An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on forest fire control and protection. AuCoin argues that fires should be reintroducted to the forest to ultimately burn excess fuel. The city of Ashland, Oregon, led by Forest Service Ranger Linda Duffy, has agreed to logging and thinning to better limit future fires. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired around 2002.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on disinformation being spread by the administration of President George W. Bush. AuCoin states that although Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld claimed to have closed a federal "Office of Disinformation" before it began operating, AuCoin suspects that the goals of the office were still in force. AuCoin provides what he claims are two past examples of dishonesty coming from the Bush administration regarding the No Child Left Behind Act and Social Security trust fund surplus related money mismanagement. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in mid-February 2002.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin discussing a Portland newspaper's article on divorce and divorcees in Oregon. AuCoin states that Oregon sociologists found that Oregon has become especially popular for people that divorce elsewhere, as the state offers social tolerance and divorced women opportunities. AuCoin, however, describes how he is troubled by the manner in which the newspaper leaves out the trauma kids face following divorce. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired around 2002.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on Mark Hemstreet, owner of Shiloh Inns. According to AuCoin, Hemstreet organized a group of wealthy, anti-government businessmen to help elect "reactionary," pro-tax cut candidates to the Oregon state legislature. AuCoin states that Hemstreet then lobbied Congress for massive federal spending to stimulate the economy, including a year-long moratorium for businesses and individuals. AuCoin asserts that the actions of Hemstreet reveal the "enlightened self-interest that animates many conservatives." This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2002.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on political differences over timber policy. In the recording, AuCoin argues that although former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader had criticized both major parties for having essentially the same stance on environmental policy, the Bush administration in fact has a worse record on environmental policy. While President Clinton's Forest Service Chief, Mike Dombeck, had worked to conserve National Forest resources, President Bush's Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth was promoting many harmful policies. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2002.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on term limits and incumbents. AuCoin, a critic of term limits, asserts that political operatives of the national term limit movement will try to handcuff people with term limits. AuCoin further wonders if civic leaders will be up for debate on term limits now, since few did so in 1992. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired around 2002.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on President George W. Bush's 2002 State of the Union Address. In the recording, AuCoin analyzes Bush and his appointments of John D. Negroponte, Otto Reich, Ted Olson, and Bennett Raley. He criticizes the Bush administration for cutting federal funding for libraries, research on renewable energy sources, community hospitals, workforce training, et cetera. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in January 2002.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on how government spending cuts were impacting the lives of children. AuCoin describes a controversial statement by the National Institute of Health: “Child abuse has become engraved in American life.” This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired around 2002.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on campaign finance reform. He criticizes the fact that politicians must devote excessive attention to raising funds for campaigns. He describes how an upcoming vote in Congress (the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, commonly known as the McCain–Feingold Act or BCRA) could reform campaign finance. However, it will require citizens to start contacting their representatives for change to happen. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in early 2002.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on a bill in progress to ban soft money raising and spending. Soft money, known as non-federal money, is money that federal candidates and officeholders pass around for “party activities." AuCoin lists the ways soft money has been used and describes how Americans want to ban the use of soft money. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired around 2002.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin on enjoying warm late winter/ early spring days. AuCoin recounts his day going on an aquatic adventure and learning new fishing techniques while listening to Eddy Arnold and Kenny Rogers music. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired around spring 2002.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin regarding President Bush renouncing the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty. AuCoin advocates for the ABM Treaty, stating that the treaty made Americans safer and saved taxpayers billions of dollars. From Bush’s view, according to AuCoin, renouncing the treaty was done to protect the US from terrorist groups, as the treaty was an outdated, Cold War-era relic. AuCoin, however, asserts that renouncing the treaty is likely to trigger other countries nearby to acquire more missiles, while unlikely actually preventing terrorist attacks. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired around 2002.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin regarding his first visit to New York City after 9/11. AuCoin describes how the nearby St. Paul's Chapel had become a shrine to honor those who had lost their lives on 9/11. An entry from the chapel’s guest book stated that "too often it is in loss that we discover the things that we love and why we love them," which AuCoin takes and applies to the war in Iraq, arguing that the situation had led to the U.S. government neglecting civil liberties. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired around 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin regarding Bill Gates' alleged comments comparing the development of the auto industry and the computer industry. This story was based on a viral joke that was circulating in the early 2000s, playing on the fact that computer technology had improved exponentially while cars had only improved marginally over the last few decades. AuCoin shares General Motors' response, listing ten hypothetical faults of cars if they adopted the same technology standards as Microsoft. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired around 2002-2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin, in which he criticizes the mishandling of cattle feed in feedlots in the West. AuCoin argues that the switch from grass-fed cattle to corn-fed cattle has led to poorer quality beef. As cattle are not intended to digest grain, corn-fed cattle often have an increased risk of illnesses that require heavy doses of antibiotics, which humans then consume. Further, as AuCoin shares, corn-fed beef has more saturated fats than grass-fed beef. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode likely aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin regarding Multnomah County Ballot Measure 26-48 of 2003. AuCoin shares how Multnomah County voters voted to increase taxes on the county-level to alleviate the school funding crisis. Moreover, he criticizes the hypocrisy of the conservatives in the Oregon legislature who condemn Ballot Measure 26-48 for keeping tax revenue within Multnomah County schools and out of rural Oregon counties, while simultaneously arguing against raising taxes in general. AuCoin specifically calls out Republican Oregon State Senator Ted Ferrioli. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin regarding Richard Perle, the Chairman of the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee and advisor to President Bush. AuCoin criticizes Perle, sharing how Perle has a history of promoting nuclear weapons, aggressive actions against Iraq since 1996, and pushing President Bush to wage a war with Iraq. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired around 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin discusses the burning of the American flag as a response to Bush's administration policy on Iraq. AuCoin asserts that while burning the American flag is technically legal due to the principle of freedom of speech, he personally disagrees with the action; arguing that the flag stands for freedom, not the politicians involved in the Iraq war "who officially abuse what it stands for." Indeed, AuCoin encourages waving the American flag to protest the policies of those in the White House. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin regarding the Oregon state budget cuts resulting in inadequate support for teachers. In comparison, AuCoin explains how California's employee benefits for teachers, including paid moving expenses, sign-on bonuses, and greater annual salaries, were tempting Oregon’s best teachers to move out-of-state. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode likely aired in February 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin criticizing President Bush for under-funding research on hydrogen fuel cells for cars in place of gasoline. AuCoin shares how he bought a gas-electric hybrid car, dubbing it his "anti-war car." This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in early 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin criticizing a speech by Republican Oregon Speaker of the House Karen Minnis. AuCoin argues that the Republicans were cynically pretending to be concerned about program cuts that they had voted for the previous year. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode aired in early 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin in which he responds to President Bush's 2003 State of the Union Address, when Bush called for the invasion of Iraq over their supposed holding of Weapons of Mass Destruction. AuCoin recalls serving in the military during the Cuban Missle Crisis and contrasts the clear nuclear threat from the Soviets at that time with the dubious evidence of a nuclear threat from Iraq. He predicts that winning a war in Iraq would be far easier than keeping order in Iraq after the war is over. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode probably aired in late January or early February 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin discussing the political implications of the even split between parties in the Oregon State Senate in 2003. He compares the even split of 2003 with the split of 1971, when AuCoin was a State Senator. He also criticizes Democratic Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski for placating Republican interests. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode probably aired in early 2003.
An audio recording by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin criticizing proposed federal tax cuts under the Bush Administration during the early 2000s recession. This is one episode from AuCoin's biweekly radio show on Jefferson Public Radio (JPR), which ran after he had retired from office. The majority of episodes feature his commentary on current political events, often focusing on issues important to southern Oregon where JPR is based. This episode probably aired in Spring 2003.
