State Senator Devolites spent 313,000 on TV services from Stevens Reed Curcio & Potholm. Were the TV ads any good? Who has time to watch TV when everybody is stuck in traffic. Using more grassroots and less TV might have saved her seat.

Senator O’Brien spent 175,000 on radio and TV as well. He used Ten Capitol and Carlyle Gregory as consultants. Again maybe too much money was spent on TV and not enough money on grassroots.

These are low turnout elections. TV and Radio is mostly falling on deaf ears and people who will not vote.

People are beginning to understand that buying ads on radio and TV stations to get a few swing voters to switch to “our side” is problematic.

Meanwhile the Dems were bringing in hundreds of volunteers to go door to door in these districts effectively targeting the most likely voters.

“There are those of us who think you should spend campaign money on alternative grassroots media and grassroots organizers in these swing districts. Hire real grassroots people who can deliver the votes. If you dropped your expensive political media consultants and their ads you would have bundles to spend on real organizing. TV is fun and we all want to be on it but you need to show the proof that these media consultants can swing voters to your side via expensive TV ads.”

We need to look at the political-industrial complex and hold their feet to the fire.

I lost my mother in spring 2006. Both she and Harry Parrish were in intensive care at the same time. Delegate Parrish was a former shadow of himself. I didn’t recognize him at first. He never fully recovered from the pure EVIL that was done to him. It broke my heart. He was a good and decent person who simply didn’t deserve the hideous slash and burn campaign that was done to him.

Those who participated know who they are. The important thing is for me to know who they are. I will contact AWC for a list of the evil-doers, for that is truly what they are.

Maybe one of the Colgan’s will run as a Republican for Chucks seat in four years and we can finally win. I would vote for them in a convention.

Interesting thought GOPWIN. There are enough of them. Colgan’s daughter Mary used be president of the Chamber of Commerce and the grandson who was on the school board just moved back to the area. He won two elections in the Gainesville District back in the 90s. I was at the parents meeting at Bull Run Middle School a couple of years ago after the kid brought the gun to school and the son that is the policeman spoke for the police deparment and did well. The name recognition would be a lock and they could raise the money and bring a lot of Democrat cross over to support one of them, espically with Chuck’s backing.

AW - Right on! It was FitzSimmonds that led the protest march down Center St. and on Harry Parrish’s business office. It is one thing to disagree with Del. Parrish on a tax bill, but marching on the man’s business office, where his wife was at the time, where his grandchildren were, where he did his commerce, and provided jobs was dispicable. And people wonder why so many Republicans supported Colgan. Harry Parrish was an icon in this community. Everyone who saw that knew if FitzSimmonds would do that to Harry Parrish, he would do it to anyone. His campaign was just another example.

Justice let me tell you about your boy Bob. At the Manassas Fall Jubilee FitzSimmonds himself sent one of his henchman over to harrass Colgan’s 17 year old grandson who was wearing a Colgan T-shirt. Colgan’s daughter saw what was going and walked over to challenge the guy and his response was “we’re just having a little fun.” A week later another Fitzsimmonds supporter ran into two of Colgan’s granddaughters (also wearing Colgan t-shirts) at a local restaurant and purposely sat in the booth next to them and harassed them during their meal. On election day, in Manassas Park, one of his poll workers verbally attacked Colgan’s granddaughter, who left the polls in tears and at another polling place in the City a Fitzsimmonds poll worker told one of Colgan’s daughters that she was a “fool” for working for her father. While Fitzsimmonds himself may not have told them to do these things, it seems that there is a common theme here about his campaign workers that transcends from Fitzsimmonds’ actions throughout the campaign….now i know why they are calling him Sideshow Bob.

House seats are up for election again before the next census. With the gains made this go round in the House (5 seat pickup), Democratic control of the Senate, a Democratic Gov, and potentially two Democratic US Senators, it’s possible the Democrats could pick up the House before redistricting (and you can bet that close House races in ‘09 will see a lot of state and national money with redistricting on the line). Virginia has been labelled lately as a “purple” state. The ‘08 election will go a long way towards determining if we’re purple or some shade of blue (Mark Warner will probably win the Senate seat, so the true test will be which direction the Commonwealth goes for President).

Redistricting is done by a joint committee between the House and Senate with the Governor given veto power over the redistricting plan. While a split house would mean Republicans would get some concessions, the threat of a veto (if there is a Democratic governor) would shift the balance of power towards Senate democrats.

You are beyond clever. I enjoyed that. Actually, I would have enjoyed it even if I were not a Colgan supporter.

All American,

You said ‘Dave Mabie did say that the people of PW County would not take someone attacking Colgan the way FitzSimmonds did.’ You hit the nail on the head! Old ties and common decency go a long way in this area. For those of us who have lived in the area for years, the rhetoric against Senator Colgan was like an attack against Santa Claus. There are just some lines you do not cross. He is one of our own.

Additionally, the people in the state have known this Virginia gentleman for years. Even those across the aisle have great respect for Senator Colgan and see him as a person who will work for the benefit of all Virginians, rather than just for his party.

If his daughter and secretary got in a few faces, then good for them. Go at it. What would anyone else do when someone they loved was attacked?

I don’t know how redistricting works when the GA is split. Since the GOP still controls the House, and it does not appear that is going to change anytime soon. The Senate on the other hand seems to be more in play.

Baseball - Bases are loaded, FitzSimmonds at the plate, bottom of the 9th. It’s a full count. FitzSimmonds gets a fast ball, swings and misses. He goes 0-4 and proves he really is a minor leaguer.

Horse Racing - And they are off. Colgan gets out with a big lead before the first post. Going along the straight away FitzSimmonds closes and moves in for the lead. Rounding the back stretch they are neck and neck. Those in the stands think they see FitzSimmonds moving ahead. Coming out of the back strech Colgan kicks it into high gear. FitzSimmonds tries to bump him agains the rail, but Colgan pushes back. Racing for the finish line Colgan pulls into the lead and wins going away. It was one to many furlongs for FitzSimmonds as he tires at the end. The thoroughbread wins again.

Boxing - The bell rings for the first round in this mighty rematch. Many think Colgan has aged and can’t go the distance. The first few rounds just a few punches, no real damage. Colgan is up on the scorecards. In the middle rounds FitzSimmonds comes out swinging. He staggers Colgan on the immigration issue, even takes a few chep shots. The Democratic Party counters with a low blow on the abortion flyer, that Colgan didn’t see coming. The flyer hurts Colgan more that FitzSimmonds, but FitzSimmonds panics with a few wild puches and Colgan continues take his shots and keeps on boxing. In the late rounds Colgan comes on strong. His experience in the ring shows, he brings in the big guns to work his corner. In the final round Colgan devistates FitzSimmonds. It’s a knock out. Rocky wins!

FitzSimmonds ran a lousy race. Just because you work hard does not mean you run a good race. This guy goes to a church at Alvey Elementry a couple of weeks ago and, unknown to the pastor, stands up and introduces himself as a candidate. Last weekend he goes to Holy Trinity Catholic Church and is handing out the bulliten as people are leaving. Then they walk to the cars and he has a made a lit drop on all the cars. People going to chruch don’t want to see that, they want to worship.
He did those robo calls that drove people crazy. Half of them were made outside his district. And the one he made after the abortion flyer sounded like he was crying.

A guy knocks on 10,000 doors and runs for four years a still loses, he’s a lousy candidate. And yes four years ago, Dave Mabie did say that the people of PW County would not take someone attacking Colgan the way FitzSimmonds did. They didn’t. Every Republican officer holder, except for the wing nut on the Manassas City Council and Flip Flop Scott, voted for Colgan, including Jackson Miller. They will lie and say they didn’t, but they did. They talk about in private meetings with winks and nods becuase they all knew that Colgan’s seniority and FitzSimmonds personalty, Colgan was the better choice.

It is time for new leadership in local party. Enough is enough and Bob FitzSimmonds can retire.

You are as always very wish

Congratulations to all candidates who won (even if *I* didn’t vote for you) and thank you to all who did run for office, even if your efforts were not successful.