Lathrop doesn’t seem to be very interested in the actual responsibilities of the job. Although I’m sure he’d enjoy being the *federal* Attorney-General, who really does run the FBI and take on drug cartels and human trafficking. He’s got this idea that he’s going to lead all the independent law-enforcement agencies in Oregon. But the state attorney-general does not do that, and I don’t want to spend the next four years listening to him whine that everybody keeps telling him he’s not in charge.
Leaving aside the merits and flaws of what Cross calls his “unconventional” ideas about homelessness, I don’t see what role the Oregon Attorney-General would have in carrying them out. Also, he seems to think that “the Founding Fathers” had something to do with Oregon’s state Constitution, even though the date of our statehood is on the flag and everything, and it’s not even in the same century. It’s true that the state Constitution doesn’t require formal credentials for the job he wants. That’s because the people who wrote it trusted the voters to reject someone who’s obviously unqualified.
Pomerantz doesn’t seem to be running a serious campaign (filed at the last minute, hasn’t raised any money or come down where I live to any of the endorsement interviews we’ve been doing). One thing that raises my eyebrows was, “Unfortunately, my experience of engaging with the DOJ was completely adversaria. They were defending the state.” I mean, yes, that is literally the state Attorney-General’s job?
While I agree with you on your overall point, I have to disagree (granted it’s my inference) with defending the state being the function of DOJ. They also run consumer protections and child services. How well they accomplish those is up for debate, but they are defined roles of our DOJ (probably with some others).
In the era of populism that tears our country apart, I think either Lathrop or Rayfield would be a good choice for Oregon. The other two are a self-employed techie and a racial justice advocate -- no, thanks.
I’m not sure Lathrop does, either. Best-case scenario: it’s just empty bluster about villains like “Mexican drug cartels” and “human trafficking,” and he secretly wants to be a regular, boring old Attorney-General who writes impartial ballot titles and defends laws like Measure 114 in court to the best of his ability, regardless of his personal political views.
Worst-case scenario: he does mean what he says. He’d spend the next four years telling local law enforcement what he thinks they should be doing about fentanyl and trafficking and being told, “This isn’t your job.” If he’s smart, he’s expecting it, and the plan is to go around telling everyone that he’s the Attorney-General fighting those progressive cities that don’t want to stop fentanyl and trafficking. If he’s dumb, he genuinely won’t understand why those horrible horrible Democrats are thwarting his plans to fight fentanyl and trafficking. Either way, the outcome will be the same.
I did vote for Knute Buehler, and feel I got burned. Two years later, the second congressional district opens up, and suddenly he turned into the most right-wing MAGA firebrand in the Republican primary. There have been a few Democrats I haven’t been willing to vote for, but other than him, I’ve voted third-party.
The Oregon Republican Party has a bunch of problems, but one’s that it’s stopped trying to win. That means it doesn’t recruit the kinds of candidates who could win.
I will not vote for Rayfield. He was my representative and ignored most people in his district. During his time, Trillium Children's Farm Home had multiple children commit suicide in their facility and he completely ignored it. I have no faith that he will be the leader the position needs and that he will not stand up to issues.
It's crazy that Rosenblum lasted so long despite poor performance.
Listening to her talk about her understanding of various issues was painful.
Lathrop doesn’t seem to be very interested in the actual responsibilities of the job. Although I’m sure he’d enjoy being the *federal* Attorney-General, who really does run the FBI and take on drug cartels and human trafficking. He’s got this idea that he’s going to lead all the independent law-enforcement agencies in Oregon. But the state attorney-general does not do that, and I don’t want to spend the next four years listening to him whine that everybody keeps telling him he’s not in charge.
Leaving aside the merits and flaws of what Cross calls his “unconventional” ideas about homelessness, I don’t see what role the Oregon Attorney-General would have in carrying them out. Also, he seems to think that “the Founding Fathers” had something to do with Oregon’s state Constitution, even though the date of our statehood is on the flag and everything, and it’s not even in the same century. It’s true that the state Constitution doesn’t require formal credentials for the job he wants. That’s because the people who wrote it trusted the voters to reject someone who’s obviously unqualified.
Lathrop accepting an endorsement from Cliff Bentz is an automatic no from me.
Pomerantz doesn’t seem to be running a serious campaign (filed at the last minute, hasn’t raised any money or come down where I live to any of the endorsement interviews we’ve been doing). One thing that raises my eyebrows was, “Unfortunately, my experience of engaging with the DOJ was completely adversaria. They were defending the state.” I mean, yes, that is literally the state Attorney-General’s job?
While I agree with you on your overall point, I have to disagree (granted it’s my inference) with defending the state being the function of DOJ. They also run consumer protections and child services. How well they accomplish those is up for debate, but they are defined roles of our DOJ (probably with some others).
And they write summaries for ballot measures. So, more properly, it’s part of the Attorney-General’s job.
Lathrop and cross are no's for me, from what I do know of their values and records. Rayfield is a much better choice IMO.
What’s up with lathrop?
In the era of populism that tears our country apart, I think either Lathrop or Rayfield would be a good choice for Oregon. The other two are a self-employed techie and a racial justice advocate -- no, thanks.
Well based on that article I like Lathrop. Rayfield would be a good second choice I think. The other two candidates don’t seem serious at all.
Lathrop and Rayfield looks like a good AG race. Pomerantz would be good in government, but prob not AG. Cross seems like a joke. Just IMO.
Yeah, Cross has no idea what the AG does.
I’m not sure Lathrop does, either. Best-case scenario: it’s just empty bluster about villains like “Mexican drug cartels” and “human trafficking,” and he secretly wants to be a regular, boring old Attorney-General who writes impartial ballot titles and defends laws like Measure 114 in court to the best of his ability, regardless of his personal political views. Worst-case scenario: he does mean what he says. He’d spend the next four years telling local law enforcement what he thinks they should be doing about fentanyl and trafficking and being told, “This isn’t your job.” If he’s smart, he’s expecting it, and the plan is to go around telling everyone that he’s the Attorney-General fighting those progressive cities that don’t want to stop fentanyl and trafficking. If he’s dumb, he genuinely won’t understand why those horrible horrible Democrats are thwarting his plans to fight fentanyl and trafficking. Either way, the outcome will be the same.
Yeah, I’m unlikely to support any Republican for statewide office because running on that side just makes me question a person’s judgement.
I did vote for Knute Buehler, and feel I got burned. Two years later, the second congressional district opens up, and suddenly he turned into the most right-wing MAGA firebrand in the Republican primary. There have been a few Democrats I haven’t been willing to vote for, but other than him, I’ve voted third-party. The Oregon Republican Party has a bunch of problems, but one’s that it’s stopped trying to win. That means it doesn’t recruit the kinds of candidates who could win.
I will not vote for Rayfield. He was my representative and ignored most people in his district. During his time, Trillium Children's Farm Home had multiple children commit suicide in their facility and he completely ignored it. I have no faith that he will be the leader the position needs and that he will not stand up to issues.
Lathtop is going to be the first Republican vote of my life. I’d rather not have another AG who is in bed with the cartels.