Viewer - Live chat with Oregonian editorial board about future of state GOP

Live chat with Oregonian editorial board about future of state GOP

Wednesday November 14, 2012

11:56

The Oregonian:

Welcome to The Oregonian's live chat on the state of Oregon's Republican Party. Erik and Mark will join us in a couple of minutes, but you can go ahead and submit questions and comments now. Once we get started, there will be a short delay between submission of your question/comment and its appearance in the chat.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 11:56 The Oregonian

12:00

Erik Lukens:

Hi, and thanks for joining the chat. Mark's editorial on GOP Friday received something like 380 comments, which is unusual for an editorial.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:00 Erik Lukens

12:00

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Is there frustration among Republican bigwigs that Mult Co. views don’t represent rest of state yet GOP can’t win statewide office because of Mult Co.?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:00 Guest

12:01

Erik Lukens:

There has to be. Take a look at what happened to Knute Buehler, the GOP's secretary of state candidate...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:01 Erik Lukens

12:01

Erik Lukens:

Here's a very moderate guy running against a flawed incumbent, and he only got 20-something percent of the MultCo vote ....

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:01 Erik Lukens

12:02

Erik Lukens:

Take out Multnomah County, and he would have won.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:02 Erik Lukens

12:02

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

It seems to me that the story line is "Republicans lose in Oregon" and instead you're running "How can we help Republicans become relevant?" Why is the Oregonian giving advice to ANY political party?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:02 Guest

12:02

Erik Lukens:

Well, it's in the best interest of everyone to have to viable parties ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:02 Erik Lukens

12:03

Erik Lukens:

and the structure of the edit - giving advice - is really just a way to talk about why it is the GOP isn't doing so well. It's partly to spur discussion ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:03 Erik Lukens

12:03

Erik Lukens:

among readers, which is exactly what happened in this case.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:03 Erik Lukens

12:03

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

In states like Oregon and Washington, is the only real problem for the GOP its social positions? Jettison those and does the GOP become the majority party?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:03 Guest

12:04

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

But if one of the parties is completely out of touch with a majority of voters, why is it YOUR job to help them with their marketing?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:04 Guest

12:04

Erik Lukens:

Guest: On the out-of-touch question, I think it's a good idea to discuss why the party didn't do so well for other reasons than to help the GOP with its marketing....

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:04 Erik Lukens

12:05

The Oregonian:

All lines are open. While Erik and Mark are typing away, go ahead and send in more questions and comments.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:05 The Oregonian

12:05

Erik Lukens:

Hundreds of thousands of Oregonians are GOP members, and the party - like the Democratic Party - has certain values and concerns ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:05 Erik Lukens

12:05

Erik Lukens:

that cut across party lines. Fiscal restraint, in this case, is an important one, I think.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:05 Erik Lukens

12:06

Mark Hester:

Guest: Social issues are a big issue for the national party. The problem in Oregon, much moreso than in Washington, is that GOP candidates with moderate social views have trouble convincing voters that they are different from the national party.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:06 Mark Hester

12:06

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Actually, this makes perfect sense, given that the only group of people more out of touch with voters than the Oregon GOP is the Oregonian Editorial Board.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:06 Guest

12:06

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Editorials have long been viewed as a place for opinion -- but I've never before seen it turned into an advice column. Do you think that's an appropriate use of this page?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:06 Guest

12:07

Erik Lukens:

Guest: As for the difference between opinion and advice, there isn't much of a difference. We give Portland City Council and lots of other elected folks advice all the time. We don't even charge them for it.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:07 Erik Lukens

12:07

[Comment From Your MomYour Mom: ]

What are the other reasons?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:07 Your Mom

12:07

Erik Lukens:

Your Mom: What are other reasons for what? Thanks.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:07 Erik Lukens

12:08

[Comment From Your MomYour Mom: ]

Erik Lukens: Guest: On the out-of-touch question, I think it's a good idea to discuss why the party didn't do so well for other reasons than to help the GOP with its marketing....

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:08 Your Mom

12:09

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

What is the linkage between the Republican social agenda (abortion, etc.) and its free-enterprise economic agenda? It’s never made sense to me that the two go hand in hand in our politics.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:09 Guest

12:09

Erik Lukens:

Your Mom: I think it's important do discuss the GOP's woes largely because I believe some of the things that the GOP candidates who lost (I'm thinking about Buehler here specifically) care about ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:09 Erik Lukens

12:10

Erik Lukens:

are some of the same things that even voters in places like Multnomah County care about, from sound fiscal management of government to election reforms like the top-two primary ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:10 Erik Lukens

12:10

Erik Lukens:

and even including the competent operation of the Secretary of State's office.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:10 Erik Lukens

12:10

Mark Hester:

Guest. There isn't a linkage between GOP social views and its free enterprise positions. They are appealing to two different constituencies. That's not unusual. Democrats also have constituencies with conflicting views. However, in recent years the Democrats have done a better job of focusing on core issues and keep intreparty disagreements behind closed doors.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:10 Mark Hester

12:11

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

"Part of the party's problem is it does not have a coherent brand in Oregon. Absent an identifiable local brand, opponents can simply substitute the national brand -- which Democratic political action committees effectively boiled down to anti-choice, pro-rich." So, your argument here is that the Republican Party needs to stop being the Republican Party?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:11 Guest

12:12

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

You talk about voters in Multnomah County as if they aren't real voters. "Erik Lukens: Take out Multnomah County, and he would have won." In other words, "take out all of the people who didn't vote for Buehler, and Buehler would have won." The bigger question is this: When will the Oregon GOP realize that their platform alienates a majority of voters in Oregon?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:12 Guest

12:13

Erik Lukens:

Guest: Re. Multnomah County. Well, Multnomah County voters clearly do matter - look at the results. I took them out as a way of indicating the incredible influence of Multnomah County at the polls ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:13 Erik Lukens

12:13

Mark Hester:

Guest: No. The Republican Party needs to allow candidates to differ on some issues. It doesn't make sense for a Republican in Alabama and a Republican in Oregon to run on identical platforms. The states are quite different.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:13 Mark Hester

12:13

Erik Lukens:

and also its divergence from the rest of the state as a whole. You could

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:13 Erik Lukens

12:13

Erik Lukens:

argue that the GOP is at odds with the state, which is why it loses so often, but you could also argue that Multnomah County is at odds with the rest of the state.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:13 Erik Lukens

12:14

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Oregon GOP needs a fresh face for governor and/or senator. Buehler might have been it if he’d won. Who do you see coming up who could be GOP’s standard-bearer?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:14 Guest

12:14

Erik Lukens:

Guest: Re. Oregon GOP. I don't think Buehler's done. What's so intriguing about him ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:14 Erik Lukens

12:15

Erik Lukens:

is his moderation and his independent streak. He gave money to Kitzhaber in 2010 ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:15 Erik Lukens

12:15

Erik Lukens:

supports - or supported - election reforms the major parties don't like, and as far as I know ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:15 Erik Lukens

12:15

Erik Lukens:

he's not to wrapped up in divisive social issues.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:15 Erik Lukens

12:16

[Comment From guestguest: ]

the GOP has struggled for 10-15 years advancing our free market economic message in Mult county.................we have lost most large corporate employers and have attracted very few new employers that did not have some agreement with local government........tough for the GOP to penetrate this local mindset

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:16 guest

12:16

Mark Hester:

Guest: But the party needs someone in the Portland metro area. That's why the losses by Eyre and Lindsay were such a big blow to the party. I wouldn't write them off, either. Eyre could be a very could state treasaurer candidate if Wheeler runs for governor. Not sure whether she's interested, though.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:16 Mark Hester

12:16

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Is it possible to make fiscal conservatism palatable to Oregon voters? Why has that been such a tough sell here?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:16 Guest

12:16

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Buehler lost by a bigger margin than Rick Dancer.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:16 Guest

12:17

Erik Lukens:

GOP: Re local mindset. I have no answer to your comment but to agree. Eventually, though, everyone who owns a house and/or has a job starts caring about the cost of government. So you would think, anyway.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:17 Erik Lukens

12:17

[Comment From shonzberriesshonzberries: ]

Do you think that people like Grover Norquist have hamstrung the Party as a whole?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:17 shonzberries

12:17

Mark Hester:

Guest: Considering the votes on statewide tax measures through the years, I think fiscal conservatism already is palatable to Oregon voters. Other issues are the problems. In addition to social isssues, the environment.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:17 Mark Hester

12:18

Erik Lukens:

shonzberries; I don't know if it's Grover Norquist who's hamstrung the party as much as its tendency, at least at some level, to cling to positions on divisive social issues that most people ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:18 Erik Lukens

12:18

[Comment From Outside MultnomahOutside Multnomah: ]

I would like to see The Oregonian due a serious analysis of the two Oregon voting patterns. There is a lot of resentment in many parts of the state outside of Multnomah County toward matters that affect the entire state but which many people feel they can't influence due to the D-block voting in Multnomah. It has affects on taxes, social spending, legislation due to the resentment.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:18 Outside Multnomah

12:18

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Multnomah County isn't at odds, it's just where progressives converge. What are you suggesting, that we should be voting by land mass?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:18 Guest

12:18

Erik Lukens:

don't support and that can easily be demagogued at the state and local level. Just look at Avakian's ridiculous charge that Bruce Starr might support the GOP's views ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:18 Erik Lukens

12:19

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Basically, you just said "The majority of voters is at odds with the minority of voters." How do you sleep at night?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:19 Guest

12:19

Erik Lukens:

on abortion. This was a race for the head of the Bureau of Labor and Industries!

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:19 Erik Lukens

12:19

Mark Hester:

Outside Multnomah: We've devoted a fair amount of attention to the urban-rural divide through the years and will continue to do so. I grew up in a rural area. It's a personal interest of mine.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:19 Mark Hester

12:19

[Comment From MarcMarc: ]

I realize I'm not here to answer questions, but the fiscal conservatism is a good part for me. I just voted against the national party and their policies. I have seen what the GOP did in other states after 2012 and I couldn't risk that happening here.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:19 Marc

12:19

Erik Lukens:

Marc: What did the GOP do in other states that turned you off?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:19 Erik Lukens

12:20

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

People who have kids, aging parents, and a community they belong to care about funding schools, funding senior services, funding infrastructure that small businesses need. The GOP is on the wrong side of those issues. That's the bottom line.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:20 Guest

12:20

[Comment From shonzberriesshonzberries: ]

Fiscal conservatism is popular in Oregon. But the GOP hasn't actually stood for fiscal conservatism for quite some time now. Agree?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:20 shonzberries

12:20

Erik Lukens:

Guest: Regarding issues like schools. The GOP isn't against those things. They might do things differently than Democrats, but everyone values good schools etc.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:20 Erik Lukens

12:21

[Comment From Outside MultnomahOutside Multnomah: ]

It seems, the O's columns are written more from an urban perspective when discussing the urban-rural divide. Perhaps a new approach when the next stories are done?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:21 Outside Multnomah

12:21

Mark Hester:

Shonz: To a degree I agree with you. But that's more accurate about the national party. In Oregon, the party hasn't had a chance to show what it would do.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:21 Mark Hester

12:22

Erik Lukens:

Outside Multnomah: Not sure what you're referring to on the urban/rural perspective ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:22 Erik Lukens

12:22

Erik Lukens:

but I've written some editorials about Clackamas County that sympathize with the Clackamas majority's concerns about Multnomah County and Portland.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:22 Erik Lukens

12:22

[Comment From guestguest: ]

a good example of the challenge the GOP faces...............funding govt services is not sustainable without a vibrant and growing private sector, the tax environment in Oregon is so uncompetitive with neighboring Washington..............

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:22 guest

12:23

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Will Oregon be a true purple state again anytime soon in national elections?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:23 Guest

12:23

[Comment From troutbumtroutbum: ]

Does the Oregonian consider itself a conservative newspaper?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:23 troutbum

12:24

Erik Lukens:

troutbum: We really don't ask ourselves whether we're conservative or liberal. On some issues, we tend to be somewhat conservative (taxes and spending come to mind) ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:24 Erik Lukens

12:24

Mark Hester:

Guest: It depends on who the national candidate is, but for a Republican to compete in Oregon, he/she would have to be a charismatic moderate.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:24 Mark Hester

12:24

Erik Lukens:

and on others we tend to be pretty liberal (gay marriage comes to mind). We are criticized at different times from people at both ends of the spectrum.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:24 Erik Lukens

12:24

[Comment From Outside MultnomahOutside Multnomah: ]

Lukens: I understand that you don't. It is a problem you don't see in your own writing perspective...not you particularly but almost all the O's columnists who write about the subject.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:24 Outside Multnomah

12:25

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

"Erik Lukens: Guest: Regarding issues like schools. The GOP isn't against those things. They might do things differently than Democrats, but everyone values good schools etc." Great, then why don't you start your "advice letter to the Oregon GOP" by telling them to come up with a realistic, concrete plan to raise money for our schools? They could start by ditching their current strategy, which is that if we cut taxes for the wealthy, the money will trickle down to everyone else.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:25 Guest

12:25

Erik Lukens:

Outside Multnomah: I don't have anything to do with Steve Duin's column (he wrote about Clackamas recently), and the opinions expressed by David Sarasohn and ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:25 Erik Lukens

12:26

Erik Lukens:

Susan Nielsen are their own. You should know, though, that three of our five editorial writers live outside Multnomah County ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:26 Erik Lukens

12:26

Erik Lukens:

two in Washington County, and one in Clackamas.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:26 Erik Lukens

12:26

[Comment From MarcMarc: ]

I lived in Florida previously. Risk Scott won the office with 50.5% of the vote and has acted as if he had a mandate from all the state. He has limited private sector unions, cut education funding, and signed over half a dozen bills on abortion. When the voters said let's have nonpartisan redistricting, he used state money to block the voters will. He won a 50% +1 election and not goverened with the concern for the 49%.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:26 Marc

12:26

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

You're pointing to criticism from both sides as a point that you're unbiased. Others would point to that as proof of shoddy journalism.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:26 Guest

12:27

Erik Lukens:

Guest: re. criticism. Our editorial page has been criticized at different times for being too liberal or too conservative ....

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:27 Erik Lukens

12:27

[Comment From Outside MultnomahOutside Multnomah: ]

Question: often the O advocates for moderate Republicans in its editorials, but never seems to call for moderate Democrats. Just curious, why is that? Not a gotcha question, it is a serious question.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:27 Outside Multnomah

12:27

Erik Lukens:

This is the nature of opinion pages and indicates nothing about the quality of the work on them.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:27 Erik Lukens

12:28

[Comment From Guest 2Guest 2: ]

Do you think that Oregon Republicans are fundamentally mis-positioned on clean air and water issues? Would Republicans would be well-served to offer a competing view of how best to protect the environment?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:28 Guest 2

12:28

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

I'm starting to see a trend here among you and others that if the GOP could just lose its social issue baggage, it could win on their fiscal positions. But. Guess. What. The Economy was the #1 issue in this election, and the Republicans lost on it--because a majority of voters doesn't trust that the GOP's fiscal positions will help anybody but the rich.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:28 Guest

12:28

Erik Lukens:

Guest 2: Re. clean air etc. Generally, I think Republicans are more inclined to consider the costs of clean-air and clean-energy and clean-water proposals ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:28 Erik Lukens

12:29

Mark Hester:

Outside Multnomah: We love moderate Democrats and endorsed them in the election. Tobias Read, Jeff Barker and Mark Hass are three examples.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:29 Mark Hester

12:29

Erik Lukens:

and weigh them more heavily (than Democrats, anyway) than their environmental benefits ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:29 Erik Lukens

12:29

[Comment From shonzberriesshonzberries: ]

Is the theory of supply-side economics now a bedrock principle of the GOP at both state and national levels?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:29 shonzberries

12:30

Erik Lukens:

and I tend look at such things in a similar fashion. So, no, I don't think they're necessarily positioned badly. Protecting the environment is important ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:30 Erik Lukens

12:30

Erik Lukens:

but it's also good to have a job.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:30 Erik Lukens

12:31

Mark Hester:

Shonz: I think it's an oversimplification to call all Republican economic proposals supply side. Certainly, Republicans favor keeping taxes as low as possible. But I think particularly in the wake of the election, you'll see more flexibility from some in the party.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:31 Mark Hester

12:31

[Comment From Guest 2Guest 2: ]

In May, the editorial board wrote that the state would be better served by a stronger field of statewide GOP candidates. Who are some examples who fit this definition?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:31 Guest 2

12:31

[Comment From guestguest: ]

back to the GOP..............GOP.tax reform in Oregon could be to duplicate the Washington tax code and regionalize the Pacific NW economy................liberals do not understand how Washington attracts and retains so much capital and income production with a 0% tax rate................Oregon could learn alot from our neighbors

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:31 guest

12:32

Erik Lukens:

Guest: Re. Washington's taxes. You are correct in a general sense about Washington's tax structure ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:32 Erik Lukens

12:32

Erik Lukens:

which is attractive to entrepreneurs and the wealthy. However, it's also ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:32 Erik Lukens

12:33

Mark Hester:

Guest: As I mentioned earlier, Katie Eyre would be a strong Treasurer candidate. The party's problem is it doesn't have obvious choices in the Metro area beyond that. HIllsboro Mayor Jerry Willey is intriguing, but I have no idea whether he has statewide ambition.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:33 Mark Hester

12:33

[Comment From Outside MultnomahOutside Multnomah: ]

Hester..the point is that editorials often call for moderate Republicans...yet the State via Multnomah County leans left...so why not call for more moderate Democrats to broaden the work that gets done in Salem?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:33 Outside Multnomah

12:33

Erik Lukens:

much more regressive than Oregon's (sales taxes, no income tax). Oregonians simply aren't that thrilled about changes that make Oregon's tax code less progressive ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:33 Erik Lukens

12:33

Erik Lukens:

and that creates significant problems, as it's hard to change Oregon's tax code without making it less progressive. We're in sort of a progressivity trap here.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:33 Erik Lukens

12:34

Mark Hester:

Outside Multnomah: I think we have done that, at least indirectly. Certainly, we favor the concept.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:34 Mark Hester

12:34

[Comment From shonzberriesshonzberries: ]

Is it the GOP's position that "having a job" and "protecting the environment" are mutually exclusive positions?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:34 shonzberries

12:34

[Comment From splinterpickersplinterpicker: ]

For me there are three key issues. The rabid anti tax views of the R's, the entirety of their social politics, and their stance toward labor. Class sizes are pushing above 35 kids in a class room, mental health help for those in need is nearly non existent, and the list could go on and on. They seriously need to dump the hate politics of God, guns and gays, or they will never be relevant in the metro area.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:34 splinterpicker

12:34

Erik Lukens:

shonzberries; re. having a job. I haven't seen that position on the party's platform! I think it's a matter of where you draw the line. Both parties care about jobs and the environment.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:34 Erik Lukens

12:34

[Comment From shonzberriesshonzberries: ]

Can you provide examples of R economic proposals which are not supply-side?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:34 shonzberries

12:35

The Oregonian:

Mark and Erik are going to be here a few more minutes. Send in your last questions and comments now.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:35 The Oregonian

12:36

Mark Hester:

Shonz: I wouldn't consider enterprise zones to be supply side. Nor would I consider reducing government regulations on business to be supply side.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:36 Mark Hester

12:36

[Comment From Guest 2Guest 2: ]

In response to the environmental question: Most Oregonians believe that we can have both good jobs and a healthy environment. My sense is that a lot of moderate voters who'd be open to voting for a GOP candidate agree with Mayor Bloomberg's frustration that the modern GOP just doesn't seem to be taking issues like climate change seriously. Allen Alley, for example, doesn't believe in man-made climate change, despite his reputation as a moderate within the party.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:36 Guest 2

12:36

[Comment From Guest 2Guest 2: ]

Thanks for doing this chat, btw.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:36 Guest 2

12:37

[Comment From guestguest: ]

Erik.......I would argue low and middle income folks in Washington have much more take home pay than in Oregon to then spend .................our 9% income tax rate starts at a very low threshold of income and this really hurts lower income Oregonians

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:37 guest

12:37

Erik Lukens:

Guest 2: I don't know what Allen Alley's views on climate change are, but I would just reiterate that the GOP and Dem parties differ mostly on where you ought to draw the line with respect ...

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:37 Erik Lukens

12:37

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Since you're running the GOP now, who are you going to put up for Gov and US Senator in 2014? That's less than two years away!

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:37 Guest

12:37

Erik Lukens:

to the costs of regulations and their assumed benefits.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:37 Erik Lukens

12:38

[Comment From shonzberriesshonzberries: ]

Isn't it true that many R's don't believe in science, but put their faith in the Lord and the Christian concept that the earth was created solely for man's use?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:38 shonzberries

12:38

[Comment From Outside MultnomahOutside Multnomah: ]

Lukens: " two in Washington County, and one in Clackamas" on editorial board

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:38 Outside Multnomah

12:38

Mark Hester:

Guest: We might suggest things the party needs to work on, but we don't try to pick candidates. Clearly defining what the state party stands for is an essential first step before deciding on candidates.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:38 Mark Hester

12:38

Erik Lukens:

Outside Multnomah: That's correct. I'm the Clackastani.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:38 Erik Lukens

12:40

[Comment From Outside MultnomahOutside Multnomah: ]

Lukens" two in Washington County, and one in Clackamas" if you think that provides a rural perspective you need to get out more....chuckle. Seriously, how about someone from east of the Cascades or Southern Oregon?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:40 Outside Multnomah

12:40

Mark Hester:

Shonz: I would say "many" is too strong. Certainly, evangelicals are an important Republican constituency. But, contrary to stereotype, many of them believe in science and climate change. In fact, resistance to climate change probably is stronger in the business wing of the Republican party, because of the impact of some of the solutions. And that's the real issue - how to address the problem.

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:40 Mark Hester

12:41

[Comment From splinterpickersplinterpicker: ]

Do the R's have any viable candidates for state wide office waiting in the wings?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:41 splinterpicker

12:41

Mark Hester:

Outside Multnomah. I grew up in rural Mississippi and Erik spent the past 14 years in Bend. Does tha help?

Wednesday November 14, 2012 12:41 Mark Hester

12:41

Erik Lukens:

splinterpicker: Re candidates. I don't know who the Rs have waiting in the wings.