Saddam Hussein was a brutal tyrant. I am glad he is now on trial for crimes against humanity. But, opposition to a dictator is not the measure I use when deciding whether to send our men and women in uniform off to war and possible death.

But this time around the idea is getting a boost of momentum from the popularity of a similar measure in Europe as well as renewed national media focus on Wall Street profiteering as a result of the 99 Percent Movement. In 2000 he voted no on legislation to create a national missile defense network describing the system as a "comic book fantasy. Earlier he reportedly considered and re-considered running against Smith for the 2008 Senate election.

A native of Massachusetts and a veteran of the United States Air Force he previously served as a county commissioner in Lane County Oregon. The district includes Eugene Springfield Roseburg and part of Corvallis. S.