Defeated GOP Damage Assessment

Virginia Republicans gathered in Hot Springs, VA yesterday to do a damage assessment of what happened in the 2005 governor's race. They also looked ahead to 2006. Some of the problems they had?

Allen, who is widely thought to be considering a presidential bid in 2008, also told the state party activists gathered for an annual conference that they must stand behind "common-sense Jeffersonian conservative principles" that have helped propel the GOP in national and state elections.

I think they missed this Jeffersonian ideal

Believing that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their Legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church and State (Letter to the Danbury Baptists, 1802).

Or this Jeffersonian ideal

I do not believe it is for the interest of religion to invite the civil magistrate to direct its exercises, its discipline, or its doctrines; nor of the religious societies that the general government should be invested with the power of effecting any uniformity of time or matter among them. Fasting and prayer are religious exercises. The enjoining them, an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the times for these exercises and the objects proper for them according to their own particular tenets; and this right can never be safer than in their own hands where the Constitution has deposited it... Every one must act according to the dictates of his own reason, and mine tells me that civil powers alone have been given to the President of the United States, and no authority to direct the religious exercises of his constituents (letter to Samuel Miller, Jan. 23, 1808).(More quotes from Thomas Jefferson on Church and State here)

Maybe it means the GOP is going to distance itself from the fundagelical crowd? I doubt it.

So the damage assessment over Jerry Kilgore's loss?

On Friday night, former governor James S. Gilmore III said that division over taxes was the chief reason for Kilgore's poor showing Nov. 8.

Gilmore, who campaigned for governor in 1997 by promising to eliminate the car tax, said the party needs to get back to unabashed support for lower taxes.

"We stand for promises made and promises kept," Gilmore said at a reception hosted by Sen. Bill Bolling (R-Hanover), who will be inaugurated lieutenant governor in January. "We will be doomed to minority status if we do not."

Ah yes, the fact that Mark Warner raised taxes and made prudent budget cuts had nothing to do with Virginia's budget surpluses and his popularity. Voters want fiscal RESPONSIBILITY rather than borrow and spend (credit card) conservatism. And what's up with the minority part? Last time I checked, the GOP controlled all three branches of the Federal Government, both houses of the Commonwealth of Virginia's state legislature and the majority of governor's mansions in the United States. Republicans have a long way to go before they have minority status. But here is the main crux of the problem according to the Republicans:

Many Republicans believe that Kilgore ran a campaign too close to the political center and didn't criticize Gov. Mark R. Warner (D) enough for raising taxes last year.

The reason why Jerry Kilgore lost was because he wasn't conservative enough, he didn't attack hard enough, he didn't promise tax cuts, he didn't pander to the fundagelicals.
Well, that's fine because the Democrats would love to pick up that huge center in the electorate. And I would love to see a Democrat use the fundagelicals as a wedge issue like Creigh Deeds did in the Attorney General's race. If Creigh had enough money to saturate the airwaves with his ads, he probably could have won. So the solution to the Republicans' problems is to move further to the right.
OH PLEASE, MOVE FURTHER TO THE RIGHT!!! I mean, please throw me into the Briar Patch, Briar Fox.
More oxymoronic statements from George Allen.

"Less taxation, less litigation, greater energy independence in this country. These are the foundational ideals that [Americans and Virginians] believe in."

Less taxation, because living beyond your means is always a good financial plan to have, isn't it? George, you realize you are a trial lawyer?? Why do you want to put yourself out of business. Oh that's right, personal responsibility is for the little guy. Personal responsibility is not for the corporations and the rich. I guess greater energy independence means opening up ANWR for oil drilling and not weaning us away from the energy resources that contribute to global warming. But hey, I'm sure the good people who live in areas that will get hit by stronger hurricanes don't mind. After all, it's their fault they live there. Right? I guess those aren't the foundational ideal this American who lives in Virginia believes in. But what do I know? I just live in the blue bubble of Alexandria.

And where was Virginia's senior Senator yesterday? He'd rather walk through Old Town Alexandria in a kilt in the freezing cold at Alexandria's Scottish Christmas Walk. He was the grand marshall of the parade. Guess who made less of a fool of himself?

Oh by the way, did you know Alexandria is a very dog friendly city?