(commented on January 19th, 2026 @ 7:38 am)Washingtonian's "hope and change" pitch for Armstrong tries to present him as "new" to politics, but Armstrong is NOT. Not too long ago, Armstrong was a registered Democrat in Hyde County, and he did engage in politics there, DEMOCERAT politics. Armstrong was a Marc Basnight Democrat, and wrote big 4 figure checks to Basnight.
It tells you a lot about Armstrong's political ideology that he has never given a nickel to a Republican legislator or legislative candidate but he had no problem writing a big check to Marc Bashight, a notorious liberal power bully. Armstrong may be new to Republican politics but he is not new to politics generally. He is a warmed over Basnight Democrat trying to reinvent himself as a Republican.
No wonder Armstrong does not want to talk about issues. No wonder Washingtonian cannot identify one single issue on which she can try to claim Armstrong has a better, more conservative position than Kidwell.
We have too many useful idiots for the left and the RINOs who ignore real issues and vote on silly personality matters instead.
WE have a conservative Republican with a proven and very solid conservative voting record representing us in Raleigh. Why in the world would we want to replace him with a warmed over Bashight Democrat who was recruited by the RINOs? Serious voters vote on policy and issues, not get their panties in a twist over personalities.
(commented on January 18th, 2026 @ 3:06 pm)Still can't come up with a single ISSUE you think Armstrong is better on than Kidwell, JV???? That "Christian Zionist" thing did not work any better than MTG's "Jewish Space Lasers".
You and those like you here can only whine about personality and your own hatreds. Most of us are more interested in the issues and policy legislative candidates will push in Raleigh. I see that Washingtonian also cannot seem to come up with a single genuine issue, but just keeps plddling along with that Obama-style "Hope and Change" message.
Lets look at a few issues.
The only policy issue Armstrong mentioned in his announcement was "2nd Amendment" but on the campaign trail, he says he is "pro Second Amendment but not as much as Kidwell". What does that really mean? His three special guests at his fundraiser were opponents of gun rights. Frankie Waters dumped on concealed carry for county employees. Steve Traxler is so hated by gun rights people that the leading state level gun rights group endorsed the Libertarian against him in the last election. Jimmy Dixon is the man who killed Constitutional Carry in last year's legislative session. Armstrong is clearly someone we cannot trust on this issue. Kidwell, on the other hand is one of the strongest voices for gun rights in the legislature.
Or take Shrimpgate, Phil Berger's attempt to destroy our NC shrimp industry to pander to an environmaentalist special interest, the CCA which dangled dollars in front of him. Armstrong has made noises about supporting the shrimpers, and tried to get a shrimper to take him out on the water for a photo op. The shrimper declined because he was running against Kidwell who was one of two key players in saving the shrimp industry from Berger. Armstrong had to settle for taking a picture on land with some shrimp boats in the background. Now, commercial fishermen have become aware that Armstrong was seen in Greenville, out of the district, trying to solicit support and probably money from a key leader of the CCA, the group that is trying to put the shrimpers and other commercial fishermen out of business. How two faced can a politician get?
Kidwell laid out where he stood on the issues when he was first elected, and he has honored his promises. That is the sort of elected official we need. Armstrong doesn't tell you where he stands on much, and when he does, he appears to be speaking with a forked tongue.
Again, I invite you to discuss real ISSUES, not some gibberish about 5D chess and various "guards".
(commented on January 17th, 2026 @ 5:42 pm)WE get it, JV. You vote on personality, not issues. Could you name one actual ISSUE where you think Armstrong'a position is better than Kidwell's???? One actual ISSUE???? Not personality, ISSUE.
You sound like those who refused to vote for Trump due to his personality, even though they agreed with him on the issues. People thinking that way gave us Biden. Were you one of them?
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