Another Va. Republican mulls 2012 U.S. Senate bid

[ccharles000]

As Republican activists decide this weekend whether their party's 2012 U.S. Senate nominee should be chosen by primary or convention, we hear another candidate is considering jumping into the race.

Bert Mizusawa, a businessman, attorney and retired army general who ran against now Congressman-elect Scott Rigell in the primary for the Hampton Roads area seat, says he is thinking about running after being encouraged by fellow Republicans.

At least three other Republicans are interested in running against Democrat Sen. Jim Webb -- if he seeks reelection: former senator George Allen; Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors; and Del. Bob Marshall (Prince William).

Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) told The Hotline in an interview while attending the Republican Governors Association this week that he believes Allen will run.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/11/as_republican_activists_decide.html

[Arkana]

1. Yeah, Allen will never see public office again.

That little macaca tape ruined his political ambitions, and if he runs it will be played over and over and over until even we are sick of seeing it.

[ccharles000]

2. I agree he has a lot of baggage.

You never know anything could happen lets just hope that Webb runs again and wins.

[MrModerate]

3. Except that things have gotten markedly worse since 2006.

If Allen had been running in the recent election, his macaca moment would have been largely ignored. "A candidate spewing weird and possibly racist epithets for no reason whatsoever? So what?"

[Arkana]

4. But he didn't, and it won't be.

That's what everyone remembers George Allen for--calling that guy "macaca". You're crazy if you don't think that would be the story day in and day out. Allen would spend weeks answering questions about whether he's a racist or not. You think that's how he wants to begin a campaign?

[MrModerate]

6. Actually, I think it would come up two or three times and then fade away . . .

Media memories (unlike the Internet) are very brief.

[RichGirl]

9. Yeah...like Mel Gibson...all is forgiven and forgotten...right?????

BTW...the macaca moment became public because the guy he was referring to had a video camera in his hand, shot it and immediately put it on You Tube. It went rabid on the internet before hitting mainstream media.

[MrModerate]

10. Gibson is a serial lunatic of a particularly distressing sort.

Allen is a dumbfuck who got caught once. I just don't think the macaca thing would have much of a run in today's media environment

[Blue_Tires]

12. There is still a large number of (older) Virginians who have fond memories of

Allen's father, and as far as they are concerned, he can do no wrong...

[RichGirl]

8. You obviously are not from Virginia...

It wasn't just macaca and it wasn't just weird and possibly racist remarks...and they were not for no reason. He called a young man macaca and assumed he was foreign because of what he looked like when he was actually born in the U.S. The incident uncovered a lot of things. Many people coming forward about not just racist words, but acts while he was in college. His governors office was full of slavery memorabilia. He named his son Forrest* after a famed KKK organizer. It goes on and on.

*Actually, in the movie...Forrest Gump was also named after this guy but his mother had some weird reason, like he had the responsibility of being a good person since he was named after a bad man. George Allen, on the other hand, named his son after him because he admired him. That's not just simple, ignorant racism...that's hard core.

On edit....I also recall his sister writing a book about their childhood. Apparently, he wasn't just the usual annoying brother who likes to torment his sister, he literally tortured and physically hurt her. Don't remember all the details, but things like dragging her down the stairs by her hair. He is not a nice man.

[MrModerate]

11. No, I was living in Maryland at the time, and so got a pretty full dose . . .

Of the press coverage. The things you're talking about didn't make it over the state line. And far be it from me to support Allen, who is a clear and present dickhead.

My point is that the political environment has been substantially degraded from 2006 and things that could kill a candidacy in that year have become unremarkable. Otherwise Rand Paul wouldn't have won.

[Ter]

5. Where's Oliver North?

After '94, he said he'd run again.

[S_E_Fudd]

7. Corey Stewart is a despicable human being...

A racist pig...which probably means he is the favorite here..given our recent turn back to the 1860s...