It is very interesting to note that because of the very high turn out for the democratic caucuses (nearly double that of 2004), that even the 3rd place finisher (Clinton), handily beat Huckabee. So if you add up the estimate turnout (356,000), you end up with results something like....

Percentage of total vote

• 24.5% Obama
• 20.5% Edwards
• 19.8% Clinton
• 11.4% Huckabee (R)

In light of Eric Sten resigning from Portland City Council it seemed like a good idea to mention two folks who have spoke to Portland Peak Oil who are running for City Council, Chris Smith and Amanda Fritz.  The last time spoke with them the were running for the same seat (the one Sam Adams is vacating to run for Mayor) but I'm hoping with Eric Sten's resignation that either Chris or Amanda will switch over to the other seat.

Either way,  both are seeking contributions under Portland's Voter Owned Elections system.  Basically your $5 donation to one or both candidates will help ensure that mitigating the effects of peak oil will be part of the City Coucil's agenda.

Amanda Fritz  -  www.amandafritzforcitycouncil.com 

Amanda is a registered nurse and mother of three who served on the Portland Planning Commission for seven years, championing environmental and neighborhood concerns.  Amanda grew up in Portland.... after arriving here 7 months pregnant at the age of 28, in 1986.  Volunteering in Portland's schools, neighborhoods, parks/greenspaces, social justice and land use planning systems has made Amanda Fritz the woman she is.  

If Portland is to continue to be at the forefront of enlightened environmental sustainability and progressive social leadership in Oregon, the City Council must pay more attention to equity and justice in prioritizing City spending and actions.  Economic equity and justice. Environmental equity and justice. Social equity and justice.

Chris Smith  -  www.citizensmith.us/donate 

Chris Smith is a Citizen Activist with 10 years of experience working on neighborhood livability, transportation and civic engagement. His public policy knowledge, ability to connect diverse groups, and management skills developed over a 20-year career in high technology make him an ideal leader for Portland City Council.

Chris helped design Voter Owned Elections so we can take big money out of politics and create open dialogue between voters and candidates.

­

::GRIN:: 
(note: this written for a paper that is inside the beltway of Washington DC)
http://www.fcnp.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=995&Itemid=33
By Tom Whipple    Thursday, 15 March 2007

Last week Portland, Oregon became the first governmental body in the US to not only acknowledge that imminent peak oil is a reality, but also to publish a plan as to what the city should be doing to cope. Breaking new ground has both its perils and its rewards. The peril is that you have no guidelines to the road ahead. The advantage is that there is no standard of comparison so your efforts instantly become the textbook to mitigating the effects of peak oil at the local level.

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/55077 

WASHINGTON, DC—After nearly six years of much-publicized service as Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld announced his resignation Wednesday afternoon, saying that he had "proudly accomplished everything [he'd] set out to bungle." "Years ago, I decided to bog this great nation down in an extended, grueling foreign occupation, and I'm happy to say that's exactly what I've done," said Rumsfeld in a farewell address at the White House, during which he urged Americans to continue waging the ill-conceived, mismanaged, and evidently unwelcome fight for democracy in the Middle East. "Each of my actions—from undersupplying troops with body armor to focusing on capturing Saddam Hussein while Osama bin Laden remained free—has led America inexorably toward our current state of extreme crisis. Well, anyway, goodbye!" President Bush expressed confidence that Robert Gates, his new nominee for Secretary of Defense, will be able to "fuck everything up the rest of the way."