Bolling has an editorial up now too
By J.R. | February 26, 2008
Filed Under Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor |
Interesting how on the same day AG McDonnell writes the first op-ed by a statewide official on a blog, LG Bolling a few hours later has one penned on Reagan’s GOP.
While McDonnell’s column focuses on campaign promises and legislative accomplishments, Bolling hammers Democrats for what he calls an “unconstitutionally passed” budget.
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Jeffersoniad- Bearing Drift Podcast: Virginia Politics On-Demand
- VPOD: Mark Ellmore, Candidate for the GOP nomination, 8th CD
- VPOD w/McDonnell after he and Bolling receive, effectively, the Republican nomination
- VPOD: Del. Jeff Frederick, candidate for RPV chairman
- VPOD: Del. Bob Marshall, Candidate for U.S. Senate
- VPOD: Chairman John Hager, Republican Party of Virginia
- Virginia Podcasting Network
Sometimes I wish McDonnell and Bolling would just flip a coin to see who will run for Gov. The loser will just run for their old seat. I know supporters on both sides will disagree, but in reality there is very little to no difference between the two and they both would be excellent conservative choices against the dems. I can see a huge primary coming between the two and I certainly hope the result is not irrepairable.
Two cents, I think your comment is accurate. I prefer Bolling because I think he is more consistently conservative, more articulate and tackles more controversial issues. However, I don’t have a problem with McDonnell.
I would like for the blog chatter between the two of them to stay positive. The nomination is over 15 months away and the best thing for the party is for them to work together not ping each other.
Y’all are both right. I agree that we need our party to be unified and I really want us to take back the governor’s mansion.
I’m sticking with McDonnell because he has consistently gotten results - solid performance on illegal immigration, going after spending (tackling the stupid Jamestown fee) and he’s always out there campaigning for our Rs.
I remember McDonnell doing about 100 events for the GOP this fall and we need that sort of leadership for the future.
With no disrespect to Bolling, he’s a good talker and we need someone like that to fire us up. But McDonnell has the record. There’s no substitute for seeing how someone will lead like looking at a record of accomplishment.
They’re both good men and I’m glad we have them keeping Kaine and the Senate in-line.
The battle for the GOP nom will hurt the party…
Too bad there isn’t some pro-amnesty, anti-free speech, anti-2nd amendment, anti-tax cut RINO to represent the party… Like we have running for President.
GOP
Got Over Principles
Virginians are looking for someone who can bring the state together and has a positive vision for the Commonwealth. Bob McDonnell is that leader. We need less partisanship and more working together for a common purpose. McDonnell built a reputation in the legislature and in the AG’s office as a problem solver who worked with everyone to find solutions to Virginia’s difficult issues. I look forward to voting for him for Governor.
Incredible. Can Bolling ever get an original idea?
Bolling has been doing an outstanding job. He has corralled the Senate Republicans into a cohesive, relatively conservative unit, he has held the Governor accountable for his joke of a budget, and he continues to speak for the principled wing of our party. That is real leadership that I can support.
I would have to agree with Southside Dan. Bob McDonnell is the best conservative to represent the Commonwealth as governor.
On a clean environment, I believe the AG has led the way on issues such as keeping our rivers and streams clean with his office’s law suit last year in the Valley against a polluter. Many conservatives fall into the liberal rhetoric that we just don’t care. Conservatives can act like Teddy Roosevelt, promote a cleaner environment and preserve our natural fish and game habitats without going overboard and killing jobs, hurting the VA economy and getting sucked into the Global Warming scare.
On the Second Amendment, the AG recently submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court supporting gun owership in the District of Columbia as an individual right. The AG fought Mike Bloomberg and his secret NYC Government Agents who wanted to entrap honest, law-abiding gun shop owners in the Commonwealth. Also, as to gunshows, the AG was a friend with legislative efforts to be able to keep ammunition at gun shows after the liberals tried to close them down by defining them as fire code violations at gun shows.
As you all have recently seen no doubt in the RTD & WashTimes, the AG’s efforts against illegal alien sexual predators, who would prey on our children, demostrate his first class leadership and continues his long line of staunch efforts to combat sexual predators who would harm our children. The Commonwealth is and/or will be 171 illegal alien sexual predators less and better off, in part, thanks to the AG’s leadership on these issues.
Now, Central VA you may consider these issues to be non-controversial, but I would love to see his definition of highly controversial issues. More importantly, I believe many Virginians care about these issues.
I have to completely agree with Peninsula. Bob McDonnell is the right guy to lead the GOP and Virginia in the future. His common sense conservative message, willingness to work with others across party lines to make a difference, and his record as a leader and problem solver make Bob McDonnell the clear choice in my mind. I also agree with Southside Dan, “With no disrespect to Bolling, he’s a good talker and we need someone like that to fire us up.”
i think what the two essays say is quite telling:
McDonnell speaks about what he said he would do in 2005 and then what he actually did for Virginia. Positive, upbeat and impressive.
Bolling just attacks the Dems.
I’d like to see Bolling run for Party chair - that would be a great post for him to go after the Democrats and allow McDonnell to govern. What a great one-two punch.
Both LG Bolling and AG McDonnell are excellent leaders for Virginia and the Republican Party. The Virginian Federalist has had this op-ed by McDonnell in the works for several weeks, and we have been in discussions with Bolling’s office about the concept for a similar amount of time. These articles are both examples of outstanding public officeholders finding innovative ways to communicate with their constituents.
NVA YR,
I appreciate the McDonnell’s attention to the environment and gun-rights, but the LG has an extremely strong record on these issues.
In the Senate, he chaired the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the Commission on the Future of Virginia’s environment. He led the fight to ban the shipment of out of state waste in VA, where he fought with another NYC mayor, Giuiliani, who was sending tons of garbage to VA.
On gun rights, he has received perfect ratings and endorsements from the NRA and VCDL. He has actively pushed important gun right expansions like elminating the restaurant ban for concealed carry permit holders.
Bolling’s principled leadership and vision for the future make him the best choice in 2009.
Peninsula sounds like a stock speech or commercial…
[inster candidate’s name here] is that man…
Makes me chuckle when I hear that line… because we hear it A LOT
The Lieutenant Governor has done an amazing job at motivating the Conservative base with his 100 Ideas for the Future of Virginia. He has consistently listened to the people and he rolled out a legislative agenda consistent with his conservative principles. Bolling believes in positive change and fiscal responsibility and has done his part to hold the Governor accountable for reckless spending.
As I said in my first post, its easy to see the huge divide and subtle smacks between the Bolling and McDonnell people. It certainly did not take long in this thread. I am afraid this will deteriorate much worse in the coming months.
Bottom Line is both Bolling and McDonnell have been fearless defenders of conservatism in the state. McCain and the national leaders could use a lesson from both.
I have a feeling this primary or convention could potentially be so damaging the winner will have a difficult or even impossible time against whoever the dems nominate. This is a real shame! The answer is not for supporters of both sides to be knifing each other in the back like I see in some of the above posts over ONE full year before the primary! Instead of madmouthing the candidate (Bolling or McDonnell) we don’t like, why not aim all the fire on the dems in 08 and then let things take care of themselves after Nov? I am sure all of our Republican’s in Congress here in Va could use all the help they can get not to mention the winner of the Republican senate convention.
The 09 Governor’s nomination for the GOP comes down to these two numbers:
171 versus 100. It is that simple.
Crime Fighting Attorney General Bob McDonnell has set the wheels of justice in motion to deport 171 illegal alien sex offenders. Bolling has 100 ideas on the future. As I see it, we have an excellent choice, 171 examples of concrete action versus 100 nebulous action items that somebody can’t manage to accomplish as Lt. Gov. Seems like this coming nomination will be WORTH versus WORTHLESS.
Typical AG staffers, can’t stay positive for 5 minutes. I was hoping that we could have a unified moment, but I guess getting a payday from tax raising, one-gun-a-month Bob McDonnell requires you to attack the LG for going after the Dems.
LG Bill Bolling has accomplished a feat that no one thought possible: getting the state senate to work as a unified front. He is holding the Dems feet to the fire and trying to stop tax increases and to protect the VA Constitution.
AG McDonnell just sends out his employees to smear him. Real contrast for 2009.
One of the reasons I like Bolling so much is exactly what he’s talking about in his posts. He’s an authentic conservative, one we haven’t had in awhile here in Virginia. McDonnell is the man, no doubt, but I just can’t see him blasting away at Democrats the way Bolling does. And despite what some have said, to win elections you have to actually define your principles and define your opponets, Bolling does that.
For all this talk about “record,” something every AG candidate uses, why have so many lost? Bolling frames the debate in terms of contrast, not only defining himself as an authentic conservative but defining his opponents as well. He is one of the few Republicans since the Democrat ascendency to constantly take them on every step of the way. Nobody in the Senate worked hard against Warner than Bill Bolling. While so much of the party wilted, he didn’t. Bolling stood up for us when we were at our lowest point, and that shows both character and principles.
That is the kind of record I get excited about.
And I wasn’t paid by anyone to post that.
Its fascinating to me to watch the dynamic here, as an outsider of sorts. For my own part, in a personality/perception matchup, i prefer Bolling (politically of course i prefer neither, so i can’t really comment there). McDonnell to me comes of a bit Romney-ish - too plastic and polished. Bolling seems more genuine. Of course this is entirely based on my limited exposure to both gentlemen, the total times of which i can count on one hand.
I’ve been keeping my eye on the Lt. Gov. and Atty. General over the past year. Bob McDonnell is a conservative leader and man of action. The issues of concern to me and my family have aleady been spelled out in previous posts. I admire the Lt. Governor for speaking out and he would make an ideal spokesman for the Republican Party. We definitely need that during this important Presidential/Senate campaign cycle.
However, we need a leader who’s taking the right steps and action to make Virginia safe and strong. Bob McDonnell is that leader and who we need for Governor in 2009.
If this is the same Chris as MC, he likes Bill Bolling who has ideas but hasn’t implemented them. He has concerns about Bob McDonnell who’s been able to take his plan of action/initiatives and carry out his goals/accomplishments which by all accounts are benefitting all Virginians — from protecting our children who surf the internet to our protecinting our senior population from identity theft/investment fraud/scams.
The fact that Chris has a smiley after his post that no one paid him makes us wonder. Hmmm…verrrry interesting!
Its a real sad state of affairs when our REPUBLICAN Attorney General and REPUBLICAN LT Governor’s supporters seem to be AT EACH others throats and both offices feel the need to compete with each other numerous times on press releases. This is absolutely ridiculous and absurd. I am sure this is just a sample of whats to come but at least STOP long enough to support our great candidates in 2008 like Congressman Forbes, Drake,Cantor, Goodlatte, Goode, Wolf,Wittman and 11th district nominee, and whoever wins the Senate nomination. Its real mature for both sides of the Bolling-McDonnell debate to be badmouthing each other when we have 8 Congressional seats at stake and 1 senate seat. How ridiculous! I guess many of the Bolling-Mcdonnell factions will be too busy backstabbing each other than actually go out and help us keep all these important seats in Congress and the Senate. So much for party unity in 2008.
Trust me Merry, I’m not for sale. Its all me and its all genuine.
Not sure I can say the same for everyone else on here, however.
It may be genuine but it is in the tone of being written by a campaign… May not be paid for, but sometimes people post/comment to audition
Anyway, this whole thread only shows me that this battle will be ugly and if the Dems put one person up, the GOP will sepnd their time going after each other as the Dem passes them by.
It is a one term gig, so flip a coin, let them run and then next time, the other goes…
Most people when they really think about it would be fine with either person
The democrats have their own problems with Deeds vs Moran
We all need to think strategically here
If Deeds (power in rural areas) is in the lead I say go with McDonnell who has a natural advantage in NoVa and Tidewater areas. This would be a untraditional race where the power areas are flipped.
If Moran (power in traditional dem areas base in NoVa) then I say go with Bolling who counters with his natural powerbase in Richmond and other red areas. This would be a conventional race of your classic liberal vs conservative.
It looks to me that Moran is going to be the nominee so I am leaning towards Bolling who aligns best geographically and would be more willing to go on the attack and call out Moran for the liberal he is.
I wrote this myself and both candidates would be great. We need to start thinking about who we nominate to be in the best position to win.
I don’t want to be the ants at this GOP love fest picnic, but my good friend Bob was a key player in the effort that inflicted Tidewater with an all-appointed regional taxing authority - and all the other mess we are suffering due to the ill-concieved HB 3202.
Bill Bolling was not a fan of regional authorities for building state and federal highways.
For this reason I prefer Bill Bolling over Bob McDonnell.
HB 3202 is a water shed event in my book.
As someone who is completely neutral in this race, to be fair, Bolling NEVER came completely out against HB 3202. He stayed silent. Yes, McDonnell was in favor of this, but Bolling never took a firm position either way during the debate.
The way I see it, HB 3202 was completely mixed with regards to the question of tax increases. The anti-tax orgs could not even agree if the candidates actually violated NO tax pledges with ATR basically taking a stance that legislators did not violate the pledge, the Club for Growth against 3202, and VCAP not taking a stand anywhere until the abuser fee stuff came up.
To 90-95% of all Republicans, 3202 was a non-event unlike the Warner tax increase because most never understood it in the first place or did not care and all the ant-tax orgs were never completely unified against it.
In Tidewater HB 3202 is not a “non event”.