For those of you who do not know, Virginia is very unique in its politics.  First, it is one of only 5 commonwealths.  For the majority of you who do not know the difference it is simple.  States' governments dictate to Localities.  Commonwealths can only suggest.

Second, it has the oldest and longest continuing elected government in the USA.

Third, it is one of only 2 states that elect their governor in off years.  So 2005 we elect a new one (and all the delegates, but not the senators - that happens in 2007 when all senators and delegates are up for election).

And fourth, it is one of only 2 states that do not allow a governor to suceed himself (no herself yet as we have not had a female one to this point).  That does not mean a governor cannot server more than 1 term, they can serve as many as they can get elected to.  Just not consecutively,  In my memory, only one has served 2 terms.

So that makes it a very interesting governor's race each time.  And this year there is no exception.  There are 3 state wide elected offices.  Governor, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General.  Only the Governor is prohibited from suceeding himself.

Whenever the ltG and AG are from different parties, they are pretty much assured of their parties nomination for Governor, and this year is no exception.  The LtG is a democrat, and the AG is a republican.

Unlike 11 states, Va did not have a referendum on gay marriages.  The General Assembly simply passed a law defining marriage, and so far it has stuck.  This is not Mass. after all.

Both candidates have come out in support of the ban, but here is the interesting part.

Like the faithful lapdogs they are, the Gay Alliance has come out in support of the democrat candidate!  And their reason?  He is a democrat!  The season has just begun, so it is not like either candidate has really set in stone what they do or do not beleive. 

So that is good for the democrats, right?  Sure.  That is why the candidate for governor can be against Gay marriages with impunity! And it is a perfect example of a voting block, having sold their soul to one party, has lost all say in the direction of the party.

There are other examples as well, and they are on both sides.  The religious right will not vote for a democrat, even a conservative one.  Environmentalist will not vote for a republican, even if he has better eco policies than the democrat (the big eco situation here is the clean up of the bay, which both sides strongly support).

While Virginia is not as conservative as many states, it is still a conservative state, and no liberals have been eleted to state wide offices since Jamestown.  Many democrats have been, but always running on the conservative side of the party.

So for the political junkies, you can have a real feast next year.  Due to the McGreevy fiasco, I suspect there will be a race in NJ this coming year as well.  But we get one EVERY year, and the Governor's race is always fun to watch.

Which brings me to the final point.  I see many members on this site (and even more on the whacko sites) decrying the influence of the religious right in the current administration.  Yet I fail to see any actions, just jawboning and false platitudes paid to the religious right.  Why?  Because like the other special interest groups on the left, they have sold their soul to one party, and are taken for granted.

The only thing special interests of that nature can do is stay home.  And sometimes they do.  But most often, they swallow their pride  and vote for their party.

I said earlier that no liberal has been elected to state wide office in Va (that is not quite true.  We did have a very Liberal LTG about 30 years ago - but that post is a do nothing post).  By the same token, no Bible thumper has been elected to statewide office in recent memory either.  For while Va is on the conservative side of the middle, it is not on the extremist side.

So take heart liberals!  The world is not coming to an end, and you will just have to endure the rational side of conservatism.  Not the whacko side.  And maybe learn from this.  Next time, dont run a candidate from the extreme left.  Try one left of center, but not left of loony!