Comments on: Herring 0wnz Staton.

By: Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 15:12:19 +0000

I should point out that, nationally, Democrats have this exact same problem. After Kerry lost, many Democrats concluded that we simply have to run somebody much, much farther to the left to present “a real choice.” This is a pretty vocal wing of the party, and we may well end up running a really radical candidate because of their demands. If so, we’ll lose badly, and what I have to wonder is if we’ll learn that lesson right away or, like some Virginia Republicans, keep running radical candidates every four years.

The fact is that Kerry lost by such a small margin, and Gore won by such a large margin, that I conclude that the problem doesn’t lie in our ideological positioning.

By: Will Vehrs

Will Vehrs — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 14:52:30 +0000

Unfortunately for Republicans, many of those you call “radical” actually feel validated by losing. They believe, and I think sincerely so, that they are in a life and death struggle. Losing just strengthens their resolve to push their agenda. Until they are willing to compromise insofar as forgoing excessive government action to achieve their goals, their favored candidates will continue to fare poorly.

By: ATA

ATA — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 14:37:38 +0000

All we need now are 3 more seats and the Senate is ours. We will pick those up next election. The momentum is undeniable now.

I want to remind other Democrats: moderation, moderation, moderation. Virginia is not embracing every facet of the far left. They want a centrist government that gets things done that most people can agree on. They don’t want big new programs, they don’t want government sticking it’s noses in their business. Let’s not make the same mistake that the Republicans did.

By: uva08

uva08 — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 04:34:04 +0000

The Democrats are well on their way to recapturing the state senate. Lets hope that Republicans keep campaigning on right wing extream ideas and maybe we will get the house eventually as well. The fact is that Virginia’s population is extremely lopsided and the only reason Republicans win the state by such margins as 8 and 9% is because the exurbs of DC (Loudon, Prince William, etc) typically break decisively in the Republican favor. If this changes and other regions of the state moderate a bit or tilt further left (Albemarle, Henrico, Hampton, Newport News, etc. for example) then the GOP has a big problem in VA. Moderation is key and the wingnuts are finally slammed for years of extemist rhetoric and a lack of results. They can continue their bashing of gays, slaming of civil rights, and scare tactics over terrorism all they want and they will come up losing the population centers (like Kilgore did) while keeping the rural, sparsley and loosing population areas in the state.

By: Ben Kyber

Ben Kyber — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 04:06:18 +0000

I’ll gladly take the center, which the party has thankfully moved to, over the far right anyday, Shaun.

By: Shaun Kenney

Shaun Kenney — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 04:00:21 +0000

100% correct. The Dems have taken the step to the right after losing the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, and Kaine drove that home tonight.

Nothing much to add.

By: Agitator

Agitator — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 03:34:43 +0000

Do you throw better parties? Im particuraly interested in top shelf liqours.