BREAKING: Tom Perriello Announces He Will Not Run for Virginia Governor in 2013

What A Shame.... (4.00 / 1)

I'm so disapointed.  This race will be an unmitigated disaster for Dems with MacAuliffe at the top of the ticket.  Oh well.........

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by: BatCave @ Wed Dec 05, 2012 at 18:45:51 PM UTC

Disappointed. n/t (4.00 / 1)

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by: Ingrid @ Wed Dec 05, 2012 at 19:14:30 PM UTC

McAuliffe vs. Cuccinelli = YUCK!! (4.00 / 1)

A Corrupt Corporatist vs. a Tea Party Crazy. I am glad I do not live in Virginia.  If the general election choice is these two and I did live in Virginia, I would vote Green or write somebody in.  No argument about lesser of two evils would ever convince me otherwise.

There needs to be a Democrat running who actually can stand up for the average person and it is not and will never be McAuliffe.

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by: ammasdarling @ Wed Dec 05, 2012 at 19:14:50 PM UTC

Too bad. (0.00 / 0)

n/t

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by: pontoon @ Wed Dec 05, 2012 at 20:16:51 PM UTC

Politicians (4.00 / 1)

I'm a firm believer in the theory that it takes an unconventional politician to activate latent activism among those who sent the typical "party faithful" (ie: DPVAers who you can find at most party events). Obama was that guy in 2008. We saw it with Webb in 2006. I'm skeptical that Terry can be that guy, seeing as how his most visible public role has been as a very vocal party chair and flak for Hillary. I hope I'm wrong.

I think a primary could have, at the least, pushed Terry to be more creative and cultivate broader support. Its up to us to be that force that Tomcould have been

We can't rest on Cooch's "bad-ness." we need someone that makes us want to stand up for him, not simply against Cooch.

I'm optimistic about this.

I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat.

~Will Rogers

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by: Paba @ Wed Dec 05, 2012 at 20:26:19 PM UTC

Money (0.00 / 0)

As much as I really like Tom Perriello, I feel he has made a wise decision. A primary would waste resources better spent on beating Cuccinelli. McAuliffe will have the ability to match the deluge of right-wing money that will pour into Virginia from all over the nation. Tom is well-known to the progressive community and to the 5th District, but not so much elsewhere. Neither, for that matter, is Terry McAuliffe, but Terry did run statewide in the 2009 primary.

The Democratic ticket that is emerging is a typical, establishment one, one featuring three white men, so I am worried about reaching the voters who came out to vote in 2008 and 2012 but sure stayed home in 2009 and 2010. We'll see...(Maybe Terry's not-so-secret weapon - the Big Dawg Bill Clinton - can help. Who knows...)

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by: Elaine in Roanoke @ Wed Dec 05, 2012 at 21:04:02 PM UTC

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Money was No Issue (0.00 / 0)

It's not a question of money to defeat Cuccinelli. It's a question of heart. Does Terry have it? I hope so, because if he doesn't I better start breaking out the gold coins ...

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by: FreeDem @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 05:11:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm not optimistic (4.00 / 1)

about the upcoming election.  Terry is okay, but he ignites no sparks in any group other than Dems who would vote for a Dem no matter who he or she is.  I don't think that is good enough against Cuccinelli.  You can bet that Repubs will be working their arses off after this past November's defeat in Virginia.  IMHO, the best thing that could happen is for Bolling to run as an Independent, split the Repub vote and Terry wins.    

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by: pontoon @ Wed Dec 05, 2012 at 21:38:22 PM UTC

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Not Likely (0.00 / 0)

Bill Bolling is such o bland soldier for the GOP I can't imagine him actually having the ability to give payback to Cooch by running as an Independent. I, too, wish he would, but I don't think he will.  

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by: Elaine in Roanoke @ Wed Dec 05, 2012 at 23:51:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

To all the folks trashing Terry... (4.00 / 3)

...you remind me of the Naderites who were so convinced in 2000 that Al Gore was no better than George W. Bush.  

The result we got when Bush edged out Gore?  Crony capitalism leading to the Great Recession; ZERO progress on energy and climate; a repugnant "war of choice" in Iraq leading to 100,000 or more human beings being wiped off the face of the Earth; and more!  

Cuccinelli is one of the most radical politicians in America today.  For any progressive to suggest the slightest equivalence with Terry is insane.

That said, I would strongly invite and encourage Terry and his people to come to Blue Virginia -- and many other grassroots forums -- early and often to make the case for him as strongly as possible, as well as to listen to the concerns everyone is expressing here.  They should not allow these negative impressions to linger, unanswered.

We need to work together to save this state from a looming disaster.    

Crush "Crimes Against Nature" Cuccinelli! Now on Twitter.

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by: kindler @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 00:11:41 AM UTC

Hear! Hear! (2.67 / 3)

I am happy to support McAuliffe against Cuccinelli.  I like Tom Perriello too, but I don't feel the need to smear every Democrat who finds himself in a hypothetical race with with him.  

There is a noisy clique who seem to feel the need to pursue scorched earth tactics against anyone who might be running for an office that Tom Perriello is even rumored to be interested in.  

It's ugly, and it needs to stop, or I promise you it will end up hurting Perriello within the party.  Perriello supporters need to stop reflexively smearing other Democrats for the "crime" of not being Tom Perriello.

The Richmonder

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by: The Richmonder @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 00:41:04 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Agreed (0.00 / 0)

I was a strong supporter of Tom during both of his campaigns (I live in the 5th) and would have liked to see him run against Cooch but that is not happening. I totally agree that this toxic talk about McAuliffe needs to stop. We just went through a national GOP campaign where the GOP imploded during the primary season and we do not to follow the same path of self destruction which would hand VA state offices to the right wing nutjobs on a silver platter while we grumble because our personal favorite candidate is not running. Terry may not have been my first choice but Cooch is definitely the last thing this state needs so I will be campaigning hard for Terry.

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by: glennbear @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 00:56:47 AM UTC

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You Couldn''t Be...... (2.00 / 2)

farther from the truth.  This is not about Periello, it'a about stopping MacAuliffe in order to prevent a political disaster.  I would support any left of center Dem running against MacAuliffe in a Democratic Party.  

When Cooch starts running ads against MacAuliffe about his involvement in Global Crossing, perhaps then you will agree with us - but by then it will be too late to do anything about it.  MacAuliffe is going to be cast as the Mitt Romney of 2013.      

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by: BatCave @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 01:01:15 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm not going to get into this, except for 2 points (4.00 / 1)

1. Terry's going to be our nominee, and the choice will be either him or Cuccinelli. We therefore all need to get behind Terry 100%, end of story.
2. It's spelled "McAuliffe" not "MacAuliffe." :)

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by: lowkell @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 01:44:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Arranged Marriage (0.00 / 0)

Being forced to accept Terry as our nominee is like being forced into an arranged marriage. I don't like it, I don't find any love in it, but it is apparently the best we can deal with.  

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by: FreeDem @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 05:17:50 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Forced? (0.00 / 0)

No one is forcing you to "accept" Terry McAuliffe. You will have a choice between two men, one a Democrat and businessman, the other a fundamentalist, science-denying, egoist with delusions of grandeur. You don't get to personally hand-pick  Cuccinelli's opponent, but you sure have a stark choice available in 2013.

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by: Elaine in Roanoke @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 22:49:32 PM UTC

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Hurting Perriello? (0.00 / 0)

Perriello supporters have not been reflexively smearing Terry. Terry's campaign has been the one attacking Tom behind the scenes for somehow being anti-choice, anti-gay rights, and somehow "too religious" to be the Democratic nominee.

It's legitimate to have some concerns about Terry, a candidate who outspent his previous Democratic opponents 2 to 1 but still was destroyed in a Democratic primary.

It's legitimate to have some concerns about a candidate who seems more comfortable hanging out with a former RNC chair than the people of Virginia.

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by: FreeDem @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 05:16:28 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Kindler... (3.00 / 4)

you are missing the point here.  We all know how nuts Cooch is - but those of us who were rooting for Periello to get into this race have done so because MacAuliffe's candidacy terrifies us.  He has proven in the 2009 primary race that he has no ability whatsoever to turn out Democratic base voters - and that killed us in 2009 general and the 2010 general election.  

Cooch is going to have MASSIVE turnout of conservatives, social conservatives, tea party members and a host of other freaks who fall under their banner.  So we need a nominee who can do just that on our end - and Terry is not that person.  Perhaps someone else will step up to the plate but frankly, even with all his money and Bill Clinton, I just don't see Terry able to turn out the numbers he needs to to win this race with a totally energized Republican base who WORSHIPS their nominee.  

We may remind you of Naderites, which couldn't be farther from the truth, but those of you waving the flag for Terry are blind to his history in electoral politics and are leading us down the same road to political hell we went down in 2009 and 2010.  Congratulations.  

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by: BatCave @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 00:49:58 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Democrats working well to get this done (4.00 / 1)

Yes, Impeachinelli is right. It's important to put victory against Cuccinelli at the top of the priority list.

Terry McAuliffe, so far as I can see, is a perfectly decent Democrat in his politics. And he's a hell of a speaker, as I discovered at the state convention last June.

The important thing here is that the Democrats are dancing together as if they understand:  what matters most here is that we maximize our strength to beat Cuccinelli and the Republicans next fall.

They're rallying behind the guy whose best positioned to grab the nomination with a full head of steam behind him, McAuliffe, and they're working with their words to fortify the guy who has made the move the team needs, Periello.

This cooperative effort to maximize the chances of victory is important not only because victory is indeed what's most important here but because of the promising indication this gives that perhaps the Democrats have grasped how vital it is that Democrats defeat this destructive Republican Party, for whom Cuccinelli is a veritable essence.

Because of the enormous stakes of turning back this destructive force, as Douglas MacArthur said, "There is no substitute for victory."

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by: AndySchmooklerforCongress @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 01:19:02 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh really? (0.00 / 0)

You remind me of the Kerry supporters in 2004 who were saying "We don't need to draw a sharp contrast with Bush, we need a good moderate candidate with a great biography to win!"

Dean lost, the country lost.

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by: FreeDem @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 05:13:34 AM UTC

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Howard Dean (0.00 / 0)

Howard Dean is the reason I became active in politics in 2003. Believe me, we all knew that Dean winning the nomination was a pipe dream. Howard told me that he got into the race for two reasons: 1. To speak truth to a Democratic Party that had fallen for the lies behind the Iraq War. (Kerry and Hillary and the majority of Americans in 2004 fell for the lies. That's the main reason Bush won.) 2. To force health care into the campaign as an issue.

Yes, Dean lost, but we won quite a lot. DFA is now a PAC with over one million members. It supports progressive candidates at all levels of government. For a brief, shining moment Howard Dean made Democrats in all fifty states see that they were important, even if the 50-state strategy left the DNC with him. Many of those young people under 45 who are trending Democratic were first energized by Howard Dean. On my local level, two of the persons who became active through the Meetup I ran now head local Democratic committees, I am a member of the state Steering Committee. We all learned in the Dean campaign to take the long view in politics, something conservatives learned long ago.

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by: Elaine in Roanoke @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 23:08:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Speaking the truth (4.00 / 2)

that Terry isn't an exciting candidate isn't trashing him.  Elsewhere on this blog there is a discussion regarding Virginia Dems needing the Obama data from the most recent election and requiring that data because we have to turnout the Obama coalition of voters to win.  Tell me how Terry excites that coalition, or better yet, how our most likely all white male ticket excites that coalition.  It doesn't.  

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by: pontoon @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 14:42:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Dwight Jones? (0.00 / 0)

Maybe we need to find more candidates. The last time we ran a Mayor of Richmond for LG it worked out rather well.

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by: FreeDem @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 15:07:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'd like to see the list... (4.00 / 2)

...of Virginia governors in recent history who've been markedly more progressive than Terry McAuliffe.

Crush "Crimes Against Nature" Cuccinelli! Now on Twitter.

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by: kindler @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 01:43:19 AM UTC

Here it is. (4.00 / 1)

1. Nobody
2. Noone.
3. Not a soul.
4. Nary a one.
5. Nothing's springing to mind.
6. Uhhhhhhh.

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by: lowkell @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 01:46:12 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

So . . (0.00 / 0)

Where does Terry stand on . . .

uranium mining?

right to work?

Terry is a generic Democrat. Because that's all his campaign will allow him to be. They are hoping a generic Democrat can beat a crazy Republican in an off year.

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by: FreeDem @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 05:26:45 AM UTC

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You obviously don't know Terry (0.00 / 0)

At least in NoVA, Terry is at just about every event, big or small.  We joke about how, 4-5 years ago, it was a big deal to see Terry.  Now, it seems odd when he isn't at an event - even FCDC meetings.

As to all of the rest, it's not one very small group of Dem's call on who should or shouldn't be a candidate.  The ultra-liberals who frequent this blog need to understand that they are a small minority within the Democratic party, which makes them a very small minority of voters in general.  You're our equivalent of the John Birch Society, always complaining that a Dem candidate isn't "Democratic enough", whatever that may be.  In your world, guys like Howard Dean, Ralph Nadar and Dennis Kucinich would be in the White House.  That just isn't reality, not now and certainly no time in the immediate future.

So, please, stop your whining at every turn about how a candidate isn't worthy of your support.  Which, by extension, means the candidate isn't worthy of mine or anyone else's support, since you're the arbiters of all things Democratic.

Terry will be the candidate.  The only alternative was Mark Warner, and he's staying in the Senate.  No one else has laid the groundwork over the last few years to run for Governor.  Terry has.  If you don't support him, then you are only going to help Cooch.  It really is as simple as that.  And yes, if you don't see the difference between those two choices, then you are no different than the Nadarites in 2000.  

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by: NotJohnSMosby @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 16:18:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

If you had stopped after the first paragraph (4.00 / 1)

I would have agreed with you wholeheartedly, maybe even given your comment an "excellent" rating. But then, the parade of straw men began, and the comment spiraled into...blech. "Ultra-liberals?" Really? You're seriously going to use right-wing framing on a bunch of mainstream Democrats and progressives? Ugh. Naderites? Kucinich? For the record, I am NOT a fan of those folks, but why are you bringing them up, let alone equating them to the John Birch Society (and how on earth does the former moderate governor of Vermont and former DNC Chair make it onto your John Birch Society equivalence list? and for the record, I was a Wesley Clark supporter in 2003...)?  Finally, as much as I'm not a fan of the "Naderites" (not "Nadarites" as you misspelled it), to say they cost Democrats the election in 2000 is simply absurd. The fact is, Al Gore won the popular vote in 2000, including in Florida (if they had simply allowed all the votes to be counted), and Gore would have won by an even wider margin if he had embraced Bill Clinton instead of spending most of his campaign dissing the guy.

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by: lowkell @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 17:10:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sorry to disappoint you (0.00 / 0)

But, I tend to call things as I see them. What I see, all the time, is a very small group of people who consider themselves to be the "true" Democrats.  They are at the liberal extreme, and tend to throw darts and daggers at anyone other Dem who isn't.  I'm equating them to the John Birch whackos simply because they don't seem to have a problem with destroying their own team if they don't get their way.

So, I'm not critiquing you, it's a general comment towards the anti-Terrys on this blog.  If not Terry, then who?  Tom P had a chance to throw his hat in the ring, and didn't.  Between the Senate race and the upcoming Governor's race, I've read a lot of complaints from the star chamber about how Kaine wasn't good enough and how Terry isn't good enough.  Ok, then step up, and get someone who you think can win the election to declare for the primary.

Lowell has actually affected change, back in 2006.  A small group got together and basically drafted Jim Webb to run.  They didn't just sit back and whine about Harris Miller.  So, lets see the Scooby Gang of complainers on here actually put in some effort this year.  It's not too late to get alternative to Terry, if you don't like him, then get someone to run in the primary against him.  If you're not doing that, then you are just whining.

As an aside, with the star chamber Dems in mind, there's been a constant stream of complaints about DPVA.  Fair enough.  Does that mean that every one of you will be on the ballot for election to DPVA at the congressional district reorganizations next year?  Are you already getting slates of delegates together to come vote for you?  

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by: NotJohnSMosby @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 17:57:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well, if it's a "very small group" then who cares? (0.00 / 0)

Ignore them. As for people calling themselves the "true" Democrats, I've seen liberal or ultra-liberal Dems do that, but honestly I've also seen conservative/Blue Dog Dems do it, and also those in the "middle". It seems to be a human thing, also see it on the Republican side all the time with their "RINOs" and Tea Party purges.  But yeah, I agree with you that people who complain but don't DO anything (at the grassroots/netroots level, joining the party, running for office, whatever) are very annoying, probably should just be ignored.

Follow me on Twitter. Follow Blue Virginia on Facebook and Twitter.

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by: lowkell @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 18:06:04 PM UTC

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Thanks George (0.00 / 0)

So you're either with us, or with the terrorists? Thanks for your thoughts Mr. Bush.

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by: FreeDem @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 19:12:57 PM UTC

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That's pretty much it (0.00 / 0)

It's a polorized political landscape.  You either vote for one side or the other.  You can provide input into the two parties, but beyond that, you're just farting in the wind.  

So, again, get cracking on getting your preferred candidate to run for the Dem nomination.  If no one else runs, or your preferred candidate does but loses, then support Terry.  He's not my first choice, but he's a good choice, and we may be better off having one good choice this year than six months of partisan bickering like in 2009.  

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by: NotJohnSMosby @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 19:51:22 PM UTC

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What Do You Expect? (0.00 / 0)

What do you expect me to do, vote Republican?

Of course not.

But you don't have the right to silence those who are concerned about the pathway we're going down.

Not only is this a democracy, but we are members of the party that holds itself up as the best representation of our democracy in partisan form. All of the rough and tumble differences within this country, and this Commonwealth, can be contained in our party.

Let's not be naive about the obstacles we have to overcome.  

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by: FreeDem @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 19:58:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I don't believe (0.00 / 0)

it unhealthy to voice concerns about our candidates or lack thereof or for that matter the process by which we choose them. The Repubs orchestrated a process by which Bolling didn't believe he could win in a convention setting to rid themselves of him as an option.

We've not done much better in my opinion.  The choice for the DPVA chair seems to be coronated by those in power consistently and the grassroots is given no input.  Many of our statewide candidates seem to receive that same nod and wink.

However, we Dems haven't built much of a group of candidates from which to draw either.  Perhaps that is why so many activists look to Tom Perriello.  Tom has had a couple of opportunities to step back into the political process.  Both times he has chosen not to.  Maybe he just likes what he's doing and is not interested in elected office.  That said, I see no reason for the testiness.  We all have our opinions and are entitled to speak them.

 

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by: pontoon @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 20:53:21 PM UTC

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Valid points (0.00 / 0)

Terry has thrown his hat in the ring.  No one else has.  How is that Terry's fault?  He didn't game the system.  He didn't lobby for a convention, like Cooch did, just to knock an opponent out.  

Way to many Democrats blame everyone else for their political problems.  Everyone screams that not enough candidates are coming forward.  But, when some do, they are quickly beaten up if they don't fully subscribe to a fairly strict ideology.

As far as coronations, they're horrible.  I personally think that Charniele Herring will be a poor chair of DPVA.  She doesn't live in Richmond, she'll be busy running for re-election to her House seat, and she's fairly unknown outside of NoVA.  And, not particularly well-known outside of Alexandria.  She's new to the scene, and is clearly using the chair's spot as a stepping stone to bigger things.

That said, she threw her hat in the ring, and no one else has.  It's a thankless job that everyone critiques while not doing a thing to make the position tenable.  It's a non-paying roll that requires a full-time commitment.  Anyone well-known and acceptable to all Dems in the Commonwealth is not going to take that position and work 50 hours a week for free on it.  So, with those caveats, even an extremely weak candidate like Charniele is acceptable since no one else fits the bill either.

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by: NotJohnSMosby @ Thu Dec 06, 2012 at 22:11:13 PM UTC

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I agree on the whole charniele thing. (0.00 / 0)

Who is she, what value will see bring to the dpva?
She barely won her first forray into elected office in an extremely dem performance district.   If she couldn't muster up turnout etc for her own house race, how is she going to impact dem performance throughout the commonwealth.

On another note if she does have statewide ambition the she better work really hard for 2013 to be a success or it will impact her future....

I think the better choice would be Perillio for dpva chair...he would broaden the statewide appeal, a voice of progressive activist and set himself up for a future in Virginia.

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by: totallynext @ Fri Dec 07, 2012 at 13:01:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]