I Need Some Help with a Dilemma
By The Fastest Squirrel Posted in Elections — Comments (9) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Hey Guys and Gals. I need some advice about an upcoming Virgina State election. I live in Fairfax, VA (home to Tom Davis) and am having a tough time deciding about our State Senate race. This year we have Tom Davis’ wife, Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis, running as the Republican incumbent versus the Democratic candidate John “Chap” Peterson.
My biggest problem is that Devolites-Davis (I automatically dislike hyphenated names of this sort) isn’t a conservative. While I was already skeptical, her endorsement by the Washington Post really had me thinking. Then, on Saturday, I received my voting flier from the NRA (an organization near and dear to my heart) that reiterated her “F” rating and endorsing Chap. Crap. You see, I own a business in this district that relies on weapons (selling and manufacturing). I train people in this county, have a VA concealed permit, and generally have a life that includes large amounts of firepower. The NRA has actually pulled my bacon out of the fire a couple of times.
One quick example: I was leading an executive protection team in Michigan for a Fortune 500 client when we were pulled over by local cops. We produced our concealed permits (that had reciprocity with Michigan) and the cops weren’t sure that the reciprocity was true. They call the county attorney and he took only a couple of seconds to tell them to arrest us. The cops were cool and gave me a moment to call the NRA attorneys (on my speed dial). The NRA asked for the County Attorney’s name and phone number, called him and basically told him that they would bankrupt the county in lawsuits if they decided that they wouldn’t honor Michigan State law. Within minutes, my team and I were on our way. Needless to say, they receive a lot of support from me.
Anyway, Devolites-Davis isn’t a conservative… Chap isn’t a conservative… and I’m not happy that I don’t have a candidate for whom I want to vote. Chap seems to not be a great big spender, but give it time. I suspect that if this area goes blue, that it will do so for the loooong haul. I don’t want that and am not sure how much damage Devolites-Davis can do as an R. Is it better to keep the State trending red? Is it helpful to have an R that really isn’t an R? I am leaning to voting R just to keep it R and hoping that gun control doesn’t really become an issue in VA for the next couple years. Your advice would be appreciated.
you should run for Congress. :)
In the meantime, I guess I would vote for the D (holding my nose all the way). Sorry you're in such a dilemma.
I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful 100 percent.
so I would vote your convictions. And a vote against nepotism isn't a bad thing, either.
from the NRA, then don't.
But, remember that whichever party controls the State Senate in 2010 gets to redraw Virginia's Congressional Districts after the Census. That might be something to chew on.
On a personal note, I've met Jeannemarie and know her daughter, and she's a real nice lady. I'd encourage you to vote for her if the NRA endorsement isn't a deal-breaker for you.
I would take a look at the "whole". She is terrible on gun issues, will that make a difference? Will she either author or be a swing vote on laws effecting guns? Will voting for her opponent swing the legislature to the D's? What will the net effect of THAT be?
Bottom line, if she won't be the "deciding" vote on "bad" gun laws I'd probably vote for her on the assumption (and I know NOTHING about any of the players or the issues) that a bad R is generally better than a D.
____
CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
Vote R, I, L, or even C before you vote for a D. Remember the big tent, remember 2010, and remember that D's will rob you blind.
...a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right...
---Thomas Paine---
Carlos: "What? Were they [Democrats]?"
Seth: "They look like [Democrats]? Is that what they looked like? They were vampires.
"[Democrats] do not explode when sunlight hits them."
That's the beauty of House contests - 2 year terms.
Thanks for the wisdom and guidance. I suppose that this should have been a no-brainer, but that's why I came here to ask for some guidance. I had completely forgotten that in 2010 the majority State Senate gets to redraw Virginia's Congressional Districts. It seems to me that Becker has it right. I'll have to hope that Devolites-Davis doesn't open a can of gun control in the next session. I'm going to hold my nose, say a prayer, and vote for her.
As for me running? Thanks, I'm flattered... but, Nah. I'm actually the CEO of a very cool security-related company. My entire business model is about staying out of the limelight. You can imagine how quickly I scamper for the door when reporters (along with their agendas) walk into a room. That being said, I have some reporters in my rolodex (like Greg Jaffe of the WSJ... good dude) and reach out when I must. Also, I can't imagine my putting my family through all that crap.
So alas, I will do the "right" thing tomorrow. But I won't feel good about it!
turned out badly. I live in Illinois and the NRA had actually endorsed a Democrat, Glen Possard, for governor over George Ryan. I ignored their endorsement and voted for Ryan. That RINO gave the Democrats a lock on this state for the forseeable future.
I should have voted for Poshard (it's one of the few votes I regret). It turns out he was far more conservative than Ryan without the corruption issues...
On the other hand, check out other candidates. Are there any Libertarians in the race? I know they can be a bit kooky, but in most cases, I'd rather have a Libertarian over a Dem in office.
Socialism doesn't work. It looks nice on paper, but it's been tried and it's failed miserably every time (usually accompanied by widespread death and suffering).
Proud member of the V.R.W.C.