George Allen: How come I've never heard of this guy?

[The Backlash Cometh]

My conservative/Dem brother seems to think this guy is most likely to win in the 2008 election.

We just had a debate regarding Gore and Kerry and bro said the two were just not likeable to the majority of Americans and that Bush was the one you'd most want to spend time with at a barbecue.

My response: Those people who didn't like Gore or Kerry, didn't like them because they consider them "elite," and "elite" is a buzz word to mean more educated and more intelligent than the average American. And as for that barbecue comment, the way it was put in 2000, was that Bush was the one you'd want to most drink a beer with, and that was probably because he makes an entertaining drunk.

Anyway, then bro said, that George Allen will win if McCain doesn't run. So who's this Allen?

[Horse with no Name]

1. George Allen???

Egads cut off his supply of koolaid.
That is one fascist bitch.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. What makes Allen unelectable?

Give me some ammo. Bro is a Georgetown grad.

[Horse with no Name]

9. In my opinion?

http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/George_Allen.htm

Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 20% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
* Rated 100% by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record. (Dec 2003)
Try juvenile felons as adults. (Sep 2000)
Tougher sentencing for drug crimes. (Sep 2000)
Rated 27% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 0% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-family voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 67% by CATO, indicating a pro-free trade voting record. (Dec 2002)
# Voted NO on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads. (Mar 2002)
# Voted YES on require photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration. (Feb 2002)
# Voted NO on banning campaign donations from unions and corporations. (Apr 2001)
Rated 0% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 0% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 0% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-labor voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 0% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 76% by NTU, indicating a "Taxpayer's Friend" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)

And a favorite quote "Minor mothers must live at home & identify fathers."(Sep 2000)

[ProfessorGAC]

37. And, He's Another Silverspooner

Enough with those, "never worked a day in their lives" politicians.
The Professor

[punpirate]

13. Oops, dupe. n/t

[punpirate]

15. George Allen is a Bush clone...

... except that the family (a)vocation was football, not baseball.

His father was George Allen, head coach of the Rams, I believe. People here who went to school with the younger Allen in CA said he was more than a little racist, not too bright, and very preppy. As I said, a lot like the other George.

Tell your brother that I have the feeling that a lot of people in this country will be quite tired of George Bush-wannabes by 2008. Allen has about as much chance of winning the presidency in 2008 as I do, i.e., none.

[The Backlash Cometh]

30. I just told my brother the info I got on his thread and he retracted his

statement. Rather, he rephrased it. He said, "I said he would get the Republican nomination for president, not that he will win."

I think the fact that Allen received 100% approval rating from the Christian Coalition may be his downfall. I believe you're right and moderates may have tired of the far right George Bush wannabes.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. Grew up

in Palos Verdes, California. Moved east when daddy became head coach of the Washington Redskins. Decided he was a Virginian. To prove it, he chews tobacco, rides a horse, and wears a cowboy hat and a big belt buckle.

Hates queers. I get to say that, because I am one.

[theHandpuppet]

12. He's also a big time racist!

http://www.brendan-nyhan.com/blog/2005/05/george_allens_h.html
http://gotv.blogspot.com/2005/06/is-george-allen-racist.html
http://www.blackcommentator.com/142/142_freedom_rider_lynching.html

[Virginian]

35. He has "Virginian" mixed up with the TV series by that name.

There aren't too many ranches or cowboys in Northern Virginia. Most people here aren't into cowboy boots and big belt buckles unless they are here from Texas with the BFEE.

Horses are mostly for the wealthy here in Northern Virginia. Not too many middle income people can afford the land and expense that go with owning horses.

The image I get when I think of riding horses is fox hunting in Middleburg.

There aren't too many places where you can pay to ride horses anymore due to the high insurance premiums the stables would have to pay.

Does anyone else want to describe their part of the Commonwealth?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

39. Allen lives in

Earlysville, a few miles northwest of Charlottesville. Horses abound there.

[The Backlash Cometh]

40. And you know what they say. Where there are horses, there are

horses' ass.

[Virginian]

41. Isn't that still "Hunt country?"

Or is it?

Do they wear cowboy boots and big belt buckles and ride with western saddles?

I don't think so, but I haven't been there, so I don't know for sure.

I guess Allen has out Texan'ed George Bush who is afraid of horses. I can see Allen inviting people to his "ranch" in the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For some reason, it just doesn't quite fit. The sage brush and tumble weed, The dusty fields, the stray mustang here and there... Not like anyplace I have seen in Virginia. But you know what they say, 9/11 changed everything.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

42. Land Rovers, "New Yorker" subscriptions, Ralph Lauren....

.

[liberalpragmatist]

2. Yeah, he's widely tipped

He's the senator from Virginia - totally Bushbot, a bit of a Bush-clone. He's very popular with the Republican base and he's seen as "acceptable" to mainstream Republicans as well.

Former governor of Virginia as well. Had current (D) governor, Mark Warner run for Senate next year, he may well have lost, but Warner himself is interested in running for President.

Anyway, many political pundits are saying that he has a VERY strong chance. Some survey of Republican staffers and Congresspersons (anonymous) in the National Journal named him as the most likely nominee. The idea is that the fundies won't accept McCain and Frist is now seen as incompetent and uncharismatic.

Actually, when it comes to the Repubs, pundits are usually pretty accurate at predicting the nominee - it's Democrats who constantly pick someone nobody expects.

[samdogmom]

4. He's a crazy senator from Virginia. Very conservative.

Dad is/was a pro football coach (I think the Redskins or whatever the DC team is called). The Senator always seems to be a few bricks shy of a full load if you get my drift.

[Bozita]

6. His daddy won a Superbowl as head coach of the Wash Redskins

Those are his qualifications.

[Blue_Tires]

23. George Allen Sr. made it to the SB

but lost to Miami during their perfect season

[Bozita]

27. I stand corrected ... Son of a Superbowl loser

[The Backlash Cometh]

31. LOL!

[rurallib]

7. Much like W Allen rode in on his daddy's name

Redskin's coach George Allen. Don't think this guy ever had a real job either. Dumb as a sack of rocks and very maleable. Perfect followup to W. I look for the GOOP to have Cheney 'step down' and replace him with Allen. This would give him a running start for 2008.

[Fenris]

8. Dumber than a box of rocks.

That's George Allen.

[Lecky]

24. Republicans like them that way it seems (dumb) n/t

[stevedeshazer]

10. His dad was the famous Washington Redskins coach

He's a first term senator.

After hearing him speak, I got the distinct impression that he's not very bright, which makes him a perfect fit as a candidate for the mouth-breather right.

[KingFlorez]

11. George Allen will not win

He's too out of the mainstream to win the swing states and not a lot of people know him.

[never_get_over_it]

14. How come you've never heard of him

you're lucky - he was my Senator until I moved to FL last year - and he is awful - but he may very well be electable - I mean we "elected" * and Allen is much more articulate - I guess one could say he is good looking (yuk as far as I'm concerned) - but he is a right wing freak. He was Governor of VA for one term also

http://allen.senate.gov/?c=senbio

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

16. his catchphrase is: "the sweet nectar of liberty"

[wisteria]

17. He is an idiot in the George Bush mold. A Bush type we do not

need. The current one is damaging America enough. We need someone to help us recover from the Bush asministration. I am willing to vote for Kerry again. He seems to have figured Bush out long ago and has stayed current and ative in all matters concerning our country.

[The Backlash Cometh]

32. I would revote for Kerry too.

Kerry could win over this country easily if he can prove that there was dirty tricks in the last election AND he can prove that he was doing behind the scene investigations to prove it.

[SaveElmer]

18. Allen makes W look like a Rhodes Scholar...

The man rode Clinton prosperity through his one term as governor. His daddy was the famous football coach, and he beat a flawed Chuck Robb to get into the Senate.

The man is dumber than dirt. Watch him debate sometime...he doesn't know his asshole from a hole in the ground.

He would get killed!!!

[fob]

19. Thank you for saving me from having to say it. There's only one

a-hole that gives bush* a run for his* "dumb" money, and that's george allen.

[Lecky]

25. but being stupid didn't hurt GWB chances...

Never underestimate the power of the GOP spin machine...

...but yeah George Allen comes across as a smug dim fratboy who has never had to work for anything in his life...

Sounds familiar?

[SaveElmer]

26. Yeah...but Allen didn't have a daddy that was President...

He does not have the instant name recognition chimpy did.

His daddy is known to old football fans as the coach who took the Redskins to the Super Bowl...

Of course for me, any association with the Redskins is automatically disqualifying

[The Backlash Cometh]

33. The media created George Bush. They wanted to design a

"Mr. Smith goes to Washington," president but instead got a combination of "The Candidate" and "Lord of the Flies."

[mitchum]

20. His father should not have raised him without a helmet

Allen is a an idiot

[VADem11]

21. He ain't that bright

He managed to get elected to congress and then become governor of VA in 1993. He abolished parole and I believe he signed a bill recognizing confederate history month and that's about all he did as governor. He somehow managed to defeat Chuck Robb to be elected to the senate in 2000 and remains popular for reasons unknown to me. He hasn't done much. He's very conservative and was a big supporter of Bolton. He's also the son of the redskins coach and displays a noose in his office while claiming it's a "lasso". He also talks constantly in football analogies which I find annoying. Sadly, he may have a shot at the GOP nomination. He's like a Bush robot.

[Virginian]

36. He somehow managed to defeat Chuck Robb to be elected to the senate in '00

Chuck Robb and Doug Wilder were at odds. The African American Democrats stayed home on election day and Allen is what we got.

I read on DU and also heard it from a neighbor who went to school with Allen that he was a high school football star in an all white school in California. Before a big game with a predominately black school he pulled a Rovian trick of painting his own school with racist graffiti to look like it had been done by the rival school. Was this to provoke racial animosity? Probably. He was caught and got a slap on the wrist and was made to clean up his graffiti.
It wasn't much in the way of punishment, community service in the poorer section of town might have been better.

I also read here on DU that he embraced the confederate flag when he lived in California.

To my fellow Virginians. Don't stay home in any election. See what we get when you do?

[Stinky The Clown]

22. Dumb as a box or rocks empty suit

[LittleClarkie]

28. Oh, please God, NOOOOO

Get that clown outa my home state!!

He's a bubble-headed koolade drinker. He's the neocon's wet dream. Another dim politician to hyjack and manipulate.

If you have never heard him speak, count yourself lucky. He's a walking set of Rovian talking points. He has his head so far up Bush's ass he needs to have Bush open his mouth so he can see.

[tritsofme]

29. George Allen v Mark Warner in 2008 wouldn't surprise me...

With Virginia being the ultimate swing state.

[ernstbass]

34. George Allen is a boil on Virginia's butt

He is a total buffoon whom conservatives love - uses the phrase "sweet nectar of liberty" in virtually every speech. He has his eyes set on the White House. Left Virginia's penal system in shambles w/ his private super max prisons and abolition of parole. UGH!!!:puke:

[in_cog_ni_to]

38. Virginia Senator. My sister lives in Virginia and said

the ONLY reason the man was ever elected was because of his family's connection to FOOTBALL. He's a HORRIBLE Senator and nothing but a Bush kiss-ass.