Comments on: 5th District: Six of Seven Candidates want Convention http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:53:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Wap http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23810 Wap Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:49:19 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23810 Its official. There will be a primary instead of a convention to determine the nominee. Its official. There will be a primary instead of a convention to determine the nominee.

]]> By: Tim http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23801 Tim Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:11:47 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23801 Not to mention that in a straw poll of the committee a couple months ago, the vast majority voted for a convention, and that has only begun shifting in response to pressure from the Hurt campaign, as certain unit chairs are more afraid of him than they are of their units, some of whom have instructed their Chairs to support a convention. Not to mention that in a straw poll of the committee a couple months ago, the vast majority voted for a convention, and that has only begun shifting in response to pressure from the Hurt campaign, as certain unit chairs are more afraid of him than they are of their units, some of whom have instructed their Chairs to support a convention.

]]> By: Tim http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23800 Tim Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:57:33 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23800 I also favor conventions, since primaries, under Virginia law, allow participation of Democrats and other liberals in the Republican nominating process. As a Republican unit vice-chairman, I have been involved in conventions and primaries, and a convention is clearly the better choice for several reasons beyond the one I just stated; Because it takes %50 plus one to win a convention, the party comes out far more unified; in a primary, campaigning against each other requires spending millions of dollars giving Perriello ammo to use in the general against the eventual nominee that should be spent campaigning against Perriello. A convention is very hard to rig, as all the campaigns are normally asked to agree to the convention rules beforehand, and have a chance to object to any discrepancies. Also, the delegates to the convention can throw out the rules, if they so desire and adopt new rules right from the floor. In a convention the delegates have the final say in all matters, and so majority rules, where in a primary with six or seven candidates the winner could conceivably win with no more than %15 of the vote, not a ringing endorsement from the party of the one to beat Perriello. Not to mention, open primaries gave us John McCain and hence Barak Obama. Let's keep Republican business Republican business. I also favor conventions, since primaries, under Virginia law, allow participation of Democrats and other liberals in the Republican nominating process.
As a Republican unit vice-chairman, I have been involved in conventions and primaries, and a convention is clearly the better choice for several reasons beyond the one I just stated;
Because it takes %50 plus one to win a convention, the party comes out far more unified; in a primary, campaigning against each other requires spending millions of dollars giving Perriello ammo to use in the general against the eventual nominee that should be spent campaigning against Perriello.
A convention is very hard to rig, as all the campaigns are normally asked to agree to the convention rules beforehand, and have a chance to object to any discrepancies. Also, the delegates to the convention can throw out the rules, if they so desire and adopt new rules right from the floor. In a convention the delegates have the final say in all matters, and so majority rules, where in a primary with six or seven candidates the winner could conceivably win with no more than %15 of the vote, not a ringing endorsement from the party of the one to beat Perriello. Not to mention, open primaries gave us John McCain and hence Barak Obama. Let’s keep Republican business Republican business.

]]> By: Stonewall Brigade http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23788 Stonewall Brigade Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:16:13 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23788 It's going to be a close vote tomorrow. Hurt will win a primary but in a convention he will never get to 50% plus one. The front runner always takes the shots and people resent them. It’s going to be a close vote tomorrow. Hurt will win a primary but in a convention he will never get to 50% plus one. The front runner always takes the shots and people resent them.

]]> By: Virginia News Flash « Virginia Values Voter Pac http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23779 Virginia News Flash « Virginia Values Voter Pac Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:07:22 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23779 [...] from Virginia’s 5th District Congressional Race: Bearing Drift has a great article up about six of the now eight candidates running for the GOP nomination [...] [...] from Virginia’s 5th District Congressional Race: Bearing Drift has a great article up about six of the now eight candidates running for the GOP nomination [...]

]]> By: Brian Kirwin http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23757 Brian Kirwin Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:19:26 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23757 JeffConn, it doesn't seem like most of the candidates have any say at all in what the nomination process is. JeffConn, it doesn’t seem like most of the candidates have any say at all in what the nomination process is.

]]> By: JeffConn http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23753 JeffConn Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:53:10 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23753 Shouldn't the way to nominate a candidate be chosen BEFORE the candidates announce their intentions to run? In theory, the nominating process could change every election if agreed to by the candidates. Smells fishy to me. Shouldn’t the way to nominate a candidate be chosen BEFORE the candidates announce their intentions to run? In theory, the nominating process could change every election if agreed to by the candidates. Smells fishy to me.

]]> By: Dodo http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23752 Dodo Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:47:57 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23752 KiV, I think Hurt, Morton, Boyd, or McPadden could beat Ol' Tommy. McKelvey and Ferrin have no shot and Verga would be close. Rees has no shot (never did). KiV, I think Hurt, Morton, Boyd, or McPadden could beat Ol’ Tommy. McKelvey and Ferrin have no shot and Verga would be close. Rees has no shot (never did).

]]> By: Brian Kirwin http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23751 Brian Kirwin Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:44:00 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23751 Apparently you aren't the only one http://va5thdistrict.com/2009/12/10/cantor-hold-fundraiser-for-hurt/ Apparently you aren’t the only one

http://va5thdistrict.com/2009/12/10/cantor-hold-fundraiser-for-hurt/

]]> By: Steven Osborne http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23750 Steven Osborne Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:43:06 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23750 kelley, I agree that Hurt would be a strong candidate against Perriello, however, there are other candidates including Morton and Verga who could also be competitive in a general. Those who want to nominate Robert Hurt for Congress will have to do better than just saying that he is the most electable, you will have to give voters some distinct instances where Robert Hurt stood out as a leader. I can think of some such moments right now, but I am undecided and am watching this dogfight from the ground. kelley,

I agree that Hurt would be a strong candidate against Perriello, however, there are other candidates including Morton and Verga who could also be competitive in a general.

Those who want to nominate Robert Hurt for Congress will have to do better than just saying that he is the most electable, you will have to give voters some distinct instances where Robert Hurt stood out as a leader. I can think of some such moments right now, but I am undecided and am watching this dogfight from the ground.

]]> By: kelley in virginia http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23749 kelley in virginia Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:21:46 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23749 and Salem Republican: the big reason for you to care who gets the nomination against Perriello is because not all the candidates have an equal chance against Perriello. I believe Hurt can beat Perriello. That is why I care that he is nominated. and Salem Republican: the big reason for you to care who gets the nomination against Perriello is because not all the candidates have an equal chance against Perriello.

I believe Hurt can beat Perriello. That is why I care that he is nominated.

]]> By: kelley in virginia http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23748 kelley in virginia Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:19:24 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23748 A convention will be attended by regular party members, of which I am one (so therefore I must think conventions are fine). However, the mood here in the 5th is not unlike that found in most of the country. People believe that Congress ignores them. and many people, unless Perriello has personally given them some kind of federal hand-out, are outraged with his total disregard for their livelihoods, health & future. I think these "not-necessarily-regular-Republicans" should vote on who will run against Perriello. If we go the primary route in the 5th, then no one can whine about the NRCC "rigging" the convention. A convention will be attended by regular party members, of which I am one (so therefore I must think conventions are fine).

However, the mood here in the 5th is not unlike that found in most of the country. People believe that Congress ignores them. and many people, unless Perriello has personally given them some kind of federal hand-out, are outraged with his total disregard for their livelihoods, health & future. I think these “not-necessarily-regular-Republicans” should vote on who will run against Perriello.

If we go the primary route in the 5th, then no one can whine about the NRCC “rigging” the convention.

]]> By: Brian Kirwin http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23733 Brian Kirwin Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:33:44 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23733 A convention gave us McDonnell, Bolling and Cuccinelli. A primary gave us Deeds, Wagner and Shannon. A convention gave us McDonnell, Bolling and Cuccinelli. A primary gave us Deeds, Wagner and Shannon.

]]> By: Salem Republicans http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23725 Salem Republicans Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:30:25 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23725 Willie It's simply indisputable that conventions are more closed than primaries. Does that make them wrong? Absolutely not. I'm a fan of conventions and in this current economy I'd be hard pressed to ask a locality to pick up the tab for a partisan nominating contest. We won't be having a primary in Salem to nominate our candidates. My point was that it takes really tortured logic to try to compare VA-5 to NY-23 at the same time you're calling for a convention. No one in NY-23 was screaming "we should have had a convention" after that fiasco (disclaimer, may family all lives in NY-23 and supported Hoffman). If people think this race is analogous to NY-23 (which I don't) and they're afraid of party insider manipulation, then the best course is to completely remove it from party insider hands. Let me say again though, I don't think VA-5 is even remotely similar to NY-23. I think a convention makes a lot of sense in VA-5. And, I hope all 7 candidates will settle down and focus on removing one of the worst Congressmen in the entire country. Willie

It’s simply indisputable that conventions are more closed than primaries. Does that make them wrong? Absolutely not. I’m a fan of conventions and in this current economy I’d be hard pressed to ask a locality to pick up the tab for a partisan nominating contest. We won’t be having a primary in Salem to nominate our candidates.

My point was that it takes really tortured logic to try to compare VA-5 to NY-23 at the same time you’re calling for a convention. No one in NY-23 was screaming “we should have had a convention” after that fiasco (disclaimer, may family all lives in NY-23 and supported Hoffman). If people think this race is analogous to NY-23 (which I don’t) and they’re afraid of party insider manipulation, then the best course is to completely remove it from party insider hands.

Let me say again though, I don’t think VA-5 is even remotely similar to NY-23. I think a convention makes a lot of sense in VA-5. And, I hope all 7 candidates will settle down and focus on removing one of the worst Congressmen in the entire country.

]]> By: Willie Deutsch http://bearingdrift.com/2009/12/09/5th-district-six-of-seven-candidates-want-convention/#comment-23712 Willie Deutsch Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:31:31 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=10320#comment-23712 Arguing that using a convention closes the nomination contest to party insiders is like claiming that limiting those that can vote for a unit chair to members of a committee is making the process to closed. A convention ensures that only Republicans decide who the Republican nominee is, and that is why it should be used whenever possible. Arguing that using a convention closes the nomination contest to party insiders is like claiming that limiting those that can vote for a unit chair to members of a committee is making the process to closed.

A convention ensures that only Republicans decide who the Republican nominee is, and that is why it should be used whenever possible.

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