She's running up in VA, but I figure we've discussed SC plenty in this section between Green on the left, and Sanford, Joe Wilson, Lindsey Graham on the right, so our neighbors to the north are probably fair game too. She's running in district 1, which is the lightest red of all the reds:


And of course the thread wouldn't be complete without a stock campaign photo:


Campaign website:
http://www.krystalballforcongress.com/

Highlighted issues:

Quote :

"Economy/Jobs Veterans Education Reform Cutting Middle Class Taxes Ethics Fiscal Responsibility Protecting the Bay 2nd Amendment Rights (she's a member of the NRA) Corporate Accountability "

From her about me section:

Quote :

"My name is Krystal Ball and I am an entrepreneur, software designer, and CPA running for Congress to bring a fresh perspective on fiscal responsibility to Washington. Before any of that though, I am the daughter of Ed and Rose Marie, wife of Jonathan, and mother of Ella Marie."

7/24/2010 6:44:54 PM

"don't count on it"

7/24/2010 7:03:05 PM

That's her real name?

7/24/2010 7:03:11 PM

Hottie alert!

7/24/2010 7:06:14 PM

Good, we don't have enough people in congress with cheesey super hero or spy names.

Orrin Hatch is the only one I can think of off hand, but I've never been able to figure out his special power or area of spy expertise.

/Maybe submarines? Somehow? It'd make sense in Bond-World

7/24/2010 7:06:51 PM

I think she can pull off the super hero look too.



Her dad might even be a mad scientist. He's a PhD physicists who did his dissertation on crystals, for which one of his daughters was named. Also it looks like she's pretty athletic. She never lost a swim race & was the state champ a few times according to her intro video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U6J0g7NqAI

Got an appropriate campaign sign symbol to match her name:


http://pamshouseblend.com/diary/16825/va-nasty-gaybaiting-pushpoll-used-against-proequality-us-house-candidate-krystal-ball

Quote :

""Krystal Ball has a strange infatuation with gays and lesbians. It makes one wonder what is in her past.""

Quote :

"The caller is then asked if this concerns them in voting for Krystal. "

Dear caller, this candidate supports equal rights for gays and lesbians, so despite having a husband and kids, she might be a secret lesbian, you never know, now please press 1 if you oppose her for this objective polling.

Now a quote from her Republican opponent:

Quote :

"As a member of the Values Action Team, I will continue to support pro-life, pro-family legislation. I will work in defense of parental rights, religious liberty, and the definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Furthermore, I support efforts to curb internet pornography and obscenity."

[Edited on July 24, 2010 at 7:48 PM. Reason : .]

7/24/2010 7:40:34 PM

Quote :

"Krystal Ball has a strange infatuation with gays and lesbians. It makes one wonder what is in her past."

+


God, one could only hope.

7/24/2010 8:40:23 PM

Virginia is going to be a tough nut for the Democrats to crack this year . . . hell it is going to be a tough year all around and the only thing saving them from a 94esque cycle is the titanic incompetence of the GOP.

7/24/2010 8:44:21 PM

^Luckily nationally they're approaching an even playing field again in congressional races, but VA (or the south east in general) is usually not the most welcoming place to democrats. But perhaps the gun totin' business background kind can win it when combined with a memorable name. I can't find any polling specific to this race though. But if her opponent is depending on calling a woman married to a man with a kid a lesbian to win, then maybe she does have a shot.

[Edited on July 25, 2010 at 4:47 AM. Reason : .]

7/25/2010 4:44:30 AM

You and I both know that a "registered voter" poll is worthless in a mid-term where turn-out is key. I'm not digging around at 1am for a likely voter poll but I found this in the same survey you just referenced:



Votes not cast don't count (except in Chicago and Louisiana).


And while I agree attacking someone's sexual preference is low, irrelevant and smacks of desperation . . . much of politics is low, irrelevant and smacks of desperation. Floating sub-issue rumors to appeal to a particular sub-group is par for the course.

7/26/2010 1:18:08 AM

Krystal Marie Ball (born November 24, 1981 in King George County, Virginia[1]),


Shit, I'm older than her by 8 months

7/26/2010 3:23:29 AM

Well, I'm in Virginia, but I'm on the opposite end of the state and I'll be sending my support to our current rep, Rick Boucher.

It's too bad she's not running in another district in NoVa or something. He district is Williamsburg, Fredericksburg, and part of Hampton Roads. The later two of those are pretty conservative. They would have been better off running her and trying to turn that district in '08.

^there's a state delegate in my part of the state whose 25 and has a degree from some online university. i'd run against him next time if they'd let me claim my in-law's house as residence

[Edited on July 26, 2010 at 10:07 AM. Reason : .]

7/26/2010 10:05:29 AM

There's something to be said for running in the district you live in and in this case the one that she was born in/grew up in, rather than transplanting to run. And if she had run in 08 like you suggested she would have been, depending on how early she started her campaign, 25 or 26 & with 25 being the legal minimum to run it might have been harder for her to be taken seriously, also she was pregnant and gave birth to her daughter in 2008. And this is somewhat of an anti-incumbent year.

She is a member of the NRA, she's a CPA, and she is a small business owner who talks about supporting veterans and fiscal responsibility (Her incumbent opponent is a UNC grad). Other than not being a raging social conservative it seems like she has everything going for her that a Fredericksburgian conservative might want.

District one doesn't seem hopelessly red like some of the other districts do.



[Edited on July 26, 2010 at 11:11 AM. Reason : .]

7/26/2010 11:09:50 AM

I'd hit it, but I wouldn't vote for her. With that said,

Quote :

"As a member of the Values Action Team, I will continue to support pro-life, pro-family legislation. I will work in defense of parental rights, religious liberty, and the definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Furthermore, I support efforts to curb internet pornography and obscenity.""

...is pretty frightening. It's too bad this brand of authoritarianism is so prevalent in Republican politics. What happened to personal responsibility?

7/26/2010 11:23:41 AM

The only historical constant in the Republican Party has been the use of the words "Republican Party."

7/26/2010 11:33:35 AM

'Party' is such a misnomer.

7/26/2010 11:41:54 AM

7/26/2010 11:44:58 AM

^^Oh, its a party. You just haven't gone out with the right Republicans yet.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_REPUBLICAN_CHAIRMAN_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=TXWIC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Quote :

"Earlier this year, his oversight of the RNC was called into question because of lavish spending, including money to entertain donors at a lesbian-themed bondage club in Los Angeles. That incident led to the departure of a key Steele adviser, the party's finance chief and the top committee staffer."

[Edited on July 26, 2010 at 11:45 AM. Reason : .]

7/26/2010 11:45:21 AM

^x5 any particular reason? Are you saying you'd vote for her frightening opponent or that you'd just sit the election out?

7/26/2010 10:27:40 PM

^just bumping 'til I get an answer

8/2/2010 10:46:05 PM

if not voting is good enough for Ed Schultz, it's good enough for anybody!

I recommend all progressives follow his lead.

8/2/2010 11:12:55 PM

Still waiting on that answer, d.





[Edited on August 17, 2010 at 2:57 AM. Reason : .]

8/17/2010 2:56:32 AM

Quote :

"just bumping 'til I get an answer "

8/22/2010 4:27:43 AM

Actually, I agree with most of what she says on her website. I'd like to see what she has to say on foreign policy, and some specifics on the economy, since what she has on there is pretty vague. Rob Wittman's site is almost as vague, but they seem like almost the same candidate. I'm not sold on either one, and I'd probably need to see a debate or something like that to figure out if I'd vote for either candidate.

I like her anti-politician sentiment, I'm just not sure how she would vote. Is she pandering to a conservative district? Is she really a liberty-minded Democrat? It's hard to say for sure, but I take back what I said. I'd at least consider voting for her, pending further specifics.

8/22/2010 2:48:27 PM

and if she would FDT, and FDT of the blonde in the pic up top, I'd consider voting for her vigorously, as well.

8/22/2010 7:14:46 PM

Wasn't this the plot for Legally Blonde 2? Except for animal rights it's gay rights.

8/22/2010 7:55:54 PM

Labor Day pig roast with former Governor Tim Kaine


Current fb status:

Quote :

"We are asking Rob Wittman to come toe to toe with me and debate the real issues that are the core concerns to the people of the first district. Will you call Rob Wittman at (804) 493-0508 and ask him to stop ducking the people of the first congressional district?"

9/27/2010 6:29:13 PM

Facebook . . . well it works for Sarah Palin.

9/27/2010 7:18:18 PM

Quote :

""My name is Krystal Ball and I am an entrepreneur, software designer, and CPA unemployed running for Congress to bring a fresh perspective on fiscal responsibility to because it sounds fun and I already live near Washington. Before any of that though, I am the daughter of Ed and Rose Marie, wife of Jonathan, and mother of Ella Marie.""

[Edited on September 28, 2010 at 3:35 PM. Reason : but totally would vote for based on milf-lesbian-spy potential]

9/28/2010 3:33:02 PM

she is pretty hot.

Im pretty sure Hurt wins the 5th, but you never know. The 5th and 9th are full of people on the system.

9/28/2010 4:10:46 PM

I'd like to hear her foreign policy, and the reason she holds that position before making further judgement on her politically...but physically

9/28/2010 4:24:19 PM

That is such a stage/porn star name.

9/28/2010 7:26:20 PM

I hadn't heard of the third candidate, Gail Parker, before mentioned at the end of that clip. Her campaign platform is trains + fiscally conservative gov. Her campaign slogan is "more trains, less traffic" so she is very clearly just trying to raise awareness of one issue rather than running a broader campaign. And she's has "22 years - Reservist US Air Force Officer (Ret)" experience. Her website also says she "is a woman of strong faith and Virginia values. Gail has a strong religious upbringing."

I would say hopefully she'll siphon off some votes from the incumbent republican who also plays on religious values:

Quote :

"As a member of the Values Action Team, I will continue to support pro-life, pro-family legislation. I will work in defense of parental rights, religious liberty, and the definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Furthermore, I support efforts to curb internet pornography and obscenity"

But the reality is Gail wont really take many voters from either candidate, and that the anti-obscenity guy is probably going to keep the office.

9/30/2010 3:16:13 PM

no one cares dude

9/30/2010 3:18:45 PM

which is why this thread has 0 responses

9/30/2010 4:06:55 PM

Quote :

"Key issues for VAT include: [...] • Pornography (internet pornography, urging the prosecution of obscenity by DOJ) "

http://johnshadegg.house.gov/rsc/vat.htm

That would've been lovely while Ashcroft was AG.

9/30/2010 8:35:30 PM

Quote :

"Krystal Ball, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Virginia, is condemning what she calls "sexist" treatment after a Republican blogger in Virginia posted a series of sexually suggestive photos of her from a Christmas party six years ago. Ball, a 28-year old accountant running against Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) in central Virginia, said that while she is "embarrassed" by the photos, she is "angry" that they have been posted on the Internet by a partisan blogger. The pictures — which POLITICO is not posting — are from a party about six years ago and depict Ball posing with her now ex-husband in a joking yet sexual manner. The pictures were originally posted on a Republican blog called "Virginia Vertucon" and have also been re-posted by a Republican blogger who calls himself Black Velvet Bruce Li. "It's sexist and it's wrong, regardless of political party," Ball said in her statement. "And I have a message for any young woman who is thinking about running for office and has ever attended a costume party with her husband or done anything stupid on camera. Run for office. Fight for this country. Don't let this sort of tactic deter you.""

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43223.html#ixzz11cRYUz15

No Miss Ball, it is not sexist it is politics. Welcome to the game. We learned long ago that private activities of politicians will eventually become public and that publicity will be used against them.


And now to the pictures (TSB I know you want to see them!)











Now do I personally have a problem with these photos? Absolutely not. Well except the fact that the man with the Rudolph-penis outfit was apparently her husband and I'm not sure I trust a woman who'll marry a man willing to wear a rubber dick on his nose . . . that and her hideous boots. What a travesty.

Do I personally think that every woman who sluts it up in a few photographs should automatically be disqualified from running for office? No, that is the purview of up-tight and sexually repressed Republicans who get angry at photos like this because they're never invited to parties like this.

But do I think she should be surprised or act indignant that they got out? Meh, probably not. It is certainly not sexist, at least not any more than Harry Reed calling Senator Gillibrand the hottest member of that body. Besides, in the era of Facebook and digital cameras, we're going to have to accept the fact that this sort of thing (which really has been going on for years anyway) is going to keep coming up.

[Edited on October 6, 2010 at 6:24 PM. Reason : .]

10/6/2010 6:08:18 PM

Without doubt, that dude was being cuckolded.

10/7/2010 2:49:37 PM

those pictures are just funny

10/7/2010 3:55:04 PM

^^^Those pics took forever to load for me. At first I thought, oh, well Scott Brown had to put up with the media covering his controversial pic, but then I thought that was intentionally public in a centerfold type position, whereas these weren't intended for mass public viewing. But my thoughts settled on, it doesn't matter either way, its where they stand on policy that counts.

From her new, answer a constituent submitted question a day video series thing:



Also, in her continued push to try to get him to debate:







(also, a food drive)

[Edited on October 8, 2010 at 3:00 AM. Reason : .]

10/8/2010 2:58:52 AM

Quote :

"it doesn't matter either way, its where they stand on policy that counts."

This is sarcasm right?

10/8/2010 2:27:47 PM

^ if that were true, Obama wouldn't be president

10/8/2010 2:29:33 PM

To be fair, campaign Obama and President Obama are two completely different things. Not that I would have voted for anyone/Palin if you paid me to.

10/8/2010 3:00:19 PM

The point is that Obama, like any good candidate, sold himself. People aren't voting for ideas, they're voting for the person. JRE had a detailed policy platform back in 2007 and HRC was by far the superior candidate when it came to simple political know-how. BHO was simply a better campaigner than either of them.

That is why non-inhaling, draft-dodging, hillbilly defeated two decorated WWII veterans with impeccable policy experience in '92 and 96 and why a blow-snorting, draft-dodging, hillbilly wanna-be defeated two wooden but politically experienced and decorated Vietnam Vets.

10/8/2010 3:19:47 PM

^Tell us how you really feel about President Bush.

10/9/2010 10:48:30 AM

/election

10/9/2010 11:21:37 AM

Quote :

"It is certainly not sexist, at least not any more than Harry Reed calling Senator Gillibrand the hottest member of that body."

Both are sexist, but releasing the pictures in order to hurt her campaign blatantly appeals to the worst forms of misogyny.

10/9/2010 11:08:39 PM

How exactly does that appeal to misogyny?

Does bringing up O'Donnell's experimentation with witchcraft appeal to misogyny?

Were we all guilty of misandry when talking about Spitzer's love of prostitutes?

This is just an embarrassing picture/story that can be used for political gain. And it's going to be used that way. The same picture would be used in the same way if the guy in the picture was the candidate.

10/10/2010 12:48:29 AM

^Given her opponents outspoken efforts against obscenity, especially on the internet, I'm sure these photos wont be passed around online for political gain

Latest installment of constituent response video:


[Edited on October 10, 2010 at 3:59 AM. Reason : .]

10/10/2010 3:50:04 AM

yay another worthless cut to get a job because she's got a sweet ass

can this bitch really do anything other than photograph well?

10/10/2010 4:10:06 AM