Yesterday I speculated that Sen. Creigh Deeds would become the new Secretary of Transportation. And today Creigh shut me down:
I do not make a habit out of commenting, but in the word of Barney Fife, I want to nip this one in the bud. I am returning to the Senate. The recent campaign, while not ending up as I wished, left me invigorated and better prepared to continue my service.
But I still think it’s a good idea. So, hey, Kaine transition team? Y’all gotta convince Kaine to do a complete overhaul of the transportation infrastructure (which will initially prove politically unpopular), convince Kaine that Creigh is the man to head it up, and convince Creigh to take the job. We got no bench. Make a bench. Put Creigh on it. Put some other people on it, too, but let’s start with our best talent.
Cue annoyed e-mails from Democratic officials in 3…2…1…
I would think if Deeds wants to run for AG again, staying in the Senate is the better bet.
It may be that MARK Warner will run for Gov again in 2009.
Given the incredibly long odds ANY particular Presidential candidate has, I also think it’s a good bet Mark Warner will be our Governor once again come January 2010.
But I still think he’d be a damned fine President.
Regardless, whomever the Democrats choose, in 2009, I have no doubt that the Republicans will once again run a campaign of fear and divisiveness, and the Democratic message of progress will once again rule the day. November 3, 2009 will indeed be a fine day.
Dan wrote:
Don’t count your ducks just yet. Virginia’s still a very conservative state. A lot can happen in 4 years. As for that Democratic message of progress – I’m still remembering that the Supreme Court Eminent Domain ruling was split pretty much down party lines with the liberal side of the court ruling in favor of seizing private property for private benefit. I think that was “progress” in the wrong direction.
And obviously, a couple of guys on the Supreme Court dictate what all other “liberals” believe.
Sure, a lot can change in four years, and sure, this is a conservative state. But Jerry Kilgore was supposed to win this race in a cakewalk. Tim Kaine had less name rec, less money, fewer resources all the way. But, he talked about progress. He talked about fiscal responsibility and providing quality schools and roads. Jerry Kilgore compared his opponent to Hitler and tried the best he could to avoid saying anything else. This is the way Republicans have run races in Virginia and elsewhere the past few years, and yes, while things will change, I highly doubt that will be one of them.
Yeah, a hand full of people on the supreme court represent their party for that branch of government. Anyway it’s certianly not a shining party moment.
Kilgore was a dweeb. He deserved to lose. And I honestly have to question the sanity of anyone who thought a win by him should’ve been a cakewalk. When you put a moron up against joe average.. joe average will win. The hitler analogy was dumb as can be imagined and made a great sound bite… but it was hardly the defining moment.
And I’d also like to point out Kaine’s cop out with regards to the issue of illegal immigration… and I’m paraphrasing if not quoting, “Immigration is a federal issue, Let’s let the federal government handle it.” That’s just a vote for “do nothing and keep the status quo,” because everyone knows the federal government has no interest in enforcing the immigration laws on the books.
I wasn’t a fan of either candidate.. IMHO it just happened that Kaine was less of an irritant than Kilgore.
Anyway that’s just my 2 cents.
Maybe a cakewalk is too strong a phrase, but regardless, major things had to go wrong for Kilgore and right for Kaine if Kilgore is to lose so badly when he is in, as you said, a very conservative state, he had better fundraising power and indeed spent more money, when his party dominated US and with the exception of Gov and LG, Virginia politics, when he had enjoyed a position that gave him much more visibility, and thus, name recognition than Kaine, when polls a year out showed a ten point advantage. The Hitler ad was the most prominent example of Kilgore’s attempting to play to people’s fears. Fortunately, the people of Virginia were smart enough to see that constantly attacking ones opponent while refusing to talk about the issues as much as possible was not the sign of a good leader.
If the GOP nominates a moderate, maybe the Dems will have more to worry about, but with the current frontrunners being Bolling, McDonnell and Gilmore, I don’t see the GOP doing anything other that nominating yet another taxophobic radical. Sure, the Dems have to put up another good candidate, which they will (I imagine there was much talk of a weak Democratic bench in 1997). The Republicans putting up another Gilmore or Kilgore type will make it more difficult for them to retake the seat.
If the GOP nominates a moderate, maybe the Dems will have more to worry about, but with the current frontrunners being Bolling, McDonnell and Gilmore, I don’t see the GOP doing anything other that nominating yet another taxophobic radical.
That is an excellent point. The Republicans might have a bench, but it’s a monoculture. And any student of agriculture can explain the danger of a monoculture.
I’d rather see Creigh run against George Allen (assuming that Webb doesn’t get in the race). Next to Webb, Creigh would be our best candidate.