Republican Retreat From Reality Continues

As a former GOP activist some years back, I find it amazing how the GOP, particularly in Virginia, continues to move the the extreme lunatic far right thinking that somehow this will improve the Party's chance for electoral success. A case in point is yesterday's GOP Virginia State Convention where former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore (a former classmate who appointed me to a state board back in 2000, but nonetheless not someone I want to see back in office) just barely won the GOP nomination to run for the U. S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring John Warner who held the seat for over 30 years. Gilmore's opponent for the nomination was the totally gay-hating and delusional Bob Marshall who has flat out stated that he'd like to drive all the gays from Virginia. Out of some 10,400 votes cast, Gilmore won by only 66 votes. As much as I dislike Gilmore's poltical views, to have this close of a race, they must have been serving huge barrels of mind altering drug laced Kool-Aid at the Convention. I hope the Virginia GOP continues its far right trend, thereby assuring Democrat victories as all by the most insane theocrats bail from the Party and its candidates. Here are some highlights from the Virginian Pilot:

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As he introduced Prince William County Republican Del. Bob Marshall on Saturday at the state GOP convention, former state party chair Patrick McSweeney called for a return to conservative roots. The staunchly pro-life Marshall narrowly lost the nod to former governor Jim Gilmore – about 66 votes separated the two in a contest that saw nearly 10,400 ballots cast.

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But ardent conservatives ended the day with a victory when Del. Jeff Frederick, R-Prince William, won the state party chairmanship over current chairman and former Lt. Gov. John Hager. Those fractious contests reveal a philosophic and strategic divide in the state party at a time when the Republican brand has lost some luster. The fight is not new, but rather a recurring battle for the soul of the party that this year is set against the backdrop of a presidential election and several statewide contests.

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Intensifying GOP concerns are the recent successes of Democrats in Virginia: The party has won the last two gubernatorial elections, the state’s most recent U.S. Senate race and gained seats in the General Assembly. Additional baggage comes from public worries about the economy and escalating gas prices, the ongoing American military campaign in the Middle East and the low approval ratings of President George W. Bush.