At the National Conference for Media Reform 2008, Fox’s Bill O’Reilly producer, Porter Barry ambushes PBS Bill Moyers to pepper him with questions regarding his political affiliations and his “refusal” to appear on O’Reily’s show. Moyers disputes Fox’s “facts.” Mr. Barry went in to get an inflammatory piece for Bill, but ended up getting absolutely served!

“Do you call what you just did journalism?”

A clip of Hightower’s appearance. Pretty darn cool.

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Jim Hightower shares the stories of people who he says have bucked the system and are finding their own way toward a better life. He claims that corporate interests have seized American politics and government and that more people need to rebel against this trend. Mr. Hightower spoke about his book at Politics and Prose in Washington, DC.

By Leah Reis-Dennis
Published: June 2, 2008 12:00

Traditionally, the older generation has dominated politics. The 18- to 25-year-old group lags in historic voting records, leaving monumental decisions in the hands of those who may not have our concerns in mind.

Lately, however, this trend has lessened, partly in thanks to nonpartisan “get out the vote” groups such as the national Rock the Vote campaign and the Oregon-focused Bus Project. The appearance of a charismatic politician who is capable of relating to the younger set has also helped get the college crew to put down the Xbox and think about the ballot box.

Yes, I am referring to Barack Obama.

While on the streets, canvassing for Obama, I found a new kind of politics and an unknown Eugene. I discovered that politics consist of more than ballots. True, voting matters and elections eventually come down to numbers, but the process of spreading a message and uniting voters toward common goals is just as important.

I have witnessed and participated in political discussions during the past few months that have surprised me.

As a 16-year-old I cannot vote, but I can encourage my peers and fellow citizens to do so. With this in mind (and a rather empty looking community service log in hand), I set out with a friend (in lovely April hail) for our first, four-hour long canvassing stint.

After instruction from my mom to avoid kidnapping, we arrived at the Obama office, received a briefing on canvassing procedure and got our mission: knock on the doors of potential Obama supporters to get them to register as Democrats, enabling them to vote in the May 20 primary.

Hoping for an area friendly to inexperienced canvassers, we chose to walk the downtown and University of Oregon campus. Wishful thinking. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say we weren’t so successful.

While we did manage to register four people (only three of whom were on our list to begin with), we found ourselves wandering through dorms, knocking on the doors of silent sorority houses, approaching a fraternity house (from which we fled, my mom’s warning in mind), and winning an invitation into an incense-laden apartment filled with psychedelic-mushroom paraphernalia. Not the best neighborhood for two 16-year-old girls.

A month later — feeling a little more politically savvy, more confident in our ability to knock on strangers’ doors without giggling and motivated by urgency of the looming primary — we set out again. The day after Obama’s unannounced visits to Prince Pücklersand other local hot spots, the political energy in Eugene was tangible.

When we hit the streets of southeast Eugene, we received positive reactions. Our Obama shirts and stickers drew horn honks and whoops from down the street, and, in the heat, we welcomed an invitation to cool our feet in a kiddie pool.

We did hit some unusual houses. A Russian woman listened to me speak for about a minute, only to motion for a pamphlet and say, “No English.” And we enjoyed speaking with a friendly but ineligible Canadian.

But the most memorable houses we visited were those where we engaged in substantive conversation. The opportunity to connect with someone face to face, whether discussing the candidates’ health care plans or simply lamenting the sizzling temperatures made up for the unresponsive residents who blared their music in an effort to drown out the doorbell.

As we continued our trek while discussing people, politics and prom, it dawned on me that the campaign had inspired the kind of politics in which everyone, regardless of age, can get involved. We all have something at stake, especially my generation.

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Leah Reis-Dennis is a junior at South Eugene High. Submit a comment for this column, or see her slideshow.

The Eugene Police Union recently posted an ugly charicature of City Councilor Bonny Bettman on their union website, along with a counter until her last day in office (she will be replaced by George Brown, Kiva owner, who ran unopposed for her seat).

I won’t share it, since the union took it down once the Register Guard called them for comment, however the story in the RG includes more information for those who are interested.

I am very sad to see the police union’s misunderstanding of appropriate political involvement in the form of an ugly and mean spirited attack on outgoing city councilor Bonny Bettman. Of course unions should play a role in politics — it is our right to organize our labor and resources to elect leaders who will protect our right to organize and have fair working conditions.

While the Eugene police union broke no law in their clumsy ridicule of Ms. Bettman, they made a sad error of judgment. I, too, am a public employee, and I understand my union has to work with management at times to preserve the public trust in our work. When my union crosses the line, people lose trust in government and (1) oppose funding my agency and (2) fear they will be denied equal services because they may not agree with my union’s opinion (and get targeted for mean reprisals?). It is one thing to have an opinion and work to spread it through voter contact. It is quite another to use insulting and degrading words and pictures about one’s opponents.

The sad thing is I know many police officers who do not agree with their union’s actions. I hope the get involved and elect different leaders.

I understand the Eugene police union is not the first to engage in political mud slinging. I just hope that my political beliefs won’t result in worse service from them. And what about the domestic violence survivors who rely on the police to save their lives? What about the kids who should feel they can turn to the police when they run away or are lost?

Whatever happened to Officer Friendly? We need you now.

Casting a vote for the next generation
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

In 2004, Oregon and Kansas shared a last-place dishonorable mention for having the largest gap in turnout between younger and older voters. A whopping 28 percent more older voters cast ballots in Oregon that year than did younger ones. In a state with such an accomplished history of citizen involvement, that fact signaled an alarming generational shift in civic engagement. Participatory government only works with participants.

Oregon needs a plan for engaging its young citizens as voters, as volunteers, as board members and candidates for elected office. Nothing less than the future of the state is riding on it. Historically, overall voter turnout in Oregon has been a benchmark of success. And it’s no surprise that high levels of voter turnout translate into high levels of citizenship in other areas, too — from addressing flooding at Johnson Creek to passing landmark citizen legislation through the ballot initiative process.

But 2008 has been the year of the young voter across the nation, and it could be the beginning of a new trend in Oregon, as well. After two consecutive national elections with increased youth turnout, this year has seen unprecedented turnout levels in the primaries (youth turnout has doubled, tripled, even quadrupled in some states). That represents a special opportunity to engage young voters in Oregon, and for keeping them engaged beyond the election.

Oregon’s young people are poised to make a key impact in today’s primary, and it looks like they know it. So far this year, four times more young people than any other age group have registered to vote for the first time, accounting for more than half of all new registrations. As reported in a recent story in The Oregonian, this group could very well affect the state’s politics for years to come.

But the political engagement of this “millennial generation” cannot begin and end with a frenzied presidential contest. We must set our sights past November, and farther down the ballot than the presidential bubble. The cultural and institutional challenges of voter access and inadequate civic education that have for so long discouraged youth participation will persist, and they will be ours to face together.

The Bus Project is working to address these challenges through volunteer engagement and fun events such as Trick-or-Vote, young leader trainings and voter advocacy, such as support for a bill passed last year that allows teenagers to register to vote as soon as they turn 17. But as Oregonians we must also re-examine how vote-by-mail works for young voters, who move frequently. Policies to consider: same-day registration, which according to the Pew Charitable Trusts is the best way to increase participation; subsidized stamps; online registration such as in Washington state; and organized mock elections and voter drives in public schools.

And government is not the only solution. Foundations and nonprofit organizations and schools should be looking for ways to include youth engagement in their focus.

Although today’s primary will have its winners and losers, one of the winners we should be celebrating already is that more than 43,000 young Oregonians registered to vote for the first time. Regardless of the outcomes today, or for that matter in November, Oregon has an opportunity to cast a meaningful (metaphorical) vote this year — to prioritize the next generation.

We’re ready.

Caitlin Baggott is director of the Bus Project Foundation. Alex Aronson is youth vote director for the foundation.

Check out footage from the Candidates Gone Wild event!

And in a completely random, straight out of “Colbert” style interview, Randy Hammond, Portland City Commissioner sings, accuses Sam Adams of things and yells at the interviewer.

Wow…I don’t even know which direction to go with a comment on this…other than…consider the source. The female FOX anchor is blatantly going for shock value and how is a Seattle correspondent an expert on the matter?

I would love to hear people’s reactions to this! Comment below!

It is so frustrating having seen months of political news and media shape the way people vote. Pure speculation or fallacy slowly molds itself into truth. It is sad that the races are less about the issues and the personalities of the people running and more about whatever National Inquirer style snippets can be derived from the daily sound bytes.

Seeing the local and national campaign commercials now starting to run like crazy give me so many reasons to laugh, shrug and shake my head. Realizing that this is the basis for how many people will vote, I shake my head even more.

Even though it is three and a half years old, conspiracy theorists and documentary lovers should take 78 minutes out of their day and check out this video about Fox News. (Thanks to Lynn for the link!)

Outfoxed examines how media empires, led by Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News, have been running a “race to the bottom” in television news. This film provides an in-depth look at Fox News and the dangers of ever-enlarging corporations taking control of the public’s right to know.

Mia Nelson is a volunteer for Rob Handy’s campaign, a former Green Tortoise driver, and kick ass mama of two.

The upcoming election for the North Eugene county commissioner is probably the most important race many of us have ever voted in. Why? Because the heart and soul of Lane County is at stake. Commissioners Bill Fleenor and Pete Sorenson, the intellectual heavyweights on the board, are too often left spinning their wheels at the losing end of 3-2 votes on the most critical issues facing Lane County. If Rob Handy is elected on May 20 to the North Eugene seat, it will change the balance of power in a profound way. We’ve never before had this opportunity to have three progressive thinkers at the wheel. While the Eugene mayor and council races do matter, they can’t compare to the Handy-Green showdown. Nearly all the really important local decisions are made at least in part by the county commissioners.

I’ve lived here for twenty years, and this is the first time I’ve ever become involved with a political campaign.

I’ve lived here for twenty years, and this is the first time I’ve ever become involved with a political campaign. I went from near apathy to logging dozens of hours each week on Rob’s campaign. In the process, I’ve gotten to spend time with Rob and learn about his views in detail. He could not be more different from the inaccessible and unresponsive incumbent Bobby Green. Virtually every aspect of Lane County’s operations will be improved if Rob joins Commissioners Fleenor and Sorenson on the board, from land use decisions to budget problems. I encourage everyone who cares about progressive causes to pitch in and help us with this campaign. We already have 200 volunteers but need many more. We also need donations to allow us to match Bobby Green’s advertising campaign. Please stop by the campaign headquarters at 6th and Lawrence, give us a call at 484-9595, or see our website. Every single vote matters. Every single volunteer matters. Your decision to help us, or to sit on the sidelines, could mean the difference between winning and losing this critically important race.

Coming soon to a hip downtown restaurant near you: Get on the Budget! The Bus Project and Eugene Weekly will showcase the lane county budget and four candidates for Lane County Commissioner.

What do you want to know about candidates Bobby Green (incumbent), Rob Handy, Steve Sherbina and Nadia Sindi?

Come ask a question!

Wednesday, April 30th
7-9pm
Davis’ Restaurant
94 W. Broadway (corner of Broadway and Olive)
Eugene

(Davis’ is an all ages venue with food and beverages for kids and adults)