Authoritarian bullies are nothing new in governance across the globe. Avakian just happens to wield that mantle as a neo-progressive. And Oregonians who approve of his end goals seem not to mind his means, no matter how over-reaching, even crushing, they are.

I dread the day if he is elected SOS, and I am appalled by his organizational support. So far he seems not to have seduced the press, but that likely and unfortunately matters less.