50 shades of Kitzhaber: NYT's most snort-worthy line about corrupt Oregon luv guv

misstripleem | 2:11 PM on February 16, 2015

https://twitter.com/nytimestop/status/567374020056596480

Yes, congrats, Oregon. A Democrat corruption scandal finally landed on the Fishwrap of Record’s front page today. As expected, “Democrat” doesn’t appear in the headline because it’s always Guess the Party when the culprit is a dyed-in-the-wool “progressive.”

One line from the article about disgraced John Kitzhaber and his torrid romance with his lover and crony beneficiary Cylvia Hayes did generate bipartisan snickers. 50 shades of…excuse-making:

"Their relationship was based on a shared passion for a low-carbon energy future…" #NYTfiftyshades

— Stacey Burns (@WentRogue) February 16, 2015

Cue the heavy breathing:

Their relationship, from its beginning in 2002, was based, friends said, on a shared passion for a low-carbon energy future. Mr. Kitzhaber, who, at 55, was preparing to leave the statehouse after two terms as governor, prevailed on a state senator to hold a fund-raiser for Ms. Hayes. Ms. Hayes was 20 years younger, ambitious and determined; after her loss, she sought out Mr. Kitzhaber’s advice about whether to run again in 2003 (she did not), and soon they were a couple.

"Their relationship, from its beginning, was based, friends said, on a shared passion for a low-carbon energy future." #hahahaaaa #Kitzhaber

— Brian Dawson (@heybriandawson) February 16, 2015

Thesis Idea: Are relationships based on a "shared passion for a low-carbon energy future" destined for failure? http://t.co/SDyPQhCgT7

— Jamie Weinstein (@Jamie_Weinstein) February 16, 2015

Lots of time to work on it now @FrankBruni: Ex-Oregon Gov and fiancee in love over "shared passion for a low-carbon energy future," #

— Hugh Hewitt’s conscience (@pithyopine) February 16, 2015