Where's Gilmore?
It was all set to be a blockbuster -- former governor Jim Gilmore, the Republican heavy-hitter, v. Virginia Democratic Chairman Dicky Cranwell, Gilmore's former nemesis in the legislature.
And in the middle: Mark Plotkin, the political guru of WTOP radio whose main goal in life seems to be to annoy every politician he can.
With all that, the hour-long debate Friday morning couldn't help but be a doozy.
And then Gilmore backed out.
A royally upset Plotkin told listeners at 10 a.m. that Gilmore -- who had requested an opportunity on the radio -- had called at the last minute to back out.
"If I'm showing my displeasure, I am," Plotkin said.
Gilmore spokesman Dan Kreske said Gilmore had cancelled because of a full schedule Friday morning.
"He had a late flight in from Colorado, a meeting on [Hurricane] Katrina relief, and a meeting with the president of Romania. We had to juggle everything. We'll try to schedule it again."
Plotkin said he called the Virginia Republican Party to invite Kate Obenshain Griffin to take Gilmore's place, but she declined. He said he also requested a Republican delegate, but the party could not provide one.
"I've been rejected, rebuffed and denied," Plotkin told listeners before proceeding with an all-Democratic lineup of Cranwell and Del. Brian Moran (D) of Alexandria.
By Michael Shear |
September 16, 2005; 12:16 PM ET
| Category:
Democrats
,
Republicans
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Posted by: Brian Patton | September 16, 2005 01:22 PM
I knew it had something to do with Kilgore.
And let's blame Bush, too! Hey, I bet Karl Rove is responsible!
Those evil Republicans!
Posted by: Hah! | September 16, 2005 03:47 PM
What does the President of Romania want with Jim Gilmore?
Posted by: Kenton Ngo | September 16, 2005 08:19 PM
Mark Plotkin is just silly - seems like all he is interested in is DC Statehood.
Message to Mark Plotkin - DC is not a state - if it is it is part of MD. ( parts of Arlington/Alexandria used to be in the DC also).
I understand that Karl Rove was behind Katrina using advanced FEMA weather making technology.
Posted by: Observer | September 16, 2005 09:58 PM
Regardless of what the president of Romania wants with Jim Gilmore, he can have him.
Posted by: JamesRiverGOP | September 17, 2005 01:01 AM
People can trash Gilmore's record as governor all they want, but what few people note is that he began cutting government when revenues when went down, rather than end tax cuts or raise taxes. Warner continued the cutting when he took office. Jim Gilmore delivered what he promised and stood behind it. People might not have agreed with it, but they knew where he stood.
And, with emergency response in the news, Gilmore's work on the subject has been outstanding. It is a shame that President Bush did not appoint Gilmore to Homeland Security or is apparently not considering him now as someone to lead the nation's review of emergency planning.
Posted by: Will Vehrs | September 17, 2005 11:55 AM
Did Gilmore ever deliver ALL of his papers to the State Library (as required by LAW) on that silly "No-Car Tax" thing?
Posted by: Soccer Mom | September 17, 2005 03:19 PM
DEMOCRATS RULE!!
Posted by: | September 17, 2005 05:17 PM
Will,
Gilmore's deficits rendered the state insolvent. By the end of the administration jobs were disapearing and unemployment peaked at record levels. Satisfaction with state government hit an all-time low.
The reasons why this happened is pretty clear cut: fiscal mismanagement has provable negative consequenses. Only politicians benefit from promising to cut taxes without also balancing their budgets.
Sure, Gilmore stuck by his promises and cut taxes. However, he never stopped spending. In real terms the net worth of Virginia families decreased beyond the benefit of the avoided tax payments.
Kilgore is making the same promise. That still doesn't make the promise make any sense.
I hope (duh!) that he won't win, just for this reason. However, should he get elected my opinion of him will greatly improve if, God be willing, he breaks that pledge and dedicates himself to fiscal responsibility.
Posted by: Fireflyinva | September 18, 2005 06:42 PM
By the way, Will, I never "talked trash" about Gilmore. I only referenced his record and requested accountability from our candidates.
Are you suggesting that we shouldn't expect accountability from Kilgore?
Posted by: Fireflyinva | September 18, 2005 06:46 PM
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This goes back to the deal with Kilgore and not wanting to have an open debate.
For some reason, Republicans have just decided that if they cannot have complete control over the discussion then its not worth having.