2010: Jason Atkinson announces campaign for Governor (oops!)
Kari Chisholm
Unable to contain himself in the wake of John Kitzhaber's announcement, Jason Atkinson announced yesterday that he's running for Governor. The Republican state senator from Central Point - and 2006 gubernatorial candidate - told the Medford Mail-Tribune that's he's definitely in.
"I'm running," he said. "I'll be making an announcement later this month."
Talk about stepping on your own story. Sorry, Jason, but when you say "I'm running" - that's your announcement. You don't get to do it again later. The cat's out of the bag. The horses have left the barn. The genie's out of the bottle. The toothpaste is... oh never mind.
I like Jason. He's wrong on lots of issues, but I think he's an entertaining guy. But amateur hour's not gonna get him to Mahonia Hall. His people have gotta be slapping their own foreheads today.
Good luck with the big "announcement" in a few weeks, J-dude. We'll all be holding our breath to find out what you're gonna say.
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8:13 a.m.
Sep 3, '09
Oh snap Kari!
It's on! School is in session.
Sep 3, '09
Umm, I thought it was a well established fact for those in the know that Jason was going to run. Does that mean Kari isn't in the know? OOooohh, snap! :-)
Which isn't to say that amateur campaign mistake #1 is to have your 'announcement' come as a footnote to another candidate's announcement. Atkinson's handlers need to get him under control if they hope to have any real chance next year. Way amateur...almost embarrassing. Actually makes Alley's campaign look more viable after this bungling.
Sep 3, '09
Jason has been running since about 2005 at least.
I think a good slogan to counter him, would be, "Atkinson would kneecap the state, Kitzhaber would heal it." If you don't get the joke, google Atkinson to find out what I'm talking about.
Sep 3, '09
"Atkinson would kneecap the state, Kitzhaber would heal it."
That's disgusting...a joke about someone getting shot? Grow up.
Sep 3, '09
Well, at least Atkinson said something (mildly) clever, referring his gun accident:
"I'm excited by it because he is a friend," said Atkinson. "He's a former ER doctor and I've been in the ER quite a bit."
It's interesting though. This piece made it seem like Atkinson was working to sound reverent of Kitzhaber. If that's the tone of all this, and all other candidates end up stepping over themselves to show why THEY are closer to Kizhaber than other candidates, etc. then Kitzhaber's looking very strong. He's already the big daddy, the giant in the race, and that's going to be tough for Ds and Rs alike to overcome. Especially with amateur gaffes like this one on Atkinson's part.
Sep 3, '09
Keeping along with the inappropriate humor, next time I am at Dorchester, I will ask Matt Wingard for a "screwdriver" cocktail just to gauge his reaction.
10:49 a.m.
Sep 3, '09
Last time I saw Jason Atkinson was in Salem while lobbying for appropriate K-12 funding. He was dressed as Thomas Jefferson, tights, lace collar, and all. After arriving late, (the only legislator who was late) and we visited 11 legislators, he put his arm on top of a file cabinent and ignored the five of us standing outside his office. After asking us what we wanted, (everyone knew it was the day for school board members and superintendents to visit legislators) he finally invited us into his office. After an awkward silence he took a breath and stated there was nothing wrong with the current K-12 funding.
Fast forward to the reality of shorter school years, larger classes, teachers laid of, more deferred maintenence, programs cut or totally eliminated and activity fees on the rise again. The first day of school for most Oregon student's is September 8th.
Imagine the kind of public schools Oregon students would attend if Jason Atkinson were the governor.
11:03 a.m.
Sep 3, '09
Umm, I thought it was a well established fact for those in the know that Jason was going to run.
Well, his website has said - and still says - "exploratory". And until yesterday, he was still officially "considering".
And "going to run" is a different thing than "I'm running."
Sep 3, '09
"After an awkward silence he took a breath and stated there was nothing wrong with the current K-12 funding."
If he is this honest as a Gov. candidate, nothing can save him. He'll get some anti-tax votes but prob. very few from parents.
If he is not that honest, that quote will come back to haunt him. Did he really think pro-school funding advocates would forget that incident?
Sep 3, '09
Is school funding for the left the same as abortion for the right? That single issue that the leaders can count on to drive people to the polls. That single issue, that when in power, will never be addressed by the party in power b/c they don't want to loose the wedge.
Sep 3, '09
Well, it does absolve the need for any journo to actually show up at whatever announcment Jason actually makes.
Unless he give out free snacks. Everyone likes free food.
Altho he must be crying inside. After all, the one unbeatable Democrat has just shown up, and everyone can play ball, but everyone knows who's the big gun here. I'll bet he figured it was his time.
Oh, well.
5:06 p.m.
Sep 3, '09
The first day of school for most Oregon student's is September 8th.
Right . . . the Tuesday after Labor Day. Hasn't that always been the start of public schools in Oregon?
Is it the legislature's fault that Labor Day comes late this year? I think it varies from the 2nd to the 8th, and this year it's the 7th--which is the first Monday after the first Sunday in September.
Sep 3, '09
The only thing Jason is concerned about is his own ego...at least Alley is genuine is his campaign and convictions...tell me one tangible somewhat significant piece of legislation Atkinson has co-sponsored or wrote? There's a difference between someone who is important and someone who thinks he's important...Jason is the latter.
11:23 p.m.
Sep 3, '09
He was dressed as Thomas Jefferson, tights, lace collar, and all.
Anybody snap a photo? Please?
Sep 6, '09
He was dressed as Thomas Jefferson, tights, lace collar, and all.
Anybody snap a photo? Please?
<hr/>Yes Kari, as a matter of fact Atkinson posted a photo of it on his website. Cheers!
Sep 11, '09
I like it. Atkinson, right-wing proven loser against Kitzhaber, a known winner who is great on the issues.