Bill Bolling: You Get No Choices

Looks like Bill Bolling is out telling Virginians that they won't be allowed to matter in the presidential primary with this statement:

I understand that some people are disappointed that their favorite candidate didn't get on the election ballot but the rules were well known to everyone, and every candidate had a chance to collect the number of valid petition signatures that are required by Virginia law. Governor Romney and Congressman Paul had no trouble doing that, while Speaker Gingrich and Governor Perry failed to do so. Whether you like Virginia's current system or not is a fair debate for future elections, but I don't understand how you can change the rules in the middle of this election process. If you do that it would be unfair to those candidates who qualified for the ballot in accordance with the law and the rules that had previously been established. You can't change the rules in the middle of the game just because you don't like the result. That doesn't seem fair or legally correct to me.

I'm not sure why he feels the need to weigh in?  If he's so confident in Romney, what does it matter?  Is the Lieutenant Governor really advocating that Virginia be rendered meaningless in this primary?  And might I add, we aren't "in the middle of this election process."  Not a single ballot in a primary has been cast year, and it won't be until next week in New Hampshire.  So yes, there is time to change it so Virginia Republicans can have a full choice.

To the line that "they all knew the rules," yes, that is true.  But that doesn't mean the rules aren't crap and should be changed.  It doesn't mean that our system has made it very hard since it was changed last October - I don't want to hear anyone saying, "Oh, Alan Keyes made it," because it wasn't the same.  Would LG Bolling like to explain why Gov. Romney did not have any of his signatures looked at?  Why is 15,000 the number and not 14 or 12?  What is so bad about having Perry, Hunstman, Bachmann, Santorum and everyone else on the ballot as well?  Romney and Paul ran for president in 2008, so of course they had a better organization.

I find it puzzling that Bolling even feels the need to comment about this, but it makes me wonder if perhaps the conspiracy theories that a fix was in might be true?  Yes Cuccinelli is working to expand the ballot, and yes Bolling is head of Romney's campaign here.  But Ken hasn't endorsed any other candidate, nor has he given any inclination as to where he would go.  If you watched the Huckabee forum, Ken grilled them all really good.  Oh, and it looks like Bob McDonnell SUPPORTS Cuccinelli's move here.  It makes sense for Bob because he could be a good running-mate for any of the candidates, not just Romney.  Bolling becomes governor if McDonnell is elected VP with any of these guys, so it makes me wonder exactly what is the purpose of this?

Yes, everyone knew the rules.  But like I said, that doesn't mean the rules aren't awful and should be changed BEFORE a primary vote is cast in any state.  I think the RPV has a duty to ensure that we matter and that we are allowed to have our full choice of candidates.  Sorry if that offends you. 

Comments

[200 Grande]

Headline of the Day:

Ken Cuccinelli is pro-choice!

[Let's Be Free]

Bolling is full of himself and party operatives -- what a jerk and a sorry supporting cast!