Tomorrow (Thursday) at 2 PM, Del. Dave Marsden will be liveblogging here at Raising Kaine. Below is his writeup. Please feel free to leave your questions for Del. Marsden. Thanks.
This year, the Democrats must take back one, if not both, houses of the Congress. Almost six years of single party rule in Washington has left us with a mess. There+óGé¼Gäós an old question that Ronald Reagan famously asked in 1980 "are you better off today than you were six years ago?" For a sizeable majority of Virginians, the answer is "No." Whether it+óGé¼Gäós soaring deficits, static real wages, our health care crisis, or the ever growing number of international hotspots, the United States is much worse off after George Allen+óGé¼Gäós six years on Capitol Hill. For us to regain control of our country, we need Jim Webb in the United States Senate. Jim Webb is man who asks the tough questions, always has. He is an advocate for what is right, not what+óGé¼Gäós politically expedient.The lock-step, never look back, never change your mind policies of Republican politicians like George Allen may have served us adequately when our only concern was the Soviet Union. But in a world where there are multiple foreign policy dilemmas and the usual array of domestic needs the job of Senator requires greater thoughtfulness and flexibility than I+óGé¼Gäóve ever observed from the current junior Senator from Virginia.
I become concerned when Republican politicians win elective office based on dramatic policy changes that while having their benefits, fail to account for their long-term costs. In my experience, these same Republicans aren+óGé¼Gäót too concerned about who will eventually have to cope with those costs and what their impact may be on future generations. The costs are just vastly underestimated, or not identified at all. One prime example of this is the Bush tax cuts, the effects of which balloon out of control in the year 2011 if made permanent. Part of this mentality is that we celebrate when our federal deficit is only $296 billion! Where was George Allen when someone needed to stand up and question what the long-term impact of this policy would be? He was busy supporting the President, as he has done an astounding 97% of the time.As Governor, George Allen created policies for political expediency, but failed to provide a solution as to how they would be funded. Take his +ï+ôno parole+óGé¼Gäó program as an example. Look, crime is down in every state in this country over the past 10 years and everyone+óGé¼Gäós claiming different reasons. In Virginia it+óGé¼Gäós +ï+ôno parole," in other states it+óGé¼Gäós drug treatment and rehabilitation programs, but the point is his administration didn+óGé¼Gäót think through the costs of its response to crime. After a decade of declining crime, we+óGé¼Gäóre building two new prisons in Virginia, expanding two others and costing ourselves at least $75 million a year, every year into the foreseeable future, and we+óGé¼Gäóre planning for a third new prison.
Meanwhile, Virginia has acute transportation needs, water treatment facilities around the state are out of date and spewing sewage into our waterways and we just kicked 1,900 poor children out of the child care their parents need to lift themselves up from poverty. Within reason, no parole was a sound policy that I support, but fiscal responsibility means planning for costs, not passing them on for future governors to deal with.
Jim Webb will not be that kind of Senator. He had the courage to change party affiliation when it became clear to him that Republicans had become inflexible, ideological and unable to alter policy mistakes. Jim Webb is not a sound-bite politician; he speaks about what he knows and doesn+óGé¼Gäót try to say what+óGé¼Gäós politically convenient. When Jim Webb puts on his boots, it+óGé¼Gäós not because he wants to convince people he+óGé¼Gäós really a fighter - his record more than proves that. Jim Webb is a man of principle and his principles aren+óGé¼Gäót determined by the shifting political winds.
Trust me, both sides make mistakes. The question in these increasingly complicated times is who you want shaping the future of the country: people willing to question and reconsider policy or people who push blindly ahead with insufficient regard to the consequences of their actions. That+óGé¼Gäós why I support Jim Webb. We need thinkers and leaders in the US Senate, not individuals who blindly follow party or ideology.
My question: If you feel that strongly about the Bush agenda why were you not one of the 400,000+ Virginians who voted in our 2004 Presidential Primary to select Bush's potential replacement?
The Republicans seem to have found an ideology that appeals to their base more effectively than fiscal responsibility, international restraint and disinterest in people’s private lives. As a result, their base has changed some as well.
Yes, I do think they're at risk of splintering their party and I think we’ve seen evidence of that in the last two election cycles in Virginia. I think that independent and moderate voters in Virginia are drawn to a party that will responsibly invest in our future needs, ensure our future economic well-being and stay out of their private lives. I believe that because this is what the Democratic Party of Virginia stands for, we are poised to experience gains.
Do you have any idea who the Republicans are going to run in your district in 2007? and how confidant are you of a re-election.
What are you doing to help out Andy Hurst in the 11th, (of which the 41st HoD district is in), seeing as how you won by so much, the voters obviously respect your opinion, hopefully you can help out Andy.
I have contributed to Andy Hurst’s (and Jim Webb’s – have all of you? Do so here: https://secure.webbf...) campaign and have knocked on doors with Andy in my district (and will do so again). I have been knocking on doors myself to contact citizens and gain insight into the issues they find most important for Virginia and am talking up Andy (and Jim Webb for that matter) in that process as well.
Thanks for speaking out and supporting Jim Webb. We need a smart, deep-thinking straight-shooter like him in the Senate.
Governor Kaine’s positive, effective message for those areas and his recognition of their importance explain his success there. I think taking back the House will require two House election cycles, while we have a good chance of taking back the Senate in the next election. I think we are poised to make significant inroads in Prince William and Virginia Beach based on the voting records of incumbents in those areas.
Safe incumbents need to raise at least a half million for us to have a chance at picking up seats in 2007. Can we do that? How is it looking?
I’ve given generously to the Caucus already and I know that the money will be there for good challengers who do their part in fundraising and grassroots efforts.
As specifically as you can, please comment on the degree of partianship and your experiences with working across the aisle. For example are you/have you been working with some local area republican delegates on alternate plans dealing with transportation. Also, what are your feelings about the tone and opinions expressed by democratic leaders of the house and senate. Thanks in Advance
I’ve been studying the plan put forth by Albo/Rust/Callahan/McQuigg/Lingamfelter/May. I appreciate their efforts and there has been some dialogue. I expect and hope there’ll be more the closer we get to a special session.
My question is about the Hate, er Marshall/Newman, Amendment.
Do you think it will have the desired effect that the Republicans are shooting for? Namely that it will serve as a GOTV for conservatives much the way the same issue was used nationally in 2004.
Is there any chance it could backfire if Virginians really get to know the full text (and intent) of the amendment?
But I believe in capitalism and thats just my opinion.
Your "understanding" is dead wrong - RK is not being paid to blog for anyone. Never has, Never will.
Nice work if you can get it...
If I am wrong, I apologize. I suppose Lowell could clear that up or Josh either one.
I think, by the tone of yor reply, that you would find it distatsteful if they were indeed being paid to blog.
If Lowell and Josh work for the Webb campaign In Addition to keeping this thing going - good for them! It's not like Lowell has hidden his great news.
You're just sucking on sour grapes b/c you heart Allen.
1) I started Raising Kaine back in early January 2005, well before I had ever heard of Jim Webb. The goal was to help push Virginia "blue" and to help "blog Tim Kaine into the Governor's mansion."
2) I never received a penny from the Kaine for Governor campaign, or anyone else for that matter, for my efforts. Eventually, we set up a state PAC (run by Brian Patton) and received a few contributions (many of which came from RK contributors). We used that money to buy ads promoting Democratic candidates, particularly Tim Kaine, in last year's gubernatorial election.
3) Starting in November 2005, I becamse interested in a possible Jim Webb candidacy. In late December 2005, several of us - NONE paid a penny to do so, by the way - started a grassroots "Draft" effort for Webb. In the end, after hundreds of hours of work, plus 1,000 signatures and $40,000 in pledges from ordinary citizens, we helped convince Jim Webb that he would be welcome as a Democrat running for US Senate from Virginia.
4) From February 2006 through June 2006, neither Josh nor I received ONE PENNY from the Webb campaign, just as we received not ONE PENNY from the Kaine campaign last year. I know this is hard for uber-capitalists like yourself to believe, by the way, but we did this because - gasp - we BELIEVED in Jim Webb, NOT for money.
5) In March 2006, I quit my GS-15 ($110,000-per-year plus) government job to work full-time on the Webb effort, while STILL not making a penny to do so. Thanks to my wife for supporting me during that period.
6) Starting in July, Josh and I began working formally for the Webb for Senate campaign, me as "Netroots Coordinator." As such, I work about 70-80 hours per week (at least), while making...well, let's just say I took a rather large (75%-80% or so) pay cut compared to my GS-15 government job. Frankly, I would do this for no money, because I believe so strongly in Jim Webb, but I DO have to pull my weight with the "Mrs." and help pay the mortgage, ya know?
7) Josh and I are totally NOT trying to hide anything here. We have supported Jim Webb since December 2005, and continue to strongly do so. We are proud to work for Jim "American Hero" Webb, whether paid or unpaid. We have disliked George "American Zero" Allen and his policies for many years, well before Raising Kaine or Jim Webb came into our lives...
8) For those who don't know our political history, we fully disclose the fact that we are now working for the Webb campaign. No secrets at all. Why would we keep secrets; we've got nothing to hide.
9) We reveal all this DESPITE the fact that we are under NO OBLIGATION to do so. There are no laws about this, and there's no "blogger code of ethics" (that idea was shot down at the blogger's summit in C-ville last year; I supported it, by the way). We do this simply because we want there to be NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER in the minds of our readers. Unfortunately, there will always be a few people like you who simply cannot believe our motives are honest ones. Can we say "projection?" Paging Dr. Freud, paging Dr. Freud.
10) Honestly, I don't care one bit about what you say, because frankly you HAVE nothing to say that's of any interest. You can't even make a coherent conservative argument, which simply boggles my mind. My God, man, at least make your conservative case, if there IS one! The only reason I'm responding to your latest inanity is to clarify for other readers who might be interested.
-Dave