Oregon's Senator Wyden not your average D.C. Politician (Portland: sales, consignment)

[JimBaker488]

Ticked off by Washington's failure to tackle big problems? Spare a moment for Oregon's senior senator. Mr. Wyden is the Democrat who in December had the audacity to team up with House Republican Paul Ryan on a proposal to reform and strengthen Medicare—the entitlement that is pushing the country, and seniors, off a cliff. As bipartisan exercises go, this was big, thoughtful, promising.

Moderator cut: copyright issues

Strassel: The War on Wyden - WSJ.com

What a rare member of the US Senate. Incurring the wrath of his own party, Wyden actually teamed up with a leader of the opposition, Republican Congressman Ryan, and is trying to do something about our most out-of-control Entitlement program. Kudos to the Senator !

[Nell Plotts]

Wyden follows in the tradition of Wayne Morse, Richard Newberger and Mark Hatfield. All Senators who cared more for the people than party and we knew that when they were elected.

[hamellr]

Even though I didn't vote for him, I'm proud to have him as a Senator. It seems pretty much everyone we send to Washington has a good head on their shoulders.

[yellow4yield]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

Wyden follows in the tradition of Wayne Morse, Richard Newberger and Mark Hatfield. All Senators who cared more for the people than party and we knew that when they were elected.

I have noticed that with many politicians in Oregon or those sent to Washington DC. Not all, but many tend to "do the right thing". What is best for the people.

Pretty smart governors, mayors, etc. in Oregon who tend to get along with others quite well.

Portland once had a mayor who was a small bar owner. He was a hoot!
Bud Clark - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here he is "flashing" - Expose Yourself to Art...
Consignment Sales - Photographic Image Group (http://www.photographicimage.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=620&step=4 - broken link)

[Nell Plotts]

Bud Clarke is a smart guy. Don't let the 'bar owner' mislead you. He was a Reed College dropout (as was Steve Jobs), his wife a symphonic violinist.

I was at a social function when Frank Ivancie and his minions dropped by just before the mayoral election. Ivancie was really full of himself. Bud & I lived in NW Portland and I had been hearing about quiet efforts to unseat Ivancie so I turned to my husband and said, "He has no clue, does he?" Another guest responded, "No, not at all. Let's just keep it that way." Ivancie lost by a significant margin and was flabbergasted.

[khyron]

Recently having moved to Oregon, I knew nothing about Wyden myself until very recently...during the massive online protests against SOPA/PIPA in January I came across this:

KeepTheWebOpen.com

...and now I'm a huge Wyden fan.

[JimBaker488]

I also learned that Wyden is Jewish, so I gotta ask: does he at times kowtow to the AIPAC when it comes to the countrys MidEast/Israel foreign policy or does he consistantly vote and act with his countrys and not Israels self-interest as his top priority ?

[khyron]

Originally Posted by JimBaker488

I also learned that Wyden is Jewish, so I gotta ask: does he at times kowtow to the AIPAC when it comes to the countrys MidEast/Israel foreign policy or does he consistantly vote and act with his countrys and not Israels self-interest as his top priority ?

There are only two kinds of politicians in the U.S. at the federal level, the ones who do this every time, and the ones who only do it sometimes.

[Nell Plotts]

I have never heard Wyden comment on Israel. I have never heard or seen him thump any Holy Book. Basically he is like most Oregonians, matters of faith is a personal - not political - issue.

[urbanlife78]

I have to say, for as much as I hate the politicians in DC, Oregon sends some pretty good people that actually seem to care about the people of Oregon.