scribblings from a deist transhumanist libertarian minarchist citizen soldier

Portland, Oregon

Posted by Trevor in under other on Sep 20th, 2008 | View Comments |

I spent most of the week in Portland, Oregon.

Interesting city, to say the least. Great food, great atmosphere and a lot of bat shit crazy types wandering freely downtown. I lost track of how many times I got panhandled. The vast majority of the people were very polite when I told them I didn’t have any change for them.

One incident wasn’t as polite. A lady got her purse snatched by another lady. I gave chase, along with a couple of hotel bellhops from the Westin. The Snatcher made it about a block when out of the blue she got clotheslined by a super guy, super happy guy. He was eating a sandwich and made a snap decision – throw down the sandwich and do a reverse purse snatch. He was ultimately successful and other members of the public caught the perpetrator and held her for police. The key point in mentioning this incident is that the public got involved and provided community security services, which I applaud.

I saw numerous people wearing Obamagear. At a used clothing store called The Red Light the sign outside proudly announced that they had Obama socks back in stock. I asked how well they were selling – like hotcakes. Nobody I talked to liked John McCain. I saw no stickers, no signs and no other evidence of any support for the old, pale white guy downtown. In fact, when I asked about him, people gave me weird looks, like I was asking if they would consider sleeping with an alien or how they would feel about performing surgery on themselves.

Beautiful city. I jogged downtown by the river a couple of times and the wide range of types of people was a fascinating study. I’d love to visit again.

My hosting company went DOWN this week, and the blog was out of commission for three days. MIdphase is not on my Christmas list right now.

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Dan Patrick

I lived in Mid California for a year, and I really enjoyed my time on the West Coast. I'd love to take a trip to Portland or Seattle some time. There are plenty of anti-authoritarian liberals with whom I'd get along. I grew up in Alabama and arrived at libertarianism by first being a fiscal conservative with only mild social conservative tendencies. Most of the people I knew growing up were conservatives, but now that I've lived in more places, I'm finding a lot in common with my socially liberal acquaintances. I just have to sell them on the benefits of laizzez-faire economic policies. :mrgreen:

Chris

I am a Portland native even though I no longer live there. They don't call it Little Beirut for no reason.

I am proud to be from Oregon but far from proud of its political ideals. I miss the scenery and the authentic community you could find if you really looked for it.

Kitanis is right -- not only is the eastern side of the state more of a desert climate, but the folks there are vastly conservative and it is refreshing. That's why we have Gordon Smith in the Senate.

Trevor

Not sure about "vastly" conservative. Doesn't sound anymore appealing than "vastly" liberal. I'm somewhere in between.

kitansi

WOW Trevor!

You should have wrote me a email before you left.. I live in Portland. At the very least.. Could had that beer i said I owed you.

Your right about the Obama mania around here..Heck.. if you went to the NE side there is street vendors EVERYWHERE for selling his T-shirts and Hoodies.. But there is support for John McCain.. they just have to remain low-key because the Obama supporters openly berate them. But the story in Oregon is whole different ball game in the Eastern Half of the state.. its mainly full of conservatives.. but the Western half has the numbers which is why Oregon is considered a Democratic bastion now.

Ron Paul had a BUNCH of people passing out flyers for him during the primary.. Unfortunately.. Fred Thompson dropped out of the race before his planned visit to the area.

During the primary.. I went to a bar with some friends. I was the only independent/conservative type in the group.. several couples were for Edwards and one couple was for Hillary.. and She was praising that womans speech in Salem the day before.. The table next to us were a bunch of young people who asked for the my friend to shut up... and one indicated they liked Obama. Cindy, my friend only said fine.. but she considered Hillary the person to elect loudley.

I watched as two of the young people got up.. went to the bar manager and then watched the bar manager come to our table and told us to get out.. period. My friends got angry and left.. I myself told the manager to go call a cop because I was going to finish my beer before leaving. I was mildley ammused when a officer did arrive.. just as I was draining the last of my glass. I spoked with him for a few after I left the building.. and was very surprised when he told me that the department policy would have forced him to charge me with disorderly conduct. I asked him about the 1st Amendment ratifications of the bar managers complaint, he adminitted to me that he was in agreement with me but department policy was to be enforced (This is in Gresham.. next door to Portland.

Liberals and democrats around here like to tout tolerance.. until you talk against their sainted candidates

Trevor

Now that I know your home base, I'll email you before I visit again. I'll probably be back for another user conference in a year or two.