What do we do about Rep. Glenn Nye?
I for one did not enjoy recently being run over by a train. And as I look to November 2010, I doubt I’ll be recovered enough to again stand in that inevitable train’s path. I’m getting too old to endure the kick in the gut that is the crap shoot called “elections” here in Virginia Beach and certainly too old to exert on causes that don’t stand a chance. So, let’s not and say we did?!
So far Rep. Glenn Nye seems hell-bent on deliberately voting Republican-lite. Yet the now 6 Republican candidates lining up to challenge him are already all over his ass, calling him a “Pelosi Democrat”, ignoring his non-Pelosi votes on health care reform and climate change. Our local teabaggers have already started weighing in on which of the 6 GOPpers to pick. Despite his votes in their favor, they’re still dissing him. Meanwhile, Nye’s progressive base has completely abandoned him for his weak-kneed votes. So, who’s left to support Glenn Nye?
I guess there is always the Virginia Beach Democratic Committee, the mighty force that it is.
Here’s an email invitation to Sat., Jan. 9th VBDC Breakfast from the VBDC’s outgoing chairman: “Come out and hear Glenn talk about his experiences in Washington helping President Obama push his agenda forward.”
Ha! That’ll be a short speech!
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January 3rd, 2010 at 10:12 am
I see nobody with the exception of you, “abandoning” Mr. Nye.
The Second District is a very conservative minded group and it is to Mr. Nye’s credit that he was able to build support across such a wide spectrum of political interests, enough to be elected.
Mr. Nye has served the interests of our citizens very well during his time in Congress. Here at home, he has consistently and enthusiastically worked to help other Democrats, like Mr. Bill Fleming (Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, Jan. 12th), in their local races.
I am seeing a great deal of self-destructive behavior among self-anointed spokesmen on the Democratic side. I would like all of these nay-sayers and pessimists to pause and examine how elections have been won here in Virginia. those who build successful coalitions, like Webb, Warner, and Kaine are successful. Those who can only recite the DNC talking points, consistently lose.
In Virginia, crossover voters decide all of our elections. Congressman Nye knows this, as do most other successful candidates and their supporters.
January 3rd, 2010 at 10:26 am
So what I understand you are saying, when we select a representative we elect the party platform and not the individual. Is it all about following party bosses and not people who are the constituents? Fortunately, it is the bulk of the non-committed voters that decide who prevails. Unless the nominated Republican can effectively communicate why Representative Nye should be replaced as spokesman for the district Nye’s actions speak louder than words; hence, the non-affiliated electorate, those who determine the outcome, will evaluate his performance.
January 3rd, 2010 at 11:05 am
I wouldn’t be so perplexed by Glenn if he at least met us halfway on his decision making process and consistently and logically explained why he votes the way he does. With the climate bill, we never knew what he was thinking, what his concerns were, or that he was even giving it serious consideration. His excuse after the fact was that it fell out of the sky. Bull shit! So infuriating!
I’d also like some acknowledgment to the fact that not 100% of his constituents are soldiers, veterans and their families.
January 3rd, 2010 at 11:29 am
Nye would be more effective if he could actually talk substantively about the issues. All he offers is mushy boilerplate about “controlling costs” and “helping small businesses” without any substance. The conservative voters that he’s pandering to with his voting record aren’t going to vote for him, and the progressives that came out to vote for Obama and swept Nye in on his coattails have no reason to vote for him in 2010, given that he’s opposed the two most important parts of the Democratic agenda. He’s not going to inspire anyone to go to the polls to vote for him by being a mealy-mouthed moderate all the time.
January 4th, 2010 at 8:00 am
I think I am in agreement with J Tyler and Wally. Glenn’s district is at least moderately conservative and he would stand little chance of re-election if his opponent (whoever it ends up being) could tar him as being just another typical liberal.
Now, without progressive voters showing up to cast their votes for him, him might not win either. However a progressive who does not vote for him is not going to vote for his opponent. This is not true of the moderate voter, who’s votes could end up in his opponent’s column.
The 2010 election is sure to be hotly contested. Glenn will need all the votes he can get from both the left and the center if he is going to emerge victorious. But McDonnell won a majority of the moderate/independent voters in this last election because even Creigh Deeds was not moderate enough for the majority of them. The only thing Glenn might have going for him is that the right wing is energized and seems to be motivated to ensure the Republican candidate can not be described as being a “mealy-mouthed moderate”.
January 4th, 2010 at 11:42 am
I think it will be interesting to watch the what happens in VA-05 as well as VA-02. Perriello seems to be running based on the feeling that if he shows up and talks with all of his constituents he can vote on his principles because that was what he was elected to do. Nye seems to be running as a moderate Blue Dog who is focused on military/veterans issues. VA-05 is slightly more conservative than VA-02, but I feel like Perriello isn’t making the Deeds mistakes and is running as a “big D” Democrat. I don’t know if either will win, but it will be interesting to see whether Perriello or Nye gets better youth/black/ turnout and who does better amongst independents.
January 5th, 2010 at 3:32 am
Glenn Nye ran as being moderate (although not yet a Blue Dog) candidate. That’s what he ran on last time, and if he had turned his back on what he ran on what would voters’ thoughts be about him?
January 5th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Who says you liberals ever come out and vote on off-year elections anyway? Why should a congressman care about a democratic base that wouldn’t even come out and vote however he voted?
January 6th, 2010 at 5:39 am
Chris:
I noted something interesting while I was surfing the web. Seems The Cook Political Report (claims to be non-partisan) rates both Perriello and Nye at R+5 in their leanings towards voting with the Republican Party. What really caused me to grin was that Perriello actually beat out Nye in the numerical rankings. Pereillo comes in at 180th most Republican and Nye comes in a few places behind at 183rd.
I also noted that Cook rates the VA-02 election race as leaning Democrat and has the VA-05 district as being a toss up.
January 6th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
LittleDavid,
I based my comment on the “conservativeness” of the districts based not so much on the Cook PVI rankings (which are in the process of being recalculated after 08) but on the fact that Obama won the 2nd and lost the 5th by 3. I’d also argue Goode was more conservative than Drake, but that’s a conversation for another time. As for your other points, there are a lot of rankings, Progressive Punch has Perriello being much more progressive than Nye.
To your last point, i think the fact that VA-02 is rated “safer” than -05 goes directly to my point. Nye is doing what CW says which is to move to the middle and vote against things that are controversial. Perriello appears to be voting more on conviction than on political calculation. As I said, it will be interesting to see which strategy endears most voters to the congressmen.
January 8th, 2010 at 2:55 am
You’re right Eileen!!!!! Some of his constituents are communist subversives just like you.
January 9th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Chris,
So in your estimation, unless a representative votes one way or another on a particular issue he/she lacks conviction? Perhaps the explanation is not the lack of conviction, but that the conviction he holds disagrees with you.
I am not familiar with Progressive Punch. Which particular portions of the Progressive movement are most important to them? For an example: I would describe Eileen as part of the Progressive crowd. To her, votes on the environment hold particular weight. Just how much adjusting of the weights on the scale does Progressive Punch do?