The Q & A after Betsy Johnson spoke was like a lovely dinner party with friends, it was conversation, friendly banter along with testimonials of encounters with Betsy woven in with questions citizens asked this night. Betsy answered all.
The Executive Club has been meeting monthly for decades and by "Executive" they mean anybody and everybody with a love of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Missed terribly, during the last two years and a half years, under self-described "Revenge is best served cold and slowly" Oregon Governor Kate Brown, has been in-person community, conversation, connection and laughter. When people push away from their keyboards, get out, come out, that moment of realization hits them like a red rubber ball, just how badly isolation hurt families, children, the elderly and communities in general in the last two and a half years.
The night with Betsy was a breath of fresh air. One long time attendee, Lee, grows what looks like the biggest blackberries ever seen in Multnomah County. She came bearing gifts.
People are tired and exhausted from having to choose a political label then hew to that label or else self-designated party "leaders" who exhibit and manifest angry extreme views turn their wrath on anyone they deem to be "...getting out of line...." and must be banned from meetings and on-line social platforms where they are then mocked and defamed to others.
Both extremes Democrat and Republican parties wonder why turn-out is so low in the primary election seasons? Republicans say they want Democrats to become Republicans, but after they do and they perchance voice something self-designated "extreme" leaders don't like, they are yelled at that, they aren't "a real Republican they are really a progressive Democrat!"
It was noted at the event the kind, low key Republican leaders who have just done the work for decades like former Multnomah County Republican Party treasurer Greg Tenney, immediately left his table to greet Betsy as she arrived and shook her hand welcoming her.
This was also the week that we the people decided Kate Brown's pandemic was over and whole communities went mask free with nary a chin riding mask seen, none around the neck, none held in hand, no furtive looks around to see if they might be attacked by an approaching masked one (there were no such people around), none sticking out of purses, pockets or hanging on rear view mirrors.
TPNW asked random voters in one neighborhood who signed Betsy Johnson's petition to get her on the ballot as a non-affiliated candidate for governor why they signed. They included Democrats, Republicans and non-affiliated registered voters.
Some said they tried both parties and were disgusted with both parties. One NAV (non-affiliated voter) didn't know Betsy, but asked if she was running to oppose Tina Kotek. When the answer was yes, he said, "That's all I need to know."
Another neighbor said, "I LOVE her, she rides the edge of bitch!". Another neighbor a Republican, said no, "the gun thing" then said yes, "to split the vote", but then after he signed said, "I do like Betsy." Two neighbors, man and wife, one Democrat the other Republican said, "We already decided to vote for her."
When people look at Betsy's life the question must be asked, what liberal or conservative woman wouldn't vote for Betsy? Taking out, of course, both ends of the extremes in each party.
Some thought Betsy was already on the ballot, not understanding the non-affiliated candidate process that ends on August 15th to get the petitions into the Secretary of State's office.
Those interested in letting Oregonians choose can download petitions here:
More about Betsy here:
https://www.runbetsyrun.com/meet_betsy
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August 5, 2022
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