Ramos, Compean, Libby: the Bush Sorrow-and-Pity Legacy

Excerpt from article, Blue Ridge Forum, February 17, 2009
. . . . . . . . .

In Virginia, will the Bush legacy of disappointment continue? For example, former Bush consigliere Ed Gillespie will be heading here Robert F. McDonnell’s campaign for governor –

“Gillespie, a former lobbyist and a fixture in national Republican politics for two decades, will be involved in every aspect of strategy, policy development, communications and fundraising, according to senior campaign officials. The Fairfax County resident will also be a frequent surrogate for McDonnell across the state and nation.”

Conservatives should apply the eyes-wide-open test to the good Mr. Gillespie.

Obviously he has more than a merely administrative role in the campaign — one could fairly say he is money-raiser and message-shaper-in-chief. He has a record of helping hike taxes in Virginia, he has a strong record in behalf of more open immigration, and he is, according to the Manchester Union Leader, on record in behalf of larger government. There are Republicans who can smoothly argue that his way is the only path to victory, particularly in northern Virginia. His could certainly be the best path to larger contributions from big business. But is a Gillespie-crafted campaign the only kind of Republican victory Virginia conservatives can realistically expect? And if so, would they be comfortable with a governorship reflecting those values?