Sizemore wants second chance for Oregon governor

[stevedeshazer]

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/11/sizemore_wants_second_chance_f.html

Bill Sizemore, the veteran initiative activist who has had a series of well-publicized legal and political setbacks, is once again running for Oregon governor.

Sizemore filed Monday to seek the Republican nomination for governor, to the surprise of GOP political insiders. Sizemore didn't return a call for comment, but he did release a statement to NW Republican saying he was willing to challenge a court order enjoining him from raising or spending money in politics.

"I may have to run my campaign from inside a jail cell," Sizemore said in his statement, "but either we break the stranglehold the public employee unions have on this state or the future of Oregon will be a grim one."

----

What a stunning commentary on the state of Republicans in Oregon.

[HuckleB]

1. Awesome!

ROTFLMAO!

This is going to be entertaining!

:bounce: :rofl:

[laconicsax]

2. Hasn't the GOP always been the party of convicted felons?

[stevedeshazer]

3. To be fair, he isn't a convicted felon.

But he was convicted in a civil racketeering trial on charges filed by the teacher's unions. He has made no attempt to pay the fines imposed on him for fraud in signature gathering.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Sizemore#Racketeering_case

<snip>

In July 2000, the Oregon Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers filed a civil racketeering lawsuit against two of Sizemore's organizations: Oregon Taxpayers United and the OTU Education Foundation. During the trial Becky Miller, Sizemore's top aide, under protection of state and federal immunity deals, testified in detail about the unethical and illegal practices of Oregon Taxpayers United. These included alleged money laundering involving both Sizemore and Americans for Tax Reform founder Grover Norquist, as well as falsification of federal tax returns and state campaign finance reports. Additional testimony reported financial deals designed to disguise or hide the sources of funding for campaigns, as well as to allow Sizemore to personally profit from the campaigns

After three weeks of testimony and a million dollars in union legal fees, the jury found Sizemore's organizations guilty of racketeering, and the organizations were fined approximately $2.5 million. Sizemore refused to pay the fines and attempted to avoid the liability by changing the name of his organizations to Oregon Taxpayers Association and carrying on with business as usual.<8> After a post-trial evidentiary hearing Sizemore was found personally liable for his organization's civil racketeering liability, and the judge shut down his 501(c)(3) education foundation. Nearly a million dollars were added to the fine as a result of Sizemore's resistance to earlier court orders/decisions. On appeal both sides claimed victory.

----

A creep of the highest order, Bill Sizemore has never been elected to anything. If this state's Republicans turn to him as their candidate, they might as well wave the white flag for another generation.

An Independent candidate stands a much better chance than a Republican in any statewide race here.

[classof56]

4. Just when we thought it was safe to go back in the water!

Here comes Sizemore, ready to run his campaign from a jail cell. Great fodder for the comedy mill, but of course he'd get lots of votes from the wackos who have lost all touch with reality. Plus Bill would doubtless get Palin's endorsement...

Sorta makes one long for Kevin Mannix...well, almost!

Sheesh!

[stubtoe]

5. This guy has some rabid sort of personality disorder.

Just has to be in the spotlight.

[hayu_lol]

6. Sizemore will do almost anything to get a 'regular' job...

what a snake in the grass he turned out to be.

[LWolf]

7. Can we send him to a different state for a decade or so?

How about Florida? Alaska?

[laconicsax]

8. Sizemore indicted for tax evasion.

http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/updates/23898979-55/story.csp

Bill Sizemore said in a telephone interview that he and his wife would both plea not guilty to the tax-evasion charges. He said the couple had estimated their taxes and paid them to the state and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service for 2006 and 2007 and intended to do so later this year for 2008. He said they did not file federal or state income tax returns out of concern that the teachers unions that had sued him would access the documents through court order, and possibly use them to bring additional litigation against him and his wife.