It's one thing to let one's racism slip like George Allen did or to let one's sexuality slip like Larry Craig did.  Either those guys were too undisciplined to restrain themselves, or perhaps they got some kind of thrill out of risking getting caught.  Maybe they're tormented inside and subconsciously want to get caught.  To call oneself a term that is a not-widely known insult hurled by one's own fellow party members, however, displays a thoughtfulness that's hard to comprehend.

Politically, JMDD, her husband, and the Republicans in our area are in a bad way that's getting worse by the day.  I think they're luckier than the right-leaning Democrats (DINOs, Bush Dogs, etc.), because, while there are true blue (red?) Republicans who will denounce RINOs and would rather lose a seat than compromise their principles, there seem to be a lot more true blue Democrats who attack their own, but maybe that's just my skewed perspective based on the blogs I frequent.

Ideally, JMDD should be pounded on her outing herself until she either loudly and proudly confirms it or recants.  The RPV should be the one leading the pounding.  It's their party line she'll be representing on the ballot.  Surely, they've given her plenty of support over the years.  The Republican leadership in the VA Senate should also voice their expectation that if JMDD does return, she'll be expected to support her party with her votes.  At the very least, they can state that absent a recanting, she won't be in the leadership or chairing (or being ranking minority member of) any committees.

Dems shouldn't wait (probably in vain) for the Republicans to corral their wayward member.  Instead, we should point out that more important than any position on any particular issue, constituents deserve a State Senator who has integrity and is as honest as a politician can be expected to be.  JMDD calling herself a RINO is essentially her saying "I'll tell you whatever I think you want to hear."  No thinking Dem could be persuaded by that, and it ought to scare independents away from her.

The Republicans around here, knowing they've been dealt a losing hand this cycle, are playing the only way they can if they hope to win, that is, dirty.  They've sought to keep Republicans away from challenging certain Dems, like Dave Marsden in my District, because they can only win if they depress turnout.  Sometimes this works.  Not this cycle.  I think we're too damn angry, and JMDD's latest "strategies," bringing up Chap's religion and denying her own party, may motivate more people to vote for Chap.

I think Chap should stick to the high road, as he has throughout this campaign.  It is only by campaigning decently, and, if our guys win, serving honorably that we can hope to purge the dirty politics out of future campaigns and make people feel good about our government again.  Not everyone will agree with all the votes of their representatives, and no one likes paying taxes, but this is a time-tested system of maximizing our ability to govern ourselves.  There's no guarantee that long-term Dem majorities will make us proud, but I think it's clear that the Republican strategy of sowing cynicism about government and public service while asking us to vote for them is about to hit bottom.

Telling a gay rights organization that you're a Democrat, only that you're in the closet!  So she's either self-hating or insincere.  I can't imagine they'd have much sympathy, when so many have sacrificed so much in order to be honest about who they are.

...will be to see how Tom Davis' Republican primary opponents use this self-characterization by his wife if and when Tom runs for the Senate.