Oh, No

I watched Virginia Governor Mark Warner give his "State of the Commonwealth" address tonight in front of the repug legislature.

I think his news clippings are getting to his head (i.e., he might run for president), because his damned speech sounded like it was given by Tom DeLay.

He called for tax cuts, he called for increased penalties for drug use. He even endorsed an effort to make it easier to get the death penalty for accused criminals.

Oh, he hit all the right notes and played to the right themes for the D's there, but the message was simple: "I'm a moderate-to-conservative."

I guess that's how he ran in 2001, but I cannot believe this is the guy that progressives want to get behind.

Last year he reformed the tax code, raising taxes, but this year he wants to cut them? Pro-drug crimes laws? Pro-death penalty?

The problem we face here is that Warner is running to the center, while the next Governor-in-Waiting is Tim Kaine, who is a true progessive: anti-death penalty, pro-progess (read: fair tax policy), pro-choice.

Hell, I even saw Gerry Kilgere, the likely repug candidate for Governor, on TV praising the speech. He called it a "conservative, Republican message."

When was the last time you saw a repug Congressman praise Bill Clinton's speech?

People, we can do better for '08.

He could go for the top slot, but he has zip national exposure. I could see him doing an Edwards, making the run, and coming in second to the primary candidate, and that will be Kerry if he wants it, probably, or maybe Dean. Or it just could be someone else who will do something incredible in the next few years, who is already famous but gains stature, someone who comes out of nowhere but has national exposure already. Biden, maybe?

We'll have to see how the war's progress, the economy, and other issues start gnawing away at hearts and minds. Or something else could happen to change the equation entirely...

Okay --

I just saw the late replay of the local news, and Tim Kaine, the Lt. Gov., who is a Democrat, just praised the SHIT out of Mark Warner's speech.

He actually said this:

"The recipe is right. We are governing from the middle. That's what we have to do."

Or words to that effect. He's running for Governor against Kilgere.

Okay, I get it that you have to run to the middle to get elected in Virginia, which is what I guess Warner did. But, when Warner actually starts to govern like a conservative ... WTF!

WORSE ... Tim Kaine is already starting to pretend that he is a centrist -- WHEN HE IS NOT!

My God, are our people afraid to be with us?

I know this is the south, but what are we, lepers?

People not in Virginia, you probably don't care, but this is red state country and it is awesome to have a D governor, which we haven't had since almost Lincoln was president. Really. Lots of 'necks here.

:shrug:

Does he give good attitude?

Maybe those who want Warner are looking for the "winner" without considering core Dem values. Not necessarily progressives, just folk who want that "win".

Democrat I am and I won't support any "Dems" that think like this.

Several days ago I heard or read a critique on Senators and congresspersons WHO SERVE WAY TOO LONG. What happened to term limits?

The article was about how our government didn't intend for people to become "career politicians". They ought better to serve a term and get the hell out so fresh faces can have a go at it.

These "lifers" are MUCH TOO ENTRENCHED in Washington. THROW ALL THE BUMS OUT NEXT TIME and start over!!!!!!!!!!

With Representatives like Warner we are going down.

It annoys the hell out of me when the "consultants" and "advisors" point to Warner, Schweitzer, Salazar and others as some kind of path for the Democrats. Local Dems can run on any platform they want in order to appeal to local voters. Try that on a national level and see how far you get.

I spoke to a friend of mine who is privy to the Kaine campaign (she went to the University of Richmond and has worked various polling places around the city).

My friend also knows the guy they brought in to help with the campaign.

This is good information. Trust me.

When Kaine runs as a "moderate," he is only doing so because it is Virginia. Otherwise he can't get elected.

If you look at his record, he is one of us, no doubt.

Look at his record:

In favor of tax fairness, in favor of the rights of all of us, supporting Governor Warner for all of his programs.

Kilgere is going to highlight the death penalty, it is pretty clear about that. Well, I'm against it, and if Kaine is too, then we should stand with him!

Okay, they're calling him a "liberal" already. To me that means "progressive."

I call on all Virginia Democrats to say, "Yes! Let's go!"

Take to the streets!

context.