Life is a State of Mind

I have already contributed a small amount to “Byrne for Congress” to help her win the Democratic Nomination and the 11th congressional district of Virginia. The 11th will almost certainly go to the Democratic winner of the primary on June 10th. Incumbent Republican Tom Davis is retiring, so there is no incumbent advantage. The district has been trending more and more Democratic for a long time.

Leslie Byrne won the district solidly in 2005 against Bill Bolling (R) for the office of Lt Governor (he narrowly won state-wide, but she crushed him by 10 points in the 11th district). She has been the congresswoman of the 11th before they redistricted it from her. She is an excellent candidate and leader and would represent the 11th far, far better than Gerry Connolly.

Connolly has not really been against the Iraq War until it became politically expedient for him recently. Connolly has a few too many ties to the military-industrial complex and big business to honestly represent common working people of the 11th district. Connolly was not willing to come out and endorse Obama nor Webb until it became clear that those were winning propositions for his own campaign. Connolly only last November won the election to be the Fairfax County Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and he should give a little time to Fairfax County before using that office to launch his own political interests.

Byrne has been against the Iraq War from the beginning, she helped get Webb to run for senate. She is not currently in any office at all, and this one should be hers. No one has worked harder for the people of the 11th district for over a decade, not even incumbent Tom Davis (for whom the office is and was popularity trophy).