House Dems: Riding the Warner Express
House Democrats this morning rolled out their strategy for picking up some seats in the legislature in the Nov. 8 election. (Currently there are 38 Dems in the House.) And the road map basically begins with "Mark" and ends with "Warner" with lots of talk of "budget reform" spread in the middle.
Democratic candidates running for House races apparently know which side of their bread is buttered. So at a news conference with about 20 of their candidates for office they announced that they're going to tell voters about how "they" helped usher in the 2004 tax package and all of the "reform" and "investment" that they say came along with it.
It is true that without those three dozen Democratic votes there would have been no tax package to increase spending on state services. And voters aren't going to be able to forget it as the candidates tout their Party-of-Warner credentials.
"The progress we made in 2004 with Governor Warner's budget led to historic investments, and Virginia cannot afford turning back the clock," said Del. Franklin P. Hall (D-Richmond) the Dems' minority leader. (In case you've noticed, that sounds like Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tim Kaine's mantra, too.)
The Dems seem to think that the tea leaves are favoring this approach. Approval rating for the tax package are running at about 57 percent according to a statewide poll last month. Warner's numbers are at 74 percent. The Dems figure: Why not strike while the iron is hot?
"We're going to pound away at this," said Del. Brian J. Moran (Alexandria), the Democratic Caucus chairman.
That raises the question: Shouldn't the Democratic Caucus have a program for the future to champion? Witness House Republicans, who during the legislative session came up with policy initiatives on tort reform and on holding down Medicaid costs. Such policy initiatives helped the GOP gain power in the 1990s -- by offering proposals on welfare, parole and taxes.
Asked whether the Democrats would follow such an approach, Hall said: "The best example of what you're going to do is what you've already done."
Does that mean another tax increase? "I haven't suggested that at all," Hall said, saying he was referring to working with Republicans to help make investments in education.
By Chris Jenkins |
September 7, 2005; 1:44 PM ET
| Category:
Democrats
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Posted by: PM | September 8, 2005 01:48 PM
PM, where were you last week when two posts and scores of comments about Katrina were deleted from Bacon's Rebellion? Were you decrying that censorship? It wasn't the "powers that be" that rode roughshod over the First Amendment speech of the commenters.
Bacon's Rebellion has always been a blog about Virginia. Numerous posts with a Virginia angle to the Hurricane Katrina situation have appeared on the blog, but those are crying "censorship" didn't offer many comments. They only appear to want to discuss the anti-Bush aspect.
There are thousands of blogs, and, indeed, there are message boards on this newspaper where anyone can talk about Hurricane Katrina and bash whoever they want. There are very few blogs just about Virginia.
It is distressing that you are pushing disinformation in this comment section.
Posted by: Will Vehrs | September 8, 2005 06:05 PM
Oh, Will...
I agree, but doesn't the WaPo have a COMIC section for satirical disinformation, err... I meant to say METRO section.
~ the blue dog
Posted by: the blue dog | September 9, 2005 02:35 AM
PM, No, the conservatives on Bacon's Rebellion did not feel like they were getting beaten up. I pulled the plug on the discussion (1) because of the extremely ugly tone the comments were taking, and (2) it was adding nothing to the discussion of the Virginia issues that are the proper focus of Bacon's Rebellion.
However, I am happy to pursue the debate on someone else's blog. (I hope Michael Shear doesn't mind. Out of respect to Michael, I will endeavor to maintain a civil tone.) As a starting point, why don't we discuss today's revelation that the American Red Cross was prohibited -- by Louisiana authorities -- from delivering food and water to the Super Dome. Then we can discuss the Washington Times' article (sorry to mention the competition, Michael) dissecting the utter failure of New Orleans authorities to carry out their own evacuation plan. Then we could move on to the NY Times' article today explaining why the Bush administration did not override Gov. Blanco and assert federal government control over the emergency response when it was clear that Louisiana officials were not up to the task.
Posted by: Jim Bacon | September 9, 2005 09:31 AM
Bravo! Bacon bits.
~ the blue dog
Posted by: the blue dog | September 9, 2005 04:11 PM
Bush's EXCUSE that Louisiana authorities did not ASK for help is the lousiest, whiniest bit of blather to come out of his mouth since he promised swift justice for Karl Rove's treasons and Rumsfeld's ignorance and acquiescence to war crimes -- why is it always someone else's fault when Bush fails?
Posted by: Soccer Mom | September 11, 2005 03:06 PM
Karl Rove stole the funds for the hurracaine fighhting paratroopers. that is why they could not fall from the sky and stop all the looting Democratic voters.
Posted by: Observer | September 16, 2005 10:06 PM
Do all Republicans spell as horribly as you do?
Maybe this is the part where I am supposed to say: "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." ~ George Bush
Posted by: Son of Soccer Mom | September 19, 2005 07:26 AM
Will, you guys censored it because Bush was rightfully getting pounded -- and the public agrees if you look at the polls. Bush is barely hanging on to his "core" (aka people so close-minded that they can't vote anything but GOP). As I've told people, if Bush mowed down a bunch of school kids with an AK-47, the "core" GOP would say -- "oh-he must have had a reall good reason to do it." Don't fill up the debate space here with your intellectual self-justifications. P.S. I voted for Reagan twice and held two fed political appointments during those years -- but the current GOP is nothing but a plundering society for the rich.
Posted by: Liberty | September 19, 2005 07:59 AM
Quote from Newsweek:
"President Bush knew the storm and its consequences had been bad; but he didn't quite realize how bad.
The reality, say several aides who did not wish to be quoted because it might displease the president, did not really sink in until Thursday night. Some White House staffers were watching the evening news and thought the president needed to see the horrific reports coming out of New Orleans. Counselor Bartlett made up a DVD of the newscasts so Bush could see them in their entirety as he flew down to the Gulf Coast the next morning on Air Force One."
Thursday night? Thursday night? Of course this is the same prez that froze up on 9-11. Maybe we should have elected someone who was battle hardened.
Posted by: PM | September 19, 2005 08:05 AM
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Hmmmm. Better get over to Bacon's Rebellion. The powers that be have announced any further discussion of Katrina will be cemsored off the blog. (My take is that the conservatives are getting beaten up badly on the topic and are tired of it.)