The Fabulous Fifty One

Rumor has it Jim Dillard went down on a 51-45 vote today for his appointment to the William and Mary Board of Visitors.

This position was obtained by Dillard selling out his Republican colleagues, so it is very appropriate that they chose not to confirm him today,

I'm working on acquiring a list of the "Fabulous Fifty One"

UPDATE:  It's confirmed.

God Bless the Fabulous Fifty One.

UPDATE #2- From the AP- "House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith of Salem said Republicans were incensed over Dillard's support of Democrat Dave W. Marsden of Fairfax in the race to succeed him."   

"Griffith said most House Republicans believe Dillard and Warner made a deal: Dillard would support Marsden in exchange for the board appointment."

Morgan assumes exactly right.  This was actually a four part deal.

"Dillard wrote a fundraising letter for the Democrat, spoke publicly on his behalf and endorsed him in campaign literature, Marsden said. But he said he was sure Dillard made no deal with Warner."

Typical Marsden misleading statement.  He knows Jim made the deal with senior Democrats, not with Warner. 

For a guy who ran on using his former GOP ties to work with the majority, what good is Dave Marsden if he can't even get Jim Dillard confirmed?  Has any other Delegate ever seen someone rejected on the floor of the House for supporting them?  Ouch!!

Comments

I personally think it is great when people make their own decisions, and damn the party.

It disappoints me to see so many of those who also "sold out" vote against Dillard.

[Not Larry Sabato]

Anon, who else sold out like Dillard? This wasn't about the tax vote.

[J. Sarge]

The list can be found here:

http://commonwealthcommons.blogspot.com/2006/02/breaking-news-borked.html

[A Voter]

It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! I'm happy that the House is appropriately rewarding a sell-out like Dillard for his actions!

Here is the vote:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+vot+HV2778+SJ0131

[Virginia Centrist]

Oh come on. This is slimy and sleazy.

[tooconservative]

THIS IS A DISGRACE

[Save Fairfax County]

looks like it was payback time?

[Not Jack Herrity]

Ben, can you tell me one reason why a vote against Jim Dillard today was in the best interests of Virginia? I keep hearing all this cheerleading from you for partisanship, but I'm not hearing why the former chairman of the House Education Committee should be bumped off the William & Mary Board of Visitors when we had no problem with leaving a Redskin on the BOV at Virginia Tech who didn't even attend a single meeting.

Dillard shoulda played his cards right. No sympathy here

[A Voter]

Dillard betrayed the Republican Party, and he helped a Democrat to take his place in office. Asking anything from Republicans is a foolish move on his part.

You reap what you sew.

[Not Jack Herrity]

Right, because we should expect nothing else from our elected officials than sticking it to the other guy on a vote that has nothing to do with who he supported for delegate. Marsden was his longtime legislative aide, for pity's sake.

Voter, what childish eye-for-eye sandbox are you guys playing in? The GOP needs to grow up, get some leadership, and quit all the petty partisan BS. Until they do, they'll continue to lose seats. I guarantee that.

NJH

[Not An Idiot]

What's the difference between this and John Warner endorsing Marhsall Coleman in 1994?

or Panny Rhodes who supported Mark Warner and Katherine Waddell being on the board at VCU?

This had nothing to do with 'politics'. It had everything to do with the worst kind of pettyness....

Someone should run against every Republican that voted to oust Dillard.

[save fairfax county]

Not an idiot: Does anyone hear from or see Panny Rhodes and Marshall Coleman today? They have gone into political oblivion.

Silly people - you're forgetting that Dillard endorsed MARSDEN. That's why NLS thinks this is a good thing.

[Virginia Centrist]

No one's forgetting that. It's understood at this point. We're not attacking NLS - we know where he stands and where his sympathies lie in this case.

We're attacking the House GOP...

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

The most unbelievable tit-for-tat foolishness so far this year. This is why people get turned off by politics, exactly this, and I don't blame them one bit. I wouldn't want to support anyone this petty and stupid either.

I agree with NJH, grow the hell up, hacks.

[Not Jack Herrity]

Revel in this VC-NJH-Doug axis while you can, folks. It won't last long.

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

Yee of little faith, NJH. ;-)

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

Don't forget TC. I like him. He is conservative, but he understands respect and decency. Good for him--at least my Grandfather is not the only one left.

[ZB]

This is an outrage. What a bunch of petty, vengeful people. Believe it or not, people are elected to serve the COMMONWEALTH, not to protect their party.

I say yea Vince Callahan, Tom Rust, Joe May, Harvey Morgan, and Robert Tata.

And I say SHAME on the 51.

[Riley, Not O'Reilly]

One could say Dillard was petty and vengeful during the campaign as well. Two wrongs don't make a right, but what goes around comes around so it should be no surprise that this happened.

[ZB]

Dillard, a moderate, pro-choice, pro-gay rights Republican endorsed his longtime aide, a moderate, pro-choice, pro-gay rights Democrat over a far-right Eagle Forum-endorsed anti-choice, anti-gay person who had run as a right-wing independent against him two years before. I find it hard to see how that it petty or vengeful.

But I really am amused by anyone who can say "two wrongs don't make a right" and "what goes around comes around" in the same sentence. Well done, finding two TOTALLY conflicting cliches to totally contradict yourself.

Only is the world of ZB and his ilk was Dillard a moderate when he retired. That really gives the debate some perspective.

[torridjoe]

As an alumnus of W&M, I can testify that BOV appointments are not exactly high-caliber deals. This is frightened pettiness from a state GOP that is suddenly back on its heels.

[A Voter]

Dillard is a traitor and a liar. It's good that he's not going to be put into a position of power any time soon.

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

A Voter, just like the voters aren't putting any of this ilk into power---anymore. Keep it up, and kiss that GOP majority GOODBYE!

[A Voter]

Oddly enough, I'm doubting that we'll see many Dems campaigning on pro-Dillard issue stances.

[Virginia Centrist]

"Dillard is a traitor and a liar. It's good that he's not going to be put into a position of power any time soon."

Actually, Kaine will just appoint him again after the GA session is over. He'll be on the board until next GA session (if they choose to kick him off).

[African Americans Matter Too]

I doubt Tim Kaine will reappoint Jim Dillard. It's time for Mr. Dillard to go into retirement and allow us to begin healing from his Delegateship.

The consigliari have spoken. Hey Virginia Centrist, if someone messes with the bull, they get the horns. Come on, do you really not get it?

[ZB]

Actually, under the law, once the General Assembly has rejected a nominee they can NEVER be nominated again for that same position.

Of course, when the Democrats take back the House of Delegates in 2007, Gov. Kaine could always appoint him to the Board of Visitors of ANOTHER school.

[a-nother voter]

Grammar 101 Lesson Du Jour for A voter:

You don't reap what you sew.

Rather, "You reap what you sow"

[Too Moderate]

Hey ZB,

What makes dillard a moderate rather than a liberal? Although a republican, he seems to take the position furthest to the left every time.

[Depressed]

As a young Virginian Republican, I find this to be an absolutely atrocious move. I don’t agree with all of Dillard’s votes, especially on the tax hike, but this is a man who was undoubtedly qualified for the position both in his education background and his love of William & Mary (as continually evidenced by his green W&M jacket). Furthermore, after having numerous discussions with him, I found Mr. Dillard to be an upstanding gentleman who would have done great things for the College. In his very short time on the BoV, he proved himself to be an exceptionally engaged and capable member. Supporting a former aide that happens to be a Democrat should be no sin, especially warranting such retribution. The only message this sends is that the House members of the Virginia GOP don’t want intelligent, free-thinking young Republicans in this state, and I for one find it sad.