US Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield) from Oregon's 4th Congressional District has been feeling the heat from his Republican opponent, upstart Alek Skarlatos and has made several moves lately that indicate that he's perhaps not on firm footing with Oregonians in his rural, Southern Oregon district.

For instance, DeFazio came out as an early supporter of the "Defund the Police" movement, favoring a shift of funds away from enforcement and into community policing. He also refused to condemn the violence carried out by anarchists in Springfield and Eugene until forced to five days after the incident. Predictably, he deflects blame away from the rioters and to the President.

DeFazio parrots the partisan narrative that federal law enforcement have been acting outside the law. While criticizing federal law enforcement and calling their actions “gross violations of Oregonians’ civil liberties”, the Congressman later has spoken glowingly of “peaceful protestors.” No specific allegations of wrongdoing have been lodged against any federal law enforcement.

More recently, DeFazio has taken to chaining himself to a mailbox -- a stunt to highlight what is claimed to be an attempt by the president to shut down parts of the post office in preparation for the upcoming election. Experts point out that the US Postal Service volume is down and losses are mounting.

This is not the first time Peter DeFazio has attempted to follow pull numbers and flip-flopping on issues. Between 1995 and 2018 DeFazio has flipped his position for a balanced budget amendment to the constitution multiple times including twice in 2011 alone, first declaring that it was too radical a move in July and then supported a similar proposal in November of that year. He used to proudly be pro-gun and now calls for nationwide gun control. Once considered an ally of the timber industry and responsible forest management, DeFazio now opposes salvage logging or standard Bureau of Land Management timber sales in the Pacific Northwest including one near Springfield.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-08-30 18:45:29

Last Update: 2020-08-28 18:47:10

Below is a Tweet from an OPB reporter and the official statement of a Multnomah County Commissioner on the death of a man last night at the "Pro Trump rally/drive" in Portland last night. While no one yet knows all the facts of who did what, we know that someone died.

This statement is at the least, irresponsible and at worst, inflammatory. There is never a good time for violence. Oregonians are sick and tired of the lawlessness, anarchy and violence that's gone on FAR too long in Portland. The Governor and the Mayor are not leaders. I do not represent that city, but I have friends there and constituents who have friends and family there. I am calling again for the Governor to do something. Stop the endless violence. Now someone has died. This death does not atone for the other deaths. No one's death is right or good.

Governor Brown. Mayor Ted Wheeler. Stop it.


--State Representative Bill Post

Post Date: 2020-08-30 16:28:35

Last Update: 2020-08-31 04:06:33

You can tell it’s political season, when ordinary news organizations like the Newberg Graphic divert from their normal hum-drum of biased journalism, in favor of outright whitewash advertising. Newberg Graphic reporter Ryan Clarke (D-Beaverton) has penned such a commercial for Ramiro Navarro, Jr. (D-Keizer) who is running for House District 25.

While the article emphasizes the three-year military service performed by Navarro. Three years is an odd length for a military career, which one would think should have made Clarke at least make passing reference to the type of discharge received by Navarro. Instead, featuring two pictures of him wearing military garb, Clarke glosses over a darker period in Navarro’s life:

Navarro dealt with addiction and post-traumatic stress when he returned home to Oregon, eventually ending up in prison for two years for possessing half an ounce of marijuana, which was illegal at the time of his arrest but has since become a booming industry in the age of legality. Navarro was in and out of incarceration for petty crimes in the years after his initial arrest.

First of all, bail was set at $60,000, which is a little bit more than one would expect for taking a couple of bong hits and merely possessing the now-legal weed. Second, the incarceration “for petty crimes” was for parole violations, caused by the commission of “petty crimes.”

Navarro’s case exemplifies the fallacy of the narrative that many of the people who are behind bars are there because of insignificant drug charges. In many cases – as in Navarro’s case – the ultimate charge that resulted in a conviction was indeed the result of a guilty plea to a relatively small drug charge. But that plea was done in exchange for not having to go to trial for a host of other charges. In Navarro’s case, it was two felony charges for child neglect and endangering the welfare of a minor, which were dropped in exchange for guilty pleas for delivery of marijuana and coercion.

The article notes that Navarro got his priorities in order in 2013, but in October of 2014 and April of 2017, two different women from two different counties filed paternity suits against him, holding him responsible for child support. This runs counter to the narrative played by Clarke in the article, where he says that Navarro “now hosts a boot camp every summer for at-risk youth, teaching them the benefits of higher education.”

Get prepared. It’s not only political season. It’s bias season.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-08-30 14:54:24

Last Update: 2020-08-30 16:28:35

--Northwest Observer Meme Team

Post Date: 2020-08-30 13:20:24

The violence in Portland Oregon has now escalated to an even higher level after roughly 100 days of directionless violent protests and riots connected to Antifa and the "Black Lives Matter" Marxist organization.

The leadership of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Oregon seems unable to anything other than exacerbate the dire situation, and are completely obsessed with "resisting Trump". Portland has now become a national disgrace and example of poor government leadership at the state and local levels.

Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury decided the best thing to do following a man's murder, was to blame Republicans who drove through Portland in an a patriotic caravan event in support of President Trump.

Kafoury even goes as far as calling the event a "white-supremacist agenda" with no evidence of such claims. The commissioner seems to be encouraging the ongoing riots that have plagued the region:

"Last night, an event that was clearly intended to intimidate, provoke and endanger individuals resulted in a fatality. The loss of life is tragic and unacceptable.

"We are witnessing the self-perpetuating cycle of violence fueled by white supremacy. We cannot forget that the protests Portland has seen for more than 90 days began in response to the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was then the latest victim of a long and horrendous history of police brutality against Black people, itself a feature of the systemic racism that poisons our country.

"While the overwhelming majority of protestors have engaged in non-violent demonstration to call for police accountability, racial justice and the dismantling of racist institutions, we have also seen instances of interpersonal violence, vandalism and destruction.

"Then last night — stoked by a president who has gone out of his way to demonize this city and encourage vigilantism in service to white supremacy and his own fragile ego — armed participants of a pro-Trump caravan terrorized downtown Portland, driving their vehicles and shooting paintballs and pepper spray directly at community members and journalists. They came to create confrontation and were able to do so.

"This tragedy will be used to justify escalating violence. It will be used to paint an entire movement with a broad and misleading brush. And sadly, it will be used by the occupant of the White House to deepen divisions and fear.

"Those of us who believe in, and are working toward, a more just and equitable community must take an unequivocal stand against the violence that structural racism inflicts on Black and other people of color, against violence inflicted by police, and against violence between community members.

"And the most effective way to do that is to stand for and build toward something better -- to engage in the hard work of transforming the public safety system, ensuring equal opportunity and making tangible progress toward racial justice. Multnomah County is doing that work now, and we are wholly committed to the long-term work ahead."

More cynical observers noted that the Republican caravan was a “mostly peaceful” event.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-08-30 12:05:34

Last Update: 2020-08-30 13:33:30

Editor's note: Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project equips voters with information on how candidates stand on issues through a questionnaire process featured in comparison guides.

Candidate for House District 13 David J. Smith is running against incumbent Nancy Nathanson to represent a portion of Lane County.

Three major issues to Oregon voters is the economy, safety and education. Nathanson voted to increase taxes and fees including cap and trade, corporate gross receipts tax, increased fees on public utilities, and reduce the kicker. Smith indicates he would stand against any tax that has the possibility of shutting down businesses.

Nathanson helped sponsor the bill that nullified Measure 88 passed by voters allowing undocumented driver’s license. Voted to require employers to notify employees of ICE investigations, and prevents courts from asking immigration status and notifying ICE. Smith said legislators must listen to the voters. He also thinks ICE is doing a good and necessary job, and courts have an obligation to enforce the laws.

In the area of education, Nathanson voted to include in all curriculum’s contributions from every minority group such as immigrants, LGBTQ, disabled and women. She voted to require mandated vaccination with no exceptions and ban those from schools that don’t comply. Smith would vote no and let parents decide on vaccinations, and education shouldn’t be used to promote a group over another.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-08-30 10:12:37

Last Update: 2020-09-30 10:53:31

Editor’s note: this is the first of a multi-part series on Oregon’s mail-in ballots.

In 1990, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) recognizing that people with disabilities had been precluded from fully participating in all aspects of society including voting. Oregon instituted Disability Voting Right using a tablet or computer which allows for assistance.

Janice Dysinger, Oregonians for Fair Elections, says that “anyone’s citizenship status or residence status is difficult to verify because they may not be directly filled out by the voter. Some have language barriers requiring interpreters if specific language documents aren’t available, and the position is that it isn’t the agency’s job to find out if they are qualified. By signing the registration form they certify to it being true.” If needing assistance to register, it begs the question of needing assistance to vote.

When Kate Brown was Secretary of State, the Mark and Dave radio show on KEX asked the audience who completes the ballots in your house. People were calling in and laughing about it. A high school kid marked his dad's ballot, had the dad sign it and mailed it for him. A wife completed her husband's ballot, had him sign it and mailed it for him. And so it went on for the entire show.

The next day they invited then Secretary of State Kate Brown to comment about the responses on the show. She assured the listeners that it is completely legal to mark another person's ballot, as long as the voter signs the ballot.

But, what of people that sign (forge) someone’s signature on a ballot? The excuses are many: they weren’t around to sign, they told you to sign for them, they don’t know English, or they have a disability. Good, honest people are freely interrupting laws without knowing the consequences. Coercion in voting assistance comes with a maximum penalty of $1,000 fine and 10 hours of community service. Voting has gotten so casual in Oregon that people are doing this and don't even know the problem it creates.

ORS 254.445, originally passed in 1985, lists the rules on assisting in marking ballots. Allowances and Limitations

• Any voter who, due to a disability or inability to read or write, is unable to mark their ballot may receive assistance.
• The assistance is provided either by two persons of different political parties provided by the county clerk or by some other person chosen by the voter.
• Any person assisting a voter must follow the direction of the voter as to how to vote the ballot.
• The person assisting the voter must not afterwards give out any information about how the voter voted.
• Additionally, a person may not provide such assistance if they are an employer of the voter or an agent of the employer. Also, a person may not provide such assistance if they are an officer or agent of a union of which the voter is a member.

Assistant violations would never happen at a polling place. The people that are "helping" other voters are casting votes that they shouldn't be. If a voter isn't informed enough or has the motivation enough to go to the polls or even complete their own ballot at home, they shouldn't be voting. Voting has gotten so casual in Oregon that people are breaking rules and don't even know the problem it creates. It presents a strong case for polling places to keep people honest.

We must also recognize that there are people that actually want to change an election? Hans von Spakovsky, senior legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation, says “the purpose of in-person voting is under the supervision of election officers and poll watcher... The electioneering laws don’t prevent people from showing up at your home. That means party activist, campaign staffers, political guns for hire can show up at your home.” What happens to all the ballots floating around? It's the perfect environment for coercion and falsely filing multiple ballots.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-08-30 09:33:46

Last Update: 2020-08-25 09:45:01

57 years ago Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I have a dream" speech in Washington, DC. It was a prophetic speech which set the tone for the turbulent decade to follow. Arguably, the most memorable quote from the speech was, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Judging people by the content of their character is the essence of equality.

"Equality" was the subject of Dr. King's speech. We don't strive for equality anymore. The conversation is about "equity" which means that certain races get advantaged status. A portion of the federal COVID-19 stimulus money that Oregon received will be set aside for persons of a particular skin color. There's no attempt to hide or sugarcoat that. The front page of the Oregon Cares Fund, explicitly says, “The Oregon Cares Fund is for Black people, Black-owned businesses, and Black community based organizations.” If Michael Jordan or Oprah Winfrey lived in Oregon, they'd qualify.

More than race, having an intact family is more of an indicator of future success. This kind of analysis is rarely allowed into the debate. Those who try get shouted down and labeled as racists or white-supremacists. Things like school choice could help. Education can be a great equalizer and uplifter, and education choice seems like a great idea, especially for disadvantaged communities. Teachers' unions won't let it happen. It seems like the only tools we have left to combat lack of achievement are rioting and cancelling NBA basketball. That's sad. We're smarter than that.



--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-08-28 16:21:05

Last Update: 2020-08-28 18:14:08

--Northwest Observer Meme Team

Post Date: 2020-08-28 13:12:10

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D-Portland), in an apparent attempt to make a statement, has penned an open letter to President Trump declining assistance to help with law enforcement as his city burns.

The letter says:

Dear President Trump:

Yet again, you said you offered to aid Portland by sending in federal law enforcement to our city. On behalf of the City of Portland: No thanks.

We don’t need your politics of division and demagoguery. Portlanders are onto you. We have already seen your reckless disregard for human life in your bumbling response to the COVID pandemic. And we know you’ve reached the conclusion that images of violence or vandalism are your only ticket to reelection.

There is no place for looting, arson, or vandalism in our city. There is no room here for racist violence or those who wish to bring their ideology of hate into our community. Those who commit criminal acts will be apprehended and prosecuted under the law.

Tens of thousands of Portlanders have peacefully protested and marched for the noble cause of fixing our broken criminal justice system. They are part of the proud progressive tradition of Portlanders fighting for justice - from racial justice to economic justice to environmental justice.

When you sent the Feds to Portland last month, you made the situation far worse. Your offer to repeat that disaster is a cynical attempt to stoke fear and distract us from the real work of our city. In Portland, we are focused on coming together as a community to solve the serious challenges we face due to systemic racism, a global pandemic and an economic recession.

Stay away, please

While Wheeler accuses the President of politicking, the letter itself is filled with political accusations from a Democrat Mayor in a city that has been run by Democrats for decades. Wheeler offers no plans to quell the violence that has plagued Portland and other cities for over three months.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-08-28 12:22:43

Last Update: 2020-08-28 13:20:08

The Republicans are the minority party in Oregon.

In fact, elected Democrats hold a "super-majority". They seem to operate with very little checks and balances to hinder their legislative agenda. Many philosophical and ethical challenges may arise with such adherence to such one-party dominance.

Cries for change may even be snuffed, sadly, by forces in league with such a party in control, aided by a corrupt and biased media. With the injustice of the situation unaddressed, frustration can turn inward upon the opposing political party to "do something", but the power has been deliberately put in the hands of the Majority held Democrat state legislature. Elected Republican influence only goes so far in Oregon, until those numbers change via the ballot box.

To conservative and libertarian leaning Oregonians, it can be encouraging to see some elected Republicans doing everything they can despite the neglect of the media. Senate Minority Leader Fred Girod has once again done so, and it seems to many that he is stating the obvious.

“It’s been nearly 100 straight days of nightly violence in Portland,” said Senator Girod. “Law enforcement, the personnel who are tasked with upholding the law, have been left out to dry with little to no support. By most Democrats failing to denounce the violence, anarchists have been given free reign to destroy public and private property. Anarchists have lit fires, thrown fireworks, Molotov cocktails, water bottles and tools at the police officers who risk their lives each night to protect a city that refuses to protect them.”

Senator Girod continued, “The response from Governor Kate Brown and Mayor Ted Wheeler has been disastrous and has made Portland fodder for national embarrassment. It took until rioters trashed Portland City Hall for the mayor to speak out. Until the governor’s and mayor’s words are followed with action, they are just words, and innocent Oregonians will continue to be collateral damage.”

Perhaps Portland should try going back to just "being weird".


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-08-28 11:23:04

Last Update: 2020-08-28 12:34:44

In a move that strengthens the Governor's hand against licensed businesses in the State of Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority has proposed changes in the administrative rules requiring compliance with the Governor's executive orders during an emergency. The comment period for proposed Oregon Administrative Rule 331-020-0079 has expired and the agency is empowered to enact the rule immediately. The rules make clear that businesses licensed by the State of Oregon must comply with executive orders or they will be subject to suspension, revocation, probation, monetary penalties, and an assessment of costs of disciplinary proceedings:

Compliance with Executive Orders and Guidance Required

(1) During a Governor declared emergency, unprofessional conduct under ORS 676.612, includes, but is not limited to, failing to comply with any applicable provision of a Governor's Executive Order or any provision of this rule.
(2) Failing to comply as described in subsection (1) includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Performing services or practicing an occupation or profession in a way that is contrary to an applicable Executive Order;
(b) Providing services at a business required by an Executive Order to be closed;
(c) Failing to comply with the requirements of Oregon Health Authority (Authority) guidance implementing an Executive Order.
(3) No disciplinary action or penalty action shall be taken under this rule if the Executive Order alleged to have been violated is not in effect at the time of the alleged violation.
(4) Penalties for violating this rule include, but are not limited to, suspension, revocation, probation, monetary penalties, and an assessment of costs of disciplinary proceedings not exceeding $5,000. Any such penalties shall be imposed in accordance with ORS Ch. 183.

The rule is slated to go into effect Septermber 1, 2020. It is not known if these rule changes signal an intent on the part of the executive branch to increase enforcement.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-08-28 10:59:02

Last Update: 2020-08-28 11:50:02