Oregon

2008 Oregon Black Political Convention

Start: Apr 18 2008 - 1:00pm
End: Apr 20 2008 - 1:59pm

"Recognizing and using Black political action to make political change." For further info, contact oaba@peak.org. What is done at this convention to help Black Oregonians benefits all Oregonians. This non-partisan group is meeting at the Embassy Suites Hotel Portland, to discuss issues and conditions of the Oregon black community and to support candidates running for political office who are responsive to them. Actions and endorsements of this convention are not those of the OABA, Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs.

Health Care Town Hall with US Senator Ron Wyden

Start: Mar 19 2008 - 12:30pm
End: Mar 19 2008 - 2:00pm

The public is invited to attend a community conversation on health care. Our US Senator Ron Wyden is interested in hearing about your personal experiences. Pringle Hall, 606 Church St. SE, behind Salem Memorial Hospital. Call 503.459.4555 if you have questions.

Back in 2000 and 2001, when it became increasingly clear that Bush's entry into the White House was accompanied by much fraud and that he could not be called our elected president, so much as our SELECTED president, sadly most of the Democratic Party structure allowed the bloodless coup take place with more confusion than anger. Nationally, it was really only the Congressional Black Caucus that tried to object. They couldn't even get a single Senator helping them out.

On the state level only one state Democratic Party advocated that the Party refuse to accept the stolen election: the Oregon Democratic Party. All other state parties decided to accept the stolen election and allow Bush to take power without a protest. We now know what a horrible mistake THAT was, being the first of many ongoing attacks on our Constitution and our democracy and allowing the insane invasion of Iraq which we now know Bush already had planned when he stole the election.

I wrote a letter back then to my own New York State Democratic Party, urging them to stand with the Oregon state party in opposing the acceptance of the stolen election. I received a condescending reply in essence saying, "there, there...we have better things to do with our time than stand up for American democracy." In retrospect there wasn't much that the New York Democratic Party accomplished in that sad period, so one wonders what they really WERE busy doing back in 2000 and 2001 that prevented them from standing up for democracy. But they shamefully remained silent...much like the rest of the official party structure.

I am continuing my leadup to election day 2007: TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6th.

In Oregon there are two ballot measures worth consideration:

Yes on 49: Healthy Oregon

This measure tries to balance environmental and development interests. It has been endorsed by the Audubon Society of Lincoln City, Audubon Society of Portland, Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Bike. Walk. Vote., Coalition for a Livable Future, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, Democratic Party of Oregon, League of Women Voters of Oregon, Oregon AFL-CIO, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Oregon Natural Resources Council Action, OSPIRG - Environment Oregon, Sierra Club, Working Assets, AFSCME, American Farmland Trust, People's Food Co-op, Oregon Winegrowers Association, and many others. I have to say I consider this an AMAZING coalition. You can see the full list here. You can see a breakdown of what is in the measure here.

Yes on 50: Healthy Kids

Measure 50 will fund quality health care for the children of working families not covered by insurance. It will strengthen programs to help smokers quit so that thousands of adults can live to see their kids grow up, too. And it will save taxpayers millions by cutting medical costs from secondhand smoke-related illnesses and reduce insurance costs for small businesses. Supported by American Cancer Society, Oregon PTA, Oregon State Fire Fighters Council, Oregon Alliance of Retired Americans, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, Children First for Oregon, Oregon Nurses Association, Basic Rights Oregon, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, American Lung Association of Oregon, Oregon Alliance of Children’s Program, Coalition for a Healthy Oregon, National Council of Jewish Women (Portland Section), American Jewish Committee, Oregon State Public Interest Research Group, Women’s Rights Coalition, Stand for Children...pretty much everyone except big tobacco. Again, I am impressed with the coalition that has come together over this. Find out more here.