The body of Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling’s tattered hopes of
becoming Virginia’s next governor in 2013 was not even cold by the time Gov.
Bob McDonnell publicly endorsed Virginia’s Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.[1]
A mere 24 hours following Bolling’s withdraw from the Republican nomination
race for governor, Bob McDonnell embraced his leading lawyer.
Interestingly, however, Lt. Gov. Bolling did NOT issue an
endorsement of Cuccinelli, leaving the Republican door open for a potential “schism”
within the party.
Bolling has often been perceived as a moderate Republican
willing to compromise on political issues instead of driving his heels into an
ideological ditch that impedes the flow of governance for everyone.
In today’s political atmosphere, moderation is a dirty word akin
to cowardice or naiveté. According to Bolling, “Politics is a lot more
challenging than when I got involved. Things today, it’s a lot more
ideologically-driven today.”[2]
With words as clearheaded and dispassionate as these, it’s no wonder Bolling has
taken a back seat in the race for Virginia’s executive mansion.
But Virginia may come to find that Cuccinelli is just as
pragmatic when it comes to approaching political dilemmas as Bolling. But the political
road that Cuccinelli has traveled, and the policy positions he has taken,
reflect the values of our society as much as it reflects the character
attributes of Cuccinelli.
That is, why don’t more American’s value the kind of
moderate, overtly pragmatic politician represented by Bill Bolling? Why are so
many Americans drawn to ideological firebrands like Cuccinelli, those who seem
more willing to play Russian roulette with our futures than cautiously make headway
down their desired policy paths? What consequences does this spell for our
country?
Political scientists, sociologists, and historians may be
arguing how America became so polarized many decades from now. But for now, Virginians
in particular are stuck with the sobering reality that relatively respectable
politicians in the Republican Party like Bolling are becoming a putrefied
fossil whose shell can still hardly be made out. And for all of their talk of
the Founding Fathers, it is doubtful that the creators of our country would
support such vehement uncompromising attitudes aimed at another half of our
state and our country, the attitudes shared by the radical right.
For what it’s worth, hats off to Bill Bolling and others
like him for attempting to bridge some kind of middle way in the contemporary
world of politics. We will need more like him if we ever decide to pull ourselves
out of this self-induced mortal “fiscal cliff.”
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