John Kasich Town Hall Medford, Oregon

GOP presidential candidate Governor John Kasich of Ohio arrived on time in Medford, Oregon, last night for a town hall meeting with perhaps 200 people or so, including yours truly.

All of the questions focused on domestic issues, especially student loan debt, "welfare" programs, and the economy in general.

This area of Oregon is very "red," and of course the obligatory self-righteous bitching about food stamps by somebody in the audience got asked. This in an area of the country where it is very difficult for people to find full-time work thanks to a still largely agricultural-based economy.

Kasich answered that question noting he didn't believe people should be thrown out into the streets and be cut off without some alternatives. He talked about policies about working for benefits and that sort of thing. He turned to where I was sitting, and I just happened to pop off with the fact that most people on SNAP benefits are working poor. He agreed with me, of course, but I am sure the poor people haters were not happy with a shot of truth.

Other than that, I kept my mouth shut. After it was over, of course almost everybody left, and I got to shake his hand at the meet and greet before he had to take off to California. Kasich is of average height and build. I didn't bring a piece of paper with me and a Sharpie for him to sign autographs because he did do that.

Kasich emphasized the positive, which made this group quite pleased. There were few or no Trump supporters in the crowd.

Some photos. Note the picture of the "debt clock." Kasich takes this everywhere on the campaign trail. You will recall he was big on cutting the deficit when he was in Congress:

Bill Clinton, Medford, Oregon, 3/30/08.

The following are clips of former president Bill Clinton's speech at North Medford High School, Medford, Oregon, on March 30, 2008. Over 1,000 people were there to see him.

I recorded all but about the last ten minutes of this speech. I guess I will need a bigger battery pack/more tapes in order to tape political speeches. When I used my Hi8 camcorder, I was always able to get the speeches, at least when the battery was charged up. Someday I will get those videos up for people to enjoy.

The remarks I recorded run about an hour.

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Part 9:

Oregon Primary.

Not surprisingly, exit polls point to a big Obama win.

Naturally the media will harp on this all night and not on Kentucky. The Kentucky results are too unpleasant.

Sen. Barack Obama will win today's Oregon Democratic presidential primary, according to NBC News exit poll projections.

The victory, combined with Obama's second-place finish in the Kentucky primary, pushed the Illinois senator to the brink of victory in a historic race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Before Oregon's delegates are tallied, Obama is within 100 delegates of the total needed to claim the top prize at the party convention this summer.

Oregon Primary.

About 1,100 people in Ashland, Oregon, heard former president Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea speak at the Southern Oregon University campus yesterday:

"If they didn't show up (to campaign in Oregon) that would change people's minds," said Mark Kesler of Ashland. "They need to keep pushing forward. They'd be silly not to if something happens to Obama and Hillary had already dropped out."

"I have high respect for her," said Melody Kamaunu of Ashland. "She's not giving up. That speaks volumes."

Even some Obama supporters were there and liked what the former president had to say:

At least one Obama supporter said Bill Clinton's remarks made him feel better about Hillary Clinton as a potential president.

"I'm really glad I listened to him," said Stallman, the Ashland man who brought his children to the rally. "I certainly feel better about our future. I feel a lot more informed walking away from this."

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Barack Obama finished off his Oregon swing in Pendleton, where he drew 3,200 people after his big rally in Portland. Crowd estimates there ranged from 30,000 to 75,000.
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Oregon Primary.

Some silly estimates had Obama's Portland crowd up to 70,000, although this article says it was more like 30,000.

Thirty thousand fools who didn't have anything better to do on a Sunday.

Bill and Chelsea Clinton were also canvassing the state on behalf of Senator Clinton.

Oregon Primary.

Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton will be in Ashland, Oregon, tomorrow.

Obama, meanwhile, will be campaigning in Roseburg.

Bill Clinton, as I mentioned yesterday, will be in Reno this morning, and he's probably already here, to speak at the Nevada State Democratic convention.

If I can get close enough, I'll take pictures of him.

As for Hillary Clinton, the shitting on her by the media continues. They continue to say it's over, but MI and FL WILL have their delegates seated, so Obama will NOT have the delegates necessary to declare a "win."

Oregon Primary.

It appears that according to one poll, Clinton has narrowed the gap with Obama. The only bad thing is because the state has mail-in voting, many if not most voters have already spoken.

Oregon Primary.

While Bill Clinton was very popular with the Grants Pass, Oregon, crowd yesterday when he made an appearance there, some clowns are still supporting Obama, not even knowing what the Chicago shitbag stands for, let alone not even realizing he's nothing but a Republican.

Clinton drew a BIG crowd of about 1.500 in Roseburg, which is a town of about 21,000 people. He stressed restoring the timber payments our dictator cut off from Oregon, which has simply devastated counties and caused Jackson County, Oregon, to close its entire library system only to reopen it with using a private contractor.

I like this part where Bill Clinton misspoke:

Clinton flubbed up only once — about halfway through his speech — when he said “You all want every young person in Rosebud to learn at global levels of excellence.”

A murmur went through the crowd and Clinton quickly caught himself.

“That’s what I said: Roseburg. That’s what I said. What did you think I said? Oh no, I said ‘Roseburg.’ I’m a Southerner. I slur my languages,” Clinton said to laughter from the crowd. “Rosebud was the sled in ‘Citizen Kane.’ I know the difference.”

About 800 people in Klamath Falls saw Bill Clinton later in the afternoon. That was his last Oregon stop before heading to Montana.

Dumb shit Oregon votes still think Obama is such a great candidate; he's polling twenty points ahead of Clinton.

Oregon has mail-in voting, so it is not likely voters will change their minds at this late date.

Oregon Primary.

Former president Clinton will make another appearance in the Rogue Valley, this one scheduled for tomorrow.

I won't be able to be there.
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Oregon Primary.

Interested readers can watch Hillary Clinton's complete Central Point, Oregon, speech here. When you consider the red eye she must have had coming in from West Virginia and South Dakota, she looks damned good.
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Both Democratic candidates brought differing approaches to their campaigns when they came to Oregon.

Oregon Primary.

Despite pressure from the punditocracy, Hillary Clinton said last night in Central Point, Oregon, she will stay in the race to the end.

She had been in West Virginia earlier in the day. No wonder she ran three hours behind.
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So much for the "half-filled" auditorium reports of last night. The place was nearly filled at the 1,200-seat Olsrud Arena.
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Supporters in Ashland, Oregon, say they don't want her to quit.
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Oregon Primary.

Hillary Clinton filled about half of the 1,200-seat Jackson County Exposition Park tonight when she had her town hall meeting. As of now (8:30), she is supposed to be there.

I wonder if any of my relatives went to it.

She raised over $100,000 in Ashland. She arrived in the Rogue Valley about three hours behind schedule.

Naturally the media are talking her down--again.

Oregon Primary.

Southern Oregon residents prepare themselves for Hillary Clinton's visit tonight.
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Campaign Notes.

Today is yet another primary today, but on Thursday Hillary Clinton will be in Medford, Oregon, at a town hall meeting at the exposition park in nearby Central Point.

She will also be at a fundraiser in Ashland, but that will cost an arm and a leg.
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Today are the Indiana and North Carolina primaries, and we will soon find out of Clinton's Ace up her sleeve has had a positive effect on her campaign.
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Oregon Primary.

Bill Clinton spoke in Junction City yesterday on behalf of Hillary talking about the need to restore rural economies.
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Campaign Notes.

Oregon starts gearing up for its upcoming presidential primary, as for the first time in many years, its results could actually matter in the Democratic race for president.

Former president Bill Clinton visited North Bend on behalf of wife Hillary.

Democratic voter registration has surged in the state. I am not going to make the cynical remark there are a bunch of Republicans living there who want to rig the primary to benefit McCain.

If Hillary Clinton is going after Obama, it is entirely fair.

Campaign Notes.

Senator Clinton (and possibly Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton), plans to make a Medford, Oregon, appearance during the week of April 6.
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Barack Obama spoke about the economy today.
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Rev. Wright didn't think much of Italians, either:

Wright's latest controversy comes from a eulogy he wrote for Asa Hilliard. The article appeared in a November/December 2007 edition of Trumpet, a magazine run by Wright's daughters. He was quoted as calling Italians "garlic noses" and saying Jesus' crucifixion was "a public lynching Italian-style."

The comments were written before Obama publicly denounced other controversial statements by Wright.

Campaign Notes.

Bill and Hillary Clinton could be showing up in southern Oregon in the next few weeks in anticipation of the Oregon primary.

Years ago, when the primary season was more stretched out, Oregon in general and southern Oregon in particular were major stops for presidential candidates.

It hasn't been the case since 1976, so this is good news.

Meanwhile, the city prepares for Barack Obama's visit to Medford this morning. He will have a town hall meeting in about an hour.

Campaign Notes.

I won't be up there that soon, but Obama is going to be at my hometown of Medford, Oregon, this Saturday.

This contest is going all the way to the convention.
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