We’re talking about the wrong Senate race
By Brian Schoeneman | Thursday, March 24th, 2011 | PoliticsI’ll be honest – I’m really tired of hearing about the 2012 Senate race. Every day we have some other news story about the 2012 Senate race. Webb is not running. Kaine is (if he wasn’t, Tom Perriello would have already announced). Allen is running. Radtke attacks Allen every day. No one knows who Radtke is. Is Corey in? What about Bob? Bert? Who are these other guys? Bearing Drift has five stories on Radtke and the Senate race alone in the first two pages of the site. Enough already.
Why are we talking about a race that is over a year away? We have elections in Virginia this year.
We have State Senate elections every four years. Right now, the state Senate sits at 22 Democrats and 18 Republicans. We are two seats away from control over the State Senate. Given the amount of good legislation that has died or has been watered down by Dick Saslaw and the Democrats in the Senate, winning back the State Senate should be the #1 priority of every Republican in the Commonwealth. In Northern Virginia, we have nine Republican candidates already running to replace five Democrats across Prince William, Loudoun and Fairfax Counties. Downstate we have competitive races as well, especially with a number of key Democratic retirements and redistricting that will likely open a seat or two we can make a play for. These are the Senate races we should be talking about. Not 2012.
While we control the House of Delegates by a strong margin, 59-39-2, we can’t afford to rest on our laurels. We have a number of incumbents, particularly in Northern Virginia, who will face some tough races this fall, even if their districts are drawn to benefit them. For those of us, like me, who will likely be facing a Democratic incumbent this fall, we are going to need the resources and support of voters in our districts and across the Commonwealth. What we don’t need is candidates who are not running this fall dominating the news cycles, dominating online media, and siphoning off resources that won’t go into the coffers of our candidates who are running this year. That’s bad for the party.
Besides the General Assembly races, we have local elections as well. In Fairfax we are going to have a number of big supervisor races. Those candidates will need help, support and coverage.
George Allen understands this. Next week, he’s going to be the featured guest at a fundraiser for Fairfax Supervisors Pat Herrity and John Cook. And I’m sure he’s headlining fundraisers across the Commonwealth besides the ones here. George Allen has been one of the most visible politicians in Northern Virginia, even when he wasn’t actively running for Senate. He has been a featured speaker and a guest at almost every major event we’ve held in Fairfax. We see him often, he is always willing to help candidates raise funds or be a speaker at local events. There isn’t an elected official in Northern Virginia, to my knowledge, who has not had George Allen help him or her at some point in their campaigns.
I would strongly urge Jamie Radtke, and the others in the race who aren’t doing as much as Allen is, to take a step back and recognize that the best way for them to raise their profiles and name ID will be to do what Allen does – reach out to state and local candidates and work with us to win back the Senate, elect more Republicans to office in the House and aid as many candidates as they can this November.
2011 first. 2012 can wait.
Tags:
Contribute for Conservatism!
Share this post
About the author
A veteran political professional, long-time Republican party activist and attorney Brian W. Schoeneman has been offering his opinions at Bearing Drift since 2010. He serves on the Board of Virginia Line Media, LLC, which operates Bearing Drift and spends his days representing the U.S. Merchant Marine in Washington, D.C. He hails from Fairfax County, Virginia, where he lives with his wife and son.
Comments
34 Responses to "We’re talking about the wrong Senate race"
Brian, I couldn’t agree more. I can’t get excited right now about any race in 2012 when so much needs to be done to have a majority in both houses in Virginia this November.
By the way, my Republican Women Club invited George Allen to speak at our luncheon in March, he came and spoke to about 75 women. Pretty impressive. I know some politicians who won’t waste their time unless they are getting big bucks from a big crowd. George Allen got a cookbook, some homemade cookies and we sang him Happy Birthday because IT WAS HIS BIRTHDAY!
Brian, you are absolutely right, but part of the reason we are not talking as much about 2011 yet is that we don’t know what the districts are going to look like. We don’t have that problem with the U.S. Senate race. That district has looked the same for about the last 150 years.
Chris, I understand that redistricting has dampened some of the enthusiasm, but like I said, we have a lot of people already running, particularly in the Senate races. The US Senate race is sucking all of the oxygen out of the political atmosphere and I think we need to focus.
Brian,
I think we have a trend because I couldn’t agree more too. Remember Cuccinelli’s seat that was lost by napping Repubs? I often feel that conservatives are grasshoppers and leftists are termites. Thank you for trying to wake the grasshoppers up or maybe its stopping their fiddling?
Here, Here Schoeneman! Here Here.
“take a step back and recognize”
Some basic good ideas, Brian S., even if a bit self-serving. There seems to be a LOT people that don’t want Radtke to win that want to give her advice.
How about I give guys like you that are running for state office some advice?
Worry more about your own race. If you really want to suck up to G.A., fine. Do it silently rather than publicly re-stating the tired refrain,”nobody knows Jamie Radtke”. Radtke has pull with some people too, ya know? Many activists. Maybe Tea Party help would hurt in your area and ripping into Radtke for that connection is a good idea and embracing George Allen doesn’t hurt as badly. I don’t know. I would think though, by not taking as visible side, you might be able to get support from multiple camps.
And since nobody knows Jamie Radtke, I guess she better continue working on her name, ID and raising money to further that with media buys.
As was already said, the redistricting has people confused, but Jamie Radtke supporting those that would want her support sounds like a good idea. Some don’t want Tea Party support due to their left leaning district, fine. George Allen can help them. Radtke could stick with areas she is more effective.
But let’s face facts, Brian. The US Senate is a big deal. We are in fiscal turmoil on a national level. Past Republicans have underwhelmed so much we have 2 DEMOCRATS IN THE US SENATE FROM VIRGINIA!! ……………….VIRGINIA! Virginia is not purple either. We need a real fiscal conservative there. I don’t apologize for actively supporting Jamie Radtke because of that.
I do see your basic idea of supporting state races as a good one though. I’ll suggest it to the Radtke camp. Somebody might want her help.
Britt, the point of my post here isn’t to bash Radtke. I don’t need to do that and I don’t care to do that. I’ve made it clear that I’m supporting George Allen, but be that as it may, my point here was to try and bring attention back to the fact that we have state races this fall.
Is that self serving? Yes – I am running.
Is it still the right thing to do? Yes. The state races are as important to Virginians as the next Senate race. In fact, they are probably more important. If we can flip control of the state Senate, that will have an immediate impact on us and give us momentum going into the US Senate race. If we do a lackluster job, don’t win back the Senate or lose ground in the general assembly, its going to be seen as a harbinger of where the country is heading, will be used to prop up Obama’s reelection campaign, and give Tim Kaine a head start in the Senate race that he doesn’t need.
In this situation, I’m not giving Radtke bad advice – its as much in her best interests for her to be out helping local candidates rather than taking potshots at Allen as it is mine. Her job will be significantly harder next November (if she wins the primary) if we don’t do well this November.
“In this situation, I’m not giving Radtke bad advice –its as much in her best interests for her to be out helping local candidates rather than taking potshots at Allen as it is mine.”
Brian, If not for the antics and proven experience of Allen, he would have defeated Webb. Allen failed to lead.. failed miserably. And the Tea Party movement rose from mostly gop and indy ranks because of failures of a few key republicans.. Can’t blame the democrats for spending like democrats but you have to hold republicans to a higher standard, even if they say they are sorry and I know Allen has.
Out with the old, in with the new.
I’d agree with the earlier poster who said uncertainty about districts is damping down 2011 election talk. It’s always that way in a redistricting year.
Brian, what are you running for?
Hold on, Brian. You most certainly are taking shots at Radtke. If you belabor the point that “nobody knows her”……..if you’re praising Allen to the hilt and in essence criticizing Radtke for not having done what a former Senator had the position to do, you are taking shots. Just because you put forward some real legitimate points, which I acknowledged, that does not mean you are really offering her advice. You couch it as alleged advice, but your tone and additonal rhetoric betray you.
You could have eaisliy suggested what you claim to be suggesting now with out going at Radtke . We all know you’re an Allen guy, but you could have even qualified your suggestion with, “my preference is for GA, but for the good of the parfty, it would be a good thing id Radtke were to assist the RPV regain the state senate. ”
Asking for her to do something as YOU take pot shots at her takes big brass ones! Good idea or not.
And as Turbo said, there are reasons why a good deal of focus is on the US Senate. National bankruptcy does affect Virginia, Shaun.
Sorry, George Allen will continue to be called out. That is HIS DOING! Other legitimate points you and DJ bring up asided, she’d be crazy not to go after his record.
I think what it comes down to is that the US Senate is just for lack of a better term sexier to talk about than the Va Senate is right now. But this happens a lot because every year is an election cycle.
Yes, the real issue for the republican party and its right wing tea party is far greater than the tactics of running; it is that the proposed fiscal policy of drastic cuts that has a great chance of doing the same damage in the U.S. that it has done to many of our allies. This continued unthinking support of a policy that can cause us to slip back into recession will be the undoing not only of Radke, but of business oriented republicans as well. No one denies the need for long term fiscal reform, but drastic federal cuts now during recovery will be disastrous to business and employment.
Britt, I’m not the one pushing the “who is Jamie Radtke” line. I know who she is. Most of the activists who read the blogs know who she is.
If Jamie were broadcasting her weekly schedule to bloggers, like Allen is, and advertising when she’s helping local candidates, like Allen is, I’d know she was doing this stuff and I’d give her credit for it.
There are a number of Tea Party candidates in Northern Virginia running for state Senate and I haven’t seen Radtke doing joint events with any of them. Why?
Allen’s doing joint events. I gave him credit because he’s doing them.
The US Senate can wait. We’ve got more important things now. First things first. I mean, honestly, there’s more talk about the US Senate race on the blogs than the presidential race.
Mike, please.. dude.. If the Tea Party movement were just a bunch of far rightwing hate groups and as you wish to piant it as then this jew would not be part of it. http://www.thepinkflamingoblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/jt5.jpg
Mike, is this your idea of who represents the Tea Party movement?
But but Brian, the federal screwup makes it a whole wide world of hardship worse for the states. We have to put the sensate and congress through detox and let the states look out for themselves or else we all fall down.
James, you may characterize them as you wish, but of course my criticism herein is solely based on the damage that would be done if their short term drastic cuts were made in the federal budget. Frankly, as a business person, I am pleased that the economy is growing, that the stock market is moving smartly higher, the pace of job creation is picking up and unemployment is decreasing, business confidence is high, and lending for investment has increased substantially. The tea party’s platform will deflate the economy at exactly the wrong time and return us to recession, and I do not support any candidate who supports that strategy.
Mike, As more money is printed, one has to wonder if that supposed growth of the market is real and if securities are secure.. Blind confidence NOT. Our 100 US senators from both sides of the aisle ignored sound reasoning and gave the heave ho with their voting finger and forgot their constituents. The US senate gave our wealth to pathetic too big to fail banks and insurance companies which turned around and doled out multi billion $ bonuses.. Remember Too Big to Fail?
What the US senate really said to their constituents is You’re too small to save. Drastic cuts is a poor choice of a name Mike.
Brian S. (From THIS article) – “No one knows who Radtke is.”
You can say what you want. To defeat your claim, one only has to read your article, Brian. Why do you bother trying to pull this? Do you think it makes you look good? Really, I am ok with you preferring Allen. I am ok with you talking about your candidacy. If you’re up against a Dem. Incumbent, I hope you win. What I don’t think highly of is this dishonest rhetorical contortionist act of denying what you have done and trying to spin it to look like you’re trying to give good advice to little ‘ol Jamie Radtke.
The US Senate is in crisis. Virginia has 2 Democrats and our economy is in a terrible state. We are on the brink of disaster and you poo poo the Senate contest. I don’t see it that way.
Radtke hasn’t even been campaigning long. She has to get her own stuff going first and foremost. You expect a whole lot in little time. You do bring up some decent points, which I acknowledge. Too bad you poison it with the rest of your rhetoric and deception. You still deny saying nobody knows her?
@ Mike Barrett – Point taken, but the situation has been allowed to become so bad that there will be some pain. There is pain now! It is that bad. You are on the mark though if you are suggesting care must be taken in prioritizing cuts and implementing cost savings.
Well James, I profess only to be a simple businessman dependent upon the health of the regional economy. All the signs of economic recovery are positive, yet this irrational fixation on short term budget cuts that threaten our economy and the recovery are disturbing. Yet I support rational discussions about long term reform, including controlling rising health care costs, reducing the growth of DoD, increasing the retirement age of SS, reforming the tax code, keeping rates low but eliminating corporate tax subsidies, credits, and loop holes. Action on that agenda is warranted; short term draconian cuts in 15% of the budget is craziness.
Well Mike maybe if Congress had actually done its job during the last Congress and submitted and then passed a budget maybe we could focus more on some of those problems. But since that did not happen the grown ups have to fix the children’s mess.
“Well Mike maybe if Congress had actually done its job during the last Congress and submitted and then passed a budget maybe we could focus more on some of those problems. But since that did not happen the children have to fix the grown-ups mess.”
Fixed it for ya Matt
Mike,
As you talk about the 15% draconian cuts, let’s discuss the irresponsible 25% increase in spending two years ago. Not to mention $1T slush fund.
What about consumer healthcare costs that has increased from 16.6% to 19%. Oh, that’s right, it’s not about curbing healthcare costs, it’s about single payer. That’s not including the 1,000 exemptions that were provided, the rigerous paperwork fiasco and the additional inspectors to deal with.
And if we wish to talk about Corporate welfare, let’s talk about the $0 taxes paid by General Electric. As you advocate, the government raise my business’ taxes. Then they’ll close the corporate loophole so then I cannot continue because I can’t afford a firm to work 24/7 to skirt around the tax code.
Let’s talk about subsidizing Brazil’s Petrabras $2B to do Deepwater drilling while sitting on permits for American companies and gas prices reach $4. Even vowing to import more oil from Brazil.
Yes, your efficient federal government just needs to get out of the way. How conveniently you forget some of these details.
BTW, welcome back
Poor Mike.. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/business/economy/25tax.html?_r=1&hp
The premise of the article is correct, regardless.
The State Senate in 2011 is far more important NOW than anything with 2012, Senate, House of Representatives or President.
Yes, GFA is doing joint events and appearances for candidates.
Yes, Radtke should be doing the same as soon as her campaign can arrange the details.
Yes, McCormick should be doing the same as soon as his campaign can arrange the details.
Putting the Republican Party before your own race goes a long way in Virginia with the base and these three candidates (and whoever else gets in) are running for the Republican nomination.
@Matt, you’re entirely correct, US Senate is far sexier than State Senate, because it’s a conversation everyone can participate in (on here) a story on a NoVa State Senate race typically doesn’t get many comments from Hampton Roads or RVA people and vice versa. Statewide races always get more traction on here.
Well yes Britt, there will be pain, but the point is, to follow the tactics of the Tea Party republicans, they advocate so much pain in the tiniest part of the budget while they leave the long term cost drivers off the table. That is short sighted, irresponsible, and will cause real damage to the recovery. My hope of course is that the Senate will stand firm, yet engage the kind of deliberations started by Mark Warner on the real fiscal drivers, and that the President will also engage on the side of long term budget reform. Fiscal austerity this FY is wrong headed and will drive the economy back into recession.
DJ, what you just said stuck to the premise and didn’t meander off into a gratuitous dig at Radtke. It was to the point and accomplished the mission without serving to alienate a portion of the party. It was very fair.
I personally am more concerned with the US Senate, only because getting a true fiscal conservative in is that urgent. Being willing to do early prep work for something that important only makes sense. Still, Jamie does have some donors already maxed out for her campaign and spending some time with upcoming candidates and getting them more exposure to her base makes sense. I am sure there are candidates out there that would appreciate that.
Good sensible response, DJ.
Britt – my comment “No one knows who Radtke is” was an example of one of the stories that have been written – all of the statements in that paragraph represented some kind of story someone in the blogosphere had written. That’s why I wrote it that way.
As for the rest, my post wasn’t about Radtke. It wasn’t about Allen. It was about what we all need to be doing and that’s focusing on THIS November. I pointed out what Allen is doing, because he’s doing it.
You’re so fixated on Radtke and Allen that that point flew right over your head.
And, of course, Mike Barrett – who doesn’t want us to focus on this November – comes in here and baits you guys and you fall for it. Sheesh.
No, Brian…you and DJ are fixated on Radtke. Now, I guess we’ll move on to you.
I’m sure DJ Spiker will be giving you some fabulous advice as he caringly does with Radtke. Can’t wait to see that article but I won’t be holding my breath. Because we know you all are looking out for her best interest.
Dance, Brian……..dance. I ‘m not buying it. It was an excuse for your obsession to pop up and be critical of Jamie Radtke. Guess what? When you hypothetically say, “let’s not talk about DJ’s drinking problem”, you just talked about it and possibly made him feel alienated. If I call you out then what? You going to say, “Hey I specifically said NOT to talk about. I am looking out for him.”? That is bull, Brian.
For the record, that “drinking” problem was a hypothetical. I have never even met DJ in person.
Further, DJ, who plainly isn’t a big fan of Jamie, managed to say it and not taked pot shots. You should have done that.
Well, here is my campaign advice to you. There might be a Radtke fan even in your area….somewhere. They could hep you in some form. Why alienate them? Let the other GA fans take up your slack and keep your hands clean. You can even put out a pro-Allen article stressing his good points. If you don’t go out of your way to attack any other candidate, I doubt you’ll do any damage to yourself.
What is this article about? Your campaign and the need to focus on state elections? Or George Allen’s race? Because you made it about Allen vs. Radtke, by yourself.
I’m not fixated on Radtke. This post is not about her. It’s about my fellow contributors here on Bearing Drift and the rest of the blogosphere.
Britt, I’ve written one post on Radtke and that was three months ago.
I’m not trying to alienate anyone. If Jamie Radtke offers to help with my campaign, I’ll take her up on it. Likewise, if George Allen offers, I’ll take him up on it as well.
I mentioned Radtke twice – once in the first paragraph as an example of too much discussion of the 2012 race, and then my admonishment in the second to last article. The rest had nothing to do with her.
This is my point. I don’t want to talk about her, Allen, or anyone else until November 9, 2011. And it is in all our best interests, not least of which mine, that we all feel the same way and act on it.
Then it shall be! The one has said it so. Come on Lemmings, follow me.
Well, Brian, I am specifically talking about this article you just wrote. However, if you truly want to stop talking about the US Senate race, I welcome that. You didn’t really haved to mention Radtke at all. There’s nothing cheap or unfair about writing an honest pro-Allen article that doesn’t take pot shots at a different US senate candidate preferred by one of your possible future constituents.
All you had to do is say what DJ said or what you say you meant to say. You did alienate people, though. John, Turbo, and I wouldn’t have gotten all excited if you just stated the facts of how state elections stand to get short shrift.
It is early, I’m sure we’ll forget this and find other things to be astonsihed by.
Good luck in your race. We need to continue doing some of the good things that has put Virginia in a better spot than many states.
+1
Leave your response
The comments section is for meaningful discussion. Readers are reminded to post comments that are germane to the article and write in a common language that steers clear of personal attacks and/or vulgarities.
Please take a moment to review our comment policy.