POLL: VA's 2009 Gubernatorial Race: Deeds or McDonnell (Annandale: sales, buyer)

[JD984]

I haven't decided. I'm just glad McAuliffe is out, to be honest.

[FindingZen]

I already voted (absentee) but I won't say for whom.

[robbobobbo]

You would vote for a man who wrote of the need to legally punish homosexuals, because he's the more eloquent of the candidates?

Who, in his questioning of a judge to see if she was fit to remain a judge, brought up the rumors of her being a lesbian as something that would disqualify a judge from serving on the bench?

Not only did he attend Monica Goodling School of Theocrapublican Law (Regent... er...Christian Broadcasting University when he attended - and not accredited at that time), he also served on its board.

Now, as to economics - McDonnell is playing a shell game with the money.

Off-shore drilling? Give me a break. That's not going to happen. The area in question is estimated to contain 6 days' worth of oil, and 18 days' worth of natural gas.

Sell the liquor stores? It's a one-time revenue gain, not enough to make substantial improvement in fixing the roads.

Tolls on the highways? I believe we'd lose federal funds if we did that.

And is McDonnell really "Fairfax's Own"? Funny, down in Hampton Roads, his signs say "Hampton Roads' Own". He grew up here in NoVA, but he made Virginia Beach his home when he came back to Virginia.v

Virginia is a low-tax state. Deeds is being honest - if we want improved roads, we'll have to pay for them. Gilmore tried going the route of "all tax = evil", and the state suffered. Especially education.

Deeds has not run a good campaign - he should have used the thesis issue sparingly, and not as a sledgehammer. It's not true that it's his only issue, but people are convinced it is because he has done a terrible job in controlling the message.

I voted for Deeds in the primary because I thought he represented all of Virginia, not only NoVA. I thought he would have appeal with those in ROVA (but I suppose I'm a terrible judge of ROVA attitudes). To me, he sounds sensible, and as a Democrat, he represents my values much more than McDonnell.

I encourage you to read more analysis of McDonnell's economic positions.

[FindingZen]

Just a friendly reminder to please stick to the issues, avoid a broader national debate and most important, respect each other.

[Denton56]

I am glad to see that the majority here are like the majority of Virginians and have the good sense to support a real leader, Bob McDonnell.
RealClearPolitics - Election 2009 - Virginia Governor - McDonnell vs. Deeds

I might also point out that half of Bob McDonnell's appointees are women as is half of his staff at his office. He also has many gays working for him. He has NO problem with either women or gays. He's VERY proud of his highly accomplished daughters.

[GreenGene]

I suspect McDonnell will win, but I can't vote for him - I just don't trust what he says. I voted for Deeds in the primary. He seemed more genuine than his competition, and he seems that way in the general election as well.

I'll vote for Deeds.

[Yankeesfan]

Yes, he does seem genuinely confused!

[normie]

Originally Posted by Tone509

I already voted (absentee) but I won't say for whom.

Nicely said. Thanks for voting, but most of all thanks for not taking a political side.

Damn, we have such a good forum here. I hate see it get ruined. Haven't you guys seen the damage political discussions have done to other forums? They turn it into nothing but a place for bickering, bashing, and childish behavior. People from other states show up on your forum just to trash "the other side" and nobody seems to have much regard for the truth. The helpful people get turned off and disappear, so soon all you have left is people trashing each other.

I do not want to see this happen with our forum. So like Tone, my official stance is everyone should vote. But I'm not saying who I'm voting for, either.

[cdmurphy]

I'm not a big fan of either candidate. I think Virginia needs to get rid of the governor term limit. It doesn't give anyone a chance to really build momentum, and the position seems to have become merely a "stepping-stone" to bigger and better things. Not that governors shouldn't move on, but I'd rather see someone who's truly dedicated to the job rather than someone who knows it's only temporary and has his/her eyes on the next step.

[terrence81]

I don't know I think McDonnell will probably win. The thing that keeps me from being on his side is the fact that he is sooooooo socially conservative. On one hand the republicans have made it clear that me and my ilk (black and gay) are simply unliked and unwanted by them. At the same time even the left leaning, Deeds endorsing Washington Post admits that Deeds doesn't have a very clear plan on what to do about the traffic in this area (most important to me). He is spending too much time focusing on that darn thesis.

Also I want to point out that McDonnell may have lived in Fairfax county but he's longer from here he lives in more conservative Virginia Beach. So I don't know how well he will have our (Northern Virginians) best interest at heart.

I'm not feeling either candidate to be quite honest. Deeds doesn't sound like the sharpest tool in the shed but McDonnell as mentioned personally doesn't like me. So yeah unfortunately the social conservatism is a deal breaker I'm relunctantly cheering for Deeds.