In a wish come true, Delegate Jeff Frederick has been elected RPV Chairman, replacing Lt. Gov. John Hager after less than a year on the job. The 32-year-old Frederick is considerably to the right of Hager — your stereotypical angry Republican — and he’s all but promised to accelerate his party’s plunge off the cliff.
Given Frederick’s pledge to surrender his HoD seat if he won, Democrats can safely notch this up as yet another special election won, making it easier still to secure the majority come the November 2009 elections. Frederick’s last serious challenge came from Democrat Hilda Barg in 2005, and he squeaked out a victory with just 51% of the vote. The 52nd district is deep in Democrats’ territory in Northern Virginia. It’s quite possible that the RPV won’t put any resources towards retaining Frederick’s seat.
It seems that nobody leaves the RPV chairmanship — they’re all thrown overboard. Hager was elected a little over ten months ago, replacing Kate Obenshain Griffin, who was forced out in November 2006 in the face of a divorce and Sen. George Allen’s embarrassing loss to Jim Webb. And she replaced Gary Thompson in 2003, after Thompson joined the enormous roster of RPV leadership caught up in their jailarious wiretapping scandal.
The pattern is rather like a guy who tells his new girlfriend that all of the women that he’s dated turned out to be tramps. A smart woman knows that she’ll be one of the “tramps” before long. Frederick may hold on longer than Hager (assuming that the base doesn’t want to switch horsemen in the middle of the apocalypse), avoiding getting tossed out until Republicans entirely lose control of the General Assembly come November. Then the incredible shrinking party can select somebody still farther to the right, and continue to wonder why they’re losing. Repeat as necessary.
Best news we’ve had all week.
Fantastic. The RPV death spiral appears to be accelerating!
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p.s. the award for the best turn of phrase goes to:
I’m gonna be chuckling about that one for weeks.
All of your wild dreams are going to end with a crash, as Jeff Frederick brings a re-energized GOP, storming through your fantasy of Republican demise.
Actually, the proponents of good governance from all across the political spectrum should be very pleased with the changes that Jeff Frederick and his united team of GOP Party members are going to enact.
I expect that we will still lose the Senate seat in November, but despite that temporary set-back, the GOP is changing course to be a far more inclusive Party where Latino and Asian membership will be the fastest growth areas, while old divisions in the traditional working class White base, will be substantially repaired. It is quite possible that John McCain will receive substantial Democratic crossover vote, so in spite of the Warner win, McCain could carry Virginia and win the Presidency.
This same crossover potential may work in reverse for the Democrats in the gubernatorial race in 2009. Expect a big Republican crossover for Creigh Deeds (no crossover if the Dems screw-up and nominate Moran). So, I expect the 2009 results to be Creigh Deeds as the Guber, Bolling to retain LtGov and Cuccinelli to be AG (unless the Dems find someone with star quality very quickly).
Locally, Virginians can look forward to more modern-era candidates from the Frederick led, Republicans, including lots of Asian and Latino candidates, and fewer members of the “old guard” so don’t expect a Macaca comeback.
In general, the face of the Republican Party in Virginia will be more friendly, more LIBERTY-minded and strongly committed to restoring government to within its Constitutional limits.
The era of government being used to do things to the People, rather than for the People, is going to be coming to an end, in part due to the changes that will be initiated by RPVA Chairman, Jeff Frederick.
As for the Convention that has just concluded, the untold story is the huge impact made by the hundreds of former Ron Paul supporters who recently were drawn to the GOP by Paul’s run in the Presidential primary. The “Paulistinians” as they are affectionately known, accounted for at least on quarter of Bob Marshall’s and Jeff Frederick’s votes. These Paulistinians are mostly younger couples, already with one or two kids; they are religious and inclined to home school. In short, they are just like the Republican Revolution citizens who joined the GOP in the 1980s. In spite of all of the foil-hat and space alien jokes directed at Dr. Paul, his campaign infused an otherwise aging GOP with millions of young, energetic and dedicated volunteers. The national GOP owes Ron Paul, its enduring gratitude. All citizens will be glad to see government’s power to harm them getting reigned in.
Well, the great thing about blogs is that both my claim and yours are on the record. In six months or a year, we’ll be able to revisit this and see how our predictions compare to reality.
So what you’re saying is that Jeff Frederick and the RPV will repudiate George Allen, turning its collective back on him? Because, really, I’d say the odds of that are vanishingly close to zero.
All true, Waldo, but for me, the takeaway from the whole wacko spectacle was that the comepletely-wacko, laughably-marginal and under-funded candidate (Marshall) came tantalizingly close to upsetting the slightly-less-wacko, party-favorite and thought-to-be-a-shoe-in candidate (Gilmore).
Then moral of the story: Whatever you do, don’t take away their guns – they need them to keep shooting themselves in their collective feet.
It’s amazing that Gilmore outspent Marshall by 8:1, but the margin was so close.
Well, if he wants to outspend Mark Warner by an 8:1 margin, he only has another $55 million more to raise….
I heard Gilmore outspent Marshall 14:1. And, yes, Gilmore is going to get shellacked.
You Democrats will indeed ride a tidal wave in November 2008, but you can take this prediction to the bank: You all will inherit a great recession the likes of which are heretofore unknown. And then in a mere four years, we’re back stronger than ever. Jeff Frederick will then ask Virginians in 2012, are you better off now than you were four years ago?
You know in your hearts that I am right. If you disbelieve it still, answer how your people will “stimulate” the economy through higher taxes and spending? Hmmm?
The word you’re looking for is “depression.” And I’ll take that bet. Or, rather, I would, but the fact that you’re using a pseudonym tells me that there’s not much point in putting any money on this.
Uh. No. No I don’t. And when you say that, what you’re really saying is “if you disagree with me, you’re a liar.” That’s really no way to get a discussion going.
Is this Oath joker’s argument for the Republican party seriously that they’ve screwed things up so badly that no one can fix them, so we can’t win reelection?
Seriously?
Recession, depression, hard times, bad times, difficult times, economic woe. It matters not what descriptor you wish to use. Who I am is irrelevant. The fact that I use this specific pseudonym is to remind that little politician in each of us what ought to matter most.
Waldo, you do know in your heart that I’m right but you just need to flesh it out a little more before you realize. It’s not that you’re a filthy liar. I don’t believe that for a moment and neither should you. Here’s a clear way for you and Sam to get this going and to win the bet instantly.
Pray tell, what is the Democrat plan to fix the Republican economic mess? How are we to afford the programs that President Obama will install?
Yes, and you know in your heart that I am right. Otherwise you’d prove it.
See? I can play this game too. It’s dumb.
The Oath:
Democrats have a long history of cleaning up Republicans’ mess and doing alright with it. I’m not too worried that somehow this time will screw it up and change public opinion overnight. Of course, it may happen, and eventually, public opinion will swing away from the Democratic party, but by 2012? It’s reasonably unlikely.
“How are we to afford the programs that President Obama will install?” I’d be interested in hearing what programs you’re worried about and what evidence you have that the federal budget under Obama will be bigger than it is currently. It’s not like historically this has been the case, so the burden of proof is on you.
But then, you already know in your heart that you’re wrong.
It is always a mistake to underestimate the manipulative power of short-memory, sentimental emotion, and unfocused anger. That’s why several people are going to have to go to jail, and many will lose their misbegotten fortunes. Former Chairman Frederick will have no ability to call that marque.