"Former Democrat Virgil Goode may want to read Charlottesville's hottest political Website for challenges like this. 'Don't believe,' writes Albemarle School Board member Steve Koleszar of Goode, 'the conservative myth that he is unbeatable. He is weak and wrong on the issues.'

Fiery dialogue about a turn-coat should be expected, but what about this Dem-on-Dem slam?

'These Democrat for Change types who are always preaching about opening the process,' writes George Gilliam, 'certainly do like to have their secret meetings.'

In a town dominated by one party, perhaps it's fitting that such a Website is run by an ardent Democrat. He's George Loper, who moderates the lively cyber-debate from his office on the second floor of his house in the Greenbrier neighborhood.

'It's my idiosyncratic view of the world,' says Loper. 'It's a way for me to publicly think about things.'

Loper says he began posting articles on the Web in 1995 or 1996, and quickly began getting feedback. Although he covers other topics, the Loper site is must reading in local political circles.

'What fun - it's the unofficial Web page of the local Democratic party,' says former City Councilor Tom Vandever.

'I enjoy reading George Loper's Website,' agrees Dale McGlothlin, chairman of Charlottesville's Republican Party. 'For a while, that was the only place I could find the Democrats for Change platform.'

The site (sand.loper.org/~george) has become not just the spot to find commentary - it's even been used for so-called trial balloons.

That's how Maurice Cox was using it when he floated the idea of letting citizens sit in on interviews of applicants for public boards. The proposal brought a scathing rebuke from Chace Anderson: 'Four years ago I voted for a person who spoke words of vision. Four years have shown me that [Maurice] Cox does not have the direction to reach his vision. He simply makes proposals that pander to it.

Chuckles Republican McGlothlin, 'I can't say I feel sorry about the Democrats arguing with each other.'

Asked how he feels moderating intra-party firestorms, Loper tilts his head a few times before finally giving his answer: 'Well,' he says, 'I don't know.'

Loper says he filters out comments that are too vitriolic. 'It's delicate,' he acknowledges. 'Putting something up doesn't mean it's an endorsement.'

Loper, whose only party title is chair of the Democrats breakfast committee, actually gives less prominence to political attacks than to other things, such as a tout for the recent Live Arts performance of The Vagina Monologues or the latest mean thing Rudy Giuliani has said about the nation's First Lady.

Until recently, notes Vandever, local Dems would belly up to the counter at Downtown restaurants such as the Nook, Miller's, or Random Row to catch up on political talk. 'Now,' he says, 'you hang out at George's Web page.'" (Hawes Spencer, C-Ville Weekly, February 15-21, 2000).