Attention Washington Post

The Post officially knows nothing about Virginia:

"In the coming weeks, The Post's editorial board will be weighing its endorsement in the Virginia gubernatorial race. But why should we be the only ones? Make the case for your candidate in 200 words or less, and e-mail it to letters@washpost.com with "My Endorsement" in the subject line. Include your party registration, if any, as well as how you voted in Virginia's last governor's race."

You guys cover TWO states (Maryland and Virginia) plus one city and you still can't get basic stuff right?  WE DON'T HAVE PARTY REGISTRATION IN VIRGINIA.  I'd call it pathetic, but it's probably better to reserve that term for Anita Kumar's behavior in the press room at the most recent Virginia Governor's debate...

Comments

[Stonewall Brigade]

Your blog post about Anita is out of bounds, you should stick to the issues and avoid personal attacks.

[Church Hill Dem]

That is kind of lame. I suspect they mean to identify yourself if you're a member of a party committee or something, but it's still put poorly.

[kelley in virginia]

the WaPo will get more letters from left leaning people than right leaning people. that is a given.

so why are we even talking about it?

[Mr. GOP]

(Yawn)...guess all the endorsements for Bob last week, NOVA Chamber, Tidewater Chamber, and FOP has left Ben with little to talk about.

Ben could always refer back to his reference to Deeds' campaign as the "Deliverance Tour", I suppose, and remind folks of his “Macaca Moment”…

[DanielK]

FOP? Give me a break....Those idiots, (Yes, Idiots) note that they actively support collective bargaining for public safety personnel but then they go out and endorse a statewide ticket that has made collective bargaining public enemy #1. If anyone needed anymore proof that the FOP are bunch of partisan hacks then they got it with this series of endorsements!

[Rowhey]

Your failure to mention any of those endorsements mentioned in Mr. GOP's post or your failure to even discuss Doug Wilder's refusal to endorse Deeds suggests to many that are in state of depression caused by the Redskins' poor showing. I hope your failure to discuss what has been some of the most important political news of the season doesn't suggest that your blog is becoming irrelevant. In the past, despite your Dem leanings, you have shown a flair for balance.

[Old Dominion Dem]

This is a great move on your part. I mean, what could be smarter than pissing off a writer at the Washington Post and giving her the impression that left-of-center bloggers are cranky, nasty malcontents? And to boot, this mistake that she made was truly egregious. I'll be it really proves something, too. Bravo I say, Bravo. Why don't you follow up by firing a salvo at the rest of the editorial boards in the Commonwealth?

[Edthemanva]

Marion Barry for Mayor
Washington Post Editorial
August 30, 1978
You will know by now if you have been reading our editorials on the Democratic primary for mayor, that we think someone should replace Walter Washington, and that the choice comes down, as a practical matter, to one between City Council Chairman Sterling Tucker and Council Member Marion Barry. Which should it be?

Our strong belief is that it should be Marion Barry.

I think this says it all

[Not John S. Mosby]

This is a slip on Anita's part but the problem is, she's had a ton of them. Pure sloppiness on her part, like calling the VEA a union, that kind of thing.

[Joe Schmo]

The VEA is a union.

[Huh?]

Last I checked, VEA was still a union.

I will have to check my paper, but I thought the Post requested party and not party . Maybe they caught it in a later edition. Or I just read the correct word into it.

[Huh?]

Okay, I learned something useful about brackets. As in, don't use them.

I thought the post requested party AFFILIATION and not party REGISTRATION. Those words got cut out.

Maybe I could get a job as an editor at the Post. LMAO.

[DanielK]

Correct, VEA is the largest teachers union in the state.

[Not John S. Mosby]

The VEA is not a union. It's an assocation. School employees in Virginia cannot unionize, there is no collective bargaining.

[Congratulations to Governor-Elect McDonnell!!]

Shouldn't we all be speculating about Governor-Elect McDonnell's agenda and who will be in his cabinet? This race is over.

[Congratulations to Governor-Elect McDonnell!!]

I just hope that Governor-Elect McDonnell will cleanup the mess our part-time "Governor" Chairman Kaine left for him.

[change]

Speaking of the VEA, are they supporting the memorization (by our children) of the new theme song for our supreme leader like the schools in NJ?

Also, I just heard that over 70 law enforcement groups have just endorsed Cuccinelli.

Finally, can any liberal tell me why the democrats refuse to post the health care legislation for a measly 72 hours before the vote, but they are delaying, for months, the generals request for more assets in Afghanistan, thereby killing American soldiers (our kids)?

I am trying to understand the liberal mindset. HELP

[Republicans say the darnedest things]

I see the young troll is back. Perhaps we should all support the proposal to lengthen the school day. That would keep children like Congrats occupied.

When you grow up you will learn to never assume victory in a political campaign. If you doubt this, just ask George Allen.

[Congratulations to Governor-Elect McDonnell!!]

Just ask the awful campaign George Allen ran.

McDonnell has run a flawless campaign, while Karl Childers--er, I mean, Creigh Deeds, has floundered.

[Congratulations to Governor-Elect McDonnell!!]

You liberals might even have to say "President McDonnell" within the next ten years!

[Gretchen Laskas]

Sorry, Change. As someone who considered people over the age of 18 to be adults, I won't use the term "kids" when I refer to soldiers in Iraq. I doubt that they would use it to describe themselves, either. Especially the ones who are well over 30.

Unless, of course, you're pulling a McDonnell and saying that writing a thesis at 34 is a "youthful indiscretion."

But liberal or conservative, history is littered with commanding officers being wrong about what is needed on the battlefield. (Too bad we can't ask Lincoln about McClellan, for istance.) That doesn't mean that McCrystal is right or wrong, or that Biden (or another dissenting view is right or wrong) but taking one side exclusively never has worked out well historically.

[Brian W. Schoeneman]

DanielK, Deeds doesn't support collective bargaining for police either. At least, he doesn't right now. That seems to change depending on which staffer fills out the questionnaire.

So since both sides disagree with it (I happen to support it, go figure) that lets the FOP make the decision on other criteria, which they did. That's their prerogative. Nothing stupid about supporting a candidate who has clearly been supportive of police and public safety issues.

[Congratulations to Governor-Elect McDonnell!!]

Hey Gretchen, Deeds already has lost. The turning point has passed. Bookmark it, McDonnell is the Governor-Elect in November. Karl Childers can't stop him.

[Congratulations to Governor-Elect McDonnell!!]

BTW, change is by far the smartest person on this blog. He should start his own blog with his incredibly brilliant observations about state, national, and international policy. He's so smart.

[DanielK]

Brian S, I can speak from first hand experience that Creigh does, whether it be collective bargaining or even meet and confer. He won't get in the way of any legislation that provides those rights to public safety. In fact, if you listen to Cooch's video to the FOP towards the end he says that he supports collective bargaining for public safety. That FOP fiasco was the result the the executive board down there realizing that they had to endorse a Democrat for the first time in God knows how long. (Warner doesn't count because Gilmore was a joke) They set up a trick bag on Creigh and unfortunately he fell into it.

The FOP bases their endorsement on their member's political ideologies. Sadly, by doing that they begin to lose credibility with other organizations that actually stay true to their principles. You can't support collective bargaining and support the McD, Boll, Cooch ticket if you want to be seen as a credible collective bargaining supporter.

If many law enforcement knew about the shit Republicans pulled in regards to basic rights law enforcement, particularly deputy sheriffs they would puke their guts out. I don't see any Republicans pushing to have deputies included under the Law Enforcement Officers Procedural Guarantee Act, it's actually Democrats (Del. David Possion to be specific) shows who really supports law enforcement. You can't be tough on crime without being smart on crime and if our first responders don't have basic administrative rights and protections then they can't effectively do their jobs.

But of course, what do I know....It's not like I work in the field already, oh wait!

[Congratulations to Governor-Elect McDonnell!!]

DanielK, get ready to say "Welcome, Governor-Elect McDonnell!"

I'm sure change would agree with me.

[Brian W. Schoeneman]

DanielK, I don't see how you can blame the local FOP execs for Deeds saying one thing to the FOP and another to the Sheriff's Association. That was his mistake, not theirs. The fact that his staff doesn't know what they're doing is still a reflection on him.

I may not be a cop, but the union I represented had a number of law enforcement affiliates and I worked with Jim Pasco and Chuck Canterbury while I was at Labor. The fact that the local guys are Republican and endorsed the Republican when they were getting mixed signals from Deeds is perfectly fine - I've seen similar things happen on the other side of the aisle, like when the Ohio AFL-CIO supported a Democratic challenger to the most union friendly Republican in the state (and arguably in the Congress) simply because he was a Democrat.

I mean, honestly, the fact that Deeds seems to think that collective bargaining rights are synonymous with the right to strike should raise your eyebrows, shouldn't it?

[James Young]

Anybody who thinks the WaPo is going to endorse McDonnell has been imbibing too many adult beverages, or other mind-altering substances.

[Congratulations to Governor-Elect McDonnell!!]

JY, of course they won't endorse McDonell, they're a maxi-lib newspaper. But Governor-Elect McDonnell WILL win Northern Virginia, winning Loudoun, Prince William, and Fairfax County could go either way. Probably within the margin of error.

[DanielK]

The right to collective bargain for law enforcement does not include the option to strike. Of course you saying that does show you haven't worked in law enforcement. Believe it not we do have ethics and striking and not showing up to work is completely against what we stand for. The problem is that you and I both know that if he came out in complete support of collective bargaining you all would have went after him for the "ability to strike" option that's usually included. The VSA is usually the thorn in the side of working deputy sheriff's throughout the Commonwealth. I'll admit it, Deeds walked into a trap at the VSA and the FOP. Personally, I think he was wasting his time going to see them because they were going to back the Republican no matter what Deeds said. The amount of backlash the executive board would have received if they supported a Democrat would have been overwhelming.

We can both agree that for whatever reason the law enforcement field is very conservative even though they supposedly support initiatives that are backed and furthered by Democrats. Either way, the Republicans are once again playing the public for fools with their supposed "strong support for law enforcement". Like I said, as a deputy sheriff, knowing that a criminal has more rights than I do if I was accused of wrong doing is pretty said realizing the "strong on crime" party would throw me under the bus if necessary.

[change]

Gretch,
Maybe you don’t have children. When our family uses the term “kids” it defines all of our children be they 1 or 100.
My post did not propose to rush any decision regarding the needs for war fighting in order to give “our kids” the best opportunity to survive.
I was making an analogy to the fact that the democrats will not accept any bill regarding health care being placed on the internet for a measly 72 hours before a vote(so that we voters might read it). Their reasoning is that it is too important and that it would cause undue delay.
Juxtapose that with the “urgent” request for equipment and manpower to protect our military personnel, which has been sitting stagnant for one month and likely longer because Obambi does not want to have to address the situation. He does not want to upset the leftistas, by sending more troops, he does not want to upset the right by sending too little help.
Bottom line is that he is procrastinating on making one of the most important decisions a president can make; which might be ok if except that this equivocation is costing our kids lives.
He needs to grow a pair and make a decision, that is what leaders are placed to do, if he cant handle it he should step down and let goofball Biden or Grandma Pelosi decide. (I am sure either of them could lose this war for us in short order).
This job has only been easy for Obambi when he is reading his teleprompter. Now comes the time when the rubber meets the road and a leader needs to step up.
This administration cries “crisis” on every issue they want to deal with and when thy find themselves in a real “crisis” they run as fast as they can in the other direction.

It is not what we hired them to do, and it is not the markings of a true leader.

He might have the title, the troops will salute the office, but he needs to prove that he is a man.

and dannie K, when you attempt to speak for law enforcement you know not of which you speak. Maybe you should check out who voted for all those laws that give criminals rights, then get back with us.

[DanielK]

First off, I have no problems with criminals having rights. The constitution doesn't get in the way of me doing my job and putting and keeping them behind bars. Deputy sheriffs are the most underrepresented law enforcement officers in this state because few representatives are willing to stand up to organizations like the VSA who don't want their deputies having rights because they like their ability to fire at will and without cause.

I can't speak for other organizations that I don't represent but I don't know why a deputy who has the same responsibilities as a regular county police officer doesn't have the same administrative rights? Actually, I know that answer.

[truthnjustice]

Change & Congratulations -- I'll take humility and hard work over your haughtiness, arrogance and overconfidence any day of the week!

Keep on celebrating all the way till November, yell in your ideological echochamber all you will.

The polls are consistently showing Deeds gaining ground, even Fox News is showing up Taliban Bob's extreme agenda, and Democratic voters are becoming highly motivated

Spare us the partisan tripe and we'll see you after the votes are counted and see who actually gets to pop the corks on the champagne

[Edthemanva]

you can Deeds on youtube saying he supports collective bargaining..from a debate held before the democratic party primary.

[James Young]

Uh, Daniel, there is no "right" to bargain collectively. There's even a Supreme Court case that says so.

So, to be clear: we're not talking about a "right," we're talking about policy. Even if it were a good idea --- it's not, since it gives government employees a preferred status in the debate over the allocation of scarce public resources --- it does not necessary require MONOPOLY bargaining, which merely gives unions POWER over employees who may not want union "representation." Of course, what labor bosses seek is power, so they are staunch advocates for monopoly bargaining.

[Kevin in Arlington]

The 3 latest polls show the spread between McDonnell and Deeds within the margin of error. That's the story that apparently a few trolls on this blog have missed.

The FOP and Chamber of Commerce coming out for a GOP candidate is pretty "dog-bites-man" if you ask me. In previous places where I lived, I noticed a trend of firefighters' associations backing Dems, while FOP's trend more towards the GOP. Does that generally pan out in VA as well?

Likewise VEA endorsing a Democrat is pretty standard. People are right that VEA is more of an association than a "union". People who disagree should go to my home state of NJ, where the NJEA wields a great deal of power.

McDonnell has run a nice campaign so far. Coming out early with "plans" - foolish, Dead on Arrival plans for transportation and education I may add - gave him a rhetorical edge. But that's been washed away in the minds of many NOVA voters by the thesis.

It remains to be seen if Deeds' exposing some of those holes especially in education funding (these are the Deeds TV ads I've seen up here) can win over some more independents.

It also remains to be seen how well Deeds can get new VA voters (many of whom voted for Obama) to come out in a statewide race they may not know much about.

Chest-thumping aside, this is a close race.

[Brian W. Schoeneman]

DanielK, you missed my point - I know that the right to collectively bargain doesn't include the right to strike, and I know very well that public service employees like police and firefighters (and teachers in some places) can't strike. My point was that Deeds doesn't seem to understand that.

Here's the quote from the Post article: "ad_icon

A spokesman said Deeds supports "meet and confer" laws that give public safety workers the right to negotiate job security, wages and workplace safety but not collective bargaining because it would carry with it the right to strike.

"Public safety is too important a responsibility to allow for a potential disruption in service," Leopold said. "He doesn't support collective bargaining that infers the right to strike."

Collective bargaining doesn't infer the right to strike, especially where it's specifically precluded by law. The fact that Deeds (or his spokespeople) seem to think it does should make you question whether he even has a remote grasp on this issue.

I actually lobbied for a bill in Congress that my colleagues at the IAFF were pushing that would have ensured police and firefighters had the right to at least meet and confer.

The point here is that both Deeds and McDonnell seem to have the same stance on that issue, so it shouldn't have been a factor in the endorsement.

As for supporting police, that's something that crosses party lines - both sides will support and both sides will criticize, and they often do it without learning all of the facts, as we saw with President Obama and the Gates issue.

Unless you've got some specific instance where McDonnell stuck it to cops that you think should override the FOP endorsement, I don't see a glaring contradiction there.

[Gretchen Laskas]

I think there is a reasonable interpretation that McDonnell peaked too early and that Deeds may (once again) peak very late. Not that this makes it easy or fun for any of their supporters!

Back in 2005, even as big of a Kaine supporter as I was, I was pretty convinced that we were going to lose (and handily) until about the middle of October. At that point, I started entertaining the possibility (but not the probability) that we might win. It wasn't until election day that I thought, you know, we really could win!

So if you want to start the celebration of McDonnell's win now, feel free. It may be the only celebration you get to have!

[change]

Gretch,
You are correct, the election is not over until the votes are counted.
I still believe that the extremism of the liberals, particularly in DC will have an effect on this election.
We see continued pursuit of government health care even after it is proven that the vast majority of Americans disagree. We see the most “transparent” administration, hiding everything they do.
We now see the lack of support for our military; I find it incredulous that Obama has time to try to sell Obamacare on multiple TV shows and finds time to spend with David Letterman and Oprah, but has only talked with HIS General in Afghanistan once in since he has taken the job.

Unless these things go away in the next month, and the candidates in VA separate themselves from these folks, voters will have this in mind come election day, even if there is nothing they can do about it.

Not providing any plans to tackle our problems leads people to believe that they will be snookered into bad ideas in VA as they have been in DC.
True or not it is a belief that should either keep democrat supporters at home, or have them reevaluate their past positions.

Of course the rabid leftists will still turn out (as will the right), but those are not the people who win elections. It is the middle voters (which the democrats have recently lost in droves) that will tilt the scales.

[change]

tnj

"The polls are consistently showing Deeds gaining ground"

I suppose you have not gotten this info.

"The latest News 7 Survey USA poll has McDonnell ahead of Democrat Creigh Deeds by 14 percentage points, with 55 percent of the vote to 41 percent.

but that is ok, probably just an outlier.

btw, here is a verse from the supreme leader song your kids are learning:

"Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said red, yellow, black or white
All are equal in his sight
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama"

Be sure to take your blue pill tonight, and give one to your kids.

lmao, I could not even make this stuff up in my wildest dreams.

[Congratulations to Governor-Elect McDonnell!!]

Only a five more weeks until Governor-Elect McDonnell, libs!

Hey change, when will you start your own blog? You're so brilliant!

[Sam]

change-

Read up on the Survey USA party sampling. Way off from every other organization, so yes, it is an outlier.

And I suppose you also want to condemn the school children being forced to sing praise of President Bush in New Orleans?

[truthnjustice]

Sam said it all -- survey USA's sampling is WAY OFF and it is an outlier both in methodology and results

But believe them if you want too -- in fact if you'll work less hard for your extremist ticket and spam us a lot less go ahead and mainline the Kool-Aid!

[Moderate By Nature]

This and the awesome 'endorsement' by Sophia Nelson go hand in hand.

What a bunch of idiots, you have every right to make fun of somebody who doesn't know the law in a state you could throw a baseball to.

[Gretchen Laskas]

I'm by nature a "prepare for the worst and hope for the best" kind of person, and one of the reasons I follow the Rasmussen polls is that they are generally tilted to Republicans, but in a way that I think can be helpful to Dems -- clear our minds, focus, and all that.

So I'm not someone who cherry picks her polls, and concentrates on the polls I like. But even I am having trouble believing that the Survey USA poll is even remotely accurate. Perhaps most obviously, I cannot see McDonnell getting 24% of the African American vote. This doesn't mean that I believe the African-American vote is an asset to Deeds, but I believe that far more African-American voters simply won't turn out at all rather than head to the polls eager to vote for McDonnell. There will be some pickup for Republicans in the African-American demographic simply because last year was such a highwater mark year for Dems and African-American voters that it's hard to imagine that happening in again any time soon.

[Mr. GOP]

Well, truthnjustice, maybe the Rasmussen poll is more to your liking. You know that one. The one that had Bob only up by 2% on September 16th that NOW has him up by 9%.

Just released.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2009/virginia/election_2009_virginia_governor_election

Get a clue, Ds, the negative attacks by Deeds have not worked. People have had it with him. He has no plans, just whines.

Truthinjustice, go to the mirror and say this: “Governor McDonnell”

[Deeds Is A Self-Described Liberal]

2009 -

Governor Bob McDonnell
Lt. Governor Bill Bolling
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli

2013 -

Governor Bill Bolling
Lt. Governor Corey Stewart
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli

2017 -

Governor Ken Cuccinelli
Lt. Governor Corey Stewart
(...have any libs' heads exploded yet?)

[Sumatra]

Coooch and Corey! Oh, my god! Corey Stewart!?!?

[change]

Sam,
If you do a little bit of investigation you would find that the “song” you parrot from some radical blog was not about Bush. His name was used in one verse, it also mentioned the American people, congress, FEMA and many other things. In contrast the song to Obambi was all about praising him.

Your desperate attempt to make this comparison proves you are either too partisan or too ignorant to see the difference between using a name and making the person the theme.

Keep taking your blue pill and continue to “believe whatever you want to believe”.

[Gretchen Laskas]

As I said, I pay attention to the Rasmussen polls. And as someone who has been watching all of them, this is what I see:

When Deeds gets his message out there -- whether by winning the Dem primary, or by hammering McDonnell on the thesis, his numbers go up and McDonnell's go down. During periods of relative quiet, his numbers go down slightly, and McDonnell's go up slightly. Overall, I like that when the numbers move, they tend to move our way, because that's helpful when independent voters break at the end.

All that said, I do think the thesis attacks have run their course. Fortunately, there are still plenty of things to go after McDonnell about, and there's still time to get out positive messages about who Deeds is and what he can do for VA.

[Mr. GOP]

Gretchen,

Deeds has waited too long to get a positive message on anything out there. Time has passed him by.

And in Deeds' case, I don't think he can run on raising taxes as a positive message. It ain't. But it's all he's put out there aside from negative attacks on Bob.

Bottom line is his only message he has is "me not Bob" and doesn't work at this late date.

[Google Robin Vanderwall]

Teachers Unions are illegal in Virginia. It is therefore correct to say that VEA is NOT a union but is an association.

Don't start congratulating McDonnell. Women voters will determine this race, and they are breaking hard for Deeds. If you really want to know the truth about McDonnell and his associations, google "Robin Vanderwall," McDonnell's first campaign manager and former head of the Faith and Family Alliance. McDonnell was also heavily involved in the Faith & Family Alliance.

When the Robin Vanderwall story breaks - I mean the REAL story, not what's been in the news in years past - McDonnell won't be looking forward to the Governor's mansion, but he might be looking at government housing alright.

[Gretchen Laskas]

Mr. GOP,

I actually do think there is a lot more time than most of us are giving either campaign credit for. Particularly after last year, where primaries in both parties seemed to go on forever, most of us feel that these things are long-term sustained campaigns that must be carefully built months in advance.

But that simply isn't necessarily the case. I did quite a few back to school nights here in Northern VA, and I had more than a few people say, "Oh, there's an election this fall?" So that's where we were only a week ago -- there's an election? No matter how hard a candidate pushes, the electorate must be ready to hear. Like everyone else, I was pulling my hair out in August, but right now, I'm starting to think Dems are waking up and going oh, I need to pay attention.

You may disagree, or perhaps Republicans don't work like that. But it's what I'm seeing on the ground where I am.

[change]

Gretch,
I don’t mean this to be too negative, but I get rather concerned that you believe it good that the future of our commonwealth should be decided by people so out of touch to what is happening that they are currently saying “"Oh, there's an election this fall?".

The consequence of that type of voter is that they will be persuaded only by who has the best media, not by who has the best ideas and plan for VA.

But unfortunately, that may be what elections have come to these days. Soundbites over substance.

[Not John S. Mosby]

Yeah change, only white, land-owning men should be deciding the future of the Commonwealth, right?

[Congratulations to Governor-Elect McDonnell!!]

Hey NJSM, just a little over 30 days until it's official.

Tell me, who do you think will be in Governor-Elect McDonnell's cabinet? I know Cooch will make a GREAT Attorney General, that's for sure.

[Congratulations to Governor-Elect McDonnell!!]

Oh, and hey JSM, check out THIS:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/123362/Independents-Lean-GOP-Party-Gap-Smallest-Since-05.aspx#

Moron.

[bubba]

Remember when NLS had daily content and interestings posts and dialogue during a gubernatorial campaign season? Yeah, me, too.

Ahh, the good old days.

[Dan]

Gretchen,

This year is no different from any other. The bulk of voters are only now beginning to pay attention to the election.

Political junkies frequently have trouble understanding that normal people don't live and breathe this stuff 365 days a year. This campaign is only beginning.

I think you are right about Rasmussen. They tend to get the voter mix right and are pretty accurate with their final polls before election day. Those are the ones everybody remembers and on which pollsters make and maintain their reputations. But their polls earlier in campaigns tend to be skewed toward Republicans. So if Democrats only followed Rasmussen they would always believe their position to be weaker and would be motivated to work harder.

At any rate, if they promote overconfidence among Republicans I am all for that. I would encourage the guy who posts as change and Congrats (and whatever other handles he uses) to keep up the good work. Tell all your Republican buddies that this race is over and done with. No need for you guys to even break a sweat. Just coast to victory.

[bubba]

Republicans are coasting to victory. I have no idea what Deeds will do if elected. I have no clue, seriously. I think he will host some meetings around pick up truck beds. That's about it.

Thanks to a very disciplined, economy focused, and relevent campaign message, I know what McDonnell will try to accomplish.

[Dan]

bubba, we shall see.

Although I always make it my policy to encourage Republicans to believe they are coasting to victory, I don't believe this thing is anywhere close to being over.

We shall see.

And as far as knowing what McDonnell will try to accomplish goes, he has definitely told us that in relation to NoVA transportation projects.

He says he is going to build them all! He just hasn't said word one about how he is going to pay for ANY of them.

He reminds me of another Republican running for Governor. What was his name? Oh, yeah. Gilmore.

We all know how well that one worked out for us.

[Gretchen Laskas]

Interesting, Bubba, because I was just saying to my husband the other day that the one good thing about this election cycle is that the McDonnell campaign hasn't done a very bang up job getting their message out. I honestly don't know what McDonnell will do for Virginia (and I'm not trying to be obtuse or even snarky, I'm just being honest) other than sell of the liquor stores (thus losing a long term stream of revenue that is already being spent every year) and somehow find some magic pixie dust to fix the roads.

Change -- I'm not saying that it's good that people aren't tuned in to the election. As Dan points out, political junkie that I am, it's hard for me to imagine. But the reality is that most people have their day-to-day lives outside of the political cycle (shocking!). Especially in September, when schools come back in session, schedules change, people go back to work (as opposed to summer breaks) and many fiscal years in businesses re-set.

I like the disinterest as much as you, but good philosophy student that I am, I realize that you work with the world you have, not the one you think you should have! (And maybe, just maybe, you push the world a little tiny bit in the direction that you hope it will go.)