To Brian Moran: It's time to refocus and cut the crap

by: Joel McDonald

Tue May 19, 2009 at 11:30:20 PM EDT

I'm disturbed by this ad on many levels. While I know why the campaign would target African Americans, just as this did with an ad featuring the testimonial from former Delegate Mary Christian of Hampton, and that running this ad directly counters McAuliffe's ad taking credit for the election of Obama, this sort of identity politics, or "race baiting" as Ben Tribbett would say, bothers me. This is the sort of politics that Howard Dean, on the eve of Barack Obama's inauguration, said was over.

The Moran campaign is playing catch-up with African American voters who are currently favoring McAuliffe in the polls. From the onset of his campaign, McAuliffe has targeted this demographic; perhaps hoping that the energy of 2008 will carry over to 2009. Every candidate in this race, including the Republican nominee, is trying to bank on Obama's popularity, directly or indirectly.

For Virginia Democrats, a wake-up call: nominate McAuliffe at your own risk

by: Mike Stark

Mon May 11, 2009 at 04:13:00 PM EDT

Anyway, I'm not blogging today because I want to bring attention to an also-ran rag that barely  even merits mention as a bit part in the Republican noise machine...  To me, if a tool like Anschutz wants to throw good money after bad into a money-pit in support of the all-but-irrelevant Republican Party...  well, somebody needs to feed Byron York.  If he's shameless enough to collect his wingnut welfare check, I won't begrudge the arrangement...

But...

Republican Lighter Fluid: Terry McAuliffe

by: Todd Smyth

Mon May 11, 2009 at 03:13:26 PM EDT

"Republicans want to run against flashy McAuliffe. They think he will be the easiest to beat in November." -- Mark Plotkin, WTOP Radio (May 2, 2009)

McAuliffe represents everything that was wrong with the Democratic Party before Barack Obama broke through the wall of corporate money and backroom deal cutting McAuliffe created as DNC chair.  The national GOP would use McAuliffe's background of cutting himself in on political deals to build his personal wealth as a way of making him toxic.  They wouldn't need to lie or exaggerate and they would be quoting from the NY Times and Washington Post, not FOX News.  

The GOP would make Virginia a referendum on everything that is wrong with the Democratic Party today and try to begin a Republican comeback.  This would hurt our entire slate (Gov, Lt Gov, Atty. Gen.), our chances of taking back the House of Delegates, redistricting, the 2010 Congressional election and the re-election of Barack Obama in 2012.

O Bury Me Not Under The Goalposts At Giants Stadium

by: kestrel9000

Mon May 11, 2009 at 12:13:47 PM EDT

I remember back in the summer of 1991 I was working as a company man in a Teamsters cannery in Lodi, California, as an emergency medical technician. The politickin' was going on union-wise. That December, the Teamsters, in a contentious election, voted in a guy named Ron Carey as their president.

Remember how that worked out?

Ron Carey served less than a year of his second term. He was accused of engaging in financial improprieties during his re-election campaign in March 1997. As an investigation by federal officials continued, Carey led the union in a nationwide strike against UPS in August 1997 which led to significant contracts gains. But just three months later, Carey took a leave of absence as president due to the ongoing investigation into his 1996 re-election campaign. Carey was barred from running for president the same day he announced his leave of absence, and he was permanently ejected from the union in July 1998. James P. Hoffa was elected president of the Teamsters in December 1998.

So I found this Washington Examiner piece today to be of interest:

Official who gave 'troubling' testimony on McAuliffe now fundraising for him

Hey Dude, we're getting the band back together!

by: Todd Smyth

Sun Apr 05, 2009 at 10:04:17 AM EDT

Latest Moran Snafu again raises doubts about campaign's direction

by: aznew

Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 09:09:57 PM EDT

With his latest Snafu, Brian Moran has shown, again, that based on the campaign he has run so far, he is arguably not ready to be the Democratic nominee for Governor.

(Story is on the jump)

McAuliffe Turning Weakness into Strength

by: Todd Smyth

Fri Apr 03, 2009 at 02:04:24 PM EDT