tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post5575044810131103242..comments2023-09-16T04:58:07.261-04:00Comments on the Annandale Blog: Mason Supervisor Penny Gross wins Democratic primaryAnnandale Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543558586252790593noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-91502890882164330302015-06-15T20:40:21.453-04:002015-06-15T20:40:21.453-04:00This is riot, quite a parody on Mason District wit...This is riot, quite a parody on Mason District with a touch of the Wizard of OZ, Gone with the Wind, and Superman. I cannot stop laughing. The crazy part, some of it sounds almost like reality. <br /><br />What a hoot. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-77841260814441223202015-06-15T11:53:42.698-04:002015-06-15T11:53:42.698-04:00I'm cracking up. Thanks for the laugh.I'm cracking up. Thanks for the laugh. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-54096171715241352532015-06-13T18:09:16.376-04:002015-06-13T18:09:16.376-04:00i hope you were drunk when you wrote this nonsense...i hope you were drunk when you wrote this nonsense Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-87704005419230127982015-06-13T01:22:17.997-04:002015-06-13T01:22:17.997-04:00Three acres? In the midst of controversy over the ...Three acres? In the midst of controversy over the massive redevelopment of the Route 7 corridor, that's what you're going with? JSwan didn't oppose Upper Bailey's and I don't believe that Mollie does either. The debate has shifted to building a school on the Willston site. So, try to catch up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-72464436638328811602015-06-12T23:30:18.802-04:002015-06-12T23:30:18.802-04:00If someone hasn't already done so, you should ...If someone hasn't already done so, you should copyright the term "one-button mentality". Penny has been able to coast to reelection on the coattails of Gerry Connolly and Sharon Bulova because knee jerk Democratic voters have never bothered to analyze her threadbare record. There will be at least one debate because Penny cannot dismiss Mollie Loeffler the way she did JSwan. Expect Penny to try and pin a Tea Party label on Molly in order to deflect attention from her own lack of accomplishments.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-22454176548533127122015-06-12T23:23:18.536-04:002015-06-12T23:23:18.536-04:00Actually, it looks like folks LOVE charter schools...Actually, it looks like folks LOVE charter schools when they are never told the schools are a charter schools.<br /><br />Swanson was scum for getting the backing of big money and Penny is scum for taking so many campaign contributions from developers. What VA politics really needs is campaign finance reform - instead we get a freak show of folks who call themselves candidates - none really qualified for public office and ready to sell their soul to win the next election that always comes because there are NO TERM LIMITS. <br /><br />Who gives a crap about kids - we'll give them a school campus barely over 3 acres and call that sat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-43526747322942171082015-06-12T22:03:50.308-04:002015-06-12T22:03:50.308-04:00Swanson was a crappy candidate. Folks hate charte...Swanson was a crappy candidate. Folks hate charter schools and hardly know enough to ask if they are public charter or private charter schools.<br /><br />Public charter?? We have Bailey's Elementary - that's a public charter school, we have Glasgow - that's AAP, we have Belvedere - that's AAP. We have TJ - that's the high tech high school. JEB and Annandale are IB, - so is Marshall and a host of others. Falls Church is AP.<br /><br />We've got lots of charter schools.<br /><br />Loeffler's biggest problem will be trying to beat an incumbent democratic party supervisor in a district with a one-button mentality, regardless of the issues or any debates. Are there going to be debates?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-26627653049460775532015-06-12T21:57:49.189-04:002015-06-12T21:57:49.189-04:00"If you are going to make pronouncements abou..."If you are going to make pronouncements about election returns, at least be accurate...." Mia Culpa. Although I majored in history, it wasn't ancient history. I do, however, remember that, in 1995, there was no incumbent for the office of Mason supervisor. Tina Trapnell decided not to run and there were still some GOP moderates around. Eight years later, Buzz Hawley ran a good campaign, but finished 10 points behind Penny even though she was already subject to many of the same criticisms leveled against her by JSwan. So, thanks for the trivia, but the 2003 election is the best example to date of how strongly Penny runs in Mason. <br /><br />JSwan only mustered a paltry 2,200 votes. Many of those were no doubt cast by Republicans who wouldn't have voted for her in the general election. Furthermore, there's hardly any evidence to suggest that the votes she received reflected support for her one plank education platform. Rather, the distribution of votes suggests she was more likely the standard bearer of those critics of Penny's redevelopment plans living in close proximity to Route 7. In other words, JSwan's true Democrat supporters are too few in number to make an appreciable dent in the outcome of the general election. Moreover, some of their hysterics are likely to detract from Mollie Loeffler's campaign if they choose to support her. Hopefully they'll realize that and find a quiet place to sit out the upcoming general election campaign.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-19154446818989266642015-06-12T20:37:41.399-04:002015-06-12T20:37:41.399-04:00No. Penny cannot be expected to reach out to peop...No. Penny cannot be expected to reach out to people whose views are not based in reality.<br /><br />The truth is the Swanson voters are unrealistic.<br /><br />They want greater spending on public schools when the public schools are already taking over 50% of the County's budget and most taxpayers are living paycheck to paycheck.<br /><br />These same inane voters complain Penny is owned by the developers; but then wail they want the same shiny new developments they see being built in DC, Arlington, Merrifield, Falls Church City, and Tysons.<br /><br />No conservative would have voted for Swanson, who promised nothing except higher taxes.<br /><br />Swanson was purely a play for the out-of-touch, extreme Liberal %1 SNOBS, who are concentrated around Lake Barcroft.<br /><br />The fact Swanson came as close as she did is a testament to the fact the Democratic Party is increasingly a party of out-of-touch Liberal Elitiests who long ago abandoned their support of the middle-class, working-class, and organized private labor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-7562405574155438922015-06-12T20:22:53.285-04:002015-06-12T20:22:53.285-04:00Why would you find Swanson's campaign being to...Why would you find Swanson's campaign being too focused on education "puzzling" when Swanson's campaign was bankrolled by an education lobby?<br /><br />Frankly, your thinking is puzzling and naive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-77843535295954642852015-06-12T19:41:16.224-04:002015-06-12T19:41:16.224-04:00First, I would like to see term limits imposed on ...First, I would like to see term limits imposed on Members of Congress. <br /><br />Rep. Moran stayed way too long even though he and his family were stooges. He should have retired from Congress and cashed out for a high-income career as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill much sooner.<br /><br />Moran's recent bellyaching that Members of Congress do not get paid enough is sheer Liberal lunacy. Par for this federal government-centric area that bases its economy and its wealth by taking it away from the productive taxpaying states. Even now, at night I hear my federal employee neighbors shrieking out about Sequestration until dawn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-55741145148547261182015-06-12T19:32:19.229-04:002015-06-12T19:32:19.229-04:00NO! I am not a Democratic, so I have no reason to...NO! I am not a Democratic, so I have no reason to be concerned with the low-turnout in the Democratic primary.<br /><br />It does concern me that it appears a principled, conservative candidate would have no chance of being a viable candidate in Mason District, but I find Penny Gross is at least financially and politically rational, so I will support her until I am convinced there is a better choice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-45297930114920180802015-06-12T19:21:12.871-04:002015-06-12T19:21:12.871-04:00What does Mollie stand for? Other than being the ...What does Mollie stand for? Other than being the anti-Gross and having 8 years of experience as a "community organizer" I have no idea what policies she supports. I have no idea what actions she will take in office.<br /><br />I am not going to vote for someone unless I know what their major priorities are, what they intend to achieve in office, and I support those priorities and achievements.<br /><br />Right now I know nothing about Mollie; I don't even know if she has a campaign website.<br /><br />P.S. - Mollie being slimed as a "Tea Party" supporter doesn't bother me. However, her supporters bragging about Mollie's 8 years of "community organizing" is not impressive.<br /><br />Who is Mollie? A "No Justice, No Peace" Warrior? A courageous fighter against alleged police brutality? What does Mollie stand for?<br /><br />If Mollie and her campaign does not get their message out; it is their fault if her public image is shaped by the opposition campaign. That's how politics works.<br /><br />So lay it on me! What does Mollie stand for? What does she want to achieve for Mason District? And give me specifics and not platitudes about how she is "different" from Penny.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-75928765613062442402015-06-12T19:14:32.915-04:002015-06-12T19:14:32.915-04:00Setting:
It’s a busy Wednesday eve in August, I a...Setting:<br /><br />It’s a busy Wednesday eve in August, I am on my way home from my middle class job in DC and as I approach Baileys Crossroads near the vacant Safari, I see people pointing towards the sky. I am curious, I am surrounded by white vans, many people speaking foreign languages I cant understand, all sorts of colorful people; people in robes, women carrying fruit baskets on their heads, men in turbines and on flying carpets, people carrying tents, some even living in tents on the vacant lots and in the broken down bus shelters; but yet there are many Mercedes, Lexus and Range Rover SUVs heading as fast as they can towards Lake Barcroft to avoid the crowds of the little people. It is surreal, it is like a festival but in a strange way as they all continue to point towards the sky. <br /><br />Then I hear some voice in english yell in the distance: it’s a plane, no its flying carpet, no it’s a space ship, OMG it’s a flying Developer Crane, cruising at a rapid speed as if it was trying to flee. I raise my voice and frantically wave, I say as loudly as I can; “we are here, please land here, please help us.” We are ignored, I panic and yell again, and plead for help, the crane slows down and a voice harks from the flying Developer Crane: sorry are next stops are in Arlington, Tysons, and DC. I holler back, what about Baileys and Seven Corners, why don’t you stop here? The Developer Crane rattles in anger as its boom practically knocks me off my feet and says in disdain “we don’t make stops in NIMBYLAND.” Too many NIMBYs, it is not safe for us to land. <br /><br />My response is of pain, wait I will call out the anti-NIMBY warriors: Miss Penny, Miss Mollie, Miss Jessica where are you to help fight off the NIMBYs? They are no where to be found except for poor Miss Jessica who has just vanished under a fleet of white vans, painfully crying, I’m dying, I’m dying, I’m dying. Tears come to my eyes and I yell back in a choking and cracking voice at the Crane, “you can’t leave us like this, please take me with you, please help us, we are the middle class, a dying breed, we need your help.” The Crane spins around furiously; “you are a dying breed because of the perilous NIMBYs you fool. Your precious Miss Penny and Mollie have fled the County and you are left at the mercy of the NIMBYs and their servants in their section 8 camps. Sorry, we can’t help you; you will be left to fight the battle on your own as you deserve. Call your HOA or Civic Association, maybe they can help, we are off to the Lands of Plenty. And then the cranes vanish as quickly as they had appeared, as the sunsets on the dying trees, the vacant lots, the white vans, and the boarded up buildings. Even the flying carpets have disappeared. The festive like atmosphere has turned to a dour silence in the Land of Despair, as Miss Ellie and I are left capturing the travails of the day and posting it to the Annandale Blog. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-17348144542262248472015-06-12T19:10:55.945-04:002015-06-12T19:10:55.945-04:00Bill Bailey, Penny's first opponent, lost by 7...Bill Bailey, Penny's first opponent, lost by 75 votes. If you are going to make pronouncements about election returns, at least be accurate.<br /><br />Jessica, a basically single issue novice, did very well by breaking 43% in a 9% voter turn out election.<br /><br />It's facile to label those who don't support Penny as NIMBY'S , but typical of her and her supporters.<br /><br />Let's hope the election in November focuses on issues instead of labels and distortions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-8857951309396617842015-06-12T19:04:21.530-04:002015-06-12T19:04:21.530-04:00Holmes #2 is Lake Barcroft NOT Bailey's Crossr...Holmes #2 is Lake Barcroft NOT Bailey's Crossroads.<br /><br />Holmes #1 is closer to Lake Barcroft than Bailey's Crossroads, and Swanson won 37 votes to Penny's 14. (No doubt the turmoil over Spectrum's proposed development had a lot to do with this "big win" for Swanson.)<br /><br />Meanwhile, Gross won Crossroads 128 to 18. Apparently, Swanson's one-issue campaign was a massive FAIL with the many retirees who live in the Crossroads precinct.<br /><br />You extreme Liberals love to make up your own facts. However, in this case the facts show Penny easily won the working and middle class areas of Bailey's Crossroads, and lost to Swanson only in the Snob-dominated areas surrounding private Lake Barcroft.<br /><br />Your "prize" is an assignment. Write down on a piece of paper 300 times - "I have to stop making up my own facts."<br /><br />Your welcome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-15877514087861692592015-06-12T18:42:56.845-04:002015-06-12T18:42:56.845-04:00Hey Anonymous, you talk big but you are a big fool...Hey Anonymous, you talk big but you are a big fool. You have no clue, just stupid stereotypes.<br /><br />I grew up in the Bronx and Queens in the 60's and 70's.<br /><br />Hell, I remember in Queens when I was in the 2nd grade my Mother and a older woman walked me and my 1-year younger brother home from Catholic school. In broad daylight, as we entered our apartment building, two urban youths ran from behind and shoved my Mother into the lobby and pulled a knife on my Mom. My Mom was so scared all she could do is look at me and my brother and yell at us to run. Of course we couldn't run away from our Mother. <br /><br />She was so scared she was not even capable of taking the pocketbook she had strapped over her shoulders and giving it to the young thugs.<br /><br />Thankfully, they did not want to harm my Mother. Instead, they used the knife to cut the strap of her pocketbook, and ran away with her pocketbook. The older woman actually gave chase, because she was previously robbed at least once before herself, and was tired of seeing these criminals get away.<br /><br />The police came to take a report and drive around the neighborhood in search of the criminals and then that was that. Another victim of violent crime in pre-Rudy NYC.<br /><br />Culmore is not McLean, but it is not dangerous unless you are out alone in the middle of the night with a "Rob Me" sign or a member of a gang confronted by another gang.<br /><br />Then truth is that the average resident of Culmore has superior intelligence and social refinement than you.<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-28544765593750367152015-06-12T17:40:05.652-04:002015-06-12T17:40:05.652-04:00its actually penny who needs to mend fences with t...its actually penny who needs to mend fences with the community not the other way around. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-58793722910732341382015-06-12T17:01:07.525-04:002015-06-12T17:01:07.525-04:00I agree with you - "What developers?" B...I agree with you - "What developers?" But that's the problem with batcrazy extreme Liberals, they make up their own detached reality (lies) and repeat them often enough that they think others are crazy if they don't believe them.<br /><br />Be strong and be proud because you are based in reality.<br /><br />These extreme Liberals that demand more money for the public schools even when they receive over 50% of the entire county budget; and who make up lies about undue influence by developers on Penny Gross, when the lack of development in Mason District as compared to bordering Democratic-dominated Arlington and Falls Church is astounding; they disgust me. And their baseless low attacks on Gross disgust me.<br /><br />I'll tell you right now that Mollie won't stand a chance against Penny unless she runs a respectful, broad-based, and fact-based campaign.<br /><br />I have no interest voting for any candidate who vilifies developers. I am sick and tired of driving up Columbia Pick everyday and seeing the eyesore that is the multi-block stretch near Bailey's Crossroads that is highlighted by the vacant Safari Lounge best known for allegedly serving goat meat and being the scene of an unsolved homicide.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-5611035492428521672015-06-12T16:37:15.947-04:002015-06-12T16:37:15.947-04:00Tnkwalla, your wrong. Penny won in Willston. You...Tnkwalla, your wrong. Penny won in Willston. You must be one of the Liberal out-of-touch %1 snobs living in Sleepy Holly/Ravensworth who assume you know what's best for those with lower incomes living in Willston who have had less luck in life than you.<br /><br />Read the article above Tnkwalla. Where do you see Willston listed among the 6 precincts Swanson won?<br /><br />Try to get your facts right before spouting off about Gross.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-81840697618413281222015-06-12T09:35:46.541-04:002015-06-12T09:35:46.541-04:00If taking the "high road" means blatant ...If taking the "high road" means blatant fear-mongering and preying on the naiveté of some constituents, than sure her campaign took the high road. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-10266402298281017102015-06-12T09:34:44.188-04:002015-06-12T09:34:44.188-04:00The Bailey's precinct was actually pretty clos...The Bailey's precinct was actually pretty close (152 - 121). Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-28075754833701660722015-06-12T08:31:12.310-04:002015-06-12T08:31:12.310-04:00Amen. The many Republicans and "Anybody but P...Amen. The many Republicans and "Anybody but Penny" folks that supported Jessica will go right over to the other opponent. I am guessing they made up at least half of Jessica's voters. <br /><br />The other folks who voted against Penny, the tried and true Democrats, will, with the right outreach from Penny, unify with the Democrats and support Penny.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-8223953114671915662015-06-11T20:20:55.713-04:002015-06-11T20:20:55.713-04:00I'll be fascinated to see how many of JSwan...I'll be fascinated to see how many of JSwan's supporters will be voting for Penny in the general election. Time to mend fences guys because Penny is virtually guaranteed to get another four years in which to complete her agenda.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-43172147984616060002015-06-11T19:54:44.301-04:002015-06-11T19:54:44.301-04:00Depends on the customer:-)Depends on the customer:-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com