Atkinson lives in OR-2, not OR-4. I believe Kari is correct about the Walden/Atkinson idea.

Who doesn't blame him for dipping his foot in the water? I would think a lot of Republicans are lukewarm to a Smith/Walden primary. The party is so fractured right now it could go anywhere. Besides, I think after seeing victories for Brown and Westlund this past year, the real race is the Democrat primary.

I'd love to see Bradbury/DeFazio/Courtney/Hass/etc. campaigns. The more, the better.

Atkinson is a joke. He is widely regarded as the laziest person in the State Senate. His only claim to fame, according to one of his peers, is that he makes a great my-tai.

Atkinson's church network is all he has left. Show us a list of his accomplisments please.

If I were a betting man, I'd put money on Atkinson vs. DeFazio for 2010.

DeFazio would wipe the floor with Atkinson if they clashed in 2010.

DeFazio has the advantage of being a rural Representative who has demonstrated, as he did when it came to the coastal railroad, that he will fight for his constituents no matter their party affiliation.

Tack on his voting record and he is more than palatable with the Portland Metro Area and Willamette Valley voters.

Atkinson is a fringe player with fringe values and very few legislative accomplishments to run on.

When you have rightwing nutbags such as Rob Kremer, Ted Piccolo, and Victoria Taft heralding you as their preferred choice year after year, then that just shows you how far from the mainstream you are swimming.

Looking at the record since 2006, whoever blogs like NW Republican, Victoria Taft, and RINO Watch pick, the overwhelming majority of their candidates have lost.

How they stay influential and in the game is a mystery to me.

YOMB,

You've hit the nail on the head. By associating with bloggers who seem incapable of rational, civil debate (pretty much the entire COBRA crowd), and not calling the bloggers on their infantile behavior, people like Jason Atkinson and Sid Leiken push themselves to the margins.

Most people have realized that they wouldn't allow their children to behave the ways that Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Lars Larson, et. al. behave. Right-wing bloggers have yet to figure it out.

fbear

How did Sid Leiken get put in the mix? I don't think he has any intention of running for Governor.

Josh-

I think Leiken has had his eye on DeFazio's 4CD seat for a while. If DeFazio runs for governor, that seat comes open for the first time in over 20 years.

But I haven't heard anything about Leiken wanting to run for governor.

Jason Atkinson is only 38 years old. I’m ready to pass the torch of leadership in Oregon to a younger generation. But not a Republican. Much as I like them, let’s not recycle our elder Democrats like DeFazio and Kitzhaber. Been there, done that. Too stuck with past visions. Let’s develop our bench. All our major statewide Democrats are over 40: Brown – 48, Westlund – 59; Kroger – 42. They all could run for Gov and do well, bless them. But I liked to see some of our under 40 wunderkinds develop. We have a very talented and deep bench. The world is changing too much, too fast. We need fresh eyes, fresh visions.

" "It was a lot more pain than I thought it would be," said the 38-year-old Central Point Republican, who was also a candidate for governor in 2006. "It was raining and it was cold out there, but I loved it." ...

During his convalescence, Atkinson said, he's thought a lot about running for governor. He has yet to officially throw his hat in the race, but he's preparing for it.

"I'm training for a big race in 2010," he said. "

There are a couple interesting facets to this story. The Ben Westlund who was first elected to the House would not have won statewide office. But today at the reception after the swearing in of the new Sec. of State and St. Treasurer, there were people telling their own points of view on the words and actions of then-Ways and Means co-chair Westlund during the 5th special session several years ago. His candor and problem solving won him many fans. Also, those who knew him saw an increased seriousness and concern for issues like health care after Westlund's cancer treatment.

Will Atkinson's recovery from a gunshot wound have a similar effect?

Atkinson faces a choice. He can emulate the hard work and problem solving over ideology of those like St. Sen. Frank Morse.

OR, he can be the young darling of the "conservative base" who have not nominated a winning Gov. candidate since Atiyeh.

How did it happen that the state of Oregon once had so many statewide elected Republicans (McCall, Atiyeh, Clay Myers, Hatfield and Packwood, Paulus and others) but now there is no Republican serving in statewide office?

Republicans need to do some soul searching. Atkinson running basically the campaign he ran last time is unlikely to win statewide. A more thoughtful, problem solving Atkinson who can point to accomplishments (legislation, brokering a compromise, good ideas which appeal to ordinary Oregonians, hard work in committee, for instance) in the 2009 session and has a vision for the future and a plan to carry it out might have a chance. Especially if he has the commitment and energy the energy to engage in discussions in all counties with people who may not have voted Republican since Clay Myers, Paulus, Atiyeh were active in politics--might have a chance.

And, who knows, someone who has never run for Gov. before might be a surprise candidate.

Very interesting to stumble on a debate on CSPAN today with all the candidates for RNC chair. Some of them sounded like Howard Dean 2004--return power to the grass roots, work together with state parties, discuss and emulate best practices, win back disaffected voters, that sort of thing.

If that attitude becomes widespread in the GOP, we could have some serious debates on issues rather than the "Democrats have common sense, Republicans don't" sort of thing in recent years.

Saltsman said his goal is to defeat Democrats. How does he plan to do that if his attack approach is unappealing to voters?

Time will tell if Atkinson and other Republicans are serious candidates or make the mistakes (shallowness, lack of ideas, plenty of snide attacks) of Saxton.

Josh and Scott,

Yes, Sid Leiken's name has been bandied about for DeFazio's seat. I think he's similar to Atkinson--a wolf in sheep's clothing.

In the late 70s and early 80s Vic Atiyeh was not seen as a moderate Republican, he was seen as a member of the conservative wing of the party. My how times have changed. Now the "true believers" see him as a "RINO."

I have mixed feelings about the G.O.P. self-destructing in this state. In the short term, it's allowed Democrats to win, but in the long term I don't think it's good to have a one-party state, and the Republicans have so marginalized themselves that it's going to be a long time before they're viable again.

I hope Rick Dancer runs and takes government back for the people of Oregon.

Can someone explain to me why DeFazio would want to give up his seniority and growing clout in congress to come engage in state politics (where he has no previous experience). His background is as a congressional aide, county commissioner and congressman. What makes folks think he is interested in being governor (a thankless job to say the least)

I'll state the obvious, I think Atkinson's politics suck. He also sure is charming, charismatic, and down right likable. He does retail politics real well, I can't comment on wholesale. He could be tough in OR-2.