Hope in Virginia?

There is a good chance that Virginia, increasingly a blue state as government employees colonize across the Potomac, will elect the odious Clintonite, Terry McAuliffe as governor.  Cuccinelli, someone with good conservative credentials, is losing due in part to a strong showing by a relatively unknown Libertarian candidate named Robert Sarvis.  I hope the equation changes, and Virginians elect Cuccinelli.  Not being from Virginia or all that familiar with the personalities and platforms, It’s possible that I agree with Sarvis as much or more than I agree with Cuccinelli.  I do know that Attorney General Cuccinelli worked hard to thwart Obamacare, and I appreciate that. 

The problem for Republicans is that they have become nearly as much a Big Government party as Democrats.  Sure, they want to talk about cutting taxes, but when the government still spends more than it takes in, cutting taxes is not going to help.  We need to cut government.  The “Rovian” approach has failed.  Not Quite As Extreme As the Democrats is not a winning slogan.  The GOP establishment wants to change the priorities of Big Government – a stronger military (a more strenuous military, their hero, Teddy Roosevelt might say), more law enforcement, less welfare – as opposed to moving government out of people’s lives as much as possible. 

From what I can pick up, McAuliffe’s primary point of attack against Cuccinelli is that he is a social conservative who would limit “personal freedom”.  By this McAuliffe means killing babies and endorsing sodomites – as our friend Justin would say.  You can bet that McAuliffe wants more restrictions on firearms and concealed carry, property rights, and the way in which parents are allowed to raise and educate their children.  Strangely, the very fundamental and essential rights of self-defense, privacy, being secure from unreasonable searches and confiscation of property, and choice in education are not considered personal freedoms by corrupt thugs like McAuliffe.  He will work to increase the size and scope of government and the intrusiveness of the Commonwealth’s various bureaucracies if he is elected governor. 

Republicans, if they are going to be a viable party in the long term, are going to have to clearly articulate their support for small ‘l’ libertarian values, like property rights.  Like limitations on the police state.  Like reducing regulations and shortening the reach of bureaucracies.  Republicans do not need to run on a platform supporting drugs, vice, and anarchy, but they do need to make the case for a non-interventionist government.  I suspect that one reason most are so poor at articulating this idea is that they do not really believe in it.  Conversely, Cuccinelli, viewed as a TEA Party hero, appears to be a true believer who could win in a tough state if he can get his message past all the interference.