I know one of them is Watkins Abbitt, Jr. His daddy was a long-time pro-Byrd (that being Harry Flood Byrd, Sr.) Congressman (W.A., Sr.). He was a Democrat until this past election and would ordinarily be a Republican, but I don't think he'd have the heart to do that to daddy ! Of course, we all know the other one is the now-acting Speaker Lacey Putney. I wouldn't mind seeing Putney remain Speaker, but only under a Republican Governor. We need someone to play hardball with Warner, and Putney is too much of a gentleman.
"Do you live in Virginia? You seem to know well informed about goings on in Richmond."
Tennessee, but I try to keep well-informed far beyond my state.
"I don't know if Twodees will chime in or not, but he did a good job of convincing me a good use of a conservative Assembly is hamstringing the governor and having gridlock. At least until Jerry Kilgore moves into the Executive Mansion."
Absolutely. That's the only positive. Unless Warner wants to govern like a Conservative GOPer, he ain't gonna get much done at all. Now I hear he wants to sack the one-term limit on the Governorship (of course, he wasn't the first), but I think it's a bad idea. Having just the one term means they don't have to concern themselves with reelection and can proceed full-speed with their agenda (assuming it is acceptable). If they do a good job, perhaps, like Mills Godwin, they'll be returned again to the position after 4 years out. I think it works just fine.
Commenting on one other thing, I do believe the next Governor's race is going to get mighty ugly. The Lieutenant-Governor, Tim Kaine, who is probably one of the most leftist candidates elected to anything statewide in a long time, is the son-in-law of Abner Linwood Holton, Jr., the 1st GOP Governor of the state since Reconstruction elected in 1969. Holton is a RINO leftist supremo himself, and will pull out all the stops to get Kaine into office (as will Warner). But Kilgore will run, hopefully, an unapologetic conservative campaign, as he did last time, which should cinch it. It's unfortunate that internecine battle between Hager and Earley so needlessly damaged us. Both gentlemen could've taken a term as Governor (Earley first, then Hager). I liked Hager at first, but didn't like his classless conduct after he lost the nomination and went RINO. I sort of soured on Earley a bit, too, over vouchers/school choice. I'm hoping that Kilgore will not wimp out on some of these issues.
One never knows. Plenty of other Southern conservative Dems have come around. If Virgil Goode can do it, any of them can.
Of course, we all know the other one is the now-acting Speaker Lacey Putney. I wouldn't mind seeing Putney remain Speaker, but only under a Republican Governor. We need someone to play hardball with Warner, and Putney is too much of a gentleman.
I've said it before and can't help repeating: only in the South can mamas name their baby boys Lacey and get away with it!
Unless Warner wants to govern like a Conservative GOPer, he ain't gonna get much done at all. Now I hear he wants to sack the one-term limit on the Governorship (of course, he wasn't the first), but I think it's a bad idea. Having just the one term means they don't have to concern themselves with reelection and can proceed full-speed with their agenda (assuming it is acceptable). If they do a good job, perhaps, like Mills Godwin, they'll be returned again to the position after 4 years out. I think it works just fine.
I tend to agree though I know there is disagreement among Virginians here. My view is term limits are both anti-democratic robbing me of my possible civic desire to vote for the candidate of my choice. On the other hand, one term seems to have worked well for 400 years, why change it?
But Kilgore will run, hopefully, an unapologetic conservative campaign, as he did last time, which should cinch it.
Kilgore so far has taken the most conservative position possible on every decision I've seen him make. Bodes well for his gov bid assuming the troops are motivated after Warner's term is over. My only concern is the non-Virginians who've migrated here who will be put off by his Virginia coal country accent. Even moderates and independents here reflexively vote GOP for the Attorney General position without knowing a thing about the candidate thereby helping Kilgore win northern Virginia. Kilgore earned more votes than M. Warner.
It's unfortunate that internecine battle between Hager and Earley so needlessly damaged us. Both gentlemen could've taken a term as Governor (Earley first, then Hager). I liked Hager at first, but didn't like his classless conduct after he lost the nomination and went RINO. I sort of soured on Earley a bit, too, over vouchers/school choice. I'm hoping that Kilgore will not wimp out on some of these issues.
It was a bad situation and I hope the Republican Party of Virginia learned an important lesson. I was initially an uncommitted Delegate to the convention because I wasn't sold on either one. I ended up voting for Hager but immediately liked Earley when he gave his acceptance speech. They're both fine men who are ambitious, of course. Either one would have been a fine governor. Hager came out and campaigned all over the state for the GOP slate and Earley is prospering at Prison Fellowship (I hope).
For a non-Virginian, you sure know a lot about our politics!