One of Oregon's two Senators, Gordon Smith, is up for re-election this year. I have to admit I'm a bit torn about how to vote on the matter.

Smith is a Republican, a moderate Republican. He's a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, a group of moderate "squishy" republicans who tend to be more interested in fiscal conservativism and limited government issues than social conservative issues. His ACU rating (lifetime) is 74. The League of Conservation Voters gives him a 26% (again lifetime). NARAL gives him a 15% rating but he supports ESC research. National Journal believes he's like the middlingest most middle thing ever. And so on, in fact in review Smith has done an incredible job of making nobody happy but nobody utterly pissed, either.

He's been typically squishy on Iraq, originally supporting the war, at least tepidly, and later tacking against it. Probably out of some sort of political survival instinct.

In March 2007, Smith was one of only two Republicans to vote for a resolution aimed at withdrawing most American combat troops from Iraq in 2008, the other being Chuck Hagel. The vote was 50 for to 48 against.[30] Smith said in July 2007 that he would vote for a bill authorizing a timeline in which to leave Iraq. He was one of three Republican senators, the other two being Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Olympia Snowe of Maine, to support the Levin Amendment (S.AMDT.2085) to the 2008 Defense Authorization bill (H.R.1585) that would begin a withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.[31]

(from his wikipedia article)

He and (Oregon Democratic Senator) Ron Wyden have a famously bipartisan cooperative relationship, working together well in the Senate and the state.

He does have a number of positions that I don't agree with. And of course he caucuses with his party. It'd be awfully easy to vote for whomever the Dem challenger turns out to be (right now there are two candidates, neither of which I am very familiar with). Honestly though I'm torn.

For one thing if there are going to be republicans in the senate (and I think it is safe to say there will be for the forseeable future) I'd much prefer a Smith to a Santorum. I don't always agree with Smith, but he's not a total %$#hole either. If that's the case then we need to show some support for the moderates, or at least not reflexively reject them. If we oppose the moderates as stridently as we oppose the extermists then what possible incentive is there for any republicans not to be extremist?

For another thing there are issues where I am in agreement, or at least somewhat amenable to republican views. Particularly when it comes to fiscal conservativism. Actually- only when it comes to fiscal conservativism as I find pretty much all aspects of socons and defcon policies reprehensible. I'm interested in a balance budeget amendment (as long as the drafting was very carefully done). I want the government to be responsible with tax money although I am not inherently opposed to high taxes as long as I get my money's worth. I want to cut government waste (so long as waste isn;t a code word for things like the NEA). If there are any republicans I can work with it is exactly the Main Street Partnership. The fact that the RMSP drives the fundies up the freaking wall is just icing.

Smith has certainly been triangulating with the election coming up. That's a given. But I'm not sure it's a strike against, frankly. Triangulating is another way of saying he's been responsive to his electorate. I appreciate that. Sure he has an ulterior motive, but I'm not the kind of person who thinks that the cute waitress smiles because she actually likes me. She wants a nice tip. I want a nice meal. It doesn't matter that she's polite because it's her job and she wants to get paid- I want to pay her because she did her job. Seems like the same deal with Smith. I can't complain that he's tried to appease me just to get my vote when what determines who gets my vote is who appeases me (on the issues).

The counter argument of course is that once he's safely re-elected he can do whatever he wants for the next 4 and half years. I think his previous two terms in office belie that. He's a *genuinely* middle of the road guy. It's not where I drive, but I can live with it.

So, that's where I am. I'm not going to pull the lever either for or against his party affiliation. I may vote for Smith. I may not, it really depends on the quality of the Democratic nominee.