that. I'm an Athenian myself, and despite where I might happen to live, I'm just as much a Democrat as anyone in Portland; I really don't appreciate the assumption there, and that sort of attitude doesn't help turn this part of the state any bluer.

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    I think Merkley should put his office wherever it makes sense to put it in order to reach his constituents in that area of the state.

    Regardless of blue or red, people living out there have the same needs and issues with our federal government and they deserve an office - whether the East Oregonian likes it or not. If Pendleton is the place that makes the most sense, that's where the office should go. If Gordon Smith doesn't like it, that sounds like a personal problem.

    These local offices are important. I worked in one for a U.S. Congressman, and it's that office that helps people feel they truly have a connection to their member of Congress. More often than not, people would write the office closest to them - even though it was the DC office that was more often than not listed in the newspaper listing and on correspondence that went out of the office.

  • Peter Hall (unverified)
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    <h2>I want Merkley in Baker City. And let me work there. I need the job.</h2>

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