The GOP’s Dynamic Duo
McDonnell also seemed to be liberated. He struggled to win his attorney general race in 2005 with George Bush weighing down the Republican brand. But now, he says, the “enthusiasm gap has evaporated.” As evidence he points to a number of Virginia business leaders who had endorsed Democrats Mark Warner and Tim Kaine in their races who have now come out for him. The message: the Democrats are vulnerable on the economic issues which matter most.
Christie was up next. Although he made his name as a corruption-fighting prosecutor, he clearly loves retail politics, opening with a funny anecdote about James Gandolfino. But soon it was down to business. Like McDonnell, he realizes the attention which is devoted to his race. “We represent the opportunity for our party to refine our message, ” he explained. He warned the crowd that Democrats realize the stakes as well and even campaigned against him during his primary, trying to tip the scales to his less electable opponent. Christie told the crowd that Democrats are well aware “it does not bode well for the president and his agenda” if an incumbent governor in a major blue state goes down to defeat.
And Corzine and his record are plainly the focus of Christie’s race. He reeled off the list of demerits. “We are the most heavily taxed state in America … 50th in small business survival.” Thirteen of the top twenty counties with the highest property taxes are in New Jersey. In seven years of Democratic rule (he is all too happy to lump Corzine with Jim McGreevy who left office in scandal) taxes and fees have been raised 103 times, the business climate has become “toxic,” and New Jersey now has the highest unemployment in the region. He declared, “Can you believe that people are leaving New Jersey to go to New York for affordability!”
What is more, he explained that none of that includes the budget which Corzine is pushing through the legislature that hikes more taxes and slashes the property tax rebate. Meanwhile government spending has soared, rising 50% over the last seven years. He summed up: “In the decade of McGreevy and Corzine for every one private sector job created, fifteen government jobs were created. This is simply unsustainable.”
For those who have gotten their hopes up before in the Garden State only to see them dashed he assured his audience : “This is not a fantasy about winning New Jersey.”
Between now and November, McDonnell and Christie will likely cross paths again and again and appear in hundreds of stories together. Two “law enforcement” guys running on fiscal conservatism against tax and spend liberal policies sound attractive to a lot of Republicans. But to win in their states they will have to convince thousands of Independents and Democrats that they have the answer to the bread-and-butter issues voters worry about most. If they do that, this unlikely pair may be the new dynamic duo of the GOP and a sign that the GOP comeback is in full swing.
You forgot John Ensign.
Anyone been to Virginia lately?
Half, or more of the voting population is made up of bleeding heart liberals that escaped from New Jersey and New York across the last 10 years or so.
That number is growing faster than a bullet going through whipped cream. It is not just in Northern Virginia either. The Tidewater area, Roanoke – Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg are all filled with Obama supporters.
And no matter how hard Obama slaps them around and down, these people continue to drool and slobber at the mention of his name.
Bob McDonnell’s first task will be to convince the voting population of Virginia that it is better to earn what you want than it is to stand in a line waiting for Obama to give it to them.
He will have to convince the majority of business owners that in the short and the longterm it is better for them to join the fight against illegal aliens than it is to slip them wages under the table.
He will have to convince the legislature in Richmond, as well as the entirety of the state and local government agencies, police forces and public services to do the same thing.
He will have to convince the bubblegum chewing, tattooed college crowds that sit in their cars at stop lights with their heads boobing up and down listening to vulgar rap that there is more in life for them than a text message about where the next sex party is happening.
He will have to convince the teachers in the public schools that the children they teach will benefit much more from reading, writing and arithmetic than they do from another “how to feel good about yourself when you are different” sermon that always includes a generous portion of thou shalt learn to hate Republicans.
Virginia has changed.
Then so has the rest of the country.
It would be nice if Ms Rubin’s optimism carries the day but….
Christie talks a good game about how bad Corzine is, and Christie will certainly get my vote.
However, I did vote for Lonegan in the primary b/c I wanted to see Christie not just be more specific in what he wanted to do, but make a real commitment to not spending more than absolutely necessary. It would be nice to eliminate some of the unnecessary bureaucracy of school administration in NJ. It would be nice to hear that a proposal on building windmills by the shore would most certainly be nixed.
I dunno. Talking about how bad Corzine is could be an excuse for saying “no matter what I do, it could be worse.” I’m not distrustful as much as I want to see budgetary priorities more than “we’re creating a business friendly environment” be the centerpiece of campaign rhetoric. Democrats can claim to be creating a business friendly environment in their own way – they’re just giving all our tax dollars to one corporation or another.
I voted for Lonegan in the primary also but Corzine is ripe for the picking and I’m certainly hoping Christie can do it. Hopefully the Republicans can make some gains in the legislature as well.
Today’s liberal elites vote mostly on behalf of their cultural values. Economic matters are considered a done deal. There is presumably little to worry about. Their affluence is taken for granted similar one’s acknowledgement that the sun comes up in the morning and goes down in the evening. The current economic crisis may be forcing these individuals to face reality. And if even only a relatively small percentage decide to vote their pocketbooks—the Democrats are royally screwed.
Christie is a RINO, McDonnell is closer to what we call ‘conservative’.
I have known Bob McDonnell since 1982. He is honest and straight forward. He was my representative in the Virginia House of Delegates, held regular town hall meeting and followed through when asked a question. He can be trusted! That is a major upgrade from the run of the mill politician.
I support Bob McDonnell the best I can. I urge all citizens of these United States, interested in good government, to join in the support of the McDonnell for Governor Campaign.
Bob sponsored pushed and supported bills that helped all Virginians. Please go to http://www.bobmcdonnell.com/ .
I am not affiliated with the campaign. I just know he is a good man and hard worker who will do what is best for the Commonwealth of Virginia. One good State added to the other good states will aid all Americans.
God Bless the Republic.
I know what I would say were I running. I would speak to all these transplants.
I would explain that there has been a mass migration from Blue State to Red States over the last few decades. Every census, the Blue states lose Electoral votes. Their economies are always the worst in the nation, so the people must leave to find opportunities, because liberal policies create economic wastelands.
However, the people who leave, continue to VOTE THE SAME WAY. They never seem to make the connection and question their values and voting as a causal link. Like locusts, they descend upon the land with their pestilential politics. After despoiling everything in sight, they seek new areas upon which to feed.
Look at NY. In 1980, they had 41 votes. In 2008, 31 votes! This pattern continues all through the States which border the Great Lakes. What do they all have in common? Dominant unions, and urban centers overwhelmingly minority. These vote Dem in lockstep. The bleeding is less pronounced in mixed OH, and Red IN, although still notable.
Contrast this with mostly Red FL and TX. From 17 to 27 for the former, and from 23 to 34 for the latter. Much of the job growth and prosperity has been in these States as well, as well as Red State AZ.
The pattern is clear. It needs to be pointed out again and again. Don’t even argue policy or engage the Left on issues. Just hammer home these irrefutable stats again and again. One really need say nothing more.
The same is true of the ten worst big cities in this country. The Dems have owned them top-to-bottom for 3 decades or longer. Contrast them with NYC. After 3 decades of Dem ownership, they elected a fiscally conservative Giuliani, and he turned it around. He did so well, that after he was term-limited out, this 2/3 Dem city paid him the ultimate compliment, and elected another Pub to succeed him.
Can you just see those Dems in the voting booth as they use one hand to force the other to vote for the Republican? “God, we don’t like those danged Pubs, but dang can they run a government!” This is the message to be conveyed. You may like Dem politics, but if you want your government and economy to work, elect a fiscally conservative Republican to run it! Rinse and repeat, again and again!