Could Brian Moran cost the Democratic Party the Presidency and the U.S. Senate in 2012?

What we need is a strong DPVA (0.00 / 0)

To fight the Republicans in 2011, 2012 and into the future, we need the strongest DPVA possible. That's why I support Peter Rousselot for chair, because he'd help make that a reality. With a weak DPVA, it's going to be an even tougher lift for Democrats to make gains in the 2011 General Assembly elections, let alone for Barack Obama to carry Virginia again in 2012.  As for Jim Webb, he only won by 9,000 votes or so in 2006, when we had the wind at our backs.  In 2012, assuming a wind in our faces or maybe a becalmed environment, Webb's going to need a super-strong effort at all levels, including the DPVA.  Let's start now in building towards that goal, and let's start with a chair who has the vision, energy and values to make that happen!

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by: lowkell @ Sat Nov 06, 2010 at 23:44:42 PM UTC

Rousselot for Chair (4.00 / 1)

It is imperative that the Democratic Party of Virginia find a new way to relate to the citizens of the Commonwealth, one that emphasizes the concerns of the working people who need to have their issues addressed by the party leadership. An excellent start would be for the party to choose a chair who has worked with the grassroots, who understands the importance of growing local committees, and who has a record of achievement. Peter Rousselot is such a person. I strongly support his candidacy for chairman of the DPVA.

If we do not change the direction of the DPVA, we will lose the momentum we got from the 2008 election. It's time for the grassroots to "take back their party." Otherwise, it's back to the 18-state national party strategy and the writing off of Virginia yet again.

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by: Elaine in Roanoke @ Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 00:03:39 AM UTC

Well said. (0.00 / 0)

n/t

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by: lowkell @ Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 00:05:18 AM UTC

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I call B.S. (4.00 / 1)

Neither Obama nor his staff has shown any inclination to retaliate against anybody for anything--even "Democrats" who endorsed and campaigned for his opponent in 2008. Now we're supposed to believe that he's going to "go to the mattresses" against the putative chair of a state party organization for "daring" to lobby against the administration position on for-profit schools at his day job?

Seriously?

Obama's going to write off thirteen electoral votes because he doesn't like a state party chair's position on for-profit schools?

I'm sorry, but I find that very hard to believe.

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by: somethingblue @ Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 00:14:12 AM UTC

Agreed (0.00 / 0)

This is a non-story.  There have always been Dems defying the prez, now as much as ever.  On a larger legislative priority, maybe, the president would put his foot down, but I don't see this issue ranking all that high on Obama's list.  

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by: kindler @ Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 03:26:42 AM UTC

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Less than a non-story (0.00 / 0)

this is a very far-fetched theory that makes zero sense.

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by: NotJohnSMosby @ Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 03:35:37 AM UTC

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Now or never (0.00 / 0)

The grassroots has to put a stop to the good ol' boys' establishment, the barnacle-encrusted bunch running things as if it is still the 19th century (they haven't made it to the 20th yet). Why would we place a lobbyist in charge of the people's party, for heaven's sake? Talk about same ol' same ol.' Do the Democrats want to commit party suicide? This may be our last chance to turn things around.

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by: Teddy Goodson @ Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 00:15:47 AM UTC

Why not . . . (0.00 / 0)

. . . Rick Boucher for DPVA Chair?

Talk about someone in touch with working people.

Oh, wait.  I forgot.  In the view of the DPVA leadership, Virginia stops at Roanoake.  Boucher is from a foreign country.

Never mind.

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by: Old Redneck @ Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 00:16:34 AM UTC

Skeptical (4.00 / 1)

Despite the fact that I share a last name (although we are no relation) I've never been among the Morans' strong supporters (although I voted for them when I lived in Alexandria) and I'm a big believer in the netroots, and have been disappointed by all of the king-making chatter that has gone on about this topic.

But I'm having a harder time believing that the appointment of a Chair of the DPVA has become some big conspiracy reaching all the way to White House.  Let's keep in mind that Obama (and Webb) won Virginia mostly because of their own teams on the ground, not because DPVA did such a stellar job for them.  (For the record, although I've been active in Democratic politics for years, I was recruited into FCDC because of my own work for Obama during the primary, so I'm an example of how Obama supporters came into the party leadership, not the other way around.)

Is Brian Moran the right person to lead the Democrats forward?  I don't know (and even if I did, I don't have any official say.)  But I certainly don't think that he is out to sabotage Obama or the party in any way.  And I really don't think that most of the party thinks that either.  Republicans often jeer at us because while they may be too tied to authority in their own party, we too often eat our own young.  If you don't want Brian Moran as Chair (and I'm not sure that I do) fine -- say so.  But this type of innuendo that implies that he's become some sort of almost traitor to the party is starting to get a little too silly for my taste.

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by: GretchenLaskas @ Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 02:03:38 AM UTC

Is it just me... (0.00 / 0)

I can't figure out, from this post or the comments to it, just exactly what the problem is.  Paul Goldman's post doesn't say so either.

Do I infer that Brian Moran has lobbied for a client against President Obama's position on some issue?  Do I infer that it has something to do with for-profit colleges?  If that is the problem, it would be really nice if the post had explained it clearly.  

Could someone answer me the following questions:

1.  What lobbying client does Brian Moran have that raises a problem?

2.  What position has Brian advocated that conflicts with what position that the President has taken?

3.  Why is this an earth-shattering issue?

4.  Assuming that other state Party chairs over the years have taken positions on issues that conflict with what a Democratic President might want, and that the world did not come to an end when that happened, why is this different?  

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by: cvllelaw @ Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 02:17:08 AM UTC

Is this a joke? (0.00 / 0)

For a few seconds, I thought I had wandered over to the "Onion" site by mistake!

Jeez, this is an extraordinarily puffed up little tempest in a great effin' big teapot!

Anybody with half a brain knows Obama's chances in Virginia in 2012 are very, very, VERY slim (barring a major change in the country, of course). Brain Moran's impact on that? Minuscule, at the largest.

Jeez, Democrats can waste more time on the slightest slights ... maybe that wasted time and energy explain why we can manage to throw away so many elections?

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by: K in VA @ Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 16:46:54 PM UTC

This strikes me as a deliberate (0.00 / 0)

piling on by some within the netroots who are still really, really pissed about the Democratic gubernatorial primary.  That's what I saw yesterday at this site, and it's what I'm seeing today.  I not only call BS, but think it's ugly, uncalled for, and ultimately very destructive to Democratic aims.  I mean, seriously, is THIS what we want, a smear campaign being run by angry people with long memories determined to make Brian pay for dissing Terry McAuliffe? Plus, I'm sorry, but the fact that Brian might have spent 8% of his time lobbying for "for-profit" higher education doesn't make him: a) evil; or b) unsuitable for the post he's been nominated for.  Moreover, there are other far less destructive ways to address the concerns about lobbyists and their place in a political party without turning it into a battle over good and evil.  

I'm looking at a very nice, straightforward, and positive comment here from Lowell about Rousselot's suitability for the position.  It would have made a far better impact on me if I hadn't also read his diary trashing and vilifying Brian Moran for being a lobbyist.  It was so over the top I had to navigate away from and ignore it because I had too many other things to do and didn't want to get dragged into a fight.  But I will caution you, Lowell, and others who think the way to go is to vilify a strong Virginia Democrat just because you don't like him.  I don't give a damn if you think he done your candidate wrong almost two years ago, or that he's being hypocritical about lobbying, or any of the other crap you want to push about him.  This ISN'T a primary and we're NOT supposed to be here to attack other Democrats.  Keep up the attacks and you will only succeed in alienating Brian's strong core of supporters.  Maybe you can tell me how THAT supports our aim to get Webb and Obama reelected.  

Here's a suggestion:  stop with the faux outrage about Brian Moran's lobbying - quel horreur!! - and see if you can manage to support your favorite candidate without seriously angering people like me whom I assume you'd want in the DPVA's corner come next election.  Let's stop the Democratic party's habit of eating its young.

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by: Catzmaw @ Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 18:31:40 PM UTC

With all due respect (4.00 / 1)

I think we needed longer memories.  And better ones.  We need to get the right person in the position.  And there is a compelling argument that a lobbyist, even should he step down from the firm once elected, is not that person. It is also troublesome given the heavy emphasis on schools-for-profit going on.

He had many choices after he lost the primary.  He chose poorly, especially if he later wanted to lead a party which is supposed to care about people and to not disadvantage them against monied interests. That party is supposed to care also about real education, not the commoditization of a mere pretense at it.

Of course there are undertones of the election of 2007.  It's one of the same three candidates.  But that doesn't mean that concerns are off-the-mark or wrong.  

We all want unity.  But not at the expense of our party's integrity.  I do not question Brian's integrity.  I do question his suitability for DPVA Chair given his chosen work. He has every right to do that work.  As a candidate for DPVA chair, he is subject to anyone's questioning it. I wish Brian well.  Despite my changing support to another candidate, I always liked Brian.  IF we look beyond Brian for that candidate who can unite us, that is not holding a grudge or having a too-long memory.

Again, short memories are what is dooming this county to select the wrong people over and over (witness the recent electoral impatient and ignorant backlash when the train wreck took eight years).


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by: KathyinBlacksburg @ Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 19:19:23 PM UTC

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That's simply not true. (0.00 / 0)

First of all, I've talked many times over the years about why I think Peter Rousselot rocks, and will do so more in the future.  Second, pointing out facts about Brian Moran's lobbying for the for-profit education "industry" is not "vilifying." Perhaps having a lobbyist for a slimy industry like this heading up our party doesn't bother you, but it very much bothers me, and that has nothing to do with my "like" or "dislike" for Moran.  Third, the outrage isn't "faux," not sure why you say that but it's completely untrue. In fact, I wrote about this industry long before I heard that Brian Moran was running for DPVA chair. For instance, see this piece from May.  Finally, if every time we have a primary or other intra-party contest it's considered "eating our young" to run a tough campaign (as Brian Moran himself did in 2008/2009 against Terry McAuliffe and Creigh Deeds; as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama did in 2008; etc., etc,) and fight hard, then we might as well not have primaries or intra-party contests, cuz this is how it is (same thing on the Republican side, too, their primaries are nasty!).

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by: lowkell @ Sun Nov 07, 2010 at 20:23:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]