I want to recount what happened at a Brigades (grassroots Democratic activist group started after the Webb for Senate campaign) meeting last night. It will not surprise Raising Kaine's readers that we've made our mark with politicians/candidates and they've started coming to our meetings. This is a good thing and we welcome them.
This is where I start speaking for myself. I've lived in Providence District for a long time and I have been dramatically affected by poor land use decisions and the county's failure to work consistently on our pressing need for mass transit. I have really had it with our local leadership's obsequious catering to huge big-time developers.
We have a Democratic primary for Supervisor in Providence District. Charlie Hall is running against the incumbent and Connolly installed replacement (of himself) Linda Smyth. Connolly was at our meeting last night. Linda Smyth arrived later after all the action. I spoke briefly as a Charlie Hall volunteer. Connolly arrived a short time later and spoke about his own nominal campaign against a token Republican for which he proudly announced that he has raised $1,000,000. Why, you may ask, has this man raised $1,000,000? Hang on. After Connolly spoke, Gayle Rubin spoke for Linda Smyth. She appealed to people blogging about the race to adopt a different approach in how they express their opinions. I don't recall her exact words, but it was something along the lines of tone it down. I've lived in this district for 15 years and I did not appreciate the suggestion that my opinions are not valid.
As Gayle was going through her litany of all the wonderful things Linda has done for Providence District, the heckler in me came out and I chimed in "AND TRAFFIC."
After Gayle was done with her presentation my two words prompted the Boss of Fairfax, Gerald "Give ME A Tunnel Or An Elevated Track - I Don't Care The Chairman" Connolly to trot out the typical sort of remark he has been whoring around lately that "Linda's opponent met with Rep. Tom Davis in January." The suggestion (with appropriate snide tone) is that because Charlie Hall had a meeting with Tom Davis he is therefore a Republican.
I'd like to ask Gayle and everyone who supports Boss Connolly and Linda Smyth if they could direct me to their parallel universe. Do they have short, pleasant commutes? Are their Metro cars in good working orders with delays the rare occurrence? Is there open and honest government? Are the secret deals a thing of the past from the old days of the 20th Century? Do they stop pols from spending billions of dollars on huge transportation projects that do not attempt to maximize the benefits for the people who pay the bills? How do I get to this Alternate Version of Gerryland?
Boss Connolly calling one of his critics a Republican is nothing new. It is his swiftboat 2X4. This long time constituent of Connolly/Smyth thinks that the bottom line in this election is land use. Ask Boss Connolly what kind of deals he is cutting behind all those closed doors he keeps in Fairfax County.
What about that $1,000,000? Where did that come from? His Republican opponent is not a particularly serious candidate. This is really about the Boss laying the groundwork to move on to Congress next year if Senator Warner retires and Tom Davis runs for Warner's Senate seat. Do you want a back room, back scratching pol using your home as his private springboard into the United States House of Representatives next year?
As for Boss Connolly's ally Linda Smyth who showed up later at the activists meeting I attended, she was "too busy" to make it to a Providence District Candidates Forum organized by several youth sports leagues around Vienna. She repeatedly refused to attend and then said, "I didn't get the invitation."
Lets send Boss Connolly a message. Elect a reform Democrat to the Board of Supervisors. Vote/campaign for Charlie Hall in the Providence District Democratic Primary June 12th.
Brigades has time allotted for "candidate announcements" where we allow candidates or candidate reps to appeal for volunteers. Lee made a pitch for Hall that was short and decent. Smyth's rep later did the same for her, no complaints. But then she asked for questions. Keep in mind that Brigades is totally agnostic when it comes to primaries, but we allow all candidates to appeal for volunteers. Gerry asked the question of Smyth's rep "Isn't it true that the Post recently reported that Mr. Hallsat down with VA Republicans to plan his campaign strategy?" or something to that effect. It was out of line and inappropriate and not at all in keeping with the spirit of Brigades; I admit to being a little shocked. Jan Mueller stepped in as our facilitator and said something to the effect of "We're not here to debate the candidates, so let's all remain respectful," very well handled. But then Gerry did it again! He said something like "Well, I'm just saying... Republicans." At that point Lee yelled something about living there for years, but then Jan stepped in again and cut off everyone to keep our meeting from devolving. Anyway, it was obvious that Gerry was just inflaming the situation and trying to provoke Lee. Very poor form. A definite lack of decorum from someone I generally have great respect for.
Smyth ran Connolly's Republicans for Connolly campaign in 1999 and stumped for Jane Wood against Leslie Byrne for VA Senate. Why don't they own up to her past and move on rather than spreading falsehoods about others?
Smyth ran Connolly's Republicans for Connolly campaign in 1999 and stumped for Jane Wood against Leslie Byrne for VA Senate. Why don't they own up to her past and move on rather than spreading falsehoods about others?
As for Connolly...Does a "great Democrat" abuse and browbeat his constituents when they present testimony at public hearings that he doesn't agree with? Does a "great Democrat" spread rumor and innuendo about other Democrats just to help his anointed replacement?
Apparently you and I have different definitions of what constitutes a "great Democrat".
However, swallowing the party line by basing an argument wihtout factual evidence of independent thought now that is something I fault you for. Now you are in wingnut territory :-p. Never lose your independence.
Regards
You do not know anything about Fairfax County.
Gerry Connolly is a corrupt, cynical politician.
Public service means nothing to him. Nada. Zero.
Are you saying that Smyth appeared?
Please tell me it was before 7:00 pm and after 9:00 pm.
Remember, Connolly needs Smyth...............
On the one hand, this was a pretty small incident in the grand scheme of things -- Gerry acting annoying and needling others at the meeting.
On the other hand, I was disappointed to see the top elected Democrat in Fairfax County displaying such poor people skills. Most Virginia Democrats I know are modest, nice, decent people. They deserve to be represented by people with the same kinds of attributes.
And that makes Lee Diamond angry.
'nuff said.
Connolly gives excuses that he only does what Tom Davis does. This is chilling.
Even worse, sometimes after a citizen has completed their testimony he launches into an attack on them. If the citizen tries to rebut or correct a mischaracterization, they are sternly told that they have no rebuttal and they are to sit down. Several times Connolly has threatened constituents with being removed from the chamber by the police, even when that person was not out of line.
Linda Smyth engages in similar behavior, although it is hard for her to top Connolly and her style is less boorish. She is condescending to constituents and her speech is dripping with sarcasm, unless those people tow the company line. Both Connolly and Smyth gush over such people.
Connolly was quoted in the newspaper recently talking about citizens "undermining" their elected official. To Connolly and Smyth, that means disagreeing with them.
Connolly and Bush seem to have gotten together to formulate political strategy because they both have a "you're with me or agin' me" attitude. Dissent will be punished.
I sure hope he is not popular. In any case, we do not need to send this guy to Congress. We can win with someone else.
This guy is inside baseball 100% of the time. I think he may be popular with some insiders and, unfortunately, some of my friends who I hope are still my friends. I've watched this for too darn long to sit by and do nothing about it.
Electing people like Connolly is how political party's sow the seeds of their own destruction. Lets get behind a real public servant.
She, of course, did not go to the forum organized by the youth sports leagues in Vienna.
But anyway... if she was able to leave that event and make it to the Brigades meeting something is certainly screwy. The Brigades, being good Democrats, certainly would have forgiven Linda for skipping their meeting so she could attend her own debate.
But she left that meeting to attend, I guess your meeting?
Where do you folks meet?
The worst part was that if Smyth had a meeting with the sidewalk people scheduled in advance, why didn't she say so up front. Not wait until someone had to ask her after the debate.
At the debate, why didn't Smyth insist that the Q & A be alternating?
As an Oakton resident, the issue is important to us. We want to be able to walk up Hunter Mill Road to our new park and/or to Oakton. Supervisor Smyth is trying to make this happen.
Frankly, the venon and misleading information on this website about Linda Smyth is amazing. Please try to be civil and intellectually honest.
In that regard, I have never hear Linda Smyth speak in a disrespectful manner to any constituent. So kindly be fair and don't chuck falsehoods like that at her.
This, in a nutshell, is the difference between the two candidates:
Linda Smyth=Excuses, all talk no action, puppet of Chairman Connolly (even though she says she'd "bite off his head").
Charlie Hall=Responsbility, action over rhetoric, independent voice on the Board of Supervisors.
Which do you prefer?
Second, it is false to say that Linda Smyth has been "condescending," "dripping with sarcasm," et cetera toward her constituents as asserted by the Hall supporters on this thread -- e.g., BettyLou on 6/1 @ 16:33 PM.
Let's try to keep the discussion on issues, not falsehoods.
As for false, Supervisor Smyth is getting money for sidewalks on Lee Highway via the "Spot Improvements" Program. Also, she has heavily focussed on improving the Merrifield area in terms of transportation and job creation.
As for venomous, just why did you feel the need to use the words "inherited" and "wealthy" in the posting?
Let's have a legitimate discourse on the issues.
It is really sad. If Gerry's "he's a Republican" attack on Charlie leads to anyone voting against Charlie it will just indicate the sad state of politics in America. And, of course, Gerry's inability to sway voters based on the real issues of the day. Geez, I just might have to vote for Blaise when that election comes around.
Significantly, all of this was BEFORE the first debate on May 23rd and BEFORE the proposed date for a second debate from the sports leagues. Linda Smyth only arrrived (late) at the Brigades meeting after the conclusion of the Oakton sidewalk meeting. Nothing sinister there -- i.e., she could attend part of one meeting after the conclusion of a previously scheduled meeting.
I am appalled by your repeated falsehoods. If you don't know Linda Smyth's schedule, why are you throwing rocks at her for not attending the meeting. In other words, stop making assertions (e.g., her schedule) unless you have the facts to speak accurately.
By spreading falsehoods about Linda Smyth (which are so easily rebutted), you are doing a disservice to your candidate, Charlie Hall. Clearly, it is you who is attempting to fool and mislead others into voting based upon inaccurate information.
Campaign schedules change constantly, as evidenced by Linda's sudden appearance at the Brigades meeting after Boss embarrassed himself.
Since I did not know Linda's schedule (I would not mind living in the self-absorbed world of Oakton) I cannot even have thought about spreading falsehoods. The district, by the way, extends all the way to the Falls Church city border around Haycock Rd about a mile or so east of Marshall High School.
I think it is time for Oakton Resident to do something else with the time available. But who am I to tell Oakton Resident that ant hills are no fun to build?
By the way, what is your "fact" to support the "self-absorbed world of Oakton." Looks like you can't debate the merits, so you slip into insults. It's a pity.