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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (June 16, 2005)
• Last Saturday morning • We caught bits and pieces of the two-hour Jefferson Smith, a ’96 UO “conversation” with John Musumeci on political science graduate, KOPT-AM radio Tuesday and we’d be inter- challenged the ’05 UO poli ested to hear what listeners think. Did the sci grads to “change funda- program sound like progressive radio or mentally the mechanisms just another conservative talk show? Did by which we govern our- host Nancy Stapp ask any hard questions selves.” As founder and direc- (we might have missed them) or was it tor of the Oregon Bus Project, mostly superficial? Do you buy into Smith is working at that chal- Musumeci’s justifications for his past Gang of 9 lenge himself. His project website campaign of character assassination? Is he using talks about involving young people, his radio station to further his personal political Jefferson Smith bridging the urban-rural divide, going agenda and his business interests, or is he really to the grassroots — “combining fun with the serious busi- providing a public service? Have we learned anything ness of politics.” Smith closed his ringing commencement beyond how to pronounce his name? Repeat after me: remarks with a series of questions “our own grandchil- muse-oo-meechy. dren will ask,” such as: “Where were you when we still had plenty of fossil fuels? Where were you back before the temperature of the earth was threatening to rise and melt icecaps? Where were you when the country’s election system and economic system were relatively corruption free? Where were you when the U.S. still was the envy of world markets? Where were you when Oregon threat- ened the nation’s shortest school year? Where were you when the country was at the turning point of history — deciding what kind of place we wanted to be, and how we were going to get there? And we’ll be able to say, we were here: doing some- thing, and saying something, answer- ing history’s questions. We were here.” • Craigslist.com is fun to play with and now has a Eugene page, but be warned. We read on MSNBC online that the infamous Nigerian scammers have discovered Craigslist and will offer to buy your advertised stuff and arrange shipping, sending cashiers checks and money orders that turn out to be fake, even though your bank might accept them initially. They may also try to rent your advertised house or apartment, send you a bad check (or too large a check), then ask for a refund. PayPal scams are also appearing and send unwary people to fake websites that look legitimate. Sneaky bastards are out to get us. EW classified ads are still cheap, effective and relatively scam-free, and they support the work we do. SLANT includes short opinion pieces, observations and rumor-chasing notes compiled by the EW staff. Heard any good rumors lately? Contact Ted Taylor at 484-0519, editor@eugeneweekly.com • This is a turning point in history and several local powerhouses are lining up this week to call for the impeach- ment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney. We wish more politically engaged people would express such courage, clarity and conviction. Former Congressman Jim Weaver will make his case for impeachment at 4 pm Friday in room 127 of Chiles Hall, across from the UO Bookstore. He will be joined by the eminent scientist Frank Stahl. For the past year, Stahl has been distributing fliers on campus that describe the Iraq war as illegal and unconstitution- al. Pacifica Forum Chairman Orval Etter will be there, and perhaps oth- ers. This is the kind of ruckus Charlie Porter would love to join, but we are sad to hear the distinguished former congressman’s health is failing. • Meanwhile, alternative media, including Internet sites and blogs, have taken the lead in telling the story of the Downing Street Memo (see DowningStreetMemo.com and AfterDowningStreet.org), about how U.S. and British top-level officials plotted to invent reasons to invade Iraq while claiming to pursue diplo- macy and inspections. If true, and it certainly appears to be, this docu- ment is a thousand times more damning to the Bush administration than Nixon’s Watergate fiasco. Congressional hearings are in order. We have a right to know just how badly we’ve been lied to. JUNE 16, 2005 9
