2014 Va General Assembly: It's a new day in Richmond

Headlines and blogs are blaring the news from Richmond's General Assembly: Democrats wrest control of state senate from GOP. And it all began here: RTD: GOP State Central wrong reversing to convention.

The rest, as they say, is history....

Gerrymandering ... recipe for dysfunctional government?

Gerrymandering ... both parties do it. NBC News asks if it's a recipe for dysfunctional government ... are politicians choosing their voters more than voters choosing their politicians? Will the practice lead to more stalemates in D.C.? Food for thought....

Bill Bolling and Virginia Mainstream Project ... good ideas for good government

From Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and his Virginia Mainstream Project....

Friends –

Last week, through Virginia Mainstream Project, I released a series of proposals designed to improve the structure and operation of Virginia’s state government.  Full details of these recommendations can be found here.

The proposed changes would impact the election and role of the Lieutenant Governor, approve gubernatorial succession, create a bipartisan redistricting process, implement the merit-based selection of judges, establish a Government Performance Review Commission, change Virginia’s two-year budget cycle and mandate a review of all current exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act to improve governmental transparency.

I called on all candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General to support these proposals because they will make state government more efficient, more effective, and more accountable to the people of Virginia.

I’m pleased to report that these proposals have received enthusiastic support from opinion leaders all over the Commonwealth:

Today’s top opinion: Mainstream (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

“We issue a full-throated huzzah to Bolling’s proposal for bipartisan redistricting. He would take the process out of the hands of the legislature by empowering a citizen panel to draw the electoral maps.”

Imagine: ideas, not ick (The Roanoke Times)

“He [Bolling] has done all Virginians a service by injecting meaningful policy proposals into a campaign otherwise mired in slime.”

Ideas from the man who isn’t running (The Virginian-Pilot)

“Free of political constraints, Bolling on Monday proposed a long slate of ideas to make Virginia a better state, a more democratic state and a more open state.”

Bill Bolling’s good ideas (Staunton News Leader)

“Many of these proposals are common sense. We used to employ that in government. Bolling reminds us we still can and indeed should.”

Many thanks to all those who have voiced support for these proposals.  The Virginia Mainstream Project will continue to promote responsible, common-sense solutions to the important challenges facing our state and make certain that we keep our focus on the thing that matters most … BUILDING A BETTER VIRGINIA.

Sincerely,

Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling

My two cents: Government shutdown ... so what has been accomplished?

So here we are on Day 3 of the Government Shutdown. Nothing has been accomplished and there's no end in sight.

There's enough blame to go around on all sides of this debacle but the show horses of the Republican Right, led by Ted Cruz and encouraged by Rand Paul and Marco Rubio, got their way even though past history predicted a train wreck.

If Mr. Cruz had been paying attention, he would have realized the backlash was going to be against him. From all accounts, he entered the battle without a survival plan or exit strategy. If this was to help pad his presidential hopes, it certainly didn't show good leadership skills. A poll before the shutdown showed 71 percent of Americans were against it, and a poll released after the shutdown showed 72 percent of Americans were against it. Clearly, it was going to be a suicide mission for Republicans.

The problem with these kinds of stunts is the unintended and unexpected consequences that emerge and hit mainstream media and social media. The Washington Post today lists ten of the more serious ones.

For some, the thought of being furloughed without a paycheck is a scary proposition. Imagine having a mortgage, car payment(s), and daily living expenses only to lose your income or have it delayed. Sure, the investment types talk about having six months' worth of income bankrolled for a rainy day, but how many have truly been able to do that? With the constant financial demands of raising a family, many find themselves living paycheck-to-paycheck.

Military families are impacted and commissaries were shut down on bases around the country.

On Tuesday, a group of elderly World War II veterans were so ticked off when they saw the World War II memorial closed that they pushed aside barricades set up by the government, and visited anyway. Most were from out of state on probably the only chance they will ever have to see this memorial erected by the American people to honor the service of those who saved not only America but the world. As many noted, these men had scaled the cliffs of Normandy in their youth. A barrier was not about to block them, and the news spread like wildfire through Twitter and Facebook.

For those of us who live in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it's ridiculous to have the gates closed to Shenandoah National Park at the start of leaf season, blocking the scenic Skyline Drive as well as access to lodges and hiking trails utilized by thousands. Is the down-time going to be added to season passes to make up for the lost days? It's a mere inconvenience to us but not for those from overseas or states across the country who had planned October visits to this well-known national park, nor to workers who are now on furlough and out of work.

Even though a last-minute decision by the National Park Service kept the Blue Ridge Parkway open, all facilities along this 470-mile ridgetop drive have been shuttered. That leaves tourists helpless as they drive past Mabry Mill, Peaks of Otter, campgrounds, restaurants, and visitor centers not to mention restrooms.

For communities bordering national parks throughout the country, the loss of tourist dollars is going to hurt big-time, pushing some who were hanging on by a thread over the brink. Peaks of Otter near Bedford had just reopened; will it recover from this unexpected shutdown? On the Outer Banks, the lighthouses are closed as well as NPS-controlled beaches.

The News Virginian made good sense in Wednesday's editorial, Congress needs to rethink priorities:

If the government is shutting down, why haven’t they turned off the lights? That was a random thought from our staff Monday night, while following the House and Senate debates. Midnight passed, all of the deadlines expired and members of both parties talked about how the government was shut down now. Yet a government which shut down Shenandoah National Park Tuesday morning due to lack of funds kept the lights going as both parties argued whose fault it was, long into the night.

They added:

Let’s be realistic. Whether you agree with the Affordable Care Act or not, nobody is going to defund it. House members can vote another 40 times and while it looks good on paper, nothing is actually accomplished. The Democrat-controlled Senate is not going to vote to shut down something that President Obama has made a key part of his legacy.

While many were against ObamaCare, News Leader columnist Matthew Poteat makes a valid point:

Take for example the willingness of a small but influential bunch of House Republicans to shut down the Federal government because they oppose implementing the Affordable Care Act. Never mind that the law was passed by due process, signed into law by a duly elected (and reelected) president, and validated by the Supreme Court.

It was the reelection of Barack Obama that showed the majority of Americans were in favor of ObamaCare. Republicans fought it for three years and lost. That's the way our system works. If the shoe was on the other foot and Democrats were pulling this stunt, Republicans would be excoriating them for ignoring the will of the people.

I'm weary of the hypocrisy from both sides of the political aisle. That includes the hypocrisy of Congressional members who are exempted in what many consider an odious law. What's good for the American people should be good enough for our elected leaders who voted for the Affordable Care Act.

No one is going to emerge from this fight unscathed but, sadly, Republicans are going to bear the blunt of the blame which brings to mind that explanation of insanity: "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."

Boyd, Mudcat ... 2013's odd political climate in Virginia

The political climate in Virginia continues to get curiouser and curiouser on an almost daily basis and, today, it clouded yet again.

Two weeks ago, that ground shift you felt under your feet was the GOP reacting as longtime veteran Republican strategist Boyd Marcus endorsed and moved over to work for Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe for governor. Conservative to the core, Boyd's move had some calling him a RINO, a moderate, and excoriating him for daring to step over the political line even as the Washington Post noted, "Democrats and even some Republicans see Marcus’s move as emblematic of a deep rift within the party: Marcus had been aligned with pragmatic establishment figures and repelled by the resolute tea party style...."

Interesting, then, that in another twist of this continuing drama, the Washington Post reported today that longtime Democratic strategist Mudcat Saunders had sorta-kinda joined the Cuccinelli campaign even though he didn't formally endorse him. Mudcat's reason? He doesn't agree with "corporate" types. That made me wonder if he meant he doesn't agree with capitalism. He was all over the map with thoughts about the campaign but seemed to zero in on southwestern Virginia and the coal industry, something Democrats and liberal environmentalists seem determined to destroy: “Once my party starts caring for the people at the bottom of the mountain as much as they care for the trees at the top of the mountain, I’ll join the conversation."

So was Mudcat piqued that McAuliffe didn't turn to him to consult his campaign, perhaps ticked that a Republican was hired instead? Or did the Cuccinelli campaign begin overtures to Mudcat after Boyd went to McAuliffe? Or could it be that the rural-leaning Mudcat just didn't like the globe-trotting McAuliffe who is closely associated with the Clintons?

There's no knowing for sure but it certainly adds to the mystique and entertainment of those watching this eclectic campaign season play out. With six weeks left until election day, it will be interesting to see who may next trip over party lines.

Cross-posted at Virginia Politics On Demand

Strong opposition to government shutdown includes Republicans

The first paragraph of Byron York's article in the Washington Examiner says it all:

"A new poll done for Republican members of Congress has found huge public opposition, and solid opposition among Republicans, to the idea of shutting down the government over the issue of funding Obamacare."

An overwhelming 71 percent of Americans do not want a repeat of 1995 when Republicans shut down the government for three weeks. Even 61 percent of Republican women don't want to see Republicans go through with such a plan.

For those who were not paying attention in 1995 when the GOP shut down the government, it wasn't pretty. Google it. Or listen to the voices of experiences who have been there and done that, like Senator Saxby Chambliss, 69, and Joe Scarborough who was a congressman at the time.

Now a poll, commissioned by Republicans, is confirming that a shutdown will not bode well for the GOP. Will those "show horses" of the U.S. Senate, as the New York Times called Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ted Cruz of Texas, and Marco Rubio of Florida, continue to push for it?

Byron York, like others, can look at this poll and read the tea leaves:

"But there is no doubt defunding advocates anticipate a possible shutdown; their hope is to persuade the public to blame President Obama, and not Republicans, for it. The new numbers suggest they will have a lot of persuading to do."

It brings to mind once again American philosopher George Santayana's much-quoted belief, "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it." Hopefully, GOP leadership and experienced voices will be able to stop the proposed fallacy.

Hot off the press ... newest Pineapple and Coconut political cartoon

At Virginia Politics On Demand ... Shut down the government....

Ted Cruz is a 'train wreck'

“Have you seen what Ted Cruz is doing? He’s going crazy on Republicans … Ted Cruz is attacking anybody that is not willing to shut down the government over Obamacare … I have to be very careful about what I say, but Ted Cruz comes in, obviously so completely ignorant about the war that Tom Coburn has been fighting for 20 years. And to say something like this about Tom Coburn. Ted Cruz is a total train wreck. He is comparing Mitch McConnell to Barack Obama. He is attacking Tom Coburn as being a member of the ‘surrender caucus’ when Tom Coburn, and yes Ted Cruz…I…put our political lives on the line more times in six months than Ted Cruz will put on the line his entire lifetime.”

- former GOP Congressman Joe Scarborough ("Morning Joe," July 31, 2013)

Bill Bolling stands his ground

Virginia's Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling addressed the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, sharing the jobs record of Governor Bob McDonnell and, in the process, standing his ground about current Republican politics in the Old Dominion.

For some, political tolerance comes with experience, and the LG has plenty of both. Standing by his belief that extremes on both ends of the political spectrum are not good for Virginians, he commented to those attending the meeting, as reported by Virginia Watchdog:

“I learned a long time ago in government that governing has to be about more than breaking the dishes,” said the two-term lieutenant governor who has served under both a Democrat and a Republican governor. “It has to be about solving problems and getting things done. And to do that, sometimes you have to compromise.”
...
“I think our party is a party in search of an identity,” Bolling told Watchdog.org. “It all starts with the kind of candidates we nominate and the kind of campaigns we run.

“Clearly the (Virginia GOP) is prettily solidly controlled by tea party groups and the Ron Paul folks. The result of that has been the party has been pulled further to the right and that makes it more difficult to connect with moderate and independent voters you need to win elections in Virginia and it makes it more difficult to govern once you get elected.”

Perhaps with a nod toward his recently organized Virginia Mainstream Project PAC, Bolling added:

“The solutions to the challenges facing our state will not be found in the extremes,” Bolling said. They won’t be found on the right extreme, and they won’t be found on the left extreme. The answers to the challenges facing Virginia will be found in the mainstream.”

Speaker Boehner: "Give government back to the American people"

Video: Speaker of the House John Boehner ... "Give the government back to the American people." Wednesday, January 5, 2010.

"Blame Bush stragedy won't win mid-terms ... 10 reasons Democrats are toast"

Mark McKinnon at The Daily Beast has bad news for Democrats:

Voters know whose hands are at the helm now. And with the elections less than 100 days away, here are the 10 telling signs that blaming bad times on Bush is not a winning strategy.

Check out his list. If you're a Republican, you'll smile. If you're a Democrat, better have the botox handy because those worry wrinkles are going to get deeper....

Poll: Democrats are in trouble

Michael Barone, the Washington Examiner's senior political analyst, caught my attention when he reported on the new Gallup poll:

Wow! The Gallup organization reports that on the generic ballot question—which party’s candidate would you vote for in Congress—Republicans currently lead Democrats 49%-43%. That’s the biggest Republican lead since Gallup began asking the question in 1950—and in fact Republicans have seldom been ahead in those 60 years. More bad news for the Democrats: 39% of Republicans say they’re enthusiastic about voting, compared to 25% of Independents and 24% of Democrats.

He goes on to say Democrats will continue to win but added:

But Democrats are in trouble, as I argued in my Sunday Examiner column, on both competence and ideology—a pretty lethal combination.

Wow, is right. We'll be watching the polls between now and November as Republicans roll up their shirt sleeves and get to work.

Saturday GOP mass meetings ... photos from Harrisonburg & Rockingham

Delegate Matt Lohr

State Senator Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg)

Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-6th District)

The always animated Trixie Averill, State Central's Western Chairwoman.

That's my boss!

Suzanne Curran of Shenandoah County.

Congressman Goodlatte and Rockingham GOP Chair Mike Meredith.

Matt Kandrach speaks on behalf of Delegate Jeff Frederick
(candidate for RPV Chair).

Photos by SWAC Girl

Happy 154th anniversary, GOP!

Today, Republicans celebrate -- or should celebrate -- the 154th anniversary of our Grand Old Party.

At the time, the Democrats in control of Congress were moving toward passage of their Kansas- Nebraska Act, allowing slavery to expand into the western territories. The Democrat President said he would sign the bill into law.

Amid the intense reaction, a grassroots movement arose to oppose the pro-slavery policies of the Democratic Party. In just a few months, these town meetings and demonstrations coalesced into the Republican Party.

Several sites share the credit as its birthplace, but the GOP was named in Ripon, Wisconsin. At a March 20, 1854, meeting convened by anti-slavery activist Alvan Bovay, fifty-five men and three women called for all opponents of slavery to unite in a new organization, to be called "the Republican Party." This name had a past as well as a future. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and many other Founding Fathers had called themselves "Republicans."

The Ripon meeting was widely reported in the newspapers. Just two months later, Members of Congress who opposed slavery declared themselves to be Republicans. In July, the Republican Party held its first state convention, in Jackson, Michigan.

Within two years, the GOP became a major national party, controlling the U.S. House of Representatives, and in 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected the first Republican President of the United States.

Republicans today would benefit tremendously from appreciating the heritage of our Grand Old Party.

Michael Zak adapted this article from Back to Basics for the Republican Party, his acclaimed history of the GOP cited by Clarence Thomas in a Supreme Court decision. Hundreds more articles are available on the Grand Old Partisan blog, each day celebrating 154 years of Republican heroes and heroics.

Michael Zak is a popular speaker to Republican organizations around the country. See Republican Basics website for more information.

Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment ... the entire text

Many Republicans like to bring up Ronald Reagan's "11th Commandment" of not speaking ill of another Republican. But they forget that Reagan ran against a sitting Republican president in 1976!

The actual quote is:

When the chips are down and the decisions are made as to who the candidates will be, then the 11th commandment prevails and everybody goes to work, and that is: Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.

He clearly was talking about after the GOP had decided its nominee.