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Obama Continues Western Dominance

Nearly one third of Oregon’s population participated in Tuesday’s primary that could have laid the final stepping stones for Sen. Barack Obama to take the Democratic nomination for president.

Obama’s victory in Oregon give the Illinois Senator a total of 1,961 delegates out of the 2,026 needed to secure the nomination.

And while nearly 1 million Oregonians turned in ballots for this year’s election, a study by NewWest.Net reveals some of the reasons more than 2 million citizens in the state did not turn in a ballot.
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Obama With Early Lead

More than 1 million Oregonians are expected to have cast their ballot by 8 p.m. tonight, marking the highest primary turnout in the state in two decades.

At least 800,000 people used the vote-by-mail election format as of Monday. And because it’s human nature to wait to do anything until the last possible moment, another 250,000 are expected to drop of ballots before tonight’s deadline.

At Bend’s county elections drop station a swarm of motorists steadily pulled in to hand over their ballots. Among them was Ben Severson, 27, of Bend, who said he had planned to vote all along but simply hadn’t gotten around to doing so.

“I saved on a stamp though,” he said. [more]

Polls Show Obama With Slight Advantage

Although many are predicting Tuesday’s primary in Oregon as the last stepping stone for Sen. Barack Obama to clinch the Democratic nomination, the most recent polls show he is leading Sen. Hillary Clinton by only four points.

Insiders from the Obama’s campaign have been targeting May 20 as a day to declare victory in the Democratic race. Is it possible? Yes. Is it going to happen? We’ll know within 36 hours.

I can tell you one thing for certain, it’s very, very interesting living in Oregon as the climax of the political volcano gets ready to burst. Everywhere, and I’m talking about grocery stores, laundromats, coffee shops, bars, parks and everything in between, talk bubbles about Clinton and Obama.

“He’s got it in the bag.”

“She’s going to surprise some people, I can tell you that.”

“Did you hear Chelsea Clinton was in Bend at the Pull, Pedal, Paddle race?”
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A Ball Of Sturgeon

I’ve got a new challenge for all those people who think they’re hardcore by diving into a body of water during the winter just so they can be a part of the Polar Bear Club: Take a dip into the Columbia River’s sturgeon ball.

Now that, my friends, is living.

During recent winters fisheries biologists have discovered an estimated 60,000 sturgeon - some of them 14 feet or longer - hanging in one massive group below Bonneville Dam. No one is certain why the sturgeon are congregating in a literal mountain of fish, but can you imagine swimming through such a wild assortment?
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The sea lions found dead in the Columbia River May 4 likely died from heat prostration while they were trapped in cages set up to keep the creatures from eating salmon.

The National Marine Fisheries Service announced Wednesday afternoon that more conclusive results may be available once studies of tissue samples taken from the dead animals are completed, likely within ten days. Original assumptions as to why the sea lions perished were that poachers shot the animals as they sat defenseless in cages.

Today’s announcement blemishes the fact foul play was involved with the death of the six sea lions.

Read today’s NOAA report here. [more]

So Strange. So True.

An Oregon man was arrested Monday at a campaign event for Hillary Clinton after he attempted to pass his business card and speak gibberish to the candidate’s husband and former president.

And to top it off, the man arrested lives on McCain Road. Seriously.

According to police reports, Thornton Massie Tice, 63, was arrested following the Clinton rally in Astoria. After Tice tried to hand Mr. Clinton one of his cards he began "talking weird.” Police then arrested and questioned Tice who, as it turns out, had a warrant for a parole violation. It’s worth noting at this time that Tice himself is running for president of the United States.

Tice told The Daily Astorian this morning that he is an independent candidate running for the presidency of the United States. He said he wanted to give the business card to Clinton because he wants the Clintons to serve on his Cabinet if he is elected. [more]

Where, What And Why Can Oregon Help

As Oregon continues to be focused in the spotlight of national politics, renewable energy, global warming and other environmental issues remain the hot topic.

Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, spent time at Vestas wind-technology plant near Portland Monday afternoon. While touring the plant with its workers, the media and several Oregon politicians - including Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski -McCain said global warming issues “demand our urgent attention, especially in Washington.”

Last week both Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama were in Oregon touting renewable energy. All three candidates are now speaking consistently about how important fossil fuel reductions and alternative energy resources will be in the near future.

The problem is, not one of the candidates is addressing the fact that not all Oregonians are in favor of the current means of production involved with creating renewable energy resources. [more]

Riding Green In Ashland

A southern Oregon town already known for its eco-friendly citizens picked up a nearly naked member to join its cause.

A woman who notoriously rides her bicycle through communities wearing a hemp G-string and flower-shaped pasties to promote living “Green” has decided to settle in artsy Ashland.

Jennifer Moss, 32, decided to move from Ojai, Calif., to Ashland because her new town is “known for performance art.” To prove her point, Moss confirmed with Ashland police that public nudity is not a crime within the city’s limits. She then stripped off all her clothes and did a naked handstand outside the police station. Then she rode her bike naked through the city streets.

Ashland, welcome your newest performance artist. To catch a glimpse of Moss, click here. And to find out how Moss celebrated Easter Sunday, click below.
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Two Weeks To Oregon Primary

Be prepared Oregon political junkies, you’re bound to ingest vast amounts of information regarding Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton during the next two weeks.

And if that won’t be enough to satisfy your political receptors, how about a little Ralph Nader to boot?

All three candidates have announced they will visit Oregon before the state’s primary on May 20, and in the case of Nader it’s tough not to ask “why, man, why?” [more]

Trappings To Be Suspended

Both state and federal officials are taking a step back this week from their bid to protect salmon by capturing sea lions on the Columbia River.

The move comes after six sea lions were shot dead in traps designed to capture the creatures for transfer to Sea World parks. The shootings are under investigation, but it is believed that someone shot the sea lions late Saturday night.

It’s difficult to comprehend why someone would want to blow away a caged sea lion, and it’s downright creepy that they would do it in the dark. [more]

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