I keep in touch with many friends and colleagues throughout the US who are Democratic activists. During the past ten years they have shared their experiences about working to change Democratic Party state and local committees, many of which have been as effectual as reptiles sunning themselves on rocks. 

But this latest from friends in Virginia is one of the worst I've heard.

Virginia's 1st Congressional Committee is discouraging Democrats from running against the Republican incumbent in that district's congressional election this fall.

You read that right.

Virginia's 1st Congressional Democratic Committee doesn't want any Democrat to run for US representative from the district in this 2008 national election.

The current Republican won in a special election last December to replace the deceased former Bushite Republican representative.  Granted, the Democratic nominee (who, unfortunately, at the party's convention beat, by only a close margin, the better qualified Democrat) was totally ineffectual as a candidate, very questionable as to having true Democratic Party values, and seemed as much a Republican as the actual Republican Party nominee.  As a result, the Democratic candidate got his ass soundly whipped.

But, the Democratic Party Committee in Virginia's 1st Congressional District actively works against fielding Democratic candidates, and thinks the most important and only priority is to have a large treasury as bragging rights. 

However, they do not spend that money effectively assisting the Democratic Party at the grassroots level, nor spreading the Democratic message across the district 24/7, nor running Democratic candidates in every election for every office, nor helping those candidates who decide to run.

This year, with a strong Democratic national ticket which includes Mark Warner for US Senate; the failed Bush recessionary economy impacting the American people; the terrible record of the few months in office congressional Bush rubber stamp Republican incumbent representative; would be and ideal year for a possible congressional Democratic win.

But, no. Virginia's 1st District Committee doesn't want a Democratic candidate to run for Congress.  This is anti-Democratic Party.  However, some of the committee's officers calling the shots are conservative Democrats and are more Republican than Democratic.

Why isn't Tim Kaine, the governor and titular head of the Democratic Party in Virginia, sitting this Committee down for a come-to-Jesus moment?

What is the Democratic Party of Virginia doing about these absolutely unacceptable actions by the 1st District Committee?  Although, the DPVA certainly is on shaky ground as an example of Democratic strategy and tactics. 

During last year's campaigns and election for state legislature (General Assembly) seats, the Democratic Party of Virginia failed to run candidates against Republicans in 40 out of 100 districts for the House of Delegates so Democrats still do not control the lower house, and only have a thin majority in the state senate.

Where the hell is the Democratic National Committee on this?  Are their people in Virginia sitting on their hands while the !st Congressional District Democratic Committee actively undermines the Democratic Party and the DNC's vaunted fifty state strategy?

This is absurd.  We need more and better Democrats for every office.  To do that Virginia needs a grassroots Democratic Party that works non-stop spreading the Democratic message and fielding real Democratic candidates.

All those obstructionist, anti-Democrat Party values, incompetent idiots currently sitting as officers of Virginia's 1st Democratic Congressional Committee should be forced to resign, be recalled, or whatever the procedure is for removing these obviously destructive, pseudo Democrats (probably Republicans) from office.  They are a disgrace and a disaster for the 21st century Democratic Party in that district and state.

Back up the truck Virginia Democrats and throw the bums out, these are not real Democrats!