I didn't vote this time around. Dem primary, and I'd've supported either Jim Webb or Harrison Miller vs. confederate chucklehead George Allen. My bet was on Webb to win big as I have a good sense of the pulse 'round these parts. But I'm getting very annoyed that Fairfax county insists on the freakin' touch-screens for voting. On the other hand, Virginia has a Dem governor so, unlike in Florida, Ohio & California, the touch-screens won't, in and of themselves, tip the vote to the Republican.The breakdown of the VA-Sen vote is highly interesting.
People don't realize that Miller dominated the paid media. Absolutely dominated. Webb benefited from strong earned media, but that was more than balanced by Miller's strength in paid media.
In the City of Alexandria, Miller was endorsed by the Mayor and the entire City Council and a number of local legislators.
Alexandria went for Webb 2:1.
Guys, what in the hell happened here?
The only two plausible explanations are (1) the extreme level of online activism for Webb, or (2) a major backlash against Miller for his negative ads. NoVa is one of the most wired and most politically-knowledgeable communities in America. In a low turnout election its conceivable that NoVa voters, who are more likely to get political information through the web, ended up turning out and going for Webb big. It also makes sense that like in most low-turnout primaries, older voters (55+) tend to show-up most heavily and they, already angry at politics as usual, revolted against a negative, politics-as-usual campaign from Miller.
Assuming the fight is fair then, here's my prediction: Webb in a walk over Allen.
10 comments:
Being a Reaganaut will give him LOTS of political cover with (1) moderate dems (lots o them in NoVa) and (2) pentagon types (ditto). So I do not see it as a surprise. Nor do I see it as a backlash or web revolution. Dems there are less liberal than, say, Cambridge, Philadelphia, or Vermont, and more pragmatic. They know a peacenik won't fly in VA, and decided they would rather win than whine.
Also, a little less plumage now that Mrs. Deplume made me shave the goatee.
a shame: a goatee on that mug couldn't help but help...
but the point about webb is precisely such the so-called "left" blogosphere supports him as they do bob casey in PA, we're practical... !! (kinda helps they're both running against some seriously stupid dickheads, allen and santorum, this is the same blogeratti that so despises joe lieberman...
it ain't the politics of left v. right, chumley; it's get bush gone asap (yes, impeach the prick) or at least neutralized quickly as posseroo... lieberman undermines all of that (and sealed w/a sloppy wet kiss two states of the union ago)...
and for the sake of clarity for any observing secret service bot: "neutralized," meaning render incapable of causing further damage...
Hey, I am still prettier than u.
The fact that the lefty blogs supported him over a birkenstock candidate, means that (1) they ain't so lefty;(2) they are, like women, hoping to change him; or (3) half a loaf is better than none.
Also, it is exceptionally prag in that it will effectively neutralize the Great GOP Hope -- that a new, LibDem Congress and WH will take us back to the Carter Administration, thus assuring a GOP rebirth of sorts.
Should keep the tax lawyers busy.
yer young, u don't remember carter as "centrist"...
is why ted ran agin 'im in '80...
it ain't the msg of the liberal, it's been the freakin' compromising "moderates"...
a left who kicks ass would clean up in '08... !
p.s., if i had yer face, i'd shave my butt and learn to walk backwards... !!
you shave your butt anyway, remember? I am still picking hair out of my Mach 3.
I think you assumed again -- I never called Carter a "liberal" at least not in the Teddie sense. Carter was a centrist in the seventies, but will never be remembered as one. Largely, he will be remembered as ineffective on a number of issues. I recall that it was Carter's failings that led, in large part, to the GOP revolution in the late 70s and 80s.
And I am old enought to remember it - Hell, I started UMass in the Carter Administration.
And your final point is precisely my point. A take-no-prisoners left (not moderate, but truly psuedo-socialist) would be the GOP's dream. Put them out of power for awhile and watch the Left regulate the shit out of business, game the tax code to soak the rich, chase accumulated wealth and jobs offshore, expand the welfare state, crush the economy, and impose speech codes and new "thought crimes". All while rewarding their cronies with our tax dollars (yeah, tell me they don't) and we'll see how long they last.
If there is an '08 sweep and they perform as promised, I give them to '12.
oh fuck that bullshit! speech codes and thought crimes fall under the repo/crypto facist purview; or haven't you noticed the right wingnuttery types are calling for murtha to get fragged or keller should be executed in the gas chamber... ??
however, if you keep saying things like "regulate the shit out of business, game the tax code to soak the rich, chase accumulated wealth and jobs offshore," i will sport some serious wood...
:)
Very best site. Keep working. Will return in the near future.
»
I love your website. It has a lot of great pictures and is very informative.
»
Post a Comment