June 3, 2008Let's not forget Gilmore's great follyHe's baaaack! Jim Gilmore -- the man, the purveyor of the no-car-tax myth, the inflexible state leader -- has his eye on Virginia's U.S. Senate seat. But will Virginians vote again for the man who was elected governor on a fiscal stunt that sent the state's finances into a tailspin and put its credit rating in jeopardy? Will they push the touch screen for the man who controlled a legislature of his own Republican Party and still managed to mangle the budget as well as some relationships within his own party? When presented with the memory of Gilmore, one of my e-mail correspondents, a moderate Republican, essentially said: Don't remind me. It's curious that Virginia's Republican Party is pinning its hopes on an unpopular has-been. In the wake his 2002 departure, the GOP has experienced years of high-profile statewide election losses. First, Mark Earley, Gilmore's direct heir to the governor's mansion, bit the dust against Mark Warner in 2001. Then Jerry Kilgore lost to Gov. Tim Kaine in 2005. Last but not least, Democratic challenger Jim Webb TKO'd the popular and well-financed George Allen in the 2006 U.S. Senate race. In the wake of those defeats, the party could manage only to put forth the wildly unpopular Gilmore and state Del. Bob Marshall, a strident social conservative whose politics are far right of center? This is, after all, the seat of John Warner, one of the Senate's classiest acts. The same John Warner who told Oliver North to buzz off, and a statesman who commands bipartisan respect when he speaks about military affairs. Virginians will see Gilmore vying to replace John Warner this fall because the former governor barely eked out the Republication nomination last weekend over Marshall of Prince William County. Marshall showed up with loud and enthusiastic supporters and waged a strong challenge. Gilmore's victory margin was less than 1 percent of the delegate votes. He acknowledged that he underestimated Marshall's support. Underestimating apparently is habit for Gilmore. Dare I mention the no-car-tax ruse that he rode to office in 1997? That much-detested levy goes entirely into the coffers of local governments, which had long opposed any effort by the state to regulate the revenue stream. Gilmore played upon that unpopularity when he promised voters he would kill it, and reimburse localities "dollar for dollar" for revenues they lost by the repeal. But he used fuzzy math to low-ball an estimate of what ending the car tax would cost, and came up more than $300 million short. Facing a struggling economy and declining revenues for state services, lawmakers later capped the state's reimbursement at $950 million. On top of that, Gilmore sparred with more moderate Senate Republicans. They accused him of picking unnecessary intraparty fights, which gave Democrats a crucial foothold in the 2001 state elections. He had a one-year stint as Republican National Chairman, and he entered -- then pulled out of -- the GOP's presidential primary race before some other candidates were even in. The prospect of Gilmore's running for president prompted one of his party stalwarts, Sen. Ken Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, to tell The Associated Press: "I think Jim Gilmore should run because I think he should be exposed for the fraud that he is." Gilmore has had a couple of shining moments. He proposed a separate Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to coincide with the federal holiday. Until then, Virginia had awkwardly observed Lee-Jackson-King Day. And as chairman of a federal commission on terrorism policy, Gilmore joined voices from the right, left and center who expressed legitimate concern over the threat to privacy and civil liberties by anti-terrorism laws and policies. But let's face it: Killing the car tax was his signature political issue. And Virginians have been paying the bill for that fiscal fiasco ever since. |
About this blog In her signature plainspoken style, Michigan native Shanna Flowers peels away the layers and gets to the heart of the issues. No pretense. Just straightforward perspective. Shanna writes about local people whose circumstances reflect decisions made as near as City Hall or as far away as the halls of Congress. Other times, she weighs in on a topic because it is incredibly ridiculous. Or heartening. Or fascinating. Read Shanna's column three days a week, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at roanoke.com
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Comments
[June 4, 2008 10:57 AM]
JBShanna, you are quick to condemn Gilmore...who did what he said he would do, cut taxes.
Where is the criticism for Mark Warner? He promised to NOT raise taxes, support a Partial Birth abortion ban and include teacher raises in EVERY budget. He broke all 3 promises in his FIRST term....
First, with a 1.4 million tax hike, the largest in VA history. Second with a veto of the Partial Birth abortion ban and third, with no teacher raises.
Mark Warner is a 3 times liar...tell me again why he is a hero of the left?? And why Gilmore is bad for doing what he said he would do???
[June 5, 2008 8:29 AM]
Joe CrowJB - Liberals never want to let the facts get in the way. JG also had 911 in his last year, which was a HUGE hit to VA's economy. Liberals seem to ALWAYS conveniently forget the impact that day had economically. But back to Governor Connecticut - I recall that just after entering the Gov's Mansion in his first year, MW lamented that the budget was far worse than what he expected (yeah, right - like his campaign wasn't privy to budget data), and that teacher's were not going to get the increases that were PROMISED in the campaign. It was proven later that the tax increases that were forced down the throats of Virginians were totally uneccessary. When Warner left office, there was a huge budget surplus. Of course liberals will argue that that is sound fiscal policy - conservatives like JG believe that money is better served in the pockets of Virginians, rather that the coffers controlled by the Statehouse.
[June 5, 2008 9:35 AM]
RIThis looks like the beginning of the Roanoke Times effort to begin denigrating Republican candidates. This newspaper has a long history of being anti-Republican.
Whever democrats talk about "Tax Reform," what that really translates to is TAX INCREASE.
Ms. Flowers, because you are black, I do not of course expect you to embrace the candidacy of former governor Jim Gilmore for US Senator - or to support any other republican candidate.
I suppose you'd eject Congressman Bob Goodlatte out of office too - if you were able to.
There are a lot of us here in the Roanoke Valley who will support Jim Gilmore.
At least he tells the truth. Mark Warner doesn't.
[June 5, 2008 1:39 PM]
SteveShanna,
Your lefty politics is nauseating. Your slanted anti-capitalism views reflect views of those who want nothing more than big government, higher taxes, and LESS freedom. This is exactly why a long time ago, I canceled subscriptions to the Roanoke times at my home and businesses.
And "let's not forget" that the economic platform of B. Hussein Obama is nothing more than the FAILED economic agenda from liberal machine of 30 and 40 years ago. It failed then, and it will fail again. Freedom supported by the capitalist economy and low taxes is and always has been the engine of prosperity. I wouldn't expect you to understand that.
[June 6, 2008 8:22 AM]
V ALLEN ESQUIREYes, here she is floundering in her liberalizzem and espousing the Rke. Times policys. They have never met a liberal
or tax that they dont like.
In floundering nit wits lets not forget their hero's. The good Gov. Kain, Jimmy Carter, Mark Warner, Mayor Mr. Harris, and the great Honorable Mr Councilman Dowe.
[June 6, 2008 8:32 AM]
Lisa : →http://www.queenofpith.comOh! Where is the love guys?
I am NOT a liberal or even a Democrat. I usually vote straight GOP, unless I don't have a choice in the matter.
That being said, you guys' attacks on Ms. Flowers, for the most part, are emotional at best with some facts thrown in.
I am not a fan of either candidate. I think there are much better choices out there for Senator. There is bad blood from what I have seen between Stolle and Gilmore, hence the Stolle comment.
It will be an interesting race I am sure, but one where I will probably have to write in a candidate - again.
[June 6, 2008 9:40 AM]
RogerDespite the blaring complaints by the anti-liberal readership, all this columnist did was point out that Gilmore, like his glad-handing leech of a predecessor, left the Commonwealth in a corroded economic condition as a direct result of his governorship.
Steve: if you think that the Roanoke Times is too "lefty", then clearly you're only reading the parts you disagree with. You'd probably be more comfortable sticking to right-wing-only blogs. However, I encourage you to continue to branch out and read more than just 'opinion pieces'. Barack Obama's (by the way, sticking Hussein in there doesn't make him less of a leader) economic plan is radical, to be certain. But considering our national deficit, the corruption of health-insurance companies, and our perception as the world's drunk uncle-- don't you think we need a change?
Not to harp on you, Steve, but your opinion that the only guarantee of success in this world is that our capitalist economy be built on low-taxes is the only thing truly nauseating in this discussion... it smacks of your shortsightedness, greed, and a microscopic world-view that can't see past your paycheck.
Gilmore's just a toady of George Allen, whose Boss Tweed tactics (such as re-appropriating funds to force our public universities into compliance with his agenda, accepting pharmaceutical-company kickbacks, and sitting on the board of government-contract companies that he gave contracts to after election-- thus lining his pockets with taxpayer money) have left the Commonwealth with a 'bad taste' in its mouth for Gilmore and his cohorts.
Now, as she very calmly pointed out, tell me what happened to that car tax again? Isn't failing to repeal the car tax precisely the kind of error that you glaringly resentful responders are so upset about?
[June 6, 2008 10:08 AM]
Terry BSteve and RI
The only thing viable is the "Fair Tax," as means of giving the people what they want full autonomy over their money. When Republican Jim Gilmore was asked about the Fair Tax, he was undecided on it and felt it needs more study.
How much study do we need to realize our current Income Tax system is unfair dud. Over taxing the working men and women and by replacing it with a sound program that rewards each Citizen, the small Business Man, and Major Companies to expand through out the United States giving each citizen economic freedom to do as they will and the Federal Government still wining.
Yet the Republicans and Democrats have fallen silent and we have Old' "New Ideals" to solve continuous problems of today. Maybe the deep pocket lobbyist's have their tongues and values secured to a money clip.
I am a man with no ego to bruise and feel that Shanna does a great job, even though all my ideals never make it to this comment message board, that tells me that she valued your comments with an open mind.
In short she is made of sterner material.
[June 6, 2008 10:17 AM]
LSJG and Joe Crow, your comments are spot on. RI, the reference to race ruined your comments.
[June 7, 2008 11:56 AM]
MikeI'm with Lisa on the write-in alternative, and I'm writing in Virgil Goode. And Terry has Shanna sized up perfectly. Agree with her or not, she's objective in her columns and probably the best writer on the entire staff at the newspaper. I'm a Republican who thoroughly enjoys her columns.
[June 11, 2008 12:04 PM]
Randy : →http://WOWMost of these posts are hotter than the weather. Positive points on both sides, but, we need to relax and deal with "facts" and not emotions.