Alright, so let's go.

Hey Eileen,

Thanks for the comments about Assembly Access and "They Don't Get Virginia". I know our folks over here put a lot of work into those projects. This year we will definitely consider similar projects. Especially since we'll likely have a candidate in every district of the Commonwealth. At the very least you'll definitely see us on YouTube as we move into the election season.  

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Bob McDonnell "Failed" to Protect Virginia Consumers

Richmond- As Bob McDonnell seeks a run for Virginia's top seat, a local television news team reveals he's failed Virginia consumers in his job as Attorney General.

WAVY TV 10's Andy Fox (Hampton Roads) did an investigative report on a local job placement service that guarantees clients work in exchange for $365. The problem is... the office doesn't deliver on that promise. And it turns out the company has relocated to Virginia after being put out of business in Ohio, whose "Attorney General succeeded where Virginia has failed." [WAVY TV 10, 5/05/08]

"As Attorney General, Bob McDonnell's first priority is to protect consumers, especially in these economically tough times," said Democratic Party of Virginia Executive Director, Levar Stoney. "In this case, McDonnell not only failed to protect consumers, but the consumers he failed were among the most vulnerable- the ones looking for work."

Click here to view the WAVY TV 10 report.

Soon we'll be rolling out a new volunteer organizing tool that will allow people to voters in their community to encourage them to vote Democratic in 2008. Knocking on doors in rural areas can be a little tough, but if we can work to reach folks in their homes over the phone this will be a step in the right direction.  

My fear is that NOVA and Hampton Roads may see us through an election or two, but unless Democrats organize in the state's rural areas, any kind of sustainable success is quite difficult.

As always, we'll be touching everyone, especially with Mark Warner on the ballot and a candidate in every congressional district.

If new Democrats are registering to vote for a President, what can we do to bring them out in 2009?

In 2005, we reached out to federal voters to vote and we'll do our best to do the same in 2009. Many folks will be motivated because 2009 has a particular significance. It's the last election before redistricting and we'll be sure to stress the importance of that.  

How do you see the netroots -- as an ally, an adversary, or something else?  Do you have a plan (one that includes needed resources) to integrate a netroots and/or "new media" strategy into the DPVA's overall plans?  Specifically, I'll just mention a couple of issues we discussed with your predecessor but that didn't make as much progress as a lot of us would have liked:

1. The need to have a DPVA employee dedicated to the DPVA website, blog, and the netroots community more broadly. Right now, the DPVA website is not being utilized to its full potential, as I'm sure you know.

2. Possible cooperation in developing the "online marketplace for volunteerism" idea, aka YouRoots.

Thanks.

As I mentioned above, we'll be rolling out a neighborhood organizing tool very soon. I think this can be a resource for online volunteerism.  

Additionally, the Central Committee approves resolutions on a quarterly basis. Those can be sent to Vice Chair Frank Leone at fleone@spriggs.com.  

Lowell had an interesting comment in his Warner writeup about the dichotomy between some of Warner's centrist values and the views of the more leftist progressive

Seventh, as the only blogger on the trip, I kept thinking about how Warner's comments would play in the "leftosphere," as my friend Jon Henke calls it.  My conclusion was mixed. On the one hand, netroots activists and bloggers like to win, and Mark Warner gives us the best shot to do that here in Virginia this year.  On the other hand, I doubt that many in the feisty, progressive blogs (especially the national ones) will get a warm and fuzzy feeling about "centrism" (radical or not), about no timelines in Iraq (and also about fighting "terrorists" in Iraq and Afghanistan), about de facto running as an independent (although saying he's proud to be a Democrat), and about avoiding the extremes of BOTH right and left (most progressive bloggers would argue, as Jim Webb did in 2006, that it's the REPUBLICAN Party that lurched to the right, while the Democratic Party is the centrist party in America right now). My guess is that Warner doesn't believe the way to win in Virginia in the year 2008 is to appeal to the liberal activist base and progressive blogosphere, and he's very possibly correct about that from a strategic point of view.  I also think it's more natural to who he is -- a true centrist, in the sense of working across party lines to get things done and not looking at whether a good idea has a 'D' or 'R' after it.  In sum, Mark Warner appears to be a perfect fit for Virginia, but not at all for the national liberal blogosphere.  I kept thinking, "what would the Matt Stollers of the world think if they were here listening to Mark Warner's speech."  My guess is that, at best, they'd have mixed feelings.

I was wondering if you had any comments.  Specifically is it your vision that the Democratic party represent more of a centrist Warner mold or a more progressive liberal model ala Kaine and Obama.  Are Democrats more focused on appeasing their base or focusing on the center to attract independents.  Do you agree more with Lowells description of Webb or what Warner has been saying.

Warner Connolly Kaine Obama Byrne with Webb bouncing around all over the place :-p

Just for fun I'll do the other side as well

From conservative to moderate

Cuccinelli Bolling McDonnell Fimian