So, I happen to have come into two articles that will be running in tomorrow's (today's) Willamette Week- one on Oregon House Speaker and U.S. Senate Candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland). This article is a definite, weak swipe at Merkley and, honestly, kind of pathetic.

If the article on Merkley is a hit piece, it's an especially weak and flimsy one. In the article, the author talks about Merkley in the context of his rental business, in which he owns 10 units and derives a decent income. Throughout the piece, we are referred to specific units within Merkley's rental portfolio and described situations where his renters have endured relative hardship. One had to wait for a water heater to be fixed. Another talks about repairs to walls and screen doors that a tenant made without return compensation, but for which Merkley is not financially responsible. The articles goes on to close with a "revealing" quote from one of his tenants, who asserts that Merkley has "no management ability at all."

So, what do we have before us? Sure, it's a concern when the grass dies on his property because he "didn't pay for the water" or when a tenant needs something fixed in a timely manner. I currently rent, and it's not fun when you need something fixed and the landlord takes his or her sweet time to do it. In fact, it's downright aggravating and an inconvenience. But let's keep things in context here. Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley just finished leading House Democrats through one of the most productive sessions in recent memory, and is generally credited (in Democratic circles at least) as a strong, savvy leader. In light of that, a poorly-kept lawn might be a relatively tame complaint.

I'm a bit tired, so I can't really go on to the length I want to, but I feel like this is what it boils down to: the WWeek set out to "talk to Senate candidate Jeff Merkley's other constituents--his renters" and came back with three relatively benign complaints from three rental situations. Now, I want you to think about these complaints and then answer the following question:

What has Gordon Smith done to hurt Oregon through his lack of leadership in the Senate?

We could do a lot worse than a few blades of grass and a busted furnace.

If this is the best that the Willie Week can come up with against Merkley, I'd say that we're in a damn fine spot.

**Update Update**

My apologies: I drove for 15 hours yesterday in my return to Portland, and I forgot to post the link to this story. Chalk that one up to pure exhaustion. It is located here.

(September 13): There are some nice summary pieces over at Blue Oregon and at Taoiseach, the latter of which encourages us all to contact the Willie Week and decry this ridiculous type of "journalism."