(gulp) I signed a form for Blanton at a Webb rally, before I understood his past television experiences.

I think Martin Dudziak deserves a shot to run against Cantor.

We need A CANDIDATE...

Is there going to be ANY challenger...

ughh...

Brad Blanton.

Any idea what was the number of votes cast? For the no-candidate option? Can the 7th CD Dems now hold a convention and nominate, say, your guy, Nichole? I take it that's what you indicted by mentioning a convention? What's the time frame?
Boy, it never ends, does it?
Do you have any idea what Nick Kessler and Jim think about the Webb v Miller candidacies?
Teddy Goodson
tgoodson@earthlink.net

See Danny's response below regarding the votes cast.

There will not another convention, as far as I understand. The 7th Committee can select a candidate up until June 13th. They can pick Martin.
Regardless, we need a candidate!!!

I am not sure what Nick thinks about Webb/Miller, it did not come up in conversation.

It does seem like it's neverending, but that's politics!

Teddy,

My final count was 84 No candidates and 32 Blanton.

Danny,

That sounds about right to me. I don't think any of the uncomitted switched to Blanton. Am I right?

Since this was it, there will be no more chances for the committee to bring a candidate forward.  Its my understanding that a candidate can still file by June 13th, but am not sure of the procedure and what is required. For whatever reason, Dudziak could not get 1000 signatures in time, despite me seeing him at multiple Democratic events over the past few weeks.  Even Blanton was able to get the signatures, with his oddball background. 

Knowing at least half of the committee members well, I am certain beyond all doubt that if there was a candidate they felt could make a statement, have a strong showing and be a candidate the Democrats could be proud to support, they would.  Most of the members of this committee that I know are grassroots people that started just a few short years ago and have become involved in their local committees to promote grassroots Democratic interests.  They want a candidate to take on Cantor--but they recognize they have not been presented with such a candidate. 

Not sure if the question was asked about support for Webb or Miller from Jim Nachman or another Jim.  He may have privately changed his mind, but Nachman's comment to me when I asked if he'd sign Webb's petition form was No.  He didn't feel he could since many in his committee had concerns about Webb.  (Richmond City). 

what those concerns were?

He told me at Shad Planking that people in Richmond had "heard bad things about Webb and Affirmative Action"... thanks for spreading lies Harris... and that they were bothered by Webb's past endorsement of Allen.  Don't know how much of that was just talk, but that's what he said.  He was also really pissed that Webb hadn't called him and said that Miller had called him a number of times already because, according to him, everyone calls him. 

It seems that, instead of researching the candidates (easier than ever now until net neutrality is eliminated) and backing the one you like best, many party type prefer that the candidate's suck up to them ("If he won't kiss my ass he can kiss my ass!!!").

I was the Blanton supporter speaking with Jim Nachman outside the convention. There was no mention of a lawsuit. The was an assertion that Blanton could win a three way race between Cantor and a token appointed illegitimate nonfunded noncampaigning Democrat who is merely put on the ballot so there is a candidate with a "D" beside their name. I told Mr. Nachman I would be happy to get a psychiatric evaluation.
While I am here I would like to share with you bloggers for Webb the email I sent today to the 7th District Commitee members and the the City/County Chairs in the 7th---just so your readers get to hear the other side from a Blanton supporter:

Dear 7th District Committee Members and County/City Chairs:
  I was an Edwards delegate in 2004 at the 7th District Convention and at the state convention in Roanoke after joining the Democratic party in 2003. I was a new member at those conventions and watched and participated. On May13, 2006, I participated in what may well be my last democratic party convention in the 7th and would like to offer some comments and suggestions re the debacle I witnessed unfold.
  Two things were apparent: first, how undemocratic the process in the Democratic party really is and second, how irrelevant the rural counties are in this sprawling very gerrymandered 7th District.
  Further to the best of my information and belief  the history is roughly as follows. The 7th District leadership failed to recruit or field a candidate to oppose Eric Cantor in 2004--impossible to win and no one was willing to spend the time and money on a losing cause. In 2005-2006 the 7th District leadership has failed and/or refused to recruit and field a candidate to oppose Eric Cantor in 2006 (same reasons). The 7th District Commitee only held a meeting in late 2005 to address the issue after they refused a request from Rappahanock County to find and field a candidate and Rappahanock went over the head of the 7th District leadership and the Virginia state Democratic made the 7th District Committee hold the meeting requested by Rappahanock. The request to hold a Democratic primary for CD 7 on June 13, 2006, was refused and at that meeting the decision was made to wait until 2008 to run a candidate. Then a very inconvenient thing happened. Two men the 7th Districtleadership  did not and does not like--Martin Dudziak and Brad Blanton decided to seek the Democratic Party nomination to oppose Cantor. This development then forced the 7th District leadership to hold a convention. I was told point blank by a member of the 7th District Committee Saturday that the leadership opposed both Dudziak and Blanton, and that both potential candidates were required to pay a nonrefundable $3304 fee and get 1000 signatures as a "hurdle" to prove they were serious candidates. One candidate eventually chose not to pay the fee or collect the signatures probably figuring he could not win the convention but perhaps could get "appointed" by the committee after the convention at the urging of leadership selected "no candidate". That same failed candidate was busy sending email the week of the convention saying he could still "win" this thing if the convention voted for "no candidate".
  Clearly the 7th District Commitee crafted the call to convention in a manner calculated to deny the nomination to either Blanton or Dudziak. After Dudziak dropped out (whatever his strategy) the "neutral" Chair sent a letter to delegates with the slant that "prefiling" is like "applying for the job" (hint, hint).Then at the convention itself the Chair delayed the start of the convention for 15-20 minutes while members of the 7th District commitee and their cronies went through the convention hall trying to persuade all uncommitted delegates to committ to "no candidate" before the proceedings even began.
  Prior to the convention as late as May 12 the rules were "still being finalized" and were not available to our Culpeper County Chair John Huss. At John's request our neutral chair finally emailed them to me at 11:53PM, Friday, May 12, 2006 after I was already in Richmond with no email access. At the convention our "neutral" chair Marjorie Clark cut off motions and discussion of the rules without even allowing onto the floor a compromise motion from the Rappahanock delegation that might have preserved some unity. The gist of the motion was that rather than truly field no candidate if the commitee did NOT appoint someone by June 12 then the candidate getting the most votes at the convention (Blanton) would have been the nominee. Fundamental fairness required the Chair to allow this motion to be made, seconded and discussed, but instead the Chair disallowed all further motions and discussion to be cut off.Such discussion would have been healthy; refusal to allow such discussion was not healthy.
There followed blatant and overt armtwisting by 7th District commitee members on a one on one basis with all remaining uncommited delegates to get them to support "no candidate".
  Brad Blanton is right on the issues, has fire in his belly, is fully commited, has been campaigning substantially fulltime for over a year, and offered to be as committed to the Democratic Party as the party would be to him. The party made no commitment to him though he offered so he obviously owes no committment at this time. I DO UNDERSTAND that Blanton was rejected because the leadership feels he has "too much baggage".
  In my opinion this debacle of manipulation and lack of communication is the result of seriously failed and negligent leadership by those who been on the 7th District commitee for more than six months. The fear it appears to me was/is not only fear of Blanton but also fear of the grassroots BOTTOM UP politics he represents rather the the stuffy controlling hierarchy TOP DOWN politics which our failed 7th District leadership represents.
  One of the ironies here is that many of the Blanton supporters and all of those who petitioned for him in the 7th were brought into the Democratic Party by the 2003-2004 grassroots campaign of Howard Dean who is now DNC chair. When I joined the Culpeper County Democratic commitee in July 2003 there were four people who regularly attended and perhaps a membership of 15 people. This number has over the last three years quadrupled--both in terms of active attending members and dues paying card carrying members.
  In my humble opinion and I am well aware almost everyone of you will disagree the Democratic Party in the 7th has missed a real opportunity to reinvigorate the party and broaden the so-called "big tent". You have squelched the spirit and enthusiasm of many grassroots Democrats in the 7th. Sadly your debacle is also a bad omen for the Democratic Party nationally as it searches its soul to see if it has the courage to be a REFORM PARTY, which is what the people of this country are ready for. Classic symptom: Nancy Pelose being willing to pledge in advance that Democrats will not seek to impeach Cheny/Bush if the Democrats take control of the House. Is she afraid to be President or does she simply not feel competent to be President? Her stance is like a doctor predicting what treatment a patient will need a year from now. Sadly she (just like you) just doesn't get it that the people have "Had Enough!" Sorry for the tangent, back to the 7th.
  Right now your  failed leadership is in a tough position. You know you will look foolish if you do not "annoint" a candidate after rejecting Blanton. The problem is you are also going to look foolish when you appoint one of your own to be a token Democrat on the ballot in November, especially if that person is not willing to raise money and campaign 18 hours a day (forsaking spouse, children, family and gainful employment). A token candidate will look more foolish than no candidate, and sadly will in many areas of the 7th be opposed by former Democrats.
  The chatter on the street is that Tim Mitchell who led the Pledge of Allegiance hopes to receive your "annointing" even though he has lost prior local elections and was not man enough to put forward his candidacy, present himself to the rank and file Democrats in the 7th, pay his money, get his signatures and win the nomination fair and square. What is LEGAL is not always ETHICAL. I regret Tim that if you actually choose to campaign in the rural part of the 7th you will find many current and more former Democrats asking you hard questions in public about why you want to be our Congressman and why you have chosen this path, instead of standing up like a man and taking a legitimate and ethical path to the nomination.
  One of the 7th District commitee members told me Saturday that if they had to the commitee would draw straws to see which of your commitee members would put your name on the ballot with a "D" next to it as a token candidate. To quote my fellow Culpeper lawyer Andy Gayheart "you couldn't get elected dogcatcher around here as a Democrat". That's why everyone who runs in local races in this end of the 7th runs as an Indepentent.
You people have really done Blanton a favor although he might not feel that way at the moment. The perfect storm is indeed brewing. There will be plently of Republicans who will be looking for an alternative in order to send a message. Some of them will vote for a token noncampaigning candidate for the same reasons you rejected Blanton. Many more who would never pull a lever for a Democrat may well prefer Independent Blanton.
THE REAL SHAME HERE IS THE SEVENTH DISTRICT LEADERSHIP HAS FOR TWO ELECTION CYCLES FAILED OR REFUSED TO RECRUIT AND FIELD A CANDIDATE TO OPPOSE CANTOR.
  As I told Marjorie Clark and Abbi Easter personally Saturday: SHAME ON YOU--each and every one of you on this commitee for more than six months should IMMEDIATELY RESIGN AND ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE REPLACED by real DEMOCRATS who will do the hard work of finding a candidate for 2008. I should hope you realize your token candidate will have no chance; late start, no money, no time to campaign and most importantly no bona fide desire to be our Congressman or woman.
  Personally I do not intend to resign from the Culpeper County Demcocratic commitee (and Va Dem Party and DNC) until you have appointed your token candidate. About the most you can hope to salvage from this debacle is the clarity to replace your failed, ineffective and grossly negligent current leadership so that voters and Democrats like me have something better tyo do than vote in Republican primaries for the "lesser of two evils" because there is no Democrat running.
  Kudos to 7th District commitee member Hank Gorfein for having the courage to speak the truth, perhaps he would make a good chair. Thanks also to fellow former grassroots Dean supporter and fellow DFA member Robin Crane for her calm and relatively clear email. Robin had the courtesy to email me early on (last fall) to express her reservations about Blanton, saying while she might end up voting for him in November that she sould not actively support him.
As to Michael Thelan if you are still reading this, no I was not offended by your email. Indeed your email confirmed what was clear Saturday: half of those voting no candidate are actually Republicans who think they are Democrats and the other half are Republican lite who were led along like sheep by the leadership. So Michael if our leadership does not find a token Democrat for you to vote for I hope you take great pleasure in voting for Cantor rather than Blanton, a man working for the people rather than corporate America. You simply prove the point.
  Your fellow Democrat activist (until June 12),
  Richard Dulaney
P. S. To Martin Dudziak: Don't hold your breath waiting for this leadership to appoint you.
 

Good evening. I am sorry that I mis-understood the conversation that you and Jim had. Please accept my apology. That was the way I read the conversation and actions. This tends to happen in politics.

I understand strongly supporting a candidate and for that I commend you.

Your letter was well written, even if I do not agree with the beliefs expressed within in.

The party of liberals goes against a liberal, pretty pathetic. Okay, you don't like his "nakedness." Big deal, it's part of a therapy session. His sessions, at least according to a quick Google search have helped a number of people.

Blanton is a guy who has fought for everything liberals and progressives stand for and you people turn your backs on him. It's people like you who make me want to leave the Democratic party.

Greater than 0 and less than 2 perhaps?