In it to win!

As you may have read on some of the other blogs, yesterday Senator Jason Atkinson once again met with bloggers to talk about his campaign for Governor.  Once again, I left convinced that Jason is the right man for the job.

One thing in particular stood out:

Several readers here and on other local blogs have commented that they fear Atkinson isn't really in this race to win, but is only getting his name out now to build momentum for another race in the future.  Well, let me dispel that notion.  One blogger specifically asked Jason about this, and Jason said flat out: "I am in this race to win right now!"

I don't think this is mere puffery.  A rational look at the elections for 2006, 2008, and 2010 shows that this year is Jason's best chance at moving up the political ladder.

Let's say that Jason is only looking to build statewide name recognition right now.  If he doesn't win this primary or general election, then his next shot at statewide office would be the Secretary of State race in 2008.  But is this something he would want?  I don't think so.  For one thing, in 2008 he could run for re-election to the Senate.  As the incumbent, he would have a distinct advantage.  But if he gave up that race to run for Secretary of State, he'd be leaping into a new race without the cushion of an existing Senate seat.  If Jason loses the election this year, he still has an important job in Salem where he can fight for positive change.  But if he loses a race for Secretary of State in 2008, then he goes home unemployed and unable to help his constituents.  Another factor is the crowding of the playing field in 2008.  There are at least two other big names already being mentioned as front-runners: House Speaker Karen Minnis and former Eugene Mayor and current Senate candidate Jim Torrey.  In all honesty, I think Minnis and Torrey are more formidable than Mannix and Saxton.  I think that with just those two candidates, it will already be an ugly race between the conservatives and moderates.  Add Jason into the mix, and he'll have to fight against Minnis for the conservative vote.  That's not something any of us would like to see.  So let's rule out 2008.

So what about 2010?  If Jason doesn't win this year's race, then there are two possibilities: we have four more years of Governor Kulongoski, or we see what Ron Saxton can do from Mahonia Hall (as I have said repeatedly, Kevin Mannix can't win).  If Kulongoski wins, then we can rest assured that the winner of the 2008 Secretary of State race (and I'll tell you right now, it will be Karen Minnis) will be the front runner for Governor.  It would be more difficult for Jason to win a primary against a sitting Secretary of State and former Speaker than what he faces today in a three-time statewide loser and a liberal Portland lawyer who has never won a significant election.  So if Kulongoski wins re-election, we can forget about Jason running for Governor in 2010.  And of course, if Saxton wins, then it would be career suicide for Atkinson to challenge an incumbent in his own party primary!  So much for 2010.

So I really believe Jason when he says he is in it to win this time.  Now let me tell you why it is so important that we help Jason win, and win now:

As some other candidates have pointed out, Jason is young.  Well, as I see it, his youth today is a long-term asset for Oregon.  If we elect Jason Atkinson in 2006, and re-elect him in 2010, then after his two terms as Governor, he'll still be in his early 40's, with many years of political potential ahead of him.  And what can a former Governor do?  He can move on to the U.S. Senate.  He can serve in the President's Cabinet.  And with youth on his side, he can even do both.  Why, we could even see him move from Governor to the Cabinet, on to the Senate, get re-elected to the Senate, and by 2024, when he is still only in his 50's, be viewed as a serious candidate for President or Vice President.  In fact, if elected Vice President in 2024 and re-elected in 2028, he would still be young enough, in his early 60s, to keep on going 8 more years as Commander-in-Chief!

Dreaming?  Sure, it's dreaming.  But if you are going to dream, dream BIG!

If Jason is serious about winning this year, and if we Oregonians choose him as our Governor this year, then the big dream suddenly seems a lot more possible.  And it wouldn't just be good for him; it would be good for Oregon.  When was the last time Oregon had one of our own working for us at a level that high?  Have we ever had one of our own in the Cabinet?  When was the last time one of our Senators earned national recognition for something other than a sex scandal?  Has an Oregonian ever successfully ran on a Presidential ticket?  Or even ran at all?  Supporting a young candidate like Jason today could be paving the way for the best possible national representation down the road.

Now do I think Jason is thinking in terms of sitting in the Oval Office?  Hardly.  I am pretty sure he is simply focused on just getting elected this year.  But what about us?  Should we be looking ahead to the future?  Of course!  So while some critics say Jason is just trying to gain some name recognition for a future race, I say turn that around and throw it right back at the critics: Jason is thinking about winning this race, and WE are hoping to build him up for a future career that benefits Oregon for years to come.

Support Jason Atkinson: in it to win this race, and able to serve Oregon for many years to come.  Jason is our best hope for the long term.  And in the meantime, here are 15 reasons why Oregon needs Jason Atkinson today.

Support Senator Jason Atkinson for Governor of Oregon!

Click here to donate to his campaign.

And if you have your own blog, please join the Atkinson Bloggers Network to help spread Jason's positive message to all Oregonians!

Comments

[Max]

Good comments. But he's so down-to-earth, you can just connect with him on so many levels.

Ever tried to talk with some of the others? They don't even make eye contact.

They don't get it. He does.

[Robin]

good point, and I noticed that too. he is not a salesman trying to "convence" you to buy something that you don't want at any cost.

[DarePDX]

What I like is his ability to convey very complex concepts simply as stories. He is a conservative and explains it well making a case for our cause.

Atkinson's ability to discuss Measure 37, land use laws, environmental regulation, legislative process/reform, tax reform, school funding, etc... in simple terms through first hand stories is extremely Reaganesque.

I'm excited he is in this race and it's important to our party that he gets alot of coverage. I hope Jason will become a turning point for our party. As he said on the news:

"Our campaign will be young enough to dream and experienced enough to deliver."

Go Atkinson!!!

[Coyote]

That is such a great line "Young enough to dream. Experienced enough to deliver." They need to run a few radio spots that say that. That would light a fire.

Also, over at NWR we have the story about Larry George breaking the $70,000 mark. If Jason can start catching more air we could have a young lion sweep in the Republican primary this year.

[Jeff]

Does this mean that Jason will start using the ORGOP e-mail list to send out his e-mails too?

I unsubscribed after receiving the second Ron Saxton e-mail that I wasn't interested in.

[Gullyborg]

no primary candidate should be using a party mailing list. parties aren't supposed to choose one primary candidate over another--they are supposed to get out the vote for the primary winner once chosen by the members. if Saxton is using ORGOP resources to campaign in the primary, that troubles me.

[Jeff]

Well, I'm not positive that Saxton was doing it - he may have a mole at ORGOP - the e-mail said that it was forwarded to me by them... and a subscription link at the top that led to the Saxton signup page. I'll forward you the thing when I get home tonight.

[Coyote]

I have been told that some Benton County Republicans have used the county email list for Ron Saxton.

That was back when Felix Schein sent me his falsified email.

By they way... ever notice that Saxton's campaign manager is not even a registered Republican?

[Sailor Republica]

Coyote, if that's the case...then there's some 'splaining to do on the part of Ronny Boy.

[Coyote]

Ya right, like Ron will explain anything.

BTW someone took issue with me on my own blog this morning. Unfortunately I cannot answer back until this afternoon because the blogspot software is not allowed through our big brother network system.

Grrrr...

[Gullyborg]

Coyote, I thought you were self-employed... can't you decide what is and isn't allowed through your network?

[Jeff]

Gully,
What did you think of the forwarded Saxton for Gov. e-mail (from emailalert@orgop.org) that I sent you?

[Tony]

The Oregon Republican Party allows ANY Republican to use its email system to send out information. Mannix or Atkinson could send out mailers as well.

As I recall from the Presidential election, they have some policy limiting how often you can do it. But it says in the email that it is for informational purposes only, not an endorsment.

[Marylin]

There is nothing that prevents a party officer (Statewide or County) from endorsing a candidate in the Primary. If you're a party officer and you know someone personally (especially if it is someone you have worked with for many years who has worked to elect Republican Candidates) who you think should win, then lend your name to him/her, just don't say the State or County Republican party endorses the candidate.

Also, Saxton has bigger worries than the conservatives in the Primary and General. 1)Thousands of State Employees believe their jobs and/or their benefits will go away if Saxton wins. I wouldn't be surprised if many of them reregistered to vote in the Republican primary, just to make sure he doesn't get to the General, 2) The owners of businesses who depend on illegal aliens for workers have a vested interest in making sure Saxton doesn't win the Primary or General.

I'm not opposed to Saxton addressing these two issues, but as a pastor once warned me, "Don't stir up more devils than you can handle," Saxton has stirred up two powerful groups.