tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post113156328519490298..comments2023-11-30T03:44:34.585-05:00Comments on Opinions Nobody Asked For: Election Day RetrospectiveJeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683622475941901572noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-1131596088972837342005-11-09T23:14:00.000-05:002005-11-09T23:14:00.000-05:00I was always kind of lukewarm on Mark Warner - he'...I was always kind of lukewarm on Mark Warner - he's still a little conservative for me. (Still my favorite Warner, but that's not saying much.) He won't be the savior of all things liberal, I'll tell you that. But he's effective, which is more than I can say for 75% of politicians out there. I think a lot more highly of him now than I did four years ago when he was elected - he did some courageous things to get VA out of its Gilmore-inflicted budgetary hole.<BR/><BR/>When it comes right down to it, I'd prefer someone with Warner's effectiveness and with a dose of liberal idealism. But sensible pragmatism is okay, and in VA I'll take what I can get.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11683622475941901572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-1131582753952568312005-11-09T19:32:00.000-05:002005-11-09T19:32:00.000-05:00If I remember correctly, Jeff, you were never all ...If I remember correctly, Jeff, you were never all that big a fan of Mark Warner.Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15344649128973165027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-1131565311296001742005-11-09T14:41:00.000-05:002005-11-09T14:41:00.000-05:00A link to an article by Leonard Pitts on Kaine tha...A <A HREF="http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/leonard_pitts/12961715.htm" REL="nofollow">link</A> to an article by Leonard Pitts on Kaine that might interest you.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you on Bush. His social conservatism got some of the far right-wingers out of the woodwork, but the fact is that he won because John Kerry failed to provide American moderates with what they saw as a viable alternative.<BR/><BR/>I wrote a long post about Texas Prop 2, then deleted most of it because it rang repetitive and hollow. Even when you expect it, you're not really ready for it. If you're interested, you can read the much shorter version of my post <A HREF="http://sein514.blogspot.com/2005/11/institutionalized-bigotry.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06383789548221247888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-1131563670742643562005-11-09T14:14:00.000-05:002005-11-09T14:14:00.000-05:00I just read the Post's editorial on Kaine's victor...I just read the Post's editorial on Kaine's victory. The last paragraph:<BR/><BR/>"The sounder conclusion is that Mr. Kaine's triumph proves that a strong, smart candidate can win in Virginia regardless of party affiliation and that hot-button attacks and crass wedge-issue politics are not enough to defeat him. By thumping away at Mr. Kaine's stands on the death penalty and illegal immigration, Mr. Kilgore tried to play on voters' fears. He failed, and that offers a lesson that should be heeded beyond the state's borders."<BR/><BR/>I swear I did not read the Post's editorial before writing this.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11683622475941901572noreply@blogger.com