The Most Meaningful Week

I probably should start out by saying that i wrote this first part the day that this actually happened (8/4/08):

Today’s morning discussion may have been one of the most meaningful experiences of my time here in Portland.
Jefferson Smith started the Bus Project, and he is now a presumptive Representative elect for the Oregon House of Representative. He won both the Democratic and Republican nomination in his district’s primary several months ago.
This morning Jeff comes in to talk to us about Multi-Issue Politics (we barely spoke about this). He started out by posing a scenario where we were supposed to decide whether or not a candidate should take PAC (Political Action Committee) money. I know a lot more about PACs after being here than i did before.

I write this in hindsight:

PACs are not always the evil slimy things that i previously considered them to be. There are plenty of PACs that support good causes and good candidates. In fact, this is one way in which people with little room for financial expenditures pool together resources and have a positive effect on the political process. The Bus Project has its own PAC.

Okay, all of that said, we had a discussion about this scenario. First we were given a set of conditions, then allowed to ask questions about the potential PAC donations, and finally, we were told advice that was given by different people (i.e. the only person in the House to not take PAC money, a former governor, and the campaign staff).  

As we were having our discussion with Jeff, it became more and more obvious that we were talking about him and his campaign. It then became one of the most meaningful discussions that we've had all summer. I argued against taking the PAC money. Ben Cannon (the only person in the House to not take the cash) suggested taking it because he felt like it damaged his credibility within the caucus and his ability to pay his caucus dues. My point was that if Jeff didn't take the money then there would be two instead of one, and that maybe opens the door for number three and four to do so sooner than later. We voted on the idea and the tally was 17-7 in favor of taking the money and using it to establish a "Robin Hood" PAC that redistributes the money. Jeff seemed to really be making the decision with us and our opinions seemed to really matter to him. It was great. It's very likely he's going to take the PAC scratch, but he told us that he would continue to fight for campaign finance reform and do his best to help Ben and his marginalized status.

This is how our entire week went. The following day (Tuesday, 8/5) we met with Kate Brown who is the presumptive Secretary of State elect and she had a very interesting conversation with us about electoral reform and how we would try and increase youth voter turnout as well as the likelihood that young people would actually run for office. The recurring theme that kept coming up was creating citizenry through service. Some people suggested student loan repayment, but i was rather partial to the idea of mandatory terms of service in the military or some other citizen building organization like AmeriCorps or the PeaceCorps.

It has been a very good week and i'm happy to say that i reached my goal of registering 100 voters, and i have already knocked on more than 500 doors for several candidates this summer. 

I'm starting to prepare myself for my return to Kansas. I need to get a few more ducks in a row, but the summer is quickly coming to an end. I'm kind of sad that i have to leave, but i'm excited about seeing everyone in Manhattan. 

Suicide Attempt on the Hawthorne Bridge?

Everyone has heard the nickname "Rose City," but Portland is often referred to a bunch of other names. One of the obvious ones is Bridge City. Why, you ask? Because there's a bunch of bridges crossing the Willamette River and connecting the two sides of the city. It all makes sense now, right?

On Bus Trips, we get together at the Eastbank Esplanade to have some breakfast before we all pack into the bus and go canvass for whomever wherever (today it was for Nick Kahl and Greg Matthews in East County). The Eastbank Esplanade is right on the Willamette River beside the Hawthorne Bridge. Yesterday morning we showed up there and were doing the usual routine only this time a guy decided to jump off the Hawthorne Bridge into the Willamette River. No one saw him jump except for Christina.

Quick side story: we have been discussing for days now if it would kill you to jump off one of the bridges into the river. Our conclusion was that it wouldn't kill you unless you landed awkwardly and broke your legs then drown. Are we morbid? Yes, but we're smart people and this was the consensus. Well, the verdict is in: you will not die.

The guy treaded water for something like seven minutes while the emergency vehicles showed up. We have no clue if it was a suicide attempt or a stunt, but he was definitely alive. He must feel stupid if it was a suicide attempt. The emergency operator even asked whoever called if it was suicide or a prank, and the person who called was really puzzled by the question because how were they supposed to know after the guy had already jumped and was 300 feet away in the water?

I must say one final thing. The best part of this whole event was that Ian - the Bus Project's media relations guru - was on the Fox 12 news people to get them to cover the Bus Trip seeing that they were already onsite. He was working hard to capitalize, and i'm not going to lie, it was pretty damn funny and he's the shit for trying.

I wonder if there's some link to Flugtag. Maybe that guy saw the other stupid white people dunking in the water and decided to give it a go the next day.

Flugtag

First, and most importantly, check out this website: Pandora Radio. If you like music at all, you should have a great time with that website. If you already knew about it, then why the hell didn't you tell me, cool guy?

Yesterday was Flugtag and we went there to register voters. Some people killed it. I did good for me, which is bad for most everyone else. Voter reg is not really my cup o' tea. I was shocked out how enthralled people were by watching what are basically parade floats be pushed off the edge of a "launch pad" into the Willamette River - wow, i'm just realizing that i haven't explained Flugtag in the blog. It's an event hosted by Red Bull where people build "flying" machines that are then pushed into the river. It's ridiculous but kind of fun to watch. Oh, and as a side note: the Willamette River is not clean by any means. Sections of the Willamette are still a superfund site and the federal government is arguing with whomever is going to clean it up. I hope no one gets cancer because of this little event.

Anyway, there were about 50,000 people out to watch this dunking of the mindless. I only got a handful of voters registered because every time i would approach someone they were pissed that i was interrupting them watching falling objects splash. It was so ridiculous. "I'll tell you when they're getting ready for splashdown. Just fill this card out!"

P.S.

Miles has more of a calculator brain than i do. It's awesome.

Last Thursday

Last night i went to "Last Thursday" and had a really good time. Last Thursday is a street festival on the last Thursday of the month. The people take over Alberta St. using signs and ridicule to keep cars off the street. They block off the road for about 15-20 blocks and people have several different concerts (techno, bluegrass, dark synthesized weirdness, and dance party), sell art, drink beer, and eat food. It's basically the Oregon Country Fair (see previous post) in Northeast Portland. But, more fun. There were people on stilts, a fire juggler, and belly dancers. This place is so weird. It's like a city full of theatre majors. If i didn't love it here so much, i'd really hate this place.

Bad news: my credit card expired, so i'm not really sure how i'm supposed to have any access to money.

Good news: i already bought a nifty pair of headphones (noise canceling: not Bose but supposed to be comparable except in price) and they should be here tomorrow.

This morning we had to be here early, so i've been dragging ass all morning, but we got to learn about advanced targeting. I fought so hard to stay awake during class, but it wasn't because i was uninterested. Afterward, i introduced myself to the guy doing the presentation, Kevin Looper, and told him about some of my stats background. Caitlin, our program director, told him that i want to be the next Josh Berezin. Kevin is Josh's boss at Our Oregon and Josh does all kinds of data management and cool statistical analysis. I think his official title on their website is "Data Geek." Kevin's response to Caitlin's comment was, "We're in need in that area." He gave me his card, so i will be emailing him today. It's nerdy, but i think it's a cool in, doing good work, and there may even be a little bit of money to be made. During his presentation Kevin got a call from the Secretary of State. That has to be pretty bad ass, right?

In a similar vain, all of us got offers to do PolitiCorps Year. They have to choose from whoever would be interested. The program is basically a year long term of service of what we've been doing. I'm sure that it would make me far more of an expert in some aspect of politics/campaigning than i already am. There's even opportunities to go work with other groups that are part of the Bus Federation. I explained to Caitlin that it's a must that i go back to finish my MA (see entry bellow), but she said that the offer would be open for me when i was done. Networking is the most important part of college because it is the most important part of success/job searching. Aunt Mary and Uncle Jay, look at all of these Plan Bs! Love you guys. All of you.