Danny LeBlanc- UPDATED

Column by Not Gretchen Bulova:

The Times Dispatch is reporting that Daniel LeBlanc, Kaine's nominee for Secretary of the Commonwealth, has been defeated on a party line vote.

Does it not seem that Leighty-gate may have caused this partisan backlash?  Or is it just a coincidence that House Republicans decided to go through with previous threats to block him after backing off those threats in the last couple of weeks.

We could have our first blog "casualty" in Virginia. 

----------------

UPDATE:  By Not Larry Sabato

It's 11:40 p.m. and I just got home from Richmond. 

I interviewed Delegate Dave Albo immediately after this vote.  I asked him:

"Delegate Albo, you received, perhaps the most crossover votes in Commonwealth in any competitive House race.  Well over 10% of your district voted Kaine/Albo.  Will you be perceived by these voters as obstructing the Governor they elected you to work with?"

Albo said:

"I'm going to have to clearly explain to all my voters that LeBlanc supported giving jury duty, gun ownership and voting rights to violent felons and drug dealers.  When they learn this, voters in my district will support this decision."

Albo also described himself as "outraged" about the brisk restoration of rights under the Warner administration.

Comments

Kudos to the Republicans for growing a backbone and finally killing a nominee.

[lenny]

Republicans are going to see a backlash against this stupid move.

They are tying a rope around their necks and framing themselves without even knowing it.

[Riley, Not O'Reilly]

That's more than a backbone that was grown....

[Josh Chernila]

Thank you you beautiful radical right-wing partisan jerks.

2007 here we come.

Partisanship, thy name is Republican.

Remember LeBlanc.

[Not Jack Herrity]

Union members don't vote Republican to begin with, and union membership is on the decline already. The GOP loses nothing with this vote. It's just a reminder to the AFL-CIO that partisanship can be a two-way street.

But Josh made me laugh really hard when he suggested this would have any impact on '07 at all. Josh, name one time in recent memory that the AFL-CIO has walked the streets for a statewide Republican candidate?

NJH

Here is what I love. They just had a press conference ripping the Governor for being partisan/political on transportation. Then they pull this stunt off.

Guess they don't care about having the moral high ground.

[charles barkley]

I don't understand how the house republican leadership crying about partisanship last week with leighty and this week about being targeted by the gov, then being the first to kill a gov's cabinet nominee is going to help their case. Dems swallowed hard and voted to confirm Boyd Marcus and Ann Petera. If the MSM doesn't pick up the hipocrisy angle on this, they're blind.

[Josh Chernila]

NJH:

{look deep into my eyes}

{you are getting very sleepy}

Nobody cares about this.

Absolutely nobody...

You're 100% correct.

Republicans are just as fair and bipartisan as Democrats and ... Everyone knows it.

You will continue to believe that this will have no effect on the 2007 election...

{When I count three, you will awake refreshed and happy and you will remember none of this}

{1}

{2}

{3}

Well. Good, feeling refreshed?

they plan on confirming baskerville?

[not gretchen bulova]

Wow Josh that was an extremely space filled post.

Let's face it, the general public doesn't care. The only effect this will have is to possibiliy serve as a rallying cry for Democratic activists in '07. But I doubt it.

[Virginia Centrist]

Yeah, Josh is right. When people see Democrats in Congress rejecting someone for no good reason, Democrats look like childish idiots.

The same goes with Republicans.

Will this specific incident affect 2007? Well...Bob Gibson seems to think it will galvanize a few hundred additional union members to walk for Democrats.

Beyond that, it's just a small piece of the indictment against the Virginia GOP - particularly the House.

Add this to the GOP's other actions (stripping people of committees, primarying incumbents for one vote, trying to regulate high school clubs, voting for discrimination in the work place) and they look like children.

And those are just the things they do when they're not behind closed doors!

[Virginia Centrist]

Not Gretchen -

You're right, minimal effect on 2007. But put tons of petty actions like this together and you begin to see why voters believe the Virginia Democratic party is more mature and responsible than the Republicans. That's a subtle point, but an important one.

[ZB]

As I understand it, this represents a committee AMENDMENT to a larger bill. Since the larger bill (SJ 186, I think) has been released to the full House, there would be an opportunity for the Democrats to demand a recorded vote by the whole body on this.

[not gretchen bulova]

I believe they can motion to have his name added, but based on the committee vote it seems they would fail.

[novamiddleman]

This raises an interesting point... Do people vote based on issues (substance) or behaviors (style)?

Seems like a bit of a stretch to give NLS the credit (or blame, depending on party affiliation) for an action the House R caucus has been talking about for weeks.

[A Voter]

HAHAHA!!!

The full House has now adopted the P&E amdt. by a 55-42 vote, and adopted the amended resolution 96-0.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=061&typ=bil&val=sj186

[republican4lyf]

LeBlanc got what he deserves. He needs to go to Michigan to support union workers and stay out of my VA.

WHat has Kaine accomplished this year?

ZERO!!!

[Not Ben]

I do hope the Governor has some retribution in mind. Firing Kilgore's wife might not be a bad first step...

[A Voter]

Republican,

In all fairness, Kaine did manage to break a campaign promise after only 6 days in office. That has got to be a new record for dishonest politicians!

[Not Ben]

A Voter, if only we had upstanding racists like Chris "Africans Will F' Anything" Craddock in office. Perhaps instead of hiring union officials, he would have hired more criminals, like his campaign manager.

[william jackson]

Interesting that Bud Phillips and a few other Democrats voted the bill out of committee with the amendment to remove LeBlanc's name.

[nlb is an idiot]

died on the floor of the house idiot

No credit to NLS for this....if Leighty comes up next, then credit to NLS...LeBlanc was too partisan, and Leighty is as well. Kaine must govern from the center, thus far he has goverened from the Left. Kudos to the House Republican's for holding Kaine accountable. Hopefully Leighty is hopefully next. Kaine promised to be bi-partisan...the House is holding him accountable. We have co-equal branches of government in Virginia. The Hubris from Bill Leighty and Kaine's flat refusal to distance himself from those comments have consequences. We expect Kaine to govern consistent with his campaign rhetoric. Thus far, he has miserably failed to do that. The clock continues to tick on Leighty.

[A Voter]

Not Ben,

Those are your words, not Chris', and not even the words from the kids that the corrupt Caputo used to make up lies for him.

You seem to have some issues there, bud.

But then, your VA party is headed by an obvious liar these days, so I guess I can see how you could become so unhinged. That’s gotta be frustrating.

[B Voter]

I was there, he said it. It's hard to admit it, but he said it.

[C Voter]

This is an A-B conversation, so C your way out of it, before D and E, F you up G!

[Not Ben]

"But then, your VA party is headed by an obvious liar these days, so I guess I can see how you could become so unhinged. That’s gotta be frustrating."

Ha ha ha. Yeah, I hated winning that race. Tell Caputo I said "hi".

Republicans objected to LeBlanc's opposition to the state's right-to-work law and to his criticism of some of Virginia's biggest employers when he was state president of the AFL-CIO.

"They're going to regret it."--Gov. Tim Kaine

Why does Gov. Kaine not realize that unless he now dumps Leighty, his administration is going to become even more unhinged?

"Once a vote is taken, we will talk," Gov. Kaine said.

"Other than the himself, the secretary of the commonwealth has the greatest authority to affect policy," Del. Timothy D. Hugo, R-Fairfax, said at the committee meeting.

LeBlanc once characterized Newport News Shipbuilding as "a plantation" that exploits the right-to-work-law. Awarding a top state post to a person who holds that view could discourage businesses from locating in Virginia, he said.

[J. Sarge]

"'Other than the [Governor] himself, the secretary of the commonwealth has the greatest authority to affect policy,' Del. Timothy D. Hugo, R-Fairfax, said at the committee meeting."

If Del. Hugo actually said that, he has a woeful lack of understanding of the operations of the Executive Branch.

"LeBlanc was too partisan, and Leighty is as well. Kaine must govern from the center, thus far he has goverened from the Left. . . . Hopefully Leighty is hopefully [sic] next. Kaine promised to be bi-partisan...the House is holding him accountable. We have co-equal branches of government in Virginia."

This poster is a mindless shill. Who would be a better, more "bi-partisan" Chief of Staff? Boyd Marcus? Jay Timmons? Wadhams? Del. Cox? What idiocy.

LeBlanc will likely now be the Virginia Workforce Director. If I were Governor Kaine, I'd appoint the current head of the AFL-CIO as my SOC as soon as Session adjourned.

Thanks, J. Sarge...I am truly flattered....I will cherish your comments forver.

Try this....as an arrogant bureaucrat, Leighty made remarks at a public forum where he made reference to a vote that Sen. Devolites-Davis DID NOT CAST....clearly this must have been pre-meditated, or pre-programmed into Leighty. No one of his "stature" makes a remark like that without checking the vote roll first. Does that make Leighty a "thoughtless zombie" or a "premeditated parser of words." By your logic, you are calling the Governor's Chief of Staff a mindless shill as well. Best....Oh, by the way, I think Kaine should select a bi-partisan chief of staff...you know, so that his rhetoric matches his actions. If Kaine is unable to pick someone, maybe the House can do it for him? Kaine became unhinged today, and J. Sarge it looks like you did to. Want a tissue?

Denying LeBlanc the appointment was the bi-partisan thing to do. Gov. Kaine said he wanted to work in a bi-partisan fashion, this includes consulation of his nominees to critical positions, such as the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Gov. Kaine chose to instead follow a path of confrontation in moving forward with LeBlanc's nomination. The House Republican Caucus deserves credit here for holding Gov. Kaine accountable for his bi-partisan rhetoric. He blew off their concerns with this appointment. The House Republican Caucus looked after Virginia's best interests here, in a bi-partisan fashion also because two Democrats voted for the amendment stripping LeBlanc's name when it was voted out of committee. So, this was a Bi-partisan vote, and as usual, Gov. Kaine has an arrogant partisan response like "They'll Regret This."
Gov. Kaine is the UBER partisan here.

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

I love it. The spite and venom come full force forward, and the numbing shrills of the GOP hackery can be heard echoing across digital chambers everywhere, claiming the bipartisan mantle. This is their last desperate cry, Oh Lord, before the wrath of the voters, bent on results and constructive action (how dare they) unleash their perverted "play nice" mandate and sweep Democrat after Democrat into the Virginia House of Delegates.

"Forgive them Lord, for they know not what they are doing..."

And right in time for redistricting too!

What a day.

[Not Jack Herrity]

Last Anon, I think you've had a bit too much of the House GOP Kool Aid. Josh Chernila be damned, the point I made is that this issue won't resonate with many voters. It won't. Virginia has always been very right-to-work, with the exception of a few pockets in the Coal Country of Southwest.

But this vote is certainly not the House GOP's finest moment. Think about the ramifications of this down the road. We're slowly grinding to a halt here in Virginia, and this is just the latest symptom.

NJH

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

Exactly NJH, and all Biblical parodies aside, this ONE act will not be recalled next election day, but as has been pointed out above, the recollection will include numerous other times like this, and a general recognition that many, many Republicans in increasingly Democratic districts just don't play nice. And it's the members in those districts who behave like this, who will need to worry.

I am disappointed in Tom Rust's vote. I am sure he had to swallow some force-fed kool-aid on this one.

Good for Joe May though (did he and Parrish not vote intentionally or were they not present?).

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

I really think the Republicans could have cemented a lasting majority in Virginia if they had been much more pragmatic and business-centered, than the ideologically driven agenda they've espoused. As a Democrat, I can say thanks. But as a Virginian, I lament it.

NJH and Dogie in Mt. Vernon:

This was a bi-partisan vote that was taken in the House of Delegates, yet Gov. Kaine says that "Republicans" will regret this vote. Now, in its pureist form, this is not a bi-parisan statement from the Governor. He should of said that Democrats and Republicans will regret...that would have been an honest statement. Internal infighting amongst Democrats here, and Kaine fails to mention that in his threat...yet another sign of Dishonesty eminating from the Governor's Mansion....there has got to be a better way!!

[Not Jack Herrity]

Doug, I am told this was a caucus position. There are a couple Republicans such as Anne Crockett-Stark and Terry Kilgore whose union-heavy districts may not like their votes, but Tom Rust's district will not care which way he voted.

NJH

[Not Jack Herrity]

Last anon, for the last time - you are incorrect. This was a straight party-line vote on the House Committee amendment. There was nothing bi-partisan about it. The vote was 55-42. Not one Democrat voted for the amendment.

NJH

NJH:

Give me the bill number, so I can amend my post if necessary

[SE VA MWC Alum]

if kaine is such a hyper partisan why did he reappoint kilgore's wife?
looks to me like some only see what they choose

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

NJH, I agree on this particular issue, his district won't oust him over this, particularly since he "generally" plays nice. That doesn't mean that I am still not disappointed with him though, caucus vote or not. But there are most certainly others for whom this vote will matter, in congregate with several other ill-informed, spiteful votes, and in combination with the general failure of the GOP to deliver what Virginia, in fact, needs.

Albo, Frederick, McQuigg, Marshall, Hugo, etc. And if Callahan retires as has been speculated, forget it, that seat will be Dem.

[Not Jack Herrity]

The number is SJ186. The vote on the amendment in committee was 13-8, but this is not reflected on the Internet summary. The final vote on all the appointees with LeBlanc's name stripped out was 16-5, and this may be where you got your erroneous idea that some Dems had voted against him.

The vote in the full House was 55-42. In neither case did one Democrat vote against LeBlanc.

NJH

[Not Harry F. Byrd, Sr.]

Many Republican delegates in swing/transitioning districts needs to have some capacity to position themselves as bipartisan moderates in order to keep surviving. Albo & Frederick won by razor thin margins in their last election. They could not afford to cast this vote on the P&E Committee.

As their districts become more blue, each one of these clearly partisan/special interest votes equals one more clear mail piece, peels off another couple hundred voters, destroys their "nice guy" image by making them look vindictive, and gives the unions even more reason to focus their resources.

This was a really bad issue for the GOP Caucus to pick a fight on.

What if any benefit does the GOP Caucus derive from this action other than bragging rights? It's not like any particular Republican special interest group was lobbying for this action? It's not going to get them any donations, workers, or decent press? It's mystifying. Perhaps it's just two bulls locking horns over who's in charge and that's it, but it seems awfully pointless.

Does anyone honestly believe that Kaine would not go after Republicans anyway, regardless of this vote or not? Who are you trying to kid? The Virginia business community spoke loudly and clearly here, as did people that value the right to work without being forced to join a union. Gov. Kaine has Bill Leighty to thank or blame for this action, no one else. Kaine should withdraw Leighty's name as Chief of Staff to stop the bleeding from his adminstration. He can save face, I mean brow, and restart the relationship with the Legislature in this way. We have co-equal brances of Government in Virginia, not an Imperial Governorship.

"This action turns its back on Virginia tradition..." -Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine made this comment regarding this situation. Telling voters you will not raise taxes without a constitutional amendment during the campaign, then submitting a plan that raises taxes is HONEST? Hubris and dis-honesty are not Virginia traditions Mr. Governor! This goes for your "interim" Chief of Staff also.

[Not Jack Herrity]

Anon, who are you kidding about the business community? The Virginia Chamber of Commerce all but endorsed LeBlanc. They left the GOP with no cover whatsoever.

NJH

[Not Ben]

Not vetoing a governor's cabinet choice is a Virginia tradition.

Put another way, was Boyd Marcus really more qualified?

[J. Sarge]

"The Virginia business community spoke loudly and clearly here" - Anon 5:49

"Virginia Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive Hugh Keogh says he has no reason to believe that LeBlanc wouldn't be a competent secretary of the commonwealth." NBC12

Business did speak loud and clear. And the GOP ignored them. That is becoming a recurring habit. Remember the VAFREE rankings from a couple of years ago?

[Not Jack Herrity]

Not Ben, forget Boyd Marcus. Think Shirley Ybarra and Chip Nottingham as Virginia's top transportation officials. Their qualifications for their offices? They can both drive.

NJH

[J. Sarge]

That's not fair, NJH. Ybarra also knew how to take flights to Paris so that she could spend the night in luxury suites on the taxpayers' dime.

[Sophrosyne]

It's great to see the Republicans take a stand. LeBlanc was a horrific choice and we can trust him about as much as we can trust Timmy boy.

[WC]

Interesting assortment of commnents as usual. A couple of them really got me chuckling. Leighty, a major partisan? That's very funny indeed. He is a tough chief of staff, but that's the job description.

Nobody will remember the vote? Absolutely correct with respect to the average voter, but thank yous should go out from the VDP for galvanizing part of the base without having to lift a finger.

Gonna be an intereseting couple of months in the capital city!

JSARGE: Come on man, your credibility is ABSOLUTELY laughable on this because you just had to throw in "Virginia Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive Hugh Keogh says he has no reason to believe that LeBlanc wouldn't be a competent secretary of the commonwealth."

JSARGE SAID THE BELOW:
"Business did speak loud and clear. And the GOP ignored them. That is becoming a recurring habit. Remember the VAFREE rankings from a couple of years ago?"

Since you brought it up JSARGE, just because Hugh is co-opted, does not mean the business community in Virginia is co-opted in support of LeBlanc.

Did Hugh put up HIS decision to support LeBlanc before a vote of the membership of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce? Do you really think Hugh would win that vote JSARGE? Answer that question man, and try real hard to be honest when you do. JSARGE, do you even know if Hugh put HIS support of LeBlanc before the members of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce? If Hugh did not receive the authorization of the entire membership of the VA Chamber of Commerce, then is Hugh's support of LeBlanc really worthless? No, Hugh's support of LeBlanc really helped him out in the House today. Hey JSARGE, Hugh's THE MAN...right? And JSARGE, least you have forgotten, Did Hugh put his support of LeBlanc before the membership of the VA Chamber of Commerce?

Regarding LeBlanc, a very credible source in the House told me this today:

"If we can't trust Kaine to not raise taxes like he promised during the campaign, then how can we trust that Kaine will not rescind the right to work in VA?" You can't argue with that logic. Seems that Kaine is his own worst enemy here. He speaks with both sides of his mouth. The right side of his mouth when he is campaigning and left side now that he is TRYING to Govern. What a disappointment!!!

Has anon 2:07 been drinking? Forgotten to take medication? Slipped into hysteria? Boy, the Republicans can't seem to buy a break lately and the strain is getting to them as evidenced by the last post. Hey anon, did you happen to see the news this morning? The prez is some popular guy huh? Really inspiring confidence in the people. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Birds dey be a comin' home ta roost!
Your post of 2:11 sounds just like the campaign. Didn't work then either. Thank God the people aren't dumb like you count on them to be.

Make that 9:07 and 9:11. Don't want to furthur confuse the HOD GOP.

[The Ghost of Tom Joad]

Quite honestly this will backfire on Republicans not at the polls but for getting what they want in regards to transportation.

"Today feels like a good day to burn a bridge or two..."

http://tomjoadsplace.blogspot.com/

[Not Ben]

Interestingly enough, the best way for Kaine to satisfy his base is through a petty retaliatory act. But that in turn could jeopardize his legislative agenda. I still think that ol' Marty Kilgore should be unceremoniously booted from the Tobacco Settlement Foundation. It wouldn't harm the Commonwealth and would show the GOP that there are dire consequences to their piss poor government.

Anon 9:21 and 9:23:
Sush......You remind me of a student. So, on that operating hypothesis, take this:

Be very, very quiet. Sit in your seat like a good kid and let me teach you somehing...keep your hand down...no questions yet... Ok, here we go...I am sure you have forgotten recent history, let me refresh you: Tim Kaine said that he would not raise taxes in 2005. Now comes 2006 and he is out there trying to raise taxes. Tim Kaine said that he supports the right to work in VA in 2005. Strike one got by without folks believing it. Strike two is LeBlanc. We're not Gonna Take Another Stike young man....Now its time for your music lesson: Let's sing a song by Twisted Sister: "We aint gonna take it...NO, WE AIN'T GONNA TAKE IT, WERE NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE...Now go ahead and sing the rest of the song for me. The lesson is over, put your hand down and go on to your next class.

Well 9:37,
revising history isn't working so well anymore, is it?
Question: What did one House GOP member say to another?
Answer:
Reality sucks!

From reading this thread, I get the impression that very few of you have any clue what the Secretary of the Commonwealth does. Go here to find out:

http://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/index.cfm

[ZB]

I love the right-wing anonymous poster(s) who seem to expect us to believe that somehow the Governor and his Secretary of the Commonwealth can overturn the right-to-work law by executive fiat.

Perhaps the imperial Presidency of King George the Second has lead some Republicans to assume that executives can do whatever the please even if it violates the law passed by a legislature. Alas, no.

[Rodney]

This vote has no upside for the Republicans and lots of negatives. The first casulty of this vote is Thelma Drake, not Danny LeBlanc. Phil Kellam's grass roots and fund-raising efforts are the real winners today.

Bring it on....

[Too Conservative]

I dont like when my own party is hypocritical.

We should not have voted him down...

this was Kaine's choice.

Please explain, Rodney, about Drake being the first casualty with this.

As partisan as people said the Andrews/Cranwell/Diamonstein/Moss team was, they never denied a cabinet appointment to Jim Gilmore or George Allen. This is a slap in the face for no other reason than to create a partisan environment in Richmond and create gridlock on key issues like transportation.

The Howell/Griffith team should hang their heads in shame for their actions today. It will be a mistake they will not forget in 2007.

[J. Sarge]

On the update:

Bard Marrs also tried to make rights restoration an issue. Look where that got him.

Albo is desperately trying to do anything he can to insulate himself, and this might be the best angle, but it's still weak. Will Governor Kaine's next appointee not restore the civil rights to nonviolent felons who have paid their debt to society and gotten the approval of their circuit judges and their Commonwealth Attorneys' offices?

Oh, by the way Del. Albo, gun rights are not restored along with civil rights. Those can only be restored by a pardon from the Governor (rarely given) or from a circuit judge. Del. Albo is the Chair of the Courts of Justice Committee. I would have thought that he would have known that.

[Tom James]

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
Mohandas Gandhi

[Josh Chernila]

I would have thought that Del. Albo would have actually READ the legislation he introduced in 2004 to fine rather than jail pedophiles.

Josh:

Dave Albo is being consistent here. While he FAVORS letting pedophiles roam the streets searching for children, he DOES NOT FAVOR allowing them to bear arms.

[JR]

Rodney,
How does state politics have anything to do with a congressional race? Please, enlighten me. Guilt by association? Whatever.

[Not Ben]

It is the height of hypocrisy for Dave Albo, the drunk driver's finest advocate, to pontificate on rights for felons.

As for Drake, it probably affects her in terms of base motivation and labor dollars. The 2nd district is the only competitive race in Virginia this cycle and if I were LeBlanc, I would want to make the GOP rue the day they voted him down as soon as possible. His ability to direct labor dollars affords him such an opportunity. It is by no means a guarantee that he will seize the opportunity or that he would be successful in knocking that empty suit off of her perch, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him try.

What the hell is Dave Albo talking about?

And doesn't he realize that Mark Warner restored felons rights and it didn't phase his 75% approval rating in Albo's district?

[Hans Bader]

Dave Albo gave a concise, sensible, easy-to-understand explanation for voting against LeBlanc. Too bad many of his colleagues haven't.

When a governor restores a felon's "rights," at the behest of his Commonwealth Secretary, that includes not just voting rights, but also the right to serve on juries and the right to wield a gun.

Juries make life and death decisions. Do you really want a felon on a jury in a case involving a violent crime akin to the one the felon engaged in?

Do you really want a felon's right to wield a gun being restored to him?

Albo's argument is much better than the arguments other legislators that he should be defeated because of his opposition to the State's right-to-work law (which is relevant, but not necessarily dispositive, since LeBlanc's position would not involve enforcing the right-to-work law) or his past employment as a labor leader (which is not very relevant at all).

[J. Sarge]

"When a governor restores a felon's 'rights,' at the behest of his Commonwealth Secretary, that includes not just voting rights, but also . . .the right to wield a gun."

That is not correct, Mr. Bader. A restoration of civil rights is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for wielding a firearm. That right can only be restored by a full pardon from the Governor (rarely granted) or at the discretion of a circuit court judge.

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

But Hans, the reasons he gave have absolutely nothing to do with the vote on an appointment. His argument would not be valid. Felons don't get selected to serve on juries, and so long as common sense gun laws remain on the books unless kooks like Albo vote to repeal them, felons who attempt buy guns would be prevented from doing so by automatic background checks.

We do prevent felons from purchasing guns don't we? Just because someone has their voting rights restored does not mean record of felony conviction is wiped from one's record. And correct me if I'm wrong, but that might also prevent someone from being seated on a jury.

What a load. This guy cannot defend his actions or votes with rational discourse.

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

And I have to agree with the above posters. It seems a tad odd that letting people who've paid their debt to society, or who were falsely convicted, to vote again, would provoke outrage, whereas fining pedophiles instead of jailing them would not.

What is this guy's deal? I remember when I attended the West Springfield Civic Association debate between Albo and Greg Werkheiser. I had never seen or met Dave Albo before that night, and I was immediately struck at how angry and spiteful his tone was. And when he spoke about illegal immigrants, it was almost as if he would get up on a chair and scream. Very incendiary speech from Del. Albo.

I guess that's the way he works. That and being bought off by every shady lobby group in Virginia.

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

Great quote, Tom James.

[Julia]

Albo's answer was concise and direct and something most people in his district will agree with.

Whether it is a true and accurate statement is another matter altogether.

Only a few insiders are going to dissect what he said and look for the "truth". It is unlikely that a newspaper will do it either - or that many people would even read it if they did.

So, Albo's got the answer that every Republican should be using and that John Q. Public will buy, if the Republicans want to come off looking like they've just saved the Commonwealth.

Since when has truth mattered to either party? Say what makes you look noble and righteous and the public will love you for it.

[not gretchen bulova]

Interesting reasoning on Albo's part. It's a poor attempt to cover the tracks of what was a purely political move.

Why not just be honest and say we didn't like him? This was payback for the Governor being an ass.

[A Voter]

NGB,

That was honest. Remember, Kaine is the liar, not Albo.

[not gretchen bulova]

I never said Kaine didn't lie about the tax increase. But Albo voted against leBlanc because his party asked him to as retribution, no reason to hide that.

[A Voter]

NGB,

Do you have any actual proof to support your claim that this was the primary reason for his vote... or is this simply Willis-esk wishful thinking, that always puts Republicans in the poorest light possible?

[Not Harry F. Byrd, Sr.]

The only reason Dave Albo survived his last election was because:

- He grew up in that district and people think he's a nice guy; and
- The value of incumbency - he might be able to bring home some bacon.

His nice guy image is being slowly destroyed by engaging in this type of partisan sniping. Albo needs to distance himself from the right wing of his party like Dillard if he wants to survive. His demagouging of:

a) illegal immigrants,
b) taxes,
c) Jim Dillard,
d) labor, and
e) now the VERY PEOPLE he makes a living defending in Court, convicted criminals,

is the Dick Black strategy of "success" and is slowly undermining his re-election. People are tired of that in Northern Virginia and the masses of commuters moving into the affordable housing in southern Fairfax County don't buy it. His district is no longer full of semi-affulent, conservative, ex-urbanites. It's like eastern Loudoun - racially diverse families stuck in traffic he's done nothing to fix.

As for his ability to bring home the bacon, Albo, as Chair of Courts of Justice, couldn't even bring a Court of Appeals judgeship home, yet keeps ranting (says he's going to have a "conniption") about readjusting funding formulas to increased Northern Virginia's transportation revenues.

His inability to accomplish anything FOR HIS CONSTITUTUENTS (as opposed to his special interest buddies), coupled with the PILES of special interest money he has accepted ($50K from alcohol industry, #2 in tobacco money, #1 in money from the folks trying to buy the Dulles Toll Road), only compounds his image problem that he has lost touch with his district.

Dave Albo is moving up to #1 on the most vulnerable list. This quote makes clear that he has taken nothing from the close call in his last election. Nothing.

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

I believe that Kaine said he would not raise taxes until the constitution locked down tax monies raised specifically for the transportation fund. That bill went no where. Why? Ask yourself that.

What you stupid rabid people who keep screaming about his "lie" fail to realize, is that TRAFFIC SUCKS. Just like the voters may not remember the LeBlanc vote, they're also not going to remember OR care about Kaine reneging on his pledge on taxes for roads if it actually improves the situation for everyday commuters, and they start to see some of the construction projects happening that should have been happening 5-10 years ago.

When you nuts who don't want government to do what most people want it to do realize this, we'll all be better for it.

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

And A Voter, saying Albo is not a liar is like saying there is no greenhouse effect.

[not gretchen bulova]

Harry F. Byrd, Sr. makes some excellent points.

A voter - you are assuming Albo isn't lying, I'm assuming he is. That's why I don't believe him.

[A Voter]

Doug & NGB,

Good. I was just hoping to identify if you had anything of substance for this discussion, or if this was simply more mindless, liberal, anti-republican banter. Thank you for clarifying the issue for me!

[not gretchen bulova]

Seems you have the same to offer.

Why does "A Voter" keep identifying himself as "A Voter" when his name has already been revealed. Kind of makes you look foolish, "A Voter". Why don't you just call yourself "A Partisan Insider" because you're not just "a voter".

[Not Jack Herrity]

Doug, Kaine lied. He said no new taxes UNTIL the trust fund is locked. It's not, but he's talking taxes. That's breaking a campaign promise.

NJH

Well, until Kaine signs off on new taxes it's not really a lie.

But, if he said something like "I won't even discuss tax rates until... x, y, and z happen" - and assuming x, y, and z haven't happened, then, yes, he'd be lying.

Short of that scenario, just talking about raising taxes is an entirely different ballgame than actually raising them.

Parsing words - sure - but that's the name of the game in the 21st century it seems.

[Not Ben]

For reference sake, here are the recent Secretaries of the Commonwealth, none of whom were any less partisan than LeBlanc nor as closely tied to their party's ideals:

Stanford E. Parris
1978

Frederick T. Gray, Jr.
1978–1981

Marilyn Lussen, acting
1981–1982

Laurie Naismith
1982–1985

H. Benson Dendy III
1985–1986

Sandra D. Bowen
1986–1990

Pamela M.Womack
1990–1993

Scott Bates
1993

Penelope Anderson, acting
1993–1994

Betsy Davis Beamer
1994–1998

Anne P. Petera
1998–2002

Anita A. Rimler
2002-2005

[A Voter]

If they were confirmed, then I'm going to have to disagree with you there, Not Ben.

[Not Ben]

Anne Petera served as RPV Treasurer while Secy., and Penny Anderson and Pam Womack each work/have worked for various official bodies of the Democratic Party. Betsy Beamer is/was Allen's cash consigliere.

But somehow it's LeBlanc who should be the first cabinet pick voted down. I wonder if Del. Reid (R-Henrico) still believes that "tradition has allowed governors to nominate those who will further their agendas" as he did in Becky Norton Dunlop's confirmation.

[not gretchen bulova]

excellent points Not Ben. Probably past A voters bed time though

[Not Ben]

Hell, Scott Bates was only 26 years old when he was Secretary of the Commonwealth.