Control Of The Senate Up For Grabs
By Greg L | 15 October 2007 | Virginia Senate | 44 Comments
Both RK and NLS are predicting that Democrats will gain control of the Virginia Senate this election. What difference would that make? It would just about certainly ensure that the Senate would continue to stonewall much-needed reform of state policies regarding illegal aliens, even without Potts and Chichester there. It will also ensure that in the next round of redistricting, legislative district boundaries will be drawn to favor Democratic party control of the House and Senate. Not pleased about this real possibility? There’s something you can do about it.
If you’re in Prince William County, contact the campaigns for Jay O’Brien or Bob Fitzsimmonds and see what you can do to help out. If you’re in Fairfax, Ken Cuccinelli and Jay O’Brien can use your help. Not later, help them right now. They’re doing something each and every day, and they definitely can use your help.
In other parts of Virginia, lend some help to Richard Stuart, Nick Rerras, Tricia Stall, Jill Holtzman-Vogel or Jeff Evans.
These are all competitive races, and what you do for these candidates between now and November 6th can make the difference. Although money makes a big difference, volunteers are more valuable than campaign contributions, and you don’t need prior experience. If you decide not to lend a hand for some reason and Democrats take control of the Senate, you’re going to have years to beat yourself up for letting something happen that you really don’t want.
In a democracy, the ones who show up are the ones who determine the winners. Show up. Now.
Note: The content of this post is strictly the opinion of the author and does not represent the official position of any organization or political party. If you want to learn about the official position of any organization or political party, please visit their website.
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
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Thanks Greg for reminding us to help those who will help us…
Give your local candidate a call and see what you can do:
Jay O’Brien for State Senate
eastern Fairfax and eastern Prince William
(703) 913-8470
Bob FitzSimmonds for State Senate
western Prince William, Manassas, and Manassas Park
(703) 393-8939
Ken Cuccinelli for State Senate
western Fairfax
(703) 766-0635
Greg, you are absolutely right. But in addition to just the state House and Senate redistricting, Democratic control in the General Assembly will also impact Congressional redistricting for the next decade. Congressmen like Thelma Drake, Frank Wolf, or Randy Forbes could be drawn into much more competitive districts simply by shifting lines a little bit. Think about it.
“Democratic control in the General Assembly will also impact Congressional redistricting for the next decade. ”
Yes, I thank God for that.
And don’t forget that the illegal aliens will also contribute the redistricting as they were counted (as best the could) in the last census.
Anon 4:37,
Why is that? Has the Dem majority in the U.S. Congress shown anything in the year they have been in power? What makes you think if they control the GA they would do anything other then raise taxes, take away rights, and turn a good State into a bad one?
Yeah, I think they’ve got a lot to show. It’s true the democrats in congress have more local constituents to appease [read: they know they represent republican districts and know which side their bread is buttered on], so in those terms the democrats need to work with their districts. I’m not surprised by any results thus far for those reasons, and suggesting the democrats have nothing to show is misrepresenting reality.
The senate has a long way to go due to the republican obstructionism, but that will likely change next year too.
And its obvious NLS and RK care little for how they get to a Democrat led Senate!!!!!!!
And you’re suggesting, Scott, that BVBL cares how it holds/regains a republican led senate?
Let me add that I think NLS doesn’t pull any punches and tells it pretty much like it is, even on the democrats. If something stinks, it stinks.
We haven’t had a “Republican-led Senate,” Tom C, in living memory. With the likes of Chichester and Potts, it simply was a distinction without a difference.
That having been said, I don’t take Ranting Kids seriously at all .,., well, ever, and Ben Tribbett is now in full partisan mode, as well.
And Vogel just laid the smack down on Schultz by pulling out the Washington Post endorsement!!!!!! TALK ABOUT TAKING THE WIND OUT OF THE DEMOCRAT’S SAILS! You have to be seriously flawed to lose the endorsement of the WAPO as a dem – and that’s being civil about it.
Let’s get specific:
Fact1: Chuck Colgan says that those gentlemen standing outside the 7-11 are really from El Salvador and they are here legally. He says he talks to them quite a bit. He says we (Prince William County) are all mistaken. They aren’t illegal.
Fact2: He voted against the question that asked whether an applicant at the DMV was a U.S. citizen which is a yes or no question. Colgan stated that he thought that was too confusing. Gee, if someone can’t answer a yes or no question do you think they should be getting a driver’s license?
Fact3: Chuck Colgan thinks we should pay a higher gasoline tax. Isn’t that wonderful for all those people who have to sit on 66 to commute to work. He sure wants to make you feel good about your commute by charging you extra for it.
Fact4: Chuck Colgan puts his “RE-ELECT COLGAN” signs on houses that are up for sale and vacant. I know because I live near one. Go down Sudley Manor Drive towards Linton Hall Rd. and look at where he has his signs. Yes, right near the signs advertising land for sale. In the past he put up signs in resident’s yards that were away on a trip and did not, I’ll repeat and DID NOT request them. I wouldn’t be surprised if he resorted to that tactic again this time. I sure like the Colgan signs he puts up in front of houses up for sale which have the “Se habla espanol” on them. Of course he does like to converse with those fellows at the 7-11.
Fact5: Chuck Colgan said he was not going to make us any promises he couldn’t keep. That means he doesn’t give a crap about your concerns.
Yes, I’ve heard him at the debates and have seen his shenanigans. Can’t you see PWC residents that he has been in that office too long and that he has become a “career politician”. That is scary.
All of the above it was convinces me that we need a change. That is why I’m voting for Bob Fitzsimmonds.
VOTE BOB FITZSIMMONDS!
Who cares about Ben Tribbet. He plays poker for a living, has no moral/family values as he’s never had anything that resembles a meaningful relationship, lies/fabricates at least 1/4 of the time in his posts, will NEVER get a job working in either the Democratic or Republican party, has never done a tad of community service, has absolutely no passion for anything outside of being an ass, is viewed by most Democratic and certainly Republican incumbents as a very odd boy with lots of emotional issues, was viewed by most at Robinson SS as a boy with emotional issues, etc, etc,.. As for Lowell Feld, I’m sure his family is so proud of him for everything he does and brings to the community and bet every candidate would just love to have his endorsement. What a guy! Keep charging Greg!
Patty,
FACT 6 about Colgan:
He seems to be running in Toddy Puller’s district instead of his own based upon the placement of many of his signs up along Route 1 including some in Woodbridge!
It wouldn’t surprise me if I saw a Colgan sign in D.C.
Patty,
Did you tear down the sign on Sudley Manor near Linton Hall which was placed on that land with the permission of the owner?
Wouldn’t surprise me either, people love him everywhere.
No, I like to leave signs up so that others know the kind of shenanigans that are happening in the area. I also like to leave them up so I can have a good laugh. You have to admit it’s amusing.
I think there is enough blame for each party to share the blame, but here is a fact provided by our own Bob Marshall.
In 1994 Senator Colgan co-patroned a resolution on immigration which passed the Senate 37-0. Delegate Marshall goes on to say “Sen. Stolle helped kill a number of anti-illegal alien bills in 2007 as Chairman of the Senate Courts Committee”
Senator Stolle is a Republican and unless the Dems take over he will continue to block this legislation!
SEE COMMENTS BELOW PROVIDED BY DELEGATE MARSHALL
The illegal alien question and state benefits has been all over the political ball park. For example, SJR 125 introduced by Sen. Barry (R-Fairfax) in 1994 requested the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to establish procedures to identify illegal aliens living in the Commonwealth, and to verify documents presented by immigrants applying for social services to ascertain their authenticity, and to report the cost of all services being provided to unauthorized immigrants by the state. It was co-patroned by the following Senate members which crossed teh political conservative-liberal spectrum: Bell, Calhoun, Chichester, Colgan, Earley, Hawkins, Holland, C.A., Potts, Robb, Saslaw, Stolle, Stosch, Trumbo, Wampler and Woods. (Sen. Stolle helped kill a number of anti-illegal alien bills in 2007 as Chairman of the Senate Courts Committee including Sen. O’Brien’s bill, SB 1045, which would have expanded state and local law enforcements powers to include certain immigration enforcement powers as allowed by the US Dept. of Homeland Security.).
SJR 125 passed the Senate in February, 1994 on a 37-0 vote, and went to the House Rules Committee which left it die later in 1994 by voting to continue the measure for the 1995 session, and then never taking a vote later in the year. It was a Democrat controlled committee in the House, but both Senate Democrats and Republicans of all political stripes wanted to find out the cost to Virginia of the illegal aliens. What was the intent of House Democrats then in not taking the measure up? I do not know. All I can say is that it is too bad it failed.
Delegate Bob Marshall (R-13, Prince William and Loudoun)
Patty–That’s quite the list you got there. Don’t forget that the Colgan gas tax increase was proposed during the same time he was voting against the abuser fees when they applied to everyone but for them when they applied to only Virginians.
Anon 10:34–It was probably a PWC clean up crew that removed it because it was too close to the road.
In fact I saw a gentleman pull up some Colgan signs that were placed at a vacant house that is up for sale. He came with his pick up truck and carefully placed them in the back. I was outside at the time and when he went by I yelled at him, “You’re too late”. He gave me a dirty look. Oh, well, maybe he found a vacant house on Lomond Drive to put the signs. I’ll miss those signs. When I needed a good chuckle I would just glance over to see those signs. Oh, well, I miss those signs. It was nice comic relief while it lasted.
A good laugh is Bob Fitzsimmonds. What happened to 3 strikes and your out. How many times is this clown going to run for public office.
You know Bill you and the original Bill Scott have a lot in common
Anon 10:57, it is great to see your willingness to address the real issues, but in regards to your question, I think that idea got thrown out a few decades ago when some guys named Harry Parrish and Frank Wolf got elected after the voters came around.
Anon 10:59, the original Bill Scott? Did you know my grandfather?
Mr. Scott,
You are correct Senator Colgan did propose a gas tax increase WHICH WOULD APPLY TO EVERYONE IN-STATE AND OUT OF STATE. While at the same time opposing abusive driver fees which also extended to everyone.
How is exactly could we collect abusive drivers fees from out of state drivers? We could not take their drivers license? Is it even constitutional? Oh thats right you and Bob don’t care about the
the state or Federal constitution, just give me a sound bite.
Let’s not forget the abusive driver fee bill was a Republican bill. Why did the Republicans prefer this bill which included more than a dozen new fees. So they could claim they never increased taxes. Fee’s are not taxes, it is all about deception.
A shell game, and guess what it worked because you and Patty
fell for it.
B.S.,
Was this your grandfather? Didn’t know him myself just what I have read.
The Mercury reported that Virginia’s Rep. William Scott was known as the “dumbest man in Congress” (he called a press conference to deny that), and never hesitated to scold such Virginia political icons as Mills Godwin
I know she’s not every conservative’s cup of tea, but Jeannemarie Davis could use your help too - this race is a lot closer than the bloggers want you to think. If JMDD, O’Brien, and Cuccinelli all hang on–and they can–we should be in very good shape.
Ronald Reagans number one rule was Never speak ill of a fellow Republican. Tonight you say vote Republican will at the same time cursing the late Harry Parrish, Frank Wolfe,
John Chichester, and Russ Potts. Well, okay Potts is fair game after attempting to run for Gov as an Independant.
You people would eat your young.
13 years is one decade plus 3 years, not a few decades.
It seems everytime someone try engage in serious debate of the facts the information gets taken off.
Somehow it appears this didn’t take or got deleted.
The information below was provided by Delegate Bob Marshall as an answer to a question on another thread. You will see Colgan co-patroned an immigration resolution in 1994 which died in the Democratic controlled house. He goes on to say “(Sen. Stolle helped kill a number of anti-illegal alien bills in 2007 as Chairman of the Senate Courts Committee” Sen Stolle for the record is a Republican and will remain Chairman of this committee as long as the Republicans control the Senate.
Marshall Remarks
1. The illegal alien question and state benefits has been all over the political ball park. For example, SJR 125 introduced by Sen. Barry (R-Fairfax) in 1994 requested the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to establish procedures to identify illegal aliens living in the Commonwealth, and to verify documents presented by immigrants applying for social services to ascertain their authenticity, and to report the cost of all services being provided to unauthorized immigrants by the state. It was co-patroned by the following Senate members which crossed teh political conservative-liberal spectrum: Bell, Calhoun, Chichester, Colgan, Earley, Hawkins, Holland, C.A., Potts, Robb, Saslaw, Stolle, Stosch, Trumbo, Wampler and Woods. (Sen. Stolle helped kill a number of anti-illegal alien bills in 2007 as Chairman of the Senate Courts Committee including Sen. O’Brien’s bill, SB 1045, which would have expanded state and local law enforcements powers to include certain immigration enforcement powers as allowed by the US Dept. of Homeland Security.).
SJR 125 passed the Senate in February, 1994 on a 37-0 vote, and went to the House Rules Committee which left it die later in 1994 by voting to continue the measure for the 1995 session, and then never taking a vote later in the year. It was a Democrat controlled committee in the House, but both Senate Democrats and Republicans of all political stripes wanted to find out the cost to Virginia of the illegal aliens. What was the intent of House Democrats then in not taking the measure up? I do not know. All I can say is that it is too bad it failed.
Delegate Bob Marshall (R-13, Prince William and Loudoun)
Nunya,
Whoa lots of baseless accusations and CAPITAL LETTERS there. Let’s see if I can answer a few of them…
I am happy that Colgan voted against the bill when abuser fees applied to everyone (I agree with this vote), but I wish he would have ALSO voted against the abuser fees the second time when they only hit Virginians. Abuser fees on anyone are a bad idea, an even worse idea is supporting abuser fees that only hit your own citizens.
FitzSimmonds opposed both versions of HB3202. You are right to say the bill was sponsored by a Republican member. Interestingly he is not running for state senate in Virginia’s 29th district. The bill was signed by a Democratic Governor who has given $20,000 to Colgan’s campaign. It was this Governor who amended the bill that Colgan voted for where only Virginians would have to pay the abuser fees. I don’t know if either version of the bill was constitutional, but I know both versions were bad, and Colgan only supported the worst one.
My biggest problem regarding Colgan and the abuser fees is his intentional deception. In his speech at the Committee of 100 and in his mail he says he opposed them even though he voted for them. There is a shell game if there ever was one.
-Wolf finally won in 1980 and Parish came back a lot more than 13 years ago. I certainly never attacked either, but I think you mean Reagan’s 11th Commandment, not Reagan’s #1 rule. Reagan came out with his 11th in 1980, four years after he kicked the teeth out of an incumbent president from his own party in a brutal nomination fight. I had no problem with that though.
-No, my grandfather was a career military man, not a congressmen. Although he was dumb, he consistently voted Democratic.
It is easy to oppose things sitting on the coach
How dare you say that, I would never sit on Joe Gibbs!
LOL in the middle of the night. Oh, the English language!
James Young, there was some “blurring” of the discussion above when I mentioned “republican led senate”, and I was making a general comment which could be associated with either the state senate, or the US senate. But your point is taken, including the point of ranting kids, what can be used to describe other blogs than just NLS.
Bill,
That’s what is scary about Colgan. He is good at deception. Now people are starting to wake up and realize it. I heard him say out of his own mouth that he wasn’t going to make any promises that he couldn’t keep. So, he really doesn’t care about our concerns.
Everyone,
Go out for yourself and see where he has his signs. His tactics remind me of someone who will do whatever to win an election. He only cares about “his” office. He doesn’t care about us. He told us we are mistaken. He said all those men standing at 7-11 are here legally. I heard him, live and in person. He said that in front of a whole room of people. He even told us that we need to go up to them and talk with them. I’m sure he will put forth legislation to require all Virginia residents to speak Spanish.
Anyone who votes for him has their head in the sand. He has been in that office too long. He has become a career politician. He doen’t care that we have a problem with illegal aliens. He is in denial that we have a problem.
Patty, you make it sound like Colgan has the market cornered on deceptive campaign practices, but I assure you, both parties have their share of deception. The blade of only caring about “his” office cuts both ways. You can’t possibly tell me with a straight face that all the candidates you support are without such sin.
Fact:
Bob Fitzsimmonds has been to the BOCS meetings. Where in the world was ChucK Colgan?
Sorry, TC I’m not taking your bait.
What bait is that? I’m not baiting you at all, just stating the truth. It’s easy to dismiss deception from the candidate[s] you want to win.
Oh, btw, I’m Tom C from above. I just noticed that on this computer my nick was different.
Why in the world would a state senator hang out at a BOCS meeting? I can think of no other reason than to grandstand.
One can certainly granstand by speaking at a BOCS meeting, but I think it must be tough to grandstand when a candidate simply meets voters, tells them his platform, and listens to their concerns outside of the hearing which is what FitzSimmonds did.
Right, so Fitzsimmonds was campaigning. Nothing wrong with that. Also nothing wrong with not doing it, too. One can always argue that Colgan wasn’t there because he is ignoring or ducking his constituents. Or, he may just have other engagements.
Patty,
I saw some Fitzsimmonds sign along Marsteller Road next to the railroad track. I also some one at Hoadly and the parkway, and others still at Minniville and the Parkway. Since you are the sign police can you take care of this for us. Unless he is running against O’Brien these are in the wrong place. Also O’Brien has one at the corner of Vint Hill and Greenich at Mayhughes store, not in his district. Fitz also put at the corner of Clover Hill and the Bypass, on City Property.
You need to get a life