Some Final Thoughts on Virginia

Totally off topic, but our friend Jay just typed something that makes an incredible amount of sense.
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http://www.eschatonblog.com/2009/06/sobering-questions.html
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Almost too easy.......

For almost four decades, whichever party has won the White House has lost the Virginia governor's mansion the following year
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This is a perfect example of what we can politely refer to as 'cargo-cult' thinking. I know its a human tendency but that's just proof that humans aren't really rational. If you can think of any causal connection, then by all means point it out.
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Otherwise, your just having fun at the expense of rationality.

Note, that I don't mean to be a crab-a$$ and overall its a fine article. It just contained a sentence that exemplifies a much larger problem. Superstitious (or Comic-Book) thinking, among other things, is precisely why were having a ridiculous debate over whether its safe to transfer the people we've kept shackled and helpless at Guantanomo Bay to Federal prisons where they will continue to be shackled and helpless.

I think this says it all. It also says how the trends over the next few years will also unfold in my opinion.
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"The contrast is going to be striking. Creigh Deeds has a record of supporting higher taxes, bigger government and higher spending," says Tucker Martin, a McDonnell spokesman, pointing to the gas tax vote and Deeds' vote against eliminating the state estate tax. Another big issue will surely be Obama's stimulus package; Deeds backed it, but McDonnell called for Virginia to reject some funds that would, in his view, create a new entitlement program for part time and under employed workers.
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The huge government spending programs being enacted as we speak by Obama and Company will fail as more and more people begin to wake up and see this for what it is, a total political payback for Obama.
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Taxpayers need to revolt and say "NO MORE TAXES" to fund political aspirations. It is happening right now in the very County I live in here in Pennsylvania. Our local government has increased property taxes by almost 1500% in most cases.
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This I predict will be the cry out from the fiscal responsible conservatives and libertarians of this country against the big spending, big government progressives.
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How do you stop the socialist of the democrat party? Take away there tax dollars at the polls by getting petitions together to stop the current brood of legislators from passing their political pork paybacks to their voting blocks identified as ACORN, NEA, and Labor Unions.

@rusty: Larry Sabato, someone who actually studies this stuff for a living, disagrees:

http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/article.php?id=AIA2009061101

Rusty

The idea of fiscal responsible conservatives sounds nice in theory, but the reality is that there are few, if any, in the Congress. Maybe Tom Colburn of Oklahoma, but other than that the Republicans in Congress spend just like the Democrats.

From 2001 to 2006, the Republicans controlled the White House and Congress and did we get fiscal responsibility? Far from it. The Bush budgets ballooned compared to the Clinton administration. Federal spending increased at a rate not seen since the Great Society of Lindon Johnson. Bush & company gave us record deficits.

No one loves taxes, but if you want government services, you have to pay for them. You may not remember when California passed Proposition 13 which limited the raising of property taxes back in the 1970s. It seemed a good idea at the time because housing prices were skyrocketing and property tax rates were booming. However, it was the equivulent of rent control. Calfornia did not have enough tax revenue to fix their terrible roads for a number of years. Purchasing a home became difficult because new home buyers did not get the benefit and suffered from excessive tax rates. Look at California today, you need a super majority to raise taxes, but a simple majority to increase spending. No wonder California is such a mess.

I vote Democratic because, at least, the Democrats are honest about taxing and spending. Besides, Republicans don't know how to spend money. As I have told my best friend who is a conservative, why elect amatuers to spend your money when you can elect professionals.

Do you really think the Republicans are more careful about spending your money? Look at the record. They are just as bad, if not worse.

P.S. You have my sympathies regarding your property taxes. 1500% is utterly ridiculous!!

I can sympathize with high property taxes. I pay taxes on three homes. The taxes are necessary however. I expect the roads to be maintained and services to be provided. The money has to come from somewhere. The people of Virginia are going to decide they want as governor. The upcoming election is going to be the people deciding who they want to lead their state, not who they want to lead in DC.

I have actually met Creigh Deeds. Very nice guy. Personally, I think he would do best against McDonald. I just do see people from the rural part of Virginia going for a couple of NoVa guys. I think it is important for the ticket to have some regional balance.

It is going to be a tough race. McDonald is pretty popular and is not as crazy as most of the Republicans in Virginia. Given how close it was between the two last time, I wonder if a slight change in the demographics of the state could make the difference.