I just got back from a well-attended, highly successful fundraiser for Arlington County Treasurer Frank O'Leary, held at the home of DPAV Finance Vice Chair Jim Turpin. The special guest was Rep. Jim Moran, who gave us his impressions of the Iraq war spending bill approved today in the House. More on that later, but first Frank O'Leary.
According to O'Leary, the challenge from Bob James was a "surprise attack," totally "blindsided" him. But now, he says "the tide has turned...decisively" for O'Leary. Just today, two of Bob James' endorsers - Lucy Denney and [name deleted at person's request] - ditched James and endorsed O'Leary. According to O'Leary, [name deleted at person's request] is attempting to convince James that "it's not working," and that he'd be best to withdraw from the race (and save Arlington taxpayers $150,000). O'Leary added that "there's little point in this exercise going forward," and that "we need to turn our attention to turning Virginia...blue" this year.
Now, back to Jim Moran. Aside from his strong endorsement of Frank O'Leary as the "best treasurer in the country" who has "earned reelection," Moran talked about today's Iraq war funding vote in the House. According to Moran, the 280-142 vote to fund the Iraq war without any timetables was a defeat ("we lost"). Moran said he voted no, calling the war a "fiasco from Day 1." Moran charged that it was "irresponsible" for anyone to have voted for this bill, and that two-thirds of Democrats had voted no. Moran asserted that "this president's policy is not worthy of the sacrifice of military families," and pointed out that only a small percentage of Americans has really paid for the war.
Moran added that "Republicans own this war hook, line and sinker." Moran predicted that dissatisfaction over the war and anger at the "worst Administration in history" will help lead to major gains in Virginia this year, as well as a "transformative year" in 2008. "We have a real opportunity to rebuke these people." I sure hope he's right!
Some awesome electeds... County Board Chair Paul Ferguson, School Board Chair Libby Garvey, Clerk Dave Bell, Delegate Al Eisenberg, Delegate Bob Brink, Commissioner of Revenue Ingrid Morroy, Commonwealth's Attorney Dick Trodden, Ed Fendley, and of course the wonderful Frank and Linda O'Leary!
Also it was great to see "Mr" Dick Barton, Ed Rock, Carole Lieber, Kevin Appel, Dan Steen, Ann Bisson, Lowell Feld, Ken Bernstein, Nancy Dawsom, Nathan Norton and Murial Tewksbury, Gary Sabean, and many more!