Thursday, November 15, 2012

Former U.S. Senate candidate George Allen states his intention of never running again


On Monday, former U.S. Senate candidate from Virginia, George Allen, uttered uplifting words, stating “I have no intention of running for office again.”[1] On November 6th, Allen was defeated for the open U.S. Senate seat in Virginia by Democrat Tim Kaine.

Allen went on to state that he hasn’t decided what he’ll do in the future. George Allen still has his consulting firm, George Allen Strategies, LLC[2] that his website concludes “is a recognized leader in helping clients navigate the waters inside – and outside – the Beltway.”

And what muddy waters they are inside the Beltway, as evidenced by the U.S. public’s approval of Congress[3], which is why Virginians ultimately chose Tim Kaine to be their next U.S. Senator.

Journalists, commentators, pundits, political amateurs and professionals of all political stripes usually like to pick this or that example or piece of evidence to argue the case for their candidate of choice or to pick this or that example to denigrate political figures they don’t agree with or like.

But the fact is, every politician, like every individual, has acted in ways that some will perceive as ‘good’ or ‘bad’.  There are no perfect politicians.

The more important distinction between George Allen and Tim Kaine therefore is the latter’s genuine ability to cross political and ideological bridges to find common ground for the good of all Americans and not merely a select class.

Like him, love him, hate him, however you may feel about George Allen, only the most tunneled-visioned of his supporters would not consider Allen a polarizing politician, the type of politician that America doesn’t need more of.

Maybe Virginians recognized this, if not in his statements and demeanor, then in his divisive policies that do more to keep Virginians and Americans apart then bring them together.

George Allen and other divisive politicians like him had their chance and Americans spoke: it’s time to come together for the good of the country.

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