Comments on: Hampton Roads delivers

By: Wakeup call « VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local

Wakeup call « VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:35:27 +0000

[...] has up a post asking what is going on with Virginia Democrats. What he said was what I alluded to in my post almost a month ago. It’s more than just money – and we’ll see that with tomorrow’s report [...]

By: Who is running the DPVA? - Virginia Free Press

Who is running the DPVA? - Virginia Free Press — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:31:47 +0000

[...] good friend Vivian Paige published an article last night that spurred this train of thought. I had been thinking along the same lines, although in the [...]

By: Nathan Miliken

Nathan Miliken — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:13:45 +0000

When has a campaign said, “oh we have plenty of money, no need for more”???

Its June, and considering how early it is in the cycle, it appears that everyone is on target for $300-K + by October. A lot of hand wringing and fretting here. While I don’t want to be attacked and mislabeled “Jingoistic” again, I do believe that there is a need to hunker down, and work hard. All the public ,”chicken little” does nothing to encourage or provide support. No one thought we’d take the Senate in 2007, yet we did. Some of you need to take your medications, others a dictionary, either way, the House will be Blue in 2009!

By: Nathan Miliken

Nathan Miliken — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:33:26 +0000

Mark:

Its clear that no amount of explaining or “citing” sources would make you happy. You seem content in your negativism and I have found, that your attitude, like cancer, spreads through campaigns, and kills any candidates chances for winning. Just glad I don’t have someone like you on any campaign that I am working on. Oh, and I started right after the 2007 cycle working on this one. But as I said, nothing I could say, do or “cite” would change your self absorbed mantra of defeat!

Honestly if I have to explain “Republino’s”, it really isn’t worth the effort.

While I am sure you think you know the definition of “jingoism”, you clearly don’t, as anyone with a dictionary can attest. Not sure how my post, fits;
jin·go·ism (jĭng’gō-ĭz’əm)
n. Extreme nationalism characterized especially by a belligerent foreign policy; chauvinistic patriotism.

But I’m sure you can turn even a lack of understanding on your part into a negative for someone else. That you’re good at!

By: Mark Brooks

Mark Brooks — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:49:35 +0000

Nathan –

First of all, what is a republino? Is that a cross between a Republican and a floor covering?

Your overreaching confidence in the Combined Campaign is interesting. I wonder if you can tell us what your role has been in previous elections?

Ward Armstrong does not run the Combined Campaign, the campaign of the nominee for Governor does. In past years this has meant as little as providing signs for all three candidates and little else.

On what do you base your wild speculation that everything will be roses and candy for the Democrats in the House races? Any evidence? Any credible cites for us to look at?

In terms of starting to work and stopping what you perceive to be negativism, I would ask you, when did you start to work volunteering this election season? I started in December of 2008.

Your post is hard to read due to the jingoistic, happy-face mantra that pervades it. Without introspection and analysis, we will not win anything. There is a real danger here to not win the majority.

Thanks for trying.

By: vjp

vjp — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:35:52 +0000

Steve – I disagree. The House Caucus provided significant leadership and it wasn’t just “we’re not them.” You don’t pick up all the seats the Dems have done (11) with no message.

While I understand that Plum’s challenger is not the strongest one, candidates have a way of taking (rightfully so, IMHO) every challenge seriously. So yes, it will tie up resources to defend that seat.

By: vjp

vjp — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:30:29 +0000

One more thing – this comment from you

And there certainly isn’t a lack of money.

is simply not true. Try talking to the campaigns.

By: vjp

vjp — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:14:23 +0000

Sometimes I wish I could share all the inside information that I get. This article just scratches the surface of what is really going on.

Glad to know you are so optimistic – just where are those 6 seats going to come from?

By: vjp

vjp — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:12:44 +0000

Will the Senate caucus be donating any money to the House caucus to help with these races?

By: vjp

vjp — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:12:08 +0000

I’m not ignoring labor, but unless I am mistaken, you guys work independently of (although in conjunction with) the party structure, which is what this article is referring to.

By: Nathan Miliken

Nathan Miliken — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 10:10:02 +0000

My understanding is that the coordinated campaign has targeted at least two campaigns here, Gary West 94th and Robin Abbott 93rd.

West has Jonas Courey(Northam campaign) and Pat Murphy (beat Marty Williams and helped John Miller win) on his team! Can’t beat that combo! I don’t know the Abbott team, but she’s done very well with fundraising.

No question that Labor is going to play a major role in both of those districts. Oder is so ripe for picking, he’s starting to smell! Hamilton is over-confident and could be bumped! Everyone just needs to calm down and start working and stop the chicken-little scenario’s!

Not sure about the southside, but CC has targeted two on the Peninsula. Ward Armstrong is in charge of the coordinated campaign not Deeds! I do not agree that there is a lack of focus or leadership in the caucus. And there certainly isn’t a lack of money. Its JUNE for God’s sakes, stop with the negativism. Leave that to the Republino’s.

I think you’ll see more pick-ups from Hampton roads this cycle. Hod will go to the Dems, if for no other reason, that the republino’s are so disorganized after that very public intra-battle over Jeff Frederick that alienated the grassroots folks. McDonnell, like a moron, aligned with Thomas and the country club republino’s and its going to cost him.

Plus McDonnell is trying to portray himself as a ‘centrist”! His Regent, Pat Robertson ties aren’t going to allow that to happen!

CC will come through, just have faith and stop worrying!

By: not glenn croshaw

not glenn croshaw — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:57:54 +0000

The Senate will continue to be that bastion of the Progressive Movement

By: Gene Magruder

Gene Magruder — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:29:35 +0000

Once again labor gets overlooked. We knocked on thousands and thousands of doors and made thousands of phone calls for Bobby Mathieson, Joe Bouchard, John Miller, and Ralph Northam. I personally knocked on over 2000 doors. Labor also gave a great deal of money to the candidates in the races. Cmon Viv include us in this scenario sometimes or just ask the candidates them selves what we do.

By: Who Is Running The DPVA? « ~ H O V ~

Who Is Running The DPVA? « ~ H O V ~ — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:36:16 +0000

[...] good friend Vivian Paige published an article last night that spurred this train of thought. I had been thinking along the same lines, although in the [...]

By: Steve Vaughan

Steve Vaughan — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:19:56 +0000

viv,
Plum’s challenger doesn’t matter. No Republican is going to win that district.
The lack of leadership at from the caucus has been an ongoing problem for Democrats.
Virginia Democrats have not had a coherent message aside from “We’re not them,” this century. In that last few cycles “We’re not them,” has been good enough.
As Del. Watkins Abbitt used to say when he was still a Democrat, “the best thing the Virginia Democratic Party has going for it is the Virginia Republican Party.’

By: Mark Brooks

Mark Brooks — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:01:34 +0000

I agree completely. Although I must say, in response to your comment about McAuliffe, I will believe the money when I see the money.

Ken Plum is ineffective as House Caucus Chair. Evidently, he was picked for some reason other than his leadership prowess.

By: vjp

vjp — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:51:20 +0000

I don’t know Plum – never met him. I do see, though, that he has a challenger. BTW – I see that vpap has updated the number of contested races to 69.

By: vjp

vjp — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:49:02 +0000

The House Caucus isn’t going to have much money. The biggest donors have races of their own.

By: Scott Cohen

Scott Cohen — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:29:37 +0000

Exactly right!! If we dont have someone in there who focuses on Hampton Roads, we could very well lose someone like Joe Bouchard. Theres a number of competitive races down here. We definitely have the chance pick some up seats. I think Vivian would be a great asset for the DPVA!

By: Randy Klear

Randy Klear — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:25:53 +0000

A big part of the leadership vacuum is the loss of Brian Moran. When he was House caucus leader, the DPVA and House Caucus had an aggressive presence in House special elections, from Kenny Alexander in 2002 to Albert Pollard in 2008. All of a sudden, when he resigned, there was no direct DPVA or caucus support for the election of Charniele Herring, Brian’s successor. (A number of House incumbents, including Ward Armstrong, made contributions to Herring, but that’s beside the point.) I’m leery of what this bodes for the fall elections.

By: Rita

Rita — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:10:54 +0000

There is real serious problems with what is going on with Stoney and Leopold leave their posts at the DPVA. They just left a big hole in leadership.
Are there not any other qualified applicants in VA that don’t already have important obligations to the DPVA?
Shouldn’t Ken Plum be picking up the slack with the House Races especially since he is the new chair of the House Caucus. Did he not endorse Terry McAuliffe in exchange for monetary assistance with these delegate elections?
I’m going to do as much as I can do to help the ticket. I’m afraid that we are going to have a real hard time getting everybody elected.

By: laura

laura — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:55:42 +0000

good take, viv, we need help down here on the peninsula, for sure.
We need the house caucus to put more funds down here.