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Health & Fitness

The View From Over Here

Campaign 2013—A Long Way to November 5.

Although Labor Day weekend marks the traditional kickoff of campaign season leading to our Nov. 5 general election, political activity is already in high gear.  In fact, the Republican Party, which opted for a more closed selection process -- a convention -- annointed their statewide ticket May 18 in Richmond.  The
Democratic Party will hold a statewide primary to select theirs on June 11. 

While Democrats start with a bit of a time disadvantage getting their team in place several weeks later, there is a tradeoff here. Ten to fifteen times as
many voters will likely participate in the Democratic primary than participated
in the Republican convention.  A small group (about 8,000) of Republican faithful made their pick while a much larger, more representative population of Democrats will make their selection.  Advantage to the Democrats for a less extreme ticket?

Some will say, wait Lovaas, both parties have only one candidate running for Governor.  True, BUT -- the Republicans HAD two announced candidates for Gov. before party leaders opted for a convention rather than a primary election. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling dropped out when the convention decision was made.  Bolling knew a convention spelled doom for him because while quite conservative, he is not as far right as Ken Cuccinelli. 

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The convention put the final wing nuts in place, selecting “Bishop” E. W. Jackson for Lt. Governor and State Senator Mark Obenshain for Attorney General. 

How far right is this trio?  Well, the incumbent Lt. Governor dissed his party’s convention and is not supporting Cuccinelli whom Bolling regards as too extreme.  The Washington Times, normally a Republican Party mouthpiece, recently called the ticket “a colossal, destructive and depressing joke.”

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Also, incumbent Gov. Bob McDonnell also skipped his Party’s convention.  Given
the governor's ethical problems—i.e., seeming to be on the payroll of Star
Scientific as well as the Commonwealth of Virginia—the Tea Party crowd inside
the convention was not anxious to have their pictures taken with him anyway.

So, while the GOP has a time head start, they will need every bit of it and more to re-cast these three characters as being from the planet earth. 

As Attorney General, Cuccinelli spent his time supporting vaginal probes for women seeking abortions and using our tax money to harass respected scientists and sue the Feds to stop health care for non-wealthy Virginians.  Now, he’s trying to disguise himself as a business guy, a job generator.  Imagine! 

He is joined by a self-appointed bishop, E.W. Jackson, a guy who spends his time slandering African Americans and claiming that Planned Parenthood has killed far more blacks than the KKK!  Then there is Sen. Mark Obenshain for Attorney General.  In the mold of Cuccinelli, Obenshain once proposed a law requiring women to report a miscarriage within 24 hours or be subject to jail time.  A lot to cover up, so little time!

Meanwhile, Terry Mc Auliffe is uncontested for the Democratic nomination for Governor.  McAuliffe, Bill Clinton’s fundraiser extraordinaire and would-be industrial innovator and job generator, has yet to define his vision for governing. 
Not being Cuccinelli isn’t likely to be enough—even in Virginia.

He likely will have a credible supporting cast for Lt. Governor and Attorney
General.

Two solid, moderately progressive candidates are vying for the Lt. Governor nomination.  State Senator Ralph Northam of Virginia Beach is a breath of fresh air in the dismal swamp that is the Virginia legislature backing women’s rights and moderate gun control  measures, for example.  Aneesh Chopra, the former Presidential technology czar,  lacks elected office experience but brings skills which could bring needed innovation to the public sector. 

Likewise, the Dems have two promising candidates for Attorney General—Justin Fairfax, former federal prosecutor in Alexandria district, and Mark Herring, a capable moderate state senator from nearby Loudoun County.  No fringers here.

The Nov. 5 election is still five months away. It’s outome may turn on: whether the Republicans’ Tea Party Trio can disguise themselves as somehow capable of governing enough to fool a voting majority, AND, whether the Democrats can put forth a compelling vision for governing Virginia that goes beyond NOT being those other guys? 

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