Too Conservative

Updated with additional reports

What other blogs are saying about the convention:

• Dillard Doctrine has a good roundup
• JR sees a unified ticket; Jane does yeoman’s work with the camera (thanks again Jane for letting me borrow your extra battery!)
• Operative Word concurs with Loudoun Insider about Cuccinelli (I have to admit, that video is pretty bad)
• Virginia Gentleman declares it a strong ticket
• SWAC girl feels that home-schoolers may have pushed Cuccinelli over the top for a victory
• Bacon’s Rebellion has been having nightmares of a Virginia theocracy.
• Mason Conservative is in campaign mode with a detailed analysis of Shannon’s record.
• Joe B. is encouraged by yesterday’s events: “Conservatives don’t give up”
• Bowden boils down the winners to a sentence each and likes what he sees.
• Eric Martin at RR has some great pics
• Tetrium Q bullet points the McDonnell acceptance speech
• DJ is excited about the next five months as a candidate
• PWC likes the party of Yes meme
• RedNova posts the winning candidate banners
• RicJames at Hoodathunk offers his after-action report
• JR at Bearing Drift grabs the first post convention interview with Mullins
• Krystle Weeks gets the first video interview up from the raised platform (look for more of these on Monday)
• Rick Sincere gets THE VIDEO of the convention.

The RPV will be posting some of the videos and interviews we conducted throughout the events.  Look for some good quality vids tomorrow along with more pics.

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May 31st by admin

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Thoughts after the break…

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May 31st by Loudoun Insider

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We’re live from the Collesium.  Video, pics and reports throughout the day.

Update: 10:28 AM :: We’re off and running. The McDonnell video is so good I’m almost put back by it. As someone who works in professional political consulting I can’t imagine a better looking candidate. We’re talking Hollywood casting. Good stuff.

Update: 10:42 AM :: Heart felt speech by the father of an officer who lost his life in the Cole bombing.

Update: 10:45 AM :: Kick butt mother who tracked down her kids’ molester giving props to McDonnell for his tough stance on crime. This is a serious theme throughout the campaign which plays nicely to Bob’s strengths. Of course, the other side of the coin is that the Dems SUCK on the issue of crime. Look for that to be the point of the opposition spear.

Update 10:55 :: Quirky video of the Bob McDonnell family. His daughter is up now.

Update 11:02 :: Bob is up on the podium… accepting the nomination.

Video of the Mitt Romney press conference can be had here.

Update 11:14 :: “Get our state back on track… ”

Update 11:24 :: I’m not sold on the Just Say Yes motif but it seems to rev up the crowd. I’m not sure Bob is comfortable with it either.

Update 11:39 :: Bob’s entire family is good looking.  Sean Hannity is revving u the crowd in a major way.

Update 12:09 :: Candidate speeches… stay tuned.

Update 12:21 :: Just interviewed Eric Cantor at bloggers row.  Rep. Cantor believes that 2009 will be a harbinger of possible GOP victories in 2010.

Update 12:24 :: Muldoon just pulled out his massive machine gun and started lobbing hand grenades simultaneously in Bill Bolling’s direction.

Update 12:29 :: Muldoon could actually pull some support from Bolling if he wasn’t so smug about this.  He comes off like: “I know I’ve lost but let me stick it to you one more time.”

Update 12:33 :: Brownlee starts off real well, leaving the podium and pays homage to his opponents.

Update 12:38 :: Don’t Tread on Me flags being passed out on the floor.  Look for a big to do at the end.  I like the approach.

Update 12:44 :: Cuccinelli coming out strong.  He looks good… he played the economic hand in the opening audio but is leading the speech out with family first issues.

Update 12:55 :: Good line on David and Goliath but Foster comes across a little bit too slick.

Update 1:00 :: Crowd pretty much died off after Cuccinelli

Update 1:02 :: Good line from Foster. “Don’t you miss the days when ACORN stood for a nut and not a bunch of nuts. ”

Update 1:22 :: Mullins just simply rocks.  He’s got a lotta energy.

Update 1:30 :: Voting now.  Please let it be a first ballot.  Not because I want an instant Cooch victory but because I’m anxious to get home and see “UP”

Update 1:41 :: Mary Katherine Hamm is swooning over the boys Acapella group.

Update 3:23 :: Right now we’re listening to an awesome cadet giving the best speech of the convention.  Sorry I dropped off there.  Conducted video interviews with Barbara Comstock and Jay Conville.  I will tell you this… I am REALLY impressed with the slate of local delegate candidates

Breaking news… looks like first ballot will do it.  Official results soon

Update 3:48 :: McDonnell, Bolling, Cuccinelli and Mullins

Some pictures after the jump:

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May 30th by admin

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Everyone has the right to run, but you have to recognize when you don’t stand a chance of winning. And when that happens, you don’t spend your entire 10 minute speech completely bashing the eventual nominee.

Long-shot candidacies are meant to showcase issues and bring attention to items that can get lost in the course of a campaign, like the Independent Green Party and their support of light rail. It takes a complete ass to use it to launch a nasty smear campaign against a widely respected statewide office holder and Bob McDonnell’s ticketmate.

Thank God this is the last time we’ll have to deal with his pathetic campaign.

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May 30th by VA Blogger

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As I write this post a gaggle of Cuccinelli kids went storming down the hall – they’re having the time of the life.  Mrs. Cucinelli with tiny infant in tow manages them pretty darn well if I may say so.

Tomorrow is D-Day. More on that in a minute.

The gala was very well intended.  Downtown Richmond convention center is just about the perfect location.  Lots of space, great eateries, good hotels all within walking distance.

I attended the press conference with Governor Romney, McDonnell and Bill Bolling.  (As revealed earlier this week I’m a shill for Mitt – or, as the unkind vernacular would have it – a Mitthead).  Reporters tried to press Romney on Presidential aspirations but he kindly deferred to the Virginia candidates at hand.  (video later).

The first day went swimmingly.  A single lone voice shouted “no” at the rule adoption process and the candidate nominations.  There was no concerted effort to thwart the slate of candidates at the top of the ticket.  After a slate of 5 minute speeches (yawn) the convention adjourned until tomorrow.

So, word on the street. Cucinelli seems pretty confident but not all the votes are locked down as I understand it.  Parties for all three AG candidates are happening simoultaneously.

I’m headed over the new media bloggers reception and then to the RPV event.  Stay tuned.

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May 29th by admin

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May 29th by admin

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Terry McAuliffe sent out a mailer full of reported facts that reflect negatively on Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran. This brought on a debate from Deeds and Moran supporters on how T-Mac claims to be the “positive” candidate but “attacks” his opposing candidates, resulting in the following responses from McAuliffe supporters:

Ben Tribbett:

I’m outraged at people calling the T-Mac mailer negative. Since when are facts like money raised or votes taken negative?

Lowell Feld:

Aside from whining about supposed “attacks,” can anyone point to statements in Terry’s mailing that are factually inaccurate? If not, then by definition they can’t be “attacks,” unless you believe that your candidate’s own record is somehow bad.

I find Lowell’s comments the most interesting, given how long he’s been trying to sell McAuliffe. T-Mac, for his part, has taken a very subjective view of his own record:

His time as Bill Clinton’s fundraiser, including selling the Lincoln bedroom to the richest donors? Not relevant.

His time as DNC Chairman, cozying up with Wall Street investors and corporate megadonors? Not relevant.

So what is relevant? Apparently, it’s only his record as a businessman, and his ability to create jobs (though none of them have ever been created in Virginia). Oh, but his investment in Global Crossing, a company he made millions off of before more than ten thousand employees lost their jobs? Not relevant.

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May 28th by VA Blogger

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The voters in November sure won’t.

My final thought on the flawed candidacy of Ken Cuccinelli for ATTORNEY GENERAL of Virginia.

The Safa Group is a close knit group of businesses that were raided several times by federal agents, producing evidence that led to the prosecution of several terrorists (just Google “Safa Group” to see what I’m talking about if you’re unfamiliar).  They were big political donors on the national, state and local scene.  Cuccinelli was the number two receiver of Safa funds in Virginia, behind his good pal, fellow whack-job Dick Black, who introduced him to these people.  Both professed their devotion to these radicals in this WaPo article.  George W. Bush, Hillary Cllinton, and even ethically challenged Jim Moran returned their Safa Group donations after disturbing information came out.  But not Cuccinelli.  In fact he just received money again from them last reporting period.

And don’t forget the ridiculous Faisal Gill fiasco of 2007, when he bussed in scores of non-English speaking Pakistanis to win a horribly flawed convention from Julie Lucas.  Gill had a long history of strange alliances, including working for a convicted terrorist currently in federal prison for trying to provide money for a hit named Abdurahman Alamoudi.  BVBL discussed the Faisal Gill affair here, and the aftermath of that convention here.  BVBL has a wealth of information on Gill, as does Google.  Cuccinelli was a HUGE Gill supporter, and is even mentioned in Gill’s Wikipedia entry.  Horrible judgment for someone who expects to be Attorney General.

Let the chants of racism begin!  I have absolutely nothing against law abiding mainstream Muslims, but I would never want to be a candidate running for Attorney General with these types of connections.  No thanks.  if you don’t think the Dems will use this stuff to good effect, you’re simply out of your mind.

Anybody But Cuccinelli.

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May 28th by Loudoun Insider

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It’s been far too long, but Bwana has a new post over at RR endorsing Cuccinelli and going over his thoughts on the convention.

Speaking of Bwana, I just got an email from John Brownlee telling me that we “must” nominate a prosecutor or else we’re certain to lose, and it reminded me of a comment Bwana made in my Dave Foster endorsement thread (I took the liberty of making cosmetic changes):

Last six AGs were Bob McDonnell, Jerry Kilgore, Mark Earley, Jim Gilmore, Mary Sue Terry, and Gerald Baliles.

The only one who came to the position of AG from a prosecutor position was Gilmore, and that was an elected position in a populous county [Henrico County].

McDonnell, Earley, Terry, and Baliles came to office from the General Assembly, and that was where the focus of their experience lay, not in the role of a local assistant prosecutor/ Commonwealth’s Attorney.

I believe if you continue the string, you don’t find a Virginia AG who had been the primary prosecutor in any jurisdiction until you get to Albertis Harrison (elected in 1961).

There has been a variety of “experiences” that the VA AG has brought to office, and I suggest the lack of bigtime prosecutorial experience never been an obstacle to winning the office.

As prevalent as the common thread of being a prosecutor is, previous electoral experience is also as common, with only Jerry Kilgore winning the AG spot without it. Kilgore was an assistant U.S. Attorney, but won the election based on his prominence as Director of Public Safety in the Allen Administration. Incidentally, John Brownlee is the only candidate for Attorney General on either side with no prior electoral experience.

Maybe we “must” nominate someone with prior electoral experience for Attorney General?

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May 28th by VA Blogger

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I’ve known Ken Cuccinelli for several years now and I’ve watched his career with interest.  From the first time I heard him speak at a CWA meeting in Fairfax some years ago I could tell he had higher ambitions and that he would go far.  A couple of points:

• Ken comes across very well.  His demeanor is very agreeable.
• He speaks forcefully and articulately about the issues he cares most about.
• As a Senator he’s been an advocate for lower taxes and fiscal discipline. A big plus.
• However, Ken has failed to win the information battle.  He has let his opponents define him in detrimental ways.
• Ken has also allowed himself to fall off topic on numerous occasions giving a big club to Foster and Brownlee for easy bruising.

These last points are important.  In his excellent book, War and Decision, Douglas Feith describes in detail the communication failures of the Bush administration during the war in Iraq.  The consequences of their fumbling inarticulate defense led to serious GOP losses in November in my mind.  In today’s world there are always two battles afoot and one of them is winning over opinions. Cuccinelli has failed on this front.

Mark Steyn noted recently that successful politicians don’t feign to the center, they move the center to them.  Nixon was a classic surge to the middle candidate.  Reagan bid the middle join him.  History tells us who the real victor was in that comparison.

Five years ago Conservative pragmatists encouraged us to support Specter over Toomey.  That mistake has come crashing down around our ears as Senator Specter has changed his political allegiance.

It’s insult to injury for folks on the right, still reeling from November’s beating and the lurch leftward during President Obama’s 100-day progressive steamroller. Many conservatives, including this one, now say it’s time for purity.

In short, I want more candidates like Ken Cuccinelli who have a grasp on wide-spectrum conservative issues but I want the Cuccinelli’s of the world to step up to the plate and move opinion in their direction.  Sadly, Ken has been unable to do so.

Update: To be clear, I think Ken can turn things around very quickly starting with his speech this weekend.  This is a call to action and not a rebuke.  The AG candidate (whoever it is) needs to adopt a savvy communication model across the board.  The Democrats will be coming at us with all new media guns blazing.  It will be fast and furious and we have to be ready.

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May 28th by admin

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