RK ARCHIVE - Jerry Kilgore: Top Dog Deadbeat

Jerry Kilgore resigned the position on February 1 in order to pursue his party's nomination for Governor.

Three years ago, Jerry Kilgore made a promise to Virginians to uphold the law and to increase safety for the common good. In February, he lamely broke that promise simpy in order to raise cash.

Tim Kaine for Governor Communications Director Mo Elleithee had this to say at the time:

Unfortunately, Jerry Kilgore's February 2005 resignation wasn't the first time he's shirked his civic responsibility in order to seek a bigger prize for himself. In 1996, Kilgore stepped down from his position as Secretary of Public Safety to pursue a primary nomination for Attorney General. He lost.

The point here is that irresponsibility is a recurring theme with Jerry Kilgore. If elected as Governor, this irresponsibility would surely continue. For instance, it is highly likely that Kilgore would abdicate his responsibility to make decisions on taxation, instead opting for a statewide referrendum and leaving the decision to "the people" he supposedly trusts. The thing is, if Kilgore's just going to let "the people" make all tough decisions, why elect him in the first place?

When Jerry Kilgore resigned his position as Attorney General, Elleithee said "That?s not leadership. That?s just pathetic.? You said it, Mo. Whether abandoning his responsibilities while in office or walking away from a job after pledging to see it through, we know what we could expect from Jerry Kilgore if he's elected governor: a top dog deadbeat.

Comments

Insofar as it goes, (Teddy - 4/4/2006 11:27:47 PM)

Insofar as it goes, the Kilgore proposal to run refernda on tax and major policy decisions is one of the loopiest ideas he's come up with. Not only would each statewide referendum cost the Virginia taxpayers millions to run, but, far from returning decisions to "the people," it would open up the elections to the cacophony of in-depth advertising campaigns by deep-pocket special interests with an ax to grind. That's exactly what has happened in California, Queen State of Referenda. Can't you just see the mind-numbing blitz of advertising, phone banking, etc, all paid for by the Society for Growth or Pat Robertson's university, etc? What a bonanza for the ad moguls, and what a bore for the rest of us.

Dorsett: Jerry Kilg (Josh - 4/4/2006 11:27:47 PM)

Dorsett: Jerry Kilgore is a Deadbeat. I said it, I meant it, I stand by it.

1. On two separate occasions he left elected positions to seek others. He bailed on his responsibility: Deadbeat.

2. He doesn't want to make his own decisions on taxation but would rather open things up to for statewide referrendum. He doesn't want to do the job he'd be elected to if we put him there: Deadbeat.

3. He claims that he's tough on gangs, but gang activity has gone up 220% in the time he's been Attorney General. He's let down the public and failed to uphold his responsibility: Deadbeat.

4. His tax assessment plan will cut revenues to local governments. He wants to shirk his responsibility to fund localities: Deadbeat.

5. That same plan could force local governments to raise local real estate taxes. It's a backdoor tax hike. He'll raise taxes without taking responsibility for it: Deadbeat.

6. Kilgore says he doesn't know if he needs to build a southside university, then says he will build it. What's he gonna do? People can't depend on his decisions, let alone his leadership: Deadbeat.

7. Kilgore fought against the Warner-Kaine tax reform, saying it would cut thousands of jobs and ruin the economy. Instead, tax reform has spurred growth, created thousands of jobs and earned Virginia a reputation as the best managed state in the nation. People can't trust Kilgore drops the ball when it comes to economic stewardship: Deadbeat.

Call it what you want Dorsett. It's just plain bad politics, Dorsett. Kilgores's got no executive experience, Dorsett. Kilgore can't win on his own credentials, Dorsett. Kilgore has to divide Virginians in order to make his case, Dorsett. Kilgore can't be trusted, Dorsett. Kilgore's wrong, untrustworthy and irresponsible, Dorsett. And I'll say it one more time, Dorsett. Elected Governor, Dorsett, Kilgore would be a Top Dog Deadbeat.

Lowell, my apologies (Vineyard - 4/4/2006 11:27:47 PM)

Lowell, my apologies for attributing to you the ownership of that post. Sorry. But on a serious note, your point about when Earley stepped down is proof positive of what I was saying. Who was Governor when Early ran for Gov? A Republican. Thus he could wait to step down as the Governor got to name his replacement. Same thing with Gilmore when he ran, he could wait a little longer as Allen was Governor, and the party would select the successor. In Kilgore's case the Governor is Mark Warner, a Democrat. So Kilgore had to resign his post while the General Assembly was in session in order for Republicans to select who would fill a Republican-vacated office. If Kilgore had waited until the summer Mark Warner would have been able to put in a Democrat as it would have been his call. YOu don't want your position, to which you were elected, going to the other party, so time of resignation is dictated by holder of the Executive Mansion. That's how its always been done.

Dorsett: A few issu (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:27:47 PM)

Dorsett: A few issues here. First, I didn't write this post, Josh did, so I'm not sure why you're addressing me. Second, I've lived in Virginia for over 20 years, not that this should matter one iota, except in Republican "ad homimem attack" world. Third, I personally would not have had a problem with Kilgore staying as Attorney General, just as Tim Kaine has remained as Lt. Governor. Finally, I did a bit of research and the situation's more complex than you suggest, with different Attorneys General resigning at different times to run for Governor. Mark Earley, for instance, resigned on June 4, 2001 -- 6 months later than Jerry Kilgore.

Was this the same Mo (Vineyard - 4/4/2006 11:27:47 PM)

Was this the same Mo who in 2001, working for Mark Warner, raised a fuss with similar language because Mark Early WOULD NOT step down at an earlier date than he ultimately did? Yes, it is!

In 2001 the talking point was Early should have stepped down sooner than he did, because he couldn't campaign and run the AG's office at the same time. It's called politics. And the fact is Lowell, if Kilgore hadn't resigned you'd have a breathless piece calling for his resignation immediately. Yes, Lowell, you are that transparent.

The fact is Lowell, every AG steps down to run for Governor, the timing is dependent on who is Gov at the time. I don't know if you've lived here for a while or not, but if you haven't I will give you the benefit of the doubt and just pretend you don't know bettter. In Virginia the Attorney General steps down to run for Governor, that is how it goes. Its called Tradition. Welcome to the Old Dominion.