Posted on 09/24/2009 9:31:10 AM PDT by ReagansRaiders
here may have been no period in our State’s history when the voters are more aware of what issues confront them in their choice for Governor. We have undergone the worst economic downturn since the Depression. I have previously set forth the things that I would look to see the next Governor address. (1) Who is best suited by temperament and training to govern in hard times? (2) Who has presented to the people realistic plans for Education, Transportation, Health Care, Public Safety and Social Services, etc.? (3) Who is strong enough to stand up for the state when tough calls have to be made? 4) Who has the vision that can inspire confidence and assure people that Virginia can still move forward, even while confronting difficult choices.
The overriding “issue” in this year’s Governor’s race will be the judgment the voters make about which candidate is most capable of managing tough times and establishing the right priorities for when the economy begins to recover.
Throughout my entire involvement with public service, I have tried to be a voice for those most often left out when decisions are being made which affect them in their everyday lives. As a state senator, I fought to get rid of the sales tax on food. As Lt. Governor, I fought to get rid of the sales tax on non-prescription drugs and opposed the increased sales taxes for transportation, because they are regressive taxes, meaning the poor pay at the same rate as the rich. I have lived long enough not to assume that these voiceless people can always count on someone articulating for them.
This is not the time in our Commonwealth to talk about any kind of tax increase, especially those that are fundamentally regressive and will hit hardest those who are struggling.
Rather, it is the time to put our fiscal house in order, strengthening the Commonwealth for the future.
Now is the time to replenish the “Rainy Day” fund which has bailed several administrations out of deficits, but will be all but depleted for future administrations to have at their avail. It is a time to do everything possible to let the public know that we are serious about getting a handle on spending and controlling it better. Re-examine the efficiency and effectiveness reports, previously administratively commissioned, draw from them, and make this reform agenda further known to the public. It is a time to return to the funding of “necessities” rather than “niceties”.
Furthermore, In my conversations with the people across the state, I have not encountered anyone who has listed as their priority the need for them to have more handguns. The present law permits anyone of sufficient age, who is not a felon, to be able to buy one gun a month; twelve a year, twenty four a year for couples etc..
Mr. Deeds thinks that’s not enough and signed a pledge to repeal that law.
This action would allow the truck loads of guns to come back in exchange for drugs from those Northeastern states where gun laws are more stringent. This law was put on the books by Democrats and Republicans because they had seen where those guns go to in our cities and suburban areas where the violence occurs. Partly because of that law, as Mayor, I was able to have the lowest crime rate in our capital city of Richmond in 30 years.
I do not see how endorsing a proposal to have more handguns brought into our cities and suburban areas qualifies as any type of urban renewal plan.
For this situation to exist and for Democrats who lead our party to say nothing is puzzling and inexplicable.
The requests, made of me, have been to endorse Mr. Deeds, the Democratic Candidate, for Governor. I refrain from doing so and will leave that choice to the voters.
This in no wise is intended to detract from Mr. Deeds in terms of character or commitment to the task of being Governor. I find that he, as well as Mr. McDonnell are fine and honorable men and well suited to that task. The question before me is whether I support the Democratic candidate’s position in addressing these issues. I have not thus far in the progress of the campaign, and as aforesaid refrain from so doing.
http://www.bobmcdonnell.com/ for Governor
http://www.billbolling.com/ for Lieutenant Governor
http://www.cuccinelli.com/ for Attorney General
Dems like David Patterson & Doug Wilder are offended by Obama telling them what to do.
About time people are waking up that he is not a dictator who always gets his way. If I was Patterson I would really be offended.
William Berkeley ? Damn. Now THAT is old school.
???
Does he not think criminals are breaking his precious law?? Does he think he must slime everyone in his own state as a criminal?
The election isn’t until November, and the polls are tightening. Deeds will win unfortunately this time it looks like.
Are you nuts? Of course the race is tightening. Democrats are finally saying they'll vote for Deeds. But McDonnell leads with the independents, all across the state. Combine that with:
The Washington Post coming out this week and saying that Deeds will unequivocally raise taxes...
McDonnell absolutely destroying Deeds in last week's debate.
Deeds appearing very Kerry-esque in a post debate interview and fumbling over the tax issue.
A prominent Democratic State Senator saying that this is NOT the time to raise taxes.
The nation's first African American governor declining to endorse Deeds despite being BEGGED by the President and current Governor (and chair of the DNC)
The Fairfax Chamber of Commerce endorsing McDonnell
The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce endorsing McDonnell
The NRA endorsing McDonnell
The Fraternal Order of Police endorsing McDonnell.
Even the frickin' HUMANE SOCIETY has endorsed McDonnell.
Obama is very unpopular in the state. For cryin out loud, George Allen polls higher than Obama (and Kaine) in Virginia.
I know you people mean well. And I know that Virginia's had a few very bad runs in the last couple of years.
But don't come on here not knowing our state and pronounce us dead in the frickin' middle of the battle.
Corin, don’t you just love all of the “encouragement” we are getting from outside the commonwealth? It almost brings me to tears. Seems to me that they need to put their own statehouses in order rather than commenting on ours.
You know, without all the outside “help” we’ve received in recent years, we just might’ve had a better track record.
Yeah, I wish they would do us a favor and stop doing us favors.
And you get a great AMEN on that from me.
Heck, I live here and even I don't go so far as to making such pronouncements, in either direction, because I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH.
I was spoiled rotten with my political life in Delaware, because it is so little. Here I am, 6 years in Virginia, and I know less about the workings of politics here than I did of them in Delaware after only 6 months.......and I was involved there for 21 years. Heck, I still know more about what is going on behind the scenes in Delaware than I do in Virginia. Such is the isolation of the Eastern Shore :)
I am one of the ones that has been convinced that VA will go back red and not sure that Allen’s loss was legit but more of ACORN fraud after talking to some people that have been looking into winning Secretary of State races next year to preclude it happening in 2012.
In fact several states that elected RAT Senators look to have had ACORN in their states. That’s probably one reason that Reid doesn’t want an investigation of ACORN.
Cannot wait to see VA go back Republican. You are right the Indy vote is the key and Obama is losing them faster then anyone could imagine.
Wilder stumbled a few times as Mayor of Richmond, but one of my favorite things he did was fire most of the people in city government. I commend him for that. I agree that he’s a social liberal, but fiscally he’s rather conservative. He’s one of the few Democrats I’d ever consider voting for. Zell Miller was another that I would have considered.
This one is a throw out. It is always, and will always be, about Wilder when Wilder speaks.
Of course it’s always about Doug Wilder. I’ve said that numerous times leading up to his statement and after. But it DOES speak volumes that he was willing to go against what Obama and Kaine asked him to do.
And while we know that “Nobody’s Wilder than Doug” it will play with the independents who don’t follow politics like we do. It’s about momentum more than anything else.
Look at the comments section here for some entertaining reading.
You make some good points. Just hard to be optimistic when it’s very close to being below a 5-point lead with over a month until the election still. That normally is not a good sign.
But, I am not in Virginia and can’t pretend to understand the politics there. Good luck....hope y’all pull it out and rub it in their faces. Turnout is key, and it’s easy to forget that sometimes. Even if McDonnell gets behind a point or two, he can still win with turnout.
The poll is registered voters. And, as I said, the internals are very strong in McDonnell’s favor.
It’s not a guaranteed win. But it’s not, as you implied, a sure loss either.
including the ‘outside help’ from the RNC
It was hinted at in the documentary of that campaign, The Perfect Candidate, but after researching it appears that was speculation on North’s part. However, Bubba clearly cut some sort of a deal with Wilder that he couldn’t refuse.
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