otherwise, why would he be spending all his time here in Virgina?  He's already building an organization, etc. Give me a break.

His ties to lobbysists, insurance companies, etc., would kill him as a candidate, kill the party's chances of hanging on to the governors seat, and kill any hopes of capturing both branches of the legislature.  We would kiss off having an impact on redistricting as well - and isn't that why we have all been working so hard?

McAuliffe is way to close to the Clinton's and is no stranger to controversy:

McAuliffe, the mastermind of the White House coffees and the Lincoln Bedroom sleepovers, is especially close to the Clintons. Estimates are that he has raised over $300 million for the Clintons over the last 10 years. He also offered them a $1.35 million loan guarantee to buy the house the couple now owns in Chappaqua, N.Y. (After a storm of controversy, the Clintons secured a loan from a commercial bank.)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories...

Google McAuliffe and read all the crap that is out there on him - from his real estate "deals" in Florida to the insurance companies he was/is involved in.

It ain't pretty.  

on every point you just made.  As to McAuliffe's "controversies," I'd give them as much credence as the Clintons' "controversies."  None, in other words. Republicans just didn't like the fact that the Clintons and McAuliffe were always kicking their butts. :)

you're just parroting right-wing talking points (and bad ones at that) against a guy who has spent his life fighting for the Democratic party, and who is currently stumping for Barack Obama across Virginia harder than possibly anyone except for Tim Kaine?  By the way, I've criticized people who have come and this blog and tried to tear down Brian and Creigh (mostly, for idiotic reasons like Brian has a "Boston accent" or whatever). I will do the same for Terry McAuliffe.

Moran and Deeds because of their accents is idiotic.

But my reasons for criticizing McAuliffe are sound and valid.  He has been a high roller since the early '80's when Tony Coehlo first hired him as a fundraiser.  For most of his public life, he has been immersed in high stakes financial dealings, in his private and "public" life.  McAuliffe has never run for public office, and, therefore, has never truly been vetted.  So if he wants to run for governor, he has to be vetted.

Yes, he has done a lot for the Democratic Party, but that does not mean he gets a free pass.  Regardless if you believe these are "right-wing talking points" there is a lot of crap out there about him and his financial dealings, and he needs to be fully vetted before he is crowned the Democratic nominee.  

Quite frankly, both Moran and Deed's are qualified to be governor - McAuliffe is not.

McAuliffe, as the nominee, would be routed in a general election and we as a party would suffer as a result.      

And it's bad to raise a lot of money for Democrats?  Wow, you must REALLY hate Mark Warner! :)

the subject.  

The entire free world knows how Mark Warner made his money - in the cellphone business.

How many on this blog know how Terry made his?

Making money is not the issue - how you make it is.  And that issue will dominate the fall campaign in 2009 if McAuliffe is the nominee.    

And the problem is? Right, none.  Next topic.

surprised, needless to say.    

But can you really see this guy as governor of Virginia?  He would be an electoral disaster heading the ticket in 2009.  

And in a state that Obama won by 26 percentage points during the primary, I don't see him gaining much traction with Obama primary voters.

guidelines.

* Users who are excessively or pointlessly bashing the Democratic Party or its candidates, or are being Republican trolls, are subject to banning. Again, our actions will be dictated by the specific circumstances.

So, besides excessively and pointlessly bashing Terry McAuliffe (with the same mindless, non-factual, right-wing talking points), a potential Democratic candidate for Governor of Virginia, do you have anything else to say?

for pointing out facts I obtained on Google?

And Terry McAuliffe is not a candidate - it says so in your own headline!

Stop repeating the same right-wing talking points over and over again. Talk up your candidate and stop tearing down another potential candidate for no good reason.  Thanks.

everything I have documented above is information I found in news articles about McAuliffe - not on blogs or anything like that.

I do not know what the right wing talking points are about Terry McAuliffe are - I am very concerned about his financial dealings and the impact that could have on the Party in the fall of 2009 if he is our nominee, simple facts I found in a Google search that took all of 5 seconds.  They guy has never been vetted and quite frankly, should be discussed.  

However, you seem to have an issue with this - which is not surprising, since there is a lot of talk that McAuliffe is or will be hiring you, as I mentioned in a prior post.

Considering all the tough things you have said against Tim Kaine, and what you have allowed Ben to say on this blog, it is really unfair to suggest I am a "Republican Troll" and should be banned, per your guidelines.  I was for Obama months before you were, when you were supporting Hillary for crying out loud.  

So, save your time banning - I'm out of here.  This is a great blog - but your blog and your employment are starting to cross in such a way that you try to stiffle those who do not back your candidate.

Best of luck to all.

   

for your candidate.  I have no problem with you making your case, based on factual information (or differences on policy, or on electability), against opposing candidates.  All I'm saying is to follow our posting guidelines.  I've got to say, though, I find it fascinating that every time I post something on Terry McAuliffe, you're on here a second later to bash him.  Whats' up with that?

(Disclaimer: I have been inclined to support Brian Moran).  

Having said that, I think Deeds is a nice man, but I continue to worry that he is not ready for the top job.  I am very disappointed he didn't run for AG, which he could have won and excelled at.  It is likely I would have supported him for that.  But I do not think he will win over Bob McDonnell.  And that worries me.

I was also not inclined to support another Clintonite (McAuliffe).  The Clinton era is and should be over.  We can pay due homage to the Clinton's for what they have done for Democrats and not buy into the notion that we need a restoration of some kind.  

I didn't appreciate a lot of Terry's comments over the past year.  And I had thought he's a lot better at managing a campaign (though his last candidate lost) that fronting one.  

But hearing him speak on Sat I think he would be a stronger candidate than I thought.  I know one speech isn't a complete enough test, anymore than one debate could be for Sarah Palin to prove herself.  But McAuliffe is no Sarah Palin.  He's extremely smart and conversant on the issues and an outstanding speaker.

I will try to keep an open mind.  Still inclined to support Moran, despite McAuliffe's possible entry into the race.  But if he enters he, he will likely change it overnight.  Even SW Virginia might vote more Blue than ever.  And that's worth thinking about.  We absolutely cannot afford Bob McDonnell as governor.  Virginia would never be the same again.  And the change would be all negative.  I think we are going to have to be pragmatic here.

can wait until later to get overly into arguing for our choices.  And we shouldn't get too distracted.  And we shouldn't get divided up over a race that will start in earnest later.

When the time is right we can make our primary choices.  

And I hope when that time comes, we will focus mainly on making the argument FOR our candidate (whoever that may be) and not try to tear down the other guys.  True, Democratic primaries often get very heated, and I've been a fighter in a few of them myself, but I'm really hoping we can keep the 2009 Democratic races at a higher plane, so that we are all unified when it comes time to face "Taliban Bob."