The Prince William County Republican Committee got its new west end headquarters off to a great start. With Supervisor Wally Covington providing tasty treats, we saw quite a few visitors enjoy a sumptuous social hour and stay over for the meeting.
Reports From the Campaigns
Each of the campaigns provided reports. Volunteers from the statewide campaigns (McDonnell, Bolling, and Cuccinelli) emphasized that their candidates are polling well. Thus far, the Democrats seem to be floundering for an issue. What is going on Washington D. C. is not helping them at all. Nonetheless, they also pointed out that election day is in November, not August. They encouraged volunteers to get busy and stay busy. If you are interested in volunteering or donating to the cause, please check out PWCGOP.org.
Senator Ken Cuccinelli‘s spokesman added that Cuccinelli’s opponent, Steve Shannon, is weak on the issues. As a result Shannon is lying low and refuses to debate. He speculated upon Shannon’s strategy. Apparently Shannon intends to use his campaign funds to launch a negative campaign in the final days of the election.
Delegate Bob Marshall spoke up for his campaign. He said his opponent is an Obama organizer who wants to do in Richmond what Obama is doing in Washington.
Marshall explained the importance of volunteers. He called Conservative volunteers the antidote to a negative campaign. When Conservative volunteers knock on doors and call voters at home, they dispel the myths propagated by Democrats and their friends in the corporate news media.
To illustrate the importance of this year’s campaign, Rich Anderson told a story. He was out door-knocking, meeting the voters. At one home, he met an elderly lady. When she saw what he was doing, she asked if he was a Conservative or a Liberal. When he said he was a Conservative, she then invited him inside. With the opportunity to listen to her, Anderson discovered this lady’s concern. Born in 1919, this lady had seen the years of the Great Depression. She had watched the spread of socialism into nation after nation. She had seen the people of each of those nations led by the nose into tyranny. Because of what she had seen in the past, she dreaded what she was seeing today.
After thus demonstrating the cost of failure, Anderson went on to explain that as Conservatives we have our work cut out for us.
After acknowledging he is fighting an uphill campaign, Rafael Lopez thanked folks for the support he is getting. He has asked his opponent, Rev. Luke Torian, to debate. Torian refuses. Lopez asked people to look at his opponent’s website. It does not say what Torian intends to do. The people need to know Torian is offering them an empty suit.
Odds and Ends
Treasurer’s Report
Since it generally does not change that much, I usually don’t have much to say about the treasurer’s report. However, because the local party has found its footing and is fighting more aggressively, I think it is time to make an exception.
Although the lifeblood of politics is our own blood, not money, money remains important. Things like a party headquarters, phones, signs, websites, etcetera, do not come free. Thus, the treasurer pointed out our bank account needs dough. He explained that the PWCGOP has about half the amount of money it should have in the bank.
Local politics provide the foundation of a free society. When we the People make local politics matter, we have the opportunity to meet and know the politicians who run our government. We can both hold such neighbors accountable and give them the support they need. When we the People ignore local politics, we give up control of our lives to distant tyrants. We end up entrusting mere humans with more power than their souls can possibly bear.
Politicians are human beings. When we see them up close, we understand that the Leader (bereft of his teleprompter), is subject to human foibles just like our own. For example, at this PWCGOP meeting we heard Bob Marshall, when he was thinking thinking of campaign volunteers going door-to-door, call them (i.e., his audience) streetwalkers. Rich Anderson, on the other hand, had trouble computing that a ninety year old lady was born in 1919. Yet instead of horror or derision, we reacted with shared laughter. Neither man had promised to solve all our problems. Instead, they were just asking us to work with them.
So check out the PWCGOP website. The PWCGOP has a fundraiser on September 18th. This your opportunity to contribute and to enjoy doing it.
Note for Fans of Keith Fimian (facebook): Fimian led the way by donating a couple of thousand to the fundraiser.
Legal Issues
One sign of the times is the heavy involvement of lawyers in elections. Unfortunately, lawyers are needed.
- Chairman Lyle Beefelt noted that in the last election authorized Republican poll-watchers observed numerous instances where unauthorized individuals, claiming to be authorized observers, entered restricted areas at the polls. The behavior of these unauthorized individuals was inappropriate; they even asked people if they could show them how to vote.
- Delegate Bob Marshall noted that we should each be on the alert for hanky-panky (my word). He gave this example. When she renewed her license, the voter registration status of the wife of one of his volunteers had been fouled up. For some strange reason, she was now listed as a non-citizen for voting purposes.
- Another noted recent history. Because he was elected to the office of the Attorney General in a very close election, Bob McDonnell’s nickname is Landslide Bob. Naturally, the recount was hotly contested.
Bottom line? If you are a Conservative lawyer with know how, please volunteer a small portion of your time to the Republican Party of Virginia.
Candidate’s Forum
Note this flyer. The event is scheduled for 2 – 4 PM on Sunday, Sep 13th. If you live in Prince William County, here is your chance to meet the candidate.
