Saturday I went out and canvassed for Judy Feder and Jim Webb. I worked with Ted, who is just coming back to activism from many years of hiding out because he was concerned that nothing makes a difference in a state as one-sided as Virginia has been. He’s a likable fellow, but I think the people who continued fighting for what they believed in through the years of relative apathy are to be commended. They made this wonderful revolution possible, one person at a time. If we hide out, we silently and tacitly agree with what is going on in our country, state, and county. We need to stand up and protest, even when that protest appears to fall on deaf ears.
I followed Bruce Roemmelt over to the Prince William County Democrats BBQ, and got to talk to Andy Hurst and Jeanette Rishell. It was wonderful seeing them both, as they are both doing very well in their campaign races; soundly trouncing their opponents in the 11th CD and the 50th LD respectively. I am confident of victory in the U.S. Senate race (Webb will win by more than 5%), the 11th congressional race (Hurst will win by a few percent), and the 50th district special election (Rishell should win by over 20%). I am worried about Sharon Pandak‘s campaign to be the next Chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors. There still is not much news about her campaign; and not enough people know how crazy Cory Stewart is to vote against him. He’s running on socially conservative issues – which is nonsense for the office he is seeking (County Supervisors have nothing to do with those issues), so I suspect he’s really just trying to use that position as a launch pad for other political ambitions (much like Sean Connaughton apparently did). We need some news coverage of this race soon.
I am also worried about the Judy Feder campaign and the campaign against the 1st ballot question (the Marshall/Newman “hate” amendment). Both are going to be very tight races where every vote counts. I still have heard nothing but conjecture about the 3rd ballot question, but I have decided to “Vote NO” on both #1 and #2.
Sunday I did a little canvassing for Jeanette Rishell, who is running against Jackson Miller. I find it a bit disturbing that Mr. Miller has totally changed his website to hide from his history of scary extremists endorsing his campaign and his strong ties to extreme social positions. Thankfully, google caches can still reveal those affiliations he is trying to hide from. It’s ironic that his issues website is basically a cut & paste copy of Jeanette’s own issues list… If you live in the 50th; take Miller’s own advice and vote for Jeanette! I ended up cutting the canvassing a little short because of rain, but was very encouraged to find Jeanette has a lot of supporters from both sides of the political devide.
Now I must roll up my sleeves and do more canvassing out in my own neck of the woods for the VoteNO effort.
