I was in and out of the Advance, which was pretty well attended. Some quick thoughts –  I’m thankful the State Central Committee scrapped the pledge for the presidential primary. Bob McDonnell throws the best parties. Jim Gilmore did better than expected in his speech, but I just don’t see the requisite excitement for his candidacy – very lukewarm at best. Ron Paul’s people kicked ass in the straw poll but were absolutely obnoxious. Paul won big, followed by Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee. George Allen really impressed me with his speech for Fred Thompson – how about him running against Warner??? I’d certainly give him more of chance than Gilmore.
Chris Saxman announced that he will not run for Senate, and frankly didn’t look up to the task in reading his speech. He was shadowed everywhere by his political consultant Dave Avella. And I mean everywhere, like twinsies. I think they probably stood next to each other in the bathroom. In addition to this guy there were a couple other assistants and a videographer. You’d think the guy was running for President or something. It was really way overboard. He did much much better in speaking for McCain. He needs to stay less scripted and natural.Â
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Dec 02nd by Loudoun Insider
This Saxman fiasco has to be one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen.
The Advance had good moments and I am glad I went.
I noticed the following:
1) Gilmore will be our nominee for Senate and we must disregard his Richmond-centric arrogance and support him. He would be a far better Senator than Mark Warner.
Let us not forget he carried Loudoun over Beyer by many percentage points in 1997.
2) Saxman is great. He should run for Lt. Gov. unless Connaughton tees it up again. I now am for McCain partially because of Saxman’s endorsement.
3) While we shouldn’t talk about this yet, McDonnell is the guy for 2009. While “Snacks†Bolling is a good and kindly man, we has little curb appeal outside of his Richmond base. He is pretty clueless in Loudoun also having one described Suzanne Volpe as “Loudoun’s Most Valuable Republicanâ€Â.
4) If Davis does not run for the 11th, we lose the seat to a horrible liberal Dem.Take your pick: the developer-financed Connelly or the “Hillary of Virginia†Leslie Byrne. RPV needs to support Davis and mend the fence. We need him to run two more times and focus on Wackjob Webb in 2012.
5) Best of all, I sense a new warm, inclusionary wind that will bring new leadership into the LCRC and inspire disaffected former members to come back. This new leadership will be forged by the best elements of prior LCRC administrations with some Mims-Minchew aspects and some Volpe-Protic aspects. A strong aircraft always has two wings. It will welcome back managed growth enthusiasts/Teddy Roosevelt environmentalists, with defenders of the unborn, fiscal conservatives, and pragmatic Loudoun Republican business leaders who have been MIA for two years.
I apologize for sounding like Isiah, but it is Advent.
2008 could be a great year for Loudoun Republicans.
George Allen taking on Mark Warner would be fantastic. I’d love to see that happen. Mark Warner would then have a run for his money.
Nevertheless, if Gilmore is the nominee the GOP must unite and support him and not hand this race to Mark Warner. I agree that Gilmore would be definitely better than a different Senator Warner.
“5) Best of all, I sense a new warm, inclusionary wind that will bring new leadership into the LCRC and inspire disaffected former members to come back. This new leadership will be forged by the best elements of prior LCRC administrations with some Mims-Minchew aspects and some Volpe-Protic aspects.”
How can you be sure that warm wind isn’t a bunch of rotten flatus blowing over a promising banquet spread?
Haven’t heard Bolling called “snacks” in years. That was the nickname Mike McElwain gave him during his ‘95 campaign for State Senate, when they drove around the district and everytime they stopped in a country store he came out with a big pile of snacks.
Thank you for dusting that off and using it again…love it.