Blog Archives
Bob Marshall Announces U.S. Senate Bid
Today, Del. Bob Marshall (R-Manassas) announced that he will be running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. According to a release from his campaign, Marshall believes he is the best candidate to beat Tim Kaine in the November General Election.
“I already have a ‘can do’ record of challenging Tim Kaine and winning in the public arena on major economic and social issues, and I can do it again,” Marshall (R., 13th District) said in a statement released this morning from his office in the General Assembly Building on Capitol Square, here.
Marshall ran for the Republican nomination in 2008, losing by one percentage point at the convention to former Gov. Jim Gilmore.
As a Delegate, Marshall has been instrumental in the Marriage Amendment to the Virginia Constitution, which voters ratified with 57 percent of ballots in the 2006 general election. Marshall also wrote the Virginia Health Care Freedom Act of 2010, which was the basis of Virginia’s challenge to President Obama’s health care law. You can learn more about the other successes Marshall has championed by clicking here.
Marshall is a staunch conservative, and there is no doubt that I believe he can defeat Tim Kaine in the November election.
Webb's Out of the U.S. Senate Race in 2012
Breaking News! U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) will not be seeking re-election in 2012, according to Ben Smith of The Politico. I guess he realized that his vote against the repeal of the health care law was not sitting well with his constituency. Currently, there are three candidates in the running for 2012: Former U.S. Sen. George Allen, whom Webb defeated in 2006; Jamie Radtke, former Chairman of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots; and Bishop E.W. Jackson. The Democrats are trying to recruit former Virginia Governor and current DNC Chairman, Tim Kaine, to run for the seat.
Good riddance, Sen. Webb!
Where the Candidates Stand: George Allen on Earmarks
This is the first part in a series that CCC will be running for the 2012 Republican U.S. Senate Primary. Yes, I know 2012 is some time away, but it never hurts to use this as a reference throughout the year to ponder. The first part in this series focuses on earmarks, and it does not count as an endorsement of any candidate featured.
When George Allen was serving in the U.S. Senate, he was voted against legislation that included government waste and would abuse the taxpayer dollars. When it came to the Senate voting on funding the “Bridge to Nowhere,” Allen was one of fifteen Senators at the time who voted in favor of shifting funding to help New Orleans and surrounding region recover from the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Allen has been criticized in the past for supporting earmarks. However, Allen voted in favor of earmark reform in the Senate, as he supported legislation that would create a 60-vote point of order against earmarks added in conference to appropriations or authorization bill (the earmark would be killed if point of order was upheld). Allen also voted in favor of expanding the definition of earmarks and to increase transparency. In terms of transparency, Allen was co-sponsor of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, which passed the Senate. Additionally, Allen has spoken out in support of the work that Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has been doing in terms of eliminating earmarks. In his blog entry, Allen said:
“The people have spoken. Travelling around Virginia the past few months, one thing is clear
to me: Virginians and Americans are tired of wasteful Bridges to Nowhere, orchid gardens
in Pittsburgh, and indoor rainforests in Iowa. These wasteful projects have tainted their view
of all earmarks. And, the Republicans should forego earmarks and cut much more spending
than just earmarks. I am proud of the leadership that Eric Cantor, Jim DeMint and others
showed on this issue.”
During the 2012 elections, there will be no doubt that the economy will still be one of the most important issues in the U.S. Senate race in Virginia. Government spending reforms need to be addressed by every candidate.
Jamie Radtke Files for U.S. Senate
While this was anticipated for some time now, WTVR reports that Jamie Radtke, former Chairwoman of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots, filed the paperwork to run for U.S. Senate in 2012. Radtke joins former U.S. Senator George Allen, who is expected to run again for the seat currently held by Sen. Jim Webb.
Radtke’s name recognition is growing especially after the successful Virginia Tea Party Convention held in October, and she will definitely be a more conservative alternative to Allen. Riley over at Virginia Virtucon has a statement regarding her candidacy.
While I think Radtke offers conservative credentials, her name recognition is not nearly as well known as Corey Stewart or Bob Marshall. However, she could definitely provide a challenge to Webb, who has disappointed many Virginians with his votes in favor of President Obama’s agenda.
Senator Webb Votes for Earmarks
The U.S. Senate voted today to allow the practice of earmarks to be continued. The earmark moratorium, introduced by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), was voted down 56-39 in a roll call vote. Virginia’s Senators were split on the issue, as Sen. Jim Webb voted against the earmark moratorium and Sen. Mark Warner voted for the moratorium.
Americans for Prosperity-Virginia Chapter released a statement about the earmark moratorium vote. AFPVA State Director Ben Marchi said:
“Evidently, too many members of the United States Senate did not hear the overwhelming voices of the citizens of America on Election Day earlier this month. Sadly, Jim Webb is one of those who continued to ignore the people’s clearly-expressed frustration with the runaway growth of the federal government. Senator Webb had a choice today: stand with the people, or stand with government. Unfortunately, he chose the latter.
“Earmarks may well win votes with government largesse in carefully chosen locations in home states and districts, but they are poisonous to the notion of open, efficient and responsible governance. Jim Webb showed that he views the taxpayers’ wallets as 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week ATMs for legislators to use at their whim.
“As disappointing as Webb’s vote was, Senator Mark Warner’s vote was equally as encouraging. His vote in support of the measure was refreshing in that it recognized that spending must have its limits, even in Washington, D.C.”
Why doesn’t it surprise me that Webb voted against the moratorium? Webb has always been passionate about earmarks. Perhaps, Webb might regret that love come 2012.
Sharron Angle Kills Joy Behar with Kindness
Sharron Angle is in the quest to defeat Sen. Harry Reid (D) for Nevada’s U.S. Senate seat. This race has been tightening, and there is no doubt that the mainstream media has been watching her like a hawk. Recently, Angle aired this ad that has been causing some controversy from the left.
In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with this ad. Angle was merely highlighting an issue where Reid has been absent on: creating legislation to deal with the rise of illegal immigration.
Meanwhile, The View’s Joy Behar had a few nasty comments to share about Angle’s recent ad.
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1
After this event, Angle raised $150,000 in online contributions. I love what Angle did to show her appreciation for Behar’s nasty comments…sent her flowers in gratitude. However, I would have exposed Behar for what she is…
(Cue Cartman for the vocals)
Did he just say that?
I guess Harry Reid (D-Nev.) can also take credit for saving a ton of money on his auto insurance too. He claims to be taking credit for saving the world. I wonder what he will be taking credit for on November 2nd.
Words Can Come Back to Haunt You
Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) should remember this, especially now that a video showing his disdain against birthright citizenship has resurfaced. It looks like Harry might be in some serious trouble.
Rand Paul to Obama: Stop Forcing Big Government Down Our Throats
It’s about time that someone had the guts to tell President Obama to stop forcing big government on the people and to butt out of state affairs. Thankfully, U.S. Senate Candidate, Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told the President to mind his own business.
Since President Obama has been in power, the Federal deficit has ballooned to an unprecedented high ($14.5 trillion dollars), government spending on wasteful programs has continued at a record rate, and relying on Keynesian hack theories (can anyone say Stimulus?) to solve our economic woes. Additionally, there has been increased regulations on our coal industry and offshore drilling at a time when we are in midst of an energy crisis. If that is not bad enough, unemployment numbers continue to spike as well.
Kentucky needs Rand Paul’s leadership in the U.S. Senate and there is no doubt the nation could rely on it as well.
Attention Republican Officeholders: Avoid this story at all costs
Guest Post by Citizen Seeker
“Lindsey Graham is all 5-foot-7 with his shoes on, but these days he towers above his Senate colleagues.” – Dana Milbank, Washington Post, after Graham’s vote in favor of Elena Kagan
If you are a Republican officeholder in the current environment and the above words are written about you, prepare for a career beyond politics. It’s over.
Very little is so damning for any politician as exalting praise from committed partisan enemies for selling out your own team – and few things are considered as unforgivable by either party’s base. With our own base completely out of patience these days, Republican officeholders need to understand that while they are still at liberty to take their 30 pieces of silver, their careers will not long survive the exchange.
Looking ahead to 2011, when the Washington Post‘s editors are making endorsement decisions in over 100 local and state races in Northern Virginia, this is a lesson worth bearing in mind locally, too.
While the Post occassionally endorses a Republican because they are thoroughly embarassed by the Democrat and there are some districts where a Post endorsement can be a benefit, it is worth remembering that praise from the Washington Post is as often poisonous. With the WaPo’s already tarnished reputation suffering further under Weigelgate, the New Black Panther story, the JournoList story, and others, the ideal outcome for a Republican may well be the one achieved by Ken Cuccinelli in 2007: the Post was too embarassed by Oleszek to endorse her, but could hardly bring itself to endorse a man who presented such a legitimate and unwavering threat to their agenda.
Oscar Wilde once wrote that “you can judge a man by the quality of his enemies”. The nakedly partisan Washington Post is as worthy as an enemy can get for any Republican – and your own friends and supporters make for poor substitutes.
