Bi-Weekly Clips - Legislative Facade Ends

Readers:

Welcome to the uncensured bi-weekly clips compiled by younger Oregonians for your consideration with other information sources in block below.

The Oregon Legislature’s short session ended Friday evening.  Once we see what the Governor signs into law we will update readers.  Noted a media article claiming the session was a roaring bipartisan cheerful experience.  Apparently, the reporter was not in Salem.  That is not what we witnessed, experienced, or even heard from Democrat State Senators.  So-called campaign finance to enshrine Citizens United was done in secret by corporate and union oligarch negotiators while the budget rebalance was even more secret than usual with the Speaker of the House dictating budgets according to Democrats who spoke with me. 

After Super Tuesday, it is clear most Millennials and Gen Z want a younger President than the two main D/R choices this Fall.  To me, it is the economy but I'm a old Boomer, guess we better get ready for the Millennials as they are what's left to fix the future?  

The bi-weekly clips for your consideration with your other sources of information:

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OREGON

The Ninth Circuit Court ruled against a temporary injunction to run for Senators who denied quorum in protest of a disturbing medical secrecy bill in spring 2023, saying free speech is ‘a privilege.’ Read more here. This is concerning for all elected officials because the people electing them should decide if they are done, meaning it would make sense to let them be on the ballot again so the people can decide. Instead, government bureaucrats are making the call to not let these Senators back on the ballot. Even with the passage of Measure 113, the language was wonky enough that these Senators should be allowed on the ballot to let the people decide once and for all.

Wonder if this session wrapped up in “high spirits” because certain people in power are excited many Republican senators were ousted, and this leaves room for new people who could potentially be more easily manipulated?

From KGW: The 2024 legislative session officially adjourned. Which bills passed?

From Newport News Times: “The Oregon Senate has unanimously passed SB 1520, a bill which allows Oregon wildfire victims to recover and rebuild their lives without the additional strain of taxation or settlements related to their wildfire losses. ‘SB 1520 is the result of a year-long bipartisan effort to give wildfire victims financial relief needed to rebuild their homes and get their lives back on track,” Sen. Brian Boquist (R-Dallas), who introduced the measure, said. “Now that many victims of recent wildfires have received their settlements from Pacific Power, they want to begin the process of rebuilding. However, they often can’t because they owe roughly 45 percent of their net settlement to the state and federal government in taxes. The tax relief provided in this bill means many of these wildfire victims will have the ability to begin rebuilding their homes, businesses, and communities.’”

NATIONAL

Headline by National Review: President Steroids shouts his way through the State of the Union with this quote, “By shouting through almost the entire speech, Biden maximized the odds that any clip or segment that went viral would have him looking fired up and impassioned rather than like the sleepy, whispery, mumbling octogenarian that Americans have soured on so thoroughly.”

Nikki Haley ends presidential bid. There are smart and innovative people in the U.S.A., and it is beyond disappointing Trump and Biden are the two presidential candidates again. They are both divisive in upsetting ways. The “deep state” or those in control of the government machine have picked the people they think will continue to push the America as #1 internationally, but domestic conflict could easily get out of control. It will be interesting to see how voter turnout is for 2024.

Last point on this, back in 2016 when Trump ran the first time, the Republican candidate pool was fantastic. There were incredible people in the Republican primary, all showing how diverse the red side could be. It’s not like that anymore. Back then, Trump’s crazy candor got him the nomination, but it seemed to have been earned fair and square. This time, he’s not been out of the media for more than 2 seconds (CNN needs him in strong headlines for clicks and money), and all the headlines around him have been purely for show (they attempted to impeach him 2 times for goodness sake). But he’s been top of mind, nonetheless. There’s a reason why the Colorado court case didn’t go through – the media and government needs Trump to be able to run. If he loses again, it will create just enough unrest to keep Americans divided from each other for even longer. When Presidents do not care about hardworking Americans. It’s rare to find a politician in D.C. who does.

VIDEO: One take on voting that is meant to be funny, and it is, but could be an indicator of an unmotivated voting population.

Articles pushing war tend to use WWII as an example since it motivates modern generations as WWII is extraordinarily glorified. Think about all the new WWII movies that come out every year as an example.

• VIDEO, start at 2:46 (this is a very strange TikTok, but the content is relevant to the above point on war)

CONSPIRACY CORNER

The Democrats invented a conspiracy theory for media coverage leading into the highly anticipated Super Bowl and blamed the “right-wingers” for spreading it. CBS News reports: “Myriad baseless rumors emerged on social media — everything from claims that Swift has played a part in Pentagon psychological operations to the idea that she and her two-time Super Bowl champion boyfriend are key assets in a secret plot to help President Biden get reelected in 2024. Another variant: That the Chiefs' success was rigged as part of the plan for the game on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas.”

The number 13 was relevant in the Super Bowl though, and the theories behind why are interesting.

It’s annoying this became a political conspiracy because everyday people could’ve been asking themselves if the February game was “rigged” solely due to the fame of some of the people involved (Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, Patrick Mahomes). This isn’t the first time such a theory has floated. How could the latest media darlings lose? The NFL stands to make too much money with the Swift/Kelce romance and Taylor herself is benefitting from the attention (except for the flight trackers, as her team is currently going after a college-age lad for doing just that, though he is using publicly available research to do so).

But some people who are probably more right leaning are calling Travis Kelce “Mr. Pfizer” due to his participation in their advertisements. This writer thinks pop superstar, Taylor Swift, would stay away from any political commentary if she could but has to speak out on Lefty issues to keep her fans happy.

Of course there are theories that the Swift/Kelce romance is purely PR. What do you think?

GLOBAL/WORLD

Ukraine/Russia

From POLITICO: Biden’s speech thrills Ukraine watchers. Others, not so much. The byline: It’s a lot easier to start a speech with Ukraine than Israel. (more on this topic below)

CNBC reports: Biden ‘determined’ not to deploy U.S. troops to Ukraine; Chinese delegation meets in Kyiv.

Foreign Affairs on the need for more American money, meanwhile Colorado has a hospital that may go bankrupt due to the migrant crisis since they do not have to pay for medical care: Time is running out in Ukraine; Kyiv cannot capitalize on Russian military weakness without U.S. aid. Where should we be spending money?

India is well on its way to becoming an international darling with this headline, “India busts trafficking racket duping people into fighting for Russia in Ukraine.”

From Reuters: Russia says it neutralized ISIS cell plotting attack on Moscow synagogue.

From BBC: Sweden formally joins Nato military alliance.

From Reuters (older but relevant): Prominent Ukrainian army unit launches own recruitment drive to strengthen ranks.

Israel

U.S. Jews’ political views according to Pew Research: “Pew Research Center surveys, including the 2020 study, show that Jews are among the most consistently liberal and Democratic groups in the U.S. population. Seven-in-ten Jewish adults identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party, and half describe their political views as liberal.”

With the above in mind, the Biden admin is clearly struggling with its Israel messaging. The loudest leftists are pro-Hamas, while the media has a pro-Israel bias, unless it’s an outlet like Vox. Vox is asking if Biden and the Democrats are “turning” on Israel. On the one hand, CNN is reporting about the devastation in Gaza as Israel is the aggressor, and on the other hand, Google fired someone who protested an Israel tech event. Out here in Oregon, the Multnomah County board embarrassingly passed a Gaza cease-fire resolution. What’s that gonna do exactly?

Afghanistan

From The Hill: “Steven Nikoui, the father of a Marine killed during the U.S. withdrawal of Afghanistan, was arrested Thursday evening for shouting from a House gallery at President Biden during his State of the Union address.” Nikoui was invited to the State of the Union by Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.); the article continues, “‘He was arrested because he cried out to Joe Biden to remember his son,” Mast wrote. “Joe Biden has never honored those killed at the Abby Gate and still hails the catastrophic withdrawal as a success!’” Biden’s behavior during the dignified transfer ceremony of those killed in action came under scrutiny.

From Atlantic Council: Inside Afghanistan’s gender apartheid.

From Mrs. Magazine: Taliban’s Afghanistan: A country of only men. Taliban revels in its male-dominated society, while women languish under house arrest or in jail for daring to defy the Taliban.

From BBC: “An Afghan judge who has been forced to go into hiding from the Taliban was wrongly refused relocation to the UK, the High Court has ruled.” An example of abandoning allies in the frenzied Afghanistan withdrawal?

From Reuters: U.S. panel postpones meeting to hold Blinken in contempt over Afghanistan. Politics over lives.

Recommended listening: What is Left to Solve by Rogue Wave

Information in the bi-weekly clips can be used for preparing legislative actions, functions, purposes, and responses for potential future enactments in Oregon.

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Again, once we see the smoke and mirrors clearing from the thirty-day session we will point out some highlights or warnings.  The winners were big government at the state, county and city levels along with the public employee unions.  Welcome to corporate union feudalism?

In the meantime, gas prices are up 20%, grocery prices are up, electricity is up, unemployment is up, and the propaganda of ‘happy days are here again’ in DC is up!  Let's go to war is the DC Swamp Dweller chant !!!

Remember, Millennials and Gen Z are the future not us ... better start listening whether we like it or not.  And anyone who claims to support veterans needs to remember who fought and died in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Jordan, Yemen, and shortly Gaza & Ukraine ... it is not Boomers, Silents nor many Gen X'ers.

Government serves Government not the People.  Does it serve Corporate Union Feudalism?

Be prepared.  Be informed.  Be ready.  Be prayerful.

De oppresso liber.

Sincerely,

Brian Boquist

Oregon State Senator

 

State of the Union 2024.  Strangest ever heard. 

One of fifty plus Presidential candidates.  Who?

Never heard of this Senator but certainly a war monger … ?

If China is enemy #1 you would not know from Biden’s speech?