This morning on The John Fredericks Radio Show, Sen. Tom Garrett (R-Buckingham) indicated there is an effort underway to replace the head of their caucus.
I do hope there will be a leadership change in the caucus. I respect @TommyNorment but he has too much power-@TomGarrettVA22 #JFRS
— John Fredericks (@jfradioshow) November 9, 2015
The Bull Elephant has independently confirmed with several members of the Senate Republican Caucus that a number of younger, more conservative Senators believe the time has come for new leadership. Two names are mentioned as possible replacements for Norment. The name we’ve heard most often is Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Franklin), but also mentioned (now that he’s announced he is not going to run for Governor) is Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg).
The chief complaint about the need for new leadership is that Norment is largely out of touch with the current generation of Senate Republicans. Norment came up with the likes of Russ Potts, Emmett Hanger, John Chichester, Walter Stosch, and John Watkins. These are Senators who are widely unpopular among Virginia conservatives for their penchant to give Senate Democrats a majority on key votes even when the chamber has more members with an ‘R’ after their name. Of these, all but Hanger have retired and been (or will be) replaced with more conservative Senators, swinging the caucus in a new direction.
Though Norment has largely adapted to the changing makeup of the caucus, several conservative members believe he comes up short on leadership and fundraising, and that certain personal indiscretions (this one among others) and potential conflicts of interest leave the caucus vulnerable. As we understand it, Norment is being asked to not run again so as to avoid a bruising intraparty fight.
To date, Garrett is the only member willing to publicly call for Norment to step aside. Garrett believes that Norment should still have a senior role as the Senate’s most powerful committee chairman:
Everyone in the Senate wants what's best for VA. The finance chairman is a tough job and that's enough power for one man.-@TomGarrettVA22
— John Fredericks (@jfradioshow) November 9, 2015
Perhaps Garrett’s courage here will inspire others to be more candid.
As they say, more to come. Stay tuned.
22 comments
[…] Need any more evidence that Republicans keep lurching to the right? How about right here in Virginia, where in 2013, they nominated the infamous “extreme team” of conspiracy-theorizing extremist Ken Cuccinelli, bigoted wacko E.W. Jackson and Mark “Criminalize Miscarriages” Obenshain? And speaking of Obenshain, how about him for Virginia State Senate Majority Leader? Sounds crazy? Well…check this out. […]
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[…] this year there may be hope. Yesterday, Senator Tom Garrett (R-Buckingham County) called for a new senate majority leader. This development is important because it marks the first time that a Republican legislator has […]
Obenshain
Obenshain. He might well move the needle in the direction of limited government.
Norment is at least honest about who he is. The worst is when “conservatives” stay silent and thus usher in liberal policy.
I don’t think Norment is honest about anything.
The thing I would call Garrett out for is trying to do a half-assed job on Tommy Norment. He should have called for Tommy Norment to resign.
Now convicted felon McDonnell, along with Norment and Howell, tag teamed the middle-class with the largest tax increase in Virginia history. HB 2313.
One is headed to Federal Prison, are the other two working for the power company?
SB 1349. In bed with the power company.
Obenshain definitely. I’ve heard nothing but good things about him and he seemed genuine on the campaign trail. I’ve heard the opposite about Stanley: one face to the public but very different in his personal life, but I’ve never met him.
Bill Stanley only cares about Bill Stanley. He has no loyalty and has his own personal baggage.
Whoa hossy. Both Obenshain and Stanley are great statesmen and both are men of good character.
Only history can make a statement like yours.
There is no real difference with any of them……
Amen
Norment is in the pocket of Dominion Resorces big time. They need him to use his power as leader to get what they want at all costs. Would not be surprised at all if they use their lobbyists to pressure the Senate members to support Norment.
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I think Obenshain is the better choice. I don’t think Stanley has enough experience to go from being a one-term Senator to Majority Leader.
The big question is what will Sturtevant and Dunnavant do? Norment and the Senate caucus dumped a ton of money into Glen’s race. Will he feel obligated to Tommy for that financial support? Dunnavant was Stoch’s choice to replace him in that seat. Will he push her to support Norment?
I would be happy with either, but don’t sell Bill short. He has been touting conservative ideals since he ran as the 5th district chair of the GOP and helped usher in Rep. Robert Hurt over an Obumbler minion, Tom Periloser. Bill just won another term in a district gerrymandered for former senate leader and democrat, Roscoe Reynolds. This, after a ton of Bloomberg money was funneled into his recent race against Kim Adkins. He is a fighter no matter what you want to think, and the GOP is in dire need of fighters the way the establishment class capitulates to the loony left at every turn.
Obenshain! He would be a great leader!
[…] Steve Albertson over at The Bull Elephant has a bit more on the open-secret-now-public-secret: […]
Yay! Go, Conservatives! PLEASE do what we elected you to: govern strongly guided by limited-gov values; do NOT cave to the libs!!