Future Governor of Oregon

World Net Daily ^ | 1/24/06 | Ron Strom

[OregonRepublican]

Glad to here your supporting the best canidate Atkinson. Thats just one of Mannix many problems.

[Giant Conservative]

Good. He should make a tour of Oregon university campuses too.

[OregonRepublican]

Yeah might get mugged their, but he should visit the college republican groups. Those kids will fire up support.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Go check out Blue Oregon (lefty site), many people on their are gonna vote for Atkinson, and they say like I said democrats dream guy is Mannix, he will fire up the democrat base."

It could also be disinformation they're putting out, too. You have to be very careful reading those sites.

[OregonRepublican]

I emailed his campaign about that and in 5 mins had a response from his campaign manager saying that their working on it, and plan to work with the college republicans.

[OregonRepublican]

I know that, but some of them work for others in the capital and said as much as I dislike his policy he was always willing to debate and talk to us when many other state reps and senators wouldnt. Atkinson is a very nice guy.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"- It when he was Chairman. I worked for the party in 04, and it pissed many people off when he used state party money to pay for his 02 campaign debt. It also pissed people off that we had no good state candidates in 04, we loss seats in state races. We lost Oregon for Bush by more in 04 then 00. I honestly cant think of anything he did good well chairman."

Paying off his debts in that manner, you are correct, does not reflect well on the man. I think Mannix had other problems with recruitment for the '04 cycle because of the loss of incumbents due to term limits (and, IIRC, some choosing to retire of their own accord). This may simply have been bad timing for when he served as Chairman. Was not another problem that the Bush campaign didn't bother a lot with Oregon this cycle ? I was rather shocked at the incredible uptick in voters between '00 and '04 (and a lot of Kerry's margin seemed to be due to the Naderites switching back to support the 'Rats). Like I said, how much of that can be laid at Mannix's feet is the question, when a lot of it appears to have been beyond his control.

"- Ask yourself when you here a candidate lost 3 state races what do you think of? I think of sore loser,"

You might think that way, if you didn't bother to look at the candidate and ask yourself, "Why did he lose ?" Some individuals ask that question of the stalwart Conservative Republican Tom McClintock in California... He's run for statewide office three times (Comptroller, twice, in 1994 and 2002; Gubernatorial recall, 2003), but he is anything BUT a loser. Why he lost those contests were for different reasons, and to simply dismiss the person as a "sore loser" is not only short-sighted, but very ignorant. Why Mannix lost his 3 races should also be examined. He ran in 1996 as a Democrat for Attorney-General and failed to secure the nomination (ostensibly because he was far too Conservative to obtain it). He ran in 2000 for the same office, this time securing the nomination as a Republican -- but he lost the job because the Libertarians ran a spoiler candidate, and the same identical situation occurred in 2002 when he ran for Governor. No substantial leftist 3rd party ran to funnel votes away from the Democrats in either of those contests. Would I call Mannix a sore loser because of those situations ? No, the first was a loss due to ideological insuitability for the Democrats, the latter two the victim of a 3rd party. Even Michael Barone described him as more articulate and well-versed on the issues than Kulongoski in '02.

"Nader gained votes in 00 but lost a large amount of votes in 04. Do you honestly think the republicans will be just excited now as 02 with Mannix I say no way. They know hes lost and wont put the effort in again to help him win. Would republicans be more excited to see a young, intelligent candidate who wont run a smear campaign who can attract people from both sides or Mannix the guy who hasn't won nothing. I think its clear."

Remember what I said above. Atkinson could just as easily get sandbagged by the Libertarians as Mannix did -- twice. Like I said, you call Mannix a loser while failing to analyze the reason for his loss. How can you necessarily claim with certainty that Atkinson will somehow be able to overcome what sandbagged Mannix ? I'm also not sure what you mean by a "smear campaign." Mannix himself had to get through a RINO-laden primary in '02, and RINOs are often the single most vicious campaigners I've ever witnessed... namely because they campaign exactly like liberal Democrats, from which they are usually ideologically indistinguishable.

"- I feel Mannix had his shot in 02, and we need some who will energize the base and Atkinson is that guy. Between 02 and now Mannix has become even more polarizing and has burned many bridges in his own party."

Well, if Atkinson scores a victory in the primary, I hope he can take the Governorship.

[Clinging Bitterly]

Yes compare to Hilary. IMO they are both in politics for the same reason, to wield power and satisfy their egos. And no I don't expect Mannix would go rounding up Jews but he would get a thrill at the prospect of rounding up pot smokers, and I can envision him taking a hard line approach with other existing laws, as well as developing some new ones, in order to find other folks to round up. That is what he's been all about in his legislative career and I wouldn't expect any better behavior in the Governor's office.

And he of all people ought not be too offended being compared to a Democrat, that is the card he carried just a few years ago.

From Wikipedia:

Kevin Mannix is an Oregon politician, lawyer and former chairman of the Republican Party in Oregon. Mannix earned his law degree from the University of Virginia.

From 1988 to 1998, he served in the Oregon Legislature as a member of the Democratic Party Of Oregon.

Mannix was a driving force behind the effort to get tougher sentences for criminals. In 1994, he helped pass Ballot Measure 11, which imposed mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes.

Prior to serving in the legislature, Mannix worked in several different capacities, including Assistant Attorney General of Oregon, Assistant Attorney General of Guam, and as a Pro-Tem District and Circuit Court Judge.

In 1996, Mannix ran for Oregon Attorney General. At the last minute, Hardy Myers was recruited by Democrats to run against Mannix in the Democratic Primary, as some felt Mannix was too conservative for their party. Myers defeated Mannix in the primary 62.8% to 36.8%. Myers went on to easily defeat his Republican opponent in the November general election.

Mannix switched to the Republican Party in the late 1990s. In 2000, he again ran for Attorney General against Meyers in a bitter campaign. Myers again defeated Mannix 49.8% to 46%.

In 2002, he ran for governor against Democrat Ted Kulongoski. The race was the closest in the history of Oregon: Kulongoski won 49% of the vote versus 46% for Mannix. The defeat also marked the fifth time in a row the Republicans failed to gain control of the governor's mansion.

He became Republican State Party Chair in 2004, and stepped down in 2005. Mannix has stated his intention to run for governor once again in 2006.

[Clinging Bitterly]

Then again, I'm not terribly pleased by a lot of what the GOP does these days.

Exactly.

[OregonRepublican]

Remember what I said above. Atkinson could just as easily get sandbagged by the Libertarians as Mannix did -- twice. Like I said, you call Mannix a loser while failing to analyze the reason for his loss. How can you necessarily claim with certainty that Atkinson will somehow be able to overcome what sandbagged Mannix ? I'm also not sure what you mean by a "smear campaign." Mannix himself had to get through a RINO-laden primary in '02, and RINOs are often the single most vicious campaigners I've ever witnessed... namely because they campaign exactly like liberal Democrats, from which they are usually ideologically indistinguishable.

-Well right now no libertarian is running (thankfully), 2nd Mannix isnt a conservative, would I call him a RINO no but he isnt a conservative. a RINO is still running (Saxton) and hes doing what RINOS to best blow smoke out of his tail. The thing that will suck is the possibility Mannix and Atkinson split the conservative votes and the RINOS get Saxton the candidnancy.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Yes compare to Hilary. IMO they are both in politics for the same reason, to wield power and satisfy their egos."

A lot of people in politics have egos, but it all depends upon whether they intend to do good or do harm to the office for which they are elected to.

"And no I don't expect Mannix would go rounding up Jews but he would get a thrill at the prospect of rounding up pot smokers, and I can envision him taking a hard line approach with other existing laws, as well as developing some new ones, in order to find other folks to round up. That is what he's been all about in his legislative career and I wouldn't expect any better behavior in the Governor's office."

Being tough on illegal drugs is only going to serve to increase my support for the candidate. I am unapologetically pro-WOD. Social Conservatives are more important to me than those focused exclusively on economics, though you cannot exclusively ignore the latter, either (some have discovered that lesson by losing reelection). I certainly hope Atkinson is not soft on the WOD issue.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Have you seen any polling data for the primary ?

[OregonRepublican]

Yeah saw a poll where Atkinson was in 2nd behind Saxton. A lot of undecideds though.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Saxton is in first ? Ugh. I hear he's trying to "pretend" to be Conservative, how cute.

[OregonRepublican]

yeah and Lars is now behind him. And Lars calls himself a conservative. I asked Lars why are you now supporting a candidate who's campaign manager isn't a registered republican. A candidate who before stated he was pro choice, who's supported higher taxes, who's given hundred of thousands of dollars to democrats, who did a horrible job on the Portland school board. He responded in about 5 mins with a run around answer.

[Clinging Bitterly]

I am unapologetically pro-WOD.

Too bad he's not running in TN then, you'd have your guy.

Social conservatism is one thing but the man is a tyrant. I have been around the block a time or two and I have seen how he and others like him, folks I would have supported myself a few years back, operate, and he has no place in elected office in this state as far as I'm concerned. If you like him so much recruit him for your own state.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Hey, send him down here. We have no candidate of any stature running against our flawed 'Rat incumbent Governor. It's an embarrassment. :-(

[Hammerhead]

quit spamming me

[OregonRepublican]

how am I spamming you?