Too Conservative

The National Journal’s On Call blog has a write-up on the 37th District special, covering the basic dynamics of the race. It’s worth noting that the story neatly identifies what has been established as a basic fact: that Dave Marsden has a record of supporting tax hikes, and that his campaign is confusingly running as a fiscal conservative who will stand up against Governor Bob McDonnell’s fiscally conservative agenda, while making vague and nebulous threats of “one-party rule” and whispers of allusions of Steve Hunt’s social conservatism that they don’t want to get caught actually discussing.

To mix metaphors, the National Journal paints a picture of a candidate straddling the fence while merely dipping his toes on each side. Meanwhile, his manager acknowledges this is a turnout election, but its tough to see them matching the determination of a cadre of volunteers that knock on doors in the midst of a blizzard for Steve Hunt, particularly with their scattershot message. For instance, Marsden is touting himself as fiscally responsible and as someone who is concerned about government spending… and then the article notes that he’s “counting on President Obama” to win him votes. Yeesh.

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Dec 30th by VA Blogger

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It has been almost one full year since the President took the oath of office and began his term. In that time, he’s reversed dozens of Bush Administration policy positions, rolled back administrative rules, passed significant legislation and appointed dozens of people to top policy positions within the government. Yet, despite this fact, he’s attempting to blame the “systemic failures” he cited at the CIA and Department of Homeland Security on the previous administration.

(Read the rest of this entry…)

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Dec 30th by Brian S

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Here’s a good decade-in-review by the esteemed blogger and my Senator Chap Petersen (look for the shout-out to our own Vince Harris.)

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Some changes I’d offer:

– Most Fun Political Campaign (Pat Edmonson)
– Best Movie (City of God, Memento, ESOTSM)
– Best Remake (The Departed)
– Biggest Collapse (2008 Broncos, 2007 Mets)
– And I’d add a category for Most Inspirational Sports Story to add George Mason’s 2006 Final Four run (shame on you for forgetting that, Chap—it’s even in your district!)

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Dec 29th by VA Blogger

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In a year that has seen about ten thousand mailing pieces (between the statewides, House of Delegate races, the special election for Fairfax County BoS Chairman and the Republican primary in S-37, I think I’ve gotten literally over a hundred mailers) I’ve seen plenty of good ones and plenty of bad ones. But none of them were as bad as the one I got yesterday from Dave Marsden. (Here’s a bigger version of the back.)

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The piece is obviously ripping off the latest world-ending blockbuster 2012 (as can be seen from the front of it.) According to Dave Marsden, the entire Commonwealth of Virginia is going to be consumed by the earth in fire and brimstone if Steve Hunt wins Ken Cuccinelli’s old seat. The piece then goes on to specify just what manner of destruction we are going to see in a Republican controlled Virginia.

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Our world class schools will be “devastated.” One of the biggest claims the Democrats love to throw around is that education suffers under Republicans. That’s really one of the dumbest lines and completely untrue. Funding for schools never declines in real terms, regardless of who is in control. And with No Child Left Behind, you saw the first education reform in decades and it was done in bipartisan fashion. Yet if Virginia Republicans (including Steve Hunt – who has served on the FCPS School Board, no less, unlike Marsden) get in control, the world goes to hell in a hand basket. Why? The mailer doesn’t expand upon this, which makes sense because they can’t. It’s a ridiculously empty accusation.

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Next, “our once-thriving small business economy: gone.” Once-thriving? Is it not thriving now? I know my small business is chugging along just fine right now although I know others aren’t doing as well. But unemployment across the state is still way below the national average. And even if the small business economy isn’t doing that well, who is to blame for that? Tim Kaine and Mark Warner – not House Republicans. Marsden himself should field some of that blame – he’s been in Richmond and Steve Hunt hasn’t.

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The next one is the most ridiculous of all of them: “A woman’s right to choose: eliminated.” Right. Because one-party rule in Richmond enables us to control the United States Supreme Court and overturn Roe v. Wade. Please. It’s one-party rule in Washington that’s making it impossible for us to even stop federal funds from being used to pay for abortions under the Senate health insurance reform bill – and yet Virginia Republicans can end the right to an abortion just by winning a special election? I know this line is meant as hyperbole, but it’s ridiculous. Even Hollywood blockbusters need to be just realistic enough for you to suspend disbelief – Star Wars did a better job of that than this mailer does. I can almost believe lightsabers and the Force – but Republicans ending abortion singlehandedly in Richmond just goes too far.

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Finally, they throw in traffic will be gridlocked. Guess what? It already is. So, at worst, we get four more years of the status quo if Republicans are elected? What have the Democrats been doing to fix traffic over the last eight years? Nothing that has helped, that’s for sure.

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This whole campaign on the Democratic side has been filled with mailers like this. And I’ve seen Marsden up on TV as well (but he didn’t bother putting the ad up on Youtube, probably because it sucks), running an ad where he claims to be a “fiscal conservative” and then slams Steve Hunt by claiming he was “thrown off the school board” when he really simply failed to win reelection. It’s too bad voters in Marsden’s district didn’t throw him out of the House of Delegates last month. Maybe we wouldn’t have to get idiotic mail like this from his carpetbagging campaign.

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Dec 29th by Brian S

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As we gear up for the special election in the 37th Senate District, the next Fairfax County Republican Committee meeting is going to be a critical one. In addition to Steve Hunt speaking, this meeting is also the organizational meeting for our 72 hour plan for Jan 9-11, leading up to the special on Jan. 12.

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FCRC Chairman Anthony Bedell is also going to make his announcement as to whether he’ll step down or run again that night, which I know I and many others are waiting on pins and needles for. I hope Anthony’s vacation has gone well, because we need him for at least one more term.

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The meeting details: Tuesday, January 5, Robinson High School, 5035 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, 7:00 PM Social Hour, meeting starts at 8:00 PM.

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See you there!

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Dec 28th by Brian S

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On behalf of all of us at Too Conservative, here’s wishing you a joyous and wonderful Christmas Day!

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Dec 25th by Brian S

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Such sad news on Christmas Eve!  At first I thought it must be the singer, but alas it was a sportscasting legend.  I did not grow up in the DC Metro area, but the one thing I like most about DC Metro media is the News 4 team.  I was familiar with George Michael through the Sports Machine syndicated show, but I didn’t learn just how great a guy he was until I got to see him on a regular basis.  The camaraderie between him and the awesome Jim Vance was always a sight to behold and highly entertaining.  And of course anyone who hired Lindsay Czarniak must be brilliant. 

The tributes on tonight’s newscast actually brought a tear or two to my eye.  What a remarkable guy and a remarkable career.  You will be missed, George!

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Dec 24th by Loudoun Insider

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