"We have lost our ambition, our imagination, and our willingness to do the things that built the Golden Gate Bridge" - Barack Obama (aka President Malaise)
Pitch in with the Prince William Young Republicans and help defeat Obama in 2012!
Who Is Patricia Richie-Folks?
By Greg L | 8 February 2012 | Manassas City | 1 Comment
Manassas Democrats haven’t nominated someone to run for city council in many years, but this time around they did actually manage to find an electoral sacrifice to offer city voters. Patricia Richie-Folks should quite easily live up (or rather, down) to the standard of unqualified, out-of-touch and disconnected Democrat nominees that locks Manassas and Prince William County’s Neabsco district in such a tight battle for the mantle of worst party organization in Virginia. It’s another doozy in Manassas’ column on this one.
Our Crack Local Mainstream Media
By Greg L | 1 February 2012 | Illegal Aliens, Crime, Prince William County | 17 Comments
So this guy is charged with being a “peeping tom,” an offense that Delegate Jackson Miller said several years ago during a debate about some legislation he was sponsoring that would require that a police officer release the suspect on a summons, and the perp is being held without bond in jail? My, are we going to get the ACLU and every other “civil rights” organization screaming bloody murder about denying civil rights to a Latino?
Or did the vaunted news organization of the News and Messenger simply fail to inquire during their reporting that this alleged freak might be an illegal alien, or choose not to report that he is? On it’s face, this story either demonstrates a blatant violation of Virginia law, or obvious selective reporting by our local media.
You decide.
The Dynamic Duo: Anna Lee And Jo-Ann Chase
By Greg L | 31 January 2012 | RPV | 31 Comments
“Why is this witch running for Chairman?” was the first thing that came to mind when I heard that Anna Lee was going to challenge John Whitbeck for Chairman of the 10th Congressional District. The answer apparently is that she thinks she’s actually going to win because Jo-Ann Chase is supporting her. A witch and a psycho. What a team for the Republican Party.
Ian Lovejoy Crushes At Manassas Convention
By Greg L | 28 January 2012 | Manassas City | 20 Comments
Today’s Manassas City GOP convention was quite a bit different than the rise of the establishment that marked this exercise back in 2008. Then, incumbents cruised towards a certain victory in the general election with a slate of GOP incumbents that changed nothing. This time around, a challenger not only knocked off an incumbent but ended up as the top vote getter by a decisive margin. This sets up a general election contest that’s going to be far more interesting to watch where incumbency is not anywhere near as powerful as it has been over the past few decades.
Andy Harrover’s bid for mayor against Hal Parrish had been characterized as an old-guard versus new-guard contest, but it really wasn’t. It was a contest among two established candidates where the argument to kick Hal out wasn’t really driven home. Parrish had the opportunity to somewhat uncharacteristically fire back with a strong broadside during his speech to seal the deal, and earn nearly two thirds of the weighted delegate votes as a result. Unseating Parrish was going to be a longshot under the best of circumstances for Harrover, so this doesn’t really come as much of a surprise.
The surprise of the morning was Ian Lovejoy’s tremendous performance. With the backing of Delegate Jackson Miller, conservative stalwart councilman Marc Aveni, and the unabashed support of the Tea Party, Lovejoy cruised to a huge victory with about 61% of the weighted vote. I’d expected he’d do well, but coming out as the top vote getter is a vastly rare accomplishment for a convention candidate in this setting. Ian has gone from contender to kingmaker in one day leaving the convention wisdom on Manassas election politics in complete ruins. This outcome rocks the “establishment” and demonstrates at least for now there’s a power shift going on in Manassas politics with conservatives on the rise in a complete reversal of what happened in 2008.
The incumbents battled for the scraps, all running within about ten to fifteen votes of each other in an unusually weak performance for incumbents in the city. Jonathan Way and Mark Wolfe squeaked by, leaving a visibly shocked Sheryl Bass slightly behind. The difference here seemed to be the palpable anger of the convention delegates towards the school board, and Bass being a former member of that board she got caught in the crossfire as each candidate’s speech seemed to throw plenty of rocks at the school board and decry the underwhelming performance of the city’s schools and the effect that has on real estate values and the quality of life in the city. Charles Patullo didn’t even register, even after having Xerk White (who has endorsed independent candidates over Republicans in the past) give his nomination speech.
Watch out incumbents on the school board. There’s a freight train coming your way. Fast.
With one conservative independent (Jerry Carman) and likely a Democrat competing against this slate of council candidates in May, the general election looks like it’s going to be a lot more interesting than the typical ticket punch for GOP candidates. Way and Wolfe have some ground to make up in here before they can feel in any way comfortable, and if challengers from outside the party run strong campaigns they could quite easily come up short in the general election. It’s up to conservatives to seal the deal here, and they might have one more surprise in store for us before this election is over.
Barf Time: Redistricting Is Done
By Greg L | 26 January 2012 | Virginia Politics, US Congress | 16 Comments
After utterly zero consideration of the enormous flaws of the congressional redistricting map commonly known as “the incumbent protection plan,” Governor McDonnell has signed it into law. Thank you so much, Mr. Governor and our representatives in the General Assembly, for rolling over on this tragic stupidity so Congressmen can feel more safe and comfortable.
Mark Wolfe Using Illegal Alien Labor?
By Greg L | 23 January 2012 | Illegal Aliens, Crime, Manassas City | 105 Comments
Virtucon alleges this morning that Manassas City Councilman Mark Wolfe has knowingly employed illegal aliens. That’s not going to help with a convention coming up in Manassas on Saturday where Wolfe is on the ballot. Not a bit.
My experience with Wolfe is that he’s been strongly in favor of cracking down on illegal immigration, so this comes as quite a surprise.
UPDATE: Virtucon reports on other violations of the law. This is not Mark Wolfe’s week.
PWCRC Chairman: A Contest Brewing
By Greg L | 22 January 2012 | PWCRC | 2 Comments
This is one of those years when local committees reorganize themselves, and this year Lyle Beefelt, who has done an utterly outstanding job of sheparding the PWCGOP through the perils of committee politics is not running for re-election. That has left an opening for Tom Whitmore, a dedicated activist who currently serves as Vice-Chair, to rise to the chairmanship. It might not be quite that simple, though.
Bob Marshall Makes It Official
By Greg L | 16 January 2012 | Virginia Politics, US Senate | 11 Comments
With Virginia’s Republican establishment blog Bearing Drift heaping scorn on Marshall on the same day Marshall officially announces his candidacy, I have little doubt George Allen is very concerned about his political future. To me, that’s good. A primary that does little more than anointing a candidate on the basis that they’re owed it holds scarcely any interest from me.
Manassas GOP Candidate Filing Update
By Greg L | 14 January 2012 | Manassas City | 13 Comments
The candidate filing deadline for the Manassas GOP convention has passed and there are five candidates for council and two for mayor. Incumbents Johnathan Way, Sheryl Bass and Mark Wolfe have all filed, along with challengers Ian Lovejoy and Charles Patullo. Both Andy Harrover and incumbent Hal Parrish have filed for mayor.
A couple of observations on these races:
Dumbest Virginia Senator: Donald McEachin Wins Hands Down
By Greg L | 12 January 2012 | Virginia Senate | 3 Comments
Liberal Democrats might have their legs all a-tingly with Senator Donald McEachin, but they should realize by now that the guy is a blithering idiot. He blew any chances at power sharing in the Senate with antics that display a stunning level of professional incompetence.
You Make The Call
By Greg L | 12 January 2012 | Crime, Manassas City | 11 Comments
A gang-banger trafficking in middle school girls as sex slaves in Manassas? Just what might the chances be that he’s an illegal alien? Anyone?
It would hardly be the first time.
WashPo: Bob Marshall Is IN!
By Greg L | 12 January 2012 | Virginia Politics, US Senate | 3 Comments
So sayeth the mainstream media. If Bob Marshall indeed announces his candidacy for US Senate, he will have my full support. No one has for so long, and with such consistent determination, fought for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as Bob Marshall.
A Great Finish For Dianne Blais
By Greg L | 12 January 2012 | Fairfax County, Virginia House | 1 Comment
Dianne Blais might not have achieved much success in her run for Delegate in the 40th District, but she did manage to finish within the top three in a nationwide contest for the worst videos of 2011. Her third-place finish in the Sucky Awards is truly a notable accomplishment and for that she well deserves our heartfelt congratulations.
Another political Sucky, this time proving it doesn’t take a lot of money to make an awful political ad. Dianne’s song about why she should be elected is either a knowing parody or an unknowing train wreck, and the strongest evidence points to the latter.
Manassas Mayoral Shakeup Fortells Senate Shift?
By Greg L | 5 January 2012 | 29th VA Senate, Manassas City | 24 Comments
Reader “JimmyV” noticed a new facebook page tonight for Andy Harrover for Mayor of Manassas, which is quite surprising and raises some interesting questions. This is the first I’d heard that Harrover was interested in the post, and raises interesting questions about what Hal Parrish’s plans might be in public service.
Supervisor Cook Follows Through On Deal With SEIU
By Greg L | 4 January 2012 | Fairfax County | 2 Comments
I remember getting quite a bit of grief after reporting that Fairfax Supervisor John Cook (R) was cozying up to the SEIU during the last election cycle, but my hopes in doing that were that at the very least the critique might discourage him from helping this public sector union gain more power at the expense of the public. Unfortunately, those hopes have been dashed, and the SEIU is building a bridgehead into the selection process of the next Fairfax County Executive just as I feared.
Manassas Municipal Elections 2012
By Greg L | 1 January 2012 | Manassas City | 26 Comments
Just in case you haven’t yet had your fill of elections in Virginia, there’s a campaign cycle ramping up in earnest in Manassas City right now. With municipal elections coming up on May 1st that means there’s a Republican convention on January 28th, the outcome of which more often than not determines who is going to get a spot on the council. Three city council Republican incumbents are up for re-election: Johnathan Way, Mark Wolfe and Sheryl Bass as well as five independent members of the Manassas City School Board: Tim Demeria, Patrick Linehan, Reggie Moore, Pam Sebesky and Sanford Williams.
2011: The Year In Review
By Greg L | 31 December 2011 | Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Virginia Politics, Prince William County | 3 Comments
2011 was entirely boring and uneventful in Northern Virginia. Nothing at all of interest happened, except for floods, earthquakes, a furiously silly election season, the biggest historical reenactment and anniversary in 50 years, mass murders, redistricting, and well, okay. So 2011 wasn’t exactly boring.
With apologies to Dave Barry, here we go…
Merry Craziness, Happy New Paradigm
By Greg L | 30 December 2011 | Virginia Politics | 49 Comments
All sorts of political craziness seemed to erupt while I was away on vacation for Christmas. Virginia’s Republican presidential primary certifies a whopping two candidates, neither which seem to appeal to voters a whole lot and immediately descends into silly lawsuits and an equally silly “loyalty oath”, the US Senate campaign field narrows by one, and a whole lot of behind-the-scenes jockeying starts in earnest in the 2013 statewide races. No doubt this is going to be an engaging year for political junkies like myself.
Notorious “Butt Slasher” Probably An Illegal Alien
By Greg L | 29 December 2011 | Illegal Aliens, Crime | 4 Comments
The National Review has more.
Oh, That’s A Good One…
By Greg L | 20 December 2011 | Virginia Politics, Humor & Satire | 10 Comments
Maybe this is the season for good jokes, as well as good cheer. Luke Torian for Lieutenant Governor? Really?
Maybe Virginia Democrats simply don’t have much in the way of alternatives. Or perhaps they’ve finally discovered a sense of humor. If it’s the latter, I thank them for a good laugh that made my season a little brighter.
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