I don't know much about connelly tho, but if he works for a war contractor, is that his fault? I mean people have to work.

But Leslie is my congressperson.

is the problem. It's claiming you've "been against the war from the beginning" and that you want to "hold CEO's criminally acountable" when they defraud the public.

And then working for a company that made the case for the Iraq War and has been accused of defrauding the public and has at least seven no-bid contacts in Iraq.

It's not the employer, it's the hypocrisy of his public statements.

That should say "working for SAIC is NOT the problem"

another sense.  As Chairman of Fairfax Connolly holds a good deal of power and influence - something a big time consulting company could use in its many ventures.  

Ask yourself this: how many vice presidents in major corporations have time to run a county of over 1 million people on the side?  Have time to appear at all those political events?  VPs are usually very busy people working well over the 40 hour work week and yet this particular VP has  more than a full time job on the side?  

SAIC itself is not the problem, nor are their employees, but Connolly working for them while he's moonlighting as Chairman of Fairfax sure as hell is a problem.

Connolly was hired to do community outreach and charity work

Now My question would be why is this a VP level position

Your question gets to one of key points here.  But it's not emotion - it's logic...  

Could you or I walk into SAIC and get a VP position that deals with outreach and charity?  Could we pull whatever salary Connolly gets (I don't know what it is, but I'm sure it's not small because his Chairman job pays poorly)?  Of course not.  Is Gerry some sort of expert in charity work?  No.  Community outreach (whatever the hell that is for SAIC)?  Negative.  The core of his experience is in politics.

An average Joe wouldn't get that sort of position and salary especially for that little work.  SAIC would be out of business real quick if they ran their business that way, so SAIC obviously receives some significant value or they wouldn't be making that investment.  

So, put 2 and 2 together... what value could Gerry Connolly provide that you or I couldn't?  

And there's the problem.

A Washington Post article stated that SAIC created the job of "Community Relations Chief" for Connolly after he met with SAIC's General Manager who had a "vision for an underground shopping area" at the proposed rail station adjacent to SAIC's 18 acres of land in Tysons. Such land use would have to be approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

SAIC is a major landowner in Fairfax County.  Wouldn't it be handy for them to have the Chairman of the Board in their employment?

This is how they do business.  They make their money off of the government, and they do it by making sure that their interests are represented at the table.  Every time a decision about contracting is made

To get a sense of how a bunch of insiders can take some relationships and turn them into an $8 Billion goliath, read this.

This is, btw, precisely the "old politics" that we're trying to END with the Obama revolution!  Connolly is a disaster.  If we're going to clean the stables, you can't use the same old crap.

Thanks for the opportunity to talk with you today!
I agree, Leslie is a great Democrat and will be a great asset to the Congress!

by Chris Cillizza ("Friday House Line"), rating the 11th CD the #3 pickup opportunity for Dem's in the country, and also that either Leslie or Gerry is highly likely to win this fall?

3. VA-11 (OPEN, GOP-held): The two Democrats -- former Rep. Leslie Byrne and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly -- are, as expected, currently pummeling one another. Connolly is still the favorite but Byrne has run a very creditable campaign. Either one is favored in the northern Virginia seat in the fall. (Previous ranking: 4)

I think this is a great opportunity for a pick up. It's nice to see Virginia Democrats gettingthe natinal attention in "The Fix."
With the hasrd work of VIrginia Democrats, activists and those in the blogosphere, I am confident it will be a pick up.
And I believe Leslie will triumph!

You voted against Chap Peterson's Clean Energy Future Act, a bill that would've created a renewable energy and efficiency jobs training program, established incentives for Virginia-produced clean energy, and set a mandatory renewable energy standard. The vote raised questions about your relationship with Dominion Virginia Power, which has been one of your biggest contributors over the last decade. Why did you vote against the bill?

It's great to have Chap in the State Senate. He is a shining star in our Caucus. I was very excited to wor kwith him on the Student Loan Act which passed and was signed by the Governor.  
While I am extremely supportive of Clean Energy and the concepts in this bill, thisbill went through several substantive revisions the last of which was not available until the last meeting of the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources.
With such a long complicated bill - pages of single spaced type - I was unable to master the details and particulars in that short time period. However, I would be eager to work with Chap ora anyone in the upcoming Session to put together a bill that meets our environmental goals.
In adddition, I was very happy to work with the League of Conservation Voters to support the vast majrotiy of their legislation.
I also introduced a study about low level nuclear waste. Most folks are not aware that we have been disposing of our waste in South Carolina and, after this July, they will not accept it. We have no plan in place abou howw to address this ppending problem. I thought it important that we research it but the majority in the House of Delegates(Republicans!)chose to kill that bill without even a hearing.   Fortunately, our Governor has taken up the study.

do you believe you defeated Benny Lambert in large part because of the Allen endorsement, or did that not play a huge role in the end?  Thanks.

Well, Obviously his endorsement was very distressing to many Democrats, including and especially those in the Ninth Sentate District. However, I also believe that there were many other factors.  

of Dick Cranwell and the future of the DPVA in years to come?

I appreciate the service and dedication of many many years that Dick Cranwell has given to our Party.
I believe the first responsiblity of our next  Party chair will be to make sure we are victorious in 2009. We need to sweep the statewide offices and also take back the majority in the House of Delegates. THe Democratic Party also needs to play an active role in local races.
Moreover, it is the responsibility of the Party to involve more Decmorats. We need to interact with activists, donors, and particulary our new voters. We have seen that thisprimary brought a lot of new people into the process. It is sthe responsibility of the Party to get them active and involved.
THe DPVA needs to be more active in the blogosphere because that is the primary source of information for many folks these days.

I think it is important that the Party chair be someone who is committed to building this Party and willing to invest the time and effort to make a difference and get Democrats elected at all levels.
The new chair should be enthusiastic about working with the grassroots and get out there and talk to andlearn from grassroots Democrats.  

of the transportation special session will be?

What do you think about Gov. Kaine's plan to raise the sales tax instead of the gas tax to boost transportation revenue?

I think it is important we give Governor Kaine an opportunity to go out and meet with the public and get their feedback before we comment on specific mechanisms.
I would just reiterate that there is no free lunch and that to get these critical services, there are going to have to be dedicated funding streams.  

The Governor has worked hard and provided necessary and valuable leadership by providing a starting point for this critical conversation.
I am concerned that the intransigence of the  Republican majority in the House of Delegates will stymie any progress. They need to remember that there is no free lunch. Sure, we need to always tighten our belts, prioritize our needs, but at some point, if we want critical services, we need to have resources. Making certain our raods, bridges and tunnels are safe and that mass transit is available is not a luxury, but a vital need.

...what do you think will be the main themes of the campaign?  Will Democratic candidates be running on the record of Tim Kaine, and if so, what specifically will they point to as the major successes of the Kaine administration?

We have a lot of good things to talk about in 2009 - best managed state, best state for business, best state to raise a child. As a Party we owe a debt of thanks to GOvernor Kaine for achieving these accolades. Democrats do best when we run as problem-solvers and that means putting people before politics. I am confident that next year's statewide ticket will continue in this tradition and I look forward to helping them.  

Kevin Green should have been executed?

Full disclousre I am voting for the R choice in the fall

View about Kaine endorsing Connolly

Specifically why you think this occured, what impact it may or may not have.

What is your view about outside groups getting involved in the campaign.  (Emilys list for Leslie for example)

What is your view about the dark side of campaigning.

Specifically every day I have been getting at least two pieces in the mail.  Also Leslie has gone negative and Connolly has stayed positive.  Any thoughts about why she has gone negative and/or the overall effectiveness of negative campaigning  

Connolly has not stayed positive.  In the flood of mail you may have missed Connolly attacking Leslie using the old misleading quote about Warner and "rat".  And there's the not so subtle push about him being "electable" (my favorite board member Linda Smyth was pushing that crap in a robo call yesterday) - implying that he is the only Democrat who can make it in the fall.

He has certainly not stayed positive.

unless you count the truth as "negative."

The Governor is certainly entitled to make an endorsement. I have considered and still consider both GOvernor Kaine and Leslie to be great Democrats. I obviously am not privvy as to why the Governor made his choice but I continue to respect and admire him.
As a supporter of Leslie, it is our responsibility to go out and work as hard as we can to ensure she is victorious and I intend to do that.
On this, Governor Kaine and I will respectfully disagree.

I'm interested to hear whether you have any thoughts on Governor Wilder's retirement.  

I appreciate the incredible service Governor and now Mayor Wilder has provided to the Commonwealth. He has broken barriers that have opened doors for African-American elected officials like me. I wish him well in his further endeavors.

and your support of Leslie is to be commended ... what is the most important attribute do you think she will bring with her to Capitol Hill?  

Leslie brings a wealth of experience to this position. BUt, just as important, we  all know Leslie is a fighter. She will get to Capitol Hill and fight for the issues and pricniples that are important to us. With Leslie there,I know we will make progress on getting our troops home from Iraq.  

If you were to give a brief contrast of the candidacies of Byrne and Connolly, what would be the most persuasive to democrats considering the choice between the two.

I can't comment on Leslie's oponent. I am really not familiar with him. My endorsement of Leslie is because of my strong beliegf in our  shared values and in my confidence that Leslie will go to Congress and fight for our principles!

For coming to talk with us today, for supporting Leslie Byrne, and also for all of the great work you do in Richmond.  

I appreciate the opportunity to talk to all of you, but, more importantly, I appreciate all your efforts and ahrd work to get Democrats elected.
Thanks you, RK readers, posters and bloggers!

Thanks for talking with me today. Let's get out there and win this primary for Leslie!
My door is always open so let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
Take care,
Donald