Can Gordon Smith (R-Oregon) be convinced to jump from R to I or D?

[Alexander]

Snowe and Collins are impossibilities at this point, from what I've gathered. While Craig Thomas might step down for leukemia treatment, Wyoming law demands that he be replaced by a Republican in that case.

But Smith is fairly centrist for a Republican (particularly a Mormon Republican), he represents a pretty liberal state, the rest of his family (the Udalls) are Democrats, and he supports gay rights and stem-cell research.

If any Republican jumps, we don't need Lieberman's votes. And I'd prefer to have a Republican with a conscience jump parties than wait around for the grisly scenario of someone dying.

[stevedeshazer]

1. No.

And make no mistake, Gordon Smith is a hard-right conservative.

And this Oregonian is going to work his ass off to make him unemployed in January 2009.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

2. I'll help you. I gave it my best shot in '02, but

Oregon didn't have the candidate or the blueness going on.

Gordo puke puke is a hard RWer who votes 95% of the time with the repugs. Fuck him & the horse he rode in on saying that he's a moderate.

[stevedeshazer]

6. It is a myth that he is moderate in any way, and thanks for the backup

He has made exactly two, very calculated after-the-votes-were-counted political ploys, first voting against ANWR drilling knowing full well that it was gonna lose anyway to secure some political capital among the uninformed that he was pro-environment, and second, he took a stand against a divisive anti-gay statewide ballot measure that failed, and then flip-flopped.

Gordon Smith owns a frozen food company which was slapped with some of the biggest pollution fines in Oregon history.

He's never seen a Bush tax cut for the rich he didn't vote for.

He supports an anti-flag burning amendment.

And the state's most prominent newspaper, the oregonian, just loves the shit out of him, and enables his image as a "moderate".

Take it from this lifelong Oregonian: Gordon Smith is a phony moderate. He is as right-wing pro-corporation as they come.

If the DNC and DSCC have any brains at all, they will go after the Pea Packer big time in 2008, because this guy is vulnerable. Come on, he's the only Republican Senator from the West Coast, save Alaska (actually, I think Alaska could be saved, too, but that's another post).

He's all good hair, good teeth, bad policy.

[Alexander]

3. In that case, who would be the best replacement for him?

I'm thinking Peter DeFazio but since I don't live in Oregon, maybe a native has some better ideas.

[stevedeshazer]

7. Peter DeFazio would beat him, hands down

Peter is as progressive as they come, and he regularly wins Oregon's Fourth District by over 60%, which is pretty conservative (loggers, farmers, fishermen) aside from the city of Eugene.

He would have overwhelming support in Oregon if he ran. I hope he does. I'd volunteer if he did.

[Poll_Blind]

14. DeFazio is such a truly nice guy. His heart and mind are in the same...

...place: our corner. I'm very thankful for that. Every now and again you'll spot him cruising around downtown Eugene (where I live), on foot. Strolling leisurely, with a lady who was pointed out as being his wife. On the occasions I've been somewhere he was a few people will approach him and chat a bit.

  Most everyone else is smiling broadly at him.

  I wish we had more like him. America could use it. And he's a damned good legislator.

PB

[stevedeshazer]

15. All that is true

He's a hell of a fiery speaker, too.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vWKURQn0CRM

[0rganism]

17. one problem is keeping the house seat if he does

as you point out, he's winning in a district with a lot of conservative hardliners, same with Hooley except she pulls it off without Eugene.

[stevedeshazer]

18. True, I don't know who would take his place, maybe Vicki Walker?

That works for me.

http://www.vickiwalker.com/

[Ediacara]

8. I've heard DeFazio mentioned a lot as a potential candidate

And I think DeFazio is the one that'll end up sending Gordo packing.

[Pastiche423]

13. A couple of years ago

I personally asked Pete if he would run for the Senate. He told me, No, I like where I am and can do more for the people as their rep.

As good as he is, I would miss his communication w/his constintuents if he were to run for the Senate.

Gordo turn Democrat? :rofl:

Can anyone tell what good Gordo has done for the people of Oregon?

[stevedeshazer]

16. Pity he won't run

But I agree, he's a great Congressman building seniority. :)

[AlinPA]

4. Are there strong Democrats in Oregon to go after Smith? I am not familiar with

the politics there, except I know the people in OR are more enlightened than much of the US (except maybe CA)especially on environmental issues and on voting, with the mail-in.

[stevedeshazer]

9. See post #7

Oregon has serious budget problems and plenty of anti-tax right wingers but by and large there is a contrarian, independent streak in favor of environmental preotections.

Vote by mail is a no-brainer. You have more than two weeks to vote, there's a paper trail, and you can verify that your vote was counted. Why this system isn't used nationwide is a mystery...unless you're a Diebold executive or a Republican operative.

[LWolf]

5. No Way. Smith will not swing any other way.

I hope we can replace him when the time comes.

[Richard Steele]

10. I say we make an open offer: Any repub who switches gets all of Lieberman's toys.

KEEPING THEM will be subject to Democratic review and up/down vote
once a month.

[Old and In the Way]

11. Harry Reid should offer Sue Collins the DHS chair to jump.

Now wouldn't that be interesting. A double insult to Jumpin' Joe. :rofl:

[Blue Belle]

12. No... not even close.

I'd take votes from Lieberman over Smith any day. Smith votes with his party 9 times out of ten, and even when he appears to take a stand, he'll either rescind his position or the issue won't come to a vote for some reason. He's not going to have a job come 2008 if I have my way.

[0rganism]

19. What your original post points out is how successful Gordo's PR has been

at painting him as a moderate. It's going to be an uphill battle against a conservative media avalanche to show voters otherwise.

[BlueIris]

20. In a word: no.

The man is a "conservative" (read: homophobic, misogynist, war-loving, land-raping hypocrite) to the core. He also has no conscience or integrity, though he is excellent at faking the persona of a decent human being who simply "sees things a little differently than Democrates do."