[B Knotts]

Well, that's pretty much true, although, to be fair, I have to point out that our new Democrat governor in Oregon has produced a budget that actually cuts spending. Many conservative pundits have actually said that they don't think that a budget this tight could have been proposed by a Republican, as the left would have gone ballistic and used the power of the media to defeat it.

As it is, the public employee unions are griping a bit, but it's not getting that much play.

Kulongoski still favors passing the Measure 28 (income) tax "temporary" increase, but his budget does not assume passage of that. And, he said he will not ask the Legislature or the voters for any additional taxes during this "business cycle."

So, at least to some degree, he seems to understand that raising taxes is not a real good thing to do when the economy is weak.

I still am very suspicious of this guy, but, so far, he's a heck of a lot better than the last idiot.

[EBUCK]

I still am very suspicious of this guy,

I'm kind of in the same boat...what is he doing? He's acting more conservative than the guy he ran against! His base must be seething, or making excuses like it's a "strategy" in the same fashion we rationalize some of Bush's policy..

I hope Kulon follows thru.