The shame of doing the right thing


I knew that when Governor Kohoutek signed the bill recriminalizing hard street drugs, she'd do it as quietly as possible. I thought she would do it last Friday, so that it would get lost in Easter weekend. But I was wrong. She did it on Monday.

There was none of the hoopla you usually get when she signs something she likes. You might have thought she'd have a ceremonial photo op with health care workers, police, some business owners, some former addicts who supported the bill, and so on. But there was none of that. She called in some bureaucrats and gave them one of her obnoxious lectures about what she "expects," then signed the bill into law as if it were a credit card receipt at a liquor store.

It was Kotek Klassic®. Who cares if the bill was supported by the vast majority of the state's voters? Who cares if it passed the legislature easily? It wasn't what she wanted; it was admission of a mistake, something she never, ever does. And so she gives everybody her icy bully look and moves on.

Above all, she doesn't want to turn off the faucet on those sweet, sweet political contributions from the far left. The people who foisted decriminalization on Oregon, and who have been paying mouthpiece Tera Hurst's mortgage for the last four or five years – whoever they are – have plenty more dough where that came from. Somebody like the Guv wouldn't want to be seen smiling on camera as Oregon tells them to take their crazy social experiment back to the East Coast, or wherever they are. She may need their money later to deal with the Betsy Johnsons of the world.

Oh, well. The repeal of Measure 110 was a rare bright moment in Oregon politics. Having to look at the governor one less time just made it a little brighter.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to Max Williams and the other people who held the legislators' feet to the fire on repealing 110. And I hope Max & Co. don't wander off. I suspect there will be a lot more foolishness with drugs, crime, and who knows what all else before too long.

Comments

  1. Last night the TV show 'The Story' on KGW TV-8 at 6:30 ran a good report on Tina's secret signing of the BM 110 repeal.

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    1. Thanks! Found it. Akin to the Sherlock Holmes story about the dog that doesn’t bark. It’s not what you hear; it’s what you don’t hear.

      Although I think this measure is being oversold as antidote, though it will fund the epic grift that’s the only thing Oregon is good at anymore.

      Starting at about minute 5. ⬇️

      https://www.kgw.com/video/news/local/the-story/283-a74b2f95-539d-4b55-a4da-8090563ce61e

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  2. Big contrast with the 2017 transportation bill, where Kate Brown flew around the state for 5 separate bill signing ceremonies for the same bill.

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    1. In all seriousness; I would vote for Max Williams for governor in a heartbeat. I've never seen a level of common sense and the ability to get things done from someone in the Portland area in a long, long time. I'm certain he had a lot of support, but I would like to say "thanks" to him and his supporters for helping to move the needle. Much work to be done, but this is a solid first step.

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    2. Max seems like a very cool guy. He was years ago when I knew him, anyway.

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  3. Sort of like how Kotek asked for ethical guidance on her wife's role only after the complaints were made, rather in advance.

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  4. Better than flying to Israel to sign a Florida bill that further destroys the first amendment...

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