Three years into the Kaine Administration, Virginia Progressives stand aghast at what it has become. From his repeal of the estate tax to his abandoned plan for universal Pre-K, to his opposition to embryonic stem cells, from his failed transportation plans to cozy relationship to Dominion Power and his reprehensible support of the Wise Coal Plant, the Kaine administration has fulfilled our every early fear and never failed to disappoint progressive Virginia.
In order to become the powerful and vital leading force for Democratic politics in the 21st century, the backbone of an enduring Democratic majority, Progressivism needs leaders who are regularly willing to take a critical, principled stand. This is why the RK community never fails to denounce the failed positions of even our most dogged champions.
When Barack Obama or even our beloved Jim Webb failed us on warrantless wiretapping, we called them out. When Jim Webb and Mark Warner make spurious assertions that offshore drilling is some kind of solution to our energy crisis, we attack the positions, not the leaders.
Mark Warner is the very model of what will become known as Fiscal Progressivism, the pragmatic, cross-partisan application of intelligent, responsible management. Jim Webb, in addition to being the Democrats' most powerful voice on military and veterans' affairs, is the senate's greatest champion of economic fairness: the Democratic assertion that a nation must value the health of its economy not at the apex, but at the base. And Barack Obama is rapidly rising as the personification of an organized, bottom-up progressivism that engages regular citizens to participate in the solutions to the greatest challenges facing the world. From climate change to economic collapse, from war to healthcare to genocide, Obama leads not by authoritarianism, but by an egalitarian, progressive inclusion that unleashes the best talents of all Americans in a common cause for the Common Good.
In light of these shining examples, where is Tim Kaine? In what way has Tim Kaine embodied progressive ideals? In what way has Tim Kaine lead or stood up for the critical issues of the day? Where has Tim Kaine emerged victorious and thus strengthened the Progressive movement, the Democratic party, and the Commonwealth? Long on plans and short on accomplishments, Kaine has consistently proven that he will not stand up for principle and will not listen to reason. When Kaine eviscerates progressive taxation, champions a massive new coal plant, or works against the commonsense underground solution to the Rail to Dulles project, he isn't just throwing the baby out with the bathwater, he's lingering by the window to set fire to the drapes.
Thus, this community and progressives everywhere must remain ever vigilant and never shirk the responsibility of demanding positive, pragmatic, progressive solutions to the daunting problems we face at the national and local level. We stand up for those leaders who embody the principles of responsible government, universal opportunity and leadership by example, but we never fail to question an office-holder who abandons the critical task of forging a brighter future.
In years to come, we will question the likes of Obama, Warner, and Webb on issues, but because they embody the best that Progressivism has to offer, we will always herald their leadership. But we must look at politicians like Tim Kaine only with deep regret; regret for what could have been if they had not cravenly failed to lead.
As essayist Frank Kilgore (no relation to Jerry) writes today:
Kaine could serve as a lesson for progressives to call out Obama early and often through liberal media and blog sources, to prevent their candidate from being "Kained" by corporate America and hemmed in by what they believe to be an uninspired political middle.
In sum, we won't, can't, get Kained again.
2. Tim Kaine: The governor of Virginia got support from an unlikely source earlier this week: Terry McAuliffe. McAuliffe, the campaign chairman -- and head cheerleader -- for Clinton's bid advocated for Kaine as the pick during a speech in Falls Church, Virginia earlier this week, according to a report from a local newspaper. There's little question that among the top five candidates, Kaine has the closest personal relationship to Obama. What is up for debate is how much influence that relationship will have on the Illinois Senator's choice. (Previous ranking: 2)
Terry McAuliffe?!? Ugh. Worst DNC chair ever.
He could have supported a more balanced decision - like the Republicans did - and counted half of the delegates. His support of the final decision was short sighted and harmful to both national and local elections. The word draconian comes to mind.
Everyone on the rules and bylaws committee will find out soon enough what their decision will ultimately cost the party both at the national and local level.
Hell! We've already picked up 3 in places like MISSISSIPPI... yeah MISSISSIPPI!
I predict not just a new DNC chairman after the election (that is a given), but a major shake-up of the Democratic primary process after the near-train wreck that Dean presided over.
And while I disagree with his stance on embryonic stem cells, its not as if he's changed his opinion in that regard - he stated up front that he was a faithful Catholic and as such did not believe in abortion, embryonic stem cell research, or the death penalty. He DID promise to uphold current laws, which he HAS done.
Now if you want to talk about the repeal of the estate tax or his dogged support of the Wise County coal plant, then I think we've got a conversation.
As far as the ongoing feud between Kaine and "RK"? I think it's time to either change the site's name or get over the feud with Kaine. While I don't agree with the many criticisms of Kaine on this site, I don't disrespect them either. If you genuinely believe that it's time to put some distance between you and Kaine, then do so.
If, on the other hand, you believe that Kaine's endorsement of Gerry Connolly was a marriage of convenience that only occurred after Kaine was shown inside polls that showed that Connolly was poised to crush Byrne (as I do), well then maybe you can put this behind you and move forward.
I preferred Byrne over Connolly myself, but the outcome of the primary was conclusive. I would be a hypocrite if I attacked the Clinton PUMAs but refused to accept the verdict of the Democratic voters of Virginia's 11th CD. As much as I wish it was not the case, Gerry Connolly won the nomination by a very large margin. I doubt that Kaine's late endorsement had anything to do with this margin of victory.
So, for the editors and contributors to this site, a stark choice remains: change the name of the site or end the feud with Tim Kaine. I respect the folks who run this site and I suspect they know what I'm talking about. A choice must be made so that we can all move forward.
I don't mean to prejudge the result. Maybe it won't be possible to forgive Tim Kaine. Maybe it is time to rename the site. All I know is that it is untenable to attack Tim Kaine on a site that is named in his honor.
It is time to move on, either way.
Respectfully,
--J.C. ("True Blue")
Calling it "RK" seems a good compromise between history and the negative position that many in this site have for Tim Kaine.
Maybe we have forgotten a couple of things. First, we still live in a predominantly conservative state. For Tim Kaine to be able to successfully carry a progressive agenda, he must have enough people in the state senate, assembly, and a base of militant activism to be able to make the changes that he needs.
Second, Tim Kain, unlike Warner, is living through a shrinking budget. This changes a lot of things, especially since we Americans have been brain washed since Reagan that we can have services without having to pay for them.
Kaine has had a hard time, but he has really been dealing with a republican party in mutual-assure-destruction-civil war and the democrats have been scared of their own shadow with precious few leaders among them (Brian Moran perhaps one of the few progressive stand-outs?)
In any event, Kaine has made some unfortunate choices, but overall he is far and away better than anything that has run statewide under the republican banner in 20 years.
Kaine isn't the first democratic Gov to have a comfortable relationship with VA businesses - in fact, they all have. When Mark Early won the republican nomination for Gov, many business interests swarmed to Mark Warner.
Kaine's biggest problem, in my opinion, is that he is too desperate to reach a compromise in situations where no reasonable compromise is possible. Sometimes you just have to stand up for what you believe, accept that you won't accomplish what you want today, and vow to return and fight another day. And yes, he showed some of these same traits as Richmond mayor.
Take-away from this is that some positions are simply not negotiable in what passes for normal politics. Barack Obama would do well to consider that fact, given his obvious conviction that there is always common ground somewhere, no matter how small, on which to build a consensus and get things done.
Personally, unless Obama's election (no matter how big or small his margin) is accompanied by an overwhelmingly Democratic Congress, we will see the exact same thing as Kaine has faced, but on a national level because I guarantee most Republicans will never in their hearts concede they lost the election. I also do hope, however, that we will indeed find tiny bits of common ground with national Republicans, but that it will be a different plot of common ground on every different issue, and those Republicans occupying that ground will also be different from issue to issue (that is, not always the same people will join the Democrats on every issue). A new version of slicing salami will arise, only this time it will be the Democrats doing the slicing--- if the average Democratic politician has the wit to go along with the new President.