Golden is a Whig
By JR Hoeft | Saturday, September 25th, 2010 | PoliticsKenny Golden announced in a press conference last night that he’s running as a “Modern Whig” candidate.
He’s not the first to do so in Virginia: Jeff Vanke is also running under that label in the 6th Congressional District.
From what I can tell, it appears they are the only two in the country running under that banner.
Update: Apparently Golden is not running as a Whig. According to Max Schapiro, I need to “apply my logic evenhandedly” and correct the record that he’s merely accepted their endorsement, just as he has the Independent Green Party.
Just curious – did Golden hold a press conference with a 4-day lead time for the Independent Greens?
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Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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61 Responses to "Golden is a Whig"
So he’s bringing back slavery?
I am a Rigell Republican until 11/03/2010.
I do not like the name “The Modern Whig Party” or the slogan “whig out”.
However I do like their principles.
The two party system comprised of left and right wing factions are falsely cloaking their candidates in popular centrist camo during election time and doing their same ole snowjob on the public to win elections. Both parties share the responsibility for alienating average Americans who largely diassapprove of their elected representatives self perpetuating abuse of power. Since neither party can keep their establishment hands out of the federal cookie jar, a new party had formed and now a former GOP chair with an excellent record has joined their ranks.
Among the Modern Whig Party founders are returning Iraqi and Afghanistan military veterans who conceived thier new party while deployed to the deserts and mountains of their respective war zones. These military veterans began teaming up with civvies who are equally dissatisfied with the ideology of the gop and democrats.
The Modern Whigs are a constitution abiding pro America party whelped by patriotic military veterans much like Kenny Golden. These vets defined themselves with honorable active duty service overseas while realizing their beloved country, the homeland they swore an oath to defend with their lives, has drifted dangerously off course.
Thank you and may God Bless America from a friend of Captain Kenneth E. Golden USN, Ret.
How many likely “Whig” voters are there in the 2nd district?
I was under the impression that the Modern Whig party was a moderate party. Is Kenny running as a moderate? Does he believe in creating a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants? For allowing each state to decide whether they want gay marriage or abortion to be legal (thus guaranteeing they will be in some states)?
Interesting.
I thought Kenny needed a whig a long time ago.
Great question. However how many Tea Party members were there two years ago ??
Look at
http://www.modernwhig.org/issues.html
What you read there is pretty much my political views. After the election I will consider this more. Really do need a third political party.
Kenny Golden is not a Whig.
Kenny Golden is running as an independent and has no party affiliation.
Kenny accepted the Whig endorsement.
Kenny Golden will be accepting more endorsements over the next two weeks.
TimJ, There are plenty of fed up veterans who love this country and are disgusted with the entrenched establishment leadership of our two parties.
Brian S. To answer your questions, go ask a Whig. They are not a bunch of fringe whackos as some of you may wish to paint them, they are constitutionally conservative. Kenny is socially right of center fiscal conservative but on national security matters he is red blooded All American.
James, some tea party people are looking VERY closely at the Modern Whigs. Stay Tuned (hint)
Don’t know a lot about the modern whig party, I was invited to his townhall and didn’t get to go, was curious about the press conference. Kenny.. Kenny.. Kenny… For those who may think of voting for you, this comes off as a little crazy. Are you going to change your stance on things once you get into congress? I get independent, that can cover a lot of people fed up with either party or their candidates. I am as conservative as anyone else, more even because I am a tea partier. I am considering voting for you,but now… got to get more info. Now is not the time to try to find yourself, If you don’t know who you want to be then neither do we. One thing I know is that I want you with us, I like your ideas, I think your experience is invaluable. All I can say is that I will pray and the Lord will place his man in.
Turbo, I did – all that stuff I pulled directly from their website. If that’s what Golden stands for, that’s fine. I don’t have a problem with any of that stuff. Then again, I’m a squishy moderate RINO turncoat poor excuse for a Republican, so I doubt Kenny’s trying to attract folks like me to vote for him.
Interesting post Brian, thanks for your humor and honesty. Kenny seems to repel rinos. Conservatives are the bedrock of his campaign and some of you know these bellweather conservatives by name since they remain republicans at heart. Conservative rpvb members are discovering they are not held hostage to the Byler if they do not allow it.
God I love this country. Wallow in your freedom and vote your conscience.
Leave it to the Dem Tracker no less to post this video..
http://www.youtube.com/user/Virginia2RawFootage#p/a/u/1/9HRYsUtPEYU
Wow, this has turned into a total joke. Kenny has conservative as a bed rock? Really? What’s with the pro abortion nonsense? Not so conservative to me. Repels RINOs? Sure. He can’t say anything about RINOs, without looking like a fool. Because, well, after a few months of primary butt kicking he decided that he’s not a Republican. Nice. What a mess this has turned into. I will never argue about his qualifications. On paper, of course he’s qualified to be in Congress. But man, this guy is all over the place. Bordering on the verge of just being a whack job. Sorry Kenny, but folks are just shaking their heads at this point.
I recently declared as a Democrat due to the successes of the conservatives to run all the RINOs out of the Republican party. If I am going to vote a straight Democratic ticket, I might just as well throw in with them.
My big problem with Kenny is his extremist support of the Fair Tax. Any supporter of the Fair Tax unmodified is an unacceptable extremist. Such a person is running to destroy the American Way. As a Democrat, I’m hoping we Virginia Beach Democrats can coax Kenny to help us run Wagner out of office. But he needs to rethink his uncompromising endorsement of the Fair Tax.
Moderates are welcome within Virginia Beach Democrats. Uncompromising extremists would be better off throwing their cards in with the Republicans.
I can’t speak for all Democrats, but if you are a RINO, perhaps you should join the party where moderates are tolerated.
Glenn Nye is such a moderate, and Glenn Nye needs every moderate vote.
Are you sure moderates are actually accepted in the Democratic Party?
Little David, the statement you made is in conflict with reality. Rinos are a relatively recent description. Rinos have alienated true Conservatives and many right of center republicans who were the foundation of the party in the not too distant past. Just thought I would clear that up.
http://conservativehq.com/conservatism-101/viguerie-and-allen-conservative-history-pre1985/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/05/19/DI2006051901212.html
Kenny has Max (Deep Space Nine) Shapiro making official statements for him? So much for the Golden Campaign’s credibility….
A comment from an above mentioned link circa 2008 prior to elections:
“Fairfax Station, Va.: Mr. Viguerie,
Thank you for articulating what legions of frustrated conservatives have quietly felt in recent years. Frankly, it’s pathetic that the GOP continues to hammer out a “stay the course” message when even the most ardent GOP loyalists have to privately admit that their tired refrain has long lost it’s luster!
Your perspective on conservatives needing to eradicate this problem at the voting booth is probably the only way the majority party will really get the message that they have completely mishandled the nation’s interest by focusing only on self-interest. I take no joy in admitting that everything you wrote is spot-on accurate.
If we are going to see any change, you’re right…the GOP needs to be accountable for the path they took. I suspect many GOP operatives will have ample time on their hands come November to reflect on what they have done (or not done) to put out country into the fragile position it is in today.
Impressed by Ronald Reagan’s “the government that governs best governs less” mantra, I joined the Republican tent in 1980. Sadly, our current “borrow and spend” GOP bears no resemblance to the party I embraced with my first vote 26 years ago. By your article, I guess I should take some solace in knowing that I’m not alone in my frustration of today’s GOP!
Richard A. Viguerie: Fairfax Station, VA – I assure you and I are not the only one’s who share these concerns. The vast majority of Bush’s voters in 2004 share our disappointment, frustration and even anger at Bush’s actions and Republican leaders. 89% of people who voted for Bush, in a recent online poll I conducted, are so angry with Bush they would consider voting for a 3rd party candidate.”
Once burned, twice shy.. Republicans like Kenny Golden, they know what is in his heart and they are not rallying in unison around your coronated rino Scotty.
@LittleDavid, I kow I shouldn’t ask, but how would you like to see the FairTax modified?
Kenny Golden’s campaign has officially jumped the shark.
You announce a major press conference concerning the “future” of the Golden campaign, leaving the impression of some kind of major announcement…….
……which is the announcement that you have received the endorsement of a political party that no one has every heard of and doesn’t even have a single member in the 2nd District that can vote for you.
I mean, everything about Golden and his campaign has become goofy; his hat, his signs, his interviews, his “happy hour”
In 40+ days his political career will be over, he will be humiliated, and he will be left with his oversized ego, a mountain of campaign loans, and nothing to show for it.
A wise man once said “opportunity doesn’t mean calling”. That should be Golden’s slogan.
To many.
Some liberals think they own the Democratic party, but the Democratic Party is more dependent on moderates then the Republican Party is. Conservative extremists in the Republican Party have more capability to tell their candidates “My way or the highway” then liberals can to their candidates if they want to win elections and maintain a majority in Congress.
How would I modify the Fair Tax? I’d keep it progressive. Everyone pays the Fair Tax with lower income citizens protected by the prebate. Income above a certain level would still be subject to an income tax. The average citizen will pay more in taxes under the Fair Tax and as a middle income citizen I am willing to pay more if what I pay goes towards lessening the deficit. I am unwilling to pay more to give the likes of Paris Hilton a tax cut. Paris Hilton already has more then enough money to party on and I do not see why she needs more.
I am also going to say that the Death (Estate) Tax is the most beautiful tax our nation has. If we are going to motivate wealth creation within our nation, we need to guard that our society remains a meritocracy instead of a third world nation with only a few fortunate citizens born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
Turbo, would Kenny accept the endorsement of NARAL, NOW or Planned Parenthood? What about the ACLU? Or the Log Cabin Republicans?
You say he’s not a Whig, but he’s accepted their endorsement. So will he accept the endorsement of any organization that chooses to endorse him? Or would he turn them down if they clashed with his stances?
You say Kenny repels RINOs – that’s fine. But he just accepted the endorsement of an organization that is made up of former RINOs who just decided to stop calling themselves Republicans and picked an old name.
I don’t get it.
Brian, to my knowlege none of the organizations you mentioned have approached Kenny and if they did he would tell them where to go. Would Scott Rigell accept the endorsement of Evangelicals Concerned Inc.? How about Reverend Ted Haggard? Shucks, how about women or gays from Galilee or some other Church? Oops I forgot they are practicing heresy.. “women may never be ruling or teaching elders, they may never interpret the bible or vote.”
Brian, I would imagine the dccc is not blind to the power of fear that they can arounse by pinning Scott as a far right religious fundamentalist. I can name a bunch of them.. Would your candidate turn them down? From an independent blog you guys probably do not follow too closely.. “Scott Rigell will tell you somewhat cryptically that he is a “True Conservative”. In that way his fellow Religious Fundamentalists will know that his “Core Values” are “properly Conservative religious values” and should not be confused with “Constitution conserving values”. His goal is to modify the Constitution to mimic his religious values without regard to the Constitutional impact on Liberty.” Not my words or opinions Brian.
October is almost here.. Let those good ole endorsements roll.
Jax, if you think I’m pro-abortion you have totally lost your mind. My stance on abortion hasn’t changed ever. Life starts at conception and should (shall if I have my way)be protected. I’ve actually stood outside the local abortion clinic and asked young women not to go through with the procedure. I’ve taken action against the practice and a stance. I won the GOP seat as Chairman 3 years ago on just that issue. Check out the website on “Give a Child a Chance”. No state/fed funding for abortion as well. Had you been at my press conference you would have learned my postion. My stance has always been on the site. r Kenny
Brian, you’re right, you don’t get it but at 2am I’ll make it short. You need to review the Modern Whigs one more time or possibly come to a press conference and actually speak to a candidate before commenting about him. Modern Whigs are as Turbo stated not RINO’s but Conservatives mostly Afghan and Iraqi War Vets who are sick and tired of both parties. They took the time to seek me out and I’m very proud and grateful for their support. Come by this week there is still a coke with yours, JR’s, and Brian K’s name on them. I’ll still faint if any of you show. DJ, thanks for your participation. r Kenny Golden
So you’ll know Henry, Max does not blog while working for me nor does he make official statements. I make my own. r Kenny
Bryan Stuart or should I say, “always in the Rigell tank” Stuart. I will never turn my back on Vets like the Modern Whigs as we have served together along with my daughter. We’ve actually done something for our country that required taking a tough stand. Running for office is the same and your candidate is not qualified and neither is the Dem. I’m running to help my country again and when Nov.3 comes around I’ll be extremely satisfied I’ve done my duty for my country and yes even misinformed folks like you. r Kenny
Dear Denisa, these Afghan and Iraqi War Vets chose to endorse me. I haven’t changed one stance nor will I. These Conservatives are simply reaching out to Veteran Independents and trying to help. As an Independent I need the support so I’m very proud to have their help and for any Tea Party members that I can get. I don’t think any one of the seven different groups are going to endorse but many have offered support and volunteered. Please come on out next week if you have the chance. All the best. r Kenny
Headline on NLS shortly: 2nd District Independent (Whig) offers coke to right-wing bloggers.
Ben will be shocked and appalled:-)
0200 and my candidate is replying to comments? That’s a serious man! Go Kenny Go!!!
The flip flopping of Kenny Golden continues…
I feel like Kirwin’s comments went completely neglected. Gold.
All those replies from Kenny and I didn’t earn one.
I was blinded by his resume until I did a little more research. Kenny once endorsed Ron Paul to serve as Speaker of the House. If Nancy Pelosi ran against Kenny for any office I had a vote in, Nancy gets the vote. If Bozo the Clown ran against Kenny, Bozo would get the vote.
Kenny, I praise you for your service to our country. Now it is time for you to retire. Have you ever thought about taking up golf?
I’m going to expose myself (no not that way – grin) and point out that which is rather obvious. I am now a Democrat. As a member of the Democratic Party, I am trolling for a RINO who feels rejected by the Republican Party who wishes to run for office. We Virginia Beach Democrats have a strong need to fill a position for a candidate to help us run Wagner out of office.
Such a candidate must possess a strong desire to lead our commonwealth and our nation on a path other then where the Tea Party extremists would direct us to.
Do you feel betrayed by the hard right turn the Republican Party has taken in response to recent election losses? Well, don’t feel you need to swear loyalty to the party you now so often disagree with. A promising career awaits you in the Democratic Party helping to provide the leadership our commonwealth and our nation needs.
Just be willing to listen to reason, OK?
Kenny, I’m in Fairfax so the chances of me driving down to visit are pretty slim. I’m not invested in the race, but I’ve been reading about your candidacy for a while and it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
I did what you suggested and checked out the Modern Whigs again. Some excerpts from http://www.modernwhig.org:
Same Sex Relationships:
Each state can determine the extended rights of same sex couples based on their own local values. We do, however, support classifying as a federal hate crime attacks on people based on their perceived sexual orientation. In essence, the sexual orientation of the guy down the street has no bearing on anybody else’s life.
Abortion:
“Each state can determine its course of action like any other public health issue that revolves around medical procedures.”
Second Amendment:
“Our general viewpoint is that states can regulate firearms to whatever their local values dictate…”
Now, clearly, I’ve cherry picked the quotes here and I invite anyone to go visit their website to see the full quotes, but that doesn’t sound like the kinds of things I’ve seen written about you or your campaign. Are you sure you want to be affiliated with these guys? They may be veterans, but they seem to be moderate and you don’t.
http://apps.facebook.com/polldaddy-polls/?view=poll&id=3832356
I love Kenny’s quote: “Running for office is the same and your candidate is not qualified and neither is the Dem.”
Only someone with such an ego would assume that because he’s a retired naval captain that he’s qualified to be one of the 435 members of the U.S. House.
I don’t mean to be brutal, but how many retired naval admirals, captains and commanders are there the Hampton Roads area? How many of them flew helicopters or did a tour at the Pentagon? I don’t see any of them thinking they are automatically qualified to serve in Congress.
General Mizusawa had 10 times the resume that Golden does, but according to Golden, all of us Republican primary voters were just too stupid to recognize his greatness, so, he drops out of the Republican Party (and not have to deal with the “wisdom” of 30,000 Republican primary voters) to run as an independent….
Only to now roll out some endorsement from some party run by a college kid.
And whats even a bigger mockery is he is telling us to take the endorsement seriously.
40+ days until its over.
LittleDavid,
That ‘promising career’ has worked out great for Peter Schmidt so far.
Bryan Stuart, you’ve clearly shown you have no clear idea of what a resume’ is when you compare BG Misuzawa and myself. He has been a Reserve most of his entire life, I’ve been active. He’s a great guy and my friend but our careers have been totally different. On Navy Admirals and Captains, plenty yes but few with the wonderful jobs and places I’ve been and none who will jump into this arena. Be patient, it will all be over in a month.
Brian, when you get down we can discuss all this over a beer. I stand by the 60,000 members of the Modern Whigs precisely because they are veterans. You are correct on the cherry picking but I didn’t do that. I’ve looked at their general ideas and approved and gratefully accepted their endorsement. As far as you not understanding my race down here, I’m not surprised, you don’t know me and you don’t know the dynamics of the district or any of the political organizations down here so when you have time we can talk about what a fascinating area it is. Simply, I’m running because I have a better understanding of what needs to be done and much more experience. We’ll see soon how it all turns out. r Kenny
@ Kenny: let’s compare resume
Bert Mizusawa has serve in combat. You haven’t
Bert Mizusawa is a General. You never made it past Captain. (the equivalent of Colonel in the Army).
Bert Mizusawa was awarded the bronze star for valor.
You haven’t.
Bert Mizusawa served in Iraq. You haven’t.
So, I’d say his resume looks a whole lot better than yours.
Consider me a friend and admirer of Bert Mizusawa who I personally would like to see run for office sometime in the future. I like the man.
Now the gloves come off and it is you and me Bryan.
Bryan Stuart, you stand alone in a corner with a dunce cap on and look stupid then type something on this blog and prove it. I love ya man, but, if I may quote JR, your comments are a bunch of pig vomit.
Bless your heart Bryan but not only did Kenny Golden have combat time in both Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, in both cases he was IN COMMAND. He was at the tip of the spear sunshine. He flew one of the lead aircraft into harms way and a shitstorm of uncertainty that many captains never returned from.
As as far as the bronze star goes, Kenny Golden awarded ALL of his ships captains the bronze star and refused to let his staff nominate him or anyone even though they might be eligible.
Bert Mizusawa has never commanded 10,000 sailors and marines at sea in an actual combat operation, Kenny Golden has.
In his 5000 hours of flight time, Kenny Golden has not only REAL active duty combat time but has survived 2 aircraft mishaps, one in which he almost lost his life when he crashed at sea at night.
Clearly you Bryan do not have a clue about the man. If you did not beleive your own BS I would suggest you join Kenny for a visit to Dover or the veterans hospital for that matter and meet fellow combat veterans who gave it all and were brought back with what was left of their brothers in caskets draped with the American flag.
You will find Kenny Golden is as real as it gets to active combat veterans and he has their respect.. They often visit Golden HQ. We had an SR-71 pilot visit yesterday.. You will lose count of the unsung active duty and veteran heroes that support Kenny Golden, each with quite a life story of their own but a common love of this country.
Uhhh… is this a 2nd District Primary redux? Didn’t Rigell handily kick the butts of all the Navy Captains and Generals who ran in the 2nd District Primary? Bert, Loyola and the rest of them were woulda’, shoulda’, coulda’ but didn’t.
Bert has bigger fish to fry in targeting a Virginia Senate seat and Gov. McDonnell appointed Loyola to the VPSA Board of Commissioners. Both have moved on while Nye is becoming a stronger and more difficult target as the election draws closer. Focus….
Rigell friends have placated his primary opponents.. all except one. Who is Ed Maulbeck? I like Ed. Ed has the cajones to say and ask what no other challenger had the gumption to ask the toughest questions and Scott Taylor did the deed pretty well himself. All of them were skunked by the very party they thought they were seeking the nomination of apparently unaware that the fix was in a year before they filed. I do not consider that to be a butt kicking, it is establishment politics that have cornered the market for wealthy opportunistic politician wannabees who can pay to play to win. Leadership is not a qualifier for the GOP, money is.
Praise the lord and pass the dollar bills http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll3uipTO-4A
So, how many of you “..moderate/conservative…” posters have identified and contributed FINANCIALLY or with your volunteer time to your preferred candidates’ campaigns? If you’ve got a candidate you like, then give your money and energy to them so they can reach more potential voters. Otherwise, you’re just giving in to the established parties and the rest is bloviation.
Tim J misses the revolt continuing to fester in the Party, and further, misses the lack of enthusiasm from moderate, business oriented republicans who are appalled at the turn toward the tea party and the far fight. These rational folks know that the return to the same policies that caused the disastrous break down of the financial system, and caused the great receession, would again be disastrous, yet the Boehner/Cantor/Rigell steamroll just keeps heading in that same direction. Can any rational republican want those conditions back again? Can a sane republican actually want to try to justify tax cuts for the rich and trickle down economics? No, sanity prevents such drivel except among the fully ideological.
Mike, with all due respect, the tea party for the most part is NOT the gop right, in fact it is often at odds with the politically speaking conservative that votes like a rino aka CINO, not to be confused with the religious right.
Tea Party activists are fed up with the Establishments, both GOP and DEM.
Tea folks are fiscally conservative.
Yeah I got the same DCCC memo from Susan
Mike… I know what your Halloween costume is going to be this year… the “Bush Ghost of Administrations Past”. The voters voted and a candidate won no matter what “revolt” or “fester” you are hallucinating in your liberal insanity.
In November, we will vote again, someone will win, and after the election I hope you and your colleagues humor us with more idiocy and lunacy which will carry us over to Thanksgiving. And then we will have the “lame duck” session of Congress will prove to be an historic and modern apex of political drama.
Kenny, that’s fine – if the fact that some of them are veterans allows you to ignore where their policy positions are far to your left, I can’t argue with that. I don’t think it’s very consistent, but this is your campaign.
I understand your race – I don’t understand your campaign. I don’t see how your experience in command is going to make you well suited to being one of 435, where you can’t order anyone but your own staff around. Where your power comes from your ability to work with the rest of the delegation, and where 90% of your job won’t have anything to do with military policy.
I don’t understand why you tried to get the Republican nomination when you claim you aren’t a Republican. I don’t understand why you accepted the endorsement of a political party you aren’t a member of. I don’t understand why you are still running when you know you don’t have a chance of winning.
But I’ll take you up on the beer next time I’m down your way.
Brian, good, I’ll explain to how the military really works…..You only order people when you have to. Convincing them and leading them is always the best way to bring a force of folks together to bring blunt force against our enemies. I almost never in 31 years had to “order” anyone to do anything. We were always a small part of a large organization and we had to accomplish our mission, believe me, I didn’t order anyone in the 10,000 Sailors and Marines we had in Amphibious Task Force West, they were inspired to do their best and I helped with that inspiration. I hope I can do the same in Congress and I will certainly take that attitude up to the District again for the fourth time. All the best. r Kenny
@Turbo:
Ok, how about this simple resume comparison.
Bert Mizusawa is a General.
Kenny Golden is a Captain and never made Admiral.
Mizusawa received a Bronze Star.
Golden has never received an equivalent medal.
So, I’d say General Mizusawa’s resume is more impressive than Captain Golden’s.
Bryan Stuart or who ever you are, Reserves and Active are different, I don’t expect you to understand, you ain’t been there and likely never will be. On medals, they are gifts from your country, I have many and they were mostly given to me by the folks that either worked with me or recommended by my Seniors. Berts are the same, Combat with medals is combat with medals, the thing to remember is how much time you spent in Combat, and were you in Command. I was and refused the decorations and would do it again but I made sure my Commanders were decorated. On the flag list, it is extremely difficult to make Flag in the Active Duty Navy as Helicopter Pilot, we only make one per year and twice I was left as a bridesmaid when two of my best friends made it. I had no complains then and I don’t now, both were and are most deserving and one, RADM Rick Ruehe was temporarily my Commander while in 7th Fleet and he saved my bacon several times and helped me with the difficult winter time Pacific crossing. He and Cathy are here in Va. Beach and are still great friends. Hope this gives you a better feel for how the real military works because you clearly don’t understand. Turbo’s explanation was right on the mark and true in every detail. While I didn’t make Flag Officer I was rewarded with four commands and had to turn down another one in order to get the overseas ship assignment in Japan. Bert will tell you, I’m the luckiest Navy guy he knows. r Kenny
Dan, whoever you are, I never flip flop….period. Go back to your John Kerry wannabe tribe, now there’s a real flip flopper. By the way so you don’t think I hate Democrat’s, Ollie Bates and Susan Mariner (VB Dems)are tops plus went to school with former Sen. Gary Hart at Oxford. Fine Gent. r Kg
Kenny, why do you automatically assume that anyone who criticizes you or references your service hasn’t served themselves? You’ve done that three times here. “Let me tell you how the military really works.”
You’re not going to win over anyone with that kind of condescending attitude.
As for not flip-flopping, you already have. You ran for the Republican nomination, lost it and are now running ad an independent. You can’t run in a Republican primary without being a Republican and I’ve seen you disavow being a Republican multiple times on Bearing Drift. That’s a flip-flop.
Brian W. Schoeneman;
Your previous statement is inaccurate. Commodore Golden never filed for the primary; hence, he did not participate in the primary; therefore, he didn’t lose in primary.
Leadership: What you probably fail to understand, is the leadership skills that are acquired through decades of intensive training and practical application, occasionally under file, that a military career entails. In a sector where winning and losing is measured by gaining objectives at the expensive of life and death takes superior leadership skills unmatched in any other sector. There is no question Golden’s skills, demeanor, and presence will naturally gravitate him to a leadership position in Congress.
In Brian’s post, he reveals in one sentence what is wrong with the republican party in this district. For him, the party is what the unseen hand says it is. In this race, Rigell was the chosen one, and everyone else played their role, the outcome never in doubt. If there is any doubt that this form of politics is dead, Rigell’s loss will prove that to all except those who call the shots. They never get that message until they are forced out and replaced.
Brian, your contempt and disrespect for people who have served their country is not limited to Kenny Golden as demonstrated by your comments sir. I often meet democrats that exhibit the level of distain for the United States military and especially combat war veterans that you share. Is this becoming fashionable among select young republicans such as yourself now? Yeah article 89 does not apply here but some of you thin skinned rinos coming from todays republican youth ranks remind me of that incident with Barbara Boxer who slammed general Walsh for merely calliing her Ma’am.
I am not claiming to be an expert on the 2nd District. But in Fairfax, the claims that the County Party or the District Parties have complete control over the process are always claimed, and then when the outcome isn’t how the conspiracy theory played out, everyone ignores those claims and forgets they were ever made, until the next election when they get trotted out by whoever the “outsider” candidate is this time.
As for Kenny losing the primary, mea culpa. I was under the impression he remained on the ballot. But that still doesn’t justify his claim here on Bearing Drift that he was “never a Republican” when he was party chairman in Virginia Beach. That’s a flip flop.
Wally, if Golden is elected, he’ll be without a conference. Which means he won’t have the opportunity to join any of the soft leadership positions – and by soft I mean those that don’t require longevity. If you don’t have a party, longevity is the only way to move up the ranks. The current Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee has served in Congress for 33 years. If Kenny has to wait that long, he’ll be in his 90s before he ever gets a gavel. All the military leadership in the world won’t help him in Congress. It’s a legislative body, not an executive body. The skill-sets don’t transfer.
There are plenty of veterans in Congress, including a Medal of Honor winner, but they didn’t get to Congress by running solely on their service.
Turbo, your statement is ridiculous. What contempt and disrespect? I haven’t said one word disrespecting anyone’s service here. What I have seen is you and others, including Kenny, jumping down the throats of people they don’t know, assuming none of us have spent any time in uniform (which is not true), and putting words in our mouths. I respect Kenny’s service – just as I respect Senator Inouye’s, Congressman Murphy’s and a number of other elected officials who have served in combat roles.
As for being thin-skinned, I’m a RINO – skin doesn’t get much thicker than that. It doesn’t take a thin skin to point out condescension. I don’t know about you, but as a voter, I don’t appreciate when candidates talk down to me.
Bottom line is that I don’t believe that the type of leadership one learns and exercises in military service translates well to a legislative body. Kenny claims he won’t need “on the job training” if he’s elected, but I can’t see how it’s possible he won’t. I’ve been in and out of government and lobbying Capitol Hill for almost ten years and I still learn things every day. That has nothing to do with a disrespect for the military – it’s simply my experience.
@Brian,
- You certainly do convey disrespect and contempt towards Kenny Golden.
- The Metal of Honor is received, they are reecipiants not winners.
- As for your misunderstanding of the candidates that were actually on the VA-02 Primary ballot, perhaps you should stick to Fairfax politics.
VABch, if I’m conveying disrespect or contempt towards Golden, it’s because of his status as a candidate in an election – where he’s fair game – and has nothing to do with his military service.
Thanks for the clarification about the Metal[sic] of Honor. I think it would be more appropriate for both of us to say that the Medal is earned, rather than won or received.
I made a mistake, I corrected it. Doesn’t invalidate my opinion.
Brian, there is so much you don’t know about me or my campaign so we should just leave it at that. I have never, ever said I was not a Republican, ever. I have said I didn’t agree with the Party all the time but while I was Operations Officer, Vice Chair, or Chairman I did my job vehemently. On jumping down anyone’s throat that hasn’t happened either. Clearly some folks don’t understand serving on Active Duty or some of the comments I’ve seen would not have been posted. When I see something blatantly wrong on this blog, I try to correct it without being course or dismissive as it serves no purpose. On serving in DC again you happen to be misinformed, I served in the Pentagon’s NI&I organization as late as 200t and lived in my home in Manassas commuting to DC every day. On the weekends, I did my Political job in Va. Beach. Looking forward to that beer here or there. All the best. r Kenny
Kenny is not winning. Polls show upwards of 92% of voters have already decided their choice in this race. The smallest sliver is for Kenny.
Kenny’s only prayer of winning is for a massive amount of people to change their minds. That only happens in Scandal City, my friends.
So, either Kenny knows he is a toupee in his Whig Party world, or someone is gonna launch something to seriously shatter this race.
Comments that “polls aren’t measuring the real voters” sound like the rantings of the seriously mentally challenged for whom a number of psychotropic pharmaceuticals would be in order.
So, either Kenny has no problem being a laughing stock or he’s counting on a shoe to drop.
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