Find out how Cooch took $55,000 from the disgraced "U.S. Navy Veterans Association," in apparent exchange for his promise to get the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs (which had "notified Thompson's group that it no longer qualified for an exemption from state registration requirements") off the group's back. Can we say "pay-to-play?" Find out more.
It truly astounds me that a district formerly represented by sane, reasonable people like Vincent Callahan (Moderate R) and Margi Vanderhye (D) is now (mis)represented by a Karl Rove favorite who's been described as "almost unhinged [in her passion to bring down the Clintons]" and as "a kind of one-woman wrecking crew targeting Democratic leaders." This year, 34th district voters have an excellent chance to boot right-wing hack Barbara Comstock (learn more about her at Comstock Votes) from office and replace her with someone far better - Pam Danner. Let's hope they do so, and that the "one-woman wrecking crew" isn't allowed to do any more damage to Fairfax, to Virginia, and to the nation.
In recent days, a couple of northern Virginia Democrats kicked off their campaigns. First, Mike Kondratick held his kickoff for the 87th district (around Dulles Airport) this past Sunday at Bonefish Grill in Ashburn. Click here for a Flickr photo set from that event, and also see the photo above, with Kondratick and Sen. Mark Herring. Who is Mike Kondratick exactly? Click here to "meet Mike" and click here to learn about his concept of "Inventing Our Future Through a Partnership for Progress."
The crisis of leadership we face is a crisis of creativity. Our representatives in Richmond are content to recycle old solutions rather than inventing new ones. They can't begin to solve our problems because they have refused to look at them from a different perspective. I've built my campaign to provide this new perspective.
Rather than simply looking at what services to cut, what taxes to increase, or how much money we can borrow I want to build a government that looks first at how to innovate its way past these same, tired decisions. I want a government that can help invent our future rather than one that is held captive by a lack of imagination.
Good luck to Mike Kondratick, we hope to hear good things from you in coming months! :)
Second, see the "flip" for the campaign kickoff announcement by Jack Dobbyn, who is running against the abysmal Del. Dave "Abuser Fees" Albo in order to "deliver real leadership for Southern Fairfax County." I sure hope he succeeds, because truly, as a formerly great blog that exists no longer used to say, "Albo Must Go!" :)
Everyone who lives in the 26th (Harrisonburg, parts of Rockingham County) and 27th (Chesterfield County) House of Delegates districts, don't forget to vote today for Democrats Kai Degner and Bill Brown, respectively. Both of these contests are longshots in heavily Republican areas, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. As Bluto (John Belushi) asks in Animal House, "Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!...when the goin' gets tough...get going!"
So, get going everybody, down to the polls to vote for Kai Degner and Bill Brown!
Could Harrisonburg Mayor Kai Degner "sneak away" with an upset victory next Tuesday, June 15, in a special election to replace Republican Matt Lohr, who resigned in March 2010 to serve as Commissioner for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in the McDonnell Administration? According to the Republicans themselves, yes Degner can! Here's what Degner's Republican opponent, Tony Wilt, has to say.
Subject: I Need Your Help!!! They think they have a chance to sneak away with a House of Delegates seat here in the solidly Republican Shenandoah Valley. They want one more Delegate to support the... agenda of Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid. ... we have no margin for error... Democrats are determined to take away this seat from our party.
For more on Wilt and his "family ties" to a controversial natural gas project, click here. To "get on the bus" for Kai Degner this coming Saturday (June 12), click here. And help Degner "sneak away" with a victory in 8 days!
The key lines in this story, published by the conservative Daily News-Record:
"...[Wilt] failed to publicly disclose his financial ties to a controversial natural gas exploration proposal near Bergton."
and
"Wilt's ties to the possible exploration and his run for the House of Delegates could put him in a position where he will be called on to vote on regulating the natural gas industry from which his family could profit."
For more, see this story, including Wilt's attempt at explaining his non-disclosure of this important information. According to Wilt, he has "not hidden anything," and this was "a nominal fee paid for those mineral rights" regardless.
Yeah, and if you believe that, I've got some oil-coated marshland along the Louisiana coast to sell you.
Seriously, though, this is all the more reason to support Kai Degner for Delegate. Because the last thing we need in Richmond is another delegate in the pocket of the fossil fuel industry!
Del. Scott Surovell forwarded me the following email. Several Democratic committees - Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Alexandria, and the DPVA - are organizing this, join them if you can and help Kai Degner win this election on June 15!
On Saturday, June 12, you have the opportunity to help start to win back control of the House of Delegates. The Democratic Party of Virginia and House Democratic Caucus have hired a bus to ship campaign volunteers to Harrisonburg to help Get Out The Vote for our candidate, Harrisonburg Mayor Kai Degner who is running in a June 15 special election to replace Matt Lohr, a Republican in the House of Delegates who resigned to take a government appointment. Click here to read more about Kai Degner's campaign.
Kai is a twenty-nine year old ball of fire who door knocked his way onto the Harrisonburg City Council and subsequently was elected Mayor. There are many votes to get out in his base in the City of Harrisonburg. Additionally, a third party "tea party" candidate has filed to run which will divide up Kai's opponent's base of support. This race represents an excellent opportunity to take back a seat if we can focus our statewide resources for one weekend.
The bus will leave on Saturday, June 12 at 9 A.M., from Fairfax County Democratic Committee Headquarters, 2815 Hartland Rd, Falls Church, and will return at 7 p.m. to the same location. Just enough time for 6 hours of good grassroots door knocking.
There are 55 spots available and we need to fill every one of them!
If you are unhappy about the direction that Bob McDonnell and Ken Cuccinelli have taken our Commonwealth, this is the perfect opportunity to send a message. Kai is a great candidate and has his opponents are on the defensive. Our chances are good for an upset victory by Kai. We've had a great track record in special elections, both here in Virginia and nationally. Let's keep it up and keep moving towards a Democratic House of Delegates!
Again, this sort of irresponsible rhetoric may cause someone with violent tendencies to think it is acceptable to act out in this way. You can obviously hear the teabaggers laughing and shouting words of encouragement. Unbelievable.
I just can't understand why Virginia Republicans are falling all over themselves to appeal to teabaggers. They are becoming more of a fringe party everyday.
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In recent days, a couple of northern Virginia Democrats kicked off their campaigns. First, 
Could Harrisonburg Mayor 
