How will this be paid for?  Frank says that there will be plenty of money for bailing out industries once we end the War In Iraq and that the auto companies won’t have to worry about renegotiating their labor contracts because once the government takes on health care it’ll be less of a burden for all American industries.  Neither solution is going to happen right away, and that the health care “solution” may be a tax burden on individuals and working families was something Rep. Frank did not bring up.

You can read a transcript of the interview or listen to it here.

UPDATE: Norm Leahy gives his take:

Virginia Republicans have, since 2001 but with a vengeance since 2004, gone out of their way to undermine their own cause. Yes, things have gotten better for them, at the margins at least, with the departure of people like John Chichester. But they remain ill-served with a leadership that has no agenda, with members who, generally, tend to wait until January to focus on the road ahead and an overall message that is neither coherent nor energizing (quick…what does the GOP hope to accomplish in the next session? One priority…just one…will do).

UPDATE 2: Klinge was Executive Director of the Republican Party of Virginia from 1973-1974 under Richard D. Obenshain.

Klinge’s letter is after the break.

Dear Fellow Republican,

While nationally our Republican Party experienced disappointing losses, the results from Virginia were even worse.

Virginia lost more Republican seats in Congress than any other state in the United States of America. We lost two Congressional incumbents, a GOP held open Congressional seat, and a GOP held US Senate seat.

Virginia voted for a Democrat for President for the first time since 1964.

Why were the results here in Virginia worse than any other state?

I believe the answer is the misguided efforts of RPV Chairman Frederick.

When Frederick was running for RPV Chair, he said “In the end, effort is commendable, BUT THE RESULTS ARE ALL THAT COUNT.”

This year, Frederick led the Party to the worst loss for Virginia Republicans in our modern history.

Frederick’s immaturity and lack of judgment hurt our Party.

Instead of providing the support our candidates for President and Vice-President needed, Frederick clashed with them. In a shocking lack of judgment, Frederick openly criticized the McCain-Palin Campaign in an article in the Washington Times just days before the election. The lack of cooperation between the McCain-Palin Campaign and RPV was widely reported in many newspapers. How can Frederick claim he was working to deliver Virginia for the McCain-Palin ticket while simultaneously attacking the McCain-Palin Campaign in the newspapers?

Frederick was REPUDIATED by Attorney General Bob McDonnell and Senator John McCain for equating Barack Obama with Osama Bin Laden.

Frederick never even met with Virginia’s Republican Congressional Delegation!

Frederick can’t claim he tried to help our Congressional candidates when he wouldn’t even take the time to sit down with them. During his time as Chairman, Frederick never met with Virginia’s Congressional delegation. Frederick’s lack of interest in helping our Congressional candidates led to the loss of two Republican incumbents Congressman in Thelma Drake and Virgil Goode and the loss of Tom Davis’ open seat.

Frederick failed to raise the money needed to win.

Jeff Frederick also claimed that he would be able to boost RPV’s fundraising efforts, but he has failed. When you subtract direct transfers to RPV from the McCain-Palin Campaign, the RNC, and other state parties, RPV’s fundraising was a disappointing failure. From June 1 through Oct 15, RPV only raised $373,329. Amazingly, that’s $185,312 less than the comparable period in 2004 - the last presidential election cycle - when Virginia was not a targeted battleground state and we had no statewide campaign.

Under Frederick, RPV spent $366,331 on staff, fundraising expenses and overhead (remember they only raised $373,329!) and left almost nothing for direct campaign support. Staff and fundraising expenses under Frederick have increased over the same period in 2004 - even as RPV raised less money.

Incredibly, Frederick sent out a memo on Oct. 28 claiming he raised $4 million for campaign efforts this year - when the truth is he had no role in raising almost all of these funds. RPV was only able to pay for signs and mailers because of transfers and donations from the Republican National Committee, the McCain-Palin Campaign, and other state parties. I point this important fact out because Frederick himself attacked the past RPV leadership for counting these transfers as money “raised” in earlier campaign cycles.

Where was Frederick during the campaign?

In the heat of the most important election in our lifetime, Frederick took ten days off in September to go on a junket to Israel. It’s true. While our candidates were in the fight of their lives, while Virginia was a presidential battleground state, Frederick was touring Israel with Democrat Jim Moran and other politicians. They ate at fine restaurants and stayed at luxury hotels during their week-long all expenses paid vacation.

Frederick failed to provide the support our candidates needed and was unable to raise the money our Party required, contributing to the Republican rout we witnessed on Election Day, November 4, 2008.

I know a bad chairman when I see one.

I’ve been active in the Republican Party of Virginia since 1964. I served as executive director of our state party in 1973-1974 (During Watergate). I also ran Governor Reagan’s campaign for the Republican nomination for President in Virginia in 1976, and for five (5) States in the South during his successful campaign for President in 1980.

For forty-four years, I have worked to help elect Republican candidates on all levels. I started as a precinct captain in Arlington County and went on to advise many candidates, including George Allen for Governor (1993) and United States Senate (2000), Jim Gilmore for Governor (1997), Tom Davis (1991-2006), and Rob Wittman for Congress (2007 Special Election), and many candidates in local and legislative races. Over the years, I have learned what Republicans need to do to put principled conservatives into office.

I must say that if you look at the results, Frederick ranks as the worst state chairman in the history of the Republican Party of Virginia!

Next year is a critical election year for Virginia because, not only are we electing a Governor, LT. Governor, and Attorney General, but we also must maintain our majority in the House of Delegates to keep the Democrats from further hurting Republicans during redistricting. We must also begin on the road back to a majority in the State Senate of Virginia. JEFF FREDERICK IS INCAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE LEADERSHIP THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NEEDS IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS IN 2009.

If we are to rebuild, Frederick must resign.

If we are going to begin rebuilding and have a successful 2009, then the first step is for Jeff Frederick to resign as Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia. If Frederick does not resign, then I’m asking you to join me in DEMANDING that the members of the Republican Party State Central Committee remove Jeff Frederick from the office of Chairman of the Party. The State Central Committee has the authority and DUTY to remove a chairman from office when the chairman cannot handle the job. I believe it is their responsibility to do so right now. If they can’t or won’t do their duty, it is time to make changes in the membership of that committee also.

J. Kenneth Klinge

This year, Kaine called a special transportation session and then left town. He couldn’t even get support for his proposal from his own party.

This week’s lame duck session of Congress is not likely to be much more productive. Pelosi and her compatriots want a vote on $25 Billion for a rescue package for automakers. But since the plan appears unlikely to survive in the Senate - at least right now - the vote on the latest “bailout” maybe more a payback for union support in the elections than a viable proposal.

Todd Stottlemyer of the National Federation of Independent Businesses put it well:

“There are many small businesses across the country struggling to make payroll and pay the bills. They aren’t asking for a bailout, and neither should Detroit’s automakers.”

Sometimes, failure is the best path to future success. Our representatives should keep that in mind when they are begged to bail out company after company. And, the GOP should keep it in mind as well. Learning from our failures this year can make us stronger in the future - if we let it.

“By a colossal 40-plus point spread, unmarried women voted for Barack Obama by 70 percent to 29 percent. One explanation is economic: The women who cast off husbands look to Big Brother Government to support them. They vote for the party that promises more benefits from the Welfare State…

The United States today has 24 million children growing up in households without their own father, and 17 million of those are in mother-headed households. Why is anybody surprised that the dissolution of marriage, depriving kids of their own fathers and the widespread acceptance of matriarchy produces eager supporters of Obama’s promise to “spread the wealth around”?”

Is it that simple? Is the changing structure of family changing the role of government?

Schlafly talks about several other issues, including trade, bailouts and youth, but none was so pervasive as her bit about Obama and unmarried women. Trade didn’t decide this election, and the bailout didn’t either (although I think what caused the bailout hurt the GOP on the critical competence issue), and young people have no reason to be conservative - they get more than they give from government.

But both unmarried men and unmarried women went for Obama (men 56%, women 70%) and unmarried voters have been about 35% of the electorate since 2000.

So, why have single people supported Democrats so demonstrably? Is it a big government shift? Are unmarried people more likely to support government safety nets, or even movement towards socialism? Absent the traditional support systems of marriage, or even the days when one salary was enough to provide for a family, is government becoming a more reliable support system than marriage and family?

I don’t think all Schlafly’s conclusions are correct. But, I do think this: While every party official is wondering about “outreach” with regard to race, I think we better plan an effort of outreach into “the marriage gap.”

VIRGINIA. Attorney General Bob McDonnell became the 2009 GOP nominee for Governor on Friday. That was the state party’s deadline to file paperwork to seek the nomination at next year’s convention. Nobody filed to oppose McDonnell. Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling (R) is unopposed for renomination. Three Republicans filed for McDonnell’s open AG spot. The Dem deadline to run is not until next year. Incumbent Governor Tim Kaine (D) is term-limited. Former Democratic National Chairman Terry McAuliffe, State Senator Creigh Deeds and State House Democratic Caucus Chair Brian Moran are all actively seeking the Dem gubernatorial nomination.

Patrick Muldoon was looking to run for Lieutenant Governor and had filed with the SBE accordingly but it appears he didn’t make the cut with RPV.  Also registered last month was Muldoon PAC, though what this entails in anyone’s guess.

Virginia Republicans will choose between John Brownlee, Ken Cuccinelli and Dave Foster for Attorney General at next May’s convention.

1:09pm UPDATE: Or not.  Patrick Muldoon’s website is up and running and is taking petitions by November 28th so they can turn them in to RPV by December 1st.  Of note, the only sections currently working on Muldoon’s website is Biography, Petition and Contact.  Issues and Press Releases aren’t up yet.

2:50pm UPDATE: From RPV - Muldoon has filed to run and now must turn in petitions. The path is not 100% clear for Bill Bolling.

The announcement elicited reaction from several of Virginia’s elected officials…

Gov. Tim Kaine:

“I note with disappointment the news today regarding the Secretary of the Navy’s preferred alternative for carrier homeporting. While the selected alternative moves one carrier and no additional support ships to Mayport, any such action, if approved and funded by Congress, would incur substantial costs for what appears to be a limited operational advantage. Considering the impacts of the financial crisis on federal, state, and local budgets, we question the wisdom and timing of an option that will cost the Navy an incredible amount of money and not significantly improve the nation’s security.

“Clearly the Navy and the nation’s needs are best served by maintaining Hampton Roads as the east Coast carrier base, co-located with the east Coast Master Jet Base at Oceana. Virginia will continue to offer substantive information in support of this fact during the comment period on the environmental impact statement. I will continue to work closely with Virginia’s Congressional delegation to keep all of Hampton Roads’ fleet in Virginia.”

Rep. Thelma Drake:

“I strongly disagree with the Navy’s decision today. Norfolk has served the Navy well as homeport to the East Coast carrier fleet. Our national debt is exploding and many defense priorities are unfunded. This is not the time for the Navy to spend what they estimate to be $500 million on duplicative infrastructure which President-Elect Obama has already said he is not inclined to support. Our commitment must be to the 313 ship Navy.”

Rep. J. Randy Forbes:

“In the midst of a ballooning budget deficit and a declining economy, every defense dollar should be spent on the most important national security priorities, including the Navy’s stated priorities of providing benefits to our soldiers, reaching a 313-ship Navy, and restoring the readiness in our aging aircraft fleet. Moving a carrier to Mayport will require a great deal of time and upwards of half a billion dollars. I am concerned that the decision made by the Navy today not only lacks strong national security rationale requiring the move, but brings into question the political nature of the decision making process, creating significant challenges for the Navy to meet its stated priorities.”

Here’s how Mo Elleithee responded to apparent criticisms of Chairman Terry McAuliffe by Del. Brian Moran:

“Brian Moran and his campaign have been spending a curiously large amount of time focused on someone who’s not even a declared candidate for Governor yet, and their tone has been surprisingly negative. I’ve known Brian Moran for a long time, and I know he’s a better Democrat than that. Terry McAuliffe is focused on having a conversation with and listening to what Virginians have to say as he decides whether or not to run for Governor. He is saving his criticism for Bob McDonnell, not great Democrats like Brian Moran and Creigh Deeds. We hope that both of them and their campaigns follow the same approach. We are all members of a unified party that accomplished great things in 2008 by advocating a positive and hopeful message. Virginians have made clear that unity and positivity is what they want, and it is the only way we’ll win in 2009.”

So, is Moran right to go after McAuliffe?

First Problem - the safety recommendations were part of the original plan, but were taken out to get federal funding, according to HRT chief Mike Townes.

This is why government shouldn’t build things. We had to make light rail less safe in order to get the federal government to write a check? And what will the response be if we put everything back in after getting the federal funding? Lowballing costs, getting funding, and putting the costs back in - it may be “government as usual” but it’s why it’s almost impossible to gain citizen trust and support for projects like these.

Problem two - they think we’re idiots.

“Part of what’s driving the recommendations is Virginia Beach’s new interest in possibly extending the line into the resort city, said Matthew Tucker, director of the state rail department. (Virginian-Pilot)

Bull! New interest? It’s been called a “starter line” since it’s inception. What idiot thought that a starter line would not extend? It wasn’t called a “stopper line” - starters start. To suddenly proclaim that someone might someday expand a line that was specifically designed to expand as if it’s a surprise means either Mr. Tucker just found out about the Norfolk starter line this year or he’s obfuscating the obvious.

To me, it looks like they lowballed the budget, got their money, and now want to get more money to pay the real costs which are substantially higher.

Ever wonder why referendums fail?

Additionally, did you see “Transition member may break lobby ban” from Politico this weekend? Apparently a member of the Obama transition team may break their own rule on lobbyists working on policy issues that they have attempted to influence over the past year.

And then there was this article from the Washington Post: “Ex-Lobbyists Have Key Obama Roles“.

The jury is still out on an Obama administration, but it looks like Lanny Davis’ prediction that “Nothing is going to change” is looking pretty accurate.

Score:
Status Quo - 1
Idealists - 0

Aside from creating so many different types of vehicles, GM has also demonstrated stupidity in how to market them. Classic example is the unleashing of the disgraceful H2 right after 9/11 whose fuel efficiency is so terrible it is not even listed on KBB.com. Maybe its just hard to market when you’re a regular on the 50 Worst Cars of All-Time list.