And, Warner acknowledged, "John McCain will run strong in Virginia with his strong veterans vote."

As a veteran and one of 6,000 military members of the mainstream, non-fringe and realistic Modern Whig Party, I can say that McCain is not assured of the veteran vote. The days of vets and active military automatically going for him are gone, and now McCain is in serious jeopardy of losing many of us. Fortunately for McCain, Obama hasn't exactly wowed us either, but he is trying based on such things as his recent interview with the Army Times. Maybe 6,000 military members bolting the traditional parties, especially McCain's GOP, is like rats fleeing a sinking ship. We shall see.

http://www.modernwhig.org

And people say Republicans are out of touch...they obviously haven't taken a serious look at Mark Warner.

As far as I can tell, Warner really has never done anything positive.
Posted by: VaCommonSenseConservative | July 9, 2008 11:08 AM

Then Virginians must be unbelievably out of touch, considering this utterly worthless man's consistently outstanding approval rating. Maybe Virginians are just all liberal elitists.

Well at least we know now that Warner is really in this for a chance at a future national office as opposed to a career in the Senate. Just another example of how Warner is only in this for himself rather than for the people of Virginia. Same as he has always been: Ex. Warner used taxpayer dollars from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to build up Va. companies that he and his political buddies were personally invested in...Luna Technologies...look it up. How bout it Chris Cillizza? Where's your reporting on this?

Did anybody actually watch the posted interview that Warner did with Cillizza? I'm pretty sure that his entire energy plan is exactly the same as Jimmy Carter's was just before he drove us into our last oil and gas crisis. Seriously...he offers no way to reduce the pain at the pump...just more of this "alternative energy research"...which by the way will take just as long to make viable as would drilling for oil in the US. But I guess when you're worth $200 million, paying $200 for a tank of gas isn't a big deal for you. Pretty darn bad for the working men and women from Virginia though. And people say Republicans are out of touch...they obviously haven't taken a serious look at Mark Warner.

As far as I can tell, Warner really has never done anything positive. He increased state spending by nearly 200% in only 4 years, and his $1.6 Billion tax increases (not to mention all the other underlying tax increases he passed) probably led to most of the foreclosure crisis in Virginia. Might have been better if Virginians were allowed to use their hard-earned money to pay mortgage payments and tuition bills, rather than Mark Warner's over-inflated tax bills. And with all of this extra money and spending, violent crime went up nearly 12% under Warner in just 4 years. Virginia's education system completely stagnated. Unemployment rates dramatically rose. The transportation system stagnated if not declined, and Warner was completely responsible for the whole screwup and delay with Dulles Rail.

Gilmore cut spending, left a surplus (read the state budget for 2002-2004 - Warner's own budget showed there was a surplus left by Gilmore), reduced crime, improved Va.'s education system to #12 in the country, kicked off the renovations of I-66, the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, and the new Wilson Bridge, and still managed to put money back in my pocket. That's how you govern people. He has foreign policy experience, is a national security expert, and is a man that keeps his political promises (not that you would ever read any of this in the Washington Post). Because of all of this, Gilmore's my guy.

McCain will invade Iran and reinstate the draft. McCain = Bush.

I noticed last night that Sen McCain was not wearing a US flag lapel pin. The Post should ask for a comment or clarification on this. Does he love America or is he ashamed to be an American. I can only assume that McCain does not love America. No pin = No love. Please someone call him on this or does he just think the flag is a symbol? We all know what George Carlin says about symbols.

During a washingtonpost.com chat today, CBS News foreign correspondent Kimberly Dozier -- who was severely injured from a car bombing in Iraq in 2006 -- said that she "understand[s] from folks in Baghdad that Gen. Petraeus won't let folks use words like 'triumph' or 'victory' or say 'we're winning.'" Will Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) -- who frequently claims that "we are winning in Iraq" -- and his allies Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) take Petraeus's advice? Probably not:

Graham: "We're winning because John McCain understood Iraq better than anybody else." [CBS, 7/06/08]

Lieberman: "Now, his policy is working. Iraq is succeeding." [ABC, 7/06/08]

McCain: "Senator Obama refuses to acknowledge we are winning in Iraq. He refuses. He called it spin. Is General Petraeus spinning the American people? I don't think so. I don't think so." [MSNBC, 6/13/08]

"Does anyone remember who ran with Bob Dole?"

Jack Kemp?

why was a quote from the repuglitard national committee stuck in the second yo last paragraph ???

why do you care what a repuglitard says about Brack Obama ???

did you think you were getting an honest assessment

are you really that stupid, or just stupid enough to think we're too stupid to spot a hit quote qhen we see it

do you have to put gop talking points in EVERY story ???

how much they pay you ???

SO let me get this straight. Huge claims he got hosed by a couple of big companies and a union that supports Obama. He complains to EEOC, which is part of the executive branch, reporting not to the senate but to President Bush. He complains to the state, but then Obama is with the Federal government. He complains to Obama who fails to make everything right, and therefore Obama has a problem with Hispanics.

I can understand that Huge is angruy and frustrated. But there is no logic to him taking it out on Obama. Yet Obama haters say there is. How desperate and sad.

Is this all there is? Claiming flip flops that don't exist? Lame attacks on his wife and his patriotism? You guys better get some terrorist alerts going and some gay marriage issues on the ballot, or you'll be toast.

McCain will win VA, you can take that to the bank.

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com
ps Obama = Chamberlian = victory for terrorists = Keeping our shoes on forever.

Obama and Warner are two peas on a pod. Both run issue-less campaigns that rely upon meaningless phrases like "hope," "change" and "radical centrist." People like this only win when they are not forced to actually elaborate on the issues and what they would actually do. The Post is an all too willing accomplice in such campaigns by not pressing candidates on the issues and instead focusing on the "horse race" aspect.

Can Obama follow the map, or is the path less clear for him?

Posted by: bsimon | July 8, 2008 5:16 PM

It will be easier to follow this year than in 2001. Thanks in large part to shifting demographics (think equinox voters) and the implosion of the GOP.

Shelly, Obama is change Hispanics can't believe in!

I'm sorry but Barrack Obama is a Illinois U.S Senator. This man has said he has common sense and judgment to lead. What type of man besides you thinks after being made aware of this injustice, would think it fine continuing to do nothing. He wants Hispanics to vote for him than he should tell them the truth.

Shelly, my friend, let me respectfully say: What? I have read the letter, 150 times (each time it was posted). It contains not a single allegation of any kind against BO. This guy is sore and filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (isn't it strange he never tells the outcome/status of their investigation). Look, BO doesn't work at either place. And whatever Target or Hormel did to this guy, don't blame BO. BO does not work there either. This "letter" is as legit as those emails from Nigeria notifying you of the $1 million lottery winnings waiting for you. Don't get sidetracked by this guy's letter, Resko, flag pins, saying "bitter" and the rest of it. Focus on the candidates' ideas about real issues like health care, gas prices, etc. Let McQ, Shaft, and Angie Dickinson handle this guy's issues. World Peace.

I know there is something to this when Broadway gets so upset. Broadway says he has investigated this racism? Well what does Obama say Broadway Joe? You work for the guy don't you?

You are an extraordinarily sloppy 'reporter.'

"Republican National Committee spokesman Alex Conant sought to create space between Warner and Obama, insisting that the Illinois senator is not someone who has demonstrated a willingness or ability to part ways with the national party.

"As Mark Warner said, Virginians want leaders who can get things done," said Conant. "But what has Obama accomplished? When has he broken with the national Democratic Party to reach across the aisle on an issue important to Virginia?"

Why do you even reprint this utter cr@p, Cilizza? What kind of lackey are you? Especially as a closing? Your closing sums up the POV of your argument -- so it's what you are saying is that Obama hasn't accomplished anything?

Baretta
Mannix
Barnaby Jones
Rockford
E. Zimbalist Jr.
R. Steele
Lone Ranger
Tonto
Green Hornet
Bruce Wayne
M. Fuhrman

Do you see all these people now Braodway Joe?

Broadway Joe is actually defending Obama doing this to Hispanics? Obama and the whole change express has derailed if this is true. Broadway, Let Obama defend himself in this matter. Your terrible at it.

Good news, Huge, we have fully investigated whatever the letter to Baca is complaining about so Chaos 45i can stop carpet-posting the letter. All is well.

Sincerely,

Baretta
Mannix
Barnaby Jones
Rockford
E. Zimbalist Jr.
R. Steele
Lone Ranger
Tonto
Green Hornet
Bruce Wayne
M. Fuhrman

'Mark' did you ever go to school at all? One couldn't tell if from your illiterate posts.

Rezco again? Oh please. there's no 'there' there-- you jerks are just grasping for straws. McCain has absolutely nothiing to offer.

"Huge", my friend, let me respectfully thank you for the 150th posting of that letter to Baca provided courtesy of "Chaos45i". The guy who wrote it has a problem with Target (was the flat screen TV not the HD you asked for?) and Hormel (was the can of ham dented?) but as far as I can see, not with BO. Get mad at Baca and ask him why he hasn't answered your letter -- after all, you have only sent it...150 times. (Note to BO: get this guy his TV and his ham.)
And scootmandubious, HRC for veep? Didn't you overlook G. Ferraro and Harriet Christian and Carmella Lewis on your veep list?
Finally, Warner/Webb/Wilder/Kaine give BO a huge (sorry "Huge") edge in VA...World Peace.

I also find it interesting that Illinois most corrupt Governor is in charge of that IDHR agency. The Rezko connection is not the only thing these to have in common.

scootmandubious this one seems legit you can go to IDHR's website in Illinois and look through Orders of review. Hispanics are not treated the same as non Hispanics. I wonder how long those very telling records will remain public?

As to the matter of who will be Obama's running mate. I think it will be one of 3 people.

In order of least likely of the 3 to most likely, as of now.

3) Sen. Joe Biden (Delaware)

2) Sen. Hillary Clinton (New York)

1) Sen. Claire McCaskill (Missouri)

Huge wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

Wow, quite the impressive link. That's right up there with using the Internet chain mail slurs on Obama as 'evidence' he is a Muslim.

DRW below is a letter that was posted by a poster named chaos45i a few days ago. I'm currently in this predicament in Illinois and can tell you filing race discrimination charges as a Hispanic is impossible. I get national origin instead of race. And when you ask why you are threatened with dissmisal for not cooperating. I'm glad someone put Obama on some legal notice. He has a tendency to claim he had no knowledge of wrogdoing, or blame others for scandals surrounding him in the past.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
ATTENTION TO : Congressman Joe Baca
Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus FAX 202-225 8671 & FAX 202-225-8671
& June 20, 2008
All Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus

NOTICE & COMPLAINT OF RACISM
It was recently reported that in response to the suggestion by the press that he has a Hispanic/Latino problem with support among Latino/Hispanic Americans Democratic Presumptive nominee Barack Obama on June 17, 2008 lied to the press when he suggested he has no Hispanic/Latino problem when the truth and fact of the matter is in a deceptive manner Obama is showing his continued willingness to mislead the American public, the press, and those Hispanic/Latino voters he still needs by covering up the fact he continues to be unwilling to recognize & address the legitimate issue of clear racism against Hispanic complainants who report incidents of race discrimination at the Chicago,IL. offices of the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in his own home state of Illinois. I, an Illinois U.S. born Hispanic American citizen, in a timely manner reported 3 incidents of race discrimination involving Hormel Foods Corporation , UFCW, and Target Corporation to IDHR & EEOC. Not just a simple conflict of interest UFCW's endorsement and their powerful resources are no more than an illegal kick back for Obama in a racist manner knowingly obstructing an investigation of UFCW as it relates to my particular situation. It was also reported that on June 17, 2008 Obama met with the members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus but I am certain Obama failed to mention this legitimate issue that concerns Hispanic/Latino Americans and it is fair and reasonable for one to conclude that in furtherance of a COVER UP Obama at this meeting was not honest and not forthcoming to the members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus about the fact he is aware that my notices & complaints over a course of years now regarding the racism at IDHR & EEOC related to my 3 reported incidents of race discrimination being COVERED UP/Concealed and buried by the actions of Obama and IDHR & EEOC officials have, to this date, been repeatedly ignored, never addressed, never investigated, and no one has ever been held accountable for intentionally sabotaging and denying me , a Hispanic complainant, language that states on official "IDHR & EEOC" charges discrimination based on RACE against Hormel Foods Corporation, UFCW, and Target Corporation when nonHispanic complainants are not sabotaged or denied the same language of discrimination based on RACE on their official "IDHR & EEOC" charges of discrimination at IDHR & EEOC. Obama will have to accept responsibility for his racist actions and/or inactions as it will never be acceptable by me for Obama to blame others or for him to make any excuses for allowing this racism against Americans who happen to be Hispanic to go on as long as it has. I urge you not to support Obama and to join me bringing this racism to the attention of the Hispanic community until and unless Obama himself fully addresses this matter.

C: Democratic Presumptive Nominee Barack Obama
Mr. Arturo Vargas -National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I think that '08 has the potential to be the biggest landslide for a Democrat ever.

How bad is it gonna be for McCain?

Has anyone seen the new McCain ad which was meant to co-opt Obama's branding.

It actually starts, "Don't 'hope' for a change!" GOP consultants actually got paid to think up that bit of lunacy.

I am so looking forward to watching McCain and Obama face off. McCain will make his mentor George Bush (who he has voted with 95% of the time in the last year or so) look like Mr. Articulate.

I can see it now, as McCain starts to brag about his foreign policy expertise, the ads will demonstrate how he said we would be greeted as liberators, how Iraqi oil would pay for everything, how we would be quickly coming home. And I haven't even gotten to the more current soundbytes where he can't differentiate between sunni and shia and where Lieberman had to help him out when made blatant mis-statements about al-Qaeda in Iraq.

THAT is the foreign policy expert?

Just watch...the man is going to implode. I hope his first wife, the one he walked out on for a younger, prettier woman (you know, the wife who waited for him to be freed) will enjoy the show.

DRW below is a letter that was posted by a poster named chaos45i a few days ago. I'm currently in this predicament in Illinois and can tell you filing race discrimination charges as a Hispanic is impossible. I get national origin instead of race. And when you ask why you are threatened with dissmisal for not cooperating. I'm glad someone put Obama on some legal notice. He has a tendency to claim he had no knowledge of wrogdoing, or blame others for scandals surrounding him in the past.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

It's mind-boggling to me that there are actually Americans willing to be John McCain's running mate. A few, anyway, willing to sacrifice themselves in a hopeless cause. Does anyone remember who ran with Bob Dole? With Alf Landon?

It's interesting to watch people who don't know politics, speculate as to why someone chooses to "drop out" of consideration. They need to watch the timing.

By now, the Obama camp has pretty well decided, who it's gonna be. And, the "candidates" for running mate have a pretty good feel also.

See where Obama is shoring up some deficit areas as to potential voting sectors. As he improves his position, the "need" for a running mate to "shore up" things, has greatly diminished. They are now concentrating on who best "compliments" the style and demeanor of the future commander in chief.

A couple more weeks, and it'll be done.

It's mind boggling how many people don't want to be Obama's running mate. I think they sense Obama will self destruct over the course of the campaign.

Posted by: Capt Howard | July 8, 2008 5:06 PM
=================================

Two (or three) is a "mind boggling" number to you?

May I also suggest an alternate theory? The vetting process has been going on for a while now, would it be remotely possible that the VP short list is getting, well, shorter? These people were asked to hand over a lot of their personal information to be considered, it just might be possible that the Obama campaign let them know that they are no longer in the running for whatever reason. And that they in turn let their supporters know they won't be running as VP well in advance?

Huge: could you please cite some evidence of the alleged Obama racism against Hispanics? Or is he a racist just because you say he is?

The Fix writes
"The road map Warner laid out for Obama ... is a carbon copy of the strategy Warner used to win the governorship in 2001 and the one that he is implementing in his race this fall against former Republican governor Jim Gilmore."

Ok. Warner to Obama: "Here's my map!"

Can Obama follow the map, or is the path less clear for him?

What about Barack courting the Hispanic vote today? He is not mentioning anything about his discriminating against them? Hispanics have no clue how racist he really is towards them.

It's mind boggling how many people don't want to be Obama's running mate. I think they sense Obama will self destruct over the course of the campaign.

Obama actually had rallies in both Bristow and Bristol VA on the same day to "kick off" his campaign

Will someone please note that the Obama campaign kicked off in Bristol not Bristow, Virginia. This error has appeared in more than one publication. Bristow, as good Washingtonians know, is in Prince William County.

It's a nit, but Bristow is hardly "in Virginia's far southwestern reaches". Rather, it is in Prince William County which does still have pockets which remind me of places like Bristol (which really is in far southwestern Virginia).

Now that Webb has bowed out, aren't Mark Warner and VA Gov. Tim Kaine on Obama's short list for vice president? If he went with either one of them, Virginia would definitely be in play for a Democratic takeover in November.

I like Warner although I am suprised at the hype he gets on the national scale. But if he really thinks this
"It's hard for me to imagine I would go to the Senate and spend 30 or 35 years there," he said. "I just don't see that as my personality."

The whole point of being a senator is to be the elder statesmen (or women) of our country. The senate is supposed to contain the institutional history and steadfastness that counteracts the fical and whimsical nature of the House. At least Webb will probably be there for a while giving the commonwealth an solid elder voice to pick up after the career of John Warner is over.