Rick Boucher, Bill Carrico, and William Wampler

I’ve had discussions with learned Republicans in this area about the Boucher v. Carrico race.  Just about every Republican I’ve talekd to has already conceded this race.  There’s no way–no way–that Bill Carrico can beat Rick Boucher.

The general consensus is that the GOP will either have to wait until Boucher retires (which is probably a very long way off), or until State Senator William Wampler decided to run against him.

You may know that Senator Wampler’s father, Bill Wampler, was the 9th district’s Congressman from 1952-1954 and from 1966-1982, when he was defeated by Boucher.  GOPers think that Wampler may want to “vindicate” his father for the loss.  Others think that simply based on his last name, he could beat Boucher.

I say no way.

First, we’re not even sure if Wampler would want to run for Congress.  I’ve heard from a Republican friend of mine (who ran for Lt. Governor in 2001, if that tells you who it is) that says Wampler won’t run for any higher office until his children are older, and even then, he would probably like to run for a statewide office (Lt. Governor is the most likely choice, apparently).   That’s a way to kill three birds with one stone, right there.  Not only would Wampler’s Senate seat come open (a possible Democrat pickup–Boucher held it before he did), but a losing race would probably eliminate Wampler from running against Boucher, and, since Wampler isn’t exactly what I would call chairismatic, he would probably lose the LG race (maybe even in the primary if it’s 2009).

So, I’m here to say to the Republicans, Bill Carrico is not going to be our congressman.  William Wampler is not going to be our congressman.  Running against Rick Boucher is a lost cause, folks.

-Neal

Jim Webb In Bristol

Today I went to an event at the Holiday Inn here in Bristol with Jim Webb.  This was my first time seeing Webb in-person, and I was thoroughly impressed.  As intelligent as he comes across on television, he’s even more impressive in-person.  He covered issues from his Reagan television ad and his time in the Reagan administration to social and economic fairness and the Iraq War.

George Allen had a guy with a camera at the event, who apparently I was sitting directly in front of.  The guy’s name was John.  He apparently didn’t have a last name (or, since he didn’t want anybody to know it, left it off his name tag).  I’ll say this about him (and I don’t like to talk bad about folks too much): If these folks with the cameras are representing the campaign of a sitting U.S. Senator, they shouldn’t wear shorts that are way too short for a guy, or shirts with motor oil (or something) on them.

One thing that was very interesting to me was Webb’s segment on the lead-up to the Iraq War, and calling his friend, Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.  He posed a very detailed question to Hagel for him to pass on to the Department of Defense.  He said that in previous times, he would pose even more detailed questions, “Like ethnic breakup of fatalities in any given battle in the Vietnam War, and within 24 hours, boom, there’s a spreadsheet,” (that quote was not verbatim, but close) but, with the particular question posed to Hagel, it took longer.  Much longer.  After 60 days, Hagel received a letter back from an Assistant Secretary for Public Relations that blew the question off totally, without any kind of answer.  That, Jim Webb said, was the standard practice for the Bush administration.

After Webb’s speech, he took questions from the audience.  It amazed me that every question posed to him, he had a thorough and specific answer for.  No dancing around the issue.  The questions ranged from international trade laws, to gaffes from Allen, to closing the gap between the three classes.

I came away from this event even more convinced than ever that Jim Webb is not only the best and brightest for the job, and that he would make a great Senator, but that in January, he will be our Senator.

-Neal

For Lack of Anything Better to Say…

I don’t really have anything to say this morning, but it seemed like I should probably post, so enjoy these links until I have something substantive to say.

YouTube really is the best thing to come along in years…

The Rich Sheik
The Benchwarmers
Tiptoe Thru The Tulips
In The News  This one I highly recommend.  If you’re against the war, against Bush, etc., watch this one IMMEDIATELY

Is Bob Corker Against Emergency Services?

There was supposed to be a story here, but it didn’t do it, for some reason.  I’ll re-write it tonight.

Build a Campaign Message Around This…

I’m a big Merle Haggard fan.  And Merle Haggard is no fan of George W. Bush (which makes me like him even more).

Merle has moved significantly to the left in recent years.  Here’s his most recent video, which hits all the highpoints of what the Democrats should be driving home in the November elections.

Merle Haggard – “America First”

Enjoy.