And he's in. I've spent a ton of time talking about how I hope for a new, fresher alternative so I'm not going to get into all of that again. Needless to say, six years ago Allen had the worst possible timing for running for reelection, but now things have turned completely around. If it remains just him and Jamie Radtke, I'm not sure I won't turn around on everything I've said and vote for Allen. Radtke is just not vetted and too untested. But here is some advice . . . you can't beat George Allen by casting him as some big government squishy moderate. Thet man once said he wanted to punch Democrats soft teeth down their whinny throats. He ain't so squish. To beat Allen, you have to make this a choice between old vs. new. You can't out-conservative George Allen because his record, particularly as governor, suggests otherwise. The problem for Jamie Radtke is now that conservative voters are a little more savy than before after having watched the Millers, Bucks, O'Donnells, and Angles of the world crash because they just were not ready. Allen's been taken down before and has lived to tell about it. There is nothing that Radtke can do that Allen hasn't been through already.
Good luck to him, its not that I don't want to see the guy do well. And I'm not here to attack just for the sake of attacking, I do have my reasons. But if he is in the nominee, I really don't have an issue voting for the guy.
But I've made clear my preference is for Corey Stewart, should he decide to run.
ack
Posted by: 200 Grande | January 24, 2011 at 12:48 AM
Politico is reporting that today is the day Allen will announce for the U.S. Senate.
Democrats across Virginia are smiling.
Many have speculated about Allen not enjoying the Senate. That he was much happier as governor. That he viewed the Senate merely as a stepping stone to the White House. That had he been re-elected in 2006 he would surely have run for president in 2008.
I think Allen is still nursing illusions of sitting in the Oval Office. He's running for a job, U.S. Senator, that he doesn't want or care about so he can run for president in 2016.
The guy has to be installed as the favorite to win the Republican nomination. But he is a decided underdog to win the rematch with Webb. And the whole Allen as president thing is just a bad joke.
Posted by: Not Dick Cheney | January 24, 2011 at 07:43 AM
It will surprise me if Jim Webb decides to run again, so those pining for a rematch likely to be disappointed.
What is the Democratic Party's back-up plan? There is no plan, as usual.
On the GOP side, they will engage in their usual circular firing squad method of damaging their nominee, as much as possible, in advance of the general election.
George Allen will again be the nominee, even if he calls every tracker he encounters, Macaque.
During the campaign, Virginians need to ask Mr. Allen why he never defended the Constitution against the Bush regime's onslaught; why he approved of the torture and murder of prisoners, along with warrantless wire-tapping and similar violations of our Fourth Amendment rights.
Posted by: J. Tyler Ballance | January 24, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Okay. This is completely subjective. And I admit I am not an Allen fan but I don't think that is coloring this judgement.
Does anyone else find this whole "Stay Tuned" thing to be major league lame? I mean, really?
I believe that was a problem for Allen in 2006. There were aspects of his 2006 campaign that just left you scratching your head and asking "who is running this circus?".
Getting off on the same lame foot just doesn't seem promising. If this is followed up with football analogies and dressing up in the cowboy costume I am going to downgrade his chances to "snowball's chance in hell".
Posted by: Not Dick Cheney | January 24, 2011 at 12:57 PM
Well, it sounds like Allen is bringing all his old Virignia hands back, which is good. His team for '06 were all a bunch of national folks who were there as a trial run for the White House.
Posted by: Chris | January 24, 2011 at 01:04 PM