Why Bother?

We got a letter the other day from Rob Cornilles looking for money for his race for Congress as a Republican in the 1st District.  This is the seat that was held by David Wu until he began dressing up in kitty costumes and saying some rather strange things. Cornilles seems like a nice enough guy. He has experience in the private sector, he wants to cut spending in D.C. But really, why bother?

Republican Chris Dudley ran about as middle-of-the-road campaign as possible and got beat by a former governor who said that Oregon was ungovernable when he last left office. Republican Scott Bruun ran a good race against a Demo who had served only one term and who voted with Nancy Pelosi 97% of the time. While the rest of the country went overwhelmingly Republican in the 2010 election, Oregon's 2nd District (Salem and Clackamas County) went with the Donk.

Being pragmatic, it doesn't appear to me that a Republican can win statewide or a Congressional seat here in the Willamette Valley. Is it the water out here, too little sun? I don't know, but if you are thinking about political contributions, pick an out-of-state race where a Republican has a chance and make a difference by putting your cash into that race. Sad commentary, but true.