The Feasting has begun!

But the food is late in arriving

Published on November 9, 2005 By Dr Guy In Politics

I peeked into JU this morning to see what our left leaning friends would be saying about the only 2 real elections in the country yesterday. And I was disappointed. No one was gloating.

But then I stumbled upon an article I wrote back in July that had only garnered a hand full of responses when I posted it: http://drguy.joeuser.com/ArticleComments.asp?AID=81997

And there, sitting at the bottoom of the comments, was a poor soul starving for some crow! Yes, he was dancing with glee because Kaine the Democrat (I like that - sounds kind of like Conan the Barbarian) won Virginia! Shock! Gasp! The world is ending!

Ok, all you rubes and non-followers of history, let me give you a list and you tell me what it means.

Jimmy Carter        John Dalton
Ronald Reagan      Chuck Robb
Ronald Reagan      Gerald Balilies
George H.W. Bush L. Douglas Wilder
William Clinton       George Allen
William Clinton       James Gilmore
George W. Bush     Mark Warner
George W. Bush     Tim Kaine

Now, as a bonus question. When was the last time Virginia voted Democrat for President?

Comments (Page 1)

Dr Guy

on Nov 09, 2005

The answer is simple. The party that lost the presidential election in the previous year, won the Virginia Governor's office the year following the presidential election.

And the bonus question: 1964.

Chaos Manager

on Nov 09, 2005

Too bad that folks can't understand that simple truth. The proximity of VA to DC 'causes and inverse affiliation. Whomever controls DC doesn't control VA. It's that simple. No "Republicans are screwed" (even though they ARE screwing up).

shadesofgrey

on Nov 09, 2005

Dear Lord--couldn't it simply be that Jerry Kilgore was scummy, creepy and the worst kind of politician out there. I know several very conservative Republicans who wanted nothing to do with his kind, and so they just didn't vote. You can't win elections when you alienate your voters. Kilgore personified all that is wrong with politics--I'm glad that the voters of VA were smart enough not to elect him!

Dr Guy

on Nov 09, 2005

It is a very strong correlation. It could be national. But I think as long as the democrat comes off as moderate, the old virginians follow the lead of their ancestors and vote for him. The Worst Governor we have had was Gerald Baliles (Robb was a do nothing). But then Wilder was one of the best, and George Allen was pretty good too.

Dr Guy

on Nov 09, 2005

Dear Lord--couldn't it simply be that Jerry Kilgore was scummy, creepy and the worst kind of politician out there.

I dont agree. Kilgore was no scummier or holier than others. There was just no major issue that drove the campaign, and unlike me, a majority of Virginians like Warner.

I dont see any national implications, this was more in response to those who saw one. If they want to see one, then they have a lot to explain over the last 28 years.

Chaos Manager

on Nov 09, 2005

couldn't it simply be that Jerry Kilgore was scummy, creepy and the worst kind of politician out there.

Gee, I would've said the same thing about Khaine (and did, actually). And, to be honest here, I did say the same thing about Kilgore.

It was just another case of choosing between the lesser of two evils.

To quote someone on Eagle 97's (Hampton's country station) "Happy Hour" show last night, "I'd like to request a song that's very appropriate for election day. Can you play Jodie Messina's My Give-A-Damn's Busted?"

I couldn't stop laughing for about 20 miles after that one ...

Everytime I would stop, I'd think about it again and just start laughing all over again.

Dr Guy

on Nov 09, 2005

Actually, I did not dislike either one. They basically did not take any controversial stands, and the negative ads, what very few there were, were more funny than I think damaging. I dont think they helped or hurt the candidates.

shadesofgrey

on Nov 09, 2005

Gee, I would've said the same thing about Khaine (and did, actually). And, to be honest here, I did say the same thing about Kilgore.

Fair enough--my point was rather that I don't think that there is a correlation between Washington and VA--just a correlation between how many voters like the candidate and whether or not he wins!

There was just no major issue that drove the campaign

Clearly we witnessed two different campaigns.

Dr Guy

on Nov 09, 2005

There was just no major issue that drove the campaign

Clearly we witnessed two different campaigns.

Ok, what were they?

Dr Guy

on Nov 09, 2005

Based upon a headline in the NY Times (how this was a disaster for the GOP - would you expect less from that rag?), I did some checking on NJ. While they do allow a governor to suceed themselves, the pattern since 1989 has been the same. The Party who lost the year before, wins the governorship.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Governors_of_New_Jersey#Governors_under_the_1947_N.J._Constitution_.281947.E2.80.94.29

I think anyone who wants to draw a national mandate is going to regardless of the truth of the matter.

shadesofgrey

on Nov 09, 2005

Ok, what were they?

Death penalty and funds for transportation projects were pretty prominent in this area.

ParaTed2k

on Nov 09, 2005

What do you expect from newspapers whose circulation is falling faster than Prs. Bush's "job approval rating" ;~D

Dr Guy

on Nov 09, 2005

Death penalty and funds for transportation projects were pretty prominent in this area.

Both were big on transportation, so like i said, no difference. And the whole snit about the commercial was that Kaine would not enforce the death penatly, and so he came out with a commercial saying he would. Again no difference.

I did not say there were no issues, just no big issues (as in one is going to abolish the death penalty and the other was for keeping it).

Dr Guy

on Nov 09, 2005

What do you expect from newspapers whose circulation is falling faster than Prs. Bush's "job approval rating" ;~D

CSNews had an article on the stories the NY Times ran after each of the last 4 year after elections. As you can see from the numbers, all 4 were identical. Yet it was only the ones in the last 2 terms (when a republican was in the White House) that they perceived a pattern.

No wonder no one reads them.

Tova7

on Nov 09, 2005

Hi.

Don't know A THING about this topic, but just wanted to be part of the conversation!

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