I’ve struggled for quite a while whether I should take a stand in the GOP contest for the U.S. Senate nomination. I have supported both Jim Gilmore and Bob Marshall in the past for various offices and like and respect both men. Furthermore, I am unable to attend the GOP convention at the end of this month due to other obligations. So, I figured that I would maintain my neutrality, put up posts about both Gilmore and Marshall and keep the focus on the real record of Marky Mark and His Flunky Bunch.
So, here we are 3 weeks from the convention and I find that I don’t do neutrality so well. I have thoughts and opinions and sooner or later they bubble to the surface.
That said, I have accepted an invite to the Bloggers for Bob Marshall site. I WON’T be cross posting anything that I write there on Virtucon as I know contributors here are split nor will I be putting up one of our little endorsement “bumperstickers” on the side for the same reason. Other than this announcement, this will be it. If you would like to read any posts I write in support of Bob Marshall, please visit the Bloggers for Bob Marshall site. I will continue writing general interest posts about both Marshall and Gilmore here in the neutral fashion that I have done to date.
I know some Virtucon contributors support Marshall while others support Gilmore and yet others won’t support Marshall even if he is the nominee. I respect and understand everyone’s reasons. Do I agree with Bob 100 percent on things? No. But my compelling reason isn’t taxes or social issues. Rather, it is Marshall is simply a great candidate on transportation issues. He doesn’t advocate paving Maryland as I would, but he does support connecting I-95 through DC right up to College Park, something I have long advocated.
So, head on over to the B4B site and see what it is all about.
Filed under: 2008 Elections, Blogging, Bob Marshall, Virginia Politics
Riley:
Don’t you think it is more than mildly interesting that Gov. Jim Gilmore led Bob Marshall to the light on opposing unelected govt. entities that have the ability to levy taxes?
Marshall voted in 2000 for HB 1474 twice, once in committee and once on the floor. Only after Gilmore’s veto, did he see the light and switch his vote against override.
Next thing you know he is only knight in shining armor opposing HB3202?
http://www.spankthatdonkey.com/spankthatdonkey2/2008/5/8/would-bob-marshall-have-sued-himself.html
Meanwhile on Transporation Gov. Gilmore poured money into transporation, and got Md and DC to cooperate with us and rebuild the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (95 over the potomac) with out raising taxes… or declaring a crisis.
Bottom Line Gilmore has state wide name recognition, and the issues all over Warner. Marshall is like Chris Saxman, both good conservatives, but if either man goes to the others district they have to introduce themselves to even fellow republicans, muchless the electorate.
Furthermore Marshall doesn’t support drilling in ANWR a critical difference in issues with Warner… just throw that one away huh, don’t need it?
Good idea. No offense to Gilmore but I don’t think his campaign is going anywhere. I feel bad for him because I do think the MSM has treated him unfairly in the past but he has run a very poor campaign up to this point. Gilmore will probably squeak out a win in the convention and get trounced in the general.
Other than a handful of bloggers, I don’t know of anyone who is really excited with his campaign. Most of the Republican grassroots will probably sit this one out and help their Congressman and McCain. Gilmore has burned too many bridges in the past. Not a huge Marshall fan either but he seems more likeable and does have the reputation from the MSM (probably unfairly but still the case) as screwing up the budget like Gilmore.
STD – sure gilmore has statewide name recognition. But when that comes with negs in the mid-40s, is that really a good thing?
Thanks for joing us in the light at B4Bob! My awakening was when I learned Bob was 100% Pro-life, not just during election season and not just when the baby is only 10 weeks old and older… some others pose as defenders of ALL people; leaders like Bob actually write legislation that does it.
Riley – Welcome aboard.
Either Gilmore or Marshall would be a good candidate for the GOP. Although the MSM has tarred Gilmore’s reputation, we have sufficient time to correct the record. Nonetheless, if we want a solid social and fiscal conservative representing us in the Senate, Marshall is clearly the superior candidate.
STD – You might want to read this post (http://rightwingliberal.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/are-gilmores-bloggers-actually-reading-these-bills/). The right-wing liberal has addressed your concerns HB 1474.
Next consider what you are about. What if Marshall wins the nomination? Do you really want to tear down your own candidate? Do you want to provide the Democrats ammunition? Do you have to do that? I do not think so.
Just as we do not have to tear down Gilmore to build up Marshal, you do not need to tear down Marshall to build up Gilmore. Marshall has a good voting record in the General Assembly, and he has worked hard for us outside the General Assembly as well. Similarly, you can address Gilmore’s record as Attorney General, Governor, and as a party leader. Without looking for things to condemn, we can each weigh the accomplishments of these men and ask a question. Which is most likely to serve us best in the Senate?
Ths issue of life is very important. That’s why I think it’s significant that Jim Gilmore actually has a record of results when it comes to advancing the pro-life cause. As Governor, he signed Virginia’s partial birth abotion ban, parental notification, and the 24-hour waiting period. He also signed legislation banning human cloning and created the Virginia Abstinence Initiative. Finally, he withstood the slings and arrows of a very hostile media and an at-the-time still hostile General Assembly to try to save the life of Hugh Finn and prevent him from being starved to death. I defy anyone to name an elected official in Virginia with a stronger record (and by record I mean actual accomplishments) on the pro-life issue.
Proud: Del. Dick Black and future senator Bob Marshall for starters have better records of accomplishment.
I wouldn’t use the term accomplishment with regard to watering down a principle for the sake of compromise. An incrimentalist approach to stopping genocide isn’t to only kill the old and weak, but make the rest protected by law.
Why is a 20 week old baby okay to kill but a 25 week old baby not okay to kill again? Which candidate thinks this is a good idea?
If you write a letter to the young mother’s parents and make her wait another 24 hours before handing her over to the abortion mill for processing, then it’s okay by your own example, and your man made it that way and is proud of that?
Bob Marshall doesn’t think so, and that’s why Marshall has the endorsement of all the pro-life groups and Gilmore doesn’t.
George Allen signed the parental notice bill, NOT Jim Gilmore. Mark Warner signed Dick Black’s parental CONSENT bill which I supported. Does that make Mark Warner “Pro-Life?”
I asked Jim Gilmore to get involved in the Hugh Finn case.
GO to the public records to see how many bills Jim Gilmore requested to be put in by legislators on this topic. You will find that he signed bills legislators managed to get passed the Assembly.
WHO was the most pro-life governor? I should suspect the ones who signed bills banning all abortions in Virginia. And remember, last year his position was 8-12 weeks when he ran for President.
He also is on the corporate board of Barr labs, the sole US Manufacturer of the Morning After pill (early abortion). He makes, or is eligible to receive, $12,500 for each quarterly board meeting plus stock options.
And you call this Pro life? Please send me your dictionary.
Delegate Bob Marshall
Del. Marshall is running to the right of Gilmore on abortion. Is there some room? Yes. Is there a lot of room? No.
Both candidates have excellent records on this issue.
The bottom line for me is that I’m not going to the convention to pull the lever on just abortion. There are many other issues out there and frankly Gov. Gilmore has had a lot more exposure to them than the Honorable Delegate.
Delegate Marshall:
If you’ve got time to blog then you’re not campaigning enough. If you’re not going to campaign properly then get the f—k out of this race so Jim Gilmore can conserve his resources and bring them to bear in the race against Mark Warner.
Jay Hughes
Jay Hughes — It is called an election for a reason. We are suppose to have a choice.
Blogs are part of compaigning these days. Not your posts perhaps, but some blogs are.
If Gilmore is expending resources against Marshall’s campaign, then that means Marshall is a serious competitor. Perhaps blogs have something to do with that. Not you, of course.
Oh no…you got me totally wrong dude….I have no problem with competition…I love competition…but if you ain’t gonna take the competition seriously then get outta the race.
The fact that Bob is spending his time in the morning on his computer like some 15 year old computer nerd whining to the blogosphere about how his “pro-life tattoo” is bigger than Jim Gilmore’s “pro-life tattoo” proves to me he ain’t takin’ this race seriously and he ain’t ready for prime-time.
Furthermore, if your boy manages to secure this nomination he ain’t gonna be facing Bruce Roemmelt (a nice guy but with some serious liberal baggage) in HD-13. He’ll be facing a charismatic, photogenic, extremely popular ex-Governor whom a lot of people perceive as a good manager with centrist political views. During a televised debate, stomping his feet and throwing a temper tantrum screaming “wah!wah!!! but I’m more pro-life than Warner!!!! Wah!!!Wah!!!!” like he did here ain’t gonna cut the muster on election day. More evidence that Bob ain’t ready for prime-time.
Note to Bob’s campaign staff: Keep him busy from the minute he gets up til the minute he goes to bed and NEVER let him post on a blog again. I’m noticing the timestamp on this post is 11:32am which means Bob was probably eating his lunch and browsing blogs. You need to assign Bob a ‘lunch buddy” to keep him occupied while he eats and to make sure he doesn’t show his ass on the blogs.
You oughta be nice to me Tom….I just gave your boy some free campaign advice cuz he sure ain’t gettin it from his campaign staff…AND I’m supporting Gilmore.
Well, Jay- we’ll see you at the convention.
You bring your record of jobs Jim’s kept within the GOP leadership and his strong record of experience with Bear Sterns and Abortion Pill companies and I’ll bring my list of successful constitutional battles and non-waivering support of the principles of the Republican platform that Bob swore to uphold and did.
We can compare them line item style or by volume for efficiency if you wish and you can let your fine political mind make the call on who you vote for, while the rest of us who vote on principle and integrity cast ours.
I’m sorry that your man Jim’s numbers are falling so fast, I can’t help that, but there’s no need to tell someone to f__k off unless you’re applying for the Obama elitist award, or simply can’t handle the thread here that Gilmore’s pro-life accomplishments are not exactly a selling point to those people who actually ARE pro-life.
The fact that Marshall takes the time to stop by a blog shows me that he’s IN TOUCH with all aspects of the race, not that he’s neglecting his campaign. I LOVE the personal attention he makes to earn votes.
Conversely, I got yet another slick expensive mailer from Jim’s camp this week and three robo-calls. That’s not exactly the mark of grass-roots support but rather someone who relies on the RNC-style machine to run elections and tell you what to do. Not exactly leadership, and not much of a recent success rate either.
Marshall’s success in keeping the government decisions he made LEGAL and CONSTITUTIONAL are above reproach. Bob walks the walk and keeps his word.
People are ready for a leader. Do we need any more politicians?
I’ve met BOTH candidates in person, and Bob impresses me as more qualified for this position because he has the RIGHT KIND of experience. Comparing resumes versus hype, fluff, and empty rhetoric will rise the better of the two at the convention.
Warner can be beat no matter who wins. At least we give our people a choice in the GOP! Heck- at the 1st District Congressional Convention- we gave 11 choices!