Bob Marshall Is In
By Greg L | 1 December 2007 | Virginia Politics, US Senate | 29 Comments
I had a chance to speak with Delegate Bob Marshall tonight, and he is joining the race for the Republican nomination for United States Senator, joining candidates Chris Saxman (who will also announce tomorrow) and Jim Gilmore. Bob Marshall’s candidacy is a true test of whether social conservatives can once again re-establish themselves as a formidable political force in Virginia, since he is the absolute perfect candidate to inspire their loyalty and dedication. Not too long ago they were a dominant force, but have often felt marginalized or taken for granted by candidates that have talked the talk, but left something to desire as they started actually walking.
Another factor that makes a Bob Marshall candidacy fascinating is that despite him being viewed by the left as solely a moral issues legislator, he has a solid grasp of transportation, fiscal and legal matters which makes him a candidate with a much more quality foundation in these issues that the left would give him credit for. His appeal to conservatives is readily apparent, but his well-reasoned approach to nuts-and-bolts governance issues appeals across the board, and this is something that is continuously underestimated by Democrats, much to their electoral peril.
Marshall will face a good conservative opponent in Jim Gilmore. Gilmore ran a pretty underwhelming presidential race, and left some unfinished business as Governor which takes the shine off his attempt to eliminate the personal property tax in Virginia. Chris Saxman’s leadership of the effort to support amnesty and campaign finance “reform” architect John McCain, who is not popular in Virginia by a longshot will severely undermine his credibility as a conservative despite his admirable efforts with the cost-cutting caucus. Marshall can be a very strong contender here.
Unfortunately, Bob Marshall is going to have to wage this campaign without much support from the state Republican leadership, many of whom have felt alienated by Marshall’s stands on party leadership and refusal to play ball on HB 3202. This is going to have to be a strong grass-roots campaign for Bob, and fortunately that’s exactly the kind of campaign he likes to run. Gilmore has not developed much of a grass-roots team, and in particular has eschewed any efforts to reach out beyond traditional campaign operations. Saxman is much better at this, but is coming from a demographic base in that’s not at all rich in electoral value. If this is a grass-roots effort, Bob Marshall is actually ahead of the game. If it’s typical party politics, with money as they key, Gilmore is probably strongest.
Grass-roots, when done right, beats money every time however. This should be interesting. Who will step up to represent the 13th House District if Marshall wins will also me fascinating. Is this Bruce Roemmelt’s final chance at elected office, or will John Stirrup take this opportunity to advance to the House of Delegates and crush Roemmelt once and for all, leaving an opportunity for someone to move up into the Board of Supervisors in the Gainesville District?
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Greg, did Bob Marshall support Faisal Gill?
He is going to be crushed
Bob Marshall is not going to be nominated by the Republican party for the U.S. Senate. If he is, he will be crushed by Mark Warner, and might cause so much of a back lash in most of Northern Virginia as to cause trouble for Frank Wolf and whoever runs into Tom Davis’s place. His showing in the 13th District is mostly do to his ability to hold the Republican base in a Republican District and the usual advantages of incumbency. Aside from a few single issue anti-growth voters, who stopped learning anything about public policy in 1996, Bob has virtually no appeal outside of the Republican base. He is not very well known in the rest of Virginia and would, when properly introduced by the well resourced Mark Warner campaign, not make a very good impression. And, Warner would clean up with all the moderate Republicans who once belonged to a party that was more concerned about fiscal responsiblity and competent government and not all that concerned with people’s sex lives. But please, Greg, go ahead. If you really think the problem with the Republican party in Virginia is that it is not radically theocratic enough, then push all the moderates like Saxman out. There is a political home for them — the Democratic party.
Democrats say - Thanks Bob.
If a politican goes to the God-less party of the Democrats, I REALLY have to wonder if he was a Republican in the first place. However, Anonymous, I do agree with you on Bob in that for NOVA he may have a base, the rest of VA, probably not. But if not for NOVA, Mark Warner would not have won.
Greg
I believe that Marshall will be a disaster for the goal of more conservative government. Not only will he not win, but will be the “Willie Horton” face of theologically based governance, costing NoVa and probably the state several critical postions. This is not about beliefs (most of mine, personally, tend toward the Christian Fundamental), but about government and governance….Big Government of the Right is not better than Big Government of the Left.
In the end, politicians must triangulate (I know that phrase is distastefully Clintonesque, but it is appropriate). They must balance personal (moral, theological) philosophy with political (government and governance) policy with the ability to actually achieve something. While the Bomb Throwers like Marshall may create great press for the absolutists, we need to understand that it took 70 years of socialist policies from both parties (Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy/Johnson, Peanut Man, Zipper Man) including “conservative” Republicans (Nixon’s Education policies, Bush’s health policies as key examples), and the roll back will not be accomplished in one Congressional term. For all the noise of “conservatives) at the state and local level, our government continues to grow and our “conservative” friends and legislators have abjectly failed to cut programs that would lead to smaller, less intrusive government and free funds to be use for programs that are both appropriate for government and important to solve.
Bob Marshall cannot provide the leadership necessary to put and keep us on the road to traditional (vs theological) conservatism that will attract voters and support a renewed republican democracy. I do not support this move and earnestly hope and (yes) pray that he and his supporters will reconsider.
Darfur Frank is causing enough troubles for himself all by himself. SIGN UP FOR THE SAVE ACT, FRANK.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
Why don’t the Repubicans cede now? It would save $$$$
Saw the post about the Honorable Mr. Stewart’s law firm under the Wash Post thread. Looks like the firm helps illegals get legal here in the USA. Sure irks me.
Advocator said on 1 Dec 2007 at 12:15 pm:
Darfur Frank is causing enough troubles for himself all by himself. SIGN UP FOR THE SAVE ACT, FRANK.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
I don’t think he can. For whatever reason, he seems to be avoiding this subject. He has yet to respond to queries to join the bandwagon or give a reason why he will not. To ignore the subject (THE SAVE ACT) totally is not acceptable!
OV, that’s B.S. Corey is an international trade lawyer, not an immigration attorney.
Greg - this what his FIRM is involved in. I assume he earns money from other cases besides his own. If this were Pandak’s FIRM you’d skewer her.
PS - Please don’t swear at me.
Thank you.
OV is out of touch with reality
Patty
These are facts not an opinion. Don’t be blind.
Have you looked at the Foley and Larnder website?
One Voice,
Don’t Hall Oats, your NOT out of touch ( song from Hall & Oats
)
Hall and Oates, sorry been awhile since they were in touch
Redawn - I’m not hauling oates anywhere. This is too much fun.
Anyone can go to the website and read what anonymous found. If I could figure out to do a link, I would.
One Voice,
Hopefully Anonymous will see the posts and drop the link
I’m reeling from the post above regarding Bob Marshall. I thought I’d heard everything bad about the guy there could be. I am begining to thing I’ve dropped into some sort of parallel universe with everything upside down….
PS regarding the link - maybe it will be included in the new thread that SHOULD be posted regarding this dirty little secret.
I’m not going to hold my breath though.
Let’s hope he gets the nod. Then Virginia will have democrat senators. Who would have thought it. Just goes shows how out of touch the Va Republican Party is. Keep up the good work.
Here’s typical Marshall: angry, incoherent, fanatical, and misinformed. Were Marshall to actually win the Senate nomination, this clip will make a great attack ad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6k4RrKNk7s
To: Santa
From: Mark Warner
Re: VA Senate Race
Please, please, PRETTY PLEASE, let Bob Marshall be the Republican Nominee for the VA Senate!!!
Just some dude,
Sad isn’t it? Talk about a parallel universe. And to think, this is the 21st century.
(opinion disclaimer added)
just some dude said on 1 Dec 2007 at 9:45 pm,
not the morning AFTER WATCHING the youtube clip. I would like to see the one to stop the FAT I mean FRAT boys from using the love canal and the ones that have to use the date rape pill to travel it.
redawn said on 2 Dec 2007 at 12:09 am
And there’s the typical Bob Marshall supporter: angry, incoherent, fanatical, and misinformed.
Honestly, read what you wrote. Do you expect anyone other than yourself to understand what you mean? It’s a jumbled mess. I wonder if that reflects your thinking.
just some dude,
I was being sarcastic towards the video. I think that the morning after pill should be available. In the video Bob didn’t want it passed out to as if that would stop the frat boys from doing what they do and with no respect to women (as he more or less admitted ) I want to see what he would do to stop that behavior along with the use of date rape drugs.
Whoooa, Just some dude,
Don’t go for the jugular with those who are agreeing with you. Trust me, redawn is NOT a Marshall supporter and would probably bitch slap you for even suggesting that she was. It is after midnight. Cut us some slack.
We aren’t angry, fanatical, incoherent, or misinformed. Feel free to email me at dolphin_moon@excite.com to see just how far back my files go. Ok, I take it back, I am angry…after watching that youtube clip. Attempts at oppression have that effect on me.
Peace,
Dolph
(opinion disclaimer added)
Saxman isn’t running.