Friday, January 20, 2006

Another Rant by Progressive Bloggers...

Geez, I can understand how some people might be a little leery about Gov. Tim Kaine giving the Democratic response to the State of the Union. Almost no one outside my home state of Virginia has ever heard of him. But some of the invective directed at the choice is off base and totally uncalled for.

Arianna, publisher of The Huffington Post, headlines her contempt with this bitchy banner, "Dems Pick Kaine for State of Union Response: What the Hell Are they Thinking?"

For Arianna, the fact Osama bin Laden is still lurking in some cave reinforces liberals claim that Bush has not made America one iota safer -- and Democrats should pound this theme by selecting the public face of war opposition, Rep. John Murtha, to give the Democratic SOTU response.

As far as I can tell, pullout from Iraq and capturing bin Laden are two separate issues with two separate arguments. I mean, exactly how is bin Laden less of threat if we pull out of Iraq...?

I've yet to hear anyone, including Arianna, propose that freed resources be used to go after bin Laden once we leave Iraq.

It seems what truly incessed Arianna is that Kaine paid tribute to our soldiers during his Inagural Address. Here are the offending remarks:


Patrick Henry was sworn in here as the newly formed commonwealth's first governor in 1776 and, three years later, Thomas Jefferson followed in his footsteps. Henry and Jefferson stood here in the midst of a war raging on our country's soil, a war that threatened the very existence of Virginia and our young nation.

They stood here at a time, just as today, when Virginians serving freedom's cause sacrificed their lives so that democracy could prevail over tyranny.

They stood here proclaiming the promise of Virginia, when the world around them doubted that the land of their vision would survive.


Paying tribute to our military men and women is now equal to support for the Iraqi war? I thought we agreed a long time ago not to go that route.

Ulimately, Arianna declares herself unimpressed with Kaine after hearing him speak on C-SPAN; and tellingly observes that ABC's blog, The Note, "suggest[ed] Democrats make it a priority to get the Guv a speech tutor before the State of the Union. "

Hmm. Here is what The Note actually said, "[A]n official involved in the decision elaborated on the Kaine logic: 'He a D who was elected from a red state running on middle-class issues and a values platform—-exactly the kind of person Ds need to showcase to independents.'"

And that was only one quote from one anonymous official, folks.

Tristero of Digby's Hullabaloo was more delicate, but links to Huffington as a way to make his point; he, too, opposes Kaine as the Democratic spokesperson.

Well, let the sniping continue...

In the meantime, bloggers from Virginia think "Tim Kaine is Gonna Rock."

You go, Tim; and show deep blue and crimson red America why we love you so much!

Comments:
Tim Kaine won a incredible 6 point victory over a popular republican (who got 60% just 4 years earlier) in a republican state, boy am i proud to be a Virginian. The choose him because he is as clean as a politician comes and the last thing the democrats need is a 40 year Washington insider preaching for cleaner government. GO KAINE!!!
 
I based my post entirely on Huffington's post.

I will gladly apologize if Kaine turns out to be a compelling responder to Bush's hokum. Honestly, HL, I would like nothing more than to be proven wrong.
 
Kaine sounds like he has no principles. He told Equality Virginia - at a public event - that he opposed Virginia's draconian anti-gay amendment - that goes way beyond gay marriage to ban all sorts of gay partnerships - including wills and private contracts - read the language of the amendment - but now he is going to sign the bill.
 
The bill he is signing allows Virginians to vote on the measure.
 
Hey cuz, Congrats.....St
 
Yeah -- I lived in Richmond when Kaine was mayor, and we all loved him. He's good at both being a candidate and an official -- when my mom called and told me he'd be doing the response, we both celebrated. I think this is a GREAT idea, perhaps showing that the party is finally waking from its post-2000 funk.
 
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