We're here, liveblogging from the JJ Dinner in Richmond. Lowell, Josh, and Eric reporting. This promises to be the biggest JJ Dinner in Virginia history. Organizers predict the largest plated dinner in Richmond history. Let's put it this way, last year there were hundreds, this year, we may top 4000. What changed?
Could it be top of ticket victories for Warner, Kaine and Webb? Could it be dueling endorsements of Edwards by State Dem Chair Dickie Cranwell and for Obama by Governor Tim Kaine? Could it be that Virginia Democrats are on a roll and ready to fight statewide for the State Senate in 2008 and for the Presidential Nominee in 2009?
Yes! All of the above, and more!
We attended the "Path to Victory" breakout panel hosted by Senator Creigh Deeds, and with panelists including Steve Jarding, John Dixon, and Ellen Qualls.
Here's a quick summary of the discussion.
Deeds: Is Virginia Blue?
Dixon: Moving in that direction.
Jarding: Never thought it was red. Dems gave up in certain areas. You've got to talk to voters where they live. If you do that, I believe you can win anywhere.
Winston: It's a purple state. Candidates matter, message matters, campaigns matter. We can win around the state.Deeds: Marriage amendment won big despite Webb's victory.
Jarding: People are diverse. We have to define the issues, don't let them define the issues. Most people are hurting, most people don't worry about gay rights and abortion on a daily basis.Deeds: Virginia's role in Presidential politics.
Jarding: Kerry pulled out early and still didn't lose by much. Need Dems with a message that speaks to people; economic populism. When you write off 27 states, you're probably not gonna win 'em. Over the next 20 years, there will be 50 more EV's in the South. We'd better figure out a way to win in the South.Deeds: What was the roadmap for Jim Webb to win Virginia?
Jarding: There wasn't much of one for a while. "You find a good horse." Allen was vulnerable, Bush was unpopular. Allen didn't want to be running for Senate, wanted to be in Iowa running for President. We went after Allen hard, in their face. Webb had to win NOVA and he did. Jim Webb could NOT have won without the netroots.Deeds: How do we take back the State Senate and gain seats in the House of Delegates this year?
Winston: Voters want people who reflect their values, rooted in community, cares about people like me.
Jarding: Have to know your district. Know where peoples' fears and insecurities are. Do good research on your opponent.
Dixon: To beat an incumbent, you need to disqualify the opponent AND make yourself a credible alternative.
Winston: Takes a lot of time and energy. Have to get up and make those phone calls and knock on those doors.Deeds: Are Dems still vulnerable on social issues?
Jarding: We're vulnerable if we let ourselves be vulnerable. Family values are a Dem. issue. Families are hurting, not because of two gay men getting married in Massachusetts. We need to take them on, debate them on all these issues.
Dixon: Need to take stem cell issue and turn it on its head. Need to emphasize the enviornment.Deeds: Are all politics local, or are these elections about national issues?
Dixon: Tap into anti-Bush sentiment, plus continue the momentum of Kaine/Warner/Webb.
Winston: You guys should be fired up about this election. Your $25 goes a lot further in a legislative race than in a Presidential race.
Jarding: We're either going to break out or we're going to keep drifting. Right now, we're not winning, the lobbyists are winning. People aren't getting representation. Virginia's on the cutting edge.
Deeds: You can't beat something with nothing. This could be a wave year.
Jarding: Make them defend their votes.
One final note: STEVE JARDING IS AMAZING! He had rousing ovations a half dozen times. He needs to run for office in Virginia. There's no seat he couldn't win.
have a great time!
And as a side-note, Phil Kellam throws the best parties in the Commonwealth.
Any chance he would run against Virgil Goode? Any chance he could win?
Spill the details, dude! Tell me how it all went! I want every single little detail possible!
but...Just wanted to point out, the previous record for a JJ attendance was 1,400, today there were over 3,000!!!
Now, I know a lot of that was for Barack Obama, but let me tell you, the Democrats in Virginia are fucking excited, and the Commonwealth WILL be in play in '08.
We saw Connie Brennan first thing and had lunch with them and a couple of other folks (don't remember all the names). Bruce Roemmelt and his wife were there, too.
We finally met teacherken and Leaves on the Current! Really enjoyed talking with them - enormous positive energy with those two. We met Vivian Paige at the Webb reception. Vivian's also high energy :)
Other bloggers we already knew - Mark (and Lisa!), Lowell, Josh, Jaime, Thad, Greg Kane - hope I'm not forgetting anyone. What a great group of folks! We missed Gordie who couldn't make it.
Funniest moment - when Henry Marsh dropped some cards in the lobby and Jaime returned them...
Most embarassing moment - not remembering what union I belong to.. I'll chalk that up to acronym saturation.
I really enjoyed talking history with Richard Stewart. He has a museum at Pocahontas Island near Petersburg.
Pocahontas Island was added to the state and national historical district registries in 2006 due to its history as the largest population center of free blacks in the state during the 1800s. Many of them owned slaves themselves and fought as Confederate soldiers. Overall it was much more difficult for black soldiers to get their pensions - that's another story.
Another link -
http://www.progress-...
Dinner and speeches would be too long for a comment here and will certainly be covered. But my guess is that the reason Governor Kaine endorsed Obama is because of trust in a common set of values via their Harvard experience. Similarly, a number of vets supported Webb because of a shared understanding of leadership.
The visions are not as different as are the origins. I do not agree with those who argue for over-representation of veterans in public office. Such over-representation of veterans translates in practice to making our most imbalanced situation much worse - the under-representation of women in public office.
Obviously, THEY don't know how to handle intelligent, assertive women!
Please keep up the great work and the on-point comments.
Thanks!
Steve
Anyhow, conversation about moving came up precisely because I raised the question, talking about how impressed people were when he spoke on Webb's behalf back in the campaign and the video was circulated. That's when he told me about moving.
COuld be they are moving to Rapid City. I wasn't taking notes. But it was clear they will officially again be residents of his home state.
Perhaps we could persuade him to run against John Thune?
Rapid City is central to the Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments, Custer State Park (plenty of buffaloes roaming there), the Badlands National Monument, the Black Hills, Devil's Tower National Monument and, of course, Sturgis!
Deadwood is a fascinating place to visit as well, and I believe that Steve and his wife and children will be most appeciative of all that the area has to offer families.
I guess it's true that "all's well that ends well", but I really don't think that we've heard the last of Steve Jarding, either.
I certainly hope not...
Thanks again!
Steve