Speaker Howell Vows to "Win Back" Loudoun

Is this a joke or what?

House Speaker William J. Howell made it clear yesterday that he is looking to Loudoun County to help Republicans keep control of the House of Delegates in the 2009 elections.

"I know this sounds self-serving, the presidential stuff is important, but next year we've got House of Delegates seats, and there's a couple that are representing Loudoun and parts of Loudoun County that I know we can win back," Howell told a meeting of the Loudoun County Republican Committee.

Yeah, after Tim Kaine won Loudoun County (52%-46%) in 2005, Jim Webb won it (50%-49%) in 2006, and Karen Schultz won it (52%-44%) in 2007, that's really likely to happen. Maybe after Judy Feder beats Frank Wolf in Loudoun County this November, then Bill Howell can start his great comeback? Or not. :)

Wolf is a Bush Rubber Stamp, Part 2,753

George W. Bush this morning:

Speaking at a White House news conference Tuesday morning, the president said one solution to the energy crisis would be drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR.

"This is a litmus test issue for many in Congress," President Bush said. "Somehow, if you mention ANWR, you don't care about the environment. Well, I'm hoping now people, when you say ANWR, it means you don't care about the gasoline prices."

Sen. Schumer's response:

In his remarks on Capitol Hill, Mr. Schumer took particular issue with Mr. Bush’s characterization of the energy crisis, saying that the president’s proposed solution of drilling in ANWR would reduce the price of oil by a single penny in 20 years. During that time, Mr. Schumer said, Americans would continue to pay higher gas prices at the pump, while profits for oil companies would soar.

Frank Wolf=Bush Rubber Stamp:

From the 2006 League of Conservation Voters scorecard, "Wolf supported drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), with its 'abundant and diverse wildlife, including rare musk oxen, polar bears, grizzlies, wolves, millions of migratory birds, and more than 120,000 caribou.'"

Once again, what the press conference this morning proves is that it's time for a change in the 10th CD, time for someone in Congress who won't be a rubber stamp for any president, who will fight for the environment and the people, who will not just do the bidding of the oil companies like Frank Wolf does. In sum, it's time for Judy Feder.

Judy Feder #11 Nationally in Cash Competitiveness

Over at Swing State Project, they've compiled a list of the top 75 non-open seat House races and ranked them in terms of their cash-on-hand competitiveness. Judy Feder ranks #11 nationally, with an impressive 98% competitiveness rating against incumbent Frank Wolf. The 5th CD's Tom Perriello checks in at #15, with an 84% rating vs. Virgil Goode based on the latest filings. 2nd CD newcomer Glenn Nye clocks in at #44, with a 38% rating so far against Thelma Drake. Not bad at all!

Obviously, money isn't everything, but nonetheless this is encouraging news for Feder, Perriello, and Nye. And it doesn't even count the open seat in the 11th CD, which is a very likely Democratic pickup. In short, things are looking good for the "blue team" here in Virginia, especially considering that Republican turnout in the Virginia presidential primary February 12 was around 490,000, compared to over 950,000 for the Democrats (Barack Obama alone received 100,000+ more votes than all the Republican candidates combined). Take one guess who's more fired up in Virginia this year, Democrats or Republicans? :)

McLean Connection: Feder and Wolf Set the Money Pace

The current McLean Connection makes it clear: Judy Feder and Frank Wolf are in a 10th CD league of their own when it comes to money.

U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) and Democratic challenger Judy Feder raised nearly the same amount of money and significantly more than their primary opponents during the first three months of 2008.

Wolf has $715,358 headed into a primary against Ashburn Republican Vern McKinley, who has raised $18,325 overall. Feder has $700,046 to face Air Force veteran Mike Turner, who has raised $82,193 overall, in the Democratic primary.

In short, Judy Feder's the only challenger -- Republican or Democratic -- who is keeping pace with Frank Wolf in terms of money raised. And that's important. As Luke McFarland, Judy Feder's campaign manager, noted, "Part of what is different about Judy is that she is even with Frank Wolf in her ability to spend and get her message out to the voters."

As to the source of money for the various candidates, here's the key, according to the McLean Connection article:

It is hard for any challenger — even those who can fund raise like Feder — to find money inside a district. Both Turner and McKinley also raised the majority of their money out-of-state.

And Luke McFarland is quoted, "Jim Webb won with only 51 percent of his money coming from in-state." In other words, that's just the way it goes in politics -- incumbents get lots of money from inside their districts, some of which comes from people who hope to get something from said incumbent. Challengers get some money from inside their districts, but also a significant percentage from other places. I believe it's been this way for, oh, forever. As even Judy's primary opponent notes, "I don’t begrudge Judy her out-of-state money. She is getting money anywhere she can get it and good for her." Good point.

You Are Cordially Invited...

Judy Feder at May 2 NV Democratic Business Council Meeting

The May 2 NV Democratic Business Council meeting sounds like an interesting one, with Del. Brian Moran giving a Legislative Update on the Veto Sessions, Special Sessions, Bonds & Transportation. Also, Judy Feder will share comments about how her campaign is going. The event will be held on Friday, May 2, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. at the Fairview Park Marriott. For more information, contact Scott A. Surovell at ssurovell@smillaw.com

Judy Feder: Frank Wolf will "keep on failing us"

"Whether it's health insurance, people seeing their neighbors lose their home because of the mortgage crisis, or people horrified by the seemingly neverending war in Iraq, people want change. Frank Wolf, 27 years; I don't think he's gonna bring people that change. He's told the voters of the 10th district, elect him again, he's gonna keep on failing us just as he's been. I'm running to bring about that change."

Frank Wolf on Earth Day

It's Earth Day, and here's a reminder why Frank Wolf needs to be replaced as the 10th CD's congressperson.

*Wolf has voted time and again against clean, renewable energy.

*Those votes have earned Wolf dismal ratings from the League of Conservation Voters - a 27% average over the past 5 years. Awful.

*On December 6, 2007, Frank Wolf voted against H.R. 846, "Providing for the Consideration of the Senate Amendments to the Bill (H.R. 6), Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act." Again, what does Frank Wolf have against the environment and energy security?

*On January 18, 2007, Frank Wolf voted against H.R. 6, the "Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act."

*Wolf has voted repeatedly to maintain tax breaks for Big Oil, even while those companies pollute the environment and rake in record profits.

The bottom line is this: on the environment alone, 10th CD voters should replace Frank Wolf with Judy Feder in November. If not, we'll keep getting the same anti-environment garbage that I've listed above. No thanks.

Pass the Fair Pay Restoration Act!

This is important:

Tomorrow marks the very important PA primary, but it's notable for another reason ... Equal Pay Day. And the cause is uniting some of the Senate's female Dems who have been on opposing sides during the contentious presidential primary contest.

Led by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, these senators will renew their call for passage of the Fair Pay Restoration Act (S. 1843), which ensures equal pay for women and minorities in the workforce. Mikulski will speak at 10 a.m. Scheduled to follow are: Sens. Patty Murray, Claire McCaskill and Amy Klobuchar.

It's particularly important to pass this since last May's outrageous, 5-4 Supreme Court decision, "Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co," which absurdly held that "that workers must sue for pay discrimination within 180 days after the original pay-setting decision, no matter how long the unfair pay continues."

P.S. Guess who is NOT a co-sponsor of this important legislation in the House? Gee, I wonder who...could it be...yes it is, Frank Wolf's name isn't on there. Ha, big surprise! :)

Exciting Times for Loudoun Dem's

These are exciting times for Loudoun Democrats:

The LCDC JJ dinner on Friday evening was great. The turnout was incredible, and our Governors (Warner and Kaine) gave stirring speeches about the mission of Democrats in 2008 and beyond. We need to recover the strength and dignity of our county, and Virginia can lead the way.

I completely agree with Leesburg Tomorrow that "We've come a long way in Loudoun County (a point which each speaker repeated) and we have just as much work to do to keep our majority and keep Loudoun on the right track." Keep it up!