It seems that the national GOP establishment is a tad squeamish about Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli.  Little wonder.  Virginia went for Obama in 2008.  The establishment GOP types thought anti-Obama backlash might yield victories by nice, safe, MODERATE Republicans.  Instead, Virginia elected Bob McDonnell AND Cuccinelli.

“We agree with his positions, we don’t like his style,” said a senior official with a national Republican organization. He spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of antagonizing Cuccinelli allies.

Why do they fear the Cooch?

Cuccinelli offers no apologies for his stands, which delight the tea party wing of the GOP. His federal lawsuits are just a way of making good on his campaign to fight what he views as unconstitutional federal usurpation of states’ rights.

“What we have started on in these first two months is … reasserting the state’s role vis-a-vis the federal government in determining its own destiny and in pushing back on the growing, overreaching federal power,” Cuccinelli said during a recent interview with The Associated Press. “And that isn’t just a Democrat occurrence. That happened under Republicans, as well.”

The 41-year-old Cuccinelli is a pugnacious, ruggedly handsome champion of the right who is able to publicly articulate its beliefs and aims without sounding shrill or mean. And he has clashed with what he considers apostates within his own party as much as he has Democrats.

Sure, the GOP establishment likes it when Cuccinelli pokes a stick in Obama’s eye or throws a bomb at the Democrats in Congress.  The problem (at least for them) is that Cuccinelli also won’t hesitate taking on the GOP establishment as well.  That’s why we’ve all heard the comments from these same faux con GOP operatives.  “Cooch is a nut job.”  “He’s a right wing lunatic.”  etc.

Sure, Cuccinelli is crazy like a fox.  First of all, he’s principled.  That’s enough to scare the RNC out of the gate.  He also appeals to grassroots conservatives of every stripe – social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, and libertarians.  The Tea Party crowd loves Cooch.  These are the folks that the GOP establishment really fears.  It’s 1976 all over again.

Virginia governor Bob McDonnell must really love Cuccinelli.  McDonnell is a solid conservative, with no need to pander (to build a bona fides).  Cuccinelli can only help as McDonnell becomes a national GOP star.  Compared to Ken, McDonnell actually makes the establishment types breathe a sigh of relief.  McDonnell is smart enough (and principled enough)  to use the talents of someone like Ed Gillespie without being corrupted by him.  McDonnell also doesn’t display the type of ego that resents all of the press Cuccinelli receives.

Establishment types should fear the Cooch.  As conservatives, we should be thankful.

Thanks to Norm Leahy @ Tertium Quids

As noted in an earlier post, Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the citizens of Virginia to void ObamaCare.  You can help to support Cuccinelli’s efforts.

General Cuccinelli has launched a petition supporting the suit and calling for the courts to STOP THE MANDATE!  Show your support and fight this unprecedented attack on our liberty.

Also support the Club for Growth’s new ObamaCare page – RepealIt.org  Join thousands of Americans and leaders such as Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) is supporting the repeal.

H/T – Bearing Drift

We also recommend that you read Jim Hoeft’s excellent post on Cuccinelli and the lawsuit.

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli announced that he will file suit, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia, challenging the constitutionality of ObamaCare.  In a statement last night:

At no time in our history has the government mandated its citizens buy a good or service.

Cuccinelli also argues that the bill past by the US House yesterday (the Senate passed the same bill last Christmas Eve) creates a conflict between the federal government and the Commonwealth:

"We believe the federal law is unconstitutional as it is based on the commerce clause. Simply put, not buying insurance is not engaging in commerce."

"If you are not engaged in commerce, the federal government cannot regulate this inaction. Just being alive is not interstate commerce. If it were, Congress could regulate every aspect of our lives."

In earlier interviews, Cuccinelli stated that he would file such a suit in Virginia’s Eastern District, also known as the “Rocket Docket” for it’s speed in handling cases.

While the nation’s “economic pie” can be grown through good economic policies, the “liberty pie” is a zero-sum game – it doesn’t grow or shrink – and there are only two slices:  government power and citizens’ liberty.  If the current notions of centralized health care are enacted, government’s raw power over citizens’ lives will increase, and their liberty will be reduced by the same amount.

So writes Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in this month’s issue of the American Spectator.  (sorry, the actual article won’t be available online until April)

Cuccinelli is fast becoming one of the leaders of the conservative movement.  While Cuccinelli has been using the power of his office to fight federal tyranny in the courts, he is also using the pen to make a reasoned argument for all that conservatives hold dear.

During the current resurgence of the conservative movement and the semi-conservative populism inherent among the tea parties, some may dismiss the need for the intellectual strength displayed by officials like Cuccinelli.  Don’t be fooled.  Without its intellectual underpinnings, the conservative movement never would have grown beyond the Bob Taft years.

As I have noted here in the past – Yes, it is important to believe the right things.  However, without a firm understanding of WHY we believe what we do, those beliefs will not survive the test of time.  This is precisely why we need elected officials like General Cuccinelli.

Yes, we all know that ObamaCare is bad policy.  We all know that it would be fiscally disastrous.  We all know that the world’s best health care system would be greatly diminished.  Yet, Cuccinelli has managed to succinctly explain why we should fight ObamaCare – even IF these things were not the case.  If we wish to forfeit our God given individual liberty for a promised blanket of economic security then America ceases to be that shining city.  Liberty forfeited is liberty lost forever.

Thanks Ken.

Bob Holsworth at Virginia Tomorrow argues that Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli is redefining the office’s role, much like Jim Gilmore did during his term as AG.  Holsworth defines the new “Cuccinelli doctrine”:

It is the job of the Virginia Attorney General to identify and counter instances where the federal government may be unconstitutionally or illegally extending authority over the states.

Interesting.  While I question whether or not this redefinition will have the political legs of Gilmore’s move of making the AG “Virginia’s Top Cop”, Cuccinelli’s recent actions on behalf of the Commonwealth regarding states’ rights and federal mandates is more substantively important.  In a short period of time Cuccinelli is proving himself to be a conservative’s conservative.

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has issued an opinion that Virginia Sen. Robert Hurt (R-Pittsylvania) can raise money for his congressional race during this year’s General Assembly session.  Virginia law prohibits members of the legislature from raising money while the legislature is in session.  Cuccinelli’s opinion states that this prohibition does not apply to federal races.  Hurt is seeking the GOP nomination to challenge Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA).  According to Cuccinelli:

However, it is my further opinion that such prohibition does not restrict fundraising activity related to a campaign for federal office. Finally, it is my opinion that federal law pre-empts Virginia’s fundraising prohibition when a General Assembly member solicits or accepts contributions solely for a federal office.

This opinion is in line with the practice in other states – states with far more stringent campaign finance laws than those of the Commonwealth.  However, some of Hurt’s opponents for the GOP nod are not convinced:

"Although it may be legal, it certainly isn’t ethical," said Laurence Verga, a private real estate investor from Ivy and one of Hurt’s rivals in the June 8 primary. "The American people are tired of career politicians like Senator Hurt who put their personal aspirations above their ethical obligations."

Verga said the intent of the 1997 law that forbids Virginia lawmakers from accepting contributions was to "prevent lobbyists from buying votes."

While Delmarva Dealings has not been a supporter of Hurt’s campaign, Cuccinelli’s opinion was the right call.

Democrat Attorney General Candidate Steve Shannon has not only fallen in the polls (he’s running 15 points behind GOP candidate Ken Cuccinelli), he has fallen to the depths of playing the race card.  In his last debate with Cuccinelli before the election, Shannon called Cuccinelli a de facto racist for supporting state’s rights.

GOP Attorney General candidate Ken Cuccinelli has received the endorsement of the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police.  According to FOP President Tommy Edwards:

"Ken Cuccinelli’s outstanding recognition of the problems faced by the Supreme Court Case Melendez Diaz, his early and outspoken push for a Special Session, and its ultimate success which will allow the prosecution of certain cases to proceed – is a testament to his skill, knowledge and support of the law enforcement community."

The Virginia State FOP, which represents 8600 law enforcement officers throughout the Commonwealth is considered to be the most important endorsement in the Virginia AG’s race.

Why is Virginia gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds ducking his duty as a Virginia state senator?

Sen. Deeds failed to show for a committee meeting to address the Melendez problem.  AG candidate, Ken Cuccinelli was there and reported (via Facebook):

Ken Cuccinelli “I’m in the Courts Committee working on addressing the Melendez problem, and I’m wondering… where is Senator Creigh Deeds? Isn’t this important enough to step off the campaign trail for part of a day?”

We already knew that Ken would make a far better AG than Deeds would make a governor.  Thankfully, recent poll numbers indicate that Virginians understand that as well.

Depending on the poll – Bob McDonnell has a lead of 8% – 14%.

H/T – Bearing Drift

Delaware -

Bill Colley over at WGMD has a great post on the current state of the Sussex County GOP.  The Sussex GOP needs to learn that elitism is as bad as anti-intellectualism (no I’m not calling them smart) and Bill needs to learn to insert a line break here and there.

Sussex County crying the budget blues.

Delaware Libertarian wants TARP money for the NBA.

Interesting take on the bank bailout from DelawareLiberal.  While I’m sure we won’t agree on the solution, we do agree on at least this part of the problem.

DelawareLiberal keeps hoping for a GOP meltdown.  Keep hoping.  We survived 1958 … 1964 … 1974 … We’ll survive 2008 too.

Maryland -

The Baltimore Sun‘s Andy Green gave us a mention (via our cross-post in Red Maryland) with his discussion of the relative safety of Frank Kratovil’s seat and where the Dems can pilfer reliably Dem precincts to give to Flip-Flop Frank.  Thanks for the mention, and your usual great analysis.

Where’s our money Marty?  Andy Green discusses Martin O’Malley’s NEW electric program and reminds us that BGE customers never got that rate roll back he promised.  Free enterprise is a bitch, isn’t it Governor?

Is the Maryland legislature is serious about reducing CO2 emmissions 25 percent by 2020?  If so, it’s time to start pedalling your bike and hope that BHO and Biden deliver on those “green jobs”.

Despite last week’s praise of the saving graces of BHO, the O’Malley administration is STILL whining about money.  Need to set up that next tax increase in 2011.

Virginia -

AG Debate tonight at George Mason University.

Cuccinelli grabs victories in Chesterfield, Hampton and VA Beach.

Dem jihadist runs for Virginia House.  Oh yes, they are the party of moderation.

VA Beach Dems showing the love for Terry McAuliffe … and his ego.

Bearing Drift talks about the wisdom of playing both sides.

Virginia builds budget on a foundation of PORKULUS.

National -

The Dems have their own “BRIDGE TO NOWHERE”.  Even a federal judge called it a waste of taxpayers’ money.  Guess how much coverage this one will get in the MSM.

And then there were FIVE.  BHO’s pick for Trade Rep has tax problems too.

Tertium Quids notes that sales of Atlas Shrugged are skyrocketing.  I’m sure that it has nothing to do with our nation’s new socialist regime.