Novick-Merkley battle in Oregon tonight
By scarce Monday May 19, 2008 7:45pm
The Oregon Democratic Senate Primary today between attorney Steve Novick and state House Speaker Jeff Merkley is also noteworthy, as it pits an "insurgent" candidate (Novick) against the democratic establishment's choice. Rumors are the DSCC will pour millions into the race should Merkley win to go against republican Gordon Smith in November, as they did for Claire McCaskill in Missouri in 2006. Novick has countered with concerts by Pearl Jam and others next month at Madison Square Garden to give him the money needed. Polls show an extremely close race, a virtual toss up.
Steve Novick has become well-known for his self-deprecating and funny off-beat ads which make light of his physical disabilities while highlighting what he's done to overcome them. Chris Matthews is certainly a fan.
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Let me guess...we like Novick because he's the "insurgent", but we hate Matthews because he sometimes says things we disagree with ... so even though Matthews was very complimentary of Novick, we are now going to fill the comments with anti-Matthews rants ...
Nice Left Hook! :)
1 Bob Roberts Says: Let me guess…we like Novick because he’s the “insurgent”, but we hate Matthews because he sometimes says things we disagree with … so even though Matthews was very complimentary of Novick, we are now going to fill the comments with anti-Matthews rants …
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No, let me guess:
There are no cats left in your neighborhood to torture to death so you come here and share your meandering diatribes with the general population.
What's your problem xoites? Can't stand people who disagree with you? Must reduce all comments to personal insults? Wow...with tactics like that, you're really "defending the Constitution".
It's easy to say who I'm for... Steve Novick!!!
Bob Roberts @ 4:
That's kinda what you get when you go to a party-biased blog. No point in fighting human nature.
So the DSCC will not pour millions into the campaign if Novick win? Reason? Novick is not the party establishment. WTF
Hmmm...If upstart Obama wins the nomination for Pres. then the DNCC with like thinking will not fully support the non-establishment nominee.
Man I am getting so sick of political head in the sand, or is it ass thinking.
I just don't get why people hate matthews so much??
Sure he says silly things I don't agree with all that much but he genuinely appears to be pretty down the middle. He doesn't come across as left or right. he really does seem to be nonpartisan with his reporting.....am I missing something?
alfie @ 8:
Prior to about a year to a year and a half ago, he was a big time pro-Iraq War/Bush cheerleader. I think two things happened since then that's changed him:
-- The Dems won back Congress in 2006, showing that public opinion is swaying away from the GOP, and he's sort of "following the ad money" based on viewership.
-- He's been hanging out with Keith Olbermann. I don't know if the previous has to do with this, or he just happens to hang out with KO as a co-worker.
I voted for Novick. I trust people who have a sense of humor - it shows they understand nuance. I have nothing against Merkley personally, but my aim is for as much change as possible.
Either one should be able to bump Smith off come November. What we need in Oregon is more focus on House positions for Dems.
I was in Oregon last year, and spent a few days with the Merkley campaign.I shot his "announcement" video, you can see on his web site.I found him to be about the most sincere, and intelligent candidates
I've met, and no I was not paid for that opinion.I live in NJ, so I had no idea who he was.
The best jokester the Republican party can come up with is Huckabee doing a lousy joke about Obama. This is a message for all Republicans. YOU NEVER WILL BE FUNNY BECAUSE IT DOES NOT EXIST IN YOUR DNA.
Marcinema @ 11:
Medford Tim @ 10:
Two interesting perspectives. I watched them debate and listened to a second on OPB. My take is that either would have a very tough time defeating El Gordo. Merkley, while likable, was terribly non-committal on local issues (for example, whether or not to allow the Warm Springs Indians to build a casino off their reservation in the town of Cascade Locks--his position was simply, "I don't know."). He didn't come off as in command of facts.
Novick, conversely, had a iron-clad grasp on facts, and he has a sense of humor, but he's got kind of an acid personality. He's quick with an insult. Gordo is very polished, wading in money, and playing every side of the fence--as he typically does about 15 months before a re-election bid. A lot of people in Eastern, Central and Southern Oregon like him. He'll be tough to knock off--that's probably why Kitzhaber didn't bother getting involved. *HE* might've been able to unseat Smith, but it would've been a hell of a bruising race.
Poor Matthews was so "glum" early this evening when Hillary was winning Kentucky. Hope he perks up when Oregon comes in for Obama.
Matthews was making his "the world according to Matthews" statements that were ridiculous. It would seem he could just say "congrats".
the smart voters will vote against merkle, I will never vote for DCCC DSCC or DLC again.
alfie @ 8:
maybe you have missed a whole helluva lot.
alfie @ 8:
OK, I'll play nice.
go here http://mediamatters.org/action_center/matthews_monitor/
CoIntelPro for Democratic Party Victory @ 17:
oooohhhhhh I see...he is not a guy have followed or paid attention too until recently and he seemed alright to me......now I see.
I voted for Novick, but either Novick or Merkley will kick Gordon Smith out -- his time is past.
Zlad! @ 19:
I wish that were true, but in my opinion neither can or will beat Gordo.
Either one will beat Gordon Smith. He's very vulnerable and the way things are going for Republicans this year he's toast. By changing his view out of political concern on the Iraq war he has upset many republicans. Smith has even gone on record to say that to continue the current policy in Iraq "may even be criminal".
I haven't paid close attention to the sniping back and forth, but I voted for Merkley. Based on their websites and their blurbs in the voters' pamphlet. I liked both of them, though.
Too bad Steve didn't make it. He's a true progressive that wouldn't put up with the bullshit of the Democratic Party bullshit that is Pelosi, Reid, etc. Merkley isn't bad, but he'll carry water for the Dems at the expense of true progressive ideas.
I voted for Merkley because Novak seemed too crazy out there for me.
I think Gordo is on his way out too. Only reason he's there in the first place is the democrats had a bottom of the barrel candidate running against him.
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