Should Gerry Resign?- UPDATE

The calls for his resignation grow!

UPDATE:  Perseverando disagrees and says Gerry should not resign.

Comments

[Dannyboy]

That thing with the School Boards of DWJ is pretty disturbing. He has the funds, but just won't give them to the schools?

This is silly. These are the kinds of reasons we have elections.

Accepting bribes, contacting minors for sex on the internet, poker and prostitute parties, that's the kind of stuff resignations are for.

NLs -you are the king of all Virginia bloggers but this seems like some kind of lazy, half-hearted post.

I'll chalk this up to your illness. Keep getting well.

[Melissa]

I agree with Anon 5:43. This really is a lazy sort of post. Also, what is this- two or three people calling for his resignation? Hardly a mighty Anti-Gerry Army.

Kristen and I sent you an email.

[Not Impressed]

well, it did look like some kind of inner ear to the brain illness..??
But everyone already knows Ben hates Marsden, Gerry, and a host of other local Dems for not kissing his ass. No news here.

[Bubby]

So what happened to "lay off Gerry"? Or was that so 24 hours ago?

No, he should not resign. As a public official, he should be publically ridiculed for his poor judgement.

If stupid was a criterium we would be looking for a new President - months ago. And the VP would be facing reckless endangerment charges. The bar is low.

[James E. Martin]

I Heart Gerry Connolly...

not impressed and buddy hit it right on the nose...

[NoVA Moderate]

I noted the WTOP and WP qualifiers last night on Gerry's statements. This is, perhaps, a case of poor judgement. One would certainly want to have all the facts before calling for resignations or anything. For that matter, I'm not sure this is anything other than an embarassing slip. Remember, the Governor of WV announced that all those miners survived to their families and had to walk that back. This is very minor compared with that.

[Not Jack Herrity]

Ben, this is disgraceful. You should remember that not everything is a political issue. Sometimes it really is about a wife and mother of two who lost her life while trying to keep you and me safe. If you want to use a tragedy as an excuse to pick on Connolly, at least wait until this poor woman has been laid to rest.

NJH

[Not Larry Sabato]

NJH, I am linking to a respected blogger's opinion. I am not taking the same position, period.

[Melissa]

Yeah, I think we all know why you "respect" him, Ben, dearheart.

You have a well known history for not liking Gerry, anyone who regularly reads this blog would assume that you took the same stance. If I were you, I would have noted that you were "not taking the same position, period," in the actual post.

Cheers,
Mel

[Not Larry Sabato]

I link to things all the time I don't agree with.

[Not Larry Sabato]

For the record, my position is that Connolly acted in a horrible manner in releasing her name, but I'm not calling on him to resign.

[George Templeton]

Since I am not sure there is a Republican who can win that election next time, can we get Kate Hanley drafted to run and become county chairwoman again?

[NoVA Moderate]

Ben- you've posted lots of links before with your comments, such as "there is no place for this in Virginia politics" so that we clearly know your opinion. You didn't do that in this case. In fact, you were dinging on Connolly for being a "press whore" before it was even announced that an oficer had been killed.

You don't come out of this one clean, even if Gerry did make a mistake.

[Not Larry Sabato]

I balanced the story with the first person who disagreed. Better now?

[notnotnotnotnot Ken Cuccinelli]

Is there a possible primary coming? Anyone in "the know" know?

[Impressed]

For all you Miller haters out there...

In just the last few days, Harris Miller has picked up an additional 6 endorsements from current and former General Assembly Democrats.

Yesterday, Harris announced the endorsements of 3 Northern Virginia Delegates - Del. Adam Ebbin, Del. Bob Brink and Del. Mark Sickles. Today, Harris is proud to receive the endorsements of State Sen. Mamie Locke, who was also the first woman and the first African American mayor of Hampton, and former Del. Albert Pollard from the Northern Neck. Tomorrow, General Assembly members Del. Chuck Caputo and Sen. Mark Herring, both from Loudoun County, will join the growing list of Virginia Democrats who know that Harris Miller is the best candidate to take on George Allen and bring real change for Virginia's families in Washington.

Read what the endorsers say about Harris's record as a Democrat we can count on:

"We need a leader who can bring real-world business experience and a deep knowledge of the issues to reverse the irresponsible policies of George Allen and the Bush Administration," said Del. Sickles. "I know Harris, I've worked with him and campaigned with him, and he will bring that change to the U.S. Senate."

"I know how hard Harris Miller will work for opportunity, fairness, and equality for all Virginians," said Del. Ebbin. "With his knowledge of the issues and his business background, Harris is the best candidate to defeat George Allen this November."

"Harris Miller is a Virginia Democrat we can count on," said Del. Brink. "He has stood up for Democratic values year in and year out, and he will be a real partner for us in Washington. Harris is taking the fight to George Allen, and we can trust him to stand up for all Virginians as Senator."

"I am proud to endorse Harris Miller for the U.S. Senate," said Senator Locke. "His leadership, commitment to Democratic principles and ideals, and knowledge and experience on issues ranging from education to health care to foreign policy, all make him the right choice to be our next U.S. Senator. His message of real change and fiscal responsibility will appeal to citizens throughout the Commonwealth. For these reasons, Harris Miller is the only candidate who can beat George Allen this year."

"As someone who comes from a modest background, Harris knows that government can play a positive role in people's lives. As a businessman, Harris knows full well that not everything the government does is actually helpful," said former Del. Albert Pollard. Thus, in the tradition of the Virginia Democratic Party, I believe he will strike that critical balance between protecting vital services and keeping runaway government spending in check - Harris Miller is the candidate I trust to bring the Virginia Democratic way to Washington."

[Greg Bouchillon]

I'd like to comment on these comments. I notice no one is really addressing the fact of what Gerry Connolly did, except some half-hearted attempts as justifying it as a mistake.

If Gerry Connolly makes mistakes like this, he has no place in running government. I was very disgusted by this and stand by my call for his resignation, or at least an investigation to determine if he violated policy.

If the rest of you think it's no big deal, I guess you really don't care that without the decency of the press, the family could have found out through the local media. That's not cool, but it seems you guys are ok with calling it a mistake.

I'm personally concerned with the blogger's way of thinking, in that we should stand by our candiddate, no matter how he stinks. Not fully funding education so you can fund pet projects, being a media whore and releasing a fallen officer's name to the press before checking to make sure the family had been notified?

Tha'ts not poor judgement, that's serving your own needs first.

[NoVA Moderate]

I am no fan of Gerry's on way or another, but the only people I see calling for his "resignation" are those who already hate his guts. That strikes me as political opportunism. I seriously doubt you would be doing this if any other, boring, random, non-Connolly, non-Marsden sort of person said something inappropriate. If I actually thought you cared about this family as opposed to scoring political points on Gerry Connolly, it still wouldn't be the right call.

For that matter, it isn't really clear what Gerry said, other than that the Post and WTOP stated that he had identified an officer and that they were not reporting the name. It is entirely possible that the family had been informed, but WTOP and the Post were just verifying it. Perhaps we should find out what the real story is and see if he owes an apology?

The hit he takes for this (if any) is in the polls, not for a resignation. For that matter, what qualifies for a resignation? I didn't see anyone calling for that Delegate to resign when he shot his bulletproof vest in the Capital and he could have actually killed someone.

[NoVA Moderate]

OK, let's go back to the tape:

http://notlarrysabato.typepad.com/doh/2006/04/fairfax_scandal.html#comments

Hey, another example of NLS using human tragedy to take a shot at Gerry Connolly.

Is this a trend?

[Not Larry Sabato]

NoVA Moderate- I called on Reid to resign over the shot in Richmond

NLS is right on the mark on this one, just ask any Fairax County Police officer what they think. Stay tuned.