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Paul
Goldman resigning? And he didn't even shoot his
hunting buddy like the VP?
Last
week, Goldman resigned as Richmond mayor Doug
Wilder's senior policy adviser. The probable
reasoning for the Goldman resignation: A $15,000
consultant's fee from Timothy M. Kaine's
gubernatorial campaign, which took place three days
prior to the election and coincided with Wilder's
last-minute endorsement of Timmaayyyy "The
Choir Boy' Kaine.
That
raised some wooly eyebrows! However, the funny-money
contribution probably didn’t contribute to his
demise. The Blue Dog believes Goldman’s political
motives are always calculated.
Nevertheless,
the Blue Dog's favorite Democrat in the Commonwealth
remains Paul Goldman, err - I meant to say along
with the brilliant, out-of-this- world Patrick
County Democrat, Barnie Day.
Yes,
the Blue Dog has a wet-brown nose.
Goldman
Action Line
During
my Virginia Senate campaign in 2003, Goldman was
just a cell-phone call away for advice on the
Goldman Action Line. He's always been there to help
the underdog Democrat - those candidates who don't
have the support of, and are shortchanged by, the
Democratic Party establishment. He has a keen eye
for politics, and knows what works in Virginia.
Goldman
is a Virginia Democrat's Democrat. Throughout the
election, the same could be said of Bath County Sen.
Creigh Deeds, but I doubt he may choose to remember
he agreed to mentor the Blue Dog.
Don't
forget, I was the Democratic problem child, but
that's another Adventure in Warnerland... Hey Creigh,
the Blue Dog did cast a Deeds for AG vote. (A case
of more brown nose, huh?) Read more about Adventures
in Warnerland.
Matter
of fact, Paul Goldman coined my Senate nickname,
"the anti-tax candidate." He advised not
using the words conservative Democrat because nobody
in the Central Shenandoah Valley would ever believe
such a thing existed.
Here
in the Shenandoah Valley, the likes of Santa Claus,
the Tooth Fairy and a Conservative Democrat are
three mythological caricatures.... although former
governor Mark "Mollycoddle" Warner did a
darn good job imitating Santa Claus and the Tooth
Fairy with our state budget. He also calls himself a
Conservative Democrat, who loves to tax and spend,
due to so-called state-budget shortfalls.
I've
corresponded off and on with Paul Goldman for 10
years about issues dealing with local, state and
national politics. He's probably the single best
Democratic strategist in the Commonwealth.
Along
with other Democrats, the Blue Dog highly regards
his political advice. After all, Goldman helped
elect the first African-American to the governor's
mansion in the Old Dominion and is the former DPVA
chairman as well.
I've
traveled more than once across the Blue Ridge
Mountains on an early Saturday morning to listen to
Goldman address the Albemarle-Charlottesville
Socialist Party, err ... I meant to say
Democrats. Sorry, George…
You
can't miss Goldman driving his slick silver Miata -
and he usually dons a pair of oversized sunglasses
and a wide smile and, of course, opinions for all
concerned at those breakfast functions. Goldman
never fails to say something less than
controversial, and has the knack to start debate
with Democratic issues.
Road
to Richmond
It
only seems like yesterday when I chatted with Paul
Goldman as he collected signatures for a Richmond
mayoral petition drive. He amazed the Blue Dog as he
continued to hold a conversation about General
Assembly politics while calling out Richmond natives
to sign the petition.
Goldman
has an incredible mind for politics. In the 1970s,
he served as Henry Howell's gubernatorial campaign
manager. Mayor Wilder commented on Goldman in the Richmond
Times-Dispatch: "We're rather simpatico.
Paul's best left to himself and to answer only to
the candidate. But sometimes his mind is like a
runaway racehorse, and I have to say, 'Whoa,
boy, whoa!' and rein him in."
In
the Richmond mayoral race, Goldman worked tirelessly
to elect Doug Wilder mayor. The same Wilder-Goldman
team won the governor's race back in the 1980s.
Goldman has been Wilder's longtime political
confidante, credited with "leading a
‘revolution in American politics' by The New
York Times for his role in breaking America's
300-year-old color barrier in national
politics."
During
the recent gubernatorial race, Goldman met with
independent gubernatorial candidate Russ Potts,
Republican Jerry Kilgore and Kaine about policy
concerning the urban renewal of the City of
Richmond. Those less-than-secretive meetings carried
a lot of political weight and media muscle during an
otherwise boring death-penalty and faith- based
campaign.
Amazing,
huh?
In
his resignation letter, Goldman wrote to Wilder,
"I wish you continued great success. It is a
long way from Cujo's Cave, that's for
sure."
Darnit!
Does Stephen King reside in Richmond? That's news to
the Blue Dog. No, Blue Dog, Goldman was referring to
a country store in the Cumberland Gap where Doug
Wilder's 1985 lieutenant-governor campaign began.
Nice. Goldman is the best.
Blog-fare
One
Man’s Trash blogger Norm Leahy commented on the
Goldman resignation: "Richmond mayor Doug
Wilder's long-time associate Paul Goldman has
resigned his post as senior policy advisor. Neither
man will comment on what the future holds, but I
suspect that we may be seeing (and reading) more
from Goldman in the months ahead ... say at Bacon's
Rebellion?"
Goldman
joining Jim Bacon's blog bits - Whatever!
The Blue Dog commented, "I'm sure Goldman will
return."
It's
only a matter of time. Most Virginia handlers and
politicos would probably agree…
--
February 27, 2006
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