From the Webb campaign...another example of how George Allen isn't listening to the people of Virginia.
Fredericksburg, VA. +óGé¼GÇ£ George Felix Allen opened his 2006 Listening Tour with ears plugged. Appearing at the Fredericksburg Country Club[1], before quickly dashing to his next stop, Allen didn+óGé¼Gäót have time to stop at any of the 25 rehabilitated homes in the Mayfair neighborhood of Fredericksburg that will offer affordable prices to potential homeowners. The affordable housing project is made possible by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development+óGé¼Gäós Community Development Block Grants[2], a program that Allen doesn+óGé¼Gäót +óGé¼+ôgive a shit about.+óGé¼-¥[3]+óGé¼+ôThat+óGé¼Gäós right, read the Senator+óGé¼Gäós lips,+óGé¼-¥ said Webb spokesperson Kristian Denny Todd. +óGé¼+ôCommunity Development Block Grants have proven successful in Fredericksburg and numerous other locals throughout Virginia. But George Felix Allen not only doesn+óGé¼Gäót care about them, he saw fit to shove his apathy in the face of many hardworking Virginians who can now +óGé¼GÇ£ no thanks to him +óGé¼GÇ£ afford a home.+óGé¼-¥
The Community Development Block Grant Program provides funds that make affordable housing a reality in Fredericksburg, a city where +óGé¼+ôhalf of its residents have incomes at or below 80 percent of the median.+óGé¼-¥ The Central Virginia Housing Coalition, a Fredericksburg non-profit, receives the funds for down payment assistance on revitalized homes that are also tied to below-market financing grants from the Virginia Housing Development Authority, the state's housing finance agency. The homes are +óGé¼+ôexpected to sell at about half the average home sales price in the Fredericksburg area and one third the price in the Washington region.+óGé¼-¥ Those +óGé¼+ôwho live, work and raise a family in the area,+óGé¼-¥ will have a greater opportunity for affordable housing, an +óGé¼+ôever scarcer commodity.+óGé¼-¥[4]
According to the Virginia Association of Realtors, the median price for houses in Fredericksburg has increased $211,140 since Allen took office in the Senate.[5] But Allen+óGé¼Gäós already left Fredericksburg, off to his next tour location. If he decides to return, maybe he+óGé¼Gäóll take the time to actually +óGé¼+ôlisten+óGé¼-¥ to the working people of Fredericksburg.
[1] Senator George Allen+óGé¼Gäós 2006 Listening Tour Schedule Lists the Fredericksburg Country Club as Allen+óGé¼Gäós only scheduled stop in the city. [Allen Senate Release, 8/2/06][2] The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Homes and Communities reports on affordable housing in Fredericksburg on their Web site, http://www.hud.gov/n.... [U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Release, 4/28/06]
[3] Allen said, +óGé¼+ôI don+óGé¼Gäót give a shit about Community Development Block Grants.+óGé¼-¥ [Roll Call, 3/7/95]
[4] The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Homes and Communities reports that affordable housing is +óGé¼+ôscarce,+óGé¼-¥ and that revitalized homes will sell at half the average price of other homes in Fredericksburg. [U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Release, 4/28/06]
[5] The median price for houses in Fredericksburg has increased $211,140 since Allen took office in the Senate. [Virginia Association of Realtors, Virginia Home Sale Prices & Market Activity]
Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign. The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not necessarily represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.
You guys are desparate.
Hmmmmmmmmm...who is desperate?
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz................
Wake me up when you have something interesting to say.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz................
I remember going door to door last year in a local election and a guy in one of those McMansions said, "I'm a social liberal but I don't want my taxes to go up, so I'm voting for the Republican." Now this house had about 5,000 square feet in it, and I'm thinking, "Why don't you just admit you're a rich greedy bastard and cut the social liberal stuff."
Ah well.
As for the trolls, my 6th grade teacher was right. She always said "Empty vessels make the most noise." I wish they had something of substance to offer because it helps one question and reanalyze one's own beliefs.
In the end, the Allen people actually made a joke about it which is easy to find on the internet. Truth is, it's a pretty callous statement although I'm more concerned with votes than the statement. This may be a good place for Webb to actually offer a policy initiative to "put some meat on the bone" (as I keep saying).
Also, I've heard we're finally using a tracker to follow Allen. Even though a lot of folks derided Allen for this, I think it's a good idea and hopefully a sign that things are coming together.
As Allen and Roberts were walking toward the Senate subway, our informant heard Allen say, "I don't give a shit about Community Development Block Grants. Virginia doesn't see any of that money."
If you want to hold public office, you'd better assume that anything you say is on the record, unless you specifically say that something is on background, or not for attribution - and then, as the press will tell you, if you lie the ground rules no longer apply.
Has Allen even issues a pro forma statement that his words were out of context, or that they were a private statement and don't reflect his public position? If not, and his statements are on the public record, as they are in this case, then it is legitimate to point out that he has NOT denied them.
Gaem, set, match.
Actually, Roll Call cites an anonymous source on March 7, 2005 (not the same date, 10 years earlier), of Senator Allen talking to another senator.
If this is what RK has resorted to as front page news -- unsubstantiated claims of what Senator Allen might have said to another senator a year and a half ago... well, then the nutroots have gone from pathetic to downright laughable.
Wake up and smell the Democracy burning.
Can't? Why?
Oh, ignorant, silly rhetoric, never mind.
I think I am safe in saying that the cash differential was no place near a 12-1 ratio. I know something about the figures, and They are a lot better than people may think.
But heck, let them continue to assume that Webb doesn't have resources. Let them continue to think that all we are doing is blowing smoke.
He doesn't like helping people, does he? Unless they can afford Cheny's secret fundraisers, that is....
*cha-ching*
Allen's biggest challenge is that too many people know him.
Allen's going to have to spend a whole lot more $$ to keep his sorry a$$ in that Senate seat. He's been campaigning since his last election- hell, he's been campaigning all his life. As a Senator so far he's spent (2001-2006) Total: $5,707,657 on publicity. I guess Virginian's ought to recognize him by now!
How come Allen can't pull an approval rating of more than 48%??? Could it be that a large percentage of Virginian's don't care for him? Maybe a few more really hate his guts?
There's a good reason Allen sticks to the country clubs; he can't afford the bad press he'd get if he showed up where someone might not be into sycophantic genuflection and other forms of brown-nosing.
Maybe I'm being a little harsh because I don't care much for tobacco spitting phoneys that pose as rednecks but who've never done a hard day's work in their life, and who gobble up all the land, all the gas, all the money in sight, and leave crap for everybody else. Maybe I don't like guys who act like they're entitled to take and take without giving back.
I admit that I have a bias, but when I really do my best to set that bias aside and figure out what George Allen has done done for me during his long public career in Congress, as Governor and as Senator, there's nothing there.
Webb definitely has a shot at winning, even though he's fighting an Republican incumbant who has tons of money in a state that's voted mostly Republican until now.
Here's why I nitpick. This campaign, and these blogs cannot be about Allen's negatives. It has to be about Webb and his greatness. Voters don't throw out generally popular incumbents with no huge baggage (like Burns) unless the challenger presents a real viable option. We keep shouting 48% and they keep shouting 32%. The result of that battle is a low turnout election with Allen winning. Webb will only win if he inspires people to vote FOR HIM, not depressing people into voting AGAINST ALLEN.
There are plenty of reasons to vote Allen out of office and I look forward to all the efforts to bring that message to the voters. But let's not lose sight of fact that Webb brings something positive to the table while we bash Allen. That positive message will shine through in what is sure to become a really ugly negative battle.
Caprara was a disaster. He ran the agency like a dictatorship and the vast majority of talented civil servants left the agency. Caprara was incompetent. He had absolutely no credentials that would have qualified him to run DHCD. His tenure was brief. The official word was he left to run for Congress in the 1st District. He lost to Herb Bateman with only 20% of the vote.
One has to wonder why GFA would appoint someone so obviously unqualified to head an important State agency...maybe he didn't think housing and/or community development was worthwhile. Perhaps, he thought so little of the agency, he used the Directorship to aquire favors from the national GOP. Whatever his motivation, he gutted a highly effective State Agency.
Caprara had served in HUD under Jack Kemp. Rumor has it Kemp knew of Caprara's connection to Sun Myung Moon.
David Caprara was appointed by W to head Americorp/VISTA.
We are troubled, however, that Allen is profiting off a drug that many of his evangelical supporters consider a form of abortion. Allen is staunchly pro-life yet owns stock in Barr Laboratories, makers of Plan B, or the morning-after contraceptive pill, according to his financial disclosure report.
Taken within 72 hours of intercourse, Plan B prevents pregnancy.
It seems hypocritical to oppose a woman’s right to choose while investing in a drug that does just that.
Allen should dump his Barr stock.