Opposition for Goodlatte: After a Fashion

Karen Kwiatkowski

I'm not sure what Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte has done to deserve the opposition he'll get in the upcoming election. He might as well not have any and this guy is one of the boys I'd like to see back in private life.

Today, according to my pal Valerie Garner over at the Roanoke Free Press, he even got a Republican primary opponent in the form of a Libertarian who turned down a run for president in the last cycle.

Her name is Karen Kwiatkowski and she has some views only a Libertarian would love, and she's courting the Tea Party vote from its right on some issues. She believes, for example, that the Patriot Act is unconstitutional (if it isn't, it should be) and that the federal government's right to tax should be eliminated. She believes governors and state legislators should appoint U.S. Senators. She's a 50-year-old retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who was working in the Pentagon the day it was attacked by terrorists.

Andy Schmookler

The Democratic opponent at this point is Dr. Andrew Bard Schmookler, 65, a man of imposing intellect and resume. (Goodlatte's opponents constitute the All-Name Team for this election cycle.)

Val told us about him here. He's a graduate of Harvard and Cal-Berkley and has been quoted as saying, "The Democratic Party is the only thing that can possibly protect us from the destructive force that the Republican Party has become.” (Libertarians would argue that.)

Schmookler, who lives in Shenandoah County at the far edge of the 6th District, is an intellectual (that won't strike fear into Goodlatte), a writer and is much appreciated in intelligence circles internationally. Which means he has a snowball's chance in hell of winning election in the U.S.


(Photos from Roanoke Free Press)