Comments on: 10 Lessons from the VA GOP victories http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/2009/11/14/10-lessons-from-the-va-gop-victories/ Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:19:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Scope http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/2009/11/14/10-lessons-from-the-va-gop-victories/#comment-178 Scope Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:31:21 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/?p=71#comment-178 n/t n/t

]]> By: Scope http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/2009/11/14/10-lessons-from-the-va-gop-victories/#comment-179 Scope Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:31:21 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/?p=71#comment-179 n/t n/t

]]> By: Third Street http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/2009/11/14/10-lessons-from-the-va-gop-victories/#comment-177 Third Street Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:11:55 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/?p=71#comment-177 Outstanding analysis! There is one more lesson I take from the Virginia elections: They were a confirmation of my long-held belief (<a href="http://townhall.com/columnists/CharlesKrauthammer/2009/11/06/the_myth_of_08,_demolished">recently expounded upon by Krauthammer</a>) that the 2006 and 2008 election cycles were aberrations and did <i>not</i> reflect long-term trends. We've been hearing for a while now that Virginia has become a "purple" state. I don't think so -- Republican blowouts this big don't happen in "purple" states. In "purple" states the Republican candidates don't sweep all of the statewide posts by double-digit margins while the party expands an existing majority in the legislature; nor does the Republican candidate for governor win nearly every county in the state; nor does he win in areas considered to be solid blue. That McDonnell <i>ran as a bold conservative</i>, as this diary points out, cements the point. Virginia's a red state, baby. Jim Webb, you'd better think <i>long</i> and hard about your health-care vote. Outstanding analysis!

There is one more lesson I take from the Virginia elections: They were a confirmation of my long-held belief (recently expounded upon by Krauthammer) that the 2006 and 2008 election cycles were aberrations and did not reflect long-term trends.

We’ve been hearing for a while now that Virginia has become a “purple” state. I don’t think so — Republican blowouts this big don’t happen in “purple” states. In “purple” states the Republican candidates don’t sweep all of the statewide posts by double-digit margins while the party expands an existing majority in the legislature; nor does the Republican candidate for governor win nearly every county in the state; nor does he win in areas considered to be solid blue. That McDonnell ran as a bold conservative, as this diary points out, cements the point. Virginia’s a red state, baby.

Jim Webb, you’d better think long and hard about your health-care vote.

]]> By: cardcarryingmom http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/2009/11/14/10-lessons-from-the-va-gop-victories/#comment-176 cardcarryingmom Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:25:21 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/?p=71#comment-176 As we all know, for too long, we have been on the defensive against all the agregeous attacks from the left. This only serves to derail us. When these attacks blindside us, we should remember to step to the side and immediately step forward; thereby, putting the evil vitriol behind us and returning us to our inherent tendencies toward positive, forward movement. Bob McDonnell, and those surrounding him, have this natural gift. He stepped to the side by running those few ads (your 9th point) and he moved forward by defending himself without going negative. Thus, freeing himself, effectively, of the attack. This skill will work every time we are broadsided and leaves the agressor running to catch up. Eventually, they just run out of breath. :) Point 10 must continue to permeate the McDonnell administration, for its tenure. Our side must never, ever again be allowed to rest on our laurels. And, we must never, ever again compromise . . . As we all know, for too long, we have been on the defensive against all the agregeous attacks from the left. This only serves to derail us. When these attacks blindside us, we should remember to step to the side and immediately step forward; thereby, putting the evil vitriol behind us and returning us to our inherent tendencies toward positive, forward movement.

Bob McDonnell, and those surrounding him, have this natural gift. He stepped to the side by running those few ads (your 9th point) and he moved forward by defending himself without going negative. Thus, freeing himself, effectively, of the attack.

This skill will work every time we are broadsided and leaves the agressor running to catch up. Eventually, they just run out of breath. :)

Point 10 must continue to permeate the McDonnell administration, for its tenure. Our side must never, ever again be allowed to rest on our laurels. And, we must never, ever again compromise . . .

]]> By: JadedByPolitics http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/2009/11/14/10-lessons-from-the-va-gop-victories/#comment-175 JadedByPolitics Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:21:47 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/?p=71#comment-175 is he didn't run on social issue's which I personally believe WE do not have to run on at all. They wanted him to be the white religious right Jerry Falwell (no knock on Jerry) preacher guy and what was presented was the real McDonnell which is a guy who believes in the Right to Life and believes in making VA better and it threw them off their game. I might add that Cuccinelli was given the exact identification I gave above with the RACIST thrown in as well and he WON BY HUGE MARGINS! VA is red and when a real honest to goodness Conservative runs and doesn't play games with issue's that are better left to the states and who doesn't feed into identity politics WE can have it all! Lets see if the GOP learned any of those lessons (I suspect not). is he didn’t run on social issue’s which I personally believe WE do not have to run on at all. They wanted him to be the white religious right Jerry Falwell (no knock on Jerry) preacher guy and what was presented was the real McDonnell which is a guy who believes in the Right to Life and believes in making VA better and it threw them off their game.

I might add that Cuccinelli was given the exact identification I gave above with the RACIST thrown in as well and he WON BY HUGE MARGINS! VA is red and when a real honest to goodness Conservative runs and doesn’t play games with issue’s that are better left to the states and who doesn’t feed into identity politics WE can have it all! Lets see if the GOP learned any of those lessons (I suspect not).

]]> By: eburke http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/2009/11/14/10-lessons-from-the-va-gop-victories/#comment-174 eburke Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:04:51 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/?p=71#comment-174 Blasted "Reply to This" button! Blasted “Reply to This” button!

]]> By: eburke http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/2009/11/14/10-lessons-from-the-va-gop-victories/#comment-173 eburke Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:04:01 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/?p=71#comment-173 conservative values, brightly articulated, are a winning theme? Who'dve thunk it? ::rolling eyes:: conservative values, brightly articulated, are a winning theme?

Who’dve thunk it? ::rolling eyes::

]]> By: penguin2 http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/2009/11/14/10-lessons-from-the-va-gop-victories/#comment-172 penguin2 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:32:11 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/?p=71#comment-172 Bob McDonnell never hid who is was or what his beliefs are. In fact, he would probably have done poorly if we saw him as just another politician trying to get peoples' votes. He as always been known as a genuine person, from his faith, family values, professional and political life. It was his reputation and the respect people have for him that brought people from across the political spectrum to vote for him. People of Virginia also saw Ken Cuccinelli and Bill Bolling in the same way. The media is trying to spin that Virginians went for a moderate ticket; that is just spin. Virginians went for principled individuals, Conservatives, who the people saw as genuine. Bob McDonnell never hid who is was or what his beliefs are. In fact, he would probably have done poorly if we saw him as just another politician trying to get peoples’ votes. He as always been known as a genuine person, from his faith, family values, professional and political life. It was his reputation and the respect people have for him that brought people from across the political spectrum to vote for him. People of Virginia also saw Ken Cuccinelli and Bill Bolling in the same way.

The media is trying to spin that Virginians went for a moderate ticket; that is just spin. Virginians went for principled individuals, Conservatives, who the people saw as genuine.

]]> By: eburke http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/2009/11/14/10-lessons-from-the-va-gop-victories/#comment-171 eburke Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:53:43 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/?p=71#comment-171 GOP consultant ads with dour, disaster-impending music with black & white still shots of Nancy & Harry whose sum & total substance is "vote for us because we suck less than those guys?" And it worked? Hmmm...amazing how articulating your positive view of solving issues works better than a mushless, mindless, negative message. I'm stunned, I tell you, simply stunned. GOP consultant ads with dour, disaster-impending music with black & white still shots of Nancy & Harry whose sum & total substance is “vote for us because we suck less than those guys?”

And it worked?

Hmmm…amazing how articulating your positive view of solving issues works better than a mushless, mindless, negative message.

I’m stunned, I tell you, simply stunned.

]]> By: Scope http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/2009/11/14/10-lessons-from-the-va-gop-victories/#comment-169 Scope Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:48:50 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/?p=71#comment-169 I could not find a thing you said that I would disagree with. I saw a comment here a week or so ago claiming that McDonnell won because he was a moderate, and I had a good laugh. McDonnell answered any question about social issues honestly, and then moved onto the plans he had for jobs, transportation, education and etc. He did not dwell on the social issues. When he was interviewed by Chris Wallace last week, Wallace asked him about his social issue positions, and, he once again said he is strongly pro-life and for strong families, and noted that he said the same in the campaign. Ken Ciccinelli is also a strong conservative, and has the same positions on the social issues. There is no question the top three leaders of our state are conservatives. I recently read that there has only been one other time in Virginia's history that Republicans held all three top slots. Virginia also picked up 6 more state house seats, and numerous City Council seats throughout the state. This has been a very very good year for Republicans in Virginia. We are no longer purple or even pink, we are bright shinning RED. I could not find a thing you said that I would disagree with. I saw a comment here a week or so ago claiming that McDonnell won because he was a moderate, and I had a good laugh. McDonnell answered any question about social issues honestly, and then moved onto the plans he had for jobs, transportation, education and etc. He did not dwell on the social issues. When he was interviewed by Chris Wallace last week, Wallace asked him about his social issue positions, and, he once again said he is strongly pro-life and for strong families, and noted that he said the same in the campaign. Ken Ciccinelli is also a strong conservative, and has the same positions on the social issues. There is no question the top three leaders of our state are conservatives. I recently read that there has only been one other time in Virginia’s history that Republicans held all three top slots.

Virginia also picked up 6 more state house seats, and numerous City Council seats throughout the state. This has been a very very good year for Republicans in Virginia. We are no longer purple or even pink, we are bright shinning RED.

]]> By: Scope http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/2009/11/14/10-lessons-from-the-va-gop-victories/#comment-170 Scope Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:48:50 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/paint_it_red/?p=71#comment-170 I could not find a thing you said that I would disagree with. I saw a comment here a week or so ago claiming that McDonnell won because he was a moderate, and I had a good laugh. McDonnell answered any question about social issues honestly, and then moved onto the plans he had for jobs, transportation, education and etc. He did not dwell on the social issues. When he was interviewed by Chris Wallace last week, Wallace asked him about his social issue positions, and, he once again said he is strongly pro-life and for strong families, and noted that he said the same in the campaign. Ken Ciccinelli is also a strong conservative, and has the same positions on the social issues. There is no question the top three leaders of our state are conservatives. I recently read that there has only been one other time in Virginia's history that Republicans held all three top slots. Virginia also picked up 6 more state house seats, and numerous City Council seats throughout the state. This has been a very very good year for Republicans in Virginia. We are no longer purple or even pink, we are bright shinning RED. I could not find a thing you said that I would disagree with. I saw a comment here a week or so ago claiming that McDonnell won because he was a moderate, and I had a good laugh. McDonnell answered any question about social issues honestly, and then moved onto the plans he had for jobs, transportation, education and etc. He did not dwell on the social issues. When he was interviewed by Chris Wallace last week, Wallace asked him about his social issue positions, and, he once again said he is strongly pro-life and for strong families, and noted that he said the same in the campaign. Ken Ciccinelli is also a strong conservative, and has the same positions on the social issues. There is no question the top three leaders of our state are conservatives. I recently read that there has only been one other time in Virginia’s history that Republicans held all three top slots.

Virginia also picked up 6 more state house seats, and numerous City Council seats throughout the state. This has been a very very good year for Republicans in Virginia. We are no longer purple or even pink, we are bright shinning RED.

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