Aw hell, it’s a slow news day, so why not…
Our liberal friend Ben Tribbett just highlighted an interview in which Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli seems to leave the door open to possibly run for governor of Virginia in the next election in 2013. This would be controversial, in case you don’t know, because Bill Bolling is the Republican establishment heir apparent governor candidate, who served as lieutenant governor from 2005-2009 and then agreed to do a second tour as LG from 2009-2013 so there would not be an intraparty fight for the governor’s office in 2009. In the 2009 elections, Bolling was a good soldier and stood down so that Bob McDonnell could represent the Republicans in the governor’s race, which McDonnell won while Bolling and Cuccinelli completed the GOP sweep into the LG and AG offices respectively.
Regular readers of this blog know that my personal bias is that Ken Cuccinelli should be on the presidential ticket in 2012. I don’t think there is any public official in America that I hold in higher regard than Mr. Cuccinelli. The principles he brings to his work in public office are intelligent and beyond reproach and he, personally, is an extraordinarily effective worker. He has done more in 1.5 years as Virginia attorney general than most politicians accomplish in a lifetime. So I am not an objective observer.
At the same time, Bill Bolling – who seems like a truly good man – has the most ridiculous job. And the poor guy has been stuck there for a long time. Whatever the founders of Virginia’s government were thinking when they invented the office of lieutenant governor, they certainly were not thinking about pizazz in the resume department for anyone holding the office.
Virginia LG seems most appropriate for the seasoned, retired person who basically spends his time fishing but is available to provide solid judgment if something terrible should happen to the governor. As a stepping-stone to the governor’s office, “Virginia lieutenant governor” presents a career quandary. It probably looks good on a business card or fundraiser invitation, but it provides little opportunity for producing important work product.
So good guy Bill Bolling holds the inconsequential office, while Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is busy changing the world. The situation is tragic for Bolling because he did the hard thing by being the bigger man in 2009 and allowing Bob McDonnell to capture the flag, and strengthening the Virginia Republican Party at his own (Bolling’s) expense.
Thus there must be a major Republican conflict in Virginia in 2013, right?
No. Far from it. Because there are two major near-term battles that Virginia Republicans must win. 1) the U.S. Senate seat which will be decided in 2012, and 2) the Virginia governor’s office in 2013.
Virginia Democrat Senator Jim Webb made Obamacare the law of the land. Obamacare is the the most destructive, irresponsible legislation ever imposed on the American people. In addition, Senator Webb has been a forceful advocate of President Obama’s agenda.
Senator Jim Webb, who ran for office as a “common sense” moderate, represents all that is wrong with America today. He ran for public office as a friend of the people, and once in office became an enemy of the average American. He needs to be defeated in 2012, sent packing from office with extreme prejudice.
Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli simply need to decide who will run for governor in 2013 and who will run for U.S. senator in 2012. Democrat candidates at all levels deserve the back of America’s hand. There is plenty of opportunity for two good Virginia conservatives to serve the American people in the coming years.
