Remember, Oregonians, your senator Merkley is a DEMOCRAT...

[grasswire]

....and reliably will vote as a progressive, in the interests of the American people. Always.

[F4lconF16]

1. Um...

So is Wyden. And he clearly doesn't work in our interests.

Being a Democrat doesn't mean crap. It's a political association with the establishment party. Doesn't have a thing to do with the actions most of our Democrats today take.

[gratuitous]

6. I really don't know what Wyden is thinking on this

There's a short interview with Wyden and DeFazio in the current issue of Willamette Week. DeFazio sees the TPP through the lens of NAFTA, remembering quite well the promises of side agreements on labor and the environment; promises that were not kept, and that resulted in allowing U.S. capital (in DeFazio's words) to "dump the toxics out the back door and exploit people for their labor."

Wyden seems to think that there will be adequate environmental and labor considerations in the TPP, and maybe there will be (but you can color me highly skeptical). But anyone who takes that position curiously elides over the enforcement mechanism. If a company is turning its manufacturing plant into a toxic toilet, who stops them? If a company is working 12-year-olds 60 or 70 hours a week for a dollar a day, who is watching that and do they have the power to intervene? I haven't heard anything from Wyden or anyone else advocating for the TPP how that will work.

[F4lconF16]

8. He's angered a lot of people back home in Oregon because of this.

I know my dad will not be supporting him again.

A good analysis of the two, thanks.

[Bluenorthwest]

2. Who do you think elected him? Oregonians. From scratch.

What I think is of far more interest is the sometimes good, sometimes not so good Senator Wyden, also a Democrat elected by Oregonians. I'd like to see him replaced in a primary next round, when Merkley won I really liked second place Steve Novick as well. We have many choices on hand for an effective upgrade....

[F4lconF16]

3. What do you think of DeFazio?

I'd like to see him in the senate.

[99th_Monkey]

4. DeFazio seriously rocks

I used to live in his district. Always spot-on, always calling for
equal justice for all, always willing to confront evil in high places.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. DeFazio is great, and he knows how to win elections.

He's as honorable a politician as I have ever seen.

[F4lconF16]

9. DeFazio for President!!

[Punx]

14. +1

[grasswire]

10. love DeFAzio.

Fearless.

[Punx]

13. I Have Genuine Respect

For Peter Defazio. That is a rare thing for me when it comes to politicians. His is the only picture of a politician I keep at work. Just a little fundraising card of him and his family.

He has been very consistent on trade and tells it like it is. Just my opinion as well, but he comes off as down to earth and not greedy and cares about people. Unfortunately I can't see him challenging Wyden. Would have to be someone like Brad Avakian, our labor commissioner here. A very pro-labor guy and someone I supported against Representative Bonamici in the Democratic Primary for my district.

[grasswire]

7. my point exactly

Wyden broke my trust this week. I have always supported him up to now. He sure is getting beat up on his FB page.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. I was fairly brutal with him myself. Not on Facebook.

Not that I'm surprised really, he's very free trade oriented and that's always been one of my issues with him. Very few Democrats voted for CAFTA, for example. Hillary Clinton didn't. Ron Wyden did. And so forth. He is often as pleasing as he is infuriating but this is a big much, this one.
And we have a bench. Our bench has a bench. Replacing him is in fact possible. Maybe he will vote against it in the end, one can hope. I don't think he will. But one can hope and write really strong letters and such.

[Pastiche423]

12. I do not agree

At the last town hall meeting with Merkley I listened very carefully to the questions he was asked and the answers he gave.

I was quite disappointed that he gave only "politician" answers or, iow, lots of words but no answers. Then it was my time to ask a yes or no question. It was:

"Will you vote yes or no on fast tracking the TPP?"

His answer? "l/jcvsonbd4fvmlpuiogvxcsafewrb,L:jifdxzx."


Not a yes or a no in that word salad.

Also, I have been receiving megavote since 2002, so I have on record how all of my reps stand on issues.

Merkley does not always vote progressively.

[Punx]

15. Merkley was fortunate

To be up against a crazy Neurosurgeon last fall (Monica Wembley). What is it about Republican Neurosurgeons that brings out the crazy?

He really didn't have to stand on anything. However he did not vote "yes" to end debate on the TTP vote yesterday.

[grasswire]

16. did you read his campaign literature in the voters manual?

I did. He ran as a Democrat -- a populist. Hell, The Oregonian spanked him because he ran on Democratic values.

[Punx]

17. Honestly

No I didn't, but I didn't need to. He was an easy vote, and you are correct he did run as a populist. I listened to him talk on the radio quite often. Was also familiar with his work in Oregon before going on to the US Senate.

The Oregonian, not surprising. Contrary to popular belief, the Oregonian is not a liberal paper. Very pro business and anti worker, at least the editorial page.