Who is your favorite Virginia Politician???
By: doctormatt06
Published On: 5/16/2006 2:26:43 PM
As a 16 year old in high school, I was coming of age, so to speak in many ways, but at the time, I considered myself a independent who leaned republican. A looked upon the policies of Jim Gilmore (who had gotten rid of that awful car tax) and Tom Davis, who I had met when I was 15 and seemed like a nice guy, and saw many things that seemed good. Low taxes, strong on defense, death penalty..etc... But at the same time, I saw democratic ideas that I went along with too, pro-choice, pro-environment, helping the poor, democratic nation-building, fighting the awful Clinton impeachment. I joined my high school's republican and democratic clubs, because I found myself wanting to challange myself with the issues of both sides. That was until one day, when I was visited by a certain person that I'm sure this site knows well....
Leslie Byrne had recently won the State Senate seat for my state senate district here in Northern Virginia. I did not really know anything about Virginia State politics, at the time even my knowledge of national politics seemed to be limited to ongoing Monica Lewinsky Morass. But when she came to speak to the small high school democratic club, she inspired all of us to go out into our community and be active, to work to help the poor, to demand a safe and clean environment, and to always help up, those that are knocked down by unforseen tragedies. It may not have happened immediately, but suddenly those words started to make sense to me. When I looked upon Jim Gilmore's ideas, I saw less and less, money back in my pocket, and more and more, money not being spent on my education and on the roads I was driving. When I looked at Tom Davis, I saw his hypocrisy on the Clinton Impeachment and the lack of traditional values, as he himself got divorced and remarried. I saw myself inexoriably resolved to move myself from a moderate indepedent to the strong liberal that i am today.
So while she may not be the most important politician in my mind, and she may not be my favorite poltiican overall. I must say, Thank you to Leslie Byrne, for showing that being liberal was a great thing, and giving me a kick in the right direction.
Comments
So.... (doctormatt06 - 5/16/2006 2:27:16 PM)
Who's it gonna be??
Yeah..i'm talking to YOU BUDDY!!!!
Anybody... (doctormatt06 - 5/16/2006 3:08:44 PM)
Have any inspiring stories of meeting a politician?
You left off... (Brian - 5/16/2006 8:04:09 PM)
Phillip Puckett.
My favorites are Puckett and Boucher. Oh yeah, and that Kaine fellow.
Leslie's my #2 (Kathy Gerber - 5/16/2006 11:21:51 PM)
For right now I'll keep quiet on #1 for a couple of weeks, but it's probably someone you've never heard of anyway.
AHEM (Ben - 5/17/2006 9:55:36 PM)
Did you forget someone?
:)
Possibly... (doctormatt06 - 5/18/2006 9:40:35 AM)
Do tell???