I say this as a longtime Democrat, an active member of the Democratic Party, a superdelegate to the Democratic national convention and an elected member of my county's Democratic Central Committee (in Astoria) for decades. And I STILL haven't changed sides.
But the sheer corruption on display surrounding the FTX contribution, the illegal activities of soon-to-be former SecState Shemia Fagan, the kabuki leadership of new Governor Tina Kotek and the non-action of the most politicized AG in Oregon history - Ellen Rosenblum, is breathtaking.
The greed of former Gov. Kitzhaber's dazzling companion 8 years ago that led to his forced resignation pales by comparison with what it happening today.
1) The FTX scandal is sending a lot of people to prison, and the DPO cannot return the dirty half million because they already spent it!
2) The overt politicization of the Office of SecState, which has until Kate Brown's tenure was covered in glory, from Democrats like Phil Keisling to Republicans like Dennis Richardson. Clearly, the office needs to be made non-partisan (like judges an d DAs were in Oregon in the '70s)/
3) A special state prosecutor - and a referral to the US Attorney - is a MUST for actions including, but not limited to
A) The deliberate interference with the cannabis audit by Fagan
B) the firing of the former Deputy Secretary of State
C) Accepting money to act as a "no-show consultant" for the pot empire
D) Trying to steer state policy towards true masters - the owners of LA MOTA.
The special prosecutor will need the authority to proceed across county lines, which can be accomplished by an appointment by the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. That prosecutor will need investigators, and the best place they can be plucked is from the Oregon State Police.
Thanks for reporting on this, Jeff. In the last several years we have seen Oregon decline from a pretty cleanly governed state into a West Coast version of New Jersey.
One thing that concerns me about this sleaze is the current conduct of AG Ellen Rosenbaum. She was a year behind me at UO Law, and she had a pretty stellar legal career rising through the Multnomah County Circuit Court to the Oregon Court of Appeals. (I sat as a pro-tem in Multnomah County a coupe of times and enjoyed lunch with Ellen.) What the heck happened?
Then, the other thing that I find fascinating is what appears to be the excellent reporting of Willamette Week, not known for its right wing editorial policy, on this and other issues that might be embarrassing to our "betters." Rosenbaum is married to Richard Meeker (whom I also knew from law school), who was, if I'm not mistaken, one of the founders of WW (now retired). Maybe with Richard no longer hanging around the office, WW reporters feel the can actually do some journalism that might tick off the editorial board. Who knows?
This is all a scam.
I say this as a longtime Democrat, an active member of the Democratic Party, a superdelegate to the Democratic national convention and an elected member of my county's Democratic Central Committee (in Astoria) for decades. And I STILL haven't changed sides.
But the sheer corruption on display surrounding the FTX contribution, the illegal activities of soon-to-be former SecState Shemia Fagan, the kabuki leadership of new Governor Tina Kotek and the non-action of the most politicized AG in Oregon history - Ellen Rosenblum, is breathtaking.
The greed of former Gov. Kitzhaber's dazzling companion 8 years ago that led to his forced resignation pales by comparison with what it happening today.
1) The FTX scandal is sending a lot of people to prison, and the DPO cannot return the dirty half million because they already spent it!
2) The overt politicization of the Office of SecState, which has until Kate Brown's tenure was covered in glory, from Democrats like Phil Keisling to Republicans like Dennis Richardson. Clearly, the office needs to be made non-partisan (like judges an d DAs were in Oregon in the '70s)/
3) A special state prosecutor - and a referral to the US Attorney - is a MUST for actions including, but not limited to
A) The deliberate interference with the cannabis audit by Fagan
B) the firing of the former Deputy Secretary of State
C) Accepting money to act as a "no-show consultant" for the pot empire
D) Trying to steer state policy towards true masters - the owners of LA MOTA.
The special prosecutor will need the authority to proceed across county lines, which can be accomplished by an appointment by the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. That prosecutor will need investigators, and the best place they can be plucked is from the Oregon State Police.
The level of and shamelessness of corruption in the top levels of.the democratic party would make Edwin Edwards jealous.
Thanks for reporting on this, Jeff. In the last several years we have seen Oregon decline from a pretty cleanly governed state into a West Coast version of New Jersey.
One thing that concerns me about this sleaze is the current conduct of AG Ellen Rosenbaum. She was a year behind me at UO Law, and she had a pretty stellar legal career rising through the Multnomah County Circuit Court to the Oregon Court of Appeals. (I sat as a pro-tem in Multnomah County a coupe of times and enjoyed lunch with Ellen.) What the heck happened?
Then, the other thing that I find fascinating is what appears to be the excellent reporting of Willamette Week, not known for its right wing editorial policy, on this and other issues that might be embarrassing to our "betters." Rosenbaum is married to Richard Meeker (whom I also knew from law school), who was, if I'm not mistaken, one of the founders of WW (now retired). Maybe with Richard no longer hanging around the office, WW reporters feel the can actually do some journalism that might tick off the editorial board. Who knows?