Virginia Tomorrow

If anyone ever tells you that one person can’t make a difference in politics today, you might talk to them about Bob Marshall.

Sui Generis

That’s the high-falutin Latin phrase that writers once used to describe individuals who march to their own (different) drummer.

Constituting a class of its own.

It fits Marshall perfectly

 (and I bet he’s the kind of Catholic who still remembers his Latin).

Some of his liberal opponents who find his social conservatism intolerant sometimes say that he’s a nut

(albeit a very smart and formidable one).

And he’s often driven many of his fellow Republicans crazy with the vigor with which he’s embraced his role as gadfly..

He doesn’t think twice about taking on Speaker Howell and Speaker-in-Waiting Cantor.

Some Republicans I know can’t seem to decide whether he’s fearless or foolish.

He doesn’t go along to get along.

And he’ll never be a dues-paying member of any legislative club.

But…

He’s had a remarkable impact on some of the major substantive and symbolic issues of our time.

Remember the great transportation compromise between Governor Kaine and the Republicans that vested taxing authority in appointed regional authorities.

Marshall said it was unconstitutional, that you couldn’t grant taxing authority to individuals who were never directly accountable to the voters.

Don’t worry about Bob they said.

He’s just tilting at another windmill.

Until the Virginia Supreme Court agreed with him.

Unanimously.

You might recall Gene Nichol, the president of William and Mary,  the Wren Chapel Cross controversy and the dust-up over the sex show paid for with student fees

There was Bob Marshall, sticking his head in where he has no business going.

Him and a few of his buddies summoning the W&M Board to Richmond for a friendly chat with the Assembly.

And just for fun proposing to halve Nichol’s salary and taking a floor vote on the proposal.

There’s no need to recount Nichol’s fate.

This year, it’s heath care, the 9th and10th Amendments and pitched resistance to federal overreach.

It was just Bob causing more mischief.

Until 5 Democrats joined with the GOP and passed the Senate version of the bill.

The bottom line is this.

On some of the biggest and/or most visible issues of the last 10 years, Marshall has actually had a far larger impact that a lot of folks who are far more skillful at maneuvering through the legislative labyrinth.

He has a genuine knack for seeing what’ll be a visible and high profile issue and understanding where his opponents are most vulnerable.

He’s made a lot of enemies along the way.

But he’s a had a real impact.

I asked someone the other day this question.

Who’s the Democrats’ Bob Marshall?

Who’s the Democrat in the Assembly who’s willing to regularly take on the conventional wisdom, to mobilize Democratic progressives, and to counter Republican arguments at the point of greatest vulnerability?

And who doesn’t care very much about what other people might think?

No party would ever want a legislative delegation filled with Bob Marshalls.

But I think that you would always want one.

Someone who’s fearless, independent and principled.

Uncontrollable by the leadership.

And capable of undertanding how to mobilize your party’s core constituents on the significant issue of the day.

I have some ideas about the Democrats who might be capable of assuming this role.

But I’m sure anyone is quite there yet.