Election 2009

[RedskinsDave]

In case anyone wants to discuss.

The GOP should take back control of all three major offices in Virginny.

[dj_stouty]

I voted.

[fent]

All we got were Constitutional amendments in my precinct. Nothing too serious. Real interested to see how VA, NJ, and McHughes old seat end up. That NY race has been...interesting...

[akhhorus]

To paraphrase Groucho Marx: I don't want to get involved in any political system that would want input from someone like me.

McDonnell should cruise to an easy victory. That NY special has been interesting to say the least. The gay marriage vote in Maine probably the most relevant vote tonight, off year elections for seats tend to tell you nothing about where the voting is moving.

[RedskinsDave]

Virginia is moving back to the right. The GOP should also pick up seats in the state house. Thanks Barry!

[akhhorus]

Virginia is moving back to the right. The GOP should also pick up seats in the state house. Thanks Barry!

I wonder where it is moving. McDonnell didn't run a conservative at all, I don't remember him ever mentioning that he was a republican(and used a lot of blue in his ads). And he's disavowing the Palin robocalls today(along with refusing any real appearances from the national Gop figures from what I've seen). Which is why the Thesis kerfluffle didn't sink him imo(if he was running as a movement conservative, that thesis thing would have destroyed him).

[Ibleedburgundy]

I will unenthusiastically vote for Deeds tonight. He's run a rather poor campaign -went entirely too negative. I can't remember the last time that actually worked out for anyone around here. The main issue I cared about was transportation and neither candidate is going to be able to do anything about it anyway.

The NY congressional seat is the most interesting IMO. Granted, the moderate lady was entirely too moderate for Republican tastes, they will be kicking themselves if they lose this seat for the first time in 100 years. Democrats have nothing to lose there.

The referendum on gay rights is not that substantial IMO because it merely represents a measure of where Maine is right now on the matter. The entire population is trending the right way on that issue so it's only a matter of time. Whether that's now, 5 years from now, or 10 years from now is relatively insignificant. Gays having equal rights is imminent.

[Ibleedburgundy]

Virginia is moving back to the right. The GOP should also pick up seats in the state house. Thanks Barry!

So I suppose you think Virginia rejected Bush in 2000 by electing Warner even though they re-elected Bush 3 years after that.

And Virginia rejected Reagan in 1982 and 1986.

Also Virginia rejected Bush Sr. in 1990.

And each time they were trending Democrat lol.

[shally]

new jersey also bears watching.. how corzine could even be close now is testament to how Democratic the state is.. still, the state is in such poor shape the GOP could elect someone.. after all, christie whitman got elected under similar types of circumstances. Florio ? unbelievably corrupt.. corzine is just incompetent as far as i can tell.. but in Jersey ? you can never tell..lol

[akhhorus]

new jersey also bears watching.. how corzine could even be close now is testament to how Democratic the state is.. still, the state is in such poor shape the GOP could elect someone.. after all, christie whitman got elected under similar types of circumstances. Florio ? unbelievably corrupt.. corzine is just incompetent as far as i can tell.. but in Jersey ? you can never tell..lol

Christie's problem is the same that Deeds has: neither really explained what they would do as Governor and just attacked their opponent.

[shally]

Christie's problem is the same that Deeds has: neither really explained what they would do as Governor and just attacked their opponent.

sometimes that is enough, and sometimes it isnt..depends upon how negative the ratings of the opponent are...

[dj_stouty]

I wonder where it is moving. McDonnell didn't run a conservative at all, I don't remember him ever mentioning that he was a republican(and used a lot of blue in his ads). And he's disavowing the Palin robocalls today(along with refusing any real appearances from the national Gop figures from what I've seen). Which is why the Thesis kerfluffle didn't sink him imo(if he was running as a movement conservative, that thesis thing would have destroyed him).

McDonnell had signs all over our polling place this morning...as well as workers outside the door. Deeds had only one sign and no workers. Seems to me Deeds has given up and this one will be a landslide.

BTW - McDonnell campaigned with both Michale Steele and John McCain at different times last month.

[dj_stouty]

Christie's problem is the same that Deeds has: neither really explained what they would do as Governor and just attacked their opponent.

Deeds' solutions seemed to be creating a bunch of committees on day one of his term to "figure out" how to create jobs and transportation...while McDonnell actually had concrete solutions he was prepared to enact immediately.

I dig McDonnell b/c he is for the privatization of the 300+ ABC stores in Virginia..

[akhhorus]

sometimes that is enough, and sometimes it isnt..depends upon how negative the ratings of the opponent are...

And Christie's are as bad as Corzine's are.

BTW - McDonnell campaigned with both Michale Steele and John McCain at different times last month.

Well, thats not the same as having Palin and the presidential front runners going for you.

[Ibleedburgundy]

I dig McDonnell b/c he is for the privatization of the 300+ ABC stores in Virginia..

According to the post, that would amount to a one time gain of $500 million but Virginia would lose $100 million a year as a result.

[shally]

Deeds' solutions seemed to be creating a bunch of committees on day one of his term to "figure out" how to create jobs and transportation...while McDonnell actually had concrete solutions he was prepared to enact immediately.

I dig McDonnell b/c he is for the privatization of the 300+ ABC stores in Virginia..

bourbon on the shelves for all !!! yay !!!!

[RedskinsDave]

According to the post, that would amount to a one time gain of $500 million but Virginia would lose $100 million a year as a result.

The same Post who had about the most slanted coverage of this campaign I have ever seen? They endorsed Deeds. Ran with the thesis horse crap and their guy is going to get crushed. Once they saw that, the coverage got more and more slanted. It was laughable really.

[RedskinsDave]

I wonder where it is moving. McDonnell didn't run a conservative at all, I don't remember him ever mentioning that he was a republican(and used a lot of blue in his ads). And he's disavowing the Palin robocalls today(along with refusing any real appearances from the national Gop figures from what I've seen). Which is why the Thesis kerfluffle didn't sink him imo(if he was running as a movement conservative, that thesis thing would have destroyed him).

What do you mean he didn't run conservative? His record speaks for itself. Should he have kicked a hippie or something?

[fent]

What do you mean he didn't run conservative? His record speaks for itself. Should he have kicked a hippie or something?

if Obama did that just once and put it on Youtube, i'd vote for him in 2012 no matter who he ran against.

[akhhorus]

What do you mean he didn't run conservative? His record speaks for itself. Should he have kicked a hippie or something?

He's a conservative, but he didn't run as a one. On his website, he doesn't mention gay rights, abortion or any of the traditional social hot button issues. Even gun rights is at the very bottom of his issues page. You also can't find a single mention of "republican" on it without some major digging either. His ads, from what I saw, were the same theme over and over: jobs, transportation, family. Never mentioned any of the hot button issues, never mentioned endorsements from prominent GOP leaders, nothing. Now, I didn't follow the race as closely as VA natives did, but I'm not the only one who's noticed this: there's been a lot of discussion in the political pundits/blogs about McDonnell's branding strategy.


if Obama did that just once and put it on Youtube, i'd vote for him in 2012 no matter who he ran against.

Yeah, Hippie kicking is something the country can agree on.

[RedskinsDave]

He's a conservative, but he didn't run as a one. On his website, he doesn't mention gay rights, abortion or any of the traditional social hot button issues. Even gun rights is at the very bottom of his issues page. You also can't find a single mention of "republican" on it without some major digging either. His ads, from what I saw, were the same theme over and over: jobs, transportation, family. Never mentioned any of the hot button issues, never mentioned endorsements from prominent GOP leaders, nothing. Now, I didn't follow the race as closely as VA natives did, but I'm not the only one who's noticed this: there's been a lot of discussion in the political pundits/blogs about McDonnell's branding strategy.

Almost no one does that in Va since it's gone purple. Regardless, we would never see that here in the People's Republic of Northern Virginia.

[akhhorus]

Almost no one does that in Va since it's gone purple. Regardless, we would never see that here in the People's Republic of Northern Virginia.

Its purple shading blue(blueberry maybe?) if thats the case. McDonnell ran a great campaign with a great message against a terrible Dem candidate.

[RedskinsDave]

Its purple shading blue(blueberry maybe?) if thats the case. McDonnell ran a great campaign with a great message against a terrible Dem candidate.

I guess he did. Up here his message was mostly "vote for me, I'm from here too" :D

[Ibleedburgundy]

The same Post who had about the most slanted coverage of this campaign I have ever seen? They endorsed Deeds. Ran with the thesis horse crap and their guy is going to get crushed. Once they saw that, the coverage got more and more slanted. It was laughable really.

OK. Do you disagree with the $500 million selling ABC stores would bring in or the $100 million they currently bring in annually? Slant or no slant, these don't strike me as the type of numbers one can just make up.

[Ibleedburgundy]

Yeah, Hippie kicking is something the country can agree on.

I voted absentee in Arlington last year. Had to wait in line for 5 hours. There was this hippy girl there playing a guitar and the line was circular so it wrapped around her. If Sarah Palin had walked in a kicked this girl I swear I would have voted McCain. That was one of the worst days of my life.

[Ibleedburgundy]

Its purple shading blue(blueberry maybe?) if thats the case. McDonnell ran a great campaign with a great message against a terrible Dem candidate.

I think VA is solid purple. Sure, Dems won a string of elections but those were under very specific circumstances. Webb beating Allen and Kilgore running a campaign every bit as bad as Deeds's is not really indicative IMO. There are still plenty of conservatives.

[fent]

OK. Do you disagree with the $500 million selling ABC stores would bring in or the $100 million they currently bring in annually? Slant or no slant, these don't strike me as the type of numbers one can just make up.

granted, i don't know the VA budget, but the loss of $100 million annually seems REAL high to me. that's more than the Texas Dept of Agriculture's annual budget by quite a bit (think our budget is 84 million, though i don't handle our state issues, so I could be off a little.) the VABC around the corner from my old apartment had at least 4 employees who appeared to be full time. when you take into account the payroll/benefits (and state benefits are good benefits) the state is no longer responsible for as well as the maintenance/utilities use, the state would have to sell a lot of liquor at a pretty sizeable profit to outpace the savings by $100 million annually.

[akhhorus]

I think VA is solid purple. Sure, Dems won a string of elections but those were under very specific circumstances. Webb beating Allen and Kilgore running a campaign every bit as bad as Deeds's is not really indicative IMO. There are still plenty of conservatives.

Its basically two states electorally: Nova+Norfolk and the rest. McDonnell is going to cruise because he was able to split up the NOVA vote.

[Ibleedburgundy]

granted, i don't know the VA budget, but the loss of $100 million annually seems REAL high to me. that's more than the Texas Dept of Agriculture's annual budget by quite a bit (think our budget is 84 million, though i don't handle our state issues, so I could be off a little.) the VABC around the corner from my old apartment had at least 4 employees who appeared to be full time. when you take into account the payroll/benefits (and state benefits are good benefits) the state is no longer responsible for as well as the maintenance/utilities use, the state would have to sell a lot of liquor at a pretty sizeable profit to outpace the savings by $100 million annually.

I think you're instinct makes sense. $100 million annual sure does seem like a lot of money.

This is from their website:

As a major source of revenue for the Commonwealth, ABC has contributed more than $1.7 billion to Virginia's General Fund in the last five years, and more than $6 billion to the General Fund since the first ABC stores opened in 1934. Measures of success as ABC completed Fiscal Year 2009 include a record $665.6 million in annual gross sales. ABC remains committed to measuring our success in balancing control, service and revenue, and providing excellence and accountability to the citizens of Virginia.


http://www.abc.state.va.us/admin/aboutabc.html

$666 million in gross sales-it would be rather difficult to post $100 million in pure profit off that. Sounds like funny math.

[RedskinsDave]

Sweep.

[tuckahoeskin]

sometimes that is enough, and sometimes it isnt..depends upon how negative the ratings of the opponent are...

It sticks on Corzine because he is corrupt and has not governed well. Some may say Christie ran a negative campaign, but when a candidate is accused of such by laying bare his opponents record is the complaint of negativity accurate?

[tuckahoeskin]

What do you mean he didn't run conservative? His record speaks for itself. Should he have kicked a hippie or something?

When given the chance, always kick a hippie. :Peace:

[redskin_rich]

I didn't get out to vote today, as I'm just starting to get over the H1N1 and another of my kids came down with it this morning (my house has been a triage for the past week) but I was going to vote McDonnell. I liked his campaign and that he is a native of NoVA. Also, Deeds just doesn't inspire an ounce of trust out of me.

[tuckahoeskin]

I didn't get out to vote today, as I'm just starting to get over the H1N1 and another of my kids succumbed to it this morning (my house has been a triage for the past week) but I was going to vote McDonnell. I liked his campaign and that he is a native of NoVA. Also, Deeds just doesn't inspire an ounce of trust out of me.

My heart sank when you wrote that one of your kids "succumbed to it this morning." Perhaps a better choice of words would have been "came down with it." Regardless, hope all of you recover quickly and happily. Stay safe.

[redskin_rich]

My heart sank when you wrote that one of your kids "succumbed to it this morning." Perhaps a better choice of words would have been "came down with it." Regardless, hope all of you recover quickly and happily. Stay safe.
My bad, I fixed it. Treating sick kids and getting sick yourself while still waiting for the sickness to be gone from your house brings out tragic sounding talk, I guess. In reality, it hasn't been that bad but the incubation is so damn long. Right when you think everyone who hasn't gotten it is in the clear, BAM, someone else has a fever.

Thanks man! I hope you have a chance to get everyone vaccinated before you are exposed.

[shally]

It sticks on Corzine because he is corrupt and has not governed well. Some may say Christie ran a negative campaign, but when a candidate is accused of such by laying bare his opponents record is the complaint of negativity accurate?

it didnt keep Corzine from winning a Senate seat in the past.. corruption in New Jersey is no big deal (same as in louisiana)

edit: looks like it did cost Corzine this time... good riddance...

[RedskinsDave]

Maine surprised me. I did like what I heard other states offer which was a civil protection of the rights of gay partners without getting married.

[Ibleedburgundy]

So NY 23 went to the Democrats for the first time in 135 years. Looks like the Republicans in that district just didn't have the right candidate. Scozzafava was practically a Democrat and the other guy was too far right.

[akhhorus]

Maine surprised me. I did like what I heard other states offer which was a civil protection of the rights of gay partners without getting married.

I'm 99.9% sure that Maine's legislature will just pass another gay marriage law and this will be up for a vote next year lol.

[fent]

So NY 23 went to the Democrats for the first time in 135 years. Looks like the Republicans in that district just didn't have the right candidate. Scozzafava was practically a Democrat and the other guy was too far right.

god help the GOP if the teabaggers start going after the moderate candidates in moderate states. this ought to be a lesson for them, but sadly, i don't think it will be.

[fent]

I think you're instinct makes sense. $100 million annual sure does seem like a lot of money.

This is from their website:



http://www.abc.state.va.us/admin/aboutabc.html

$666 million in gross sales-it would be rather difficult to post $100 million in pure profit off that. Sounds like funny math.

yeah...throw in the property and sales taxes gained (i assume they don't tax their own places) and something just doesn't seem right. i'd be interested to see the article if they explain how they came to those numbers.

[shally]

So NY 23 went to the Democrats for the first time in 135 years. Looks like the Republicans in that district just didn't have the right candidate. Scozzafava was practically a Democrat and the other guy was too far right.

hopefully the lesson was learned.. but i doubt it...the far right crazies are likely to be emboldened, if anything

[akhhorus]

god help the GOP if the teabaggers start going after the moderate candidates in moderate states. this ought to be a lesson for them, but sadly, i don't think it will be.

Considering that Erikson and his ilk are declaring the loss a victory, I'm guessing that this merely the beginning. Mark Kirk is asking for Palin's endorsement when she's in Chicago for Oprah.

[Ibleedburgundy]

god help the GOP if the teabaggers start going after the moderate candidates in moderate states. this ought to be a lesson for them, but sadly, i don't think it will be.

Florida comes to mind although the folks in the Crist camp seem pretty confident.

[Ibleedburgundy]

yeah...throw in the property and sales taxes gained (i assume they don't tax their own places) and something just doesn't seem right. i'd be interested to see the article if they explain how they came to those numbers.

Did I really put an apostrophe in there?

Anyway, there was no explanation in the article for the annual revenue. The $500 million estimate comes from McDonnell.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/21/AR2009072101807.html

[akhhorus]

Florida comes to mind although the folks in the Crist camp seem pretty confident.

They're going to target Bob Bennett, Bob Inglis, Mark Kirk, Crist, Rob Simmons(who's the only GOP candidate who can beat Chris Dodd) and probably Trey Grayson(Ron Paul's son is running against him).

[Ibleedburgundy]

Considering that Erikson and his ilk are declaring the loss a victory, I'm guessing that this merely the beginning.

Hell, in that case, I hope redstate.com has many more "huge victories" lol.

I just don't understand the tendency to pretend all is well. And a lot of Republicans are doing that right now. Kristol wrote a recent opinion on how great it is to be a conservative right now. :confused:

Seems to me they are shooting themselves in the foot by refusing to evolve.

[shally]

Hell, in that case, I hope redstate.com has many more "huge victories" lol.

I just don't understand the tendency to pretend all is well. And a lot of Republicans are doing that right now. Kristol wrote a recent opinion on how great it is to be a conservative right now. :confused:

Seems to me they are shooting themselves in the foot by refusing to evolve.

absolutely..ZERO insight.. they believe the nation will move back towards their positions

[akhhorus]

absolutely..ZERO insight.. they believe the nation will move back towards their positions

They believe the country believes in their positions, but is suppressed by various institutional forces who conspire to keep their leaders down. There's no polling that supports that theory.