Duin calls Clem chicken, fails to understand how America has changed

Steve Duin thinks Oregon Dems have moved backwards by giving a pass, as he puts it, to Kitzhaber and Bradbury in the governor’s race. In effect, he calls Brian Clem chicken for not running against Kitz. Given that Clem is in the Legislature and can propose law from there — not mention work directly to get it passed — he’s not really lost a big chance to lead. But as far as Duin seems to be concerned, younger Dems deciding not to challenge the two elder statesmen, neither who is anywhere near elderly, “doesn’t bode well for the state.”

I’m not sure why. You don’t have to sit in Mahonia Hall to have good ideas or to be a leader. But you do need to have the ability to lead and inspire if you want to be governor. Kitzhaber has an abundance of that. Many Oregonians are still excited by who he is and what he represents. I know I look forward to him taking the reins in 2011 and working with Clem and our other great young leaders in the Legislature and around the state. I was intrigued with the idea of Clem as governor; I am really excited about the doctor getting another opportunity, this time with a Leg this isn’t being led by right wing religionists and corporatists.

I might have had doubts about Kitz simply making a comeback, but his Archimedes Movement shows that he understands how American politics has changed. Unlike far too many people, Kitz sees what Howard Dean saw and knows that what will bring change is not the right people elected to high office but the active, on-going participation of citizens at the ‘roots. As he told me on Labor Day:

I think a lot of people sort of view the responsibility of citizenship ends at the ballot box. That’s important, but it actually starts there because Obama can’t solve these problems, neither can Senator Merkley; we’re going to have to do it together.

Read through the pages at We Can Do Better and what becomes clear is that the Archimedes Movement is not about fixing health care: it’s about fixing American politics. Through this organization, Kitzhaber is seeking to engage citizens and make them the leaders -- the same thing Dean did as Chair of the Democratic Party, the same thing Obama is trying with Organizing for America. Until “ordinary” citizens decide to become extraordinary and take over leadership from those in elected office, elected officials will fail to find the solutions the state and country need.

I am excited about a “recycled” Kitzhaber governorship for exactly that reason: he won’t be trying to run the damn show. He’ll seek to get citizen activists to provide leadership, the way a democracy needs to work. Far from being a tired rehash of what’s gone on in Oregon in the past, that style of leadership is new, it’s exciting and it’s what is needed more than having a shiny new face in the Governor’s office.