About that tea party debate
By Norman Leahy | Monday, October 24th, 2011 | Politics, VirginiaYes, we here at Bearing Drift can miss things, and one of them was the tea party debate held last week featuring many of the candidates for the U.S Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Jim Webb.
But, via Sara, we do get this recap from the Roanoke Tea Party site. Overall, it seems to have been a civil affair. But there were some distinct takeaways:
* These folks really dislike George Allen.
* David McCormick has good ideas but lacks charisma.
* Tim Donner is polished but, in the eyes of post author Chip Tarbutton: “…I think Donner would be a better choice than George Allen. That being said, he seems more like a slick status quo politician than somebody that will go an shake up the establishment as he promised last night.”
* Jamie Radtke gets a full frontal Bronx cheer:
Yes Jamie and George skipped the debate. One word describes these two today and their cowardly behavior in ducking this debate.
Shameful.
Jamie in particular can make an effective candidate with her knowledge and background. But falling in line with the bad behavior of George Allen, while admittedly a “smart” political decision…will alienate some of the tea party groups that still support her.
The exucses from her supporters who were there last night were never ending and conflicting. She had a conflict. She said all along she wouldn’t come if Allen wasn’t there. It’s just politics. All 3 of those excuses came from the same person inside of 5 minutes. I told Jamie the other night I would vote for her in the primary if it were her and Allen, but I couldn’t actively support her based on some of the stuff she did during her time as the Tea Party President.
I still might vote for her if my choices were only Allen and Radkte, but her lack of integrity is extremely troubling.
That will leave several marks.
The one who comes off best? Earl Jackson:
He said things that most candidates won’t say. He supported state nullifiation, abolishing numerous federal agencies as unconstitutional and makes no apologies for the urgency in getting rid of the Obama Administration. While all of the candidates promised to shake things up, I get the sense that Jackson actually means it. He repeatedly and passionately discusses the need for immediate action.
There’s no question at all Mr. Jackson is a charismatic speaker. Arguably, he also has the most interesting life story and resume of any candidate for high office Virginia has seen in some time. Are these qualities alone sufficient to make him a credible candidate?
Perhaps with greater exposure, he could give the field a run. All the more regrettable, then, that the gatekeepers in the Virginia press have decided folks like Jackson, McCormick and Donner simply aren’t qualified to appear on their stage and debate the issues of the day. Such opportunities not only have the benefit of being newsworthy — something reporters are, allegedly, in the business of covering — but it would have been a public service.
Then again, the press has other, great concerns…like trying to survive.
Some, quite bland, press coverage of the event exists…here, for instance.
But the more extensive coverage was online. Such as this report from The Virginia Conservative — which also reports that Jackson won the straw poll in a landslide. And the inestimable Tom White got a few post-debate comments from Tim Donner in this podcast.
Now that’s what I call providing a public service.
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About the author
Norm Leahy has written about Virginia and national politics online since 2002, beginning with One Man's Trash (OMT), and continuing through Bacon's Rebellion (both the blog and the e-zine), Sic Semper Tyrannis, NBC12's Decision Virginia, Richmond.com and Tertium Quids. He is the chief blogger at "The Score" and a producer of "The Score" radio show as well as being a Washington Examiner contributor.
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5 Responses to "About that tea party debate"
Opening Statements
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i66fg-HRSm8
Debt Ceiling, Jobs Bill, Manufacturing Jobs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4aMitUGp-Y
Immigration, UN membership, Occupy Wall Street Protestors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPdAetXqIDg
Federal Tax Code, Nullification, Executive Overreach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep8rnHDS1Sk
Education Standards, Individual Specific Questions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S—C10lVQHo
Agenda 21, 10th Amendment, Federal Departments to Eliminate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC75GQETD1M
Mandated Healthcare, Eminent Domain, Patriot Act
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IRrahEprFg
Misc. Individual Questions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m54gy8W8Xfk
Closing Statements
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4NUurxRTlM
“Yes, we here at Bearing Drift can miss things, and one of them”… is that we didn’t realize Chip Tarbutton is an avowed supporter of Bishop Jackson.
Norm, you use Tarbutton’s post like he’s some neutral observer rather than an in the tank staunch supporter of Jackson. Seriously? Would you ask a Romney ally how Herman Cain did in the presidential debate?
I’m a Tim Donner supporter and for your next story you can quote me as saying that Bishop Jackson came off looking like a man great on slogans and soundbites, but lacking in substance. Here’s an example – all the candidates were asked what a weakness of theirs was. Every candidate gave an actual weakness – lack of patience or organization, etc. Jackson said his biggest weakness was that he gets all broken up at the sight of the American flag. The guy is ridiculous.
Both McCormick and Donner did good at the debate with Donner clearly on top. Donner is basically consistent with Tea Party values, but the difference between him and the rest of the candidates is that he could actually beat Allen THEN Kaine! McCormick just doesn’t have the charisma or sad to say the image.
The independent Kevin Chisholm looked like it was his first campaign event ever – I felt sorry for him. The “Bishop Jackson” however was a pandering mess who was applauded mainly by the people he brought for the purpose of applauding him. The guy’s a pool hall hustler who incidentally isn’t raising enough to run for the Water & Soil board, much less the United States Senate.
Nowhere in the post do I state that Tarbutton is a neutral observer. To judge by the straw poll results afterwards, Jackson’s message, or at least his delivery, clearly carried the day. You may disagree with or dismiss those results, but they are what they are.
Still, any and all of these candidates have a huge hill to climb if they want to seriously challenge Allen. Perhaps one of them will — there’s plenty of time left, so I don’t necessarily count anyone out of the race.
I agree, however, that Mr. Donner is a serious candidate who, arguably, has more substance to offer than the other challengers at this time. Whether that can translate into support beyond the (fracturing) tea party is an open question. And that applies to all the challengers.
“Nowhere in the post do I state that Tarbutton is a neutral observer.” So, um.. uh, you uh.. you knew that uh.. um, Mr. Tarbutton was not a neutral observer right, Norm?
As for the party “fracturing”, again, show me some data or find some credible sources other than the establishment or the Allen camp. Maybe, attend some Tea Party Movement rallies and report on facts you can back up.
I sure hope you do a better job researching your articles of discussion on your radio show than you are doing here in Bearing Drift land.
LOL…I love how you use some other blogger’s coverage of the event as a way to bash Jamie….that’s not sloppy “reporting” at all. Did you ever ask yourself if that blogger might have ulterior motives in posting what she did?
No, I bet you didn’t.
Did you even think to contact Jamie’s campaign to get a statement about why she didn’t attend?
OF COURSE you didn’t.
Bearing Drift is quickly becoming a parroting service for rumor and innuendo.
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