Apparently the earthquake wasn't the only thing the vacationing Sharon Bulova missed today. Janet Oleszek has defeated Chris Wade.
The far-left Chap Petersen wing in Fairfax County has taken over the local Democratic Party and repudiated the "leadership" of Sharon Bulova. The Connolly Machine backed Wade - Sharon Bulova, Jeff McKay, Dave Marsden, Vivian Watts, Penny Gross - and they all lost tonight. Its stunning to see the Democrats again voting for a candidate who is simply incapable of being an effective campaigner. Should I post those awful debate performances again? Oleszek is going to campaign about left versus right, while John Cook is a candidate who is from the community.
Its amazing. Sharon Bulova was repudiated in her own district where she represented for twenty years. Her leadership has consisted of making sure there is as little dissension or open discussion as possible on the Board. Her leadership is informing supervisors at the very last minute on important votes sot here is the least amount of discussion. Democrats in Braddock have known Sharon Bulova a long time, and they clearly understand she's been such an underwhelming Chairman they were no longer willing to be pied by her piper.
And now far-left loon Oleszek, who's campaign style is as subtle and nuances as a cinder block, is what Braddock district (my district) is left with. She will claim Cook is a crazy tea-partier but the folks know better. They know he's a local attorney and active community member for years in his HOA. They see the issues he's running on aren't right versus left - issues like local control of roads, ending wasteful subsidised luxury apartments, transparency and true oversight of the School Board, among many other things. Go compare their issues pages on their websites.
I suspect we will see a replay of the 2007 senate race only more-so. Oleszek will attack Cook clumsily, while Cook will just show by his appearance and actions that he is by far the most qualified to hold this position and while Oleszek stutters and stammers through nonsense. Cook has a similar style to Cuccinelli, Oleszek's last opponent. He is quick on his feet and incredibly prepared. She will lash out with her left-wing lunacy and Cook will stand there and just who is really prepared and deserving of this job.
John Cook is from the community, Janet Oleszek is from the far left. I imagine even moderate Dems can't be happy with this outcome. We've seen the Oleszek show before and know what an embarrassing disaster it is. Cook has proven a steady and even hand on the Board, a contrarian at times but certainly not some far right maniac Oleszek will try to paint him.
This is great news for Republicans! Braddock district is the key to this entire election - both locally and in state races. Spike Williams, Jason Flanary, and Brian Schoeneman need a very strong Cook showing to help them and vice versa. The Democrats just cut their nose to spite their face.
Agree with most of your negative assessment of Oleszek. Of course, she cam within 100 votes of defeating Cuccinelli, but that probably reflects much more on him than on her.
Posted by: NoVA Scout | August 24, 2011 at 06:10 AM
"Far-left Chap Petersen wing"? That's a new one.
Posted by: Stephen Spiker | August 24, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Yeah, don't know that anyone is going to say Chap is from the Far Left. I would say he is from the "We like Real Democrats" wing of the Party.
Chris Wade was not well served by his masters. The folks who got him into the race never offered a credible reason why this proto-Republican should be the Democratic nominee...besides the fact he would be in Sharon Bulova's pocket.
However, I suspect that Marsden is better served by the Janet "Hoot" Oleszek nomination than the Wade nod. Having Janet O on the ticket will help get out enthusiastic volunteers from the lefty wing of the party who might have been lacking in enthusiasm with a Wade win.
Posted by: Bwana | August 24, 2011 at 11:25 AM
""Far-left Chap Petersen wing"? That's a new one."
A new one, yes. But hardly surprising. Didn't you know that anyone to the left of Genghis Khan is "far left".
The Republican Party has drifted so far to the right that pretty much the whole world is "far left" to them. And their lack of self awareness makes it impossible for them to see that it is their own hard lurch right that has distorted their perception.
To these guys, solid Eisenhower type Republicans are far left and sometimes referred to as communists. Hell, I've even heard some of them call Barry Goldwater a liberal. They'd do the same to Reagan except they worship a cartoon parody of Reagan rather than the reality of the man. Which is a shame because the reality was a man of many admirable qualities and they dishonor him with the caricature they have created to suit their current bizarre beliefs.
Far left? I'm surprised Petersen wasn't characterized as a Trotskyite. These guys are mainstreaming the John Birch Society for crying out loud. Rationality and perspective aren't their strong suits.
One can only hope for a return to sanity. America could very much use a rational conservative political party. The current Republican Party sure doesn't fit that bill. On either count.
Far left, indeed. What nonsense.
Posted by: Nat | August 24, 2011 at 02:50 PM
To be fair, Nat, your post is a lot more ridiculous than calling Chap! far left.
Posted by: Stephen Spiker | August 24, 2011 at 04:32 PM
I've known Chap for a long time, and there is no way I would call him "far left." A Democrat, for sure, but not by any definition "far left."
Posted by: Whitney Wilson | August 24, 2011 at 06:21 PM
I call him Far Left because he is the one who got Oleszek in this so I lump them in together
Posted by: Chris | August 24, 2011 at 07:55 PM
Chris, I understand you position, but disagree with it. I do agree that Chap does manage to have pretty good "public" relationships with people of all over the ideological spectrum.
Posted by: Whitney Wilson | August 25, 2011 at 10:58 AM
The Wade/Oleszek campaign also carries more than the scent of an intra-party leadership brawl.
Chap! seems to want to run for statewide office in 2013. He may have gotten involved in the Janet campaign in order to make good with and for the real far left elements of the party who support Oleszek in preparation for a future race...
Posted by: Bwana | August 26, 2011 at 11:26 AM
not yet familiar with all, but for himself noted that there can be read (find) a lot of interesting and useful information
Posted by: buy assignment | August 29, 2011 at 04:22 AM