Virginia Campaign News - Monday, August 15 - Well, I'm back

various | August 15, 2005 | various

[Corin Stormhands]

Monday Mornin' ping.

[R. Scott]

I’m not about to relax until Thursday – if Irene does what she is forecast to do. I’d hate to see her take a hard right.

[R. Scott]

Oops - make that a hard left.

[jla]

Birds of a Feather

[Ligeia]

*SNIP*

Something Wilder

Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder wants the three candidates for governor to devote more of their platforms to the problems that afflict Virginia's cities, from truancy to violent crime.

Mr. Wilder, who served as governor from 1990 to 1994, will make his endorsement based on the response to his proposals from Democrat Timothy M. Kaine, Republican Jerry W. Kilgore and independent H. Russell Potts, Wilder senior policy adviser Paul Goldman said.

Though not critical of any of the candidates, Mr. Goldman said all three have courted swing voters in suburban and rural Virginia, perhaps at the expense of the cities. "It would be nice to get that in the mix," he said.

Mr. Wilder, who is Richmond's first popularly elected mayor in more than a half-century, plans to approach the campaigns to seek their support for up to 10 pieces of legislation that he defines as critical to the cities, Mr. Goldman said.

They include:

• Drug testing of any drug offenders for 18 months after their release from prison.
• Ending the practice of allowing public housing authorities to hire their own legal counsel, which costs Richmond $1 million in legal fees annually.
• Giving cities more power to deal with unruly students and to hold parents more accountable.
• Giving parents more freedom to remove their children from schools they deem dangerous.

Mr. Goldman said Mr. Wilder is in a unique position to discuss urban issues with the candidates as a former governor and because of Richmond's "strong mayor" form of government, a change he helped to make.

"I think he can say these things, and he can say, 'Look, I'm not one of your competitors,'?" Mr. Goldman said. "Let's not forget our cities."

Though Mr. Wilder has not endorsed a candidate for governor, his name has emerged in recent days in the campaign. Last week, Mr. Kilgore suggested to reporters that Mr. Wilder criticized Mr. Kaine in a magazine article.

The reference was to an issue of the New Republic, in which Mr. Wilder railed against decades of public embarrassment over the capital city's corruption and missteps. Mr. Wilder denied he was "slamming" anyone in particular, including Mr. Kaine, who served as mayor from 1998 to 2001.

*SNIP*

http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20050814-095411-8626r_page2.htm

[Ligeia]

Howdy, Corin, welcome back! Gabz did a great job keeping the fire stoked in your absence. How were the Outer Banks? I hope that storm heads out to sea since I'm heading to Virginia Beach Wednesday.

[Gabz]

Welcome back...........glad to see the weather cooperated for you!

[Gabz]

Thanks for the kind words.

We're probably going to head to VB later this week also, so I'm with you about wanting that storm to stay at sea.

Even if I get this cast taken off tomorrow, which I'm really hoping for, I'm still not going to be real mobile, so mountains and caverns are kind of out of the qwuestion this week........sigh

[Corin Stormhands]

Mr. Goldman said Mr. Wilder is in a unique position to discuss urban issues with the candidates as a former governor and because of Richmond's "strong mayor" form of government, a change he helped to make.

Is Mr. Goldman implying that Kaine was not a "strong mayor?"

hmmmm...

[Corin Stormhands]

OBX was great. I think it doesn't look like Irene will turn back this way.

[Nick The Freeper]

From VA Club For Growth. Not about Kilgore or Kaine, but still thought it was worth posting. I know some people I would consider reasonable, but they honestly believe that "Warner is a moderate statesman who rescued Virginia from fiscal catastrophe."

Republican Mutes

No one expects Democrats to tell the truth about Gov. Warner's fiscal record, but why are the Republicans so silent?

"A lie told often enough becomes truth." - Vladimir Lenin

Revisionist history is in full swing in Virginia's political circles. As Gov. Mark R. Warner (D) vies to shape his legacy, his administration and liberal sycophants are busy rewriting history.

An unsuspecting public has been bombarded with a plethora of falsehoods, factual distortions and outright lies. Many recently promoted myths have the same common denominator: They avoid linking Warner to the 2004 tax increase - the largest tax increase in the history of Virginia - and attribute it to a moderate bi-partisan majority.

Instead they extol Warner for being a financial sage who rescued our state government from the brink of an economic abyss (reportedly placed in this predicament by the irresponsible fiscal policies pursued by the State's previous two Republican governors).

Having the benefit of hindsight we can now inarguably conclude that the 2004 tax increase was unnecessary. Contrary to the lies promulgated during last year's fiscal debate, the state's current economic outlook makes this as plain as the light of day.

Yet a parroting bunch of liberal-minded munchkins are promoting a fairy tale. They give Warner credit for fixing the budget's co-called "structural imbalance."

The mantra goes like this: When Warner took the reins of government, he found a budget that was facing a multi-billion dollar shortfall - usually blamed on Gov. Jim Gilmore's (R) single-minded pursuit of abolishing the car tax. Warner is given credit for performing an economic miracle of biblical proportions. Warner is said to have:

• Cut billions in spending - Not! Many credit him with cutting $6 billion from the state budget. Yet, as of early 2004 state spending had increased by $2.5 billion under his watch. (See "Newspeak in Richmond," Feb. 16, 2004.)

• Saved the state from bankruptcy - Not! As we now know the state was running a budget surplus and was not teetering on fiscal disaster. Had Warner not raised taxes, the Commonwealth would have run about a $1 billion surplus instead of the current $2+ billion surplus, but who's counting?

• Restored the state's coveted AAA bond rating - Not! Contrary to popular legend, the bond rating agencies did not require the state to raise taxes in order to preserve its AAA bond rating.

• Restructured the budget and fixed long- lingering budgetary imbalances - Not! Warner simply raised taxes. The budget restructuring attributed to Warner is nothing short of window dressing. While certain taxes were reduced, others were raised considerably - like the 11 percent increase in the sales tax. Virginia's budget continues to be in dire need of restructuring given that we are operating under a system put in place more than 25 years ago.

These facts should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed Warner's doubletalk. Remember this Warner memorable quote from one of the Warner vs. Earley debates? "Mark, I think I've counted you now saying 13 times that I'll raise taxes. You've got that one-trick pony. It's just not going to work. The fact is I will not raise taxes. You can say it 20 more times, but the people will know the difference."

Or the many Warner campaign ads that ran in 2001 where Mr. Honesty himself repeatedly stared at the camera and told the voters: "Let me set the record straight: I will not raise taxes!" - I guess it all depends on what your definition of is, is!

Nonetheless, because of a conspiracy of silence by the members of the General Assembly and a friendly liberal press, Warner continues to enjoy high job approval ratings. If lies of this magnitude were uttered by a Republican administration in Washington, the Democrats would be screaming for an independent counsel. The House and the Senate would be holding hearings and the liberal press would be running daily headlines concluding that a hoax of major proportions was pulled over the eyes of the unsuspecting public.

In Virginia, however, all we get is a quote by House Majority Leader, H. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, suggesting that "we didn't need a tax increase that large" - implying that we needed a tax increase in the first place. If the Republican leaders in the House of Delegates cannot even admit that the tax increase was unnecessary, it proves that they were not seriously opposed to raising taxes.

Although some individual legislators have spoken out against the tax increase, no one has spoken out against the many lies propagated by Warner and his administration. And no one has called for an inquiry into the false budget projections used to justify last year's gargantuan tax increase.

The public is being duped into believing that Warner is a moderate statesman who rescued Virginia from fiscal catastrophe. Given the general voter apathy and a friendly press, Warner could conceivably get away with this myth.

On the other hand, Warner's aspirations for federal office make it highly unlikely that the national press would continue to eulogize his phony legacy. And future opponents are probably already working on campaign ads using Warner's own words from his 2001 TV spots.

Regardless of what happens to Warner's legacy in the future, the fact that Warner has been able to get away with lies of this magnitude is hard to fathom. It only goes to show that conservative Republicans in Richmond have no voice - or perhaps, have no backbone.
 

_______________________________________________________
Phillip Rodokanakis is the President of the Virginia Club for Growth.

[Corin Stormhands]

Although some individual legislators have spoken out against the tax increase, no one has spoken out against the many lies propagated by Warner and his administration. And no one has called for an inquiry into the false budget projections used to justify last year's gargantuan tax increase.

Well, for what it's worth, I've been screaming that song for months now.

Do you have a link? I'm going to see Brad Marrs and George Allen tonight.

[Gabz]

Regardless of what happens to Warner's legacy in the future, the fact that Warner has been able to get away with lies of this magnitude is hard to fathom. It only goes to show that conservative Republicans in Richmond have no voice - or perhaps, have no backbone.

OUCH...........that smarts.

[Corin Stormhands]

I found the link. If I can get it to him, I'll give Delegate Marrs a copy tonight.

[Corin Stormhands]

Reverend Mother, I have sinned.

Went to an event for Delegate Brad Marrs tonight. Senator George Allen was the honored guest.

Following the event I was interviewed by the RTD. It'll be interesting if I'm quoted. She asked me if I thought the episode over the Marrs letter would hurt his campaign.

I said no, that I thought people would see thru the fact that her newspaper blew the story out of proportion. Further I said that Jeffy Schapiro was just shopping for a story and that Pence's name would never have been public if it hadn't been for Jeff.

She asked me if it would hurt Marrs with his supporters. I said no, that his supporters knew him and where he stands and further that they know his opponent (the "Independent" Republican).

She quoted that back as "know his opponent and where she stands on the issues."

I said no, we know her. As far as I know she hasn't said where she stands.

[Gabz]

Good for you.

Can't wait to read in the morning.....hopefully I can get online to check it out before I leave for my appointment with the orthopod in the morning.......because the rest of the day will be spent either dloing stuff I need to get done because the cast is off - or drowning my sorrows because it isn't :)

[Corin Stormhands]

If it's Tuesday it must be pingage...

From the RTD:

Kaine pushes his transportation plan
He wants to ensure money will be used properly, says Potts blocked progress
by Tyler Whitley
CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Timothy M. Kaine attacked independent rival H. Russell Potts Jr. for the first time yesterday before a local government group that had warmly received Potts a day earlier.

hmmmm...I would have sworn that last night or early this morning the headline said "Kaine attacks Potts..."

Marrs' backers believe he'll win in November
They say 'divisive' letter won't hurt him; Allen attends rally, restates support for delegate
by Pamela Stallsmith
Supporters of Del. Bradley P. Marrs, who has come under fire for a fundraising letter that referred to a contribution to his opponent from a gay donor, said last night that they do not believe the controversy will harm the Chesterfield Republican in the Nov. 8 election.

Yup, I'm quoted. Towards the bottom.

Hot-button issues crop up as Allen stops in Hanover
Eliminate so-called death taxes, he urges, and be patient with Iraq
by Charlie Ban
U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Va., looked to Hanover County's most famous son to sum up his position on the estate tax.

I love this line...

"No taxation without respiration," he quipped yesterday on a stop at Hanover Tavern, where Patrick Henry lived and worked.

[iceskater]

Oh - you're famous!

[JohnnyZ]

• Drug testing of any drug offenders for 18 months after their release from prison.
• Ending the practice of allowing public housing authorities to hire their own legal counsel, which costs Richmond $1 million in legal fees annually.
• Giving cities more power to deal with unruly students and to hold parents more accountable.
• Giving parents more freedom to remove their children from schools they deem dangerous.

Any reason these shouldn't be immediately added to the Kilgore platform?