Further Thoughts on My Review of Barbara Roberts’ New Autobiography

How great might Barbara Roberts have been as governor if–like Hatfield, McCall and Goldschmidt–she hadn’t be faced on Day One with two issues that shook Oregon to its foundation?

Subtext Of Al Gore’s Endorsement: Gotcha back, Kitz!

Oregonians with short memories may think Gore’s endorsement of Bradbury in Oregon’s Democratic gubernatorial primary is a singular act of political love for Oregon’s ex-secretary of state.

But that misses an intriguing subplot.

Gore’s move is in one respect the continuation of a decades long feud with Oregon ex-governor Kitzhaber, Bradbury’s leading primary opponent, dating back to Gore’s bitter battle against Kitz’ innovative Oregon Health Plan when Gore was a U.S. Senate.

John K. won that fight, but he never forgot his nemesis from Tennesse; when Gore ran as the presumptive favorite for president in 2000, Kitz conspicuously backed Bill Bradley. Twisting the knife, the Guv criticized the Clinton Administration — and implicitly Gore, the “green” VP — for inept handling of the NW salmon crisis.

After 20 years, the Bradbury candidacy gave Gore the opening to stick the knife back.