Posted on 10/22/2006 7:39:11 PM PDT by freespirited
Today The Times-Dispatch endorses George Allen for re-election to the U.S. Senate.
During the past two months the critical issues in this lamentable campaign have been obscured by personal matters relating to both candidates -- some of them of Allen's own doing. But his opponent has transgressed about equally, and such transgressions have had little to do with the issues on the basis of which most voters -- and this newspaper make their voting decisions.
The Times-Dispatch endorsed Allen for governor and senator, and has had no regrets.
As governor, Allen ranked as one of Virginia's most estimable -- and revolutionary -- of the 20th century. He persuaded a Democratic legislature to abolish parole, dramatically reform both welfare and the juvenile justice system, approve parental notification, and -- to raise academic performance -- establish a Standards of Learning program emulated nationwide.
Allen's victory over Charles Robb in 2000 proved the only defeat of an incumbent senator seeking re-election that year. Allen exceeded expectations for a first-term senator with, for instance, (a) his successful support of Roger Gregory for a permanent seat on the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, (b) a measure for federal funding of next-wave nanotechnology, and (c) a bill to block taxes on Internet access.
He was so effective as a first-term senator that in 2004 he was named head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and the Republicans gained a stunning four seats -- including that of Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle....
In all, we concur with John Warner's view of his fellow senator: George Allen "is honorable, thoughtful, and a principled man . . . . We make a good team, and we've worked together successfully on many issues. George has my vote."
He has ours, too. And The Times-Dispatch encourages you to give him yours.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesdispatch.com ...
Major George Allen ping
Hear, hear! Go get 'em, George! He's a good man and an excellent senator. Let's support him for re-election to the Senate. We can worry about 08 later. Right now the focus is on returning this principled conservative leader to the Senate.
RTD Endorsement pingage.
Not being from there, I don't know. Is that a democratic or republican newspaper?
I've read the RTD only a few times, and the impression I got was they're a typical liberal newspaper, maybe not as blatantly biased and bottom feeding as the Compost, but still liberal. Is this a concession from them that they think Allen's going to win no matter what, so they want to be on the winning side? My local paper down here in Florida pulled that stunt by endorsing George Bush in 2004. He grabbed 60 percent of the vote in Polk County, so they knew Kerry had no chance. here.
"Not being from there, I don't know. Is that a democratic or republican newspaper?"
They lean to the left, but say they are right. This is a big deal for RTD to say such positive things about Allen.
What paper is that, down here the Key west citizen would support a rapist or murderer before a republican
Another nail in Webb's coffin.
Did Allen's Democratic opponent ever bring up the possibility that Allen may not even serve the entire six years of the next Senate term because Allen may end up running for President in '08? It's a legitimate question to ask, and it's a point that's still being made by Republican John Spencer in the N.Y. U.S. Senate race between John Spencer and Senator Clinton. I certainly hope that Allen wins, and I'm surprised that the Virginia U.S. Senate race is this close to begin with.
thanks for the ping.
So which way do you think Wilder will go?
I think he will endorse Webb, but hubby thinks he will go for Allen.
In the end I think he will endorse whoever will benefit him most.
"Did Allen's Democratic opponent ever bring up the possibility that Allen may not even serve the entire six years of the next Senate term because Allen may end up running for President in '08?"
I don't think so because Webb is running a national campagn and not a Virginia one. The guy has no real stand on anything for Virginia, but he talks a hell of a lot about national issues.
BTW, I don't believe it is as close as whatever poll says it is.
I've chewed heads off people not from Ohio who try to act like they know what's going on here, so feel free to respond in kind if I am barking up the wrong tree.
VA does not have a Governor's race, unlike most states, right? So this is the only statewide race, right?
That being the case, it's a turnout game, more so than in other states. Are the Dems really going to be able to successfully pull out all the stops to get people out for Webb?
Not when the biggest African American paper in Richmond has endorsed Sen. Allen.
They aren't liberal just not hard right. Compared to everyone else though they are rather conservative.
Allen will win, but not because of the RTD. The RTD endorsed Kilgore last year, and a lot of good that did us.
Problem is, Newspaper endorsements are worth about .009 of a percentage of the vote.
Good endorsement. A small error -- Allen was the only REPUBLICAN to beat an incumbent that year. Many REPUBLICAN incumbents were defeated that year -- it was a bloodbath, and if not for Allen we would have lost the Senate in Jauary rather than in May when Jeffords jumped.
Allen wouldn't quit unless he actually WON the presidency.
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