In an op-ed Sunday, The Roanoke Times’ editorial page editor Dan Radmacher writes of Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Citing a litany Cuccinelli’s actions, the writer says he “has been exactly the kind of attorney general that I expected based on his campaign and his career in the General Assembly.”
I will give Cuccinelli credit for this: No one should be surprised by his actions since he took office; he made his intentions perfectly clear during the campaign — including his plan to challenge what he viewed as federal overreach.
Virginians who have been embarrassed or confused by Cuccinelli’s actions should have paid more attention during the campaign. If state voters didn’t want an ideologue running the attorney general’s office, they had another choice.
Contrast this with a glowing profile of the AG by Rosalind Helderman of The Washington Post:
By the end, the Republican appeared to have dispelled any notion from the group of power brokers, who last year endorsed his Democratic opponent, that he is the out-of-control ideologue his political foes have portrayed him as after a controversy-filled few months in office.
“Very cerebral,” one executive termed the presentation.
“He’s the right man for this time,” said another.
Surely they cannot be talking about the same guy, right? But they are. And that’s what makes Cuccinelli so dangerous.
The AG is a very personable fellow, with a mind like a steel trap. I went to a local meet-and-greet held for him last fall, and to my surprise, he remembered meeting me some two years earlier, a meeting that was quite brief and in a room full of folks. To hear him speak to a crowd, as I did in Norfolk, is to hear someone who comes across as logical, not ideolological, and well-informed. I do not find the response of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce out of line.
In truth, it should surprise no one that anyone would warm up to Cuccinelli, especially if he is championing a cause in which they believe. One has to look beyond the areas of agreement to the areas of disagreement to see that it is his social conservatism is a problem for the Commonwealth. Gaining a toehold into the business community by agreeing with them on health care reform is just the beginning for him; he will further entangle them in issues with which they may not agree, because he has convinced them that he’s not “off his rocker.”
Don’t be surprised when he runs – and wins – re-election in 2013. He’s crazy, alright – crazy like a fox.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Without sounding too much like a cheerleader…a lot of people who didn’t pay attention to the Republican ticket-and who’ve been complaining since January-should have.
Just about everything that was said on the campaign trail has been done or is in the works (except for dealing with transportation).
Some of us were paying attention. Not enough, admittedly, but some.
Since the AG “comes across as logical, not ideolological [sic], and well-informed,” Perhaps it is YOU who is “[il]logical, … ideolological [sic], and [not] well-informed.”
It is obvious that you lack reading comprehension skills, James. My sentence was a compliment to Cuccinelli.
The only one being illogical and uninformed is YOU, which you demonstrate nearly every time you post on my blog.
Are you sure that the AG will be running RE-election in 2013? I wonder if he will respect the deal that the Gov & LG have. The only evidence that I have that he will do so is his claim to want to be a long term AG. A man that ambitious must have a reason to put his ambition on hold.