That AP is hosting a debate between Virginia Senate candidates George Allen and Tim Kaine this Pearl Harbor Day, 7 months before the Republicans and Democrats hold their primaries, can mean only one thing. The AP is attempting to select the people’s candidates for them. The people of Virginia are in no mood to be manipulated by a conniving press organization like AP and if anybody should recognize that the press is not to be trusted and not a friend of Republicans in general, one would think that George Allen would be that person. It’s not like he hasn’t been burned in the past by this Democrat media complex.
That both accepted the invitation, to the exclusion of viable challengers on both sides reveals a sense of entitlement and arrogance that may serve both men poorly. AP claims that none of the other challengers are polling at the abitrary threshhold of 15%, but as we’ve just witnessed during the Republican Presidential primary process, polls can swing precipitously as the result of the debate process. Just ask Newt, Herman, and Rick Perry.
On the Republican side Tim Donner, Jamie Radtke and Bishop E. W. Jackson, to name but a few, are challengers to the Senator who went down to Mark Warner in 2006.
The Republican Party of Virginia has announced 3 ‘all comers’ primary debates to be held in the Spring. That was a very good move and it negated any validity this AP debate once had.
If George Allen was smart, and I’m not saying that he is or isn’t, he would drop out of this travesty and concentrate on his debate performances this Spring. To do anything other than that would smack of elitism. To piss off a large part of the base would not only hurt him, but has large up ticket implications and we can ill afford to suppress GOP turnout next November. There is simply too much at stake.
Drop out, George. For the good of the process.
As for Tim Kaine…do what you want. We already know you’re an elitist.
