Comments on: Random guy no longer running for LG.

By: HalifaxCentral

HalifaxCentral — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:03:57 +0000

Oops, please delete that one above.

Anyway, I treat every election as a job interview. I examine each candidate’s resume and attempt to hire the best person by voting for them.

By: Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:13:40 +0000

Then you have no business voting in that election. If you don’t get to know your candidates, stay out of the game.

I know my candidates. But I don’t have the slightest idea of how to determine who is more qualified. The problem with this system isn’t me, it’s that thousands of people are called to vote for an office about which they haven’t the slightest idea of how to assess the qualifications of the candidates.

If you could explain to me how to assess the merits of the candidates for clerk of court or commissioner or the revenue, I’m all ears.

By: HalifaxCentral

HalifaxCentral — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:26:14 +0000

“Voting for LG is like voting for clerk of court or commissioner of the revenue—what the hell do I know about who’s qualified for the job?”

Then you have no business voting in that election. If you don’t get to know your candidates, stay out of the game.

And in answer to your question of “How would Virginia be different today if Leslie Byrne had been elected instead of Bill Bolling, other than the odd tie-breaking vote?”, my answer is that worlds would have collided with hilarity ensuing.

By: Chip Woodrum

Chip Woodrum — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:28:08 +0000

Point taken, Waldo. But I am certainly not in favor of locking the choice in 4 years in advance. As the system now works the Lt. Governor must at least run his or her own campaign for the nomination and, sometimes, for election. I think that’s better than having the gubernatorial candidate dictate the lt. gubernatorial nomination (that’s how it seems to work at the federal level).

Maybe the offiice could be abolished but I’m too much of a traditionalist for that.

BTW, I’m no longer a “Del.” Just Chip is fine.

By: Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:58:43 +0000

That’s true, Del. Woodrum, but it still doesn’t address the merits of the office itself. We could all vote for “Governor-in-Waiting,” a position that involves doing absolutely nothing, and that would accomplish the same thing. That might make more sense than continuing this practice of voting for LG, since we’re really voting on who we think we might want to run for governor in four years.

By: Bryan Scrafford

Bryan Scrafford — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:25:05 +0000

Well, if Leslie Byrne was elected Lt. Governor then Ben Tribbett would probably be quite excited about her potential candidacy for governor. :)

By: Chip Woodrum

Chip Woodrum — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:52:02 +0000

Whoa! Remeber Tim Kaine was Lt. Governor. Where would we be if he hadn’t been there? Just think of what you might have had! No system is perfect but the change might be a lot worse.

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:37:10 +0000

In that case, I think you’re seriously discrediting the inspiration that Bill Bolling’s crusade against his own weight issues has been to, like, maybe five or even six Virginians.

By: Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:20:40 +0000

While certainly true, that’s an electoral difference, outside of the framework of the actual office. The LG does so very little that it’s tough to conjure many hypothetical differences.

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:59:33 +0000

Well, I suppose if Leslie Byrne were the Lieutenant Governor, she’d be the front-runner for our gubernatorial nomination, and we wouldn’t have Creigh Deeds, Brian Moran or Terry MacAuliffe contending for the nod.

Those might be pros or cons, depending on how you feel about Leslie Byrne relative to any of those three candidates.