Replies

"It is a reasoned statement that I don't think is over the top at all."

C'mon, dude ! Of course it is. The Hitler ref has become ludicrous in way too many arguments and sadly, truly loses its real meaning. First off, Mannix isn't going to round up Jews, ship 'em off to Harney County and bake 'em to a golden crisp (now, if Cynthia McKinney from GA were running for OR Governor... have reason to worry). Mannix isn't going to invade Idaho for the purposes of anschlauss, and he isn't going to declare war on California (even if he should). Let's keep the arguments a bit more reasonable and believable. Besides, the biggest insult you can make of a Republican these days is to compare them to a Democrat. Why not say Mannix is the second coming of Bob Straub, Barbara Roberts, John Kitzhaber, or even Neil Goldschmidt ? OK, maybe the latter is a bit below the belt.

"Compare to Hilary Clinton. Yes I believe he is that bad for Oregon, and a poor example to be held up as the standard bearer of the state party."

Naah, he's no Hillary. I don't think we've had that evil a woman in politics that close to the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt.

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.