April 19, 2004
(Updated) Politics As It Should Be
Note: This post has been updated. Any and all updates appear at the end of the original post.
Earlier today, we made the deliberate decision to attend tonight's Candidates Gone Wild! event sans notebook. For once, we were going to watch a debate/forum without the benefit of being able to write things down.
Also, for this event, there was beer.
We've had several, and so we're not going to delve too deeply into what was learned about one candidate or another until later in the day tomorrow. For now, we'll just say what our headline says. This event represents politics as it should be.
We don't mean to say that every debate should be sponsored by Willamette Week, New Leader's Council, and the Bus Project. Or that, necessarily, there hsould be freely-flowing beer available.
What we do mean is that politics is personal. And every nook and cranny of Portland culture, every subculture, every sub-genre, should hold its own version of tonight's event, framed around how each of those disparate and varied aspects of Portland culture sees its world.
Let's see a political debate sponsored by the Schnitz crowd. Or the Peal District crowd. Or the Friends of Eagles crowd.
But not merely a debate sponsored by organizations from these realms. Events designed to reflect the cultural sensitivities of those crowds. What do you and your circle of Portlanders do for your cultural lives? Create an election debate that exists in and of that world.
That doesn't mean abandon substance. This event didn't., and we'll get into that a little later when we aren't having so much difficulty typing. Find where you day-to-day life exists, find the cultural world in which you feel most at home, and design an election event that invites candidates to come into that world and participate on your own terms.
Having said that, we are compelled to mention the intern from Commissioner Erik Sten's office, who was one of the volunteers making tonight's event function, who referenced some Utne Reader article which, as we understand it, spelled out the proper connection between beer and politics.
We can't find that article online at the moment. This may be because it isn't online, or it may be because we have a fair amount of the previously-mentioned beer in us. But if she happens to come across this item, perhaps she can help us track down that particulat article.
More later, when we are capable of maintaining coherence for more than a few moments in a row at a time.
Update
We're still having trouble figuring out what to post and what not to post about this event, but in the meantime, there's a nce healthy piece on it via OPB News you can spend some time with.
Update
Two highlights, before we forget. First, there was Jim Francesconi appearing onstage in a gorilla suit. While this explained the sign we had seen earlier which read something like "King Kong Rules," it wasn't until later that we understood that it was meant to be a joke about someone calling him this election's 800-pound gorilla.
Secondly, there was James Posey self-censoring a swear, which only prompted the hosts to force him to reveal his favorite curse word. Semi-quietly into the microphone, he dutifully complied, offering as word that for our purposes here we will define as someone who puts their mouth around a rooster.
Now that's politics.
Update
There's also a mailing list thread with some reaction, and some reader comments on the Busse campaign weblog.
Comments (11)
Kari Chisholm on 20 Apr 2004
That UTNE article is here - "This Vote's For You: Free Beer and other refresing ideas to improve this year's election and revive American democracy". Apparently, you can't view the whole article without subscribing, though.
Kari Chisholm on 20 Apr 2004
p.s. I'm not the intern.
jenny on 20 Apr 2004
didn't it just seem like a shallow pop-culture event, uninspired and nothing more than a popularity contest? ...tv babies galore... don't get me wrong, i think personal is great (and the beer, of course) and beyond the stuffy nature of politics. i had fun and a few laughs, appreciate that the selected candidates were able to not take themselves seriously in public, but the event did little else for me. this is not a reflection of my own personal political preference, but an opinion.
thanks, jenny
jesse. on 20 Apr 2004
I feel in the middle about the whole thing. I think it's great to see candidates "going wild," having fun, taking cheap jabs--basically revealing themselves.
However, if the Bus Project, et al. is trying to tell young folks to get involved in politics, they didn't give us much of that. None of the candidates got a lot of time to get their politicikin' on, share some real ideas, or get their platform accross.
My only hope: people see last night as a great insight into a candidates' character, but a terrible judge of their substance, thereby forcing them to do some research and grilling of the candidates.
Steve on 20 Apr 2004
I thoroughly enjoyed the event. In reference to the above comment, the event favored candidates who were funny, but like b!x said, having different groups sponsor events brings different audiences and shows different sides of the candidates. It also forces (certain) candidates to realize that their potential voters (and those who may vote against them) may be more diverse than the people who can afford City Club memberships.
Dunagan on 20 Apr 2004
"However, if the Bus Project, et al. is trying to tell young folks to get involved in politics, they didn't give us much of that. None of the candidates got a lot of time to get their politicikin' on, share some real ideas, or get their platform accross."
I'm guessing that's more a product of the fact that Portland often features 20-candidate races than it is a problem with BusPac.
Unless you want to sit there for six hours after the beer runs out.
jesse. on 20 Apr 2004
I have to agree with you, Steve. (The above comment.)
I actually did learn a lot about the candidates last night, maybe more than I've learned at any forum. Many of these forums are better tests of public speaking, acting abilities and pressure responses than actual explorations of policy.
Still, a few more good ideas for this city could have popped out last night.
jenny on 20 Apr 2004
jesse and steve, have you heard of brad taylor, mayoral candidate? if you've been attending the forums, you must have heard some of his ideas. he will be at the multnomah youth commission forum today from 4:30-6pm at benson high school with some of the other candidates. he's worth looking at.
jenny
M on 20 Apr 2004
OT: Judge Bearden has stopped gay marriages, and says the Oregon constitution should allow either civil unions or gay marriage. See Washington Post.
todd on 21 Apr 2004
I wholeheartedly agree with Steve's comment (above). For those of us who already follow local politics closely, it was a chance to see the candidates in a different light. Hopefully, for others, it was a chance to encourage more action and less apathy. In reference to the event lacking substance: I think this view misses the point. There was substance balanced with humor and energy. No one event will (or should) serve to totally enlighten. Rather, it should encourage citizens to actively engage in politics by seeking out other forums and sources.
pdx dem on 20 May 2004
Across America, John Kerry is holding closed-door sessions to draft a platform for his campaign. Despite the fact that Kerry isn’t officially the Democratic nominee, he meets with big-money donors by invitation only to create a corporate vision for America and pawn it off under a Democratic label. If we fail to act now, when we go to the polls in November we will be deciding between two candidates who are pro-war, anti-gay, anti-choice, and completely controlled by corporate interests. If WE THE PEOPLE allow the corporations (Heinz!) to control John Kerry like they control George Bush, we will only be sending more troops to torture innocent civilians in Iraq (and elsewhere) We will see our civil rights continue to be taken from us and the irony will be that while we cheer the demise of Bush fascism, Kerry fascism will step right in to fill its place.
Let us not be blind to the situation in front of us. We have the opportunity to show John Kerry that he can offer a different vision for America. He can refuse to bow to corporate interests. Secret meetings in the shadows should not be a part of the Democratic Party. If John Kerry is serious about creating a platform to counter the corruption of the Bush presidency, he should do it in the open and with the input of all Democrats – not just those who can afford the entry fee.
When John Kerry holds his first private Platform Hearing this Saturday at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland (http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=174-05192004), let’s show him that it is the citizens - not the corporations - that will have the final say in this election. Kerry’s website says that Saturday’s DNC Platform Hearing will address issues of Homeland Security. “From improving port security to funding first responders, Democrats know how to make America more secure. Members will hear from police and firefighters, public health officials, and community leaders about how to redress America's homeland security.”
Do we really want corrupt Portland cops forming the foundation of Kerry’s campaign? Does anyone here feel comfortable with that? We need to make sure that the first thing that John Kerry does when he gets in the White House is to repeal the Patriot Act. We may not be able to influence George Bush, but we can influence John Kerry. Oregon is going to be an important state for Kerry, and his success or failure depends on whether or not he can convince enough of us to vote for him. Let’s capitalize on our power by refusing to have our votes bought by corporate dollars. Let’s refuse to have crooked cops running not only the city, but the country as well. We need to make it clear that if John Kerry wants our votes, he is going to have to do more than barrage our airwaves with his ads.
When the DNC delegates meet in secret this weekend in Portland to rubber-stamp John Kerry’s big-money platform, let’s crash the party and tell them that our votes will cost more than a Madison Avenue commercial. If anyone knows the time that the Platform Hearing will be held, please post that here because I have been unable to find the time (yet another secret…).
We cannot allow the Democratic elite force a platform down our throats. We must demand participation in the process and a voice in the plan that will shape America. I urge anyone – Democrat or otherwise – who cares about the future of America to join with me in opposing the secretive and elitist strategies of John Kerry and the DNC.