(UPDATE: More bad news for Cooch – Gabrielle Giffords group to join in Virginia races. 🙂 – promoted by lowkell)

Wow, what a day for the Cuccinelli campaign. Not a “wow, what a day” like after you get that dream job, win the lottery, marry the love of your life, stuff like that. No, more like, “wow, what a day” after you step in a pile of dog poop walking out the front door, causing you to slip into the mud, all while wearing your best suit (now ruined), forcing you to go inside and shower and change, leading you to miss a crucial meeting, resulting in you getting fired, etc, etc. That kind of “wow, what a day.” With that image in mind, let’s recap Cuccinelli’s day from hell.

1. Cuccinelli lost yet ANOTHER case, this time on women’s health clinic (“TRAP”) regulations. No, it’s not your imagination; the number of times Cuccinelli has lost in court over the past four years keeps growing, as does the waste of Virginia taxpayers’ money and the Attorney General office’s time. #FAIL all around. Plus, just what Cuccinelli needed, to remind people of his war on women’s reproductive freedom.

2. Cuccinelli’s campaign pumped up a “major announcement,” to be made via “live stream” no less. In the end, it turned out to be a total dud – a rehash of Cuccinelli’s usual (not to mention wildly speculative, aka “totally made up steaming horse manure”) attacks on Terry McAuliffe that the Democrats will CRANK UP SPENDING AND RAISE YOUR TAXES AND TURN US ALL SOCIALIST AND DESTROY CIVILIZATION AS WE KNOW IT!!! Yeah, just like Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, right? Whatever. Also, who knows where Cuccinelli got any of these numbers (out of his a***?), but the whole thing is completely absurd for a number of important reasons. For one, the Republican-controlled House of Delegates would have to pass any of McAuliffe’s proposals. So, if they DO become law, it will be with the approval of Speaker Bill Howell et al in the Republican House of Delegates. Is that likely to happen if the proposals are as horrible as Cooch makes them out to be? Nope, don’t think so! Also, note how Cuccinelli doesn’t mention that he supports some of these same proposals? Finally, note how he doesn’t include any of the net benefits that would flow from the proposed investments in education, transportation, etc? Sorry, but Cuccinelli’s simply not serious in any way, shape or form.

3. Then, whatever tiny hope the Cuccinelli campaign might have had of gaining some traction with their utterly minor “major announcement” was ruined by their angry, undisciplined, flailing candidate. That’s right, Cuccinelli managed to step all over his “major announcement” by hurling absurd accusations at the Republican mayor of one of Virginia’s most important cities electorally speaking – Virginia Beach. This prompted an angry response from said mayor, Will Sessoms, who called Cuccinelli’s charges “reckless” and “infuriating,” among other things. It also prompted Virginian Pilot reporter Julian Walker to note that Cuccinelli’s accusations were “bold and unsubstantiated,” and that they managed to “[overshadow] the message of his Newport News event.” Other than that, great job by the Cooch! LOL

4. Just to top off their day from hell, the Cuccinelli campaign sent out a bizarre, hyperventilating email, which darkly warned of a dystopian future in which “clergy might face imprisonment for teaching the Christian morals from the pulpit,” in which home schooling could be outlawed, and in which “[o]ur freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, second amendments rights, parental rights, and property rights are all slowly being strangled by our federal government” (also the mandatory wingnut line about the “overreaching tentacles of the liberal policies of the Obama Administration”). That’s right, all those horrors – and more! – will happen if you don’t SEND MONEY TO KEN CUCCINELLI RIGHT NOW, and of course if you don’t elect Cuccinelli governor in 27 days. Can we say “unhinged tirade?” Oh, and if that’s not absurd enough, the email took over 900 words of rambling, ranting lunacy to finally get to the money “ask.” My understanding is that “best practice” for a political campaign is to NEVER send out a fundraising email in which it takes more than 150 words to get to the first such “ask.” Who on earth is running this campaign’s email program? Whoever they are, they should be fired immediately. My god…

To an extent, this level of hysteria and desperation is to be expected, what with Cuccinelli down in every real poll since last spring (and falling further behind with the government shutdown, the collapsing approval ratings for Republicans, his close ties to shutdown architect Ted Cruz, etc., etc.). Still, it’s amazing that someone who had such a reputation prior to this election as a top-notch politician, even if he was extreme and crazy, can fall apart this completely. Yet here we are, 27 days from election day, and that’s sure what it’s starting to look like.  

From Virginians for Clean Government:

For Immediate Release

From: Virginians For Clean Government

Date: October 9, 2013

Virginians for Clean Government Request to Know When Cuccinelli Knew About Communications Between Attorney General’s Office and CONSOL Energy

Group makes Virginia Public Records Act request to see all communications between Cuccinelli’s office and CONSOL from June to September

Wise County, Virginia – Virginians for Clean Government, a group of Virginia residents promoting ethical government in Richmond, called on Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to release all communications between his staff and CONSOL Energy. The request was based on news reports that Cuccinelli told the Bristol Herald-Courier at campaign stop in Abingdon on Tuesday that his office had only stopped communicating with CONSOL “in the last month or so.”

The text of the letter reads:

Dear Mr. Cuccinelli:

As you know, the Attorney General’s office is currently under investigation by the Inspector General over its communications with CONSOL, a Pennsylvania-based company engaged in a lawsuit with Southwest Virginia landowners. The investigation was prompted by records showing that Senior Assistant Attorney General Sharon Pigeon exchanged dozens of emails with CONSOL subsidiaries starting in 2010, many of which can be construed as providing legal advice to CONSOL on how to defeat Virginia landowner lawsuits.

We assumed communications between your office and CONSOL had stopped. But we were dismayed to learn yesterday that your office continued communicating with CONSOL even after a federal judge in June 2013 found the level of legal assistance from your senior assistant Attorney General office to CONSOL to be “shocking.”  

As Virginia residents, we think this is ethically questionable because Pennsylvania-based CONSOL Energy has contributed more than $100,000 to your gubernatorial campaign.

Pursuant to the Virginia Public Records Act, we request copies of all communications from the months of June, July, August and September between any representative of the Attorney General’s office and CONSOL Energy and its subsidiaries. Such communications as logs of phone calls, instant messages, texts, scheduled meetings, emails and any other electronic communications are to be included.

Given the time sensitive nature of this issue and the substantial campaign contributions from CONSOL to your gubernatorial campaign, we are requesting that the information be divulged within 7 business days.  This is information that Southwest Virginia landowners and statewide voters deserve to have in a timely manner.

We are further concerned to learn that you only recently became aware of the communications between your office and CONSOL Energy. We have been aware of it for months. Your office called Ms. Pigeon’s emails “overzealous” in a Bristol Herald-Courier story on June 6, 2013. Have you been completely unaware of this major issue for the past four months? How could you be not know about an issue for which your office is under investigation by the Inspector General? Or have you been too busy on the campaign trail to stand up for the citizens you were elected to protect?  

We’re also renewing our request that you return the $100,000 in CONSOL campaign contributions or step down as Attorney General.

Sincerely,

Matt Skeens

Valarie Castle Stanley

Linda Skeens Mickels

Aimee Compton

Travis Kiser

Missy Kiser

From the Mark Herring for AG campaign:

HERRING DRAWS CLEAR CONTRAST BETWEEN HIS VISION FOR OFFICE AND OBENSHAIN/CUCCINELLI EXTREME AGENDA AT MRWBA FORUM

With Tea Party AG candidate Obenshain afraid to appear before women’s group, Herring highlights his record of protecting Virginia’s women and families

Today, Democratic candidate for Attorney General Mark Herring outlined his campaign platform at the Metro Richmond Women’s Bar Association Forum. In his address, Herring outlined the clear differences between his approach to protecting Virginia’s women and families as Attorney General and that of his opponent, Tea Party candidate Mark Obenshain.

“Virginia’s women are tired of the Obenshain-Cuccinelli approach to the office of Attorney General,” said Herring. “Time and time again, Mark Obenshain and Ken Cuccinelli have put their extreme agenda of making personal private decisions for women ahead of what’s best for Virginians. That’s why women in Virginian can’t trust Senator Obenshain or Ken Cuccinelli.”

“Senator Obenshain and Ken Cuccinelli have imposed a narrow Tea Party ideology, and I believe that is the wrong approach. When I’m Attorney General, I will take politics out of the office and put the law, and Virginians, first,” Herring added.

“It’s truly unfortunate that Senator Obenshain backed out of the debate today,” said Valerie L’Herrou, a member of the Metro Richmond Women’s Bar Association. “It makes me wonder if Senator Obenshain is afraid of speaking in front of a group of highly-educated professional women; women who make decisions on a daily basis, not only for themselves and their families, but for their clients, including some of the largest corporations in Virginia. The fact that Senator Obenshain refuses to actually stand in front of a group of women and explain any of his record of invading the personal lives of women speaks louder than any words.”

Herring told attendees that, as Virginia’s next Attorney General, he will refocus the office on protecting Virginians and keeping families and communities safe. He will continue his work to prevent sexual and domestic violence and crack down on sexual predators. Herring said he will support veterans, service members and their families, and will continue his work protecting seniors from financial fraud and abuse. Finally, Herring said he will return the highest ethical standards to the office of Attorney General.

Unlike Herring, Senator Obenshain and Ken Cuccinelli have focused on making personal health care decisions for women. They sponsored a personhood amendment that would outlaw abortion, even in cases of rape and incest, and ban common forms of birth control. They have also opposed equal pay for equal work protections.

Additionally, Senator Obenshain introduced his own personhood bill, sponsored a bill requiring women to report miscarriages to the police and called the transvaginal ultrasound bill a “common sense proposal.” 

From the Kathlen Murphy for delegate campaign, the bottom line is that Barbara Comstock is terrified to debate her, and is hiding behind the cowardly excuse that a handful of gun safety protestors would have messed up the whole debate. For all her reputation as a Republican attack dog, Comstock’s more like a kitty cat or maybe a lap dog.

McLean, Va. – Over the past two weeks the voters have seen what Barbara Comstock really thinks about the constituents of the 34th District. Not much.

On October 2nd, Delegate Barbara Comstock avoided attending the League of Women Voters candidate forum. Democratic candidate Kathleen Murphy attended and took questions from interested voters for nearly 2 hours.

It is clear why Comstock doesn’t want to attend.  Her voting record shows who she really represents: The Cuccinelli-conservatives who voted against funding for the bipartisan transportation solutions, who voted against funding for education, and who voted against women’s rights.

Once again tonight, Del. Comstock was able to duck being held accountable for her extreme positions at the Great Falls Community Association debate.

Comstock is lucky she didn’t have to answer for her full-throated support of the gun lobby.  It would be hard to defend voting for guns in bars and supporting repealing the one gun a month law.

For Kathleen Murphy, preventing gun violence is personal.  “I lost a brother when he was shot and killed by a robber with a gun.  I know the pain that victims of this type of senseless violence go through.”

That is why Kathleen is for common sense measures like expanded background checks which can help keep our children and communities safe.  “I am running for the House of Delegates to represent the interests and priorities of the people of the 34th district.  Once again, Barbara Comstock has avoided being held accountable for her record of voting against us.”

As we all know by now, Ken Cuccinelli is the epitome of the corrupt, “quid pro quo” politician – from Bobby Thompson and the “Navy Vets charity” scam to Jonnie Williams/Star Scientific to “chefgate” to CONSOL Energy to the Koch brothers to…it never ends. Combine that with Cuccinelli’s extremism on contraception, a woman’s right to choose, the environment, separation of church and state, economic policy, voting rights, etc, etc., and it’s a combination that nobody in their right mind should support.

Now, just to drive home all those points, Cuccinelli’s bringing in SC Gov. Nikki Haley, a far-right-wing nutjob on many of the same issues Cuccinelli is. Plus, as an added bonus, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) rated Haley one of the worst governors in America (a “clown”) for bringing “the same pay-to-play politics to the governor’s mansion” she’s demonstrated “since her days in the state legislature.”

For much of her term, Gov. Haley faced an ethics investigation and lawsuit focused on her outside employment while serving as a state representative. The complaint alleged the governor illegally lobbied on behalf of her former employer. Gov. Haley also earned $40,000 in consulting fees while serving in the legislature, which she did not disclose until her campaign for governor. The state House Ethics Committee ultimately cleared Gov. Haley of all charges.

According to a 2011 report, 26 of the 59 people Gov. Haley appointed to state boards and commissions were donors to her campaign, contributing $74,000 in total. Between November 2010 and October 2011, Gov. Haley regularly accepted trips on private planes belonging to people with potential business before the state, including an executive whose company received $4.5 million in state funds.

Sound familiar? Can we say “$1,000 turkey dinners?” In other words, she and Ken Cuccinelli are two rotten peas in a corrupt, extremist pod. They should get along very well together.