Virginia Senate Primary
I realized yesterday that I’m going to be out of town for the Senate primary next month, so I need to vote absentee. It’s not a big deal — you can just stop by the elections office and do it on the spot.
At this point, I’m leaning toward voting for Jim Webb. I don’t agree with him on every issue, but he’s a powerful voice against the Administration’s Iraq policy, and I like his populist economic message. While he’s not perfect on gay rights (he supports don’t ask don’t tell), he opposes the hideous constitutional amendment that’s going to be on the ballot in the fall.
And I think he’s got a better chance of beating George Allen than Harris Miller does. Miller’s policy stances are fine, but as far as I can tell he’s got the charisma of a dishrag. He’s got a bunch of endorsements from state elected officials who he helped as chair of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, but it’s hard to imagine anyone getting really excited about him. Anonymous is a Woman has a nice post explaining why it’s a bad year for a "consummate insider" like Miller to be running for the Democratic nomination; she argues that his insider status is counter to the story that the national party is trying to tell.
I know that there are a bunch of bloggers who are hot for Webb. If anyone who reads here wants to make the case for Miller, I’m willing to listen.
May 18th, 2006 at 6:44 am
I don’t think either one of them has a serious chance. This is, after all, Virginia. That said, I think Webb has a better chance of holding Allen to a low margin, and a damaged Allen has less chance of being elected President. So I will vote for Webb.
May 19th, 2006 at 1:19 am
No question Jim Webb is a long-shot candidate. He got a late start in the race and trails Allen significantly in the fundraising (an understatement). Most Virginians don’t even know who he is (something like 60% according to one poll that I’ve seen–contrasted with 80% for Miller). Still, I’m glad to see that Webb is running. Even if Allen wasn’t such a disaster, Webb would be a great candidate on his own merits. I actually first learned about Webb in ’99 when I was working for an attorney in McLean, VA who had Webb as one of his clients. Back then he was definitely a type-A, no nonsense guy–not always pleasant to deal with on the phone. In ’99 Webb had the type of tempermant that would have made him a great CEO. Now, I think he has the tempermant to be a great legislator–he’s mellowed in a good way. I suspect having a kid who’s about to go into combat would probably do that to most of us. Webb’s intellectual curiosity is undeniable; he has the kind of broad life experience that will make him sympathetic to the concerns of a large part of his constituency; and he has a type of genuine moral seriousness which is much needed on Capitol Hill these days (as opposed to the shallow hypocritical variety that preaches Christian love on the one hand, and the humiliation of minority groups such as gays and illegal immigrants on the other). My sense is that, even if you don’t agree with Webb’s policy choices across the board, you will respect the means by which he comes to those decisions. These are qualities that I don’t find in either Harris Miller or George Allen.
May 19th, 2006 at 9:57 am
I’m a conservative Republican, so living in Viginia presents the unusual opportunity of voting in Democratic primaries. It feels strange to cast a vote for someone who violates our most deeply-held beliefs, but it would be wrong not to exercise our right to vote. We’re grateful to live in a state that allows us to have an influence (however tiny) on both political parties.
May 19th, 2006 at 3:48 pm
Just grabbing this space to say, hope your last day went well. And hoping I’m remembering correctly, and that this IS your last day. Bon Voyage! And happy landing.
May 22nd, 2006 at 1:34 pm
Hey Elizabeth – This has nothing to do with your post, but I’m wondering if you have any interest in a bunch of books from David Montgomery’s Labor History class ca. 1983. I’m about to give them away, but then I remember you mentioning him… I’d be happy to give you a list of what I’ve got, and send you anything you want. (Can you hear the desperation of the book fetishist who can’t bear to create homeless books?!) Becca
May 22nd, 2006 at 6:31 pm
Mrs Ewer – I think you should think again about your intention to vote in the Dems’ primary. They will ask you to make a statement that you regard yourself as a Dem, for one thing. I have voted in both Reep and Dem primaries, over time – but only when someone in the primary was in range of what I could vote for in the general. For example, I voted for Rosenberg over Moran in the Dem primary couple years ago, then voted for Cheney in the general – because Moran is ethically so far out of line with what I can stand. And I voted for McCain over Bush in the Reep primary, and then voted for Bush in the general. But if you know for sure that none of the Dems is going to be preferable to the Reeps, you really ought not try to have an effect in their primary.
May 24th, 2006 at 5:56 am
Mrs. Ewer–I applaud your protest vote whole-heartedly! I was under the mistaken impression that “social conservative” was just short-hand for some perverse kind of sneaky, double-dealing morality. How wrong I was! Harris Miller is an excellent choice for Senate. If only George Wallace was running (not the 1970s version, but the unreformed 1960s version). Someday, someday. We can always hope!
May 24th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
I voted in the VA Democratic Presidential Primary in 2004, and I don’t remember having to state that I was a Democrat. I’m young enough that the ’04 election was my first chance to choose a President, and I couldn’t believe the low turnout — I was the only voter there. I cast my vote for a competent candidate whom I admired (and whose views were least objectionable to me).
I don’t see why I shouldn’t exercise my legal right to choose between the avaliable Democratic candidates, or even write someone in. I have never seen a Republican politican that I was in full aggreement with or that I preferred to (for instance) my grandmother — but that doesn’t mean I should refuse to vote.
May 27th, 2006 at 6:34 pm
If you have not voted absentee already, I hope you will take a look at Harris Miller. Some of the reasons I support Harris Miller.
May 28th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
I can already picture the Allen ads trashing Miller for lobbying to have US Jobs outsourced. Hell Miller even held seminars on how to most effectively outsource jobs. Jim Webb is a former Navy Secretary who understands the problems that Virginian’s face, with Jim Webb we can really beat George Allen this November and help end the culture of corruption in Washington. Jim is pro-choice, anti-free trade, and for universal healthcare. He is the next best candidate to be the next US Senator from Virginia!
May 30th, 2006 at 12:33 am
We do not register according to political party in Virginia. We are all registered as independents; people simply align themselves with a political party. I usually vote in the Democratic Primary; however, I have voted in the Republican Primary as well. I depends on the candidates.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Miller
Former Officer, Bank of America
Liberal Independent
May 30th, 2006 at 12:45 am
As a former Bank Officer who has congestive heart failure and diabetes,I understand how difficult it is to obtain health insurance through
private means. It is practically impossible! Due to the large number of Americans who are unable to obtain medical coverage, I would urge you to support any and all legislation which would cover all necessary medicaltreatment for our nation’s citizens. Medicare and medicaid have done
great things to improve the lives of the elderly and disabled. I now ask that you support this coverage to support all Americans,regardless of who they are. Theodore Roosevelt would oppose the GOP of today and most likely would be a Democrat. In his 1912 campaign for president,
T.R., a liberal Republican, supported the concept of National Health
Insurance. Former Vice-President Henry Wallace, former President Harry
Truman, former President John F. Kennedy and other fine Democrats advocated this concept. It is time for the party to stand for National
Health Insurance again. I hope that you do. Remember that you are the party of Jeffersonian and Jacksonian Democracy. Let us not let your
founding fathers down. Let’s elect Jim Webb.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Miller
Former Officer, Bank of America
Liberal Independent
June 1st, 2006 at 9:45 pm
I know this comment is coming late, but I had to tell you about the flyer I got in the mail today (which reminded me of this post of yours). It was an anti-Webb flyer, and the ONLY point it made was that Webb was a Reagan appointee and recently said he thought Reagan was a good man with some good ideas.
That’s all it said about Webb. Then it proceeded to say how bad Reagan was (cutting back civil rights laws, tax cuts for the rich, etc.). Didn’t tell me squat about Webb’s views on anything. I thought it was pretty dishonest. I will probably vote for Webb.