{"id":14714,"date":"2015-02-14T09:10:05","date_gmt":"2015-02-14T17:10:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=14714"},"modified":"2015-02-14T09:10:05","modified_gmt":"2015-02-14T17:10:05","slug":"bye-kitz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2015\/02\/14\/bye-kitz\/","title":{"rendered":"Bye Kitz"},"content":{"rendered":"

As someone, who frequently blows Oregon\u2019s horn, having my governor resign under pressure is difficult for me.  I\u2019m still not certain he did anything criminal, but there is certainly an appearance of impropriety.  The sad part is that Kitz has been a damn fine governor, far better that the extremist the Republicans offered.  Given the same choice, I would vote for him again.<\/font><\/p>\n

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\"0214Kitz\"Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, ending a storied 37-year career in politics<\/a>, relinquished his office Friday after a week of escalating pressure.<\/p>\n

In a defiant statement<\/a> issued just after noon, the governor bowed to a public corruption controversy involving allegations that he and fianc\u00e9e Cylvia Hayes abused his office. He will step down Wednesday at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n

Democrat Kate Brown<\/a>, now the secretary of state, will take his place, becoming the state’s 37th governor.<\/p>\n

"I understand that I have become a liability to the very institutions and policies to which I have dedicated my career and, indeed, my entire adult life," Kitzhaber wrote, after accusing the media of depriving him of due process. "I have always tried to do the right thing, and now the right thing to do is to step aside."\u2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Inserted from <The Oregonian<\/a>><\/p>\n

Filling in for Rachel, Steve Kornacki covered the story.<\/font><\/p>\n