Free Republic

Salem, Ore. - Gov. Kate Brown on Thursday authorized Oregon State Police to round up GOP senators who have staged a walkout in protest of the cap-and-trade energy conservation bill. "The Senate Republicans have decided to abandon their duty to serve their constituents and walk out," Brown said in a statement.

State Sen. Jim Holperin, D-Conover, announced this afternoon that he won't seek re-election this fall. "Politics and legislating are fascinating and fulfilling work and I’ve enjoyed 20 years of it in the State Assembly, State Senate and as a cabinet secretary," Holperin said in a statement. "I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world, but now there are other things I want to do."

Police have arrested a man accused of starting a fire early Thursday at the Occupy Austin camp outside of City Hall. Robert Alex Mittenholzer, 29, was charged with criminal mischief and bail was set at $5,000, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Witnesses told police they heard Mittenholzer saying he was going to build a bonfire to keep warm and that it would be OK because “this was a concrete jungle,” the affidavit said. Firefighters arrived at the area about 3:15 a.m. and were able to quickly extinguish the blaze, the document said. Damage to the property was estimated at...

Too funny! If you call for ending all wars and violence while worshiping at the feet of known terrorist Bill Ayers #YouMightBeAFleabagger / If you think economic policies should be judged by the hopes that inspired them rather than incentives they created, #YouMightBeAFleabagger / If you've disrupted food drives for the poor to 'fight against the rich' #YouMightBeAFleabagger

What Changed Since November 2010? October 13, 2011 BEGIN TRANSCRIPT RUSH: My question to you, after all of this, somebody tell me: What has changed from November of 2010 regarding the Tea Party? What's changed?Chuck Schumer running around, (imitating Schumer) "We beat 'em back. Hell, we can't even find 'em, they don't show up anywhere anymore. Tea Party? They're not professionals, they're just average citizens. They don't even like government. They don't like politics."They were fed up for a while, but as far as the Democrats are convinced you Tea Party are out of energy, you've had your say,...

A Lakewood man has asked a judge to compel state Sen. Jim Holperin to show up at the Capitol for a vote on the guv’s budget repair bill. The complaint claims Holperin, D-Conover, is neglecting his constitutional duties, which Kevin Barthel says includes attendance at session days. Because the Senate can't vote on the repair bill with Dems boycotting the Capitol, the state could miss refinancing some of its debt to save millions. Without action, layoff notices will be sent to government employees, including residents of Holperin’s district, the suit argues, causing harm to his constituents. Dems have offered alternatives...