They are two classy people. Former Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and Jean Ann Bolling welcomed and thanked everyone for attending “Burgers With Bill” to celebrate his 60th birthday. Many thanks for bringing together the large crowd of Republican friends for an evening of fellowship, laughter, and happy memories.
My Bill and Missy’s Shaun.
Trixie and Bill.
Trixie, Donald Williams, Nancy Williams
Two friends .. Bob and Bill
At this 2014 Burgers With Bill event, the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to former Governor Bob McDonnell and former Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling who share today as their birthdays. In November 2009, Bob won by historic proportions with Bill easily winning reelection. Together, they made a good team for Virginia with both recognizing the importance of cultivating a relationship not just with Virginia’s citizens but also with Virginia’s citizen journalists — the bloggers.
Bob and Bill were some of the first politicians who worked with bloggers at a time when that group was trying to break through as an information network. Bill hosted an annual Bloggers Day in Richmond for seven years, held while the General Assembly was in session, setting up opportunities for those writing for blogs to sit in on meetings at the capitol, meet with GOP legislators and leaders, and observe the State Senate and House of Delegates in action (see LG Bill Bolling hosts 5th annual Bloggers Day). It always ended in the evening with a complimentary dinner at a nearby downtown Chinese restaurant hosted by Lieutenant Governor and Mrs. Bolling … except the year we all were invited to a reception at the Governor’s Mansion hosted by Governor and Mrs. Bob McDonnell. All were wonderful opportunities.
At one of the Republican Party of Virginia Advances, probably around 2004, then-Attorney General Bob McDonnell, who would become the next governor, hosted a meeting of bloggers attending the annual event at the Homestead. Congressman Eric Cantor also recognized bloggers and welcomed them to his events.
Bill’s Burgers With Bill became an annual cookout fest. The last one was two years ago when over 400 guests joined him along with Mrs. Bolling in Richmond on a hot afternoon. It offered the opportunity to spend time with fellow Republicans who had worked together for years, and to greet Mitt Romney, Ed Gillespie, and many other familiar faces — a fantastic event that was much appreciated by all.
Happy Birthday, Bob and Bill! Thank you for all you’ve done throughout the years for Virginia Republicans … we have not forgotten.
See also:
Everyone at LynnRMitchell.com wishes the happiest of birthdays to our managing editor
Dr. Kurt Michael!
He has met many people along the way so here’s a little walk down Memory Lane. We’ve had an exciting year that will continue and only get bigger as we grow. Wishing this long-time friend many more birthdays!
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” –Galatians 6:9
Kurt and Ed Gillespie
Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and Kurt at the Capitol.
Governor Mitt Romney and Kurt
By Lynn R. Mitchell
I have not written before now about Mitt Romney’s comments Friday when he told a group of donors that he is still considering entering the 2016 presidential race (see Romney to GOP donors: ‘I want to be President’).
Quite frankly, it was surprising. For months I had listened, hoping to hear that Mitt would get into the 2016 campaign but hearing his continued denials over and over and over and over. I was fully supportive of him in 2008 and 2012, even served on his Virginia Steering Committee in 2012, and enthusiastically attended the pre-election rally held at Fishersville’s Expoland in 2012 that brought out 10,000 supporters and also featured VP candidate Congressman Paul Ryan, Romney Virginia Chair Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and former Virginia First Lady Susan Allen.
By Lynn R. Mitchell
Mitt Romney was right.
That’s the assessment of former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling in an op-ed published in Sunday’s Richmond Times-Dispatch (see Bolling: Mitt Romney was right). Bolling was Romney’s Virginia coordinator for his 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns.
Lt. Gov. Bolling noted in his op-ed:
A recent CNN poll indicated that if the 2012 presidential election were held today, Mitt Romney would defeat President Barack Obama by a comfortable margin of 53 percent to 44 percent.
That’s a dramatic turnaround from the 2012 election, which Obama won 51 percent to 47 percent. What accounts for this 13 percent swing in American attitudes toward the man they elected president, and the man they wish they had elected?
Governor Mitt Romney and Dr. Kurt Michael at Tuesday’s “Burgers with Bill” event in RVA.
Kurt is our political cartoonist and managing editor at LynnRMitchell.com.
Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
June 17, 2014
For 20 years, Bill Bolling — former Virginia Lieutenant Governor, state Senator, and Hanover County supervisor — has gathered with friends and supporters in June near the date of his birthday on the 15th for Burgers with Bill, a casual cookout fundraiser. Tonight is the 20th anniversary of that event and it’s an invitation-only evening in Richmond, compliments of Bolling’s Mainstream Virginia Project. With temperatures soaring into the 90s, it is literally the hottest ticket in town with hundreds expected to attend.
Two special guests will be part of the birthday festivities. Former Massachusetts Governor and U.S. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney will join his long-time friend who served as Virginia state chairman of his 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns.
Also joining them will be Virginia U.S. Senate candidate Ed Gillespie, which is another reunion. In the 2012 election night opening scene of the documentary movie “Mitt” that had cameras following Mitt Romney and his family during the 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, there was a familiar face, Ed Gillespie, who was a senior adviser to Romney during the 2012 campaign. So tonight it seems only fitting that Ed will join Mitt who will join Bill.
In May, Bill Bolling wrote a Facebook post announcing this year’s event:
Pleased to announce that the 20th annual Burgers With Bill will be held on Tuesday, June 17. Even more pleased to announce that our special guest will be Governor Mitt Romney! I really appreciate Mitt coming to Virginia to help me thank my friends for all you’ve done for Jean Ann and me over the years. Stay tuned for more details.
It will be a fun evening with friends and a great opportunity to meet Governor Romney. Fire up the grill!
By Lynn R. Mitchell
Former Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling posted Tuesday night on his Facebook page:
Pleased to announce that the 20th annual Burgers With Bill will be held on Tuesday, June 17. Even more pleased to announce that our special guest will be Governor Mitt Romney! I really appreciate Mitt coming to Virginia to help me thank my friends for all you’ve done for Jean Ann and me over the years. Stay tuned for more details.
Burgers with Bill will be a great opportunity for Bill Bolling and Mitt Romney supporters to spend time with two respected Republican leaders. Mark your calendars!
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