Shenandoah Valley Omelet

A couple items whipping up the eggs today (actually some of this is a couple days old - rotten eggs?):

The News Leader had a virtual orgasm covering all the gossip and scuttlebutt of the Augusta Republicans. They had reported that Kurt Michael would resign on June 7, but they never followed up to report that he actually did so and what would happen next. Coitus interruptus, for them I guess. The News Virginian did get the story about "Dr. Mikey's" resignation from Lynn Mitchell. Perhaps, Lynn hates The News Leader so much she delivered the scoop to their cross-county rival. At any rate, she has her own gushing orgasm over Kurt on her daily wingnut trivia.

Apparently, the temporary chair of the committee will be Bill Shirley. Bill's a retired teacher and football coach. Mild mannered and polite when compared to Kurt, but every bit as rabid a theocratic right winger. Is he the heir apparent? Or a bad yoke? Will the Hanger/Roller folks turn out the folks to control to the next caucus? Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Will Jim Bailey chair the caucus? NO! Unless he gets a crash course on Robert's Rules of Order. Guess we'll have to sit in the nest a while to see who hatches as the next permanent chair. 

Scott Sayre is the new vice chair of 6th District GOP committee. All of this underscores several points: 

• The old mountain-valley Republicans are a dying breed and have been replaced by the Grover Norquist/Federalist Society reactionaries who have taken over the local committees, the district committee, and the state party. They are scary people if they ever get power, but this rooster thinks this shift is good news for Democrats.
• Emmett Hanger is among the last of those mountain-valley Republicans.
• Sayre will challenge Hanger for the nomination in 2011 or Hanger may consider running as an independent or (cluck) a Democrat.

Harrisonburg independent Carolyn Frank seems to be between a rock and a hard place. The city is trending Democratic and will move to November elections. Because of those changing dynamics, she may be tempted to join the Democratic Party - but many of them seem to be keeping her at arm's length. Or, is she a secret religious-right Republican - she has connections with Greater Hope Ministries and has dabbled in GOP politics? If you live in Harrisonburg, you may want to vote in this poll about the city council candidates.

Sam Rasoul is holding a press conference on health care in Fishersville tomorrow, June 11 at 12:30 PM. Will be interesting to see if he gets media coverage - the local TV and print media has been mostly asleep on the congressional campaign. Yes, it is early and it is hot, but the Daily News-Record, The News Virginian, and The News Leader all seem to be taking a siesta when it comes to covering this race.

The cockfight gets nasty

Feathers are flying in the Augusta Republican Committee. No wonder these guys have so much trouble governing responsibly. More in the Daily News-Record. 

Sorry about the bad link earlier. Now you have both parts 1 and 2 for your viewing pleasure.

Chief Rooster Until June 7

The News Leader reports that the GOP State Central Committee upheld Kurt Michael's election as Augusta chair. Ousted wanna-be chair, Larry Roller vows to fight on, perhaps going to court. He commented "I'm not going to let him steal the election, no matter what." Didn't Michael supporters try that once? I bet the courts stay miles away from this cockfight.

Michael says he'll step down on June 7 when the GOP 6th District Committee meets. What then? Does the district committee anoint someone? Will they call a new mass meeting that will be as poorly run as the last one? Will Larry Roller be chair by default? Will Kurt be convinced to stay on for the good of the party? Will Lynn step up and save swacland? Will Emmett Hanger be left partyless? Inquiring minds want to know!

This next tidbit is purely rumor mill stuff.... what do you think goes on in the chicken house, anyhow? Seems Kurt is chief rooster of the Emerald Hills POA. He crows so much he's run off most of the other chickens, running the POA as his own barnyard. All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others? If true, seems to be some foul (or fowl?) parallels between Kurt's worlds.

Cluck.

Follow the Leader?

The News Leader just won't let the Augusta GOP, especially Capt. Kurt, alone! The Leader is all out of joint on this one, while most of the public could care less. But, such is the yellow journalistic style of that newspaper - run with a story and gin up people's emotions. Recall the endless "porn store" coverage and all the stories about the track at Expo. My guess is local Republicans don't really care about the Leader's position on the committee's problems. Neither do most residents. Give it a rest.