Posted on 11/05/2001 10:16:14 PM PST by KQQL
Vote Earley
Bush, Giuliani, and Bishop Loverde pitch in.
By John J. Miller & Ramesh Ponnuru
November 5, 2001 11:00 a.m.
Behind in the polls and badly outspent by his opponent, Virginia's GOP candidate for governor brought America's two most popular politicians and an important religious leader into his campaign over the weekend. Mark Earley's campaign mailed a brochure displaying a big picture of Earley walking half a step behind President Bush on what appears to be a tarmac. Inside, there's a quote from Bush: "I appreciate his strong stance on holding the line on taxes and cutting the car tax in Virginia." Bush recorded a phone message on behalf of Earley and two ticket mates, lieutenant governor candidate Jay Katzen and attorney general candidate Jerry Kilgore: "Mark Earley, Jay Katzen and Jerry Kilgore are the experienced leaders Virginia needs to keep the state moving forward--with a positive agenda for lower taxes, accountable schools, more jobs, and a safe and secure commonwealth." Earley's campaign also aired a new ad featuring New York mayor Rudy Giuliani: "If I were a Virginian, I would vote for Mark Earley." Voters who tuned in to the start of the World Series game last night would have seen it.
In northern Virginia, Earley may benefit as well from a letter by Catholic Bishop Paul Loverde that was either read at Masses or inserted into church bulletins over the weekend. In it, Loverde reminds parishioners of their "moral responsibility to vote" on Tuesday. "Respect for the dignity of the human person must be part of our consciousness as we enter the voting booth," continues the two-page letter. It also reminds voters of "the priority to protect the human life of all persons, pre-born and born."
The letter would have been stronger if Loverde had mentioned specifically that Earley is the pro-life candidate in the race and that his opponent, Democrat Mark Warner, supports abortion rights. In other words, there's more than just a moral responsibility to vote; there's a moral responsibility to vote for Mark Earley. Another possibility would have been to attach a scorecard showing how Earley and Warner (plus other candidates down the ticket) differ on abortion. Earley, for instance, supports legislation to require parental consent before a minor may obtain an abortion, while Warner won't commit past the parental-notification law that Earley helped enact.
As things stand, the bishop's letter leaves voters on their own to figure out the candidates' positions by tomorrow's election day. Perhaps they're sophisticated enough to know where Earley and Warner stand. Then again, perhaps not--and they won't receive much help from Earley's campaign website, which focuses on taxes, education, and safety issues.
But it's a good conclusion to what has been a lackluster campaign. In the end, though, the only thing that may salvage the hopes of those who intend to vote Earley is if they somehow manage to vote often.
You can't blame more choices for the failure of bad candidates.
No but I can blame it on people who seek "perfection" in a candidate. Perot dropped out and then he came back in when Bush was pulling away in 92. Now you can fondly look on the Clinton years(I certainly don't), but if Perot hadn't run(and gotten the media help) I beleive we would have been spared the 8 years of Clinton.
I think even Perot relaized the damage he wreaked when he endorsed Bush in 2000.
Let me a add a phrase.
I think even Perot realized the damage he wreaked in 92 when he endorsed Bush in 2000.
:) ttt
I'm with you on the Education Spending!! Think I read that Fairfax spent almost $10K/student and, admittedly, the schools are relatively good (I used to go to Keene Mill Manor, Washington Irving, and W. Springfield for one year), but until they get the Unions out of the decision-making process and allow Privatization to proceed as the Sheeple would like, every Public Education System is a RATHOLE!!
FReegards...MUD
Good, I'm runnin' outta rope...LOL!!
"What are the rules in VA for registration? How? When? I want to get this guy to the Polls by 2004, if I have to drag him myself, kicking and screaming."
I believe you can register up until mid-October before the November voting date. As to "How?"...we've got that damn Motor-Voter so you actually need to try pretty hard not to be registered--whether yer legal or not.
FReegards...MUD
The Alexandria Journal had a letter from the school board's "Bond representative" stating that the issuance of additional bond debt didn't have any impact on future levels of spending or taxation. If that's what the school board thinks, I'd hate to see what they're teaching the students.
Actually, no, my guitar's very rarely in tune...that's a part of what makes me so durned scarey...LOL!!
FReegards...MUD
Yep just like you screwing everybody else(by voting for a candidate that will never win(Libertarian)), you get stuck with total government control.(Warner).
I am sure that the tax payers thank you.
Mudboy,
In Roanoke County, it's a "teachers workday" so the teacher's are at the schools for parent-teacher conferences and to work the polls when not "in conference if they signed up to work the polls.
Also it's been reported that we have some West Virginia pipefitters union members working the polls for Warner at least at one polling place here. I've got to get back out to the poll to pull another shift now, but I'll try to report in later.
Also as I work the polls, I've been passing out some non-partisan Christian Coalition voter guides, and also some of the Virginia Family Council/American Renewal (www.familyfoundation.org and www.frc.org) voter guides to give people info on major difference in the candidates positions. I've been getting real good response and people seem to be pleased to get them.
Gee Mud, are you still HTML impaired? Didn't they teach that at UVA? ;-)
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