Raising Krap (Kaine) Censorship

Here is what: [Ben, Lowell, Anonymous is a Woman, and The Gray Havens ] DO NOT WANT YOU TO SEE!

1. Note- Nothing profane or personal in this post.
   
2. One might disagree- but for these clowns to stifle debate is absurd.
3. Probably why Raising Kaine and Not Larry Sabato's website traffic is dropping like a rock
4. The Committee of Public Safety will work on getting these comments reposted!
5. 

Leslie Byrne: Screw the Consumers, I'm going to Paris

As the race heats up, Jacque #3 reminded me of a little controversy Leslie Byrne created after the Clintons gave her a position at the Office of Consumer Affairs. (She was quite the kneecapper for the Clintons in her brief tenure on the Hill.)

In the fall of 1997, the Office announced that it would have to terminate several employees, disconnect a national consumer hotline and cutback on customer service because it had exceeded its annual budget by $90,000. Part of the reason why the Office ran out of money, of course, was that Leslie Byrne took an expensive vacation to Paris on the taxpayer's dime. (Ostensibly to attend a conference, but why did her husband need to go too?)

As a result of Byrne's reckless misuse of government money, hard working folks lost their jobs, consumer's couldn't get the help they needed and, ultimately, the Republican Congress later zero-funded the Office of Consumer Affairs.

So, Leslie Byrne claims to be a crusader for consumers, but her inappropriate actions nearly closed down the Office of Consumer Affairs. Go Leslie!

There isn't a link because it happened so long ago, but interested parties can check our an article on this fiasco that ran in the Washington Post on 9/11/97.

Was Gerry Drunk? Beligerant? Both?

Controversy is swirling around a traffic citation Fairfax whatever Gerry Connolly was issued about a year ago. Sources tell us there might be something fishy going on. As FFX court records indicate, Connolly was pulled over and eventually cited by Police LT. Kitzerow of FFX Police.

Hmmm. Isn't it a little unusual that such a high-ranking office would write what turned out to be a minor speeding ticket?

Did officers on the scene call for a supervisor to deal with an unruly politician?

Or did Gerry have to call in a favor (and gawd knows he must have some chits to cash in) to avoid a more serious charge? Perhaps a charge that might have ended his public career if it was exposed?

Stay tuned, I hear Emily's List is on the case.

Case Number: GT07003344-00	File Date: 04/04/07	Complainant: KITZEROW LT	Locality: CITY OF FAIRFAX
Defendant: CONNOLLY, GERALD EDWARD		Defense Attorney:
City/State Address: FAIRFAX, VA 22031
Sex: Male	Race: White Caucasian (Non-Hispanic)		DOB: 03/30/****
Charge: FAIL TO OBEY TRAFFIC SIGNAL	Code Section: 46.2-833	Case Type: Infraction	Class:
Amended Charge:	Amended Code Section:	Amended Case Type:
Offense Date: 03/31/07		Arrest Date: 00000

Apparently there are also pictures of the incident in question...

Leslie the Loser Goes Negative

From the Fairfax Connection- "Byrne Looks to November- Democrats say they are likely to take 11th District." February 6, 2008:

• "'Byrne said she has an advantage over her two potential primary opponents because she is an experienced legislator. She would enter the House of Representatives with one term of seniority and more experience."Being an executive is not quite the same thing as being a legislator," said Byrne.

1. Leslie's legislative successes:

• This picture was taken today. On the stump, Leslie is claiming that her token legislative fix- requiring trucks to cover their cargo is some astonishing accomplishment. Ill have to read that bill, but im guessing the language is slightly less complicated then a bill to withdraw the US Military from Iraq.

2. One term of seniority?
I don't see how this is a plus. Seems sort of strange to campaign on 'experience' from just 2 years in office, after which Leslie has done nothing but lose campaign after campaign.
So Leslie is in favor of the seniority system?

"And the House went even further, empowering party leaders to choose committee chairmen -- and remove them -- without any consideration of seniority. The rule changes altered the way the House worked. Power was far more centralized, making the body more efficient..."

Member of a party with the most unbroken service… Does not take into account individual expertise of members, the ability to have a good working relationship with other members, or loyalty to the party's general objectives and programme…. Resulted in most of the chairman being much older than the average member.. 'senility system' Seniority system helped those members who were from one-party areas where, in practice they faced little real competition at
elections." (The American Political Process- by Alan R. Grant- 2004)

The Seniority System Isnt Automatic.

Times Have Changed.

Many current and former elected officals have been quoted expressing their distain for Leslie and her 'slash and Byrne' style of politics. Leslie hasnt been to kind hereself.

Thus, in the unlikley event Leslie was elected- she and the citizens of Virginia's 11th district would be in the back bench.

New Candidate in Virginia's 11th Demcoratic Primary

I have heard from a reliable source that someone by the name of Lori Alexander from the Alexandria / Mount Vernon area is about to declare her candidacy for United States Congress in the Democratic Primary from Virginia's 11th district.

Good luck to Lori, the more the merrier!


Needless to say, her entrance would be bad news for Leslie Byrne:

1. With another woman on the ballot, Leslie loses a few pages out of her copy of the Hillary Clinton playbook and can no longer pull the gender card.


2. Some voters, especially seniors might be confused (Leslie / Lori)

In other news, Fairfax County Chairmen Gerry Connolly spoke to the Fairfax County Democratic Committee about MLK day and the Democrats prospects for 2008. Connolly was invited by FCDC President Scott Surovell, which appeared to have annoyed Byrne as she and her staff left the room as Gerry began to speak.


Also in attendance were 11th District Candidate Doug Denneny and 10th District Candidate Judy Feder.