Op-Ed: Mannix: Political Name Becoming `Nix`

(SALEM) - `Effrontery: Shameless or impudent boldness; barefaced audacity"; p.455, Random House Unabridged --"the big one". In a politician that can be either very good --or very bad-- surely depending on circumstance and social surround. For Kevin Mannix, considered by many to be Oregon`s most-persistent `Political Man" as one-time chairman of the GOP-side, and now two-timer; seeking the top-spot in Oregon, the Governor`s working-spot, that final moment of make-or-break may be looming closer and more inevitably every day, despite any desperate money-measures still possible. He lost his first-shot to current Gov. Kulongoski, now again leading `the other party" in solid preparation for his further probable continuance. With that Governor`s Chair, without doubt, come large staff and broad powers --and intriguing prerogatives, perhaps even some public service, at times impossible to avoid these days. SO that peculiar characteristic defined just above is plainly and perhaps perversely always present; but in Oregon`s Mannix it is premier --as in `primary"-- not to write `supreme." How better to characterize his current campaign, continuing in the face of persistent rumor and then potent and powerful disclosure re political-campaign monies; potent Norquist/ATR `Never-ANY/tax-rise" PLEDGE; and persistent powerful (doubtless painful) potent and deeply-dependent relationship --and deeply-dependent funding, too-- by that controversial `Hands-On!" multimillionaire so disgusted with other Oregon politicians he has now fled the State for residence-elsewhere. Normally even in Oregon politics, known for often-abnormal characteristics: low on the list for educational funding; while retaining a unique position providing corpulent corporation tax-takes ($10 !) and near-fatal give-back tax-breaks; the Mannix manipulations might well, once, have gone unremarked. But in this year`s primary-choice `selection" sweep-stake; surely itself characterized by the drive for deeply-lavished `campaign contributions" and essential disregard for public-issue concerns; despite unavoidable consequences for all Oregonians; `normal" is now, very naturally and unavoidably at this historic time, overwhelmed by `painful...", in fully-obvious circumstance. Here that reality is well demonstrated in parent, teacher and school-board concerns for fatal flaws; widely reported in national newspaper columns and honored investigative magazines serving audiences across-the-board; with irreparable damage to Oregon`s image as well as its once-high/and-fine reputation; by growing revolt and then reliance-on rapid court/assisted remediation for Constitutionally- consequential child-damage; shaping and changing the entire Oregon educational picture under present-already and stronger-to-come legal decisions now reflected in other states with similar problems --more than thirty so far. That reality --right here in our home-state-- is that the irremediable damages-done already for one generation will never again be permitted by parents of the future-for-Oregon children still in desperate danger from `more of the same"; which is the Mannix pattern well-observed; and demonstrated over the years with ongoing close associations easily seen for these most damaging elements of the confused-situation stalling sensible and solid considerations in the Legislature --surely and irrevocably any `first step for the Oregon future. That is why cynical `endorsements" ignoring the dramatic and desperately-revealing past-record now well-visible amount to accepting `effrontery" --as first-defined for your own eyes just above-- prior to this partial reflection of these realities now becoming `painfully obvious" to all observers; and thus too potent and powerful to allow for any further obfuscation and creation of psychological denial among the still-responsible `voting public".