Greg Walden: Failing Upwards
Kari Chisholm
On Monday, the Congressional Quarterly had a story about the rise of Rep. Greg Walden through the ranks of the House GOP leadership.
Apparently, Walden is now the chairman of the House Republican leadership. (That's not to be confused with being the House Republican leader. I don't get it either.)
Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon appears to have done all the right things to win him an appointed seat at the GOP leadership table: be a good team player, prove you’ve got political and policy chops, and have friends in high places.
Friends in high places? Yeah, it seems that he's super-close to NRCC chairman Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) - with the families vacationing together.
But here's the money quote - with a hat tip to the O's Jeff Mapes. It comes from Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX):
“He has shown himself to be so politically astute in maneuvering on behalf of the NRCC,” Conaway said. “He’s been around for a while and has good instincts that are hard to replicate.”
Mike Conaway ... Mike Conaway ... Mike Conaway. Where have we heard that name before?
Oh yeah, right here. Mike Conaway was the guy who replaced Greg Walden as the chair of the NRCC's audits committee. Mike Conaway is the guy who blew the whistle on a scam being run on the NRCC by its own treasurer; a scam that resulted in the loss of at least a million dollars. Mike Conaway was the guy who had the brilliant idea of actually picking up a telephone and calling the accounting firm that the treasurer claimed had reviewed his work.
Mike Conaway is the guy who actually did the job when Greg Walden spectacularly failed at it.
At the time, I wrote:
Not only did Greg Walden fail to meet with the auditing firm before they hired them, he failed to meet with them for three straight years, and when he tried - oh, how he tried - to get a meeting... he never bothered to pick up the phone and call direct.It's a telephone, Greg. Just pick it up and dial.
You could have saved your party a million dollars. You could have been a hero. You could have been a contender.
But as it turns out, you should never underestimate the party that brought you "heckuva job, brownie" to promote a guy who fails spectacularly. Go figure.
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11:46 a.m.
Mar 10, '10
Seems to me that this is an example of Rep. Conway putting the "friends in high places" requirement into practice - by sucking up to the newly elevated Walden.
Some might be tempted to view the entire thing as a textbook example of how the "Peter Principle" works, and especially why.
Mar 10, '10
Just goes to show the R's can't handle fiscal responsibility, even with their own money (coughPalinwardrobe*cough)
Mar 10, '10
"Friends in high places? Yeah, it seems that he's super-close to NRCC chairman Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) - with the families vacationing together."
And among his friends was "The Hammer"- the feared Tom DeLay.
Mar 10, '10
Wow. That's all you have?
And you go to great lengths to try and somehow compare this issue to Hurricane Katrina? That's low, Kari.
I'm continually amazed at the energy right and left-wingers spend to throw anyone under the bus who's political affiliation differs from yours. The only purpose for your post is to be degrading to a guy you don't agree with.
Reason 1,500,000 why I'd never run for politics.
2:43 p.m.
Mar 10, '10
Wow. That's all you have?
And...another "conservative" that doesn't think a million bucks is all that.
Nice.
Mar 10, '10
Having watched representative Walden decry the lack of jobs which were created by the stimulus package one can gain appreciation of how coverage of issues proceeds by noting that in Walden's county of residence, Hood River, the local paper reported on Farmers Irrigation District.
They received four million dollars which will enhance their hydroelectric projects and create jobs. Guess he does not read the local paper.
Mar 10, '10
Not to jump to Walden's defense here, but isn't the same type of crap also rampant in our fine, upstanding Democratic party? I think so and contend that's why congressional approval ratings are always abysmally low. They protect theirs, dog ours and were quick to do the same. Some say Dem's need to play that game to compete with the Rove/Cheney/Fox News tactics. Cynical as I am and making no bones about how pussified many of my Democratic brethren appear to be, I believe were better than that and thinks it hurts the cause. Be tough but don't try to play their game to beat 'em.
Barring some unforeseen Edwardsesque scandal or severe political corruption, Walden's seat aint in play. He'll easily coast through another election cycle in Oregon's only red district against anemic opposition. What are we tossing out this time, another liberal chick from Ashland? Brilliant! Then we'll preach to the choir outside his district to further ensure his ouster. Alright people, let's move on this thing.
9:50 p.m.
Mar 10, '10
Not to jump to Walden's defense here, but isn't the same type of crap also rampant in our fine, upstanding Democratic party?
Never heard of anyone embezzling a million bucks from a Democratic committee -- and that embezzlement going uncovered because a Congressman tried and tried and tried soooo hard to get a meeting with the outside auditors, despite never trying hard enough to try calling the phone number on the audit report.
9:51 p.m.
Mar 10, '10
Barring some unforeseen Edwardsesque scandal or severe political corruption, Walden's seat aint in play.
Probably true. Does that mean we shouldn't talk about him ever?
Mar 10, '10
It means we ought to redraw the district after the census and add more Democrats. Walden is an embarrassment to an otherwise decent Congressional delegation.
The State Dem chair and the Democratic National Committee ought to send field reps to placed like K-Falls and Vale to try to grow the party at the grassroots. The only state House districts where we failed to recruit any candidate to run were K-Falls and the two huge and sprawling districts next to it--all of which are in the 2nd.
Mar 11, '10
All the more reason to send a few minutes with Joyce Segers and even send her some money. Imagine a woman, a smart, progressive, experienced Democratic woman, replacing Walden in OR2! Joyce Segers for Congress
Mar 11, '10
That should read SPEND a few minutes with Joyce Segers at her website, and send her some money too. Joyce Segers for Congress Walden is ready to retire, Joyce is a fresh new progressive to help turn around OR2 and move Oregon and America forward. Joyce Segers for Congress
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