I Hope Bill Bolling Runs For Governor

That's right.

This is a serious comment, not snark.  In 2012 I voted Gary Johnson for President because I believe the two major parties were giving us a) false choices and b) inferior candidates.  I belived that Johnson, a two-term blue state governor and true up-from-nothing businessman, had a superior record and life experience to Obama and Romney.  Johnson gave me a real choice on issues like taxes, government spending, civil liberties, and other issues that really matter versus the fake issues that the parties use to divide us and hide their complicity in setting this country on fiscal ruin.  It was nice to vote my true conscience and not be forced to choose between "the lesser of two evils."  I feel I'm one of the few people who, in 2013, can say I didn't vote for an "evil," if you will.

Fast forward to today and I find myself in quite the quandary.  Bill Bolling is contemplating running for governor as an independent and its being rubbed in my face a bit that I am denouncing him.  And I do denounce him.  But if he wants to run for governor, he should.  The voters of Virginia deserve to have as many choices as possible.

But I also want him to run because I want Virginians to realize what a complete fraud Bill Bolling has become.  Bolling isn't running to give Virginia a third way, committed to a different set of values the way Johnson was.  Rather, Bill Bolling wants to run for governor out of personal pique for being a shitty politician who got out-maneuvered for the gubernatorial nomination not once, but twice.  He is a man who expected other people to do the hard work for him (McDonnell and Romney), and who had seven years to build a political base in this state and barely lifted a finger to do so.  This is a man who once proudly claimed to be the leader of the fight to expose the fear Mark Warner generated for his tax increases (rejected soundly by the voters) as the equivalent of the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz now embracing unsustainable budget growth in new taxes for transportation and implementation of Medicaid expansion mandated by Obamacare.  This is man who once attempted to create the 100 Ideas of Virginia only to let it die because he was too lazy to keep it going.  Somewhere out there, Senator Bolling is ashamed of his future self.

Bill Bolling is a fraud.  He finds support among Republicans who like the conservative menu but get scared when the food is served.  Bill Bolling is a conservative, he is not an independent.  The difference between Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli is that one is just a terrible politician and he's pissed about it.  Bolling likes the media attention vis-a-vie Cuccinelli now, he loves being embraced by the Washington Post who once denounced him and forcefully endorsed Jody Wagner.  Its nice to be liked, to be woooed by good press, but will that hold up?  What exactly is he trying to accomplish?  His entire career Bolling has made the case that he, a conservative, can govern.  But to get there, he know wants to sell out every principle he's ever had?  Does he expects The Post to endorse him?

THIS is a conversation I would love to have.  I want Terry McAuliffe, who only knows how to get to Richmond because his limo driver does, as the Democrat candidate.  I want Bill Bolling; a man willing to undo, unsay, and sell out every principle he's ever had because he's get some good copy in the papers lately, as the independent candidate.  And I want Ken Cuccinelli, who's done everything he's ever said he would do and been elected over and over in a part of the state much more difficult for Republicans than Bollings and never once compromised who he is or lied to anyone, as the GOP candidate.  

I want this because when Ken Cuccinelli is inaugurated as Virginia's next governor, I don't wany any Democrat or any stage-fright Republican to say they didn't have their say.  When GOVERNOR Cuccinelli is leading this state, I don't want any back-biting bloggers, activists, or arm-chair Republicans to get to say they were forced to vote for someone they didn't want to.  I don't want done to them what they do to US nearly every election.  

Please run, Bill.  Let's take a closer look at who you are, why you're running, and if your really willing to turn your back on your entire career and all your supporters because you were lazy.  Also, I want Republicans who don't like Ken because he's from Northern Virginia, because he's "too conservative," because he recruits Ron Paulers, or whatever it is that he's said or done that offends their delicate Romney-was-a-great-candidate sensibilities; I want those people to explain Bill's sell-outs, too.

Let's do this.

Comments

[Nicki]

I think you have way more faith in the electorate than I do. People aren't going to see Bill Bolling for the power-seeking, get-even, morally corrupt, immature, establishment shitbag that he is. They're going to look at the ballot, recognize the name, and cast a vote for him.

I'm still convinced that he's made a deal with McAuliffe to run as a spoiler, take votes away from Cuccinelli, and will get himself a cush job in the McAuliffe administration shortly after the election.

It would be fantastic if Cuccinelli kicked both McAuliffe's and Bolling's asses in the election, but unfortunately, I just don't think the average voter is that smart. :\

But yeah... I know what you're saying in principle.

[Rick S.]

Good post. Nicki, you are giving him too much credit. 72% don't know much about him. He is a lazy campaigner. He is an insider Republican and Cooch can actually run against Republicans and Democrats if Bolling is in the race. Please run Bill.

[Nicki]

Rick, I hope with my entire heart and soul that you're correct! Seriously. I just think we're screwed. I'm a glass is half empty kind of person. All Bolling has to do is siphon enough votes against Cuccinelli, and that scares me. I think that's what the meeting with McAuliffe was about a few months ago. He makes Ken lose, and then gets a plum spot with McAuliffe's administration. He'd do it, because he's a vindictive creep.

Yes, I'm a pessimist.

[D.J. McGuire]

"And I want Ken Cuccinelli, who's done everything he's ever said he would do and been elected over and over in a part of the state much more difficult for Republicans than Bollings and never once compromised who he is or lied to anyone..."

That's not true, Chris. Ken waffled on HB3202 (although he did atone), and he waffled this year when he supported Steve Newman's tax increase...

He is certainly better than either Bolling or T-Mac (and, in fact, I think that the massive tax hike that was passed makes it more likely that Bolling takes votes away from T-Mac than Ken), but he is not perfect.

[Chris]

nit-picker :-P

[Nathan Ritchie]

One issue all of you are ignoring is the absolute corruptness of the state party that Ken Cuccinelli conservatives are continueing. They have intentionally reversed a decision to switch to a primary nomination system. A primary would as many people as possible to be involved in our Party. Instead all the party activists and people involved in the establishment infrastructure will get together in Richmond and decide who will be on the ballot. The average Virginian is not aware how the convention process works and most have families, obligations, and lives that they cannot afford burning an entire Saturday. I would gladly support Ken Cuccinelli if he won a primary against Bill Bolling but now if Bill Bolling runs I will whole heartedly support him because Ken Cuccinelli does not represent the majority of Virginians and will continue to take our state party in the wrong direction.