This diary is written in support of HRC's continued efforts to campaign across America, specifically Oregon. While I am aware of the large lead Obama has, it is not out of the question that the margin can be drastically reduced. It will be a winning strategy for HRC to reduce or eliminate this margin, which O has right now precisely because he hasn't been specific.
Oregon is a wonderful state; most of the "blue" from Oregon comes from the western urban areas of Oregon--from Portland to Eugene. The central and eastern part of the state is about as red as you can get, with the exception of Indian Tribes who often vote for the democrat.
I have seen Obama's "oregon plan", which as everyone knows made the embarassing mistake of placing the Great Lakes in oregon, and proposing changes that have already been in place in ORegon for several years.
What Obama misses entirely is the detail of the critically intertwined issues of environment, economic development, treaty rights, salmon, irrigation and hydropower that form the context of reaching out to Oregon. I think Obama's strategy is to rev up the masses without much subtance.
Because Obama doesn't plan to debate in Oregon, this provides a perfect opportunity to raise some serious questions for him that he won't be able to answer with sound bites or a large rally. By strategically placing these issues in front of voters, I think the shine will begin to wear off Obama.
Here are the key questions:
1. What is Obama's position on dam removal on the Columbia River?
2. What is Obama's position on treaty rights of the Tribes to salmon?
3. How will Obama reconcile the Endangered Species Act with land use practices in Oregon, Tribal treaty rights, and the environment?
4. What does Obama think about the water crisis in Oregon?
5. What is Obama's approach to federal agency regulation (i.e., REclamation) and requiring the federal agencies to follow the law in water delivery, respecting all water rights including the Tribes?
6. Does Obama support more hatcheries to deal with dwindling salmon populations?
7. What does Obama think about agriculture dewatering of streams and aquifers?
If he can answer these, all power to him.
Clinton has this kind of experience in the Pacific northwest, and understands this interplay between agencies, natural resources, Tribes, and treaty rights. Given this set of questions, Clinton will know the pitfalls, and what answer pits who against who. Of course I'm not giving any answers here, as if Obama wants it, he can figure it out.
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