It was nice to meet you today Lowell!  As a newcomer to the area...I got a great impression of everyone there.  I tended to lag behind everyone as I was handing out candy to every kid I could find...until I ran out. I look forward to working with you all in the future!

Hope to see you at the victory party on June 13, or earlier. :)

came all the way from Central VA to join us in the parade. I'm impressed with the commitment of the volunteers. Were there any others who came from distant parts of the state?

maybe Miller's slogan should be:  "Lie Like A Dog, Just Like Me"

provided by the half dozen or more people I talked to?  According to Arlington County Commisioner of Revenue Ingrid Morroy, Miller had 7 people with him.  According to James Martin, it was from 7 to 15 Miller supporters according to everyone he talked to.  I actually didn't go over and study the Miller contingent, so I'm relying on these other people. Are they all liars, and are you "disgusted" with all of them?

Miller had less than 15 people carrying signs.

and agree with you and Lowell.

The other person is just casting doubt (lying) due to the continued huge embarassment that they call Harris Miller.

and the estimates for Miller's crowd ranged from 7 to 20.

and from where we were I saw 15-20 at most.  We had over 50 carrying signs, more handing out literature and candy.

But give credit -- the Miller people got a lot of stickers on people, but many of them came over to shake Jim's hand.  So did some people with Allen stickers on.

This evening my wife and I drove around Arlington.  Not counting our house, we saw 17 Webb signs in people's yards, and NO signs for Miller in people's yards.

We also saw further evidence of removal of Webb signs, most particularly on the median strip on Spout Run Pkwy next to the shopping center  -- the sign frames were still there but the sign were gone. 

At this point I have little doubt that the removal is being done by Miller people, and not Allen people.  I am tempted to stake a repeat place out with a video camera.

One other note  -- there was a continent from the Yorktown High Dems.  I taught 7th grade for one year at Williamsburg Middle, and those kids are now in 11th grade, and one of my former students was among the contingent.

I am probably going to blog about today -  the hdqtrs event, the march, what i saw of signs  - over at dailykos.  If I do, I will cross-post here, with a link so those of registered over there can help give it some visibility.

of people you're "disgusted" with. 

Does Harris Miller realize what kinds of people he has supporting him?  What next, are you guys going to start denying that the earth revolves around the sun or something?  What a bunch of losers.

Oh, as far as how I know the Miller staffers?  It's called having a f***ing brain and observing the same people at event after event, talking to them and finding out that they are Miller staffers, etc.

Um... Sir... You don't seem to be that brightest person so ill be brief. I planned the event and there were 110 people there for Webb. About 10 under 18 but all like myself can vote in the Primary and General since we will be 18 by the general (we were all seniors...)

Did your wife? Becuase if she did she lied.

at the time we began marching my count of Webb people was 103, of whom over 50 were holding signs.  Looking, granted from a distance of several hundred yards, when the Miller people started out I counted 15-20 holding up signs.

I did actual counts, not ballparking.

Just because Miller can only get 10 volunteers and 5 staff isnt that big a deal, really... but oh the Webb campaign had 100 volunteers and 2 staff and we didnt even pull out all the stops...

I don't like that the comments keep vanishing!!

The energy and enthusiasm of the Webb campaign is fantastic to see!

Jim Webb is a great populist democrat! He really wins people over.

First off, there is a great debate about how many volunteers/marchers each candidate had.  I didn't do a count either so I can't say for certain.  But I did see a very large number of Webb supporters - clearly outnumbered the Miller supporters by a large margin.  100 plus is very  realistic.  The Miller group had over 20 - just count bodies in the photo above and you'll get about 20.  I'd say 30-35 would be realistic.  The Allen group had about 5 when I passed by during parade staging - can't say what happened after that.

I overheard a few disturbing comments from parade watchers.  These were not directed at me or any Webb people - just overheard.

1. "Who's side is he on?"  As far as I could tell, this wasn't a reference to the Miller attacks but instead  someone who didn't know Webb's party affiliation.

2. "I don't want to think about this now - the election's not until November." 

Ok, ok.  I know there were "Vote June 13" on many signs and the label Democrat was readily available.  To me, this is a simple re-enforcement of how much the casual voter isn't paying attention.  Does that matter for the primary?  Maybe not, since most of these casual voters probably won't be voting.  But it's clear that Webb, if he wins the primary, has a lot of work to do.  And that Webb needs to define himself to these voters before Allen does - that first impression will stick and we don't want Allen providing it.

...and an opportunity!

Regarding the "election's not until November" comment, this simply points out the need for EVERYONE to be making voter contact and especially PHONE BANKING for Jim Webb.  Between now and June 13, set a personal goal to reach 10, 20, 50 people and persuade them to get out and vote for Webb.  Most people simply don't even know there's a primary, so it's not a hard sell.

on the other point, just run down the list of Democrats who've endorsed Webb:

Leslie Byrne
Chap Petersen
Phil Puckett
Don McEachin
Patsy Ticer
Gerald Holt
Nancy Horn
Ingrid Morroy
Jay Fisette
Owen Pickett
Wesley Clark
Harry Reid
Paul Hackett
Max Cleland
John Murtha
Chris Dodd
Debbie Stabenow

etc., etc.

Also, you might want to mention Marc Fisher's column this morning in the Washington Post, about how Harris Miller is from "the suicidal wing of the Democratic Party," while Webb is one of tens of millions of Democrats "who grew up admiring FDR and JFK but migrated to Reagan" (and now has migrated back, as the Republican Party has gone hard to the Theocratic/Neocon Right).

Please provide a link to where this info was found.  If the people were called, I would also like the name of the person you spoke with, and a telephone number.  If this is true, then it does need to be addressed.  However, without any facts, I cannot continue and take care of the situation.  You have made an extreme accusation; now back it up with some substance and you can rest assured I will look into this.

I was there and it was basically an issue of a) crowded conditions and b) some festival-goers totally not wanting to have anything to do with politics at all.  In the latter case, they tried to avoid EVERYONE - Miller, Hurst, Longmyer, Davis, Allen, and Webb supporters - if they possibly could.  But political people were everywhere, particularly the Tom Davis folks who were swarming the place...

I do not doubt that Paine here is lying, I just want him to know that there are ways of checking on info like this, and he should probably think before he lies in the future. 

Dear "un"phriendlyjaime, Lowell & others who typed mean and/or negatively personal blogs to Thomaspaine...

Your response to ThomasPaine is amazingly unwarranted.  You even talk about removing him from an open blog site and even called him a liar?!  I'll explain why I am disappointed with you all.........FIRST LET START BY SAYING THAT I UNDERSTAND YOUR "PURE-HEARTED ZEAL" TO SUPPORT YOUR CANDIDATE, BUT PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK ABOUT THINGS THAT YOU DISAGREE WITH.....it's simply unfair and negative to speak like that about facts you are incorrect about.

For clarification about MY facts....I want to say that I helped organize and run the event and witnessed policiticans using the fair inappropriately.  There were those groups that were told by ME and others to remain inside their booths and they didn't comply.  They continued to have their "entourage" walk around and make direct contact with festival attendees throughout the fair.

The festival is for families to come and enjoy at "their will".....not to be walked up to and given items they didn't ask for.  If we allowed all vendors to walk around and sell their "wares" then it would truly be chaotic.  We have 10-foot by 10-foot booths for a reason.  It's manageable and efficient.  We don't allow ice cream vendors to walk around....so why does the policitician's group feel that they have carte blanc to do this. 

Not only did vendors complain but they have also complained in prior year events as well.  When you have a group of "pure-hearted" supporters of a candidate putting stickers on peoples chests and "pushing" pamphlets out to all that walk by, the vendors on each side of the candidate are upset because people "AVOID" that candidate's group and won't buy from the vendor next door.  This is a serious and consistent problem each year.  The poor vendors that are put beside the policiticians group feel that it's a hinderance to their business opportunity.  If the policitician's group would stay inside their own booth, then no one could really make a complaint.....but this isn't the case.....the groups walk around all day and make direct (in your face) contact with everyone who they walk up to. 

I have to say that the event is specifically organized, with streets closed off, and booths assigned to the vendors each year.  The event organizers have the right and obligation to "manage" the vendors as they see fit.  Each vendor has to pay the booth price and follow the vendor guidelines.  Some didn't and this is what I'm speaking of now.  EVERY year we get negative feedback about various policiticians.  We don't single anyone out as many are to blame.  Even those who vote for the specific policiticians complain that "this isn't a campaign fesitval so why are they allowed to roam around like that".

You wish to have "specific names and numbers to get the facts".  You've smeared Thomaspaine already and God only knows what you would do or say when you know who he really is.  If you want to find out all of the information, go to the organizers of the event and ask them directly.  You will get full confirmation of this and prior year's issues.

I feel that no negative blogging should occur to one specific person, but the way you all disagree with Thomaspaine makes it difficult to give you a name and a number to call directly (so you can get the proof you want).  You've made it personal and negative.......again.

Sincerely and truthfully,
Peacefulobserver

Who are the people that provided that information and who in the Viva Vienna organization can verify it?

With all the troll talk and concerns about banning, now is your opportunity to prove you're not a troll.  Back up your allegations with facts from multiple independent sources and the troll talk can be put to rest.

Back it up with some hard FACTS, and do it now.  Prove you aren't a troll.  Because I have changed my mind if this cannot be proven-I want you banned effective immediately.  I don't care why you are here, and I don't care who you support.  I just don't care about you, and this election is too important to have people focus any more time on you and your negative ad hominem attacks.

He is probably busy submitting fake 'facts' to Mark Plotkin's chat which is about to start:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/05/24/DI2006052402161.html

Were you there, LCD?  I was and I was hoping to say hello!  I met TeacherKen, and JTerp, Kip, and a few others.  The Victory Party will be a blast!

My son is autistic and was having a bad day yesterday, I really wanted to be there (we left early from visiting family in Luray to be there but had to call it off). I did spend the weekend talking up Jim Webb in Luray and Front Royal (most people were very receptive).

support Harris Miller.  That, in my mind, is a useful service.  Still, he richly deserves to be banned for lying, distorting, twisting, and generally disrupting the flow of this blog.  I also agree that this election is WAY too important to put up with crap from someone like this.  Still, I hesitate because a) I respect the right of free speech and b) I don't want to give this guy an excuse to go all over the place and talk about how he was "unfairly" banned from Raising Kaine.  He will do that, of course.

It's a lose lose situation, unfortunately.  If we could all just agree to ignore him, he will probably go away, like the child at recess who finally stops pulling hair bc no one will give him any satisfaction.

Please understand that thomaspaine is correct.  We need to fix this issue rather than smearing his blog.  Using the words like "troll" or "child a recess" only shows that you are unwilling to look at ANY possibility that he's right.  Your voters were there and complained.

I EVEN VOTED for those who were out of compliance with fesitval guidelines. 

If you truly work on the best interest of your candidate, then you should represent your candidate with a more mature appearance and really listen to those you may disagree with.  It's the policitics of disagreement where you're failing your candidiate.

If a voter happens across this blog, they will see you & others speaking very negatively without one sentance of truly listening. You are representing your candidiate poorly by being so informal and rude. 

If I was a supporter of a candidate that was accused of non-compliant behaviour, I would simply thank Thomaspaine for raising the issue (even if you disagree - because it shows that your candidate is a listener).  I would then quietly go to the organizers of the event and get the facts confirmed.  I would also go to the Hunter Mill Chair and get more facts. 

You will see, in the end, that we are telling the truth.  This can only help you remedy the issue here.

peacefulobserver

of the free speech aspect of blogging and will continue to be one.  But one aspect of that free speech is that contributors do their best to provide reasonable information and give it their best effort.  Not everyone will come to accurate conclusions or get their facts right - even if they are well intentioned.

However, when someone like Mr. Paine continues to make strong allegations without being able to back them up they are no longer putting in a reasonable effort.  They are either wildly paranoid (and therefore need professional help) or trolling.

Should they be banned?  Probably.  But that wouldn't solve anything because, as you point out, it would just start a misguided fight about free speech.

So, my vote is to push Mr. Paine for his "facts".  Everytime he posts anything anywhere, no matter how reasonable or democratic sounding, simply remind him that he has failed to prove his Viva Vienna allegation.  If anyone falls for his statements point them back to this post as proof he doesn't know what he's talking about and/or refuses to provide real facts.

Since most of you bloggers are outside the mainstream Democratic party, you don't know that it is easy to corroborate my factual charge that the Webb people did not win any friends among the sponsors of Viva Vienna and caused the sponsors to complain to the Democratic Party.

Just contact the chair of the Hunter Mill Magisterial District Democratic Committee.  The email and phone for the chair can be found on the FCDC web site -- www.fairfaxdemocrats.org.

You people can't even do basic research to verify facts.  All you can do is bitch, whine, attack, and pile on those who disagree with your pablum.

Although I am a proponent of free speech and can verify your allegations myself, please try to calm down the tone.  We should all try to disagree peacefully.  These are simply words on a screen and most-likely they will still disagree with the facts.  Remember....it's still policitics.

I would like to see us all use this site as a positive tool (although I know we'll disagree about passionate things).

No cursing, negative slang or personal items please.

But on a final note.....your info is absolutely correct and I hope this will spur some dialogue for future ViVa! Vienna! events.  Maybe it ill be the start of "fixing" this yearly problem.

peacefulobserver