Last Tuesday, ultra-conservative Republicans like Tricia Stall and Faisal Gill dragged their party down to defeat. Just four days later, Republicans passed over several conservative/right-wing Republicans and selected Del. Rob Wittman, a career politician and bureaucrat best known for being Director of field operations, Division of Shellfish Sanitation. Ha.
Other accomplishments by Wittman include pushing such conservative causes as "the relocation of nursing homes," "replac[ing] the term 'game warden' with 'conservation police officer' throughout the Code of Virginia," and that long-time favorite of right-wingers everywhere, "increas[ing] the penalty for bearing firearms on school property." Oh, and let's not forget that Wittman voted for the tax increase abuser fees and regional taxation authorities in the transportation plan this spring. Are conservatives excited yet?
In sum, Rob Wittman -- whatever else he night be -- does not appear to be a hard-charging conservative Republican. Those choices were available, of course -- people like Paul Jost, Dick Black and Jim Bowden -- but Republicans passed them all over for Rob Wittman, the Jeannemarie Devolites Davis of Westmoreland. I presume the Jim Gilmore/Bill Howell wing of the party is not too pleased today?
As the Bacon's Rebellion headline explains, the Wittman nomination writes:
Secular humanists can rest easy. Democracy is safe. Jim Bowden won't have a chance to impose a theocracy on America after all.
Interesting...are Republicans finally realizing what a disaster the far right wing is for their party? Has the John Warner/Tom Davis message started to get through to them? We'll see.
As for "divisiveness," don't look for reasons to quarrel. I think perhaps you heard Forgit's speech in the context of the defeat of Hontz and probably took it the wrong way.
Stop pouting. If you can't support Forgit, then by all means, sit this one out. But stop whining.
Let's remember the huge wins just a week ago. Democrats have done a great job on building a solid party.
I believe Democrats in the First CD can and will unite. Personally knowing I think just about all of the Democratic chairs and many activists I never thought we would come out of the convention with any other agenda than to work together to elect a Democrat to represent us in Congress.
I do not believe any of this has changed.
We have excellent leadership on all of our local committees, and fabulous activists throughout the district who are dedicated and energized. Please do not sell these great Democrats short. These dedicated people are committed to electing good leadership - DEMOCRATS.
If you are a VADEM2008, help the Dems win in 2007.
I seem to recall the hard feelings that hung around for a long time after Jim Webb won the primary over Miller. Some have not reconciled and accepted the Miller loss yet, and when elections are close, that division will kill you. It's time for us to close ranks and go to work.
BTW, I'm VaDem, not VADEM2008.
He signed Grover Norquist's taxpayer pledge on November 8, 2007 -- I guess a little late.
Paul Jost only signed it in October 2007. http://www.atr.org/c...
Trying to curry some last minute favor with conservatives? LOL.
Why are percentages showing zero starting after Brown/Frederick race? The Clerk of Court race and everthing below has 0%. Odd.
Yet, they burped, and elected Mr. Wittman with aguably the same name recognition as Mr. Forgit or Mr. Hontz. The only better candidate for Dems to run against would be Mr. Jost.
So, its parity time, both parties have a similar challenge. Favored status to the Republicans on having the seat for so long, yet even with that, both parties have to build a name in four weeks or less, fill their war chests, buy ad time in three media markets, figure out the issues to win, AND the issues needed to get people to vote during Christmas shopping season, filled with Thanksgiving turkey.
Estimates of voter turnout is down in the single digits for much of CD1, and the Republicans burped with an unknown somewhat moderate candidate.
Will Dems respond to the challenge?
From this purvail, Mr. Forget needs to heal wounds fast in the Northern sector, and deal with pragmatic common sense issues.