Comments on: Reaction to HB3202 ruling reveals a stark regional division

By: J’s Notes » RWL: Reaction to HB3202 ruling reveals a stark regional division

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:17:51 +0000

[...] it’s not NOVA/ROVA but EAVA/WEVA. March 3rd, 2008 at 10:17 am | Tags: Virginia, asides, [...]

By: westernrepublican

westernrepublican — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 06:36:15 +0000

Wow! Excellent Post here on this issue. Remember western Virginian’s, especially in the Valley have always gone with a “pay as you go” philosophy generated by the Byrd family. This still holds very strong out here, even in local goverment. All that being said, in most parts of the west HB3202 was never an issue at all with the exception of possibly the Sayre race. Overall people need to remember three big things about Western Va, especially the Northern Valley areas.

1. Social Conservatismm completely rates over fiscal conservatism. People pay more attention to life issues and pro-family issues. I expect this is really why Hanger survived his challenge. This was also the case when the dems dominated this area and also the main reason why the dems lost this area.

2. Illegal immigration could now probably be rated under social conservatism as the #2 issue.

3. Guns, Guns, Guns…..say no more

As a Republican, you vote bad on either of these three issues and you are probably done.

No one paid any attention to HB3202 and they could even care less about how their delegate or senator voted on it as long as they are socially very conservative. Russ Pott’s delcine was due to his anti-family stances out here much more so than his votes on tax increases.

By: Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 03:23:52 +0000

The east/west division struck me as strange at first, but on reflection, I think that’s a pretty reasonable way to divide up the state. The interest of Hampton Roads are the same as the interests upstate, by and large. In the rest of the state, though, we really couldn’t care less about things like the HB3202 ruling.

By: Spank That Donkey

Spank That Donkey — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:49:15 +0000

DJ:
What sparked the revolt in the 24th was Emmett’s consistent voting record on higher taxes. His continued votes for the same has vindicated everyone who supported Scott Sayre in the Primary.

Some GOPers’ out here believed Hanger when he had a paid for article printed in the Staunton News Leader that the Sayre Campaign was ‘telling lies, and distorting his record”.

His recent votes have removed any doubt as to who was telling the truth in that campaign.

The problem in the Valley is the disconnect with their own representatives.. some of whom go down to Richmond and get offered ‘deals’, that get them totally out of step with their constituents….

If Eastern Conservatives think Transportation is a priority it should come from a reprioritization of current expenditures and surpluses, as I know you would agree. This is a long battle, but Potts, Chichester, and all those who went along with tax increases are being pushed to the side… and the battleship slowly turning…

Thanks for pointing out that I Love to rail against higher taxes. Between that and the Second Amendment I don’t know which one I distrust our Govt. more.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:44:22 +0000

Interesting analysis DJ. I’ll need to think it through some more. But having grown up in the 9th District, I can confirm that politics to the west of Roanoke is a different animal.

It’s why, and if you’ll excuse me bringing this up again, when George Allen said “welcome to the real Virginia,” every Southwest Virginia Republican new exactly what he meant, even if the rest of the state (and the world) didn’t.

By: J.R.

J.R. — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:28:28 +0000

I couldn’t agree more with Citizen Tom, DJ. You wrote an exceptional post here. As a reader, it was a privilege to read. Thanks for sharing your thoughts…which I tend to agree with.

Also, James makes great points, however, he also doesn’t account for the deep pressure all elected officials in the region face to actually get something done for transportation to foster and grow the economic engines of Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia. Personally, I feel they chose the wrong plan — and I wrote about that in the past. However, I don’t think of them as any less Republican for making those choices and don’t look upon them as if they were being smug.

By: James Atticus Bowden

James Atticus Bowden — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:47:16 +0000

DJ: The political sensitivities and sensibilities are shared among Conservatives from one corner of the Commonwealth to the other. The big difference, I submit, is that folks outside of NoVA and HR/Tidewater haven’t been screwed by their elected Republican officials as much, in public, and with such arrogance and, yet, deceit - as we have.

A huge point about discontent is the smug governance of too many elected Republicans who govern as if The People are stupid. They aren’t. The average citizen here (Tidewater), not a college grad, working family, etc… knows that the unelected Regional Government has the WRONG PLAN, so it is all about CORRUPTION, the genteel Virginia kind, that moves money to the right people. We know the folly of different city councils and county BOS and key local Republicans in the GA - and don’t want to give those buffoons billions of dollars to spend on their friends, family and contributors.

By: Citizen Tom

Citizen Tom — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:27:39 +0000

Thoughtful. One of the hardest things about blogging is waiting to post until you actually have something worth saying. Seems to me like you did that.