I'm sure more details will be coming out soon, but this doesn't look like an auspicious start to 2008 for 9th District Republicans who couldn't even find a viable nominee to run against Rep. Rick Boucher (in what is one of the most Republican districts in the state).
First, the Republican Party left me, turning itself into something utterly unrecognizable, the antithesis of what it had always stood for; and,
Second, the Party became the plaything of a closed clique of a small-minded, authoritarian hierarchy, often corrupt, with a peculiar private agenda that was not in my best interests or that of my community, the creatures of certain wealthy and self-righteous groups which plainly belittled everyone not of their inner clique.
All these characteristics were evident in the goings on at the Tazewell meeting. It is not going to change. All of those people summarily excluded must either accept their subordinate position, fawning on their so-called leadership while humbly accepting the leaders' decisions and policies, OR take a hike and become Independents, even going so far as to take an honest look at the Democratic Party, because the Democrats have changed as much as the Republicans, only for the better.