George Allen to Announce Plans for Senate Bid on Monday

[Pirate Smile]

George Allen to Announce Plans for Senate Bid on Monday

Former Republican Senator George F. Allen of Virginia will announce Monday that he will seek to avenge his narrow loss in 2006 at the hands of Senator Jim Webb, two senior Republicans in Virginia told The Caucus.

“He’s calling himself the original Tea Partier,” said one senior Republican, who asked not to be named because Mr. Allen has not yet made his plans public. “A lot of the old gang is helping.”

Mr. Allen’s political career was abruptly ended four years ago after a campaign that became synonymous with the new era of YouTube politics.

After the image of Mr. Allen calling a young Democratic operative “macaca” was downloaded hundreds of thousands of times, the senator lost his reelection bid by about 9,000 votes. (See the video below.)

Mr. Allen, who in 2006 was considered a leading contender for the Republican nomination for president in 2008, never ran for the office after his re-election to the Senate faltered.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/george-allen-to-announce-plans-for-senate-bid-on-monday/

“He’s calling himself the original Tea Partier”. He was calling Dems racial epithets before the Tea Party made it cool again.

I have to admit that I kind of love the fact that George Allen is going to be on the Virginia ballot at the same time as Barack Obama.

I hope Webb does not try to pull a bunch of crap re "distancing" himself from the President. Barack Obama won Virginia much more comfortably then Webb did.

There will certainly be no lack of motivating candidates on the ballot in 2012 in VA.

edit to add - Maybe the head of their ticket will be Haley Barbour running against President Obama - why not just go completely Boss Hawg on the Republican line.

From Blue Virginia Blog - this is before the big Obama polling turn around but after the very legislatively successful Lame-Duck session:

Is Jim Webb a Shoo-In for Reelection in 2012?
by: lowkell
Fri Dec 31, 2010 at 10:08:44 AM EST

If Jim Webb decides to seek reelection in 2012, is he a shoo-in? Based on this superb analysis, on a pro-Republican blog no less, I'd have to say "yes."

Ugh.

It's not even 2011 and that's my sentiments about the 2012 Republican nomination battle. While most of the state is not paying attention to this intra-party nonsense, the posturing by the candidates and soon-to-be candidates has been awful. There's no other word for it, simply awful from top to bottom. With the selection of a primary, the stage was set for former Senator George Allen to ascend. Bob Marshall and Jamie Radtke's only chances were a convention, so with State Central opting for a primary, that in theory would have preempted any candidacy. Whoops.

The analysis goes on to conclude that George Allen, aka "the man we know and love as 'Felix Macacawitz'", is the strong, odds-on (1:3) favorite for the Republican nomination to face Webb in 2012. But not before "the uncomfortable prospect of scorched earth, 'anyone but Allen'" contest that makes this a "long year" for Republicans. And at the end of the GOP nomination process, we get a clueless, unrepentant George Allen, which means we start with "macaca," we continue on with his apparent shame over having Jewish heritage, we recall his habitual use of the "n word" and other shenanigans (deer head in a black family's mailbox, noose in his office, love for the Confederate flag), we then proceed with his 97% voting record with George W. Bush, onward to his utter lack of accomplishments - and disdain for - the "wounded sea slug" of a U.S. Senate, etc, etc. And all this will come in a presidential election year, with President Obama on the top of the ticket and looking like a strong favorite for reelection.
Given all this, how does "Felix Macacawitz" improve his 2006 performance and beat Jim Webb, who would start this time with staff, money, and incumbent advantages? I have no idea, but if anyone thinks of anything, please let me know. Until then, I'm penciling in Jim Webb as a "shoo-in" for reelection in 2012. That is, assuming he decides to put himself through the torture of running, of attending events, of kissing babies, of doing call time, and generally of doing the thing he hates most in the world - being a politician.

http://www.bluevirginia.us/diary/2725/is-jim-webb-a-shooin-for-reelection

Comments:

Not a lock (0.00 / 0)
But if Webb decides to run for re-election he is going to be benefit tremendously from having Obama's operation to help him. Obama will be able to bring out the 20% of the African-American population of VA and turnout will be high. While Obama is not a lock to win VA, Webb stands to benefit a lot by the high turnout of voters in NoVa who stayed home for a significant amount in 2009 and 2010. There is no doubt that VA will be seriously contested by both sides. In 2008 Obama's national winning percentage most closely approximated the margin in VA.
I don't want to give the GOP advice but they need to dump Allen and these tea party loons. VA is a purple state whose demographics are not turning in their favor. They should nominate an empty suit like Rob Whittman or Bill Bolling who people don't have a clue about them but they won't. They are going to go with someone who they love but who is repulsive to the general population.



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by: Cool_Arrow @ Fri Dec 31, 2010 at 09:25:40 AM CST

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by: you @ soon
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I agree, "generic Republican" would be stronger (0.00 / 0)
than Radtke, Marshall, Stewart, or "Felix Macacawitz." But for right now, those seem to be the most likely Republican candidates. If any one of them is the nominee, I'd put Webb's chances of reelection pretty darn high.

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by: lowkell @ Fri Dec 31, 2010 at 09:45:20 AM CST

Geez - reading some of those comments makes me hope Tom Perriello runs again. I love him.

[CurtEastPoint]

1. Sigh... why don't people like macaca-brain just go away? n/t

[sadbear]

2. Hello? It's Virginia.

Have you seen the people they've elected lately? Mr. Macaca will win easily.

[Pirate Smile]

3. Doubt it. I think Obama will pull Webb across the finish line. 2012 is not going to be like 2009

or 2010 when it comes to Federal elections. The electorate is going to be more like 2008.

[FBaggins]

11. VA has an election this Fall that will tell us more about where their electorate is.

Some data indicates that the "enthusiasm gap" has closed, but it's a stretch at this point to think that 2008 in VA is the new norm.

[onenote]

17. its a stretch to think that the 2011 state elections will tell us much about 2012

Turnout in Virginia in presidential election years is much different than in non-presidential years. In 2008, turnout was around 75 percent (over 3.7 million votes cast). In 2006, when there Webb faced off against Allen, around 2.3 million voters turned out. But in 2007, the last time that there were no statewide races on the ballot, turnout was typically below 30 percent in most districts.

[FBaggins]

19. Not if they follow the pattern of 2009 and 2010.

At that point we have to assume that 2008 was the aberation.

[Pirate Smile]

18. Because Barack Obama is on the ballot, I think 2012 will be similar to 2008. I think the key is HIS

name on the ballot. It is only going to happen twice in Virginia. When it comes to motivating the 20% African American population in Va, that name is key IMHO.

[FBaggins]

20. Let's hope so.

The problem is that Webb underperformed Obama in VA and was certainly aided by the whole "maccaca" thing. I have little doubt that the President's numbers will improve, but it's a stretch to assume that thehy will be as strong as in 2008 (or that republicans will nominate another candidate as weak as McCain).

I'm not sure that Webb will give the left many reasons to support him over the coming couple years (or even that he will stand for reelection)... and he's probably our best chance of beating Allen.

[Pirate Smile]

21. That is why I think it would be really stupid (but Webb will probably do it) for Webb to distance

himself from President Obama. He should hug him instead but I think we all know that is probably the opposite of what he will do. Hopefully, he will be smarter then that.

Everybody knows that a huge part of the conventional wisdom/historian/pundit class discussions of whether a President is seen as successful depends on winning a second term.

While it is reasonable to think that Black electoral participation may fall back some after the barrier was broken in 2008, I think it is just as likely that the constant attacks on President Obama and their frequent racial tinge coming from the Tea Party, Beck, Faux News, Rush, etc. will be as big a motivator in 2012 as there was in 2008.

I could be wrong but that is how I see it playing out - especially with George "Macaca, I love the Confederacy, had a noose hanging in my office, used the n-word frequently" Allen on the ticket at the same time.

[RichGirl]

23. No, no, no....

Everytime there is any news of Allen running, it is followed by that Macaca video. Once the election gets going...we'll see a review of all the racist crap.

When he ran before, he was very popular and had six times more money than Webb...yet he lost.

Also, by then Virginians will have buyers remorse over McDonnell, especially Cuccinelli who surprised many by turning into a real nutcase and the people they voted in last fall.

One thing about Virginia....we like a mix and right now it's a little heavy on the GOP side and needs some balance.

[Kurovski]

15. Go away?

Then they'd have to go out and earn an honest living.

[wilt the stilt]

4. How about a job in the privater sector

you leech.

[S_E_Fudd]

5. The way things are trending here...he will probably win...

I'm not even sure Webb will run again...

[jillan]

6. It's Macaca Time!

Why can't these people just fade away?

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

7. I hope SNL brings back Chris Parnell for the occasion

See SNL: September 30th 2006 "I'm just a Southern Boy... raised not far from Disney Land"

[blue neen]

8. I guess he figures bigots are back in style.

I'm sorry, but Allen is an idiot. Webb has not been extremely left, so I think he'll do okay again in VA. It seems like center is where VA is trending right now.

There is no left, center, or right for Allen. It's just plain outer space for him!

[calimary]

9. Cue the video!

He'll have macaca all over himself, every step he takes. You SURE you want to stick your arrogant asshole neck out that far again?

[Pirate Smile]

10. I'm sure we are going to see it a lot after he announces.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r90z0PMnKwI

[FBaggins]

12. I'm sure that's what he's hoping for.

and likely why he's announcing so early in the process.

Nobody will be showing the video by the time the electorate starts paying attention.

[Pirate Smile]

13. The press is starting to bring up how Macaca was NOT an isolated incident:

Remembering George Allen's 2006 campaign

By Adam Serwer

George Allen, the former Republican senator from Virginia, was a potential Republican presidential candidate before losing his 2006 Senate race to Democrat Jim Webb by a thin margin of around 10,000 votes.
With the news that Allen is set to announce another run for Senate in 2012, Chris Cilizza and Aaron Blake offer more than the usual abridged version of how Allen's loss is usually remembered, as a consequence of his referring to a Democratic videographer of South Asian descent as "macaca" and saying to him, "Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."

While his utterance of the now infamous term "macaca" is what most people remember about Allen's 2006 campaign against Webb -- and rightly so -- his inability to immediately understand the damage done by the comment or quickly (and effectively) shut it down as an issue spoke to a broader hubris that had infected the incumbent.

Allen, put simply, began to believe his own press. He was on a glide path to reelection -- Webb was unable to raise any significant money before "macaca" -- and was prepping for a 2008 presidential bid, evidenced by the presence of Wadhams who was, at that time, regarded as the hottest GOP operative in the country.

Republicans remember the 2006 Virginia Senate campaign as another outrageous example of media bias and racial McCarthyism from liberals. Like Democrats in 2012, Republicans were facing an extremely difficult political landscape and were being weighed down by an unpopular president. Those fundamentals probably had more to do with Webb's victory than the "macaca" incident. But Allen's remarks were part of a broader pattern of behavior and racial dogwhistling that was troubling, of which the whole "macaca" thing was only a small part.

As political scientist Brendan Nyhan documented at the time, Allen had an affinity for Confederate Lost Cause symbolism, hanging a noose from a tree outside his law office and displaying the Confederate flag in his television ads. As governor, Allen also issued a proclamation celebrating "Confederate History Month" and characterizing the Civil War as "a four-year struggle for independence and sovereign rights," without mentioning that the "sovereign right" being defended was the right to own human beings as property. The proclamation didn't mention slavery at all.

When current Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) issued a similar proclamation last year, he ultimately backed down and apologized after being excoriated by the press and prominent black supporters. Hopefully that means that the kind of neo-Confederate dogwhistling Allen mastered now has political costs that outweigh its benefits.

The 2012 Senate campaign in Virginia shouldn't be all about what George Allen said and did six years ago, but it's important to remember that what happened wasn't an isolated incident -- and that there's a big difference between recognition and repentance and just cosmetically cleaning up your image.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2011/01/former_republican_senator_from.html

[Enrique]

14. maybe people will have forgotten about macaca

good luck with that! :rofl:

[Robbins]

16. Remember

This Is not 2009 or 2010 Obama's approval has rebounded with winning back many Indepdendents.PPP has Obama beating any of the gang
of 4(Romney,Huchabee,Palin,Gingrich)In Virginia.If Webb retires expect Tim Kaine to leave the DND to run(which would actully be a
plus)and he could win In Virginia.Having Obama at top of ticket Is going to be a plus In 2012 In many places.Granted down south only helpful In Virginia,NC,and FLorida.

[GSLevel9]

22. he's the PERFECT candidate for 2012 Virginia, lol...

the Baggers will love him, he speaks THEIR language.

[Thrill]

24. If you thought Webb was conservative now. He'll basically be a Republican

the rest of his term. Thinking he has to sure up his Conservative credentials