Yeah, You Just Keep Telling Yourself That

By: Lowell
Published On: 11/12/2008 8:44:38 AM

From today's Washington Post article, "Prince William, the State's Bellwether", comes this latest example of "whistling past the graveyard."

Just because Democrats made gains on the national and state level doesn't mean they will translate locally, Stewart said. Local GOP elected officials have catered to issues that are central to the quality of life in the outer suburbs, such as controlling growth and development, building roads and even cracking down on illegal immigration, he said.

"It's not a rejection of conservative principles; it's a rejection of a Congress and president that failed to get anything done," Stewart said of last week's results. He said he has faith in the independence of Prince William voters.

"They vote for the candidate, not the party," he said. "We've held our own, largely due to the nature of the issues we address."

Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that, even though "[i]t won't be long before Prince William's population is majority minority," and even though you guys (Corey Stewart et al.) have done your utmost to alienate and insult those very people who will shortly be the majority in your county. Good luck with that approach!

Comments



The Greenberg-Borosage study... (edtallman - 11/12/2008 9:01:23 AM)
The only thing in there that might support the "we're still a center-right nation"/ mantra is that concerns about too much fed spending to enact desired reforms is split 49-48, and that's not bad, really, considering how brainwashed the nation's been since 1980 about the evils of liberal governance:

http://www.ourfuture.org/repor...

Add to that the John Judis analysis in TNR of the demographics of the emerging liberal majority

http://www.tnr.com/politics/st...

and, "Whistling past the graveyard," indeed.



immigration still trumps all (jasonVA - 11/12/2008 12:55:52 PM)
I think Stewart is probably right that he's not going anywhere anytime soon.  At least not for as long as he can play the immigrant card.  If you talk to people in the county, you'll quickly realize how completely irrational they are on that issue.  Even people you would think were otherwise sane and decent humans seem to have this view (on hispanics in particular) that is completely without nuance.

Its going to take more than just a minority majority to get rid of Stewart.  The anti-immigrant crowd is loud, rabid and active.



They may be loud, but they aren't necessarily big (TurnPWBlue - 11/12/2008 2:35:19 PM)
While the anti-immigrant crowd may be loud, rabid, and active those attributes don't vote.  I think there is a quiet majority in PWC that isn't part of the rabid fear-mongering.  Stewart lives in a vacuum of syncophants or puppetmasters (up to you to decide whether he is a pawn or an active player).  There are plenty in the county who don't share his xenophobia and there are plenty who would like the county to focus on more than just immigration and Corey Stewart's personal political profile and public relations.  We know that the county has far bigger problems and many are finally waking up to fact that Stewarts promises that "stopping illegal immigration" was the answer to all our woes just hasn't paid off.

At the end of the day, Stewart will need to be accountable for the high rates of foreclosures in the county.  He'll need to be accountable for some tough choices he's pushed when deciding between illegal immigration enforcement and county social services.  He'll be held accountable for woes in the schools and gridlock in the streets while he preached a message of intolerance and exclusion.

Prince William may not be a bastion of liberalism and progressive politics, be we aren't stupid.



don't they vote? (jasonVA - 11/12/2008 6:02:00 PM)
I guess my point was that crowd is not only loud and rabid, but they do seem to come out to vote.  I'm not sure the quiet majority you describe is always as motivated to get out to the polls.  I'd love to be proven wrong about this.

"Prince William may not be a bastion of liberalism and progressive politics, be we aren't stupid."

I don't know.  I was born and raised here.  There are in fact a ton of stupid people in this county.  But I have high hopes that things are changing for the better.  

Getting rid of Corey Stewart would be another great step in that direction!



Here's an epiphany for Stewart and other Republican dolts! (Bill O. Rights - 11/12/2008 4:13:04 PM)
YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING IN VIRGINIA EITHER

I STILL HAVE A CAR TAX!  

You tried to foist on Virginia Citzens an illegal, unconstitutional regional taxing (transporation) authority that took the State Supreme Court to over turn.

You've allowed the state spending to grow by 125%

You've put upon state tax payers, the two BIGGEST TAX INCREASES IN VIRGINIA HISTORY, then you tried to blame it on Mark Warner.

Virginia Republicans haven't done anything locally either!

Somebody send this idiot a clue!