In Closing

This is the final post for The Dillard Doctrine. A new year brings a new start, and I’ll be blogging over at Virginia Black Conservatives beginning Jan. 5

2009…all I can say is “wow.” It’s been a long year.

Personally, things have been up and down. New addition to the family in April (and oddly enough, that came a week before big changes professionally. More on that later). The rest of the year? Not the prettiest…at all. But with the help of God, my family, close friends and others, I’ve faced down those challenges. At times, I’ve faced physical illness and mental depression…and fought them both. Other challenges remain…but they’re not going to get me either.

To everyone, personally and professionally-and there’s been a lot-that I ran over, ran through, stepped on, stepped over, kicked, disregarded, etc. during the course of the year, I offer this apology. In many cases, the slights were not personal…but regardless of why, they were undeserved.

Professionally…well, what’s to say that hasn’t been said at some point? From the Tea Party in Virginia Beach in April through the height of the McDonnell campaign to pursuing my own aspirations, the year’s been a whirlwind. I’ve met a lot of good people who I call friends, and learned a lot about the cynical and degrading nature of politics from others.

I’ve learned professionally is that no matter where you stand on the political spectrum, two things are important:

First, no matter where you are or who you represent, maintain your own voice. People will respect you in disagreement if they know you’re sincere in your beliefs, and are saying what you really think and feel. The minute you become a shrill for one cause or another, you lose that respect…and without it, you can’t move anywhere or do anything. I credit my liberal/progressive friends at Jack and Jill Politics and WEESeeYou for showing me this (and constantly reminding me of it!).

The second lesson I’ve learned is to always remember where you came from and the issues of those who are still there. This is something I came to realize during McDonnell’s campaign while doing his African American outreach. It’s important to never get so far removed from home that you allow yourself to forget-or conveniently ignore-the everyday struggles that, at one point, made up your existence…because they don’t leave just because you do. As my friends from the Richmond Crusade for Voters always tell me, at the end of the day, you still have to come home…and if your actions show a disrespect or disregard to those who you claim as “your own,” you’ll soon find yourself with nothing once you’ve been discarded by those who no longer need you.

So what’s next? First, the definites:

In the new year, I will continue to work to better balance my home life and professional life. That’s a personal commitment to my family that, after a couple of years of lending me to the world, I think they deserve-at the least.

Professionally, I’m starting a consulting firm that will focus its efforts on working with political candidates to better apply conservative principles to urban and minority environments. For too long, home has been neglected until it’s time to win an election-and even then just receives lip service. So for me, this is my effort to stop that practice. Also-as I mentioned above-I’m beginning a new blog that will work towards that same goal.

Lastly, my political future…which is not definite.

I’ll say that I will either be in office, preparing to take office, or preparing for another campaign by January ‘11. My congressional run remains on the table, but ultimately I will make the decision that I feel will best serve my family and my community. If that is done by going to Washington as a representative, then that’s what we’ll do. However, if it’s better done by serving at a local or state level, then that road will be taken. As I said at Christopher Newport University in early December, I have no desire to be a career politician. I choose to be a public servant to better my family and my community, and not for want of the trappings of power. That I will do…and when I’m no longer needed, I will go home.

Tomorrow begins the start of something new. Childish things are put away, and a better man steps forward to continue the fight to protect his family and community against everything that would come against them.

I’m Coby Dillard, and I approve this message.

And as I always say…bring on whatever’s next.

It’s been a great two years here at The Dillard Doctrine. I hope you’ll join me at my new blog, Virginia Black Conservatives, next week.

Holiday Greetings

Stolen from an email from Bearing Drift. Hilarious, but a sad example of what we’ve become as a country that something like this even need be written.

To all my Democrat Friends: Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2010, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere . Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

To my Republican Friends: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

As I said on Facebook yesterday, I’m taking a break from most things political through the new year. My family and I wish you a merry Christmas-in keeping with the caveats above. See you in ‘10!

-Coby W. Dillard

Statement on President Obama’s Afghanistan Strategy

Tonight, President Obama has outlined his strategy for the war in Afghanistan.

I believe the President’s strategy outlines the best way forward to success in our efforts there. President Obama is right; the security of our nation and interests demand an escalation of our efforts to assist the Afghan government in securing their country and people.

President Obama has committed to providing the resources-both equipment and personnel-that GEN McChrystal and his subordinates have asked for, and has resisted the winds of political opinion that suggest a premature withdrawal is in order.

I applaud and support the president’s decision as outlined this evening, and urge Congress not to attempt to use our service members as a tool to advance their own partisan agendas.

Keeping Up with Me

…because it doesn’t seem like I’ll have as much time to blog as I’d like (though some of my writings that aren’t totally campaign related will still be posted here as well).

To keep up with my exploratory efforts, you can follow me on Twitter (@DillardExp), or visit our ever-evolving site, dillardexploratory.ning.com, which is where I’ll be doing most of my writing. If you’d like to help with the effort or are part of the media, our general email is info@dillardexploratory.com.

Looking forward to hearing from you…and if you’re around the district, meeting you!

-Coby W. Dillard

Announcement of Dillard ‘10 Exploratory Committee

I’m happy to announce that I have formed an exploratory committee to begin work on a congressional run in 2010 in Virginia’s 3rd congressional district. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be talking with both community and political leaders in the district to get the ground-level truth on their problems and whether they feel their concerns are adequately addressed by their current representative. Next week, we’ll launch our social interaction site-dillardexploratory.ning.com-where people will be able to keep up with our work and express their thoughts on the direction and future of their district.

I take on this task with full knowledge of the electoral history of the 3rd district. The last Republican to run for this seat in 2004 lost by nearly a 2 to 1 margin. I have no illusions that a run for this seat will be an uphill battle and, ultimately, may not be successful. I believe, though, that the people of this district-from my childhood home of Richmond to Hampton Roads, where I now live-deserve a voice in Washington that works to serve all their interests and sometimes tells them the hard truths, rather than one who is no more than a reliable party-line vote. For them, I seek to be that voice.

-Coby W. Dillard