It has been said over and over again all over the internet, but Tim Kaine's (and more importantly, as even he concedes, the popularity of Mark Warner) victory in Virginia is a race to be closely examined. Put simply, a Democrat took a typically very Red state. Kaine isn't the only example of this, there's also folks like Gov. Scwartz (sp?) in Montana, Governors Granholm and Vilsack in Michigan and Iowa respectively, as well as Sen. Salazar in Colorado.
I am torn on this approach by the Democrats. This isn't a "Kevin's politics" thread, but I have taken a more bread & butter, less ideological position on politics and governing lately. That's why this "Administrative Democrat" model has appeal for me. Warner in particular has shown REAL results in Virginia, however many of those results (like loosening gun restrictions) wouldn't be very digestable to many Democrats.
I think the Democratic primary in 2008 will come down to Warner and Clinton. Clinton will probably win that battle, because she has more money right now than the entire Democratic Party, and can win Democratic primaries, which tend to draw out more activist types. I think this is unfortunate, because all it tells me is that
Democrats still don't get what Republicans have understood for over two decades now-- elections matter.
So when it's January, 2009, and we're swearing in a President McCain, or a President Giuliani (AAAHHH!!!), or even a President Romney, Democrats can start the bitching all over again. Ted Kennedy and Howard Dean will throw fits over judicial nominations, there will be countless investigations into voting machine errors, as well as new stories about how corrupt Republicans are. Maybe Senator Kerry can stage more last minute filibuster threats, which will ultimately be futile and meaningless.
Elections matter. Bill Clinton and James Carville understood this. Implement the Socialist State all you like, but do it AFTER you've taken power.
That is all.
