The current state of Prince William County

Two recent editorials in the Washington Post and Potomac News should make folks question the motives behind the immigration policies in Prince William County.

What long term budget ramifications will this have for our community? What is the image of the county across the region, state, and even the nation?

Take a read for yourself. One thing is certain several folks on the Republican dominated board should be worried about their re-elections bids in 2011?

Democratic Race

Hillary Clinton is not going to quit this race despite having no chance to take a delegate lead before the convention. One needs to look at some of her supporters comments over the past few months (Bill Shaneen, Geraldine Ferraro, Bill Clinton, etc. and etc.) to see her desperation. One question I have is, is she willing to destroy the modern Democratic party that her husband and herself have worked so hard to build?

Is anyone going to have any respect for anything her mouthpiece Howard Wolfson says anymore?

Let’s hope Barack Obama rises above some the nastiest campaign tactics and changes the tone of politics in our nation.

Iowa Caucus Predictions

Democratic Predictions

1. Obama- The best chance to win nationally in 2008. Great grassroots organization but still needs to refine his message a bit.

2. Edwards- I have to agree with Chris Matthews that he is running the angriest campaign this cycle. However he has been on the ground for months with the best field operation and will shock people will how well he does.

3. Clinton- The writing is on the wall. Only way out is if Bill pulls a miracle out of his hat yet again.

4. Biden – A surprisingly strong finish here will put him at the top of the short list for Vice President candidates, while already at the top of the Secretary of State list.

5. Richardson- He is popular among some of the bloggers, but his resume just isn’t gaining traction with voters. Once he drops out, might he run for the Senate instead?

6. Dodd – Never really caught any momentum and didn’t qualify for Virginia ballot. He should be out after the NH primary.

Republican Predictions

1. Mitt Romney – A prime example that money can win a campaign. He spend so much here that once he loses NH he should be finished.

2. Mike Huckabee – The honeymoon is over and so his campaign’s momentum. He could still win the nomination but faces an uphill battle has his record is exposed.

3. John McCain- He will win in NH and this third place showing puts him in the strongest place to win the nomination that should have been his in 2000.

4. Ron Paul - A surprise finish here will ensure a strong NH showing and will convince him to run has an independent

5. Rudy Guiliani – He is pinning hopes on Feb. 5^th primaries. His campaign needs miracle to pull win the nomination

6. Fred Thompson – His campaign was dead on arrival, should drop out in the next week.

Illegal Immigration

The Democracy Corps, my favorite polling firm has just released a new national poll on illegal immigration. In their gem of a memo based on the poll results, the pollsters come to several conclusions that are important for Democrats to grasp especially in Northern Virginia and here in Prince William County.

The first one that jumps out at me is that voters are looking for solutions after an era of Republican majorities failing to solve our major problems and that a solution for illegal immigration must be able to build upon our immigrant tradition. It is clear that candidates can not afford to sweep this aside.

They mention the following elements that Democrats need to highlight in their position on this issue:

“• Recognition of the problem: ‘get it.’ Candidates ignore the issue at their peril. It is Essential to convey an appreciation that illegal immigration is out of control and needs to be addressed immediately and seriously. If leaders do not show their own

frustration with the problem, they will not be heard on this issue – and many others.

• Attack Bush for losing control of the problem. A strong critique of the Bush

administration’s failure to address this issue shows that we understand the problem

and empathize with voters’ frustration with the lack of leadership on this issue.

• Enforcement at both the border and with employers. Voters believe that controls at the borders and enforcement in the workplace have disappeared, allowing the

problem to get out of control. They are particularly angry with companies that are looking for cheap labor partially explaining why this is happening.

• Opposition to non-essential benefits. The public’s leading concern about illegal immigration is that the immigrants get access to non-essential government benefits at a time when government spending is squeezed and taxes are a burden. There is strong opposition to Medicaid, taxpayer-subsidized health care, for illegal immigrants. But they are also strongly opposed to drivers’ licenses, an implicit

recognition of legal status and claim on benefits.

• Support for emergency health care and education. Most Americans accept access to emergency health care for illegal immigrants and education through high school for the children of illegal immigrants who are U.S. citizens.

• Positive views of new immigrants. Negative attitudes toward immigrants combine with a lot of respect – many in a new survey describing them as ‘hard working,’ ‘family-oriented’ and ‘trying to be good citizens.’ That creates an opening for an

inclusive approach, based on America’s strength as an immigrant nation. There is strong support, for example, for undocumented immigrants in the U.S. military being able to win nearly immediate citizenship.

• Toward a solution: responsibility and a path to citizenship. A large majority of voters support a path to citizenship if we are serious about having to qualify for citizenship: expelling anyone who has committed a crime, others pay a fine and

taxes, learn English, and get in the back of the queue. But if voters hear only the part about a path to citizenship without the responsibilities, they do not support this – and punish incumbent Democrats. But if Democrats ‘get it’ and are very serious about getting the problem under control, including benefits, their leaders can get support for solving this problem in ways consistent with our values.”

This poll clearly shows that voters all believe that immigration is good for America as long as it does legally. But voters are desperate for leaders who take responsibility and really solve problems. Voters are so desperate for action that they will listen to anyone willing to talk about this issue, even to folks who want to create an atmosphere of division instead of tangible solutions such has Corey Stewart did in Prince William this year.

Also Democrats cannot afford to reward illegal behavior such has handing out driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants such ahs the plan proposed by New York Democrats. What Democrats must do is let voters hear decisively “that we get it and want to get things under control – and then, the solution that restores our lawful immigrant tradition.” Once we do this Democrats will win this issue and continue to win more and more races as time goes by.

State of Youth

Here is an interesting article on the current viewpoint of American freshmen. Take a look at this one and look at the results. It is looking good for progressives in the future. Thanks Bush and Rove!

GOTV at Colleges

I came across a great post on mydd.com. This post is great, if only we can get something in place at George Mason and NOVA!

A Blue America

Chris Bowers has some exciting stuff up over at mydd. I love looking at these maps and seeing all that blue. Hopefully these trends will be the beginning of the emerging Democratic majority in electoral politics for years to come! Prince William County went for Kaine last year and Kerry narrowly lost it in 2004. This year Webb and Hurst should be able to build on that success in their efforts to get rid of George Allen and Tom Davis. It could be argued that these two races are the two of the most important on the East Coast this year in regards to possible outcomes in 2008. Prince William County will once again be one of the key swing counties in the state. Whoever PWC votes for will win these two elections.

21st Century Democrats Training and Dinner

Just received an email about the 21st Century Democrats Training. This training is one of the best that I have ever been to. Most of the campaign staffers on the D side of things attend at least one of these trainings early on in their careers. For those of you who haven't been to one, there has never been a better time to go. The training is at American University from June 9th through the 12th.

If you have advanced to the fundraising dinner circuit, you may want to stop by their annual dinner. The special guests read like a who's who is national Democratic politics. The dinner honors Congressman John Lewis- one of my personal heroes and Paul Rusesabagina of Hotel Rwanda fame.