Brancaccio throws a tizzy because GOP'ers are passing on his S&M show.

For years now, there have been two categories of candidates for the democratian editorial board in competitive races: water carriers (typically democrats who share in the lazy C's socialist, extortive, screw-the-voters vision) and everyone else.

And usually, those in the "everyone else" category (Typically Republican) have as much chance of getting an endorsement... or even fair treatment from the democrat's newsletter as they do winning the lottery.

This has been an ongoing pattern for the last 24 years or so that I've been paying attention.

There are certain candidates, like Sen. Don Benton and Commissioner Tom Mielke, who are hated by the Columbian hierarchy because they despise the agenda.  And those who despise the agenda must be made to pay.

Which leads to garbage like this:

No-shows

Speaking of shows, what about no-shows? As in politicians. 

It's the political season. For most of us that means tuning in or tuning out the noise. 

For a few of us here at The Columbian it means setting up editorial board meetings with the candidates. 

Most politicians are good people and good sports. They understand the drill and know they often will get asked tough questions by the board. 

Hey, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the game. 

On occasion some politicians will decline our invitation to meet. This week, for example, Republicans Tom Mielke -- the incumbent county commissioner -- and one challenger, Darren Wertz, both opted to stay away. Democrats Joe Tanner and Ron Barca showed up as did Bob Freund. 

It's their choice, of course, but I think it says something when candidates don't show. 

Recently I had two liberal elected officials tell me they felt the questions I was asking them were "loaded." 

Of course the word "loaded" is well, loaded. I countered that I was asking them probing, tough questions. 

I'm not suggesting conservatives or liberals should love tough questions. But I am suggesting they should accept them as part of the dynamic give-and-take in our democratic society. 

Being a public official is difficult. Very difficult. And a part of that difficulty is being held accountable. Often with tough questions.

Tanner will, of course, get your endorsement.  Mielke knows that.

He's a democrat, although knowing how unpopular that is he's distancing himself as far from that as possible; he's got the downtown mafia in his pocket, and you people hate Mielke.  Neither Barca nor Freund (a Paulbot) are raising a nickel, relatively speaking, so they'll talk to anyone.

Odd, isn't it?  The guy who wrote this garbage seems to be accountable to no one and he never bothers responding to the "tough questions."

Like, for example, why hasn't this slimy worm ever reported on the Oregon Supreme Court decision that explains the true purpose and reasoning behind the CRC scam?

 It's their choice, of course, but I think it says something when candidates don't show. 

Yeah.  It means that, perhaps, a little bit of introspection on the part of the arrogant putzs of the editorial board is called for.

It means that the standards you apply, Lou, should be the same for EVERY candidate, and not situational.

It means that you need to get past your obvious fringe-left bent.

It means that after years of beating the hell out of Republican candidates in competitive races, giving the democrat the knee-jerk endorsement just because of their party label, that YOU need to look inward and re-evaluate what YOU are doing: is an unfair, rigged process what's best for this community?

Chances are that in competitive races, you will endorse the democrat.

Chances are that when a candidate opposes your agenda or you personally, you personally will trash them, like you have Mielke so many times, even when he;s been proven right.

Chances are that your ignorance and partisanship will get in the way.

And when you KNOW you're going to hammered... why on earth should anyone waste their time and effort handing you the tool?

So, yeah... it DOES say something about them: it's says they've wised up.

And hopefully, fewer and fewer candidates will waste their time kissing your ass.