Bacon's Rebellion

Sen. George Allen Stumps for Del. Tom Gear

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by

James A. Bacon
in

I attended a breakfast today on The Peninsula in my town for Del. Tom Gear (R-91 HD) where the guest of honor was Sen. George Allen. Gear is being challenged by a Democrat city councilman from Hampton running as an ‘Independent’. It is the power and money Establishment payback for Gear’s leadership against the 02 Transportation Tax Scam and vote against the 04 Tax Increase and Surplus. Gear is one of the true Populists in the GA. He represents a core constituency of the RPV.

The Mayor of Poquoson (pop 12,000) gave Sen. Allen a model boat representing the heritage of this community – and the few Watermen who still live and work here. He talked about how George Allen was on the scene the day after Isabel damaged over half the houses here. Some folks are still living in trailers and rebuilding two years later. He mentioned Allen’s support for a Veterans’ problem on disability pay.

Del. Jack Reid (R-Henrico) spoke his support for Gear’s re-election and role in the GA.

Del. Tom Gear spoke briefly about his campaign. His opposition is trying to buy the seat.

Sen. Allen spoke about the judiciary and Harriet Miers, illegal immigraion, and taxes as spin-offs from Gear’s campaign brochure. He did it fluidly and with his usual energy, confidence and enthusiasm.

Naturally, he spoke well of the whole GOP ticket statewide and for Gear.

It was very interesting to hear him say he had not made up his mind about Harriet Miers yet. He will decide in the confirmation process.

He spoke for a guest worker program but against amnesty for illegal aliens.

And, surprise, he was against new and more taxes. Allen supported the troops and their missions. He said he believed democracy, if individuals are given the choice, is picked totalitarianism anywhere in the world.

The crowd loved him. He hit the right chords within these voters. Lots of real affection and admiration for Sen. Allen.

I view these events as political theater. That isn’t perjorative. They are necessary and important in every campaign and through the year for the Party faithful. There are expectations and formats that are almost scripted. It is the delivery of the actors that impresses. Sen. Allen always impresses – from what I’ve seen.

Now to get the word out to the voters of the 91st HD that Democrat Mark “I-won’t-raise-your-taxes” Warner goes to the opponent’s fund raiser and Sen. George Allen stumps for Republican Del. Tom Gear.

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  1. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    That is a question I was expecting Sunday night — do you support Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court? If you were a senator, would you vote to confirm? It would have put both Kilgore and Kaine is a bit of a pickle to answer that.

  2. JamesRiverGOP Avatar
    JamesRiverGOP

    Tom Gear a populist? Try opportunist. Let’s not forget that he was a Democrat until the “opportunity” to become a Republican and run for delegate.

    And it’s good that the Poquoson mayor, Del. Reid, and Sen. Allen spoke, and, as you put it, Gear spoke only “briefly.” It’s better that he not speak too much, seeing that he has trouble putting two sentences together. Word in Richmond is that his own House caucus colleagues think he’s a joke.

    Gear’s failed businesses (yes, plural) portend his handle on fiscal matters. Left to Gear, the state would be as bankrupt as his own businesses.

    Good Republicans can in good conscience vote for a Democrat, but in this case they may be able to hold their noses and vote for an independent. We’ll see …

  3. James Atticus Bowden Avatar
    James Atticus Bowden

    JamesRiverGOP: All politics is local. You don’t go by the name BackRiverGOP, so we can understand your unfamiliarity with the facts.

    Gear’s yogurt business went under 89. He just retired based from a day job selling his profitable printing business.

    Gear was a Republican-Democrat-Republican. We all know that. It wasn’t opportunity that knocked off an incumbent GOP delegate – with the help of local GOP party Bubbas like me – when the elected public officials backed their buddy in power for the sake of power as the only principle.

    No Republicans of principle will vote for the Dem running as an independent – Mr Tax, Tax, Tax and Spend Liberal.

  4. JamesRiverGOP Avatar
    JamesRiverGOP

    Oh, I’m quite familiar with Poquoson and Hampton-area politics, as I live quite near there. And you really ought to check and see just how “profitable” Gear’s printing business was … you may well be surprised.

  5. James Atticus Bowden Avatar
    James Atticus Bowden

    Familiarity breeds contempt… and children. If you were involved in 91 HD politics as a Republican, you would know why the chairs of the three committees in Gear’s district support him without reservation. The same power structure that makes its living from Government, which is why they support taxes as a transfer payment to their pockets, fought Gear in 01 with their GOP incumbent lap dog, proposed a tax scam that stunk of corruption in 02, promoted a joke candidate who bought a second house to ‘legally’ run against Gear instead of the open seat in the district where he lived in 03, paid money into the campaign funds of RINOS who supported the 04 tax hike and surplus and now run this Democrat as a phony independent. Power is their game. Period.

  6. NotGeorgeSteinbrenner Avatar
    NotGeorgeSteinbrenner

    Yeah, that Tom Gear is a legislative titan. This year he introduced a dozen bills. Two passed and went into effect. One passed the House but was killed in the Senate. One was rolled into another bill. Eight were killed in House committees, seven unanimously. The other got one vote.

    One of the two bills he got passed increased state spending $138,741 a year. It raised his aide’s and all the other out of town aides’ per diem from $117 a day to $134.55. I gues they would starve were it not for the lavish pac reception hors d’ouevres tables and open bars or go homeless if not for the $672.75 for five nights lodging in Richmond. Now there’s a fiscal conservative for you!

    By way of comparison, 43% of bills introduced in the House this year passed. Gear went two for 11. His .181 batting average would put him right in the middle of the Yankees’ post season lineup.

  7. James Atticus Bowden Avatar
    James Atticus Bowden

    Like bills passed = success. Uh-huh. For Conservatives right votes = success.

  8. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Did Tom Gear support Dave Albo’s attempt to lower the penalty for child molestation?

  9. James Atticus Bowden Avatar
    James Atticus Bowden

    Anon: I dunno. I believe he got a 100% pro-family rating from VA Family Foundation and VCAP.

  10. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    And you won’t even mention the opponent’s name?!!! hmm, some favoritism here? Gear has been a a democrat his whole life (excuse me, until 2001…)-his whole freakin family is!! He has failed to pay his taxes/and has had delinquent taxes 19 TIMES while in office-it’s time for a change, and just because Gilliland-a longtime democrat has support from many democrats-he ALSO has support from MANY local republicans…

    The 91st district realizes it is time for a change…and the voters realize now how much of an idiot Gear is- if anyone went to the 4 debates in the past month, they would have seen Gear stumble over many questions-not to mention failing to answer some. While Gilliland is definitely not the PERFECT candidate, he is by far a better choice for the voters of the 91st district!

  11. E. Zuma Avatar
    E. Zuma

    that’s great! tomgear.blogspot.com

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