George Allen's Virginia Senate race against Jim Webb...

[saltpoint]

Poll question: George Allen's Virginia Senate race against Jim Webb...

How do you feel about Allen's chances following his comment to Mr. Sidarth ("Let's give a big hand to Macaca over there, or whatever his name is...") ?

[Midlodemocrat]

1. I think that is going to be part of his undoing.

I also think that the fact that George Felix Allen, Jr. is running ads about keeping children safe from online predators and fdiscusses his daughter's leaving for college this year in contrast to Jim Webb's son being deployed to Iraq is going to be too great of a contrast.

I think Allen is toast. I SO hope I'm right.

[saltpoint]

4. Couple of really good points, there, Midlodemocrat. I hope you're

right too, and you make a good case.

I was completely appalled at Allen's remarks, and while I'm not a Virginian, I'm hoping Virginia voters toss the bum out.

It's long overdue.

[Midlodemocrat]

7. I live in Virginia and I have to admit the local Richmond paper

has run articles and/or LTTEs about his gaffe virtually every day.

Additionally, I think these "family, family, family" ads are going to backfire when the word gets out about Jimmy Webb. It shows the most astonishing hypocrisy.

I wouldn't be surprised if the ads were pulled.

[saltpoint]

8. Didn't know about the ads. That's interesting. A lot of us are really

pulling for Webb. He's more conservative than we might prefer, but he's a sentient being, a thoughtful man, and the story with his son is compelling.

Allen seems not to have much of a clue about some things, such as how to treat others and how to respect differences in others.

[Midlodemocrat]

10. Oh, they are nauseating.

I tried to find a link, but can't. I haven't seen any today, so maybe they were pulled.

:puke:

[saltpoint]

11. God I would love it if Webb whipped ol' Cement-Head Allen.

That would take 3 of the 4 wheels off that 08 presidential wagon in a hurry, wouldn't it?

[electricmonk]

45. I saw one yesterday (Tuesday) during the local news

I swear it's the exact same commercial he ran 6 years ago maybe updated to change his kid's age. And hasn't he had 6 years in office to pass legislation to "protect the children"?

I was at my Mom's on Labor Day watching the news when they showed him at a parade riding a horse. I was like jeez the idiot really thinks he's a cowboy. My Mom said, "The real idiots are the ones that vote for him and Bush." Mom was a 30+ year State employee and of all the Governors during that time she says Allen was the worst one to work for. Cut benefits, no raises, destroyed morale, etc.

One bright spot in that news report. They interviewed one lady on the street and she said, "I can't bring myself to vote for any Republican today because of the way things are going."

[davidwparker]

9. we're working on it.

[saltpoint]

12. Hi, davidwparker. Thank you for working on it. Since the Senate is

not just a state contingent-only office, it's great to bump into people working to unseat its lesser lights.

And dear god is George Allen one if its lesser lights!

[blue neen]

2. IMHO, Allen's comment made people pay attention to what a nut-job he is.

It is now up to Webb to convince the voters of Virginia that HE is their man.

[saltpoint]

5. Yes. He shot himself in the foot. That rally in Breaks went out over

the web within hours of its happening.

The whole country got a taste of Allen's attitude toward others.

[AX10]

3. Wizard Allen did this to himself.

There is now a 50/50 chance that we will pick up this seat.

[saltpoint]

6. Hi, AX10. I think you're right -- it is a gaffe of his own making, and he

looked like a back-alley bully taunting Mr. Sidarth.

What a dense piece of work George Allen is. ('Work' wasn't the first noun that came to mind there...)

[gademocrat7]

13. Allen is a bully who hurt members of his own family.

He along with the entire shrub cabal needs to be swept out of office.

[saltpoint]

17. I like the way you think, gademocrat7. A huge wave of blue votes

that takes out Cement-Head Allen and hundreds and hundreds of other Republicans, from high-profile congressional races to county commission seats.

I like it.

[wakeme2008]

14. The only real problem I see it the Anti-Gay amendment on the ballot

and this Sunday they had a fundie talking about going to all the black and hispanic churches to get their members to get out the vote for the Anti-Gay amendment. :grr:

[saltpoint]

16. O god I didn't know about that either. Well, we'll lose some of those

voters anyway if they're that conservative. But maybe -- I'm just hunching here --maybe Webb can afford to lose the bigot vote -- the people who clapped and laughed when Allen taunted Mr. Sidarth.

The danger with those ballot initiatives is that it brings out too many nutcases. That's a concern.

When are these right-wing fundies going to realize that other people's genitals are none of their business?

Here's hoping that Webb prevails and that Allen's racist/ethnic slur comes back to haunt him.

[TheCowsCameHome]

15. Mac Allen is his own worst enemy.

I think he's cooked his own goose.

[saltpoint]

18. Hi, Lastlaughin08. I hope he has. I watched via web his performance

in Breaks, VA when he singled out Mr. Sidarth.

It was repellent and disgusting.

I am deeply hopeful that even Virginia Republicans will say to themselves, "I really don't want a man like this representing me or my state."

[TheCowsCameHome]

39. Hopefully many others willl be turned off by his behavior, OC

[saltpoint]

41. I hope so. It was a grizzly return to 1948 or something. It gave me

the creeps watching him taunt Mr. Sidarth.

Frightening level of bigotry.

[citizen snips]

19. hopefully the voters will see Allen as he truly is.

But all those people who voted for jesse helems never say the light.

[saltpoint]

20. Hi, MATTMAN. You're right -- Helms' supporters stayed with him to

the bitter end, even though the rest of the country knew him to be a cantankerous, selfish, stubborn, head-up-the-ass bigot. Even some Republicans thought that -- Dick Lugar for instance. (Lugar probably chose other terms but he didn't care for Jesse one little bit.)

Let's hope Virginians show up at the polls ready to dump George Allen and elect Jim Webb.

I'd be one happy camper if they did.

[citizen snips]

21. what I hope

is that people have changed and will hold politicians accountable for racism.

And how are you doing Old Crusoe? :hi:

[saltpoint]

22. Yep. Virginia voters have a big chance here. Let's hope they come thru.

Pretty good, MATTMAN. I hope all's well your way, too.

:hi: :dem:

[citizen snips]

23. I am doing alright.

I hope too see you around soon.

[saltpoint]

24. It's a deal.

:dem: :hi:

[FARAFIELD]

25. Its up to WEBB now

If you look at the numbers they went down due to unease with ALLEN, if Webb can show he is a viable alternative his recognition goes up and its all over if WEBB can avoid any gaffes himself. ALLEN will have to debate him now, and we will see if WEBB hits him with the CCC stuff or lets the 527's and word of mouth do it. But Webb if people take a look at him, has street cred on a lot of issues,

[saltpoint]

30. Hi, Farafield. Yes. We could be heading for just that juncture.

The debate to come will be a hot one. I expect Webb to do well and turn up the heat and try to throw Allen off-guard. "Since your own mother was born in Tunisia, Senator Allen, where do you get off hurling ethnic slurs at native-born Virginians?" Etc.

I'm kind of hoping that there will be a personal, private re-evaluation by many Virginians who may have supported Cement-Head in the past but who do not care for that kind of taunting, racially-laced behavior.

Those are the voters I hope will switch to Webb.

My fingers are crossed.

[saltpoint]

26. For those interested in this race, here are a few links to

provide some insight to Allen's difficulties following the "macaca" event in Breaks:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/02/AR2006090201038.html


http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20060911&s=george_allen


http://mediamatters.org/items/200608170001

WARNING: Contents of these sites may cause Republicans' heads to explode.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

27. It's not even the comment itself, per se, but the video of it being said

shows Allen to be a bullying redneck jackass, without any doubt.

Even in this age of shrubco, too many people are uncomfortable with such blatant jackassery in their elected officials, even if they may like it in their Limbaughs and O'Reillys.

[saltpoint]

31. Yes. The words alone were offensive and bullying and unacceptable,

but you are exactly right. The context and tone of the whole encounter is what stinks to high heaven.

Agree completely.

Allen disgraced himself by trying to ostracize and demean a fellow American citizen.

Bad, bad move.

[ChiciB1]

28. If Wishing Could Make These Optimistic Comments True...

I could give a little HOO-RAH! I live in Florida... I am now simply a cynic! I will never again TRUST rumors or actual facts before they get "rubber-stamped" by those who make ALL my decisions for me these days!

I KNOW I'm not alone in feeling this and what is even worse... more and more people are beginning to think exactly the way I do!

What I HAVE learned these past 6 years is "Don't Ever, Not NEVER EVER, let your guard down!" A sad commentary to what has happened to a country once thought of as a "beacon of democracy!"

What I can't quite make myself understand is this. Should I vote because THEY might be trying to "scare" me into "not voting" simply because of all the past fraud? Fraud that will NEVER actually come to light. Should I call their bluff and "vote" because maybe THEY might think too many people are catching on now? I mean they might REALLY screw up and get caught red-handed committing fraud and maybe I decided "not" to "vote" because I felt my vote wasn't going to count anyway. I know that has happened already no matter what THEY deny! So then THEY didn't really need to cheat again, because they kept me from voting! Unfortunately this is what my vote has been reduced to. All in the name of GREED!

Having said all that, isn't this some hell of a way to be thinking in a country that's supposed to be a Democracy, run by "We The People?" Yeppers, we have the RIGHT TO VOTE, I just wonder what NUMBER they have assigned me!!

[saltpoint]

32. ChiciB1, I don't blame you for feeling burned after that 2000 election

in Florida. I know some Ohioans who feel the same way.

And although I'm following other states' races this year, I'm not a Virginian and can't speak for them. But I do hope you set your very understandable cynicism aside to go vote. You've got a good gubernatorial primary tomorrow and then -- if GOP primary voters pick her over the field -- you get the privilege of casting a vote against Katherine Harris, who played such a huge roll in engineering the election theft in Florida in 2000.

Vote with vengeance in your heart! I wouldn't blame you one bit.

We voters have to show up and vote against Harris and Blackwell -- because they're cheaters -- and against Allen and Burns -- because they're bigots.

We're the good guys.

Let's kick some butt.

[ChiciB1]

37. Actually, I'll Be Down At The Democratic Headquarters By

10:00 A.M. making phone calls to people reminding them to "VOTE!"

Kind of strange that I volunteered because I am very cynical, but I just wanted to put into words how I really feel. And I do realize we have THOUSANDS here, but I've been blogging here for some time now and I think I've posted about 75% of the time that Cruella is currently my Representative!

I've acted out against her many times! Know just where here office is and have actually seen her "up close and personal" because I buy used books across the street from where she has her car serviced!!

Yeah, I'll vote for BILL... but I'll be holding my nose as they say! Prospects here have been VERY gloomy for a very very long time!!!

[saltpoint]

42. O my god, you're in Harris' Congressional district?! You are a BRAVE

soul. My respects.

Give us an advance sneak preview on the primary. Will that bullet-headed fascist Vern Buchanan win the GOP primary? Is Jan Schneider a lock on the nomination (please say yes -- I'm a Jan fan from way back).

And thank you for the poll work, the volunteer work, and the good-heart work for Democrats in Florida.

Every little bit makes a big, big difference.

[ChiciB1]

43. Sorry For Not Getting Back To You....

Buchanan is doing quite well in Manatee County last I heard, Sarasota is a little tighter, but Buchanan may do it.

Schneider got a raw deal here from all that I've been hearing. Many of us have stayed with her, but many decided Jennings, how do I say it... would make a prettier picture!! IMO, Schneider has a better grasp, but some say she's a 2 time loser, yatty, yatty, yatt!!

One thing about Buchanan... he got a lot of support from Fire-fighters and some union people. I DON'T understand it myself!

It's late for returns now and I haven't gotten much from the State web-site OR the Sarasota site. Just going there now, but thought I would check for replies!

I'm kind of afraid to look actually. If Buchanan takes it, it might be harder for either Schneider OR Jennings, although many think one of them win this seat finally. I'm not so optimistic. Charlie Wells from Bradenton went "whole hog" for Buchanan!!

I presume by now they will have returns updated. I would do my local channel but my 94 year old mother-in-law kind of controls the living room TV! If I go there, I'll probably want to keep watching!

[saltpoint]

44. Hi again. I checked on the web for Sarasota's WWSB returns, and

they had Jennings well ahead of Schneider. I'll take either over that Nazi Vern Buchanan, but I just don't have anything against Jan. Plus, I got to meet her.

And statewide, it looks like Harris has won the GOP nomination, which means there's a chance that the GOP vote will be suppressed somewhat, and that could help Democrats in many parts of the state.

My fingers are crossed for a blue victory party in November!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

35. You should ALWAYS vote in case your vote is counted. What does it

cost you?

[NCarolinawoman]

29. I have a friend who works for the Labor Department in DC.

She told me that some of her African American co-workers use to not be all that keen on Webb. (Something to do with some ads run by Miller back in the primaries). Now they are changing their tune and are looking forward to voting against Allen. :)

[saltpoint]

33. Hi, NCarolinawoman. That's good news there at the end of your post.

I don't know Webb so very well, but of late I'm coming to get a terrible stench coming off the Allen campaign.

I thought in this thread, Mayberry Machiavelli got it just right -- the words Allen used were already bad, but the tone and context of his using them were abominable.

Here's to a big win for Jim Webb on Nov. 7th.

[NCarolinawoman]

38. Actually, my friend, who lives in DC, said in a very matter of fact way

that Allen was "GOING DOWN". I didn't want to get too excited, but she said that the word was spreading throughout the African-American community that Allen was an out and out racist. I asked her if she was mainly talking about the suburbs of DC, but she said that word was spreading down to Richmond and beyond.

I still caution myself not to get too optimistic, but it sure sounded hopeful.

[saltpoint]

40. I'm not surprised. His apparent link to the CCC is not helping him.

The link for that is upthread in #26 from THE NATION magazine. It's a really good article.

'Appreciate the update and inside glimpse, NCarolinawoman. Thank you.

[PresidentWar]

34. Can you imagine the reaction if the tables were turned?

[saltpoint]

36. Good point -- the MSM seems to favor Republicans in embarrassing

moments and really slams the Democrats.

Although Allen's gaffe in Breaks has made the rounds.

I think he's going to have to chew through the chains on this one.

[saltpoint]

46. Not a Virginian, I'm tuned into this Senate race just the same, and

I think it's helpful to email Dem friends all over the country about the developments between Allen and Webb.

A little karmic oompf might be the difference between Allen winning by 2% and Webb winning by 1% -- once in a while Senate races can be perilously close. I think John Durkin was elected a Democratic Senator from New Hampshire by something like 2 or 7 votes -- a razor-thin margin of victory.

From our DU poll here, many people believe Allen's remarks have hurt him, and some believe the poll plunge will be temporary, others feel it's permanent.

What a sweet thing it would be to take Allen out of that Senate seat in November.