cross-posted Blue Ridge Data Not so much about data this afternoon. Must be the end of August heat!
I was standing six feet away from Creigh Deeds, this past Friday, when he gave his stump speech in the newly opened Waynesboro Democratic HQ (well done Chris and Crystal Graham). This was a diverse gathering of the Democratic faithful: young, old, retired, blue collar workers, professionals, and small business owners. I was already fired up with the spot on speeches by Greg Marrow (25thHD) and Erik Curren (20thHD). I was damn glad we are finally pushing back on the glaring lack of industrial development in the Staunton/Augusta Co/Waynesboro area from the likes of our Do Nothing Delegates Landes, Saxman, Cline, Gilbert and Lohr. No matter what happens on November 3rd, the House of Delegates may finally pay attention to our humble little part of the Shenandoah Valley.
But I digress, let's get back to Senator Deeds. What really pushed my buttons was his story of the tag that a journalist pinned on Creigh after his micron thin loss to McDonnell in the last LG race, " a nobody from nowhere". I have long felt that the small towns and rural counties west of the Blue Ridge, far from the teeming environs on NoVa and the state's political center-of-gravity in Richmond -- are oft forgotten and lightly regarded. I am a native of NoVa, but a 30 plus year resident of the Shenandoah Valley by choice. To my family and friends in Fairfax County, I hope you don't take offense, but we are going to need someone who works for all of us in Richmond, not just the high and mighty -- in NoVa, Tidewater and Metro Richmond.
For thirty years, I have watched the good jobs in the great local manufacturing companies, steadily trickle away. This loss of good jobs, has led to an erosion of the middle class life-style in the Valley. The opportunities for high school graduates to make a sustainable middle-class income is gone. Only the Anywhere America retail and restaurant sector, has a significant supply of entry level jobs for high school graduates. College graduates from this area go elsewhere for good jobs. "See ya Mom and Dad, we'll let you know when we find a new job in metro-Anywhere-but-Here."
While change is a given in any business and industry, having our elected representatives sit on their hands, and let the "invisible hand" of Adam Smith's free-market decimate our local economy, is simply a case of ineptitude. As Creigh said, paraphrasing JFK, "we get the leaders we deserve" ... based on our collective efforts as citizens...
“In a democracy, every citizen, regardless of his interest in politics, “holds office”; every one of us is in a position of responsibility; and, in the final analysis, the kind of government we get depends upon how we fulfill those responsibilities. We, the people, are the boss, and we will get the kind of political leadership, be it good or bad, that we demand and deserve.” John F. Kennedy
As a Nobody from Nowhere, I am voting for the guy that knows how to drive an tractor, fix a field fence, owns a real pick-up truck, and will fight to his dying breath for the interest of the little people of Virginia. Creigh Deeds is the Real Deal. He's a guy that's knows that working for all the people of Virginia is damn hard work, and he will get the job done.
To all my friends and neighbors of the last 30 years: If your dumb enough to vote for Corporate-Plastic Bob McDonnell, we'll get a slickster who will work hard for the rich and powerful, but not for us nobodies from nowhere.
Don't say I didn't warn you. |
