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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

News Biz Whizz Francesconi Slams O-ditorial Tax Line

Posted by Matt Davis on Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 8:44 AM

Former City Commissioner, Portland Business Alliance puppet and one-time mayoral candidate Jim Francesconi (we reluctantly endorsed him, but his rival was Tom "form a committee" Potter, so what were we to do...) has taken a leaf from the Mercury's bl-ook and called out the Oregonian editorial board for endorsing a "no vote" on the upcoming tax measures Sunday.

FRANCESCONI: BACK WHEN HE WAS BENEFITTING FROM OREGON HIGHER EDUCATION
  • FRANCESCONI: BACK WHEN HE WAS BENEFITTING FROM OREGON HIGHER EDUCATION
Here's his letter to the editor this morning:
The Oregonian got it wrong when it editorialized against Measures 66 and 67 on Jan. 3. The editorial acknowledged that "schools, community colleges and universities make up more than half of the state budget" and that if the measures failed "they could not and would not be fully shielded from the cuts."

This is exactly the wrong time to cut education funding. Oregon's economy, employers and residents need more investment in education, not less. Educating Oregonians produces higher state tax revenues as incomes increase. Educating Oregonians produces a more highly skilled workforce to attract companies.

Higher education research creates jobs for Oregonians. And investments in education support the regional economies in Portland, Salem, Eugene, Bend, Medford and in rural Oregon.

Yes, it is difficult to raise taxes on business during a recession. But it is worse for business and for Oregon to continue to cut education.


JIM FRANCESCONI
Northeast Portland


Meanwhile, we're struggling to convince Pat McCormick from the "no" side that it's worth his time coming in for an endorsement interview later this week. "It seems like you've already made up your mind," he said on the phone yesterday. I told him I'd be surprised if he could get us to side with him, but asked, "isn't it your job to change our minds?"

We've told McCormick's people we're willing to tolerate verbal, and if necessary physical, abuse, in exchange for an endorsement interview. Yet he's still on the fence. We're hoping to get a call back tomorrow. What do you think, readers? Is he chicken?

 

Comments (7) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
bok bok bok!
Posted by Michelle on January 6, 2010 at 10:16 AM · Report
2
Pat McCormick sounds like a smart guy. I wouldn't talk to you either.

Why would you bother interviewing the "yes" side either? Did you need a lot of convincing?
Posted by Blabby on January 6, 2010 at 1:39 PM · Report
3
I can imagine him with his thumbs shoved into this armpits and his elbows a-flappin'. He'd be wise to steer clear of Pok Pok, Screen Door or Fire on the Mountain, too.
Posted by luckymike on January 6, 2010 at 3:05 PM · Report
4
@Blabby: The Mercury has endorsed Sizemore initiatives in the past. And yes most of us hate Sizemore with a passion, but the point is if people sit down and have a reasonable discussion about an issue, they often times change their mind. Refusing to talk to the media is a very bad strategy: Look at how many Mary Volm supporters there are here, (okay, other than the batshit insane ones.) Zero. Who knows, she might actually have some good ideas, but since she refuses to talk to the Mercury, she might as well be running on the [Monty Python] "Silly Party" platform for as likely as I am to give her any money...
Posted by Matthew D on January 6, 2010 at 6:58 PM · Report
5
@Mathew D- Which Mary Volm supporters have you met/ and really talked with? any? ever? I didn't think so.
you state "The Mercury has endorsed Bill Sizemore initiatives in the past", Sizemore is one of the biggest douche bags in Oregon history and you still dont get what's wrong with that? Your freedom fighter Sizemore is headed to jail. Are you endorsing the Sizemore for Governor campaign as well?
Remember the "right wing theory" about taking out poor Adams? well, Sizemore is as "right wing bat shit crazy" as it gets, and you are aligning yourself with him.
Are you wearing a tie? the blood flow to your brain is greatly restricted.
Posted by T. Oliver on January 7, 2010 at 9:46 AM · Report
6
@ Matthew D.- You make absolutely no sense. You say that "The Mercury has endorsed Sizemore initiatives in the past. And yes most of us hate Sizemore with a passion. . . Refusing to talk to the media is a very bad strategy." Huh? How can The Portland Mercury be considered a credible news source if it has supported Sizemore in the best? Well--The Portland Mercury has obviously been proven that it in fact is the "whack job" "bat-shit crazy" source of news coverage. Any sane person would never consider The Portland Mercury an important Media. Everyone knows that The Portland Mercury is only good for a good giggle while taking a dump.
Posted by Blogs~threat to real news on January 7, 2010 at 7:21 PM · Report
7
@ABS: I'm not aligning myself with Sizemore, I "hate Sizemore with a passion" as I said before. My point is that even the biggest douche bags in the state sit down and talk to newspaper reporters, that is something that they do if they want to win elections. (As for the specific measure the Mercury endorsed, I disagreed with them on that endorsement, but see below.) I never claimed I'd really talked to any Volm supporters, my point was that the only Volm supporters here are you and "She who's name we shall not mention" (dba "Blogs-threat to real news", "zzzzzzz", and "Janelle") and both of you two (note the "ones" (plural) in my comment,) left a lot of room for people to question your sanity. But who knows, maybe you are perfectly sane and you just have a serious reading comprehension problem?

@Janelle: (After people change their names enough times I just call them the original one to avoid confusion.) The Oregonian has endorsed Sizemore initiatives, the WW has endorsed Sizemore initiatives, the Tribune has endorsed Sizemore initiatives. If you want to look back in time, the New York Times has said some good things about Hilter, (not about the killing the Jews or invading other countries bits of Hitler, but about him bringing Germany out of the Great Depression.) If your standard of credible news sources is "never endorsed an idea that of someone who is objectionable," then you are pretty much limited to reading toilet paper since even Genghis Khan thought that eating fruit and drinking plenty of water was a good way to stay healthy. But if you really see things is that black and white, then maybe you personally should stop eating fruit and drinking water.
Posted by Matthew D on January 21, 2010 at 9:19 AM · Report

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