Letters to the editor, cont’d: Bad Timing Hurts Deeds’ Run for Office

Bad Timing Hurts Deeds' Run for Office
Editor, Times-Dispatch: A recent poll produced by the folks at Gallup has shown that Americans identify themselves as 40 percent conservative, 36 percent moderate, and 20 percent liberal. Until 2008, the conservatives and moderates were within one point of each other; however, conservatives have slowly been gaining since the election of President Obama.

Public opinion has been drifting more to the right on issues such as abortion, the size of government, and gun control. From May 2008 to May 2009, the percentage of Americans who considered themselves pro-life rose from 44 percent to a staggering 51 percent. These figures hurt the effectiveness of Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds' negative attacks on Bob McDonnell's thesis.

It is not only the shift in political ideology that is putting McDonnell in the lead. Just as Sen. John McCain was plagued with the after-effects of the Bush administration, Deeds is cursed with a storm of bad timing. Most Republicans are out to increase their party's power, whereas most of the Democrats are satisfied with the election of a Democratic president. Thus, there will be a higher turnout of Republicans at the polls, and a less excited Democratic constituency.

With Democrats taking the fall on issues such as the economy and health care, it looks like the election will be a repeat of the election of three years ago, except McDonnell will be winning with 36,000 more votes, not 360.

Nick Anderson.
Moseley.

The blank look and good boy comment are not strong criteria for serving as the 99th District's delegate but, is he really for the Bay?

Poultry waste is the No. 1 pollutant going into the Bay today. The poultry producers own the birds, the feed, chemicals, and everything else that go into the birds but they do not own the waste that comes out of those birds. Why won't Pollard introduce legislation to make the owners of those birds responsible for their waste? The answer given was that it would be too difficult to get passed. I'm glad Mothers Against Drunk Driving didn't take that attitude when it tackled the alcohol industry.

The No. 2 pollutant in the Bay is stormwater runoff. Most of this comes from cities. Developers are opposed to the new stormwater runoff regulations. These regulations would significantly reduce the amount of nitrogen and other pollutants entering the Bay. Pollard's campaign has accepted more than $4,000 from a Realtor political action committee.

Well, at least he is for motherhood. Or is he? He voted against a parent's right to know and against unemployment compensation for military spouses. He supports abortion and voted against the marriage amendment twice.

I'm supporting Crabill. She is a lady of integrity and immense faith who will take on the hard issues and won't cave to special interests. She will represent the people of the 99th District.

Ken Smith.
Heathsville.

I called Cox and explained my need. The rest is history. Cox not only received the wreaths, but he stored them until the morning of the ceremony and then donated his truck with the beautiful military murals on the side and delivered the wreaths to Richmond National Cemetery.

The Cox truck left Ashland with a large motorcycle escort and proceeded to the wreath laying ceremony. I write this to illustrate Cox's patriotism. He does not charge me a nickel for all he does. He even has coffee and donuts for the bike riders who gather to escort the truck on the cold December mornings.

I cannot think of another man whom I would wholeheartedly recommend for public office. Cox is honest, hardworking, successful, and will not compromise the integrity of those who elect him. Please go by his shop in Ashland and take a look at his trailers with the military murals. I am proud to call John Cox a friend. Hanover needs him to represent the people.

Rocky Angone Jr.
Richmond.