Virginia – the Most Purple State in the Union?

This morning I was torn as to whether or not I would buy a copy of this morning’s Washington Post.  However, as I glanced at the front page of the Outlook section I saw that my old friend Frank Atkinson had an op-ed.  Case closed.

Besides being a genuinely good guy, Frank is one of the sharpest minds of his generation.  Phi Beta Kappa at Richmond, Order of the Coif at Virginia Law, an early member of the Federalist Society, a veteran of the Reagan Justice Department and counselor to Gov. George Allen, Frank is a top notch constitutional lawyer and the author of two books.

His analysis of this fall’s statewide campaign is excellent, if slightly flawed.  Atkinson begins his op-ed by quoting the great Guy Friddell:

In Virginia, even the mountains are moderate.

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Creigh Deeds – Virginia’s Biggest Spender

Virginia Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) admits that he introduced more budget amendments (earmarks) than any other member of the General Assembly during the last budget session.  Virginia’s lefty blogosphere believes that’s a good thing and has criticized the Republican Governor’s Association (RGA) for running this ad:

Not Larry Sabato and Fred2Blue think that Deeds should be commended for being so fiscally irresponsible.  After all, Deeds proposed over $400 million for public school teachers; and we all know that higher spending equates to better public education.  Just look at Washington, DC.

What’s not to love?  Given that Virginia is in a fiscal crisis, Deeds should be commended for pandering to a core Democrat special interest.  Right?

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Creigh “Me Too” Deeds Agrees to Pay Cut

Does leadership require original thought?  If so, it would appear that Virginia Sen. Creigh Deeds is wholly unqualified to become Virginia’s next governor.

Again, Deeds has followed GOP nominee Bob McDonnell’s lead in the policy arena.  This time Deeds has agreed to take a pay cut if elected governor.  Fortunately for Virginians, McDonnell has already proposed the cut.  If not, we’d still be waiting.

H/T – Jim Hoeft @ Bearing Drift

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Bob McDonnell – Priorities

RPV has a great new video.  While the Creigh Deeds campaign seems to be focused on issues that divide us, Bob McDonnell is proposing solutions to move Virginia forward.

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Virginia Dems Playing Race Card Early

When you’re behind in the polls far enough, I guess there is nothing that some won’t do.  With the Democrat ticket behind by 8 – 14 points, certain members of Virginia’s blue blogosphere are willing to stoop pretty low.

Not Larry Sabato posted that the Bob McDonnell campaign was displaying a battle flag (a Confederate flag for you Yankees out there) in their booth at the Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show last weekend.  Then Joe Abbey, Creigh Deeds’ campaign manager, started spreading the same story on Twitter.  There’s just one problem – It’s Not True!

As noted by both Bearing Drift AND the Washington Post, the manager of the show stated that the flag was on display in the booth NEXT TO McDonnell’s by a vendor who sold “Confederate T-Shirts”.

 

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Media Monday – 081215 …

… The Tin Lady Retires

Is today’s Daily Times editorial a joke?  First we’re graced with a front page story on Sunday telling us all what we already knew – Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman is not seeking re-election.  Councilman Gary Comegys would never have declared for Mayor if she was.  But given the banner headline, you would have thought it was VE Day again.  Today we have an editorial that portrays Tilghman as the greatest politician in the history of Western civilization.

“She always showed leadership.”  Yes, if your definition of a leader is the biggest bully on the block then I guess that you could define Barrie Tilghman as a leader.

“Throwing the old boy network on its head.”  I guess that depends on WHO you define as the “old boy network”.  From shady real estate deals (Fruitland Wal-Mart, Sassafras Meadows and the Fire HQ) to massive taxpayer subsidies for chosen developers (the old mall, the NE Collector Road, and AGAIN, Sassafras Meadows) Tilghman has been front and center providing for HER “old boy network”.

Selective memory, or brazen prejudice, may account for SOME of the ridiculous notions printed today.  However, that does not excuse the outright lies also included: Read more

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McDonnell Website is LIVE

Check out Bob McDonnell’s website.  Looks good.  I’ll be interested to see how he integrates social media.

h/t – Jim Hoeft and Shaun Kenney

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Is Michael Steele Really the Man to Lead the RNC?

I know that I’m going to catch a lot of grief over this from my fellow Free Staters.  I’m going to ask the question anyway.  Is former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele the right person to be the next RNC chair?

I know.  He’s a great guy.  He’s “charismatic”.  He’s relatively young.  He’s African-American.  He’s on FOXNews.  He’s our favorite son.

To all of this I say, “SO WHAT?”.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not prepared to say that Michael Steele ISN’T the right person for the job.  I’m just seriously concerned about whether he is.

We can all probably agree that current chair Mike Duncan needs to go.  Despite seemingly large agreement on this among the grassroots, particularly on the net, Duncan still remains a front runner.  I’m almost amused by the claims that winning the Chambliss and LA run-offs should somehow be credited to Duncan and the RNC.  Sarah Palin had far more to do with Saxby Chambliss winning than Mike Duncan did.  Perhaps he should step aside for her.

Of the other top and second tier candidates for the job, SC Chair Katon Dawson doesn’t seem to be the right guy.  He’s got great credentials to be sure.  I particularly like his plan for the future.  However, if we expect the next chair to be the public face of the RNC, Dawson will continue to catch tons of flak for his membership in an exclusive (you know, all-white) club.  BTW – that “I was going to change it from within” stuff just doesn’t fly.
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Jindal Endorses Bob McDonnell

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal – the man Rush Limbaugh describes as the “next Ronald Reagan” is in Virginia today to support the candidacy of Virginia AG Bob McDonnell for Governor.  A great CONSERVATIVE leader showing support for another.

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Should Jeff Frederick Be Held to His Own Standards?

Political consultant and former Reagan operative Kenny Klinge is calling for Jeff Frederick to resign as RPV chair.  Like the rest of us, he has a right to his opinion.

Norm Leahy asks the right question – Are these intramural spats going to help Virginia Republicans win elections?  As someone who is now an outsider looking in, I have to agree that forcing Frederick to resign now is not in the best interest of the RPV … any more than Frederick’s campaign against John Hager was beneficial for the party.

Is it accurate to blame Frederick for 2008′s disasterous election?  NO!  However, Frederick does have some explaining to do.  Using the same standards he claimed that Hager should be held to, Frederick should be run out on a rail to the Potomac and then thrown in (the Potomac River belongs to Maryland up to the mean low water mark).

Regardless, Frederick and his supporters don’t believe that he should be held to the same standards he spoke of when attacking his predecessor.  Now the argument appears to be populist “us vs. the elites” pablum.

If Virginia Republicans are serious about winning back the Governor’s mansion and keeping one house of legislature, this can wait.  Maybe, given time, Frederick will prove himself.  If not, the time will come to oust him.

Right now is not that time.

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