It looks like Del. Steve Shannon will have some company - and competition - in his race for the Democratic Party's Attorney General nomination in 2009. According to the bio that was emailed to me:
John Fishwick is a trial lawyer who has successfully represented the middle class in legal battles against large corporations. John has represented teachers for over twenty years and individuals whose civil rights have been violated. John has also been privileged to represent individuals and small businesses which were treated unfairly by the government. Recently, John represented an 81 year old woman who challenged Virginia's abuser fee laws.John has been active in Democratic Party Politics his entire life. He was a Virginia co-chair for Dick Gephardt's 2004 Virginia Presidential campaign. John has worked diligently for many successful statewide and local democratic candidates. In 1992, John sought the democratic nomination to Congress for the 6th Congressional District.
John is a graduate of Harvard College and Washington and Lee Law School. He and his wife, Jeanne, have two children, Richard (11) and Jack (10).
John Fishwick's press statement, which I find very intriguing (love the parts about fighting against abuser fees, fighting against "the electric company," and fighting for the middle class) is on the "flip." Anyway, all this can be discussed thoroughly after November 4. Now, back to 2008, and to electing Barack Obama, Mark Warner, Judy Feder, Tom Perriello, Glenn Nye, etc. :)
PRESS STATEMENTOctober 16, 2008
It is time that the middle class of Virginia had an Attorney General who will fight for them. The banks, power companies and large corporations get what they want in Richmond - to the detriment of the middle class. We need an Attorney General who will stand up and fight for hard-working Virginia families.
Each of the last four Republican Attorneys General in Virginia have failed to protect the middle class' financial and legal interests. It is time for a change in Richmond.
I have a history of fighting for the middle class against large special interests with their platoons of lawyers. I was recently honored to represent an eighty-one year old woman who had the courage to challenge the abuser fee laws passed in Richmond. I have successfully represented men and women whose civil rights were violated. It has been my privilege to represent teachers for over twenty years as well as individuals and small businesses who have been treated unfairly by the government. I will bring that same strength and energy to the office of Attorney General.
I am announcing the formation of a campaign committee, Fishwick for Attorney General. This is an important first step towards a possible run for Attorney General. In the coming weeks I plan to travel Virginia and listen to the concerns of our families and our businesses. In these uncertain times, I am committed to giving Virginia's middle class the opportunity to compete on a fair playing field. Not a field where the electric company requests and gets a rate increase that leaves the middle class out in the cold. Not one where hard working Virginians receive a traffic citation only to learn they owe thousands of dollars, and not one where the middle class doesn't have a voice.
I look forward to the opportunity to see how I can best serve the needs of Virginia's families and small businesses. And I look forward to reporting back to you on what I find.
John P. Fishwick, Jr.
This is great news for the party. Assuming Moran's our choice, then Fishwick will add great balance to the ticket. Fishwick is a prominent lawyer from Roanoke. He's not too well known in the rest of the state yet, but I'm in Tidewater and I know of him, so he's not a complete unknown.
either that, or someone in an empty office there is a big JB fan!
Barack proved my point at the Al Smith dinner last night when he disclosed that his real middle name was "Steve". It got a big laugh. He made several other jokes about his name that also got laughs. As my grandmother used to say, "In every pound of humor lies a grain of truth."
I've already voted for Barack, as have all of my family, but it must be conceded that if his name were Steve Jones it would be a lot easier for undecideds (whether they are Hillary voters or otherwise) to conclude that "He's one of us" as Chris Mathews frequently puts it.
Obviously, this phenomenon can morph into invidious discrimination but any party ignores it at their peril and, thus, it is not "utterly ridiculous."
By the way, you didn't answer my question.
For only one reason, but it was a slap in the face to me. I asked him why he voted on a marriage bill that would ensure that 2 consenting adults would not be allowed to care for each other in ICU.
His response: It was a gratuitous (spell) vote.
Then I said, is my life of less value than someone elses?
His response: I'm a conservative Democrat.
My response: then save money, but stay out of my house.
We need progressive representation, not agenda making lawyers.