Don't Put the Cart Before the Horse

My response on Facebook (0.00 / 0)

Are there really people who STILL underestimate Cuccinelli? Sure, he's nuts, but he's also "crazy like a fox" as a politician. Watch out, this guy is dangerous!

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by: lowkell @ Thu Dec 01, 2011 at 19:31:38 PM UTC

Unfortunately, yes (4.00 / 1)

and that is what spawned my original message. It's time to get out of the mindset that just because someone is crazy, that they can easily be beat.

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by: dominic @ Thu Dec 01, 2011 at 19:37:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Also... (0.00 / 0)

Those people [who underestimate Ken] are completely wrong. Let's just hope they figure it out soon, not in November 2013, after Kookinelli becomes governor (god forbid)!

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by: lowkell @ Thu Dec 01, 2011 at 19:32:20 PM UTC

Thanks for posting this! So, what do you think we need to do (0.00 / 0)

in order to beat this guy in 2013?  Any particular candidate you have in mind? What about fixing DPVA? Anything else?

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by: lowkell @ Thu Dec 01, 2011 at 19:34:51 PM UTC

A couple of things... (0.00 / 0)

First - regardless of if its Ken or Bill as the R nominee in 2013, DPVA or some organization in VA should be building its research files on them starting now. I'm sure there is existing research from previous races and those should be the start. But we need to build public websites/social media efforts NOW that are chronicling their positions on the issues and defining in simple terms their records and make it easy for citizens to see how out of the mainstream they really are. These websites should be almost as commonplace in Virginians minds as Facebook by November 2013.

Just like there was a tracker on George Allen in 2011, there should be a tracker available for these guys now.

#2 - Candidate? Eh, I dont want to get into a specific candidate. But the most important thing in the end is that whomever our candidate is, they have a strong message that appeals to Virginians (and they just aren't saying it to try and get elected - they have to believe what they are saying.)

#3 - I think the DPVA fixing has been beaten to death here at BV and the odds of change happening are slim to none IMO. But internally, DPVA shouldn't just be focused on 'this year' - they need to be looking ahead 2-3 years at a time. One of the things they can do is have a really strong research arm that is focused on the items I discussed in #1.

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by: dominic @ Thu Dec 01, 2011 at 20:09:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

DPVA operates with a short horizon (0.00 / 0)

I have been forcefully reminded by insiders enmeshed in the status quo that DPVA exists only to elect Democratic candidates running for specific offices, and it is in no way supposed to engage in anything remotely like a "permanent campaign." This viewpoint has been described as the "Candidate Centric, Short-term Horizon," one of 6 systemic deficiencies in the DPVA that was pointed out in 2009 after the Deeds election, see: http://www.bluevirginia.us/dia...

You may believe that the question of reforming DPVA has been beaten to death on bluevirginia.us, and that reform will not happen. I believe you are incorrect on the first and unfortunately correct on the second belief, and that is one more reason your warning is timely and of crucial importance.  

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by: Teddy Goodson @ Thu Dec 01, 2011 at 21:57:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Broken link, see below (0.00 / 0)

http://www.bluevirginia.us/dia...

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by: Teddy Goodson @ Thu Dec 01, 2011 at 22:00:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The 1980 Precedent (4.00 / 1)

I was working in the Carter Administration when many of us cheered the nomination of Reagan, that right-wing extremist, as our opponent in 1980. The next year, I was out of a job.  

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by: JimWebster @ Thu Dec 01, 2011 at 19:46:08 PM UTC

You're saying Cuccinelli is crazy? (0.00 / 0)

I've had the honor of hearing the gentleman speak on multiple occasions.
Genuinely curious why you think the man nuts.
Disclosure: I blog at http://theothermccain.com which makes me a troll in these parts, but a polite one. New tone, and all that.

Conservative, but behaving in accordance with what the New Tone was supposed to be.

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by: smitty1e @ Thu Dec 01, 2011 at 23:53:10 PM UTC

Put it this way. (0.00 / 0)

What would your view be of a radical Marxist/Maoist if he/she were running for governor of Virginia on a platform of ending capitalism, imposing a 99% marginal tax rate on rich people, abolishing religion/marriage, outlawing guns completely, abolishing corporations, etc., etc.? You'd think that person was...what? crazy? extreme? both? Well, many of us see Cuccinelli as pretty close to the right-wing/anti-science/anti-environment/homophobic/dominionist equivalent of that radical Marxist/Maoist. Wild eyed, bat**** crazy, and very dangerous, in other words.  

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by: lowkell @ Fri Dec 02, 2011 at 02:13:35 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm joining (0.00 / 0)

Others in being a "Democrat for Bolling".

Seriously, the aim of this, and every other site should not be "Beat Ken Cuccinelli in the 2013 Gov Race" but rather "Work our asses off to make sure that Bill Bolling is the nominee, not Cooch".

Cause if Cooch gets the nomination, I am legitimately frightened for what the commonwealth will become under his reign of terror.

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by: hrprogressive @ Fri Dec 02, 2011 at 02:25:14 AM UTC

The problem is, Dems have zero influence (0.00 / 0)

over who Republicans select for their gubernatorial nominee in 2013. Except, perhaps, that if we see that we support one candidate, they might choose the other one. So maybe we should all support Kookinelli so they pick Bolling? Heh.

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by: lowkell @ Fri Dec 02, 2011 at 02:35:47 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

They can vote in the primary like everyone else. (0.00 / 0)

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by: Johnny Longtorso @ Fri Dec 02, 2011 at 13:26:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

My belief is... (0.00 / 0)

That underestimating Bill Bolling is just as bad as underestimating Ken. He's gotten elected twice statewide - the first time in a squeaker while we had a Democrat winning at the top of the ticket.

Plus, trying to influence the Republican primary electorate isnt worth it. We should be focused on our own electorate - engaging them and turning them out.

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by: dominic @ Fri Dec 02, 2011 at 21:44:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Agreed. (0.00 / 0)

n/t

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by: lowkell @ Fri Dec 02, 2011 at 22:30:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I (0.00 / 0)

think Bolling will get the nomination. Kookoo is just to far to the right.

What I worry about is who WE are going to put up for gov.

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by: VADEM @ Fri Dec 02, 2011 at 17:31:15 PM UTC

well... (0.00 / 0)

That certainly is the bigger question - who are the Dems going to put up.

All bets are Terry McAuliffe is running again. Who knows what Ward Armstrong is going to do after losing this fall. Perriello? Is there anyone else?

We have such a short bench, that even speculating who might be running for Lt Gov and AG really doesn't bring up any names in my head. Chap!? Steve Shannon? Donald? Jody Wagner? Shannon Valentine? Anyone else?

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by: dominic @ Fri Dec 02, 2011 at 21:38:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The question is, why would ANYONE want to run (0.00 / 0)

if they think there's very little chance of winning? Assuming Obama's reelected, chances are Virginia will do what it's always done - vote Republican for governor 1 year later.

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by: lowkell @ Fri Dec 02, 2011 at 22:31:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Because... (0.00 / 0)

We fight for our beliefs (well some of us - and hopefully our nominee will do so as well...)

and...streaks are made to be broken - see Barack Obama and Virginia 2008 (and Barack Obama and Indiana 2008, though that streak is likely to start up again)

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by: dominic @ Sat Dec 03, 2011 at 17:42:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]