FeedsSaturday Liveblog with Jeff Merkley [UPDATE]
Hey, everyone!
Quick blast here before I go out with the wife for a fun evening on her day off. I've been informed that there's going to be a liveblog event featuring Speaker Jeff Merkley at his campaign website. If you're not doing anything, come on down and ask him your questions!
Here are the details of the event, per the e-mail I received:
Tomorrow you have a unique opportunity to participate in an exciting event at the blog on the Jeff Merkley for Oregon website.The Campaign Trail blog is hosting a live chat in a town hall style format.
Participants will post questions to Jeff Merkley about his vision and why he's running for US Senate for Oregon. And Jeff will answer the questions live on the blog for an hour.
Here are the details:
What: Jeff Merkley liveblog Q&A
Where: Campaign Trail blog
When: Saturday, November 17 at 2:00-3:00PM*(*questions will be accepted to the Q&A blog post as early as 1:30PM so that Jeff can start answering immediately at 2:00)
Start thinking about all those questions you've been wanting to ask Jeff Merkley about what he will do as Oregon's next US Senator. Then stop by the blog on Saturday afternoon and ask him.
It should be a blast, and I can't wait to see what sort of thoughtful, provocative questions he gets asked! I'll be watching, and I look forward to seeing you all there!
[UPDATE]
I'm going to be following the Q&A down in the comments. Feel free to chime in!
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Comments from site editors have a darker background than comments from everybody else.No more talking about the wife. If she wants to post, have her make a comment.
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So, I'm watching the questions as they come in, and I'll let you know if anything strikes my fancy. I'll use this single comment as my dump for thoughts/ideas/commentary.
(1:50) A few questions start rolling in. Two about healthcare, one about the Iraq War, and one about teaching Mandarin in Oregon public schools.
(2:00) Should be getting going soon. No new questions on top of the first four yet.
(2:05) Jeff comes online and answers the Iraq war question. He supports Reid-Feingold, wants to use some major-league diplomacy, and start bringing home our men and home immediately, leaving no permanent base in Iraq. I especially like the note about making sure we support Iraqi contractors, considering the Blackwater fiasco.
Also, he quick-shots the question about Mandarin, answering, in my shorthand, "no doubt."
(2:10) A few more questions, one about Jeff's floor speech regarding the war while he was Speaker, and one asking if he would have supported the Kyl/Lieberman amendment, which named the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist org. Also, a general question on where Jeff differs from Gordon Smith.
I also submitted a question about elections, so we'll see what else gets discussed. I wonder how many questions about that speech will surface. It seems it's been discussed and regurgitated to such a degree in a few small places. Maybe a tempest in a teapot.
(2:20) Jeff bellies up to healthcare. It's wrong, he says, that so many Americans are uninsured. At the same time, he wisely notes that we need to focus on preventative medicine (as opposed to reactive medicine), which we're not doing enough of. He also takes a potshot at drug companies, which he notes are "ripping off" our citizens. Amen. And, lastly, he wants a boost to clinics, so everyone can have a "gateway" to healthcare.
And a flood of questions! Role of federal govt in college; planning & forests; Novick & capital gains tax; promote healing in the Democratic party and amongst liberals after primaries (from our own Michael); my question; another question similar to mine; banning military recruiters in schools; and, of course, what legislation would you author when you join the U.S. Senate. Should be fun!
(2:25) Jeff answers another Iraq War question, noting:
I am the only candidate in this race who published a column against using force in Iraq before Bush launched the invasion.
I am the only candidate in this race who rose to speak against the use of force two days into the invasion stating: "I have not been and am not today persuaded that Iraq was a significant threat to the United States or that the war we fight today is the best strategy to fight terrorism or the wisest application of superpower resources."
I am the only candidate in this race who, to my knowledge, has called for the Reid-Feingold amendment requiring a strict timeline for bringing out troops home.
(2:30) Where does Jeff Merkley differ from Gordon Smith? According to him, it's on ending the war, ending our dependence on foreign oil, and getting some real healthcare reform for our Country. Not a bad list.
Ha- now Jeff notes that he's amazed at the flow and amount of questions. Go everyone for being so on-the-ball with fun, important questions.
(2:35) Jeff would have voted "No" on Kyl/Lieberman. He just doesn't trust our commander-in-chief on these matters, and would have sided with Oregon's senior Senator, Ron Wyden. Moreover, he re-asserts his support for Reid-Feingold.
(2:40) A nice question on same-sex marriage rights, the Defense of Marriage (ha) Act, and Measure 36. Very interesting.
(2:45) Jeff bemoans the friends-first appointment policies of the Bush administration. Nice quote on Republicans and Government: "Government doesn't work; elect us and we'll show you!" I burst out laughing. Fantastic! What's not funny, however, is the example he sites: New Orleans and Brownie as the head of FEMA. That's just an embarrassment...
(2:50) He admits that forest policy is a mess, but that there is a potential win-win. Here's what he says:
There may be a win-win here. The challenge with thinning is that it is not commercially viable, leaving many forests choked. If we can make some serious progress on cellulosic ethanol, we might be able to change the economics and make healthier forests for both conservation and timber production.
(3:00) Jeff closes on money, asserting that the Iraq War debacle has sent our debt screaming up while also saying that capital gains loopholes needs to be tightened; that these rates should be the same as what the rest of us pay.
(3:05) It's all over! I'll hold onto my question until next time.
I really was keen to hear him re-state his positions on the war, while also being very specific about what points on healthcare he would like to see managed. What were your thoughts?
I'm going to be logging off to clean the condo. Take care!
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