VA is about to have 2 Dem Senators

[cupcakelove]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/12/AR2007091201150.html?hpid=topnews

As soon as I heard about the other Warner not running for reelection, I knew this was going to happen. He was a pretty popular Governor, and I don't think anyone can beat him.

[A.J.]

I don't know. Tom Davis or Frank Wolf might have a decent shot.

And you might see George Allen come back --- if he gets John Warner's blessing as his heir apparent.

[cupcakelove]

I don't know. Tom Davis or Frank Wolf might have a decent shot.

And you might see George Allen come back --- if he gets John Warner's blessing as his heir apparent.

I don't know, he did get John Warner's blessing as a Senator, and we see how well that worked out.

[A.J.]

I was thinking along the lines of the Ron Wyden-Gordon Smith race in Oregon several years ago. It was a nasty campaign in which Wyden beat Smith. A couple of years later, Smith won the other seat.

I don't know if Allen is necessarily politically dead. He too was a popular governor and was probably a victim more of the anti-Iraq War sentiment than the "macacca" gaffe. It's still a pretty conservative state.

[cupcakelove]

I just keeping thinking about how Allen, as an incumbent, was unable to beat someone that was completely unknown in VA politics before the primary. I don't think he'll fair very well against someone that already has a strong support base in the state.

[Yerdaddy]

Was it Lugar or Hegel who also announced thier retirement? I think it sucks that we're losing two of maybe five Republican Senators with a mind of their own.

[PapaBear]

At first, I wanted him to run for Prez. But with the shit pool of candidates and issues this year, I'm glad he didn't. I'm looking forward to him going to Washington and getting his name known. He should make a good candidate in 2012.

Oh yeah.... As I've said many times in the past, thanks for giving me my vote back, Mr. Warner!

[A.J.]

Was it Lugar or Hegel who also announced thier retirement? I think it sucks that we're losing two of maybe five Republican Senators with a mind of their own.

Hagel.

[Yerdaddy]

Hagel.

Hagel, I want you to know
I'm gonna miss you so much if you go
And, Hagel, I tell you no lie
Something deep inside of me's going to die
If you say so long
If this is goodbye

Hagel, this can't be true
How am I supposed to exist without you
And, Hagel, now don't put me on
What's gonna happen to me when you're gone
How will I live
How can I go on
How can I go on

Hagel

Hagel, now sit yourself down
I'm not ashamed to get down on the ground
And then beg you to stay
Don't go away
Hagel
Don't go away

[scottinnj]

Was it Lugar or Hegel who also announced thier retirement? I think it sucks that we're losing two of maybe five Republican Senators with a mind of their own.

You are correct as usual sir! However, as a Republican, I like having Jim Webb in the Senate. Another free thinker elected on the Democrat side. I trust his judgment and will listen to what he has to say. I'm hoping the national Republican Party takes note of Webb and try to nominate people on our side with the background, and moral fiber of Webb. Hagel and Lugar retiring from the Senate is a blow to us Republicans, and I hope we get nominees similar to those two, and stay away from self-indulgent douchebags like our last try here in NJ, who unsucessfully ran for the US Senate and the NJ governor, Doug "the most useless Republican in NJ history" Forrester.

P.S. Fellow New Jerseyans, don't blame me, I voted for Brett Schundler.

[scottinnj]

I just keeping thinking about how Allen, as an incumbent, was unable to beat someone that was completely unknown in VA politics before the primary. I don't think he'll fair very well against someone that already has a strong support base in the state.
Agreed. Allen as a candidate is a wasted nomination. "Maccaca" and Iraq-he sounds like Bush's speechwriter sometimes on Iraq-will always be an albatross on him that will keep him out of the national power base.

[PhilDeez]

I disagree. Allen still holds a strong presence in Virginia. M. Warner had his day, but his back-fired bid to run for president could come back to hurt him here in the Commonwealth.
We, Virginia, are a moderate to conservative state. Kaine found great popularity in the last election, but we still elected a Republican Lt. Gov. and Att Gen. The race the George Allen lost was extremely close - 49.5%-49.2%.
Webb has not set the world on fire, nor has he had any blunders. However, Virginia will either re-elect George Allen or put Tom Davis into a Senate seat.

[PapaBear]

What back fired bid? He never ran. There was a big "Draft Warner" push, but he never ran.

Edit: And as for the Moderate Conservative thing... The most populated parts of Va are more Democrat. As a matter of fact, there have only been 5 Republican Governors in over 100 years.

[PhilDeez]

What back fired bid? He never ran. There was a big "Draft Warner" push, but he never ran.

He explored it but pulled out, I guess "back-fired" was not the correct term. He had things in place to run and had raised alot of money, but backed out in the end. He is not a slam dunk for the senate.

[PhilDeez]

What back fired bid? He never ran. There was a big "Draft Warner" push, but he never ran.

Edit: And as for the Moderate Conservative thing... The most populated parts of Va are more Democrat. As a matter of fact, there have only been 5 Republican Governors in over 100 years.

As far as the Moderate/Conservative thing...you live in the state and should know the following: we have a Democratic Governor, but Republican Lt. Gov. and Att. Gen.
We have one Democrat and one Republican as US Senators.
US House - 8 Republicans, 3 Democrats
State Senate - 23 Republicans and 16 Democrats
State Delegates - 57 Republicans of 102 Seats (several are held by independents).

Id say Virginia, despite Northern Va, is a Moderate/Conservative state.

[PapaBear]

As far as the Moderate/Conservative thing...you live in the state and should know the following: we have a Democratic Governor, but Republican Lt. Gov. and Att. Gen.
We have one Democrat and one Republican as US Senators.
US House - 6 Republicans, 3 Democrats
State Senate - 23 Republicans and 16 Democrats
State Delegates - 57 Republicans of 102 Seats (several are held by independents).

Id say Virginia, despite Northern Va, is a Moderate/Conservative state.
That's true right now, but Republicans never had any success at all in VA until the Reagan years. Their stronghold has been slipping in the past several years, and I don't see the trend changing. John Warner is thing only REALLY long lasting Republican that I can think of, and he's gone soon.

[PhilDeez]

That's true right now, but Republicans never had any success at all in VA until the Reagan years. Their stronghold has been slipping in the past several years, and I don't see the trend changing. John Warner is thing only REALLY long lasting Republican that I can think of, and he's gone soon.

Maybe so’ but political agendas have changed as well over the same time period. Despite recent fiscal initiatives, Virginia is not as progressive as other states and we have a strong military presence. I wouldn't say the strong hold of republicans is slipping because of the last election. We have traditionally had 1 dem, 1 rep as US Senators. The Gubernatorial race has gone back and forth over the last several elections. It is not the picture you are painting.

[scottinnj]

This is true, and one thing that Virginians hold dear is the second Amendment. Most of the time, Democrats come out the losers if gun rights are an issue in Virginia politics. Senator Webb is an exception. He isn't one of the Democrats who support "hunter's rights" He is a gun owner himself and supports right to carry laws and opposes in general assault weapons bans.

[scottinnj]

I disagree. Allen still holds a strong presence in Virginia. M. Warner had his day, but his back-fired bid to run for president could come back to hurt him here in the Commonwealth.
We, Virginia, are a moderate to conservative state. Kaine found great popularity in the last election, but we still elected a Republican Lt. Gov. and Att Gen. The race the George Allen lost was extremely close - 49.5%-49.2%.
Webb has not set the world on fire, nor has he had any blunders. However, Virginia will either re-elect George Allen or put Tom Davis into a Senate seat.

Okay, I can go with that. Besides, Davis isn't a bad candidate anyway.

[cupcakelove]

The thing is, who are the big repub's that are thinking about going against Warner. So far, the biggest one I've heard is Gilmore. Please, he was the one the destroyed the state budget and helped make Warner look like a genius when he was in office, and he got elected with his campaign of eliminating the car tax. I don't even live in VA anymore, and I just forked out about $200 in car taxes, so that should tell you how successful Gilmore was. Warner is hugely popular without even campaigning, he will win unless he seriously screws up.

[high fly]

VA is about to have 2 Dem Senators

Yep yep yepyepyep.

Tom Davis looked at the prospect of taking on Mark Warner and decided he needed to spend more time with the family...

[El Mudo]

I don't know. Tom Davis or Frank Wolf might have a decent shot.

And you might see George Allen come back --- if he gets John Warner's blessing as his heir apparent.



Every time you lose, a little part of you dies inside....well...maybe not all of you...maybe just your liver


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