One of these two men will be the next governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The election is in November. Northam and I graduated from the same small state college in western Virginia. Comments about the candidates?
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Sometimes I feel this way..
At first blush Northam seems like a breath of fresh air. Good foundation, admirable sevice, devoted to his practice. His jumping the minimum wage to $15 hour, putting Confederate statues in a unnamed museum, support for sanctuary cities and other positions will make his road to governor difficult. Now Gillespie is a known quantity who will ride the position to something bigger and while he serves the good citizens of Virginia nothing extraordinary will occur.
A difficult decision but should be interesting and i look forward to how this race moves forward.
Northam was born and raised in Virginia, grew up as a farm boy in a small town on Virginia’s eastern shore, a VMI grad, former Army doctor, and a self-claimed fiscal conservative.
Ed Gillespie was born and raised in New Jersey, founded one of the most powerful lobbying firms in the US with clients such as EnRon and the Wall Street Banksters. He now denies ever knowing Jack Abramoff.
Northam +14 (53%-39%) last week:
https://poll.qu.edu/virginia/release-detail?ReleaseID=2493
Northam +7 (49%-42%) two weeks ago:
http://www.nbc12.com/story/36550832/ahead-of-final-debate-northam-leads-gillespie-by-7-points-in-poll
Northam +5 (49%-44%) one month ago:
https://www.monmouth.edu/polling-institute/reports/MonmouthPoll_VA_092617/
–bks
bks
I asked for your opinion of them pl
Ed Gillespie was tobacco lobbyist & W. Bush admin official who pushed neocon lies, the 2003 Iraq War, the Iraq surge, & the Afghan Surge & wants the military option on the table against Iran & sees it as threat #1.
As detailed below in his quotes: http://www.ontheissues.org/International/Ed_Gillespie_War_+_Peace.htm
&
continued to push those lies even after 2006
https://thinkprogress.org/meet-ed-gillespie-the-ex-bush-operative-and-former-tobacco-lobbyist-running-for-senate-fc9d2cf01049/
1. Gillspie pushed the lie WMDs in Iraq 2003
2. He pushed the lie of Saddam & Al Queda were linked & working together
3. He pushed the lie of Saddam seeking uranium from Niger
All these things should automatically disqualify him from being elected to any political position because he would just use it as the stepping stone to his next political position into Congress or Presidency
The US has had enough of neocon politicians who seek to waste the lives of our precious military & resources on fighting wars in the Middle East..
For everyone’s sake, don’t let him or any other neocon (Hilary, McCain, Graham, Lieberman, etc) into any elected position that they will only use to step into greater positions of power that will have disasterous consequences
State governor positions have no power when it comes to foreign policy but they will use it (like Governor Bush, Kaine, Palin, etc) as a spring board to run for President or Congress where they will do immense damage & needless lives lost
Life-long lobbyist, spinmeister, BS artist vs. VMI grad Army MC pediatric neurologist?
No contest.
It appears that Virginia would be better served by Mr. Northam than Mr. Gillespie, who comes with some serious past baggage and has run a rather dismal campaign. One of the glaring problems the GOP now has is the inability to put country before party. It is unable to arrive at the necessary compromises need for good governance. Mr. Gillespie has a long history with that aspect of his party and I am sure Virginia does not need that. It is a pretty diverse state and does not need more division.
A classic party conservative versus a classic bleeding heart spend spend spend liberal. It’s nothing more than a straight party line election. Neither man’s character matters. It’s what the party stands for that is important in this race.
VA tends to have a slightly greater proportion of Democrats, but it will be close. Who will win will depend on who has the better machine, who can motivate voters to come out to the polls on election day and the electoral demographics of VA.
Northam probably supports kneeling footballers. We know he supports sanctuary cities, removal of American icons and the job/small business killing $15/hr minimum wage hike. If it was the deep South, the Rocky Mountain states, mid-West or the rustbelt, he’d lose for sure. But the minorities and the all the DC borgists that reside in VA could sway the victory toward him. I hope they do not. OTOH, there is sufficient backlash against anti-American leftists like those Northam has sided with, that he could easily lose. It will be a telling result whoever wins.
Colonel,
What has Northam as Lt. Governor done for Virginia during his Lt. tenure? What did he do positive (or negative) under McAuliffe?
It appears that both camps are now slinging mud and negative campaigning against their respective opponent.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-opinions-are-local/wp/2017/09/22/the-mud-starts-flying-in-the-virginia-governors-race/?utm_term=.cdb541ae80ad
http://www.factcheck.org/2017/10/ralph-northams-sell-stretch/
BuddhistHarmony,
According to the wiki article Northam voted for Bush in both elections.
Col.,
It looks like Gillespie certainly knows that “art of legislative politics”. Whether that means he’s another creature of the swamp I can’t say. It is telling that Northam distanced himself from the candidate for Lt. Governor. I would think endorsing your own party’s candidtate for that post wouldn’t make any difference. What has he managed to do as Lt. Governor under McAuliffe?
A candidate’s character always matters. If you still believe it does not, perhaps you should stop voting for a while. (Just kidding.) Seriously, I think we must all acknowledge that characters matters a great deal in an elected official. As Lars says above, “One of the glaring problems the GOP now has is the inability to put country before party.” THAT is a function of the combined LACK of character of that group of elected officials. Character counts now more than ever.
Laura
That’s true and then the Democrats have the Clintons and Harvey Weinstein. pl
There is a lot of false equivalences, but the only one Harvey Weinstein should be compared to is Donald Trump, so far. There are plenty of Democrats who are dumping on Harvey, while there are very few Republicans who will do the same on Donald, even if there are disturbing parallels between the two. There is also the matter that one was making movies and the other one is supposed to make public policy.
You may not like the Clintons, but they have not ever behaved like Trump has, on many levels. That is if you are able to be objective about misbehavior.
Lars
There is no evidence that Trump is a sexual criminal. No one has accused him pf rape. Weinstein is a major funder of causes that I am sure you favor. The Clintons are the subject of a public corruption investigation presently being conducted by Mueller. pl
Lars,
“There are plenty of Democrats who are dumping on Harvey,…”
Those Democrats were all Je Suis Harvey for years. They’re keeping his money too, especially the ones he helped make multimillionaires.
turcopolier…Do you really consider them equivalent to elected officials and highly placed appointees who cower before Trump’s tongue and tweets and kowtow to his every whim. The US has no functioning ethics office, the entire concept of “promoting the general welfare” and “providing for the common defense” has gone by the wayside unless either of those things fits a VERY specific and ideological agenda. The State Department is in shambles, clean air and water are SO passe. And, still “Clinton and Weinstein” are the equivalent???? What about the total disrespect of Trump and his administration for the service of John McCain (and every other POW in history), what about showing concern only for Gold Star parents who slavishly praise Trump.
You know, you may end up running the last American blog that has any actual discourse, intelligent discussion, and non-vetted “facts” that may run counter to the Administration’s line (whatever that happens to be for the daily tweet-storm.) YOU have character!
And, for what it is worth Trump has been accused of rape and many instances of harassment and groping…just like Weinstein. Birds of a feather with bad character and no discernible moral compass.
Laura
“Do you really consider them equivalent to elected officials and highly placed appointees who cower before Trump’s tongue and tweets and kowtow to his every whim? I absolutely do. they were corrupt in office and were corrupt, money corrupt AFTER they were in office. FWIW all presidents have armies of sycophants chirping for their favor. Bill the billy goat molested women, before during and after his time in the WH and she has enabled this molestation throughout their life “together.” pl
It has been a while since I commented. To the commentator who asked what Northam has done as Lieutenant Governor, he has done exactly what the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia stipulates, to wit, “Article V. Executive
Article V Section 14. Duties and compensation of Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor shall be President of the Senate but shall have no vote except in case of an equal division. He shall receive for his services a compensation to be prescribed by law, which shall not be increased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected.”
The Lieutenant Governor duties are very narrowly drawn, and in Article V Section 16 he or she is the designated successor or the acting governor. “When the Governor-elect is disqualified, resigns, or dies following his election but prior to taking office, the Lieutenant Governor-elect shall succeed to the office of Governor for the full term. When the Governor-elect fails to assume office for any other reason, the Lieutenant Governor-elect shall serve as Acting Governor.”
Who shall be Governor is up to the voters. One of your commentators was right to say it will be decided by urban Virginia, but having said that Northam still must come out of rural Virginia with a median of at least 30%. In Charles City County for example, which is majority African America he will easily poll 60% but in Campbell County he will be luck to break 20%. Southwest Virginia, though small in numbers could tilt, in a small low turnout election, the election to the Republicans. For example in several counties in Southwest Virginia (Russell, Buchanan, Tazewell, Dickinson, Wise, Scott, Lee etc) Trump got over 80% of the vote. At this point I think the polls are too close.
In the other races I think Fairfax will easily take Vogel and Herring will squeak a win over Adams. Given that Democrats are contesting so many House of Delegate seats I think they will pick up 4 or5 preventing the Republicans from having enough votes in the House to override a veto (if Northam wins a possibility).
Since the Senate is not up for reelection the Republicans still have a 1 vote majority.
Races to watch Marshall 13th District, Lingemfelter District 31 and race in District 2 Makee (R) vs Foy (D) open seat. First R dropped out and was replaced by Makee. Foy enjoys almost 2 to 1 fundraising advantage. There are several other open seats that easily could flip to the D. Don’t expect any pickup by the D in rural Virginia.
Laura,
All politicians have stellar character. Just ask em and they’ll ya.
Anyone who promises to do things that you think are good has even better character. Those who oppose what you want; yep. Them’s the low lifes.
I seen too many people of unquestionable character turn out to be rats. Where do you want to start? Collin Powell? James Comey? Jim Webb who wouldn’t come out of his tent and lead?
Character measuring is another fool’s game. Just give me people that do what I want them to and who aren’t progressives.
btw…IMO, a progressive with character is more destructive than a conservative w/o character; the road to hell being paved with good intentions.
Lars,
IMO, the rapist Weinstein is directly equivalent to his good buddy the rapist Bill Clinton. The women of Hollyweird are the direct equivalents to the enabler and beneficiary Hillary Clinton; including all the hypocritical moral posturing about women’s rights.
The Weinstein affair is further confirmation for me that what liberals really want is Sodom and Gomorrah with Karl Marx as Mayor. The virtue signaling is for show and is used selectively to shame opponents. It isn’t serious.
Hank Foresman
Thanks for the run-down. pl
Neither are worth a bucket of spit.
Huckleberry
Agreed. pl
Virginia election polls are as bad as the 2016 Presidential polls in (deliberately?) overstating the Ds.
As per Richard Baris: “Gillespie is definitely leading now. Not by 8. But he’s leading. Northam’s problem is fewer voters say HC is the top issue. That was #1 last month. Now it’s jobs and the economy, which they trust Gillespie more on bigly. Also, education is increasing as a concern and Gillespie has a rare slight edge. Immigration >, too, w/ a bigger advantage.”
pl,
Similar to Hank Foresman, it has been a long while since I felt compelled to comment. But in this instance, I have a considered opinion regarding the candidates for Governor of our Commonwealth.
Ralph Northam graduated a year ahead of me from our Beloved Alma Mater. He was held in high regard by all cadets. His career has already been outlined here and in other venues, so I will not drone on. I know him to be an honorable man.
I have passing familiarity with Ed Gillespie through ties with our children. He is a quintessential Republican insider, but somewhat different from the Bible-thumping no nothings that appear to have taken over the local party.
Both parties are running scare campaigns in the voter-rich districts. TV, radio, and mailers are disgusting. They appeal to the base fears of soccer moms. The unctious party apparatchiks on both sides are creating cartoons of these candidates.
I am neither a Republican, nor a Democrat. I vote for the candidate who will harm me and the Commonwealth the least. Since the Republicans have sided with the moon bats, I hope Northam wins . . . . but it will be close.
B.D. Warbucks
I don’t want to endorse either of them. Gillespie is a GOP apparatchik whom I believe sees Mr. Jefferson’s chair in Richmond as merely a step toward national office. That’s not good enough for me. I want to see someone in that chair who is focused on our Commonwealth. Ralph Northam seems exactly the kind of affable and carefully inoffensive person to have been universally popular in the Corps and elected to presidency of the Honor Court. Politics is about interests, both individual and group. you make your case here on the basis of an assumed group interest on the part of VMI alumni. I agree that there is such an interest, a strong one. Therefore I ask you if Ralph Northam would be good for the Institute with regard to its special character, heritage and future or will he pursue the agenda of the National Democratic Party without regard for our group interest? pl
All
The gubernatorial election in Virginia on the 7th of November is getting to be really interesting. Both parties see it as an indicator with regard to Democratic Party chances of capturing the US House of Representatives in 2018. Democratic control in the House is thought to be quickly followed by an impeachment resolution against DJT. Foreign (i.e., out of state) money is pouring into the media markets here on both sides. The election will be decided on the basis of geography and tribe. The Democrats are strong in the Washington suburbs and in the very African-American urban areas of the SE, areas like Richmond City and Petersburg. The Republicans are strong just about everywhere else except a few college towns. It appears to me that if all the potential Democratic voters voted, Northam would win, but the question looms large as to how many will actually vote. Northam is a liberal even by national democratic Party standards and would normally be highly favored by the Democratic Party’s adherents in Virginia. Nevertheless, Northam has characteristics that may not be favored by many Democrats. He is very White, very male, very Southern. If you don’t thinks so, listen to his voice, observe the diffident manner so criticized in the national media here. He was an army doctor? You think that background will cause the Northern Virginia liberals to favor him? I don’t. All of that means the election is likely to be close. pl
Sir,
I totally agree with what you say.
When elections appear to be this close, sometimes seeming minutia can be the deciding factor – for example, the move to remove a plaque related to George Washington’s attendance on Christ Church in Alexandria. The left is making that move right at election time. IMO, a lot of Virginians are going to react negatively and see it as a portent of what the left seeks to do.
That is if VA is as I remember it being. As a quasi-Virginian, I am appalled. My family – parents, uncles/aunts, maternal grandparents – and someday my brother, cousins, wife and self are all interred at historic Christ Church in Weems. To think that the leftists would desecrate that sacred place, given a chance, gets me fighting mad. The Virginians of my youth were so proud of their history and of native sons like Washington. I can’t believe that they would not also be highly motivated to vote in a way that preserves their history and way of life. Then again, I have not spent significant time in VA three decades. Maybe the minorities and carpet baggers have eroded the culture and diluted the population sufficiently to be able to finish the civil war in sherman-esque style.
Huckleberry,
You’re right of course.
However, I still say it doesn’t matter too much. One of the candidates would destroy the culture of VA (and of the US) and the other would not. That is what is being voted on.
Eric Newhill
I will not vote for Northam. In Christ Church’s yard there are 34 Confederate unknowns buried in one trench. They died in hospital in Alexandria or being transported to Alexandria as prisoners of war. There is a plaque. Will they be uprooted? the Lee and Washington families owned pews in the church.. We have gone mad. In like manner the Episcopalians have removed the memorial stained glass windows of Lee and Stonewall Jackson from the National Cathedral in Washington. pl
Sir,
After the sick attack ad leveled at Ed Gillespie, wherein a pickup truck with a lift kit, flying the stars and bars and bearing Gillespie’s name, is shown prowling the streets looking to run down minority children, jihadi style – Virginians responded by tripling the campaign contributions to Gillespie.
That’s what I’m talking about. Fortunately Ol Virginie is still alive in the hearts and souls of many (enough?). IMO, Northam’s alliance has done him in. That is sad. It is a shame that you cannot be comfortable voting for a fellow Army vet and an alum of your alma mater.
Eric Newhill
I do not speak for other VMI alumni but I consider Ralph Northam to be the greatest danger and threat to VMI since MG David Hunter burned the place to the ground in 1864. pl