MASON CONSERVATIVE

DCPost Says Cuccinelli WILL Announce For Governor Next Week

Here is the full article from Anita Kumar:

RICHMOND — Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II (R) will reveal his plans next week to run for governor in 2013, according to well-placed Republican sources.

Cuccinelli, a tea party hero who garnered national attention for suing the federal government over the new health-care law, expects to make a formal announcement after the legislative session in the spring, according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so they could speak freely about his plans.

For months, the former state senator from Fairfax County had said he was considering running for reelection or against Sen. Mark R. Warner (D) in 2014. But in recent weeks, speculation had turned to a run for governor, possibly setting up a primary race against Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R).

Bolling, a conservative who has campaigned on kitchen-table issues, has the endorsement of Virginia’s popular governor, Robert F. McDonnell (R). In Virginia, governors cannot seek consecutive terms.

In a brief interview Wednesday with The Washington Post, Cuccinelli declined to comment, saying he had not heard the speculation that he would announce his intentions next week. Calls to his political advisers were not returned.

Cuccinelli, easily elected as part of a GOP sweep in 2009, has taken on several controversial issues, leading his opponents to accuse him of using his office to further his political agenda. He sued the federal government over the health-care law, advised colleges that they could not adopt nondiscrimination policies protecting gay people and subpoenaed documents involving a former climate scientist at the University of Virginia.

A Post poll in May showed that 46 percent of respondents said they approved of how Cuccinelli was doing his job; 27 percent disapproved.

Bolling has been a key adviser for McDonnell, serving as the state’s chief jobs-creation officer and stressing the economy, transportation and higher education. A former state senator from Hanover County, he was expected to run for governor in 2009, but he instead ran for reelection as part of a team with McDonnell.

After this month’s elections, Bolling’s part-time job as lieutenant governor job gave his party the majority in the state Senate after the chamber became evenly split between Republican and Democratic legislators.

Bolling is in Florida for the national lieutenant governor’s association this week and could not be reached to comment. Randy Marcus, Bolling’s chief of staff, did not immediately return a call.

Several Democrats have expressed an interest in running for statewide office, but only former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe has told supporters that he will run for governor.

Bolling's camp responds, reported by NBC 12 Richmond's Ryan Nobles:

“Obviously, we don’t know what Ken Cuccinelli’s intentions are.  Lieutenant Governor Bolling has made clear that he intends to run for Governor in 2013 and we hope that Ken will be a part of our ticket.  We think that would be best for the Republican Party.

 ”In 2009 Bob McDonnell and Bill Bolling gave the Republican Party a blueprint for victory and it all started with Bill’s willingness to set aside his personal ambition and join with Bob McDonnell to form a united ticket.  That worked well in 2009 and its the right approach in 2013.”

Hol.  E.  Sh*t. 

It's on.

Notice the last paragraph?  Desperation.  Remember, this is just a rumor at this point, but the panic in that statement is amazing.  As if Ken had NOTHING to do with that victory is astounding.

This is the absolute worst thing for Bolling right now.  Yikes.

Has Jamie Radtke Ruin A Chance To Stop George Allen?

As anyone can see, on the top corner I have a Bob Marshall for Senate logo.  It represents not so much a desire to see Marshall enter the race (which I would support) but rather a resentment against the big boys telling us who to support before we can to make a decision.  I want a real choice, I don't want the upper echelons of the party dictating to us who to support from the Governor on down.  So as I do hope that Del. Marshall does enter the race just to give conservatives a voice in this process, I feel that it has been ruined, and it has been ruined by the awful campaign of Jamie Radtke. 

I could go on about the oddity that Ms. Radtke be the standard of limited government when she has made her career as congressional (i.e. government) employee.  But her campaign, run so poorly and negatively, has perhaps burned any bridge a true conservative champion could cross to take on Allen.  Her message is ridiculed and stunted by her staggering campaign debt, inability to articulate why Sen. Allen should not be given his old job, and tries to makes up for it by simply attacking Allen over and over.  I believe that so many folks have endorsed Allen because of Radtke and what a disaster she would be as a candidate against Tim Kaine.  The one instinct that unifies all mainstream professional Republicans is to circle the wagons.  That is what is going on now.

Radtke has been talking the tea party talk and she can be an effective spokesperson.  But that message has been ruined by her campaign, and I worry that it has been ruined for any other candidate to step in.  Bob Marshall has a constituency, its one rooted in the 2006 marriage amendment movement, his own near-miss for the nomination in 2008, and then Ken Cuccinelli's AG primary/convention army.  These are religious voters across the state combined with the conservative Northern Virginia GOP base that could launch Marshall forward.  As has been proven over and over, within the Republican Party, the secret is that the most conservative part is Northern Virginia despite its general election record.  Look no further than the 2010 11th district congressional primary.  So there is a natural constituency that is there to beat George Allen, but has Radtke ruined whatever chance someone like Marshall had to win over any other voter outside of that constituency?  Radtke is from Richmond, the hub of the GOP establishment, and has done nothing to win over those folks that stretch from the Valley to places like Patrick Henry College in Loudoun and Christendom College in Front Royal.  Loudoun/Prince William/Faquier/Warren/Shenandoah counties are really the heart of where someone like Marshall would do well and combined that with strength from conservative activists across all of Northern Virginia and he would do very well.  But Radtke has been so terrible I think the idea of an Allen inevitability as taken hold in these areas and I'm not sure Marshall can rev them up in six months. 

Radtke should have challenged Walter Stosch because she clearly needs some political seasoning.  As she's learning, organizing a pressure group is very different from organizing a campaign.  They do not seem to understand that.  Sadly, this chasing at windmills that is the Radtke campaign may have done the one thing they were trying to stop, ensuring George Allen will be the nominee for the United States Senate. 

Newt As Nixon

Atlantic Wire outlines what Newt learned by observing the falling stars that came and went in the GOP primary.  It makes me believe that there is something deeper here with Gingrich, not that he just has perfect timing to be in the right place at the right time.  I look back at all those debates and you begin to sense that the whole time Newt's mind is turning.  As the Wire peice points out . . . he stayed away from being anti-science, he hasn't been vitriolic, he's attacked the media rather than his opponents, quietly positioning himself as everyone's second choice.  He sort of snuck up on everyone.  He seemed to have a better feel for these also-ran conservative alternatives and why they were popular but also why they flamed out.

He really does remind me of Richard Nixon . . . though I'm not sure he shares Nixon's famous self-loathing and need to be loved.  Gingrich seems to be on firmer footing in his mind.  But he's a survivor, a man who has done the dirty work of politics for others but also has a deep mind that clearly craves to want to operate on the biggest stage of them all.

I like Newt, I like have a candidate we don't have to say about, "oh, he's smart he's just folksey," or, "he can't be dumb if he's governor." 

But whatever . . . I was going to endorse but I have decided to just wait until the primary comes to Virginia. 

But I would happily vote for Newt and advocate for him.

Re-Redistricting: Is This Something We Really Want To Do?

I've never hid that fact that I'm a fan of partisan redistricting.  Elections have to mean something, and all the non-partisan is BS because its just as political a process only worse because its hidden from plain site.  Besides, redistricting only goes so far . . . seats can still be won with good candidates running good races, how else did Democrats win the State Senate in 2007 off of a map drawn by Republicans?  Redistricting is always behind of demographic changes anyways.

That being said, I wonder if THIS is a bit of an overreach.  Look, let's be honest, this map is a disgrace but Republicans, if they do this, they better be ready to explain it and do it well.  This just smells of an issue that will burn us politically.  I've heard chatter that this is an idea pretty widely supported with Republicans but I don't like it (politically).  Don't get me wrong, the map is a disaster, but you know what - those 2007 elections had redistricting is a big issue in it - and the Dems won the chamber. 

Be careful.

Or am I paranoid that my Spidey-sense is acting up?

Should Huntsman Get A Second Look?

Reason Magazine:

More to the point, Huntsman has a record more conservative than his moderate image suggests. He worked for Ronald Reagan. He wants to repeal President Barack Obama's health care reform, decries the Environmental Protection Agency's "regulatory reign of terror," endorsed Rep. Paul Ryan's Medicare plan, and favors a constitutional amendment to "ensure legal protections for the unborn."

When the candidates were asked about a hypothetical package consisting of $10 in federal spending cuts for each $1 of tax increases, he joined the others in a chorus of rejection.

In my search for anyone-but-Romney I am reevaluating everyone, and I would like to share it with you guys and get feedback.  Huntsman struck me initially as what the sheep have been told by people like Erick Erickson - who's turned RedState into RickState and I've found growingly incompetent in his political analysis.  In fact, I think Erickson is the worst writer on that site, which I normally love.  But I digress.

I think Hunstman came away looking very good in last week's debate.  He was forceful and thoughtful.  He's lived around the world, he knows how it works.  I'm impressed by that.  The whole "I'm a conservative so I talk folksy" has worn thin for me, and as much as I shine on Gingrich for his thinking he still hasn't convinced me he could implement anything as president. 

The problem is the relative weak alternatives to Romney.  Whoever we go with as conservatives, there are going to be flaws.  Nobody is Ronald Reagan, he's not there.  So we need to stop holding back good alternatives because of one or two issues.  Mitt Romney will be an absolute disaster as president.  And that's the game here folks.  I believe Romney can beat Obama because he's weak, but Romney plays into the narrative the President wants to weave about the 1% versus the 99%.  But I believe Romney would be a weak, ineffective president who will bend at the winds rather than be principled.  Its not about who the nominee is, its about who's president. 

Make no mistake, this is not an endorsement of Huntsman.  But what I appreciate about him is threefold.  One, he's qualified.  Two, he doesn't pander.  Romney is the ultimate panderer, who believes you need to act and sound like something your not.  And lastly, there is their record.  Nobody can say Huntsman didn't govern as a conservative.  Yes, he advocated for some illegal immigrant issues and yes he's not in syc with global warming.  But compare that to Romney, who has literally taken every stance on every issue you could possibly get away with?

Just some thinking out loud here.

Expect To See This Picture A Lot If Romney Is The Nominee

(h/t RedState)

Immigration and Romney

From RedState, check it out.

This whole Romney-hardliner schtick is wearing thin for me.  This man, who Rush found talking about a pathway to citizenship in 2007 today on his show, to me is the absolute worst man we could nominate.  What kills me about his stance on immigration is its so patronizing.  He thinks that he found his issue where he gets to "act" like a conservative and "sound" like a conservative.  And to act and sound like a conservative; he assumes he has to be strident, arrogant, and black and white.  Its nauseating.  What does it say about his "attempt" at being conservative the read-meat guys like Rick Perry show more depth and compassion.  

And I could buy Romney's outrage if he was a fighter on this issue for years.  Folks there is a reason Mitt Romney has one only one election in 20 years of trying . . . and then bailed on his reelect in 2006 because would be bad for him while braver souls (like Rick Santorum) took the beating but did so on their issues.

Someone end this man's chances, please.  

Tonight's Debate

Am I wrong in thinking that Jon Huntsman was the winner?

Good debate overall, Wolf Blitzer has been doing a good job on these.  Here are some of my thoughts.

- Rick Santorum was kind of right when he was talking about profiling.  Instead of ethnicity, we should look at country of origin irregardless of religion or race.

- I get the feeling that Romney and Bachmann are sort of lining up together while Perry and Gingrich are on the other side.  Romney and Bachmann are quite strident on issues like immigration while Perry and Gingrich seem in agreement on a lot of issues.  

- Ron Paul is probably the most intellectually honest politician in America.  He just does not care what people say about it.

- I really am getting annoyed with Bachmann (and Romney) pounding their chests over immigration.  Its just not that simple, and they have no clue.  The 2008 amnesty bill WAS amnesty and all Republicans were right to defeat it.  But we can't ignore the sheer numbers of people here and their stories on how and why they came.  When Republicans stop being so strident and simplistic on this issue, then we will start winning Hispanic votes again.

- Herman who?

- Are we REALLY 6 weeks out from Iowa?  PS - here is my Iowa prediction now:

1. Newt Gingrich
2. Ron Paul
3. Mitt Romney
4. Rick Perry
5. Michele Bachmann
6. Herman Cain
7. Jon Huntsman
8. Rick Santorum

 

Two Thorny Issues

This coming legislature will have more than just budget woes and congressional redistricting to worry about.  Republicans are looking at two very divisive (potentially) issues that could overshadow a lot of things and immediately test Lt. Governor Bill Bolling's meddle and could give us clues as to how he plans on navigating his way to the governorship in 2013.

1.  The Personhood Amendment.  Del. Bob Marshall, as he's want to do, has introduced this very controversial pro-life bill and it will be interesting to see where this one goes.  Nobody is as pro-life as me, but I'd have to see the language on this because I'm not okay with creating a law that could make something as simple as birth control a crime.  But like I said, I'd have to read the language.  Most Republicans are pro-life, but this is really tough.  Prediction?  Either Howell (who's untouchable right now) kills this, or word goes down to a moderate R senator to kill this in committee.

2.  Re-Redistricting.  Now this could be interesting.  Republicans could look to re-redistrict the General Assembly lines from last year.  Congressional redistricting will get done, too, but I have no idea how re-redistricting will play. 

Watch these two issues this winter.

Would You Support This Candidate?

• Cut and simplify personal income taxes by cutting the number of tax rates to just two - 10% and 28% returning to the Reagan era pro-growth top tax rate

• Simplify the tax code and reduce middle income taxes by eliminating the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)

• Simplify the tax code, encourage savings and investment and reduce taxes by eliminating the Death Tax

• Lower the Capital Gains and Dividend tax rates to 12% to spur economic growth and investment

• Reduce taxes for families by tripling the personal deduction for each child

• Reduce and simplify taxes for families by eliminating marriage tax penalties throughout the federal tax code

• Retain deductions for charitable giving, home mortgage interest, healthcare, retirement savings, and children

• Cut the corporate income tax rate in half to make our businesses competitive around the world, from 35% to 17.5%

• Eliminate the corporate income tax for manufacturers - from 35% to 0% - which will spur middle income job creation in the United States and will create a job multiplier effect for workers

• Spur innovation in America by increasing the Research & Development Tax Credit from 14% to 20% and make it permanent

• Eliminate the tax on repatriated taxable corporate income - from 35% from 0% - when manufacturers invest in plant and equipment; and reduce the corporate tax rate from 35% to 5.25% on other repatriated income and allow for 100% expensing for new business equipment

• Repeal and Replace ObamaCare with market based healthcare innovation and competition to improve America and America's health and create jobs;

• Reduce Federal (non-defense discretionary spending) to 2008 levels through across the board spending cuts;

• Eliminate all agriculture and energy subsidies within four years letting the markets work, eliminate resources for job killing radical regulatory approaches at the EPA and refocus its mission on safe and clean water and air and commonsense conservation, eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood and support adoption, reduce funding for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for extreme positions undermining economic freedom, eliminate funding for implementation of ObamaCare, and eliminate funding for United Nations organizations that undermine America's interests

• Pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution capping government spending at 18% of GDP

• Support Legislation to Reform the Congressional Budget Process and support legislation that requires Congress to pass constitutionally required spending bills or forfeit its members'pay for the next fiscal year

• Eliminate all other Obama era regulations with economic impact over $100 million

• Negotiate 5 Free Trade Agreements and submit to Congress in first year of Presidency

• Tap into America's vast domestic energy resources to power our 21^st century economy without picking winners and losers so all American families and businesses can have lower energy cost

• Unleash innovation in telecommunications and Internet consumer options by getting government out of the way which will expand productivity and lower costs

• Reform Social Security and Medicare for sustainable retirements

• Block Grant Medicaid, Housing, Job Training, and other social services to the States

• Freeze current non-defense related federal worker pay levels for a year and reduce federal workforce by at least 10% with no compensatory increase in the contract workforce

• Secure our border, streamline the legal immigration process to attract highly skilled talent and entrepreneurs from around the world and reform the agriculture worker program so it works for America's farmers

• Reclaim the role of parents as the decision makers in their children's education andincentivize the states to promote parental choice and quality educational options because the family is the foundation of the economy

• Promote tort reform and alternatives to litigation for federal policies and programs; andincentivize the states to expand these reforms across our economy

• Approve the Keystone Pipeline and other job creating initiatives delayed and burdened excessively by government regulation

• Overturn the National Labor Relations decision preventing Boeing from opening up its airplane factory in South Carolina and prevent other decisions like it

• Phase out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's government backed role in mortgages andhomeownership within five years

• Audit the Federal Reserve and return it to its original purpose - a single charter to only manage inflation

• Strengthen our national security and national defense so that we are not dependent upon our foes or competitors for critical manufacturing, technology, energy and other security needs

I get that Rick Santorum has very little chance of becoming president . . . but in our zest and zeal to look for a conservative why hasn't he gotten a good look?  I mean, he lost reelection by 20 points in a state that was hard blue when he ran and one of the reasons he lost so badly was because he stayed who he was.

Is it becomes he endorsed Arlen Specter over Pat Toomey?  That's the RickRedState line.  And as bad as that decision was, he did it to unclog conservative judges out of the Senate.  And if that's the worst apostasy he's ever had, its nothing compared to Mitt Romney entire pre-2007 political career, and he's who we are suppose to be in love with.  

He's not going to be president, but its worth point out what he's advocating for.