In 1990, Dudley missed 13 consecutive free throws, setting an NBA recordHe also was awarded USA Today's 1997 'Most Caring Athlete' award. A good guy. Unlike most NBA players, he actually graduated before going pro, earning Bachelors in Political Science and Economics from Yale in 1987.
He retired from the NBA after the 2002-2003 season and lives in Lake Oswego, OR. Read the Wikipedia link for more details concerning his life in Oregon after NBA retirement.
So, why should RTP&GG care? Because earlier this year, he won the Republican nomination to run for Governor of the State of Oregon. He beat a crowded field of so-so Republicans. He doesn't have any significant executive or government experience. My initial reaction was to sigh and say "what a sorry state Republicans are in, in Oregon". The Democrats nominated popular two-term governor John Kitzhaber, who was governor before our current Democrat (and ex-Marine) Ted Kulongoski. Kitzhaber was term-limited, but now is eligible to serve again. Both Democratic governors have done their damnedest to increase the power of public employees unions in their tenures, and have been pretty successful at it. I figured that, in now heavily Democratic and tax-loving Oregon, newbie Dudley wouldn't have a chance. He doesn't even have that much name recognition as a Blazer, let alone a politician.
But surprisingly, in all three polls published this year, Dudley has come out ahead of Kitzhaber. He's not leading by much, but throughout June he has maintained the lead over the well-known and well-liked former governor. I don't know his politics. He could be a Scott Brown or he could be a Jim DeMint, but regardless, the fact that a relative no-name can compete effectively in Oregon against a popular Democrat shows how real the Republican tide is this year.
The unemployment rate is around 17%. The economy sucks. People are out of work. Their 401ks have lost a lot of money. People are unhappy. People are tired of the way things are. The party in power gets the blame for a bad economy regardless of what party that is or if it is to blame. Republicans will win big in November. Is this an indication that people have woken up and have changed their fundamental core beliefs about the nature of government and its proper role? Has humane nature changed? Or is just the result of a shitty economy and a bleak looking future: a response to the immediate moment? This same cycle happens over and over and over again through the history of our Country and throughout history. There will be more Reagans and more Obamas of a greater magnitude respectively. The long term trend is what I am interested in.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, the Republicans don't blow their chance at gaining back control of the government to actually make some real reforms. This is a big if.
I hope the republicans win big. I hope too though that they actually do something. Its good to have democrats be in control during the low of a business cycle. It means that hopefully when they get voted out that republicans will be the ones who get praised for pulling us out of the recession even though it was inevitable that the upward swing would come. I think Bush senior had bad luck taking office during the low of a business cycle just like Obama did.
ReplyDeleteWe still need to hope that major reform happens and Jeff's long term trend is fixed.
By the way, I signed up online to support Dudley a week ago and I'm going to get some signs and stickers if anyone wants any.
I dont know any thing about Dudley's politics. I do know that he has bad diabetes and has always been active in Oregon with kids who have diabetes. In third grade a student next to me had to eat apples at certain times during class because of his diabetes. He regularly came to class with his signed Dudley t-shirt.
ReplyDeleteI don't think a meaningful upward swing is inevitable. One will come, but it will not be a significant upward swing due to government policy. I take issue with you stance that Bush and Obama happened to be in office at the particular point in the business cycle as if there is no cause and effect relationship between the duration and level that these cycles occur. Government policy affects the duration and level. A normal recession lasts six months and unemployment does not arrive at 17% nor does it stay that high for such a long time. The government's, both Bush's bailouts/spending and Obama's continuation of government spending, policies have protracted the recession and downturn. The economy would be booming if Obama would put in place the proper policies. This is not his goal. His goal is to redistribute wealth and fundamentally transform America and undue all of America's past crimes against the world and the poor. To do this he needs a slow economy for the time being.
ReplyDeleteAnd on the point of the Republicans taking back control of the Congress just at the time that the economy will come out of the low point, there is a real possibility of a double dip recession or a least a slow economy continuing into 2011. Taxes will be going up at the 1st of the year. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704113504575264513748386610.html
"Now, if people know tax rates will be higher next year than they are this year, what will those people do this year? They will shift production and income out of next year into this year to the extent possible. As a result, income this year has already been inflated above where it otherwise should be and next year, 2011, income will be lower than it otherwise should be. Also, the prospect of rising prices, higher interest rates and more regulations next year will further entice demand and supply to be shifted from 2011 into 2010. In my view, this shift of income and demand is a major reason that the economy in 2010 has appeared as strong as it has. When we pass the tax boundary of Jan. 1, 2011, my best guess is that the train goes off the tracks and we get our worst nightmare of a severe 'double dip' recession..."
Obama is setting up a debt commission that will recommend tax increases to deal with the deficits just at the time the Republicans take back control of the Congress. Further tax increases will further hurt the economy. If the Republicans aren't smart about how they play this situation, they could get the blame for the bad economy just in time for the 2012 elections.
ToeJamm, let me know when you get the stickers/signs.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with Jeff that Republicans will need to put up or shut up. But, I think overall they get the message. And I also think the Tea Party is forcing change internally to Republicans for those that don't get the message.
But, they can't put up unless they're voted in. The fact that Chris Dudley can compete with John Kitzhaber gives me great hope! I am optimistic for America for the first time in quite some time, and I think fundemental change is in sight, as big of fundemantal change as Democrats thought they seized just 18 short months ago. But Republicans will have to come through for us.
The Republicans need a real freaking austerity program, and they can't budge on it. I think everyone is saying that it strongly looks like the Republicans will retake the house (and bitch Pelosi gets posted --> will mean big things for Bud-D's Cantor, likely get House Majority Leader). Probably won't the Senate, but I'm holding out hope that we will.
ReplyDeleteBreakdown of upcoming House/Senate/Governor races as well as summaries of last elections:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/politics/
Also, just made my first donation as a tax payer! I gave $20 to Arizona's Legal Defense fund fighting Obama's lawsuit. You can too: www.keepazsafe.com
Good info on the links. Good job you guys supporting conservative causes. I think I'll donate some tonight!
ReplyDeleteJeff, Obama did begin his career on the downward slope of a business cycle. So did Bush senior. Obama hasnt helped it but he did inherit a problem. He did exacerbate it though.
ReplyDeleteI have a sticker for you Bud-D. I got two in the mail.
ReplyDeleteObama did inherit a bad economy, but his policies has exacerbated the problem. Bush's downturn's like the one after the dot com bust and the attacks of 911 were nowhere near as bad as this one due to his policies.
ReplyDelete