Russ Potts: "A Sad Comment on Democracy"

So why wasn't Russ Potts there yesterday?  I had a chance to speak with a contingent of Potts' staffers prior to the debate, so I have a bit of "inside" perspective on this.  Not that it's a big surprise, but it appears that Jerry Kilgore is absolutely terrified of Russ Potts.  He also hates him, as do many others in the Virginia Republican Party.  The problem is, Potts threatens to spoil their well-laid plans for Jerry Kilgore.  So there you have it,  hate and fear -- two lovely qualities for a potential governor, eh?  Sadly, though, that's Jerry Kilgore for you.  It's also the right wing of the Republican Party to a tee.

How petty can Jerry Kilgore get about Russ Potts?  Short answer:  VERY!  The other day, for instance, Kilgore even refused to sign a non-partisan letter in the Washington Examiner urging young people to get involved in politics.  Why?  Because, in addition to Tim Kaine, a certain "independent Republican" named Russ Potts had also signed the letter.  Nope, can't have that! 

According to the Potts' people, the Kilgore campaign's thinking on this subject is logical, albeit extremely cynical and Machiavellian:  allowing Jerry Kilgore's name to appear next to Russ Potts' might legitimize Potts' moderate, "independent Republican" candidacy and thereby threaten Kilgore's potential coronation...er, election as Governor.  You know, it's bad enough that Kilgore has to lower himself to appear with the Democrat, Tim Kaine, once or maybe twice ("do I HAVE to, Mr. Howell, sir?") this election season -- albeit NOT in front of Virginia voters and NOT even in the same state.  But to appear alongside a turncoat (aka "moderate") Republican would be completely intolerable, apparently.  At least to the fear-ridden Kilgore Kamp.

All this once again raises the question:  what is Jerry Kilgore so afraid of?  Also, why doesn't Jerry Kilgore trust the voters of Virginia to make up their own minds, as he constantly says he does?  I mean, seriously, if Kilgore is such a superior candidate to his two opponents, as he claims he is, with such a great plan for our state, as he claims he has, then why wouldn't Jerry Boy be EAGER to debate that plan with his two rivals anytime, anywhere, in front of Virginia voters?  I swear, all this would be hilarious if it weren't so serious.  Unfortunately, it's no laughing matter.

The bottom line is that Russell "Terrier" Potts was not there yesterday, just Jerry "Pit Bull" Kilgore and Tim "Boxer" Kaine for a bloody dog fight (hey, isn't dog fighting illegal in West Virginia? what about strained metaphors?).  Couldn't Russ have crashed the dog and pony show (ouch!), I asked the Potts people?  No, they said, it wouldn't have been appropriate - for a dog or for a human (the dog metaphors are mine, by the way, not the Potts people).  Instead, Potts' pack was there yesterday, sniffing around for clues about Kilgore and Kaine, checking out the big dogs, and wondering what they need to do in order to get into this exclusive kennel club.  Meanwhile, we Virginia voters are left out in the cold, a situation which should make us all howling mad.

PS  Given my dog metaphors, one last question springs to mind -- where was Steve "Blue Dog" Sisson yesterday?  Locked up in the yard or something?  Ha ha.

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