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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on January 26, 2007 3:00 PM. The previous post in this blog was Out with the real, in with the fake. The next post in this blog is Surprise! Special meeting!. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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Friday, January 26, 2007

New streetcar builder is a Bush-Cheney man

As the spectacular waste of money known as the Portland streetcar keeps spreading like a giant, sticky puddle of red ink, now comes word that some of the cars may eventually be built locally. Our congressional pork-catchers just made the much-anticipated announcement that Oregon Iron Works, with facilities in Clackamas and Vancouver, will be developing the capability to build its own streetcars, in hopes of selling them to sucker municipalities all over the country.

So who is Oregon Iron Works? A quick run through the web shows that it's a substantial steel fabrication outfit run by a guy named Terry Aarnio, who, lo and behold, apparently likes to give his money to George Bush and the Republican National Committee; he stood in line to kiss Dick Cheney's ring when the Dickster lurched into town a few years ago. But then, knowing on which side his bread is buttered, Aarnio's also coughed up a few bucks for the campaigns of Patty Murray and Brian Baird, the incumbents up in Vancouver, where he's got a ton of dough invested in plant.

Oregon Iron Works also recently announced that it's branching out into building ocean-going barges. Little wonder, then, that Aarnio's been known to shoot a few hundred bucks now and then to guys like Jim Oberstar, the Minnesota Democratic congressman who's running the House transportation committee.

But Aarnio's political contributions are nothing compared to what his company pays out to Ball Janik for lobbying. Oregon Iron Works apparently does a lot of work for the Pentagon -- that likely explains all the Gucci Gulch activity.

Anyway, in the end, it's nice to see that some of the federal dollars we're burning for the shiny condo-selling toys are staying local. Not in Multnomah County, of course -- nothing real is made here any more -- but at least there should be some additional building activity in Clackamas and the 'Couv.

Alas, we'll get no help from anybody on the millions needed to operate the streetcar every year. That part will continue to come straight from the Portland taxpayers -- the ones who are paralyzed at the first sign of a snowflake because the city can't afford a snow plow.

Comments (9)

Alas, we'll get no help from anybody on the millions needed to operate the streetcar every year.
But what a bargan at only $1.67 per passenger-mile

thanks
JK

Typical Jack. Lets focus on the contractor....a businessman doing what he should do - further his business.

Now, instead of venting your Bush/Cheney vitriol at the guy who is building the cars and contributing to the Oregon economy that supports all of you Bush-hating 'progressives' and probable employs many of them, why not vent at the LIBERAL politicians that awarded him the contract? Why is the builder's political affiliation even a factor?

You should at least be praising the fact that the contract went to a local company, that will create Oregon jobs, pay Oregon taxes, and benefit all of you ankle-biting Bush haters here in Oregon. It will obviously contribute to an increased 'kicker' next year. Take you money and donate it to the Edwards campaigne.

that will create Oregon jobs, pay Oregon taxes, and benefit all of you ankle-biting Bush haters here in Oregon.

Not if he does the work in Vancouver.

I do think it's funny that the Democratic leaders of Oregon are all strutting around patting themselves on the back today for getting a contract for a wasteful project to a loyal devotee of the Cult of the Chimp.

BTW, that's your last "typical Jack" comment on this site, "Butchie."

I do think it's funny that the Democratic leaders of Oregon are all strutting around patting themselves on the back today for getting a contract for a wasteful project to a loyal devotee of the Cult of the Chimp.

Seems to me that if the Democratic leaders had shipped the jobs to somebody out of state just because they were a loyal DNC donor, you'd be screaming bloody hell here.

Nice to see 'em put jobs over politics, eh?

Which isn't to comment anything on whether it's "wasteful" or not.

Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) made special note at a news conference this week in Eugene that he sponsored the bill that (he says) will result in street cars being built in America. DeFazio also predicted streetcars will be the next big thing all across the U-S-of-A.

DeFazio also predicted streetcars will be the next big thing all across the U-S-of-A.

You mean other cities are getting a useless multi-million $$ project that takes up lanes of car traffic and is slower than walking too?

Jon: You mean other cities are getting a useless multi-million $$ project that takes up lanes of car traffic and is slower than walking too?
JK: Sadly, Portland has been turned into a showroom for toy trains.

They clam that MAX carries 26% of the commuters on the Sunset, but forget to say that is the same as one lane of freeway and that 2/3 of the commuters would be in a bus if MAX didn’t exist. Bottom line: MAX carries 1/3 of one lane of freeway for ONE BILLION dollars cost.

They forget to tell us that the streetcar costs $1.67 per passenger-mile in operating costs alone. (bus costs $0.835; taxi costs 2.50 /mile after a 2.50 boarding fee; private car costs $0.185)

They used to claim that LRT reduces congestion, but gave up on that claim when it bacame to obviously a lie to ignore, so now they claim that LRT directs development. But they forget to tell us that there was no development along Portland’s LRT for the first 10 years. Only after they starting subsidizing the cost of TODs, did the builders start building them.

They claim that high density reduces traffic congestion - it doesn’t.

For more lies that planners tell check out www.DebunkingPortland.com (All claims are linked back to the original, mostly government or newspaper, data sources - follow the links before you complain.)

Thanks
JK

...also coughed up a few bucks for the campaigns of Patty Murray and Brian Baird, the incumbents up in Vancouver, where he's got a ton of dough invested in plant.

Explain to me again, please, how this comment fits in with your hostility to publically financed elections.

That Jim Karlock is a real smart man, we should all do what he says...more freeways,more cars, Dang I wish I thought of that before...

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In Vino Veritas

Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
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Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
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McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
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Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
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La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
Cameron, Chardonnay
B.R. Cohn, Cabernet, Silver Label 2006
Graffigna, Cabernet 2005
Palo Alto, Reserve Red 2008
Menguante, Garnacha 2008
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Felsina Berardenga, Vin Santo 1997
Anne Amie, Pinot Gris 2009
McKinley Springs, Bombing Ramge Red 2007
Vieux Papes Red
Dionysius Chardonnay 2009
Haden Fig, Pinot Noir 2009
Vega Montan, Mencia 2008
Chateau la Vernede, Coteaux du Languedoc 2007
Mount Defiance, Hellfire (White) 2008
Root: 1, Cabernet 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Pinot Grigio 2009
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 White, 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 Rose, 2007
Abacela, Grenache Rose 2009
Avia Cabernet 2004
Lemelson Pinot Noir, Thea's Selection 2007
Chateau de la Roulerie, Rose d'Anjou 2009
Casal Garcia, Vinho Verde Rose
La Ferme Julien, Rose 2008
Cana's Feast, Bricco Red, 2006
Hogue, Genesis Merlot, 2008
Owen Roe, Sharecropper's Cabernet, 2008
Kim Crawford, Unoaked Chardonnay 2008
J. Scott, Pinot Noir 2008
Edmunds St. John, White, Heart of Gold 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2006
Stevenot, Cabernet, Sierra Foothills, "Stanford" 2000
Portuga, Vinho Rose 2009
Taylor Fladgate, First Estate Reserve Porto
Franciscan, Cabernet, Napa 2006
Chaparral de Vega Sindoa, Garnacha 2008
Quinta da Aveleda, Vinho Verde 2008
St. Francis, Chardonnay Sonoma 2008
E. Guigal, Cotes du Rhone Blanc, 2007
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Noir 2008
St. Innocent, Pinot Noir 2006
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Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Indian Wells 2007
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Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Rosé 2009
Cameron, Willamette Valley Chardonnay
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Domaine Matrot, Chardonnay, Bourgogne 2007
David Hill, Oregon Sparkling Wine, Brut
Chandler Reach, Monte Regalo 2006
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D'Aragon, Old Vine Garnacha 2008
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Pavin & Riley, Merlot 2006
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Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
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La Granja, Tempranillo 360, 2008
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The Occasional Book

Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
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Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
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William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 26
At this date last year: 15
Total run in 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
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