AMANDA CHASE: BAD FOR THE 10th DISTRICT?

Impressions of a Perpetual Politician. OPINION

I attended the Tea Party event in Beaverdam to hear what Amanda Chase had to say- mostly bravado and grandstanding for which she is known. Chase's various government and personal dramas have gotten my attention in the news, but media reports of her Senate and personal troubles are all I knew.

I am coming out strongly and plain-spoken about Amanda Chase. Don’t be triggered; wait until I get to Democrat Duane Adams, with whom I have written numerous articles on the Hanover Conservative Caucus blog. This post is a fraction by comparison. I will post on Jean Gannon as well.

I sat through a 2-hour monologue of platitudes, boilerplate talking points, and occasional insights with 12 other people which includes the host and two from Chase’s campaign, and took the notes below.

The American Legion Hall room was freezing, and everyone had coats and gloves on. Thankfully, Amanda was a working source of forced hot air.

Chase invoked Trump, but I recall the Trump camp distanced itself from Chase when she falsely claimed authority to collect delegate applications for the RNC convention. She was a no-show at a Trump event in SW Virginia because of rivals attending. Chase associates with Bob Good and other various Never-Trump people.

I’ll hit the platitudes and boilerplate postcard talking points first from my notes:

Topics: Vax policies such as 'no vax, no healthcare.' Questioned what legislation has been produced to push back. Kids Library books containing adult content. Public schools have failed, and DEI. Older generations were taught to respect the flag. Schools are forced to indoctrinate by taking fed money. Education is toxic to conservative values. Secular humanism is a religion. Spoke to ballot issues and cited a constituent who couldn't vote. Cited the problems of Solar farms. Transgender Ideology. The general issues that we see on all the campaign postcards.

Self-characterizations: Chase loves to talk about herself! This was the largest category of platitudes.

Claims to be a sheepdog/shepherd:- You are either a Sheep, a Wolf, or a shepherd. I'm a fighter. I throw bricks at my TV screen because I GIT SO ANGRY at the politicians. I’m a momma bear! I believe in the Bible. I’m an Alabama girl- born in Sheffield, AL. I'm just a suburban mom from Chesterfield who accidentally got elected. I'm not a yes man. I'm the only candidate that pushes back - I'm rare- even against Republicans! I have a reputation in the legislature, so don't mess with me! Claimed to be Trump in a skirt. Mentioned an event in Appomattox- I came here instead. Forgive me for being passionate (after all the prior claims, I concluded this means a bombastic attention seeker).

Contradictions: Chase observed the disconnect between “what [politicians] say and what they really mean.”- I thought this humorous, given that her talking points do not match her conservative scoring.

Victim: She claimed her loss was suspicious and was the victim of ballot issues. She claimed to get along with John McGuire and Bob Good but launched into Bob Good’s pathetic election day precinct excuse that fires were set to steal the vote. I challenged her as the claims were almost immediately debunked- (A ceiling tile, water heater, and cleaning equipment triggered fire alarms, including in one of Bob’s stronghold precincts). She retorted that I “could believe what I want about them.” I hold no beliefs on the issue- she was projecting blind faith to buck up her claims that she lost her race through ballot shenanigans as Bob Good claimed. People want results, not a circus sideshow. She also claimed mass meetings are voter suppression. This has some merit as RPV allows consultants and others try to manipulate these events, and they do. Chase spoke to consultants about the venue, time, and method choice. My post on Team Duane Adams is here.

Record: Spoke to minority status and submitted bills (even if they didn't pass). Eight years of record as a state senator, including four committees and subcommittees. I have legislative experience - why support a guy that doesn't? The bill went through the Senate before the House Subcommittee on Veterans Bill.

I looked up her record to see if it matches her rhetoric, and her Conservative numbers are spotty. She shows a downward trend in scoring, and this correlates with her upward trend of grandstanding and displaying what many in the Legislature characterize as narcissistic. The Institute for Legislative Analysis records her lowest score on tax and spending at 53.85% in 2023. By comparison, John McGuire scored 78.64. McGuire’s lifetime score with Limited Government is 89.99 and 90.32 for 2024. By contrast, Chase scored a lifetime of 84.98; her last year in the Senate earned 82.35. Amanda’s record and self-portrayal as the tiger of conservatism are exaggerated. John outperformed her in one year.

The Republican Team: Doesn't trust Governor Youngkin and doesn’t support Winsome Sears. Claimed John McGuire cheated to win.

Legislative Agenda: To my senate colleagues, "I'm back."Claims she held up bills as retribution when hers were obstructed. You want me there because my peers don't like me.

Concerns: Spoke about consultants controlling the choice of venue, time, and method including the upcoming Mass Meeting on Friday. The culture issues.

Amanda Chase makes a lot of claims she can’t back up:

My takeaway is Chase loves the spotlight. As a senator who got some things done early in her career, she also burned most of those bridges behind her. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Senate censored her on the first day. This is not how things get done.

I agree with many of her talking points (as they are designed to elicit) and am amused that she beards the Establishment types. What bothers me is if the grandstanding takes place at the expense of getting the People’s work done.

Chase passes herself off as Trump in heels but is Bob Good in heels. I get the Bob Good vibe here. Another Chase term will be grandstanding with nothing accomplished. Rich Anderson failed to deliver a majority in either Legislative chamber, leaving us no room to risk 5th-grade political strategies- “If you block my bills, I’ll block yours! “I throw bricks,” “I’m baaaack!” Imagine HQ military officers planning battle strategy, saying such things to each other, or publically criticizing the generals. Who would win? Amanda’s ego gets its endorphin boost- “Look at me, everybody- aren’t I a badass!!!” but we’d get nothing.

Chase says she supports Trump but bucked his endorsement of McGuire. She grandstands the claim McGuire cheated Good out of his seat to obscure her loss to Sturtevant. She lost because of her antics. I believe Chase is an opportunist who changes partners, addresses, whatever to get what she wants—a Diva of Drama. During the 5th District race, she supported McGuire, switched to Good, and then dropped Good when the recall count looked shakey. She immediately packed her carpetbag, announced for the 10th, and moved to Appomattox! She said she liked both men, but only when they served her ambition.

UNITY vs DISUNITY: The photo below exemplifies Republican Unity facing a minority situation. Chase is not a team player; Chase is for Chase. She doesn’t show up at Republican events; she self-promotes and openly criticizes the top of our ticket(s). While Republicans are fence mending to prepare for the next election, Chase puts down Governor Youngkin, Lt Governor Sears, and Congressman-Elect John McGuire.

Republicans at the Advance..

There are also questions regarding her personal life, including bodyguards. An account on X called RiNO’s Rebellion posts alleged discussions about sharing her current significant other. This Social Media account is inspired by Chase’s antics; there is also one called TheRealAmandaChase :

HOME / CENSURE / CARPETBAGGER / CHRISTIANS BEWARE / THE BULLY

DONORS BEWARE / GUN OWNERS BEWARE / WHAT'S CHASE SELLING

These social media accounts are likely run by political rivals, purportedly Shayne Snavely, but that’s how the game is played in politics, and notably, evidence is offered. Under GUN OWNERS BEWARE:-There is no red flag report; it’s a protective order. DRAMA, DRAMA, DRAMA!

Her newfound admiration for Bob Good is odd, given Good’s criticism of McGuire being a perpetual candidate and Amanda routinely chasing after political office. The difference is that McGuire wins every race, and Chase loses hers. Trump needs winners, and Chase was tossed from Team Trump. John has never played victim- even when he was paralyzed and was told he’d never walk again. Amanda blames everyone else for her loss to Sturtevant.

Chase is willing to say what we want to hear- not unusual for a politician, but I am not looking for a politician. I’m sick of them. I hope you are as well. I want someone who advances the Conservative Agenda, not make a circus act out of it.

People wonder how she lives- the Senate doesn’t pay a lot, and I have heard that she does not have a daytime job, so to speak. After divorcing her husband, she lives in Appomattox with her significant other. Is this all about getting a paycheck?

PARTING THOUGHTS:

Donald Trump said Bob Good was no good for Virginia or the Country. Chase supports Good and despises McGuire, and I believe she, like Duane Adams, is no good for the 10th. She got things done earlier in her career, but she turned the work of the People into a daytime TV role soap opera. Why would we send someone to Richmond who revels in the destruction of collegiality when the job requires it?

We need someone steady who can work with the opposition and play the long game of quiet incrementalism in the minority. John McGuire is very good at it. Chase courts drama as a victory.

Orange Cat Bad awards the Chase Camp 5 “I could give a poops”

Five & Dime VA/HCC is an opinion blog. I employ satire, commentary, and fact to entertain and convey my opinions on religious, cultural, and political issues.