Who knew that a bespectacled blogger from Charlottesville was the kryptonite that weakens the Virginia Republican Party?

I kid, of course. I know Waldo isn't saying that he's personally responsible for Democratic successes, but he sure is having fun talking about it. Of course, I would too if the Republicans were on the same hot streak.

The thing about streaks, however, is that they don't last forever. Just ask the Patriots.

Now I am certainly not saying that the Democrats have just gotten lucky over the past few years. Attributing Democratic success to "luck" is just a rationalization that will only lead to more failure. We should credit the Dems for having taken advantage of their opportunities, while the Republicans have largely squandered theirs.

However, the picture is not quite as bleak for the RPV as Waldo would have us believe. For proof, you need only read this excellent post by Mason Conservative, who offers a sort of counterpoint to Wado's Democratic boosterism.

In fact, there are a number of positive signs that we Republicans are turning things around. One is the fact that the Republicans in the Senate actually seem to be functioning like a caucus again. Another has been the outstanding leadership of LG Bill Bolling and AG Bob McDonnell, who have not shied away from confronting the Governor's flawed policies on issues of importance to all Virginians, like Illegal Immigration and Fiscal Responsibility.

Further, I find it humorous that Waldo takes a post from Bob Gibson's blog about Paul Harris' potential run for RPV Chair and somehow turns it into a rant about Jeff Frederick how "far-right" and "out of the mainstream" the Virginia GOP has gotten.

To me, that story just reinforces the idea that there are a number of young Republicans across this Commonwealth who feel it is time for a new generation of leaders to step forward. You are hearing a lot about guys like Chris Saxman, Jeff Frederick, Paul Harris, Mark Obenshain, Ryan McDougle, Ken Cuccinelli and Corey Stewart, among others. That doesn't sound like a Republican Party that is dying to me. That sounds like a Republican Party that is young, vibrant and full of ideas to lead this Party forward.

Sure, there's a lot of work to be done. The Democrats believe that they can turn Virginia blue in this Presidential election. They believe that Mark Warner will have a cakewalk to the U.S. Senate. They believe that they'll be able to take the House of Delegates and keep the Governor's mansion in '09. They are confident and motivated.

Whether they are right, however, is a different story. Victory never comes easy. It is going to take a lot of Republicans rolling up their sleeves and getting down in the trenches to get it done. It is going to take good leadership, good campaigns, and dedicated volunteers. But it can be done.

I say it's about time we broke this blue streak.