1. The Monopoly on Sin
There’s a curious position emerging among the opponents of Bob McDonnell’s ABC privatization initiative. More and more, it appears that they are maintaining that the Commonwealth ought to maintain a monopoly on sin. You don’t want the private sector selling liquor because we’re worried about what will happen (economically and socially) if the state doesn’t control it. It’s okay to have gambling in Virginia, but only if the form, extent and profits are directly controlled by the state. It’s unfortunate that the private sector already controls the tobacco industry. But, heck, maybe the state can make Phillip Morris an offer to take the sale and distribution of cigarettes off its hands.
2. The Political Challenge
That the Governor faces in breaking up the monopoly was higlighted this week in two ways. First, Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw announced that the plan was DOA or Dead on Arrival. DBA or Dead Before Arrival might be a more accurate statement inasmuch as the plan has yet to be finalized and presented. Second, Lacey Putney, Chair of House Appropriations, observed that he’s yet to be convinced that privatization is a good idea. In short, McDonnell must overcome opposition from Democrats who have litttle interest in providing him with a big victory and from rural conservatives, including members of his own party, skeptical of the social and financial impact of removing the state’s monopoly.
3. Is the White House Ceding Virginia in 2012 to the GOP?
You could be excused for thinking this on the basis of recent events. Closing JFCOM. Stiffing Virginia on High Speed Rail. EPA “interim” regs on cap and trade. I have a difficult time understanding the politics of all this. The Democrats have 8 U.S. members of the House, both U.S. Senators, and a former Governor as Chair of the DNC. But on the big issues that impact the Virginia economy, they don’t appear to be consulted and their political interests are routinely undermined.
4. GOP Poll has Perriello Closing Gap
What you just read is correct. This week, the GOP released a survey showing Robert Hurt with a 6 point lead over incumbent Tom Perriello. In this poll, the race is 17 points closer than in one released just two weeks ago bu SurveyUSA. Insiders spent the week speculating why the GOP would release a private poll that has Perriello running 17 points stronger than the most recent public poll. Given initial reports that show Perriello with a substantial lead in dollars raised, the GOP might be reminding the faithful that this could be a much tougher race than some observers seem to believe.
5. Larry Gets It Exactly Right
It’s never easy to get the words and tone right in an obituary of a prominent yet controversial public figure such as James J. Kilpatrick. But I think that Larry Sabato’s commentary on his passing this week got it exactly right. Sabato noted that Kilpatrick should be judged by the totality of his life, including the contributions that he made to national journalism through his syndicated columns and his debates on 60 Minutes. At the same time, Larry did not minimize the pain caused by Kilpatrick’s doctrine of Massive Resistance to desgregation or suggest, as some commentators did, that Kilpatrick had “redeemed” himself. Sabato acurately observed that Kilpatrick left ‘deep wounds” that “had not healed even 50 years later.” Anyone with more than passing acquaintance with Richmond is fully aware of the indelible scar that was left by the espousal of Massive Resistance by one of the capital’s leading newspapers.
6. Debates Over Debates
Should GOP candidates allow independent conservatives candidates into debates with their Democratic opponents? The conventional wisdom is no- you should never give free air time to a candidate who is only likely to take votes from you, thereby helping your opponent. But 2010 is not a conventional year. I think that the public wants plain-speaking, clear-minded political figures who are willing to take on all comers on their behalf. Wrangling over debates is too clever by half. A “bring ‘em on” attitude is likely to be far more appealing than explanations suggesting that an opponent is not doing well enough in the polls to be allowed to participate in a debate.
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