Category: Knute Buehler

Oregon Republicans suffer huge losses in 2018. But is there hope?

Oregon Republicans suffer huge losses in 2018. But is there hope?

Show Summary: After 30 years of losing the governorship, and huge losses in 2018, Oregon Republicans are starting to feel like the Charlie Browns of the political world. But there’s hope to turn their luck around. Find out why.

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Original Air Dates: Nov. 17 & 18, 2018 |  Jayne Carroll & Sam Carpenter

This Week:  There’s the famous 1969 TV commercial, where a boy asks Mr. Owl, “How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?” You know the answer. One… two… three.

How many losses, how many lickings, will it take before the Oregon Republican Party makes the changes needed to finally win in Oregon?

It’s been 30 years (thirty!) since the last time Republicans won. 2018 was no different. Oregon Republicans lost the governor’s race again. But Knute Buehler’s race hurt down-ballot races as well. Oregon Republicans lost so badly to the Democrats that the Democrats have a super-majority in both the Oregon house and senate.

How many more losses will it take before something changes? That’s what we’d like to know.

Oregon Republicans: Aftermath of 2018 Midterms

On last week’s I Spy Radio Show, we talked about some bright spots in the 2018 midterms. Namely, some 2nd Amendment ballot initiatives that passed in eight counties. Eight. But we also talked about how Knute Buehler, the Republican candidate for governor, kept shooting himself in the foot by turning his back on his Republican base.

But we didn’t talk about the party itself.  That’s this week.

Fixing the Oregon Republican Party

Oregon Republicans - after huge 2018 losses, can they finally turn their luck around?
Oregon Republicans. The Charlie Brown of Republican politics?

Maybe “fixing the Oregon Republicans” is the wrong way to put it (given the 2018 results, they’re already pretty neutered). But something has to be done.

What has happened to Oregon’s Republican party that led to the smacking we saw it take this last election?  Does nothing need to change? If nothing needs changed, then why do R’s keep losing? If something needs to change, then what needs fixed to turn Republicans into winners?

Without asking those question we can’t move forward. Clearly, something needs to change because it’s blatantly obvious that how the party has always handled its business is just not working anymore. It’s not just a matter of “get better candidates.”

Make Oregon Republicans Successful Again

So we call upon two people who have different insights from two different perspectives.  One who has observed and reported on politics but has also managed campaigns and ballot initiatives.  And the other who has been a candidate and saw the dysfunction up close and personal—not only as a candidate but as a businessman who was a highly successful business  consultant, specializing in turning around failing businesses.

Jayne Carroll: A Political Observer’s View

Jayne Carroll kicks off the show. We talk about Knute, his strategy to woo Democrats, what we can expect from two years of Democrat stranglehold, and the unfair and confusing ballot measures that have led to some people still thinking that “at least the grocery tax was defeated.” (No. It wasn’t.) Tune in to where the 2018 ballot measures are leading us and her thoughts on how the Oregon Republicans can start making inroads into the heart of the Blue Swamp, Portland and Eugene.

Sam Carpenter: Candidate & Businessman’s Solutions

Then we turn to gubernatorial candidate Sam Carpenter, who discusses what happened during the primary. You may be surprised (shocked) at the supports the Oregon Republicans offer to candidates. Or doesn’t.

We also ask him if he was a business turnaround consultant coming in to the ORP to fix its problems what would he do. It turns out, not only does he give specific examples of what needs to be fixed, Sam has decided to put action to his words and has announced he’ll be running for the Chair of the ORP.  Leadership means everything and Sam wants to apply his skills of correcting an organization that continues its downward spiral that he wants to stop.

Are You Satisfied with the Oregon Republicans?

Are you satisfied with the Oregon Republican Party? Do we keep doing what we’ve been doing? Or is it time for something to change? Tune in to hear our guests to hear their suggested fixes — and then let us know what you think needs to happen to Make Oregon Red Again.

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Five Different Times, Six Different Stations. Listen anywhere — All stations stream live!

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10a – 11a: KFIR 720AM (entire Willamette Valley) | Direct Link to KFIR Live Stream
11a – noon: KLBM 1450AM (Union County) | Direct Link to KLBM Live Stream
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Links Mentioned

Hope in Darkness – Hidden Election Victories and Veterans Day

Hope in Darkness – Hidden Election Victories and Veterans Day

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Show Summary: So Oregon’s Midterm Elections didn’t go the way we wanted but there were some overlooked victories that give some hope for the next one. Yes, even here in solid blue Oregon. Election wrap-up coverage plus some hope for recovering veterans on Veterans Day.

Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, starting May 5, 2018
I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of July 2018. Click for full-size map.

Five Different Times, Six Different Stations. Listen anywhere! All stations stream live!

Saturdays
10a – 11a: KFIR 720AM (entire Willamette Valley) | Direct Link to KFIR Live Stream
11a – noon: KLBM 1450AM (Union County) | Direct Link to KLBM Live Stream
11a – noon: KBKR 1490AM (Baker County) | Direct Link to SuperTalk Live Stream
7p – 8p: KWRO 630AM (Oregon Coast & Southeastern Oregon) | Direct Link to KWRO Live Stream

Sundays
8a – 9a: KWVR 1340AM (Wallowa County) | Direct Link: KWVR Live Stream
7p – 8p: KAJO 1270AM (Grants Pass/Medford) | Direct Link: KAJO Live Stream

Air Dates: November 10 & 11, 2018 | Rob Taylor & Scott McEwen

Okay, so things didn’t go quite as well as we would have liked to see in Oregon politics. Knute, kept shooting himself in the foot as the Republican candidate, who seemed to not like Republicans. His opponent was not a well–liked Democrat candidate—and had Knute not attacked Republicans and their policies he may have a had a chance. But we’ll get into that next week. For this show we’re going to focus on the positive of what did happen Tuesday.

Hidden Victories in Oregon’s Midterm Elections

There was a little-discussed win in Oregon’s midterm elections, victories which happened in eight Oregon counties. Eight. Wins that were led by Rob Taylor, who saw eight counties pass ordinances to protect our 2nd Amendment rights as these counties voted to become “Gun Rights Sanctuary Counties.” Rob will explain how they used, of all things, the Constitution and the 10th Amendment. (What a novel idea.) Don’t miss out on hearing about some good news and where these activists will be going next to keep fighting for our 2nd Amendment rights.

Scott McEwen on the Midterms

Then we welcome back to our show Scott McEwen, who co-authored the huge hit, American Sniper. Of course, there’s never a show with Scott that we don’t talk about what’s going on in the world of politics. So naturally, we get his thoughts on the national midterms, Oregon’s midterm elections, and on the firing of Jeff Sessions.

Scott is also back to talk about his amazing new book City of Death: Humanitarian Warriors in the Battle of Mosul that he co-authored with Ephraim Mattos. Little has been discussed about the efforts our soldiers have made to fight back ISIS. Author and US Navy Seal, Ephraim Mattos not only fought against ISIS alongside his fellow soldiers, but after he left the SEALs he flew back to Iraq to join a small group of volunteer humanitarians known as the Free Burma Rangers. With Veterans Day upon us this is a great book to read that will give you a look inside the work of these humanitarians and the courage and sacrifice they’ve witnessed and endured.

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Knever Knute?

Knever Knute?

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Show Summary: In a followup from last week’s show, we talk with Portland Radio Superstar, Jayne Carroll, about the difficulty facing Oregon Republicans this year. Can Republicans trust Knute Buehler? Should they? Should they vote for him? Plus, more on government corruption and leftist billionaires and their secret operatives implanted in Oregon’s Attorney General office. The Kavanaugh hearings. And O’Keefe’s latest uncovering the Deep State’s sabotage of the Trump administration.

Original Air Dates: September 22 & 23, 2018 | Guest: Jayne Carroll

Last week, we asked whether Oregon Republicans can trust their own candidate, Knute Buehler. Why? Because during the primary, while running against two conservatives, Knute said he opposed a carbon tax. He even called such a scheme Kate Brown’s “honey pot.”

Can Republicans trust Knute Buehler? Plus, Leftist billionaires' secret army planted in states' attorneys general offices
Can Oregon Republicans trust Knute Buehler? Should they?

And then, within weeks of winning the Republican primary, Knute flipped. And now he says he wants a carbon tax.

So which version of Knute do you trust? Primary Knute? Or general election Knute? (Funny how he hasn’t changed his stance on abortion though.)

Our guest last week, Chuck Wiese, a meteorologist and fierce global warming debunker, knows that global warming—now “climate change” (because people are stupid, apparently)— is a scam. Chuck looks at the devastation a carbon tax did to both California and its once proud Republican Party. California’s carbon tax, passed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, a “republican” governor, with the aid of California Republicans, destroyed both the state and the Republicans. As a result, some 10,000 businesses have been forced out of California by the carbon tax.

And now Knute Buehler says he wants a carbon tax. Is Knute trying to destroy Oregon? Or the Oregon Republican Party? Or both?

The Don’t Vote Knute Buehler Strategy

Chuck believes that if Kate Brown gets elected, she won’t be able to pass a carbon tax. Why? Because Republicans in the house and senate will oppose her simply because she’s a Democrat trying to pass (in Knute’s words) a honey pot for Democrats and their Democrat allies.

But if “republican” Knute Buehler gets elected, it’s a different story. Knute will get a carbon tax passed, where Kate Brown will fail if she gets elected. Why? Because in the Knute scenario, Republicans will actually want (or feel obligated to) to support their newly elected “republican” governor.

Imagine that. Republicans passing an anti-business carbon tax. A tax that could punish businesses to the tune of some $17 billion. A tax that will raise prices on every thing. And worse, a tax that will send tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars to… wait for it…Democrats.

If Oregon Republicans pass a carbon tax, it will be like writing checks to the political opponents.

Perhaps this kindergarten-level of “strategic thinking” is why the Oregon Republican Party are in the hole to the tune of –$13,000. Meanwhile, the Oregon Democrat Party is  sitting on a cool half-million in cash in the bank.

So you can see why Chuck Wiese believes it would be better for Oregon Republicans not to elect their own candidate. And it does make a lot of sense—as horrible as it sounds. Sometimes, strategy is very messy. So what are Republicans to do?

That’s why we call in talk show host and long-time political strategist, Jayne Carroll.

This Week’s Show: Jayne Carroll

In the Portland area, Jayne Carroll is a radio superstar. The First Lady of Radio. Last week’s show (The Impossible Choice Facing Oregon Republican Voters This Year) featured Chris Horner, who revealed that Leftist billionaires are secretly embedding global-warming operatives right into states’ attorney general offices. We also talked with Chuck Wiese about his strategy and reasons not to vote for Knute Buehler. Knever Knute. Because Jayne has over 30 years experience in Oregon politics, we want to get her take on things.

While you’ll have to listen, here’s a hint. She’s not thrilled with Knute Buehler. But should Republicans sit this one out? What about the other issues? Will Knute do to the Oregon Republican Party what Schwarzenegger did to California Republicans?

Or what about this: is Knute a Deep State or at least a Democrat plant?

You’ll have to tune in to find out.

We also get her take on the Kavanaugh hearings, the accusations of Christine Ford and the games Democrats play. the latest from Project Veritas exposing the Deep State, and lots more.

Don’t miss this terrific show with one of the best talk show hosts in Portland.

Podcast Version

Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, starting May 5, 2018
I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of July 2018. Click for full-size map.

Never miss a show! Five Different Times, Six Different Stations. Listen anywhere! All stations stream live!

Saturdays
10a – 11a: KFIR 720AM (entire Willamette Valley) | Direct Link to KFIR Live Stream
11a – noon: KLBM 1450AM (Union County) | Direct Link to KLBM Live Stream
11a – noon: KBKR 1490AM (Baker County) | Direct Link to SuperTalk Live Stream
7p – 8p: KWRO 630AM (Oregon Coast & Southeastern Oregon) | Direct Link to KWRO Live Stream

 Sundays
8a – 9a: KWVR 1340AM (Wallowa County) | Direct Link: KWVR Live Stream
7p – 8p: KAJO 1270AM (Grants Pass/Medford) | Direct Link: KAJO Live Stream

The Impossible Choice Facing Oregon Republican Voters This Year

The Impossible Choice Facing Oregon Republican Voters This Year

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Show Summary: Most Republicans believe voting for any Republican is better than any Democrat. Find out why Knute Buehler, running for Oregon’s governor, could be the exception to the rule. Plus: Leftist billionaire’s secret, off-book army in states attorneys general offices. Including right here in Oregon.

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Original Air Dates: September 15 & 16, 2018 | Guests: Chris Horner & Chuck Wiese

The One Exception to “Always Vote Republican”…?

Like most conservative Republicans, we have always believed you’ll get more of what you want by voting for any Republican iver any Democrat. But on this week’s show, tune in to hear why voting for Knute Buehler, running for Oregon’s governor, could be the exception to the rule.

Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, starting May 5, 2018
I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of July 2018. Click for full-size map.

This will be a challenging show for listeners because conservative Republicans face an impossible question this election. Is it still better to vote for a Republican candidate if that candidate could do real long-term damage to the Republican party and to Oregon?

In other words, does the maxim, “Always vote for the Republican” still hold if the Republican candidate is actually worse than the Democrat?

Exposed: Billionaires’ Secret Operatives in States AG Offices

As if an potentially untrustworthy Republican candidate for Oregon governor wasn’t bad enough… Add to that worry, the startling revelation that Leftist billionaires are secretly placing operatives in attorneys general offices all across America. Including right here in Oregon.

It’s one bad choice on top of another.

Knute Buehler – Never Knute?

We’re sure the “Never Trumpers” will try to claim this is exactly the same situation they were in a few years back. (Knever Knute?) But it’s not, of course.

The “Never Trump” movement (which Knute was a proud member of, we might add) was a case of so-called “conservatives” opposing Trump for irrational reasons. The Never Trumpers opposed Trump despite Trump running on Conservative values. And conservative tax policies. And a strong Second Amendment defense. Oh, and pro life. Not to mention he opposed global warming. Was for border control and legal immigration. Plus, he pushed for conservative judges.  He was — or should have been—a conservatives dream.

But they just opposed him because he was Trump.

The election in Oregon, however, is a case of a “Republican” candidate pushing Democrat ideals: a carbon tax. (Not to mention being very pro-abortion. And a host of other progressive social issues.) Trump never pushed Democrat policies. That’s why this is different.

The Problem: Knute Buehler’s Carbon Tax

A carbon tax opens the door in Oregon to a potential tax to raise up to $17 billion dollars.  Knute has said he’s for a carbon tax. After claiming (conveniently) during the primary that he was against it. (See Knute Buehler’s op-ed in The Oregonian, Oct. 22, 2017.)

The Danger: Knute Buehler’s Convenient Flip on a Carbon Tax

Just weeks after he won the Republican primary for Oregon’s governor, Knute Buehler suddenly announced that he thinks a carbon tax would be a good idea. What?

A carbon tax will be a killer to businesses, do nothing to affect “climate change,” and spend billions of dollars that will end up in the hands of the Democrats. How does any “Republican” not know this?

To see what will happen to the state and to the Republican party, look no further than what happened in California after “Republican” Governor Schwarzenegger passed their carbon tax. Tens of thousands of businesses left the state. California is now nearly $100 billion in debt. And the once proud Californian Republican party is in shambles and can’t stop anything the Democrats.

Chuck Wiese: Why Republicans Can’t Trust Knute Buehler

Our first guest is Chuck Wiese, a meteorologist and global warming debunker.  Chuck discusses why, despite being a life-long Republican, he is considering actively opposing Knute.

But there’s a real strategy at play here that will challenge your thinking.

Chuck exposes that, when you really start pushing “scientists” who claim to believe in global warming and challenge their facts, they have to admit that even if we do everything they say we have to do, it won’t really affect anything.

So why is Knute supporting a carbon tax? Why has he flipped on this? Is it just a ploy? But if so, how do you know which Knute to believe? Do you take a risk and hope for the best?

Tune in to hear the reasons why not voting Republican may actually be the better long-term choice—if Knute can’t be forced to come around.

Leftist Billionaires Secretly Placing Staff in State AG Offices

To start our conversation, we welcome first time guest, Chris Horner, a Senior Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) that was sued by a State’s Attorney General a few years ago simply because CEI didn’t support the idea of global warming.

Since then, Chris has completed two extensive research reports that has uncovered “special assistant attorneys” being secretly placed in states’ Attorneys General and Governor’s offices without any oversight from legislators or voters.  All of this “off book” and hidden from the public and designed to enforce the will of Leftist billionaires.

Like Michael Bloomberg. Who is pushing global warming by creating this shadow government in states across the nation — and it’s happening right here in Oregon.

CEI’s Chris Horner Exposes Billionaires Operatives in States’ AGs

Listen to our guest Chris Horner and the evidence they have gathered through court filings and discovery, including e-mails that reveal how these billionaires are actively trying to undermine the voters and how the AGs are trying to hide all of this from the public.

Podcast Version

Never miss an Episode of I Spy Radio!

I Spy Radio airs at five different times, on six different stations. Listen anywhere! All stations stream live!

Saturdays
10a – 11a: KFIR 720AM (entire Willamette Valley) | Direct Link to KFIR Live Stream
11a – noon: KLBM 1450AM (Union County) | Direct Link to KLBM Live Stream
11a – noon: KBKR 1490AM (Baker County) | Direct Link to SuperTalk Live Stream
7p – 8p: KWRO 630AM (Oregon Coast & Southeastern Oregon) | Direct Link to KWRO Live Stream

Sundays
8a – 9a: KWVR 1340AM (Wallowa County) | Direct Link: KWVR Live Stream
7p – 8p: KAJO 1270AM (Grants Pass/Medford) | Direct Link: KAJO Live Stream

Links Mentioned

Chris Horner (Segments 1 – 3)

CEI Report – Leftist Billionaires’ Privately Fund State Attorney General Offices to Advance Climate Change Legal Positions (Competitive Enterprise Institute, Aug. 29, 2018)

CEI Report Details Leftist Billionaires’ Scheme to Privately Fund Governors’ Offices to Push Partisan Climate Change Agenda(Competitive Enterprise Institute, Sept. 11, 2018)

Chuck Wiese (Segments 4 – 6)

Knute Buehler’s convenient carbon tax lie:

  • During the Republican primary, Knute said he was against the carbon tax. (Knute’s op-ed inThe Oregonian, Oct, 22, 2017)
    • Note: Knute’s campaign staff is now trying to claim he didn’t mean he was against a carbon tax, he was just against Kate Brown being the one to do it
  • The flip: after he won the primary, Knute suddenly reversed his stance on a carbon tax: ““While skeptical of major new spending, Buehler says he is open to increased taxes on electronic and regular cigarettes to pay for budget items like health care, and also to a carbon tax, although not to the Democrats’ cap and trade proposal.” What? Why didn’t he mention he wanted a carbon tax during the primary? (“State Rep. Knute Buehler to challenge Gov. Kate Brown,” Register-Guard, May 16th, 2018)

But wait, there’s more:Buehler on Clean Energy Jobs: Which is it? (Democrat Party of Oregon)

Related Links & Info

  • Knute thinks parties need more control over who can run on their ticket. (Except Knute was lamenting the inability of the Independent Party of Oregon to let him on their ticket, not anything to do with Republicans having more control.) But we agree! Republicans definitely need to have more control over who can and can’t wear the Republican label
  • Dems for Knute? (Oregonian, August 2018)
  • Political scientist: Follow the money for governor (Newberg Graphic, July 19, 2018)
  • Knute’s Background and his position on a carbon tax — from own his website
    • “Buehler, whom Robbins called “a thoughtful, bipartisan pragmatist,” would also support a revenue-neutral carbon tax to stimulate demand for green energy but not a cap-and-invest bill that reeks of “crony capitalism.” He wants to see the LNG natural-gas export terminal come online in Coos Bay and to help rural communities create value-added timber products. For him, the biggest problem in Oregon government is the inefficient muck created by one party in power for so long.”
      • NOTE: “Revenue neutral” means merely shifting who’s paying it (lower taxes on one person while raising taxes on another)
  • Rep. Knute Buehler Says He’s Pro-Choice. Pro-Choice Groups Say He’s Not. (Willamette Week, May 23, 2018)
  • Knute Buehler’s record, basic info, etc. (via Ballotpedia)