I think either Connolly or Byrne will win.  Denneny just can't compete, because he lacks funds and name recognition.  I figure Denneny might have a critical impact, though, based on the votes he might steal in an otherwise very close race between Connolly and Byrne.

I see Connolly as the establishment candidate.  As a non-career politician, Denneny could steal votes from Byrne as the more credible candidate of change in a year when change seems to have an edge over experience.

Oddly, though, Denneny's not-ready-for-prime-time mistakes are making him increasingly unacceptable to even those voters most willing to take a leap of faith on the change candidate.  He made unwarranted criticisms of the Responsible Plan to end the war, seemingly only because Byrne signed on to it.  He criticized Connolly's humane idea for helping struggling homeowners, again seemingly only because Connolly proposed it.  Now, it seems like he's being less than forthright about a scheme possibly designed not to make a debate happen, but just to make his competitors look bad.

At this point, I wonder if the only votes Denneny will get will be from those who are willing to overlook all his mistakes, because the war is such a prominent issue and Denneny's a decorated vet.  Without meaning to be sexist, might those who vote this way tend to be more male?  Might those votes have otherwise gone to Connolly?  I'm just askin'.

 

"He criticized Connolly's humane idea for helping struggling homeowners,"

Gerry's plan has nothing to do with struggling homeowners.  They still get foreclosed on and forced out of their homes.  His plan is to take advantage of their misfortune and purchase the property at the low cost of a foreclosed home and turn it into affordable housing for another family.  This is NOT a plan to help struggling homeowners, at best it is a plan that will increase more affordable housing after these people's lives and credit are ruined.

I should have said those who would like to be homeowners but otherwise couldn't  afford to.  I still have no problem with Connolly's proposal, because some will be helped, even if the precipitating event involves the suffering of others.  The proposal itself doesn't cause or exacerbate this suffering.  I'd like to see Leslie see his proposal and raise an ever grander one.  Doug screwed up by saying that Connolly's proposal is too grand.

That take advantage of people's suffering.

The only acceptable plan here from Gerry would be to help these families in need.  I'm not talking about the ones who would like to live here- I'm talking about the ones here already who are watching their homes taken away and credit destroyed.

I understand where you're coming from Ben.  I'm sure Connolly would rather see his proposal become moot when foreclosures stop, but what an opportunity for Byrne to make the more progressive proposal.

I guess I'm more of a nerd than a progressive, because I have to turn away to watch Battlestar Galactica, even though I'm also recording it on my DVR.

Since she probably believes this money should be spent in the Fairfax County Public Schools that Gerry has cut to the core in this budget.

I could be wrong though.

of potential nominees.

Byrne, per the Washington Post, allegdly lying about the content of a mailing put out by Emily's List.

Denneny, allegedly making up debates.

Connolly and his pal, Tom Davis, allegedly touring D.C., trolling for dollars.

What ia up with all of this?

I think that there should be a debate here in VA-11, but one on equal footing. We have 9 weeks until the election, I firmly believe that 2 debates (one in Fairfax, and one in Prince William) is easy enough to pull off.

Two Debates in May? I think it can be done.