The question is whether the number of potential Kaine voters turned off by joint Kaine/Moran appearances is just a few people grousing on the internet, or is it potentially in the thousands?

We know that Kerry ran 17,539 ahead of Moran in the 8th. It wasn't because Kerry was such a great candidate. It was because huge numbers of 8th District Dems have lost all respect for Jim Moran.

Is it really in Kaine's interest to say, well, Moran got 58.5 percent in the Dem primary in 04 so the other 41.5 won't care how tight I appear with Moran? What if they do care? Then what?

Is anyone in the Kaine campaign even thinking about this issue? 17,539 Kerry voters could make the difference in this election. Kaine should be doing everything he can to appeal to us. Instead he appears with the man we disrespect, Jim Moran.

What I wrote is constructive criticism. It is fine to be excited about Tim's chances, but remember us 17.539 who voted for Kerry but not Moran, and think about minimizing the loss of such voters to Potts.

I heard Russ Potts is a gentrifier. He works in tandum with Pastor John and Jim Moran.

"Moran continued that if Jerry Kilgore wins, we will be turning the state over to people who are all about 'selfishness and greed.' "

Lowell, do you understand the irony in what you wrote?

Lowell's absolutely right. Even if you don't like someone, you need to be able to rise above  it and be able to admit when they have done a good job. Jim's speech writer did a good job, Jim did a good job, the entire event was awesome, and, Obama was there. I mean, what else could anyone ask for? Let's not, dare I say, move backward on this, and try and move forward, kay?

The event with Barack Obama was great.  Also, I saw Kaine in person for the first time and came away highly impressed.  It makes me wonder  even more about his campaign, but that is another story.

I supported Moran in '02 and '04, but have my doubts at this point.  I am not, however, obsessed with defeating Jim Moran.  I think there are foreign policy issues he needs to get a grip on so he can stop saying stupid stuff.

What am I thinking about you ask?  Moran's exchange with Ray McGovern at the Conyers hearing on the Downing Street Memo raises questions in my mind about his real views on why we went to war in Iraq.  I am concerned that Moran is not trustworthy.  I am also concerned that he is not well informed about the Middle East.  Other people have concerns about CAFTA and domestic issues.

I think the number of people who would be concerned by not seeing Congressman Moran appearing with Kaine would outnumber the percentage of the 17,000 who were truly bothered that he was there. 

Not to mention the anti-Moran people would simply be complaining not only about the problems they have with Moran in general, but also about how he isn't appearing in favor of the Democratic ticket that is trying to take back Virginia.  It's a double edged sword.

I think too much stock is being put in the 17,000 people who didn't vote for Moran.  If they are all intense bloggers who follow politics daily, and continue to be against Moran (something I highly doubt) then you may have an argument.  My guess is that the majority of the 17,000 people are not as affected by this as you may think, and will probably vote for Tim Kaine (provided they remember there is an election going on in the first place) regardless. 

Feelings aside, this is an election that is going to be won with unity.  I believe it was actually Jim Moran himself who said at a rally a couple weeks ago that Republicans were going to target Virginia this year, and while some of his comments may be a little off beat sometimes, I would have to agree with him on this.  Rather than getting all worked up over who Jim Moran is appearing with we should be happy that so many of our elected officials are doing their part to build as much support for the candidates who are up for election (which Moran isn't) as they can.  For at least three months, I hope that Virginia democrats can unite to ensure that the TLC ticket, and the HoD candidates who are locked in tough elections can celebrate in November.  The petty arguing is not going to get us anywhere.  After all is said and done on November 9th, I promise I won't complain if we all go back to lashing out at our respective target elected officials. 

Oh, and the event sounds like it was amazing.  I envy everyone who went and envy even more those of you who were able to meet him. 

Jim Moran is a space alien.  He's come down to give us all anal probes.  Why can't you see this?  Tim Kaine is a Moranocrat and you're all in on it!  WHY CAN'T YOU PEOPLE UNDERSTAND?

Mark Warner got 108,602 votes in the 8th district in 2001.

Jim Moran got 171,986.

So to answer Jonathan's question, it helps Kaine more than it hurts him.  Clearly they see Moran's 63,000 federal voters as the key to victory in November, much more than the 2,000 Kerry/Cheney voters like Jon. 

Not an answer. Do you assume that the 17,539 people are not bothered by Tim Kaine appearing with Jim Moran? What if half of them are bothered? Then what?

Maybe you would rather not know the answer to the question of whether Moran's appearances with Tim Kaine hurt Tim Kaine more than it helps him.

Here is another question. Is Tim Kaine running to win, or is he running in order to show due deference to Jim Moran? If Tim Kaine is running to win then a reasonable question to ask is whether Tim Kaine's appearances with Moran hurt Kaine more than they help Kaine.

If, on the other hand, Tim Kaine is running in order to show due deference to Jim Moran then it doesn't really matter if such joint appearances hurt Kaine or help him. All that matters in that case is that Tim Kaine show his respect for Moran by appearing with him because it would be rude not to.

Do Tim Kaine's appearances with Moran hurt Kaine more than they help him? A reasonable question. Do you have a reasonable answer?

No one wants to answer this question. I think Jim Moran's supporters are afraid to answer.

"He never asked, he was taught not to ask." The Association, "Requiem For The Masses," 1967.

Jon, you don't own those 17,000 people.  Stop pretending they had a meeting and elected you spokesman.  I'm glad America's Congressman is appearing with Tim Kaine.

I never said that I would not vote for Kaine. My current intent is to vote for him. I even gave him a little money. Did you?

The Democratic Party in Virginia has become a place where if you ask too many questions then you are disloyal. It is a fact that Kerry ran 17,539 votes ahead of Moran in the 8th.

A reasonable person would ask the question of what Tim Kaine is doing to ensure that as many of those 17,539 Democrats who dislike Moran as possible vote for Kaine instead of Potts.

But in the unthinking environment that starts with Moran, works its way down to Edna Frady and Sue Kellom, and emerges even on this blog, if you ask reasonable, relevant  questions about Moran then you are disloyal. A loyal Democratic voter supposedly won't ask these questions.

My question was reasonable. "Whatever" is not a response. Do you have a response?

Or would you rather simply scratch your head in bewilderment if Kaine loses? Then you can simply blame the Republicans and the ignorant voters, and still not ask the questions about Moran that others ask.

"He never asked, he was taught not to ask." The Association, Requiem For The Masses, 1966

 

Whatever. You guys are hopeless. There isn't anything we could say to you that would bring you back. What's Kaine going to do? Not appear with the Congressman from NOVA?