VPOD. Episode 30. Interview: John Brownlee, candidate, Virginia Attorney General
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Former U.S. Attorney in Virginia, John Brownlee, recently announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Virginia Attorney General. Brownlee was wrapping-up a visit to Hampton Roads, which included a speech to the Norfolk Republican Party, when I caught up with him to discuss his background and campaign. We additionally discussed his “justice for all” program, the impact of Lt. Gov. Bolling running for a second term, his working relationship with current Attorney General McDonnell, his thoughts on facing State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, whether he prefers a primary or convention, and much more.
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Opening music “Highway Run” by the Charlie Wheeler Band available through Ariel Publicity.
Is there a difference between Cuccinelli and this guy? They both use the same old template, the same tired pledge to lock everyone up and throw away the key.
We need a Republican candidate for AG who will pledge to work to help ENHANCE our Liberty, not come up with ever increasing ways to destroy our freedom.
NEITHER of the Republican contenders has ever offered any ideas to expand and promote Liberty.
Virginia, as well as the United States warehouses too much of our population for non-violent offenses, when many of these people locked away could be contributing to our economy as steady, full time employees, rather than being a drain on our public accounts.
Neither of these guys offers any new ideas and both represent the anti-civil libertarian, status quo of ever greater government power and increased constraints on the freedom of our citizens.
J. Tyler - You are not going to find a legitimate (or electable) candidate who will speak out against the drug war. While it’s a critical issue for the libertarian wing of the GOP and the Libertarian Party, it is not something that resonates with the general populace.
J. Tyler: Your view that those who sell poisons like crack cocaine and meth are “non-violent” offenders is not supported by the evidence and has been rejected by most of our courts and the American people. Obviously, you have never had a loved one who has been addicted to these horrible drugs. A drug dealer is a violent offender who makes money by getting other people addicted to drugs. I do not see how legalizing crack would help anyone or make us a better or safer state. Moreover, the tall tale that our jails are filled with “simple drug users” is also specious. Although it is true that many of our criminal defendants are addicted to drugs, most who are in jail are there because they committed other property or violent crimes. Are you prepared to say that just because a particular defendant is a drug addict, he shouldn’t be punished for breaking into your home or robbing a 7-11. We live in a society in which violent crime is at historic lows. That low rate and enhanced public safety is due in large measure because law enforcement has removed drug dealers and violent criminals from our communities. Also, I suggest to you that liberty and safety are necessarily related. One cannot truly be free if he is unsafe at school, work or in his home. I want an Attorney General who understands this simple notion and has the experince and toughness to keep the drug dealers out of our neighborhoods and schools. I am not concerned about the freedom of some drug dealer. I am concerned about the freedom and safety of those who play by the rules, pay taxes, and live honest lives. I, rhetorically, ask one question: What drug dealers should the state of Virginia release from jail and can they live next door to you?
GO KEN GO!!! Brownlee has yet to address what he would do to the business owners who knowingly hire illegal aliens, but Ken Cuccinelli has!
Crystal: Brownlee is the only candidate in the race who has ever arrested, convicted and deported an illegal alien. He also has gone after crooked companys and broken up (with AG McDonnell) organizations who produce and sell identification papers for illegals. Cuccinelli has done nothing on the illegal front and has no plans to address it. If you want action against illegal immigration, there is only one candidate — John Brownlee for AG!
Great stuff GOPer. Brownlee is a former prosecutor and Army ranger who has the toughness to get the job done. Cuccinelli is a patent lawyer who has only defended the criminals. Cuccinelli also votes with Tim Kaine when it comes to the death penalty. This one is a no-brainer. Brownlee for AG.
Anon/GOPer…
Please confine yourself to one pseudonym per IP address. Thanks.
Reading comprehension.
When one refers to non-violent offenses, this does not equate exclusively to drug crimes, although many people who are addicted are often convicted for theft and burglary as they attempt to feed their habits. It is interesting that the coward who posts under “Anon” erroneously concluded that the original post was exclusively about drugs, which was not the case at all.
As to the challenge about having drug addicted neighbors, if we examine any typical American community, we find citizens addicted to many forms of drugs, from alcohol, prescription meds, so-called recreational drugs, various performance enhancers, and even some “hard” “street” drug users.
Recently, I was made aware of the rather significant problem among some of our most wealthy citizens, many of whom who are quite active as benefactors of politicians, where these rich folk have stables of physicians who prescribe for them everything from Adderall (Speed), Beta-blockers, Steroids, HGH and various “downers” like Zoloft and Prozac. I was surprised to learn that some of our most prominent citizens spend much of their time in a drug induced haze. It perhaps explains previously inexplicable phenomena, like support from these White suburban elitists for politicians who say nothing of substance, but only spout proclamations about “family values” (on the Republican side) and “change” by that champion of inanity, Obama.
These rich folks, just like their street drug using counterparts need treatment, not incarceration.
I do not advocate the legalization of all drugs, nor am I in agreement with the Libertarian Party on the idea of no regulation of addictive substances. However, what we are doing now, the status quo for which both Republicans stand, is not working.
We need candidates and leaders who will take on the real challenges that we face. When is the last time any Republican spoke out about restoring government back to within its Constitutional limits? When has any candidate proposed strong anti-trust action against the multinational oligopolies who are looting our nation? When has any politician done anything to help restore our strategic manufacturing base and create domestic jobs? When have we heard from any of them, real ideas and solutions instead of a bunch of talking points regurgitated in eight second sound bites?
Bob Marshall and Ron Paul were rare exceptions to the purveyors of spun platitudes, yet they were labeled by the GOP “old guard” as kooks and deemed “unelectable” by establishment figures who are themselves owned by the big money interests.
With Cuccinelli and Brownlee, so far, they offer nothing but slightly different mixes of the same, tired, theme: scare the Sally Soccermoms by claiming that if they don’t vote for you, then someone will steal their fat little kid while in line at McDonald’s, pledge to lock more people up; never mind what for, or if they are even guilty, just get more convictions and Justice, be damned.
JTB:
Do you think people should have the right to your personal liability limits, before a law suit is filed?
Please take a look at this post, and reflect upon the fact that Brownlee will defend your privacy rights.
http://www.spankthatdonkey.com/spankthatdonkey2/2008/3/10/trial-lawyers-victorious-hb-172-passes-house-senate.html