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Leave No District Behind
Submitted by Chris Andersen on August 23, 2005 - 2:41pm
Bob Brigham, one of the bloggers who helped nationalize the Paul Hacket race, is forming a new PAC to encourage Democrats to field an opponent against every single Repulican Congressperson in 2006 (there are 231 of them). It is called Leave No District Behind.
This brings up a question: will Democrats be fielding a candidate against Greg Walden next year? And if so, who? And if so, should DFO Action PAC get involved?
I know virtually nothing about the 2nd Congressional District. Maybe others could answer this question?
Chris
what about McColgan?
who opposed Walden last time? He did okay (30%) considering that he got outspent at least 10:1.
Any Iraqi vets (or other vets) out there in Eastern Oregon, eager to serve their country one more time?
Tell me more!
Any other details on McColgan-- previous experience, etc.? Is the DPO helping him?
It would be wonderful if we could clone Paul Hackett, what a hero!
Here's his website:
http://www.mccolganforcongress.com/Index.asp
Apparently he's been connected to the Democratic party for a while out there, but I don't know much about him. BTW, he garnered 26%, but I know he got incredibly outspent (can't find the numbers yet).
I wrote him to see if he was running, no response yet.
I'd encourage him as he'd have some name recognition, in the absence of a Paul Hackett stepping forward.
Thanks!
I read thru the site and am extremely impressed! We need this guy running. Thanks for contacting him, let us know if you hear back.
If he runs, maybe he is a candidate that DFO Action should look into supporting?
Heard back from McColgan
quite promptly, it was very courteous of him to respond to a stranger with such a thoughtful message, I'd like to say.
In a word, he's not running. Out of respect for him, I won't just copy and paste his e-mail, but he says that although he really enjoyed running, he has personal and professional responsibilities to respect and that running for office compromises them.
I can't criticize him, as running as a Democrat for OR-02 can probably seem thankless, but I honestly believe that the walls are crumbling around the Bush empire and that we need someone to capitalize on it when everyone incumbent Republican is trying to jump ship and save their skin (see www.dailykos.com today and look at how Santorum is trying to do just that).
Anyway, we need to get someone else on board, and fast, for OR-02. Any Iraqi vets out there?
Also, check out McColgan's B&B due to open in Joseph in Jan 2006 if you're in the 'hood (bellepeppersbnb.com on-line by end of September this year).
Might he change his mind...
If progressive Oregonians (and I hope, the DPO) got behind him wholeheartedly? both with money and people support. Who knows, we could well get the blogosphere interested (I was really impressed by his website and positions on the issues). What if we worked together to get him on the Democracy for America "A-list" endorsements? Seems to me if he got 30-some percent being totally outspent and unaided, with a big grassroots effort we could really make a go of it. I hate to lose such an articulate, smart, strong Democratic candidate to the B and B business (no offense to B and Bs, of course).
Thanks so much for contacting him.
Hey, I'm all for recruiting him,
which is why I wrote him (for the very reasons that you cite), and you are welcome to write too via his website, but it seems to me like his decision is made and that his family wouldn't support it this time around (as they're committed to building a B&B in Joseph).
My guess is that the DPO has already talked with him, because he seems to be connected to the party, and I would also venture to guess that he and they aren't convinced that they can beat Walden (though I obviously disagree vehemently because Bush is becoming such a drag on incumbent Republicans) or that this is the best way to use their resources. I would disagree because Walden is the only Republican target in the state and I know people west of the Cascades would be eager to help out, but I don't know how or whom to convince of that. Heck, having a Democrat opponent would probably make things easier for the Democrat in the governor's race (be it Ted or Sorenson) by turning out Democratic sympathisers east of the Cascades, but the DPO doesn't seem to understand that principle.
I am disappointed too, as I feel strongly that we need someone to challenge Walden for the reasons I've stated previously and that McColgan would make a the best candidate given his personal attributes and name recognition from having run last time, but I'm stopping my recruiting efforts here unless I hear differently from him, though I don't know what to do know about getting someone else :-(
Okay, I give... who's reading this?
I have to admit that I've checked back on this thread frequently since the fury of activity a couple of weeks ago, and have noticed that it's frequently being read despite being buried in the archives, but no one is commenting. Is it the same 4 people every day, or newcomers?
Does anyone have any new information about a possible Dem. candidate for OR-02? It drives me nuts that there isn't one yet, given how much more Bush and the Republican party as a whole is tanking in the aftermath of the Katrina debacle and its demonstration of their total, even criminal conduct as the controlling party of the government. We can win this district and take back the House! If you're reading this and have any info, please comment!
Please write to me about CD 2
Doran,
We share your zeal to get rid of Walden and every R that has betrayed and sold this country down the river for the incompetent Bush neocons. But we are also busy battling the the dismantling of our democracy on many fronts. Please join us in helping to find a candidate to support against Walden and we will also help using whatever resources we have. Would you consider coming to meet with the Democracy for Oregon steering committee at the DPO Summit in Bend (assuming you may live in the 2nd CD somewhere?) We will be there from Oct. 7 to Oct. 9. Please write to me at info at democracy for oregon dot org so we can discuss this race. We are meeting with members of the DPO this weekend, and I would like to raise the question with them as to who might become a candidate and how we can support the effort.
Sincerely,
Ginny Ross
DFO Action Pac
Alas, I live in Portland, or you can bet your
butt that even as a graduate student (and one who's just barely the minimun of 28 years-old to run for Rep) I would give Walden a run for his money.
Having nothing to lose, I would campaign with my guns blazin' and call out Walden and the Republicans on every last half-truth, lie, corruption and betrayal of this country. No district, no matter how conservative, will stomach corruption, I wish someone who lives in OR-02 and has fire in their belly would realize that and stick it to Walden.
Belly Fire
I can not ditto your comments strongly enough. We must run a strong progressive candidate in this race and give people a real choice. One cause for much hope is that the new chair of the 2nd CD for the Dems is Pat Ackley and she is awesome. Maybe you should drop her a line and share your ideas and concerns. Go to the 2nd CD website, scroll down and get her email address and phone number. If you find out what's going on, please share it here because we at DFO Action would be very interested to know how we could get involved and channel some energy toward getting rid of Walden. Thanks for staying in touch.