Its a long way to go for both guys to get the nominations of both their parties but its clear George Allen and Tim Kaine are the heavyweights in their respect parties for the 2012 US Senate race. Kaine, current DNC chairman, is basically waiting for Barack Obama to ask him to run so he can with his official backing. And I have no doubt he will win, and he will run with the backing of the DPVA establishment led by Brian Moran. I'm hearing rumblings that to ensure Kaine is the nominee, the Democrats want to go with a convention in 2012 to nominate him. Its funny how Republicans have gone the opposite direction and George Allen seems to be embracing the chance to prove himself again by taking on all comers while Kaine seems to be gaming the system throguh Moran to make sure potential upstarts like Periello or Petersen don't catch fire.
What Kaine's entry into this race will do is make it a completely national race, and I believe the winner will be of the party that wins Virignia in the 2012 presidential election. Gov. Kaine is so closely identified with Preisdent Obama - he's his DNC chair, was the first sitting govenror to endorse Obama, and almost got the VP slot. Kaine will have the Obama colors on him more than any other Senate candidate in the country. Allen, on the other hand, should he get the nomination will represent the conservative revolt against everything Obama has stood for as president.
Both carry their own baggage. Allen will eventually have to deal with the demons that brought him down in 2006, while Kaine has to deal with the fact that he had a largely lackluster tenure as govenror, and many Democrats in Northern Virginia just aren't wild about him anymore. Reading some of the Dem blogs out there, the grassroots seem restless and I'm sure they'll get behind Kaine and Obama but I'm not sure he won't get bloodied in a primary/convention. The excitement among the grassroots seems to be with Tom Periello.
Both men represent the old guard in their parties, and both men are trying transform from the politics of the past and reshape themselves in this new Obama/Tea Party Age. But if it does end up Kaine vs. Allen, I do think the winner will be the same party that wins Virginia's electoral votes. Whoever is at the top of the ticket will have a gigantic impact on this race.
It is a different country now. Virginians will do their duty. They will go to polls and crush Kaine. And in the process they will help finish off the Obama regime.
But between now and then, we should expect the Democrat political machine to perpetrate violence and mayhem. They have lost all the arguments on their merits. All they have left is thuggery and intimidation.
Posted by: Bannister McClure | February 18, 2011 at 02:32 AM
Maybe the Dems and their union slugs would try the Wisconsin gambit in Richmond?
Perhaps some enterprising young techie could publish a new iPhone app .... "Where in the World is Senator Schmuckster?" You could put bounties on them and place bets on when and where they would be found hiding.
The whole world could watch and enjoy the hunt, and maybe generate some capital to boot! I'd pay $5 for the app. Thousands of other sporting enthusiasts might as well.
Posted by: Carmen Miranda | February 19, 2011 at 12:29 PM
I don't think Allen represents the old guard of the Republican Party. He represents the the party that never was. He's a constitutionalist-based leader who stands for the private sector and limited government. The rest of the party was made up of dem-lites and RINOs. Unfortunately, there are still too many of these "old guard" McCain-like Republicans still around. Allen is surely NOT one of them.
Once Allen is back in the Senate, he'll quickly rise to the top as a national leader and again be seen as a strong contender for the presidency. Allen's star is on the rise.
Posted by: Jamie Lauder | February 20, 2011 at 10:31 AM
hahahahaha RINO.......
Posted by: localgop | February 20, 2011 at 11:32 PM
hahahahaha localgop. Great comment.
I give up, are you some kind of fruitloop or a whackjob?
Posted by: Marlene Bridesmith | February 21, 2011 at 09:12 AM
Both. I'm surprised localgop is not up in Madison singing cumbaya with the truant teachers, students, and union thugs. Maybe some sham doctor can write him a script to stay away.
Posted by: Mary Lynne | February 21, 2011 at 09:41 AM
I love how no one comments on any articles aside from the usual folks like, until I comment then all these random people jump on board....interesting to say the least.
Posted by: localgop | February 21, 2011 at 02:57 PM
A sh*t sponge has a tendency to soak it up. You should try some new hobbies.
But, back on topic. Allen is going to run away with this one. Kaine would be a fool to be dragged into this match. Obama will sink him.
Posted by: Doug Rowland | February 22, 2011 at 01:47 AM
Allen is an advocate for limited government????
Were you doing a Rip Van Winkle interpretation during Allen's time in the Senate???
He voted for every bit of the unfunded spending that took place during his term. Including that huge unfunded mandate, the Medicare prescription drug benefit. And I don't recall him expressing any misgivings about the fact that it wasn't paid for.
Allen is a typical big government Republican. He can attempt to re-invent himself all he wants but he has a record. And that record is hardly one that can be called conservative with a straight face.
I'm sorry that 2006 spoiled Allen's fantasy of being president. But his desire to be president is hardly a reason to ignore his past record and put him back in the Senate.
What a joke this guy is!
Posted by: No to Allen | February 22, 2011 at 05:31 PM
If Kaine runs, and gets the nomination without a primary fight, then the odds will be against Allen or any other GOP nominee.
It's one of those historical oddities, like Virginia voting against the White house party in it's gubernatorial elections.
You have to go back to 1996 to find a statewide candidate who won the general election after facing a serious primary effort (Warner over Jim Miller in the primary, then over Mark Warner in the general).
Posted by: Bwana | February 22, 2011 at 07:19 PM
Different time, different country, different state. Kaine, or any Dem (along with their union thugs, street walkers,and Soros money) will be annihilated.
Posted by: Jill Landsbury | February 26, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Bwana seems to be caught in a time warp. 1996 ....Geez.
Posted by: Buck MacIenny | February 26, 2011 at 04:20 PM
No to Allen also sounds like a time-traveler trapped in the closet of the past.
The Dems are skeered of Allen. Kaine will take a pass rather than get publicly necklaced by Obama. Lot's of other Dems will also be bailing in the coming months. You read it here first. It'll be fun to watch.
Posted by: Percy Sherwood | February 27, 2011 at 01:09 PM
Percy, you are clearly a complete apologist for Allen. Since when did it become unacceptable to consider the clear public record of an elected official when deciding whether or not to vote for him again?
You seem to be saying that we must all develop amnesia and ignore Allen's record and simply believe his current rhetoric even if it is at odds with his past actions. Which it sure is.
Using your logic I would expect you will be supporting the re-election of Obama in 2012. After all, looking at his record would mean you are, to use your own words, " a time-traveler trapped in the closet of the past". By your reckoning we should ignore Obama's record and vote for him based on his centrist rhetoric.
Forgive me, but I won't join you in that lunacy. Nor will I ignore George Allen's clear and egregious record as a big government "conservative" and foolishly believe his empty platitudes.
Talk is cheap. Actions speak much louder.
There are conservatives who can be nominated. We don't need a big government retread like Allen.
Posted by: No To Allen | February 28, 2011 at 10:21 AM
No to Allen must be local gop's new pseudonym. Good luck with that.
My money is with Percy. Kaine will read the polls and fold. It will be Allen against some no-name liberal. Allen will win 55-45.
Posted by: Debbie Boehmbauer | February 28, 2011 at 08:20 PM
Gee, Debbie. That was such a meaningful comment. I'm sure that after reading your witty comment we all now agree with you that people who believe in limited government and balanced budgets should all be as anxious as you are to nominate a man who repeatedly voted to expand the size and scope of government and to increase the national debt as our candidate for the U.S. Senate. I'm sure your clever attempts to deflect attention from Allen's actual record will do the trick.
Nothing to see here folks. Allen says he is a conservative. Why would you want to spoil it by looking at his actions while in office that contradict his empty campaign rhetoric? Why would you want to nominate an actual conservative when you can have a candidate like Allen who just pretends to be one.
Debbie, I understand your dilemma. You support Allen. His record is a problem for you. You can either deny his record exists (which is pretty tough since it is there for all to see) or you can attack anyone who points out that Allen's record is the reason we don't want him as our nominee. I understand you choose to attack because you can't possibly defend Allen's record. It is indefensible.
If you are correct that the Democrats will field a weak candidate then why in the world would we not want to nominate a real conservative and put him in the Senate? Why in the world would we settle for a big spending, big government type like Allen? And as a practical political matter, why would we nominate a candidate with so much political baggage that it makes winning needlessly difficult in a year when we should have the inside track to take the seat back.
This is about so much more than George Allen's ego.
Posted by: No To Allen | March 01, 2011 at 01:24 AM
I strongly endorse Don Richardson for Prince William County School Board. He will neuter your cat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yeCP81-n3s
Posted by: Muammar Qadaffi | March 01, 2011 at 05:44 PM
Wonder if No to Allen has anything to do other act as a one-man hit squad. Nothing but incessant negative ad hominem attacks. Reminiscent of local gop. Wonder if they are roommates? Must be pretty lonely out there for you guys.
Posted by: Douglas Bainbridge | March 01, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Nothing better than Yahoo finding me a good site related to what I was looking for. SO NICE!!!
Posted by: Nike Shox | April 10, 2011 at 10:45 PM
said he didn't report the e-mails he received in the Pryor/Herron cases because he didn't want to violate the privacy if his players. Tressel caught in another lie, he can't keep getting busted red-handed and not get fired, can he?
Hoke on the other hand doesn't seem to be able to do anything wrong in Ann Arbor. Of course he has yet to coach a game but his arrival is already 1000 times more smooth than Rich Rod's.
It is all coincidental but following Hoke's arrival, Michigan has retained Denard Robinson, hired the Baltimore Raven's defensive coordinator, hauled in a solid
Posted by: christian louboutin pumps | May 05, 2011 at 04:33 AM
Music has charms to soothe a savage breast , to soften rocks or bend a knotted oak.
Posted by: True Religion Outlet | June 21, 2011 at 02:50 AM