Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

What is the definition of power in politics?

For me, that question has come up in two ways in the last couple days.

1. In one case, a writer for the Washington Post suggested that Donald Trump is losing power as president because “he is now a lame duck.”

Sounds a bit early for me, but it is becoming clear that Trump is not as powerful as he once was — or at least thought he was.

• The other case arose in a column called Capitol Chatter written by the former editorial page editor of the Salem Statesman-Journal, Dick Hughes.

He questioned whether politicians in Oregon, including Governor Tina Kotek thought they had enough power – call it “staying power” — to pull off their announced bids to improve the state’s economy.

For Kotek, that is critical as she runs for re-election.

One of her opponents on the Republican side is Christine Drazan, now an Oregon senator, who lost to Kotek last time around.

On the general subject of political power, columnist Frank Bruni, writing in the New York Times, said this:

“The first year of Trump’s return to the White House has shown or reminded us of many things, including the fragility of democracy, the prevalence of cowardice and the intensity of tribalism. But it has been an especially stark and galling education in the intoxication of power.”

As an example of “intoxication,” Bruni cited Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles, who allowed herself to be interviewed 11 times by a reporter for Vanity Fair.  In the story, she came across as incredibly honest about the faults of Trump and those around him such as Russell Vought, Kash Patel, and Pete Hegseth, all in jobs beyond their abilities as they seek “power.”

So far, Wiles appears to have survived her more-than-candid criticisms of Trump and his band of power-seekers.  But, even as someone who tries to stay out of the political limelight in Washington, D.C., this time it appears she couldn’t resist the approach to emphasize her power.

Back to Capitol Chatter.  In his column, Hughes described how Oregon governor candidates Kotek and Drazan have framed their candidacies

:

• In a press release, Kotek proclaimed, “The choice is between a governor who will stand up for Oregon and protect what we believe in, or a governor who will let Donald Trump do whatever he wants.” 

• An hour later, Drazan responded in her own press release:  “Tina is all talk and no results.  She wants Oregonians to believe this race is about Washington, D.C., when it’s really about our home.” 

It is possible that former Portland Trailblazer center Chris Dudley, another Republican, also could make the race, though he has been out of politics since he lost to Democrat John Kitzhaber a few years ago.  Some of my sources say Dudley will not run; other say he will.  So, at the moment, no one knows for sure.

One challenge for Kotek is that she will be on the ballot at the same time as an initiative to try to overturn the Legislature’s decision, with Kotek’s support, to approve higher transportation taxes to fix Oregon roads.

It appeared to be relatively easy for Republican leaders in the Legislature to gain signatures to get the issue to the ballot, even without major money to pay for signature collection.  They lost in the Legislature; they now want to win at the ballot. 

Some recent polls suggest that many Oregonians are not ready for higher taxes, so Kotek will have to explain on the campaign trail why she wants them.  And that’s why the question emerges about whether she has the “staying power” to win at the ballot, either for herself as a candidate or for the tax increases.

In this blog, I am not expressing favoritism for any candidate.  For one thing, it is far too early to do so.  For another, I want to listen to the debate in the next year before landing some place.

For you, I wish the same, even as we wonder about power in politics.