worldwide pablo

Do Americans still care about the means, as well as the ends, of politics? Worldwide Pablo hopes so, though given the current ranting among the political right about the faked-up weapons of mass destruction, he is beginning to have doubts. Having won the military war in Iraq, the war supporters are increasingly dismissive of the actual circumstances that convinced Americans to enter the Iraqi imbroglio.

One of the things that separates the U.S. from the various tin-horn totalitarian states of the worlds (frequently the very ones, ironically, we later end up having to rescue militarily or financially) is that truth matters, and it matters at every step of the political process. It simply is not enough to be on the right side of the argument, to possess the most weapons, to have the most money: The truth counts. Recall the Clinton/Lewinski scandal, when deceit was as much at issue as misdeeds. In short, the way we govern and the example we set while governing matters a lot to Americans.

On the Internet and elsewhere, neo-conservatives like Andrew Sullivan and others rail that liberals are inflating the issue, and "can't see why this matters." Sullivan's no dummy; WWP wonders if he's just actually just ignoring the obvious for the convenience of advancing his other arguments. He asserts that none of the puffery and contorted intelligence before the war now matters since the military battle has been won -- essentially arguing that the ends justify the means. Well, that's backward, and most Americans know it, and know it instinctively. The notion of truth-telling is firmly embedded in the U.S. psyche; it's in the collective gut, one of those things most of us don't even have to think about twice.

That the ends do not justify the means is so deeply rooted idea is perhaps to be expected of a people who fought for independence and survival twice, once against a despot, and once amongst ourselves ... who have struggled and continue to search for the meaning and means of equality and fairness in their land and in their time, without resorting to revolution or military force ... who continue to sort out the reaches and the limits of freedom, even if much of the world would bring them harm for doing so. There has been but one lesson learned at all these crossroad moments: Liberty does not, cannot, exist in the absence of truth.

And history provides another reason the pay heed to truthtelling. Recall that nearly every American scandal, from Teapot Dome to Watergate to Miss Lewinski's blue dress, started as a germ of information that festered until it became a raging cancer ... and usually so when it became known that denial or outright lying were involved along the way. The WMD matter will prove no different, a point perhaps lost to the British-born Sullivan (although WWP finds that very hard to believe).

Sullivan may be completely tone-deaf in one ear, but other one seems to be working just fine. He is absolutely right, of course (as Thomas Friedman has previously written) that what matters most now is winning the peace. U.S. security is doomed to years of peril or uncertainty should the present effort to rebuild Iraq fail or produce anything less than a successful, self-ruling modern nation, both fully Islamic and fully democratic. And it's worth noting that this task will be immeasurably easier to accomplish when GWB comes clean about the efforts to overhype the reasons for war and to insinuate the U.S./U.K.'s presence in Iraq.

That is, if we ever figure out the real reason we went to Iraq. Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo has an excellent analysis of our confused state of occupation in Iraq.

Postscript I: The White House earlier this week received support from a surprising source: Bill Clinton. The former president, pilloried by the political right for lesser sins, said of the WMD dustup: "Everybody makes mistakes." This magnanimity invites a comparison with the oceans of bile directed at Clinton during Monicagate. It's not surprising, is it, that his comments came during the Larry King program's tribute to his former rival, Bob Dole, who turned 80 earlier this week? Which leads to another comparison, one of integrity: the former Senate minority leader and the present majority leader. 'Nuff said.

Postscript II: When all is said and done about WMDs, one day in the future, what we we call this episode? In his political column "In the Loop," Washington Post columnist Al Kamen writes:

...[I]t would be a shame historically to let the whole flap disappear without at least giving it a name, a shorthand phrase, anything but a " -- gate" of some sort, so it can be referred to easily in the future.

Have a suggestion? Let him know by clicking here.

Part I: This news just in from Canada -- gay marriage is a conservative value. Columnist Rondi Adamson writes:

I often feel the natural place for a gay person is on the right. Conservatives should be all about an individual's right to his or her own life, his or her own business, without the interference of hypersensitive, offended others. And it follows that true conservatives ought to support gay marriage, particularly those partial to family values. It's difficult to argue that society doesn't benefit from stable relationships. And what better way to encourage stable relationships than to support gay marriage? It is hard not to snicker at the idea that same-sex marriages would threaten straight ones. We straight people in Canada and the US have done a good job of bringing the divorce rate close to 50 percent all on our own.

Rather than weaken straight marriages, gay marriages may strengthen them.

Being gay is not, I imagine, simply about sex. When a gay man mentions his boyfriend, he's not flaunting his sexuality, as the accusation often goes, any more than I am when I mention mine. Being a homosexual is, I would guess, about most of the things being a heterosexual is about, including the pain and joy of being in love.

And why, oh why, should only straight people suffer through the family fights, expense, pettiness, grudges, and stress of planning a wedding?

Can't find much to disagree with in that.

Part II: For non-Oregonians and locals who may have missed it, the Big O had charming article Sunday about two gay men celebrating their anniversary, and not just any anniversary, mind you. For Eric Marcoux and Eugene Woodworth, it was a golden day, observing their 50 years -- 50! -- together.

Kudos to the Big O's Nancy Haught for a thoughtful, thorough and touching feature.

Part III: The Human Rights Campaign is throws its weight behind gay marriage, and in a big way. This latest edition of HRC's Political Equality Update details HRC's new "Million For Marriage" campaign. Sign the petition by clicking here.

Part IV: Jack Bogdanski has his own very special prayer for the U.S. Supreme Court. And then there's Betty Bowers' touching prayer for Pat Robertson. Now let us pray…

Part V: Twenty-eight days and counting, and still no word from the White House on the Supreme Court's June 26 sodomy decision. WWP thinks GWB would just love to pretend the paint-blistering dissent, penned by his most-trusted jurist, doesn't exist. But WWP also thinks the delay in responding will only come back to haunt the president. Speak up, George. We can't hear you.

Giving credit where credit is due: WWP was remiss in omitting (in yesterday's post about the mayor's decision to skip a fourth term) Vera Katz's long, unwavering record of support for gay and lesbian issues. Save for Barbara Roberts, there is no other politician in Oregon today as dedicated as Vera Katz. In her career as a state legislator and then as mayor, she demonstrated a sincere and unshakeable commitment to the fundamental idea that all persons are equal, and that equality includes, yes, gays and lesbians. From parades to rallies, dinners to fundraisers, elections to national politics – Vera Katz has been the gay community's greatest friend, and for that, she has earned WWP's thanks and respect.

'Tis a shame then all the more that this great karma simply is not enough to erase the stain of an unfocused mayorship, one unrepentantly riddled with fuzzy idealism, cronyism and pettiness. Alas.

What are the odds? Thomas Lauderdale for mayor? Maybe not so far outside the realm of possibility. The Oregon Blog has the odds.

Sign of the bad times: The Business Journal reports Wednesday that the City Club of Portland has fallen on hard times financially and faces an uncertain future. The venerable organization has been a much-needed voice on statewide and city issues since its creation in 1916, when, according to the Club's website,

… a small group of men began meeting in the Hazelwood Confectionary & Restaurant in downtown Portland. They were well-educated, eager to foster positive change in their community, and they were dissatisfied with the operation of the city's public institutions and government. Above all, they felt that existing service organizations gave them no voice.

They decided to form a "distinctive club" along the lines of those cities in the East which served as "watchdogs" over community doings. The idea of "just another luncheon club" didn't appeal to them, nor did continuing to meet, eat, and gripe about conditions without doing anything about them.

And so they formed The City Club of Portland. "No mossbacks or drones are wanted" said the attorney who became the Club's first secretary. The Club was never to deteriorate into a tool of special interests. To guarantee independence, the Club would be funded by dues paid by individual members. Neither politics nor money were to suppress ideas and ability. Character, intelligence, training, civic-mindedness, and a desire to help the community were wanted and fostered.

Over the ensuing 87 years, the City Club has provided a independent voice on such public affairs as education, tax reform, affordable housing, sustainability, gambling and oh so much more. Its absence would leave an enormous void in local politics and would probably elevate the chamber-of-commerce cum Portland Business Alliance as the main influence upon civic leaders. How icky is that?

Man's best friend, indeed: More dogs died this week in Portland, the result of pesticide-laced food strewn about Laurelhurst Park in early July. Depending on who you listen to, the death toll is as high as 16 or as low as 11.

If any good has come of this sickening episode, it's the long-awaited change to park rules to allow unleashed areas for dogs and an outpouring of support for a reward fund so great contributions had to be capped. [Although curmudgeon Phil Stanford of the Portland Tribune makes a valid, if piquant, point about priorities in his Tuesday column.]

Tasteless Pig Latin one-liner for today: "Uday, are-ay ou-yay ead-day?" As if anyone would have any doubt after today's release of the death photos. Ech-yay! [Thanks, Bob R.]

Programming note: Some days ago, WWP posted an item about the new Bravo cable program, touting the new program "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." It bills itself as "five gay men, out to make over the world — one straight guy at time." According to the Bravo website,

The Fab Five are an an elite team of gay men dedicated to extolling the simple virtues of style, taste and class. Each week their mission is to transform a style-deficient and culture-deprived straight man from drab to fab in each of their respective categories: fashion, food & wine, interior design, grooming and culture.

Non-cable TV viewers will get their chance to see the program tonight, when NBC airs the first episode at 9:30, appropriately enough, right after "Will and Grace." As they say, check your local listings. [Thanks, Steve K.]

Mayor Vera Katz makes it official today by announcing she will not run for a fourth term as Portland mayor. It's a good call on her part, for surely she must have realized that she was not re-electable. Don't mistake Worldwide Pablo: Vera Katz is a charming and wonderful woman, and WWP adores her delightful personality and whacky humor. And like others, he is moved and inspired by her courage and example as a breast cancer survivor.

But as a politician, it's another matter. Not alone has WWP come to abhor Vera for her repeated lack of leadership, the coziness with monied developers, her tin ear to the needs of every-day Portlanders, and her haughty, impractical and occasionally heavy-handed single-mindedness about Portland's future.

And then there's the police bureau. Don't get WWP started, but suffice it to say that 11 years should have been enough time to reform an organization that citizens have come to fear more than trust. In any other arena, the self-absorbed, semi-autonomous and occasionally lawless Portland Police Bureau would be seized and shut down under racketeering laws.

Add to all this Vera's dreamy pie-in-the-sky covered highway hopes, misguided statue relocation proposals (remember the Portlandia doozy?), the major league baseball dreams, the visions of neighborhoods where only happy, shiny yuppies (nearly all of them white, by the way) roam, the self-induced traffic congestion, the inattention to anything outside of the realm of her two zip codes (work and home) … it's amazing she lasted as long as she has.

In fact, this exit comes about four or eight years too late, in WWP's view.

It's instructive to learn how Vera reached her decision not to run again. According to the Big O's article:

Katz said she reached her decision largely by herself and talking with her adult son Jesse and ex-husband Mel. She cemented it a couple weeks ago by spending a week's vacation at her Northwest Portland home wondering whether she might change her mind. She didn't.

Yep, that's right. Vera reached this decision just about like every other in her 11 miserable years at the city's helm: essentially devoid of outside input, relying on the judgment of her most-valued adviser – herself. Some things never change.

Bring on the next election.

Postscript: Anyone else notice the odd, midweek timing of Vera's decision? Word is that she announced it on Wednesday to intentionally snub the Tuesday/Friday-only Portland Tribune, which she is said to loathe. That's our mayor. A class(less) act, right up to the end.

WWP correspondent Lindsay T. passes along this report from the Wall Street Journal:

Always on the prowl against an Anglo-Saxon linguistic invasion, the French Culture Ministry is hoping to stamp out the widely used "e-mail" by adopting a Quebecois compromise. Despite the existence of an officially sanctioned alternative -- "courrier electronique," the literal translation of electronic mail -- many French have continued to use "e-mail," pronouncing it "ey-mayal." The ministry's General Commission on Terminology and Neology decided recently to follow Quebec's use of "courriel," a smoother, truncated version, and it announced a ban on the use of "e-mail" in all government documents, publications and websites.

To which WWP can only say, Mon dieu!

Required reading: If you only read one other blog today, make it the "ReachM High Cowboy." WWP warns you: Get a hankie first before clicking through.

Additional reading: Now jobless Portlanders can look forward to "funemployment" compensation! At the Onion, of course.

One of the many customs among bloggers is the interlinking among blogs, you know, the "you link me, I'll link you" tango. Worldwide Pablo is delighted at his reception in the Oregon blogoculture. He happily acknowledges the local blogs kind enough to point readers his way, and he enthusiastically returns the favor.

Check 'em out:

Terra Firma Diaries offers extensive, interesting and essential news and tips about herbs, organic gardening, recipes and way much more. WWP learned a thing or two.

what if…? by Claire offers daily views, frequently whimsical, often serious, about news that matters to WWP. [For example: Check out the good stuff about a certain giant chemical company.]

The aforementioned ReachM High Cowboy ("putting the yippie back into the yippie-ki-yi-yo") takes on the news of the day – in clever, original and frequently poignant ways.

Blog Junky ("For the political omnivore") digests the truly meaty political news of the day. Bonus points for clever cartoons!

Beerdrinker.org scores points for local musings and very timely news. WWP read about U.S. Attorney General Ashcroft's Friday media pep rally here first.

And last but not least, WWP friend and blogging confidant, Jason E., has his new blog, What in the Blue Hell? Description eludes WWP. You'll have to read it to understand "Theocracy's Bastard Child."

Enjoy 'em all. There's a lot of good reading, and good talent, out there.

Two articles in last week's Big O illustrate the two trends in the Oregon's tax structure, which taken together, explain exactly why our once-prized state is in its current death spiral. A front-page article a week ago Saturday recounted the legislature's struggle to stabilize government revenues.

Testimony showed that problems with the state's tax system are well known. With no general sales tax and limited property taxes, the state is dependent on high income tax rates. Yet revenue from the income tax is volatile, meaning it brings in more money than expected in good economic times but less than needed in bad times….

And then Wednesday, a Business section report revealed that Oregon's collection of corporate taxes has tumbled 24.8 percent [$80 million] in the last year, in part to the sagging economy, but also in large part because of creative tax shelters and other exotic tax dodges devised by businesses to avoid paying taxes.

Bottom line: When tax time cometh, who picks up the tab? You, the individual taxpayer, of course. More and more every day. All of which makes the Oregon's "wait and see" approach to tax reform all the more maddening. At least one state is getting it right.

Related reading assignment: Check out Nicholas Kristof's excellent column on Washington's indifference to the plight of state and local governments. Once again, Oregon is the poster child for Good States Gone Bad. [From the Saturday New York Times and reprinted in today's Big O.]