Jim Huffman, former Dean of Louis & Clark’s law school, is going to challenge incumbent Ron Wyden for a U.S. Senate seat from Oregon. I’ve known Jim for years and all I can say is that the entire country would be incredibly blessed if the people of Oregon show the good judgment to elect Jim to the Senate. Polls indicate that Jim is not very well known at thie point. But Wyden still polls at less that 50%, suggesting some degree of vulnerability: 49%-35% against Huffman to be exact. News reports indicate that an official announcement of Jim’s candidacy will come soon.
Andrew says:
Actually, it’s “Lewis and Clark Law School” rather than “Louis & Clark’s Law School.” Nitpicky spelling aside, Jim Huffman (my old Con Law professor) would be a great improvement over Ron Wyden. Go Huffman!
February 28, 2010, 4:52 pmEvilDave says:
Actually it is the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College, but no one calls it that
February 28, 2010, 5:07 pmJoe Kowalski says:
Wyden is the most popular Democrat in rather blue state that just passed a “progressive” tax increase. As interesting of a figure that Huffman is, barring a dead girl/live boy, Wyden will enjoy a 4th term.
February 28, 2010, 5:15 pmtroll_dc2 says:
Why is Huffman allegedly better than Wyden?
February 28, 2010, 5:18 pmAnonsters says:
He’s not a Democrat. Duh.
February 28, 2010, 5:34 pmDave N. says:
True enough about the name of the Law School. Even more signficantly, though, Meriwether Lewis did not spell his last name “Louis”.
February 28, 2010, 5:43 pmShelbyC says:
Why don’t we just call it Lois & Clark?
February 28, 2010, 7:04 pmPlugInMonster says:
Pretty much true, Oregon is a lost cause.
February 28, 2010, 8:06 pmEvilDave says:
The complaint against Wyden is that he is not Blue enough
February 28, 2010, 8:31 pmbyomtov says:
ShelbyC,
Why don’t we just call it Lois & Clark?
Super idea.
February 28, 2010, 8:40 pmlgm says:
The guy is a global warming denier. He says we shouldn’t think of science as fact, only probability. So there’s a 99% chance of global warming and a 1% chance Sarah Palin is accidentally right. Playing the odds means voting against Huffman.
February 28, 2010, 8:42 pmbyomtov says:
Following LGM’s link, I find this:
Many scientists have taken sides in the political debate over climate change. Of course they have every right to do so as citizens, but in politics their views should not count for more because they are scientists. Claims of scientific truth, all of which are only statements of probability, have no trump in politics.
This is plain stupid. Climate change is a scientific matter. Surely scientists’ views are entitled to more respect than Joe the Plumber’s.
February 28, 2010, 8:56 pmJim Huffman to Challenge Wyden for Oregon Senate Seat: | Liberal Whoppers says:
[...] posted here: Jim Huffman to Challenge Wyden for Oregon Senate Seat: [...]
February 28, 2010, 9:19 pmAnonsters says:
Actually, here is where I’ll diverge from my colleagues in the vast left-wing conspiracy, mainly because I have instincts to be highly protective of the enterprise that is science.
Scientists’ views on whether it is happening are entitled to more respect. Scientists may (although this pushes the limits of their profession) be able to make judgments about whether proposed actions to correct or to retard AGW will in fact do so (on the basis of their understanding of causal mechanisms, etc.) So their judgment that program A will actually help, but idea B is based on a misunderstanding of how AGW works, would be entitled to increased respect (although not as much as their opinions about whether AGW is actually happening). But their voices aren’t entitled to more respect on political questions like, “Should we do X?” They may be able to say, “X would help b/c a, b, c.” But nothing about their work as scientists entitles them to greater respect on whether we should, or will in fact, commit ourselves to do X.
February 28, 2010, 9:23 pmbyomtov says:
Anonster,
Sure. But it’s hardly clear that that’s what Huffman is saying in his article. He seems to be trying to have it both ways, by arguing as you do that the correct political response is not a scientific matter, but then slyly extending this to the underlying scientific question itself.
February 28, 2010, 9:33 pmAnonsters says:
I didn’t read the article; I was responding basically to what you were saying without context. So, your response is fair enough. Indeed, it’s a common tactic among some denialists. They attack both scientists personally and science as an enterprise, and when you call them on it, they say, “No, no, the scientists should do their science. They just shouldn’t get involved in the politics. And this is a political issue!” And then they take “this” to encompass everything about AGW. Which is, of course, nonsense.
February 28, 2010, 9:39 pmLysander Spooner's ghost says:
Volokh comments sure have gone downhill.
February 28, 2010, 10:12 pmyao says:
I read this piece by Huffman and he just seems kind of unhinged: http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/01/arrogance_always_gets_its_come.html.
Obama kowtows to dictators? Red meat to some hyperconservatives, I guess, but ridiculously overblown to anyone else.
Then again, I guess this is the face of the Republican party these days.
February 28, 2010, 10:50 pmSamCookie says:
Jim has been my colleague on the Lewis & Clark faculty for more than 30 years and would be an amazing improvement on Ron Wyden. Of course, I could say the same about any of my three dachshunds.
February 28, 2010, 11:46 pmAnonsters says:
I hope that’s his new campaign slogan: “As good as three annoying, yippy little rat-dogs.”
February 28, 2010, 11:51 pmCarol191 says:
“global warming denier” is sooo last year. The more accurate term is GW Agnostic, which describes myself, although the more shrill folks like LGM get, the more I lean toward Atheist.
For Portlanders, Agnosticism fits right in, haha.
The huge issue is whether Oregonians want their reknowned independence and innovation to disappear into this metastasizing Federal Bureaugoplex, centered across the continent in DC, a Blob that is devouring the power and economy of the entire nation. This beast is beyond party affiliation really, and it MUST be slain.
My best wishes to Prof. Huffman for a vigorous, triumphant race.
March 1, 2010, 12:16 amEvilDave says:
And the cutest one is Rocky Balboa
March 1, 2010, 12:18 amDavid Sucher says:
I’m not impressed by Huffman; I like to hear a man, even if I disagree with him, make an intelligent remark.
It’s preposterous that Huffman should not suggest that majorities “ram
health care reformname your issue through Congress.”What an absurd argument — majorities should not pass legislation that favor their own planks.
Sounds to me like a joker. even if a very amiable and pleasant one.
March 1, 2010, 12:39 amDianaWR says:
Actually it is now, officially, Lewis & Clark Law School. They formally changed the name two years ago.
LC alum: BA 2004, JD 2009
March 1, 2010, 1:21 amAndrew says:
Thank you, Diana.
March 1, 2010, 1:23 amAnwyn says:
I dunno, the return address on their mailings still says Northwestern.
March 1, 2010, 1:56 amCattusMagnus says:
It would be awesome if Huffman could oust Wyden. I can only hope that Oregonians are starting to wise up to how liberal policies are hurting this state and country and choose to kick Wyden and the democrats out.
March 1, 2010, 3:20 amEvilDave says:
You young kids … now get off my lawn
March 1, 2010, 3:31 amJTKell says:
Even after hearing all the good news this weekend, this is proably the best. Everyone please support Mr.Huffman. Ron Wyden is a typical example of what is wrong with our Country. I have fought for our Country before and We must fight and win this one. This may be one of our last chances to win our Country back. I am so proud you Oregonians have a good choice this time. Work hard, fight and win. I will do my part from Mid-America.
March 1, 2010, 9:25 amyao says:
It’s curious – I read all these Huffman supporters saying things like “Ron Wyden is a typical example of what is wrong with our country” and “I can only hope that Oregonians are starting to wise up to how liberal policies are hurting this state and country and choose to kick Wyden and the democrats out.”
Yet The Master, Jim Huffman himself, writes: “But most troubling is the arrogance of power arising from a supreme self-confidence in the president and congressional leadership that they know what is best for the country.” http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/01/arrogance_always_gets_its_come.html
I take Jim Huffman at his word that he is not at all confident that he and his party knows what is best for the country. Honorable man! If only his supporters would listen to him and not fall prey to the arrogance he so bitterly decries in contemporary poltiics!
Vote for Jim Huffman – he doesn’t know what is best for the country!
March 1, 2010, 10:08 amGo Vols says:
I’m not from Oregon, but I’m a bit perplexed at the caricature of Wyden as a boilerplate liberal Senator. I realize the Wyden-Bennett health care bill is not going to deliver everything a conservative wants, but it is far more serious about cutting costs and reforming the system than the current plans. Even Heritage has some good things to say about it.
Similarly, Wyden and Judd Gregg have just sent down the most comprehensive tax reform proposal since 1986. Again, not everything in it is going to make our conservative posters happy, but it seems to be a serious attempt at bipartisan reform, in area where reform is needed.
Nothing in this post or in the comments give any substantive reason as to why Huffman would be an improvement on Wyden. Instead, all we get is boilerplate about “winning our country back.” Do JTKell and CattusMagnus want a Senator who is firmly opposed to any reform of the financial services industry, and shills for big banks? Because, frankly, that’s all an endorsement from Zywicki tells me.
March 1, 2010, 10:09 amJennifer says:
LOL! Just from that quote I know which L&C law prof said it. :) As a former student when Prof. Huffman was Dean, all I can say is, I’m forever grateful that he was willing to sponsor the student group Federalist Society, which was the only conservative legal group on a campus awash in liberal thinking. I also loved that he would bike downtown for his fancy luncheons with donors. He’s exactly the kind of conservative that Oregon might elect. Best of luck to Prof. Huffman.
March 1, 2010, 10:22 amlgm says:
Some people here know Hoffman personally. He’s a mensch. That doesn’t mean he woule make a good Senator. One of the biggest problems in politics today is the influence of counterfactuals and generic BS. In the health care debate, for example, people keep proposing to eliminate the pre-existing condition issue as a first step in reform without doing the rest of the package. That’s a non-starter, as anyone who follows the issue would know. Hoffman denies global warming, which demonstrates he’s able to be counterfactual in politics. The last thing we need in Washington is more BS.
March 1, 2010, 10:57 amDavid Sucher says:
““The Jim Huffman campaign will be about the PEOPLE OF OREGON who are struggling while an out of touch political class uses the economic crisis to grab power and enrich their special interest patrons.”
Huffman sounds like a crank and Glenn Beck clone. He’s appealing to the lowest-common denominator.
But what is really weird is that Volokh Conspiracy would become so overtly and foolishly partisan. ‘
If you are going to support the guy at least do better that such ca-ca as “I’ve known Jim for years and all I can say is that the entire country would be incredibly blessed if the people of Oregon show the good judgment to elect Jim to the Senate.” That’s total meaningless. It means you don’t know anything about Huffman but he’s a distant friend of yours and you owe him some happy talk.
March 1, 2010, 11:12 amyao says:
Presumably Zywicki likes Huffman because Huffman writes such intelligent sentences as: “We are told the stimulus package has created and saved hundreds of thousands of jobs, while unemployment has worsened.” http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/01/arrogance_always_gets_its_come.html
Wow – what a smart cookie that Huffman is! Because it is clearly impossible for both parts of the sentence to be true!
Huffman’s got a profound understanding of economics here, and it is this kind of penetrating intelligence which draws Zywicki and Huffman’s other fans.
March 1, 2010, 11:31 amGordo says:
Wyden is right on most issues, but he has a reputation as a bit of a dolt – one notorious instance came in the 1995 Senate special election campaign when he couldn’t find Bosnia on a globe of the world, allegedly because he “needed his reading glasses.” He also failed the Oregon Bar Exam three times.
Huffman was a great Dean of the Law School, but on most issues his positions are, at least to me, monstrous.
March 1, 2010, 11:52 amJTKell says:
I read all these post and it blows my mind how our liberal citizens just do not understand. We have a constitution many people have fought and died to protect. We have States and indivual Rights. We have free interprise and freedom of thought. All of these rights are being eroded. We need everyone’s help to protect these rights. Can you not see what is happening? I am thankful for the Tea Party Movement. We are going to get thes rights back no matter how long it takes and how hard we have to work. Every man in the US Congress swears to uphold the Constitution of the US with his hand on the Holy Bible. Please try to understand where I am comming from. I love my Country.Thanks
March 1, 2010, 12:05 pmShelby says:
I don’t know anything about Huffman. Wyden has been, for the most part, about as good a senator as any Democrat. He doesn’t always toe the party line and he’s willing to stake out controversial positions where they have merit. The only reason I’d support replacing him with Huffman is to end the one-party grip on D.C. (For similar reasons I thought it was a real shame when Gordon Smith lost his seat.)
March 1, 2010, 12:12 pmtroll_dc2 says:
After reading this thread, I still do not know why Huffman is allegedly better than Wyden. So I will ask a different question. Where does Huffman stand on issues like financial reform and health-care reform, and why are his positions better than those of Wyden, who has crafted proposals with Bennett and Gregg? I would like to read something more than a partisan rant. After all, this is the VC blog, and there are standards to maintain.
March 1, 2010, 12:12 pmDavid Sucher says:
JT Kell, my friend.
People have differences of opinion; and I could say the same as you say: “I read all these post and it blows my mind how our conservative citizens just do not understand.”
I think it’s one of those difficult issues as a human being: to believe wholeheartedly and yet to have some little germ of humility that leaves room for others’ opinions and to try to respect them. It’s not easy and we call it democracy.
March 1, 2010, 12:16 pmCJColucci says:
Every man in the US Congress swears to uphold the Constitution of the US with his hand on the Holy Bible.
If memory serves, that isn’t actually true. And what about the women in Congress?
March 1, 2010, 12:18 pmGordo says:
JTKell – so it’s OK, in order for us to protect our Tea Party rights, that 45,000 Americans die needlessly every year, and many more suffer needlessly, because they can’t afford, or are denied, health care?
March 1, 2010, 12:23 pmSigivald says:
It’d be more useful for him to wait until that bastard Merkley’s up for reelection and run against him.
I don’t care if says the occasional stupid thing about the pseudoscience behind AGW hysteria, he’ll be an improvement over Jeff Merkley. Ron Wyden isn’t half as bad.
Gordo: No cost is too high if someone says it’ll save lives, right?
It seems pretty likely that overall “lives saved vs. lives lost” to health insurance (not care – they’re different and let’s not pretend that this “reform” monstrosity is about the latter rather than the former) is roughly a wash, so let’s not go into a frenzy of Something Must Be Done; This Is Something; This Must Be Done over it, okay?
March 1, 2010, 1:57 pmgullyborg says:
Umm… I believe that is Huffman’s point: we are told one thing, but at the same time, there is evidence that the opposite is true. Therefore, the first statement is problematic.
March 1, 2010, 2:04 pmJTKell says:
Gordo, Those rights are not for Tea party people only. They are your rights also. We have the best health care system in the world at the present time. No one goes without health care. The health care system needs fixing with free market principles. This is America. Private interprise has been a proven factor in America being the greatest Country on earth. It is our intention to get back to this. We do not need the Feds telling us every thing we need to do. Being free is a wonderful feeling. Please get on board.
March 1, 2010, 2:05 pmCJColucci says:
Actually, gullyborg, whatever Huffman’s point was, you’ve missed yao’s. yao was calling out Huffman for not understanding that a stimulus program can create or save hundreds of thousands of jobs even though unemployment gets worse. How? By making the increased unemployment less bad than it otherwise would have been.
March 1, 2010, 2:19 pmMaybe reasonable people can debate whether the current stimulus program saved or created hundreds of thousands of jobs — well, they can’t, actually, they have to talk about something else like how costly the extra jobs were — but yao’s point was that Huffman didn’t seem to understand what he was talking about.
Gordo says:
Then why do all unbiased objective studies of health care systems in developed countries around the world show the U.S. ranked so low? And only in the anecdotal imaginations of tea partiers is the U.S. health care system “the best in the world?”
And how do you explain all those stories I keep seeing from people whose relatives died because they were denied health care? Are they all lying?
March 1, 2010, 2:38 pmJTKell says:
Those unbiased objective studies are all false,(like the climate control stuff) based on the fact that people come to America from all over the world to get health care. Our emergency hospital care is the best in the world and will not deny
March 1, 2010, 3:04 pmhealth care to anyone. United Kingdom and Canada have Govt. run health care. Their people come here if they really need good care. I have noticed many people exaggerate their circumstances to make a point or to have more Govt. envolved in our private lives. The health care in US needs fixed, not a big Govt. takeover.
CJColucci says:
Those unbiased objective studies are all false
This thread has officially jumped the shark.
March 1, 2010, 3:12 pmGordo says:
I have to wonder if JKell is pulling my chain. The alternative, that he and his tea party buddies are living in an alternative reality, is too horrifying to contemplate.
March 1, 2010, 4:14 pmrarango says:
Might be worthwhile noting that when folks cite “oregon” they are in reality referring to the ultraliberal willamette valley oregon. If you prefer to be ruled by Multnomah county then be all means your choice is clear
That said, Ron Wyden is a hell of a lot better than many democrat senators
March 1, 2010, 5:15 pmBryan says:
As a (socially liberal, fiscally conservative) Oregonian, I have to say that I’m pretty happy with Ron Wyden. There are far, far worse out there (I am not a huge fan of Jeff Merkely, if nothing else due to much sleazier-appearing efforts in his run for the Senate).
March 1, 2010, 6:18 pmfidelity_axiom says:
Thank you for the tip about this guy running. I’m personally eager to reform my home state of Oregon by any means necessary, and right now I think we’re left to Article 1 Section 1 of the Oregon Constitution. Unfortunately, this person is a rather hardlined Republican, which is no different then a Democrat. Every time those parties join forces it’s always at the expense of the general population. I truly feel sorry for the poor polarized bastards that blame all of their problems on the “opposing” political party. You can index their ignorance by time they spend in front of the television and not talking to real people. Wyden’s “D” makes him no more or less of a tyrant than the guy with an “R”. Give me a few Independents (+ conjure up campaign money) and I’ll show you a democracy of the people.
March 1, 2010, 9:39 pmJamal Jackson says:
Actually AGW proponents are the new counterfactual group. Where were you all of last year?
April 23, 2010, 9:06 pm