Won’t You Go Home Bill Bolling

Well the truth is that Lt. Governor Bill Bolling did decide today not to make an independent run for the governor of Virginia.  The talk that he may seek an independent bid has been going on for several months now, since he decided to forgo a run for the GOP nomination.

“Based on my discussions with key donors over the past three weeks, I was confident I could raise enough money to run a competitive campaign, but I was not confident I could raise enough money to run a winning campaign,” Bolling said. “Running as an Independent candidate would have required me to sever my longstanding relationship with the Republican Party. While I am very concerned about the current direction of the Republican Party, I still have many dear friends in the Republican Party, people who have been incredibly supportive of me over the years.”

Now, I want to make perfectly clear that I had intended to support Bolling at the upcoming convention in May.  So I am not some huge AG Cuccinelli supporter.  I have some issues with Ken; issues that are primarily based on some inside info that I know about and will not go into in this public forum.  But, suffice it to say, I will still be supporting Ken in the primary election.  His the ideal candidate to me?  No, but he is a far cry better than Terry McAuliffe.

For those that may need some background, Bill Bolling is serving his second four-year term as Lt. Governor.  Four years ago he made a half-hearted attempt at running for governor, and rightly decided that he wouldn’t try to get the nomination.  Now many say he gave up his own ambition because it was right for the party.  Maybe.  But, the truth is that he didn’t have a chance to get the nomination in a head to head race with now Gov. Bob McDonnell. Many say that he is somehow owed this nomination due to that.

Seriously?  C’mon folks.  The nomination isn’t due to anyone.  I can’t stand this whole he is next line thinking that the GOP has been employing for years and years.  What exactly has that thinking gotten us?  I will tell you what it got us, John McCain and Mitt Romney going against Obama.  Now I will be willing to admit that Romney would have a much better chance to going against Obama in 08 then he did in 12.   There was no way to deny how much trouble the economy was in four years ago.  There were ways to do that last year.

Another thing I found very comical about all the going back and forth over the past few months is the fact that very same people who were supporting Bolling’s indie run were the same people who said I “had” to vote for Romney and put my principles aside.  It was the “right” thing to do.  I was supporting the party.  The very same party that has time and time again pushed against my belief system and consistently raised taxes and increased spending, even on a state level.  The last session of the Virginia legislator just recently raised taxes in what is said to be the largest tax increase in Commonwealth history.  It is also raised taxes in an inconsistent basis.  Some counties will have to pay higher taxes than others.  Which seems not to hold the muster by the Virginia Constitution.

Moreover, simply calling a measure a “regional congestion-relief fee” doesn’t change the reality that this is really a tax on real estate. Proponents of the deal will reject that, saying it is a transaction fee. But it is not a flat fee. Instead, the amount paid is tied to the price of the land — reflecting real estate conditions, the surrounding neighborhood and more. That’s a tax, and the state Supreme Court ruled as much in 2008, when it struck down the General Assembly’s previous attempt to impose a regional congestion fee.

These are the people who I am supposed to support?  Look, I get that transportation issues in the state have to be addressed, especially in the Northern Virginia area, but that doesn’t mean that this tax hike is going to solve the problem.  A big part of the problem is the cronyism that goes on within the Virginia Department of Transportation, which of course increases costs.   So much of the budget is wasted.   I lived there for 17 years, and I would watch them tear up a road, pave it, then tear it up again.  I am supposed to pay higher taxes simply because the people who are hired can’t do the job properly the first time?

I am sure that many are crying in their milk today that Bolling has deciding to take his ball and go home.  My question to them is that if a more conservative candidate toys with the idea of running an independent bid will be as open-minded to it?   Somehow I don’t think so.  During the past few months I have been called a bully.  Really?  Me, a bully?  Hardly.  I have been writing this blog for close to four years, how often have you heard me call people names?  I don’t do that nor do I like when others do.  I see that as unproductive and childish.   Another thing that those pushing this run seem to fail to mention are a few facts.  Ken Cuccinelli got a larger percentage of the vote four years ago then the governor did.  Ken Cuccinelli also ran and won in Fairfax County, VA when he was serving in the state legislator.  For those that don’t know, Fairfax County is one of the bluest counties in the state.  Every credible poll puts this a very tight race, one that Ken could easily win.

So, for the people who are all upset about Bill Bolling, it is time to dry your tears and get on board.  That is what you told me a year ago.

 

For Those Keeping Track – List of All Republicans Who Voted to Give Virginians the Largest Tax Increase in their History

Yep, brace for it Virginia.  You have a massive tax increase coming your way.  Here are the republicans that voted for it.  Sadly, due to schedule, getting someone to primary these people this year will next to impossible.  But, I think they knew that and that is why they voted on this on the last day of the session.

House of Delegates: Dave Albo (42), John Cosgrove (78), Kirk Cox (66), Mark Dudenhefer (2), Jim Edmunds (60), Tag Greason (32), Chris Head (17), Gordon Helsel (91), Keith Hodges (98), Sal Iaquinto (84)*, Riley Ingram (62), Chris Jones (76), Terry Kilgore (1), Barry Knight (81), Jim LeMunyon (67), Manny Loupassi (68), Joe May (33), Donald Merricks (16), Randy Minchew (10), Richard Morris (64), John O’Bannon (73), Bobby Orrock (54), Charles Poindexter (9), Bob Purkey (82), Lacey Putney (I, declared R if running for re-election – 19), Tom Rust (86), Ed Scott (30), Beverly Sherwood (29), Chris Stolle (83), Ron Villanueva (21), Michael Watson (93), David Yancey (94), Joseph Yost (12), Speaker Howell (28)

State Senate: Harry Blevins (14), Bill Carrico (40), Jeff McWaters (8), Tommy Norment (3), Frank Ruff (15), Walter Stosch (12), Frank Wagner (7), John Watkins (10).

H/T Bearing Drift

Quote of the Day – Lt. Governor Bill Bolling Edition Part 2

“I enjoy being lieutenant governor, and under the right circumstances, it’s something I might consider, but I just wouldn’t be comfortable running on a statewide ticket with Mr. Cuccinelli.”

Lt. Governor Bill Bolling after his decision to not seek the republican nomination for governor.

I said the other day that his email to supporters sounded like sour grapes.  Boy, was I right.

It is perfectly understandable that he is disappointed.  For those that don’t know, he entertained the idea of running for governor four years ago.  He decided against joining the race once then Attorney General now Governor Bob McDonnell made his intentions clear that he would be seeking the nomination.  Now he believes that AG Cuccinelli should be doing exactly the same the thing he did.  The nomination is owed to him in his mind.  Well, the voters have something else to say about that.  His complaint about the nominating process being changed to convention as opposed to a primary being the reason he couldn’t win.  I don’t think he could have won anyway.  Cuccinelli’s supporters are very passionate.  They have been working on his campaign for months already.  If they were going to show up for a convention, which is much harder to do, they would have showed up on primary day.

The thing of it is, Bolling was never going to beat McDonnell four years ago either.  It was politically smart of him to sit it and wait.  His real issue is that for the second cycle in a row he can’t garner enough support within the party to get the nomination.  He doesn’t seem to get that he may be the reason that is the case.  After these comments the reasons seem all the more clear.

It is one thing not to endorse, especially the days after you announce you are suspending your campaign, it is totally another to undermine the ticket.  That is exactly what he is doing.

I have some advice for you Lt. Gov Bolling – lay off the sour grapes and put down the glass of self-pity juice; neither are serving you well.

Bill Bolling’s Statement on Suspending Race for Virginia Governor

Friends,

When I was growing up my dad was a coal miner and my mom waited tables. We didn’t have much, but my parents instilled in me a love of Virginia. I never dreamed that I would one day have a chance to help lead this wonderful state, but thanks to you, that has been my privilege.

Throughout my 21 years in public service I have done my best to stand strong for our shared conservative values, while at the same time working with Republicans and Democrats to get things done in state government. I think that effort has been successful, and I hope you agree.

For the past seven years I have had the honor of serving as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor, and it had been my intention to seek the Republican Party’s nomination for Governor in 2013. However, not everything we want in life is meant to be.

I am writing to advise you that after a great deal of consideration I have decided to suspend my campaign for the Republican Party’s nomination for Governor of Virginia. Needless to say, this was a very difficult decision for me, and I know it will come as a surprise and disappointment to you, but I am confident it is the right decision.

Four years ago I decided to set my personal ambition to be Governor aside and join with Bob McDonnell to create a united Republican ticket. Time has proven the wisdom of that decision. Governor McDonnell and I were elected in 2009 by historic margins, and for the past three years we have successfully worked together to get Virginia back on the right track.

I had hoped that Attorney General Cuccinelli and I would be able to form that same kind of united Republican ticket in 2013. However, late last year Mr. Cuccinelli unexpectedly announced that he intended to challenge me for the Republican Party’s nomination for Governor.

While I was surprised and disappointed by Mr. Cuccinelli’s decision, I was confident in my ability to win our party’s nomination for Governor in a statewide primary election, which was the method of nomination that had previously been adopted by the State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia.

However, in June of this year the newly constituted State Central Committee voted to change the manner in which we will nominate our candidates in 2013 from a statewide primary to a closed party convention. While I did not support that decision, it had a dramatic impact on the 2013 campaign.

For the past several months my campaign team has worked hard to restructure our campaign to effectively compete in the convention process. While we have made a great deal of progress, I reluctantly concluded that the decision to change the method of nomination from a primary to a convention created too many obstacles for us to overcome.

In addition, I know how divisive conventions can be, and I was concerned that a prolonged campaign between Mr. Cuccinelli and me could create deep divisions within our party. The convention process would have forced Republican activists to take sides against their friends in local committees all across our state. The wounds that can develop from that type of process are often difficult to heal.

Conventions are by their very nature exclusive, and at a time when we need to be projecting a positive image and reaching out to involve more Virginians in the Republican Party, I am unwilling to be part of a process that could seriously damage our image and appeal.

While it may have been in my self-interest to have continued the campaign and done my best to win without regard to the consequences of those actions, I have never chosen to place my self-interest ahead of our Party’s best interest, and I will not do so now.

I know that my decision will surprise most people and disappoint many people, but I’m confident it is the right decision. I hope that my friends and supporters, as well as those who have chosen to support Mr. Cuccinelli, will respect and appreciate the reasons for my decision.

It has been a great honor to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia for the past seven years, and I wouldn’t trade the experiences and opportunities we have had for anything in the world. You helped make that possible, and for that I will always be grateful.

I look forward to serving the remainder of my term as Lieutenant Governor and as Virginia’s Chief Jobs Creation Officer, and working with Governor McDonnell and the rest of our great team to build a better Virginia.

I want to personally thank everyone who has done so much to support Jean Ann and me over the years, and I especially want to thank the thousands of people who had already pledged their support to my campaign for Governor. Your support means more to us than words can express. My greatest regret in suspending my campaign is the thought that I have let you down.

In the coming days Jean Ann and I will be evaluating our future political options. I love Virginia and I value public service a great deal. I assure you that I will continue to look for ways to make a contribution to the public life of our Commonwealth.

I can tell you this, I intend to remain actively involved in the 2013 campaigns – perhaps not as the Republican nominee for Governor, but as a more independent voice, making certain that the candidates keep their focus on the important issues facing our state and offer a positive and realistic vision for effectively and responsibly leading Virginia.

Thanks again for your friendship, confidence and support. It is a privilege to serve you, and I look forward to seeing you soon in our travels across Virginia.

Sincerely,

Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling

 

Is it just me or does this reak of victimhood?  

Is Outreach Really a Waste of Time?

While campaigning for Governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell’s campaign as well as his surrogates spent a great deal of time reaching out to all voters.  His Woman for McDonnell coalition spread out all over the state to make sure they were accessible to women voters.  While many on the right (Ahem Phil) call this pandering, it is smart politics.  It is pandering if you are promising people things specifically based on gender, race, or any other group, but actually talking to these groups is simply spreading your message and helping them understand how your policies will help their lives.  Governor McDonnell also has continued to do that throughout his term in office.

It has paid off:

Quinnipiac’s poll, conducted Nov. 8-12, found that among women respondents, 48 percent approved of McDonnell to 26 percent who disapproved. Fifty-nine percent of men had a positive view of McDonnell to 27 percent who did not. Overall, the governor’s approval rating stood at 53 percent.

McDonnell fared well among young voters 18 years old to 34, too. Forty-eight percent approved, and 24 percent disapproved.

Among black voters, who broke overwhelmingly for Obama last week, 41 percent approved of McDonnell, and 34 percent did not.

McDonnell’s results are uncommon among Republicans, said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling institute.

“He is the only Republican officeholder in seven states surveyed by Quinnipiac University who get positive ratings from women — almost 2-to-1 in this case — and a plus score from black voters. A 2-to-1 approval rating among young voters doesn’t hurt,” Brown said.

This is a state that two days before this polling voted to re-elect President Obama.  Women went to Obama over Romney.  So it isn’t that women are pre-disposed to vote only for a democrat.  They will vote for the person who they believe best suits their needs and the needs of their families.

Now has Governor McDonnell been everything I hoped for?  No, but they never are.  Virginia has survived the economic downfall in this country fairly well.  We have a rainy day fund (I don’t love these, but I do understand why they are necessary) that has just been increased, our unemployment is low, our taxes have not really increased since his administration took over, and he has kept the majority of his promises.  All and all I think he has done a decent job.

My point being that he did the work and it has paid off.  This is a lesson that many others in the republican party should take notice of.

The Perfect Storm & A Tale of Two Campaigns

I am on my continued road trip for my Get Out the Vote efforts.  I finally made it back to my hotel room and I am sitting here watching the news.  I am tired, cranky, and thinking of my home in Virginia.  A home that is the talk of the nation in many ways right now due to the “perfect storm” that is due to hit sometime tomorrow.

As I am watching the news I am seeing clips of President Obama being questioned about “FrankenStorm”.  His response was to remind people to get out early and vote.  Which by the way in Virginia you must have cause to vote early.

They then turned to a clip of Mitt Romney talk about the same storm.  He was on the stump today talking about how he was due to have a rally in Northern Virginia tomorrow morning I believe it is.  He has cancelled that appearance.  He mentioned that he spoke to Governor McDonnell who is in the midst of storm preparedness.  Romney said he didn’t want to take away the resources that a presidential candidate would require so they can concentrate on getting ready for the storm and asked his audience to pray for the people of Virginia.

This says something about character.  You can decide for yourselves whose character should be running the country.

Virginia 2012 Ballot Initiatives

Question 1

Shall Section 11 of Article I (Bill of Rights) of the Constitution of Virginia be amended (i) to require that eminent domain only be exercised where the property taken or damaged is for public use and, except for utilities or the elimination of a public nuisance, not where the primary use is for private gain, private benefit, private enterprise, increasing jobs, increasing tax revenue, or economic development; (ii) to define what is included in just compensation for such taking or damaging of property; and (iii) to prohibit the taking or damaging of more private property than is necessary for the public use?

Question 2

Shall Section 6 of Article IV (Legislature) of the Constitution of Virginia concerning legislative sessions be amended to allow the General Assembly to delay by no more than one week the fixed starting date for the reconvened or “veto” session when the General Assembly meets after a session to consider the bills returned to it by the Governor with vetoes or amendments?

 

I feel very strongly about question 1.  Of course we should do everything possible to protect private property rights.  We shouldn’t be allowed to lose our homes simply because some town wants to increase its tax base and take away someone’s home to do it.

Question 2 I have no opinion on.

There will be additional ballot measures depending on what county you live in.  Fairfax County, for instance, will have a $25 million bond question on expending the library system across the county.  I am against that.  We can do that when the economy improves, there is no reason to go into debt for that.

The Tea Party Rocked it Today – Virginia 8th District Delegate Convention

Virginia 8th will not be added to growing list of Ron Paul delegates.  Although they tried.  The Tea Party slated delegates will all be going onto Tampa to make sure that the party platform stays conservative.

We also have a rock star in our midst.  Meet Evan Draim.  One of the youngest ever to be attending a GOP convention as a voting delegate.  He is just finishing up his junior year in high school.  Evan is helping to spread the tea party message to high school students far and wide and is very active in his schools republican club and an all around activist.

Not only is he adorable, he is very enthusiastic.  His energy and committment to the cause is truly infectious.

Here is Evan in his two-minute speech before the convention today.  He garnered the most votes, and this was the best attended convention in our history.  Almost double the size from 4 years ago.

Here is Marta, Erin, and Evan at our celebration lunch after the convention.

Congrats to all who earned their place at Tampa later this summer.  Make no mistake, getting elected delegate is work.

It seems that I will also be joining them down in Tampa in August, so yeah me!!!

Some Thoughts on Virginia’s Primary Ballot Failures

As a resident of Virginia I will say that I am not at all pleased to have two choices and only two choices.  That said, there are very clear rules in place and every candidate had the same access to those rules.  Three candidates never even bothered to put in signatures for review.  I suppose they just never got enough to make it worthwhile.  One of those candidates, Rick Santorum, lives in Virginia.

Now, our Lt. Governor Bill Bolling is one of the Chairs for the Virginia for Romney campaign.  That has led to some charges that he was rooting for this and possibly there was corruption involved.  Anyone involved in the republican party in Virginia could have gone to help verify the signatures.  I myself was sent an email with an invitation to attend and volunteer to help verify all the signatures.  There is no proof whatsoever that Bolling had anything to do with the outcome.  It is very unseemly to make these charges without any evidence to support them.  Bolling has already announced his bid for the Governorship in 13, I don’t think he would take the chance of ruining his chances to help Mitt Romney get elected.  He has had his eyes on the governor’s chair for quite some time.  The ballots were verified by mainly volunteers.  The likelihood that all of them were corrupted to push the outcome in any one direction is very hard to believe.

Gingrich has made the following statement:

The Gingrich campaign responded that “only a failed system” would disqualify Gingrich and other candidates. It said Gingrich would pursue an aggressive write-in campaign in Virginia.

The law is very clear in Virginia, there is no option for a write in campaign.  While I am sure that people can still write in a name, it will not be counted.  This law has been in place since 1999.  This will be the fourth presidential election since these laws have been implemented.  In this time no other major candidate has failed to get on the ballot.  Here is a list of people who qualified for the Virginia ballots in the past:

2008 – Barack Obama, Dennis Kucinich, Hillary Clinton, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, John Edwards; Ron Paul, John McCain, Fred Thompson, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney.

2004 – Al Sharpton, John Kerry, Wesley Clark, Howard Dean, Joe Lieberman, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Dick Gephardt, Lyndon Larouche.

2000 – Alan Keyes, Gary Bauer, George W. Bush, John McCain, Steve Forbes.

So Newt wants me to believe that the system is broken even when the like of Lyndon Larouche or Al Sharpton can get the necessary signatures?  That doesn’t pass the smell test to me.   Does it to you?

This comes down to one thing and one thing only.  They lack the organization necessary to run a national campaign.  Running for president is very difficult.  As it should be since it is a very difficult job.  Even Jill over at Pundit and Pundette; a huge Perry supporter, asked if he was just winging it.  Perry turned in sheets that were not notarized.  A very simple and free thing to do.  It is also is clear indication that no one on Perry’s staff bothered to look at the sheets when they were turned in by the volunteers.  I will give Perry credit here as he is not making himself into a victim as Newt appears to be doing.  So far he seems to accept the inevitable.  He will not be on the ballot for one of the biggest prizes of Super Tuesday.

Look, getting people to sign these petitions is not easy.  I am not saying that it is, but they were only required to get less than barely over one tenth of one percent of qualified voters.  But the fact that it is difficult is the reason that an organized campaign is vital.  You must have the staff to organize the volunteers.  Another thing to remember is Virginia has off-year elections.  We had an election last month.  Every campaign has access to the information on where the voting locations were and what the past numbers of voters showing up to those locations are.   This is low hanging fruit, everyone showing up is a registered voter.  I volunteered on election day.  I only saw people out for Romney, Newt, and Obama.  I asked the other volunteers at the results party that I went to and none of them saw any for any of the other candidates that I listed.  I personally signed for Cain, Newt, and Rick Santorum.  I wouldn’t sign for Romney and was never asked to sign for any other candidate.  I am also on the email list for virtually every candidate and was only asked to collect signatures for Romney and Cain.

Newt would like to change the rules because he is unhappy with the results.  That is a leftist tactic.  I find it abhorrent that Newt is now looking for a way around the rules.  While I do feel cheated that I only have two choices on my ballot.  The people who cheated me were the candidates themselves.

Now, I am going to get back to celebrating Christmas.