Agree with your last point. Jeanette has been blasted by the MJM, and of course every Jackson Miller mailer is highlighting her flip-flopping and seemingly wanting to have it both ways on the same issues. She’s a horrible candidate.

We see you’re still undecided in the Anderson/Nichols race. Election Day is coming….time to pick a side!!..lol

According to a letter in today’s (26OCT09) local rag, NUT JOB Nickles is trying to make it look, in an IDIOTIC, INSANE commercial, like Rich Anderson broke the law?

Talk about a FEEBLE MINDED atttempt to DIVERT attention away from his OWN ARREST RECORD!

Hey STUPID (talking to Nickles now) that’s YOUR mug shot they’re holding down there in North Carolina!

The DRUNKEN, BRAWLING, HALF-WITTED MORON, Nickles, being TOO STUPID to mind his own business, was ARRESTED for ASSAULTING a (FEMALE) police officer, resisting arrest and OBSTRUCTION of Justice!

What kind of PATHETIC LOSER lawyer is ARRESTED for OBSTRUCTION of JUSTICE? To answer my own question, NUT JOB Nickles!

Whether or not to vote for Nickles is no longer a question or a concern, we should be DEMANDING HIS RESIGNATION!

He’s INSANE !

Paul F. (for FU**STER) Nickles should be FORCED to RESIGN !!!

He’s not MENTALLY COMPETENT to represent us in Richmond!

You are correct too…I tend to dissect the mechanics of a campaign at every level. My theory is that in every campaign, we can always learn about what works and what doesn’t for when it really counts. We are in a transition period where blogs and viral videos are becoming a potent force n all campaigns. I think there is alot to be learned going forward. Maybe I do over-analyze it all sometimes….I just always think there is alot to learn in every race.

I would have enjoyed Rischell being blasted out of the water for exaggerating her resume for example…not the silly “condom girl” stuff. If there’s ever a tight, hard fought race, I just want everyone to look back and not have to say..”if only we had concentrated on more important issues.” That’s all.

I think you are making too much of this. It’s a local race, and as you pointed out, the outcome is pretty much known, and has been for some time. It’s hard to say how this might have affected the race if it were the first time they met, etc.

Anyway….again…I have just come to the conclusion that it doesn’t gain you anything politically for going after a staffer. There are exceptions, as you pointed out, if there is an instance where a manager is a criminal and other such extreme situations. Most of the time, if you have an awful staffer on the other side, you’d want that person to stick around for the campaign’s entirely instead of having a hand in getting the person fired.

That’s all I care about…what works to get votes and what doesn’t. Going into personal attacks is a double-edged sword that should not be considered lightly. Even against a candidate, it can sometimes work well, but mostly can backfire.

This attack on Richell’s campaign manager was just fodder and cheap entertainment for insider ball people. I’d say it didn’t move votes one way or the other. It sucked the air out of everything for a month when all that ridicule could have been pointd DIRECTLY at Rischell, because Lord knows there’s plenty there without messing with a staffer.

Did Jackson go after the campaign manager, or just the blogs? The fact it’s one of Bob’s former manager does mean its a none story, since hes a former manager and not a current one. Bob can’t control what might happen in the future.

But, the reason why I asked if you think it is OK to go after a member of the campaign in any situation, is just that. There are times when it is appropriate and times when there is no need if the staff has not done anything to warrant attention. The fact Rishell was pushing family values and she does a poor job of vetting her staff is relevant to the campaign. She simply showed poor judgment, and that as someone else pointed out is something that needs to be highlighted.

A manager that’s a criminal is a completely different hypothetical here. Of course you would, but is that even close to the situation here? I was surprised when another blog tried to point out that a previous campaign manager for Bob McDonnell is in prison…convicted of serious charges. It was met with a big “who cares?”…and….”not relevant.” These things are not always a political plus to bring into the mix.

My point is…you have a small window of opportunity to focus and get your message out in a campaign. Would you cloud the environment with attacks that don’t move votes in a substantial way? Isn’t that the purpose of a campaign…moving votes from undecided into your column?

You have to pick your battles and chose your line of attacks carefully. Of course, blogs like this can do whatever they want….and then people like me can add my two-cents worth on whether it was worth it or not.

Again, it doesn’t matter in this race since it was destined to be a blowout from day one. While the ‘used condom girl” thing was funny at first, if this had been a serious challenge in a tight race it just would have been a waste of time and energy that clouded up the message that needed to get out.

Do you think it is ever a good idea to go after a campaign manager? Say for example, if the campaign manager is a criminal? While I agree the focus should be on the candidate, to say people connected with the campaign should be off limits is, imo, wrong.

If you look at the FBI hate crime statistics, hispanics can only be victims of hate crimes, they are not listed as a separate ethnic/race group under the offender list.

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2007/victims.htm

1. You cover great, local newsworthy issues. Meanwhile the aunties are covering the release of Microsoft’s latest OS.
2. You post any comments immediately. Meanwhile the aunties fire back a little note that says “awaiting moderation”. And, of course, if the post does not match their ideology they discard it. Typical lib mentality… censor what you don’t like.

I sent them a note that said they should select a site name that is positive. One that reflects their ideology. I guess they did the best anyone could have done, because their site is nowhere near as good as yours.

Keep up the great work, Greg!

As for the paper once again not covering local stories, what did you expect? Were they going to magically become an actual news outlet right before the election or something?

I UNDERSTAND the whole point of why the campaign manager was being attacked…..yea, yea…judgement, family values, etc. My point is simply, does it move votes? My contention is, not many. I’d even go as far to say, had this been any other race, if you go after the manager, there might even be a backlash effect. Plus, I’ve just always thought as a campaign rule that anybody other than the candidate should be off limits for attacks, but apparently those days are long gone.

No driver’s license, DWI, surely an illegal alien. See the photo – and he is listed as White Caucasian (Non-Hispanic) in Court Records…

http://www2.insidenova.com/isn/news/crime/article/manassas_man_charged_in_rape_of_girl_13/45787/

A Manassas man has been charged with raping a 13-year-old girl who police say is a family member who lives at his home.

Arturo Lopez Velasquez, 32, fled the area Wednesday after police obtained arrest warrants for him. He turned himself into authorities in Alabama on Thursday, said Prince William police spokeswoman Erika Hernandez.

He was charged with two counts of rape and was held without bond. He is awaiting extradition to Virginia.

The U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force assisted in tracking Velasquez, added Hernandez.

His arrest follows another case where police said a 12-year-old Dale City girl was raped by two of her family members, earlier this month.

Police charged a 27-year-old man with rape and a 53-year-old man with sexual battery and object sexual penetration on Oct. 15. The two men lived with the child in a home off of Hemingway Drive, police said.

Both men are scheduled to appear in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

—Uriah A. Kiser

It is not hard to find an entry level political job, especially when one is commuting distance from Washington, D.C. Intern in a congressional office, think tank, or PAC. Why young, ambitious people who want a career in politics would work on a house of delegates campaign (really, a HoD campaign can get by with 2 volunteers), let alone a perpetually losing campaign for a batty woman is a total mystery.

Rishell staffers: notice that big city near here with all the marble monuments? It’s called Washington, D.C. - get a job there!

I see your point, but I’m not sure people will come to the polls to vote against the candidate that employed “used condom girl.”

If we’re going to start winning the war of ideas, let’s follow the lead of what our statewides did this year at EVERY level.