"He emphasized he’s no political forecaster. But based on what he’s been told by other Republican analysts, he said, if conventional expectations are borne out, the Republicans could lose three to six governorships — after failing to pick up either Virginia or New Jersey last month."

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=256657&Category=23

The Crystal Ball would like to give special thanks to the Wu-Tang Clan--one of the most influential rap groups of the 1990s, and our personal favorite--for inspiring the theme for this email. Of course, Protect Ya Neck, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), The RZA and The GZA are all the copyrighted products of the Wu-Tang Clan, referenced here solely in tribute.

When a leader sets his team a goal and gives them responsibility to take care of the problem, that's called giving your people stewardship over the issue.

It's something good leaders do.

Now, that I've spent all this time talking with you, Dorsett, I really do feel dumber.

If all leaders used your reasoning, 99.99% of the workforce would sleep all day, and the boss would run around like crazy trying to do EVERYTHING.

Leaders set direction, show the way and then get out of the way so people can exercise their expertise.

g'nite, Dorsett, it's been the opposite of enlightening.

and by the way... happy birthday Jerry Kilgore.

I'm guessing that's a flat-out lie and is proof that the Kainiacs here are growing more and more desperate.

If I'm wrong, show me.

Yes.  I said "lie."

Prove me wrong.

ahem...

GOP Opposes Kilgore Transpo Plan
WCYB-TV NBC 5, Bristol, VA , July 24, 2005

Five influential Virginia state senators disagree with fellow republican Jerry Kilgore?s proposal to make transportation a line item in the budget. The senators, all members of the powerful finance committee, issued a statement discouraging the gubernatorial candidate?s proposal. One of the senators says it would be unwise to have transportation compete for funds with other services like education and health care. Transportation is currently funded by gas taxes, which are kept in a separate fund.

for more proof you may want to contact
WCYB-TV NBC 5, Bristol, VA.

this one really steamed you up.  Sounds like it steamed up a bunch of other republican state senators and Kilgore may have caved.

Anyway, as I said, it was a great Idea when he came up with it.  Pure Genius!

Ranks up there with Dave Albo's suggestion about letting child molesters off with a fine.

"There may be a connection we are not aware of" between Jerry Kilgore's birthday and the election fraud indictments being handed down in Gate City.  We've gotta check it out!

What the article on transportation was saying was Kilgore wants to add a line item for transportation.  Both candidates support keeping the Transportation Trust Fund, and "locking it up" so it can't be spent elsewhere. 

Kilgore wants to spend in addition to that locked up transportation fund, dollars from your taxes that go into the general fund.  If transportation was added, what those GOP Senators are saying is it would be competing for additional dollars with the current dollars for education and health care which don't have their own "trust funds".

I hope that explains it.  Let's make sure to have our facts correct when attacking the Republicans.  The fact is overall, Tim Kaine's transportation plan does better things for Virginia over the long run. 

Given that most local Republicans seem to be in this for McDonnell but either hate or are cold to Kilgore, it's not surprising to see them going through the motions.  But I can't even count the number of Republicans around here I've spoken to who are very disappointed with Kilgore.  I've even met former employees of his which say that he was a terrible laywer and a do-nothing boss as AG, mainly issuing press releases on things his job had nothing to do with, and then not doing much else himself otherwise.  Not to mention that he quit way early simply because he was losing out to Kaine on fundraising.  The guy is simply riding a silver spoon and hometown corruption, and few Republicans are all that jazzed to see it.

. . . he has failed to show effective leadership in his past attempts to battle gangs with coordinated efforts between different levels of government . . .

Kilgore Anti-Gang Task Force Failed to Coordinate Efforts, Created Redundancy. Jerry Kilgore said his anti-gang task force, announced in May 2003, would ?work with law enforcement officials in Northern Virginia and elsewhere.? But a year later, Kilgore?s group and other anti-gang initiatives came under fire for duplicating efforts and failing to add more frontline detectives to help investigate and stop gang activity ? ?what gang detectives say they need the most from their elected leaders.? ?Given the dimensions of the problem,? the Washington Post wrote, ?state, local and District officials cannot afford to waste money and time tripping over each other?s redundant efforts to get a grip on gangs.? [Washington Post, 5/29/03 and 8/2/04; Washington Post editorial, 8/24/04]

Kilgore's claim is that he's the greatest thing since sliced bread when it comes to combatting gangs. It just ain't so.

As an aside:  I'm curious how you feel about changing metrics when it comes to the Bush Administration's claim of reducing emissions, when all they did was delist some greenhouse gasses.  Hey, there's lies, damed lies, and statistics. 

Meanwhile, Jerry Kilgore still can't claim to have been "on the forefront" of fighting gang violence.  He has no record, whereas Tim Kaine does have a very successful record of reducing gun violence thanks to the universally praised Project Exile which he lead in Richmond.

Tim Kaine Cut Richmond?s Violent Crime Rate in Half. During Tim Kaine?s tenure on Richmond?s City Council, the violent crime rate fell by 45 percent and the homicide rate fell from nearly 72 killings per 100,000 population ? the second-highest in the nation ? to 35 per 100,000 population, a 55 percent drop. [Roanoke Times, 10/14/01; Office of Justice Programs Annual Report, Fiscal Year 1996, www.ojp.usdoj.gov; Daily Press, 1/20/02]

Bottom line: 
Jerry Kilgore - empty talk.
Tim Kaine - results.

Or you can play "Ring Around the Rosie," the result of which is that the state's budget, education, health care, and environment "all fall down." 

Then there's always "Red Rover," where we keep sending people over to your side, trying to break through the wall of obfuscation and evasion known as the Kilgore campaign.  Unfortunately, something tells me we'll never break through, so we'd better change the rules because there's no way we're joining your team.  Sorry! 

Anyway, you get the idea...it's birthday party time, so stop Freeping and have some fun!

Five influential Virginia state senators disagree with fellow republican Jerry Kilgore?s proposal to make transportation a line item in the budget. The senators, all members of the powerful finance committee, issued a statement discouraging the gubernatorial candidate?s proposal. One of the senators says it would be unwise to have transportation compete for funds with other services like education and health care. Transportation is currently funded by gas taxes, which are kept in a separate fund.

-----------
I guess you're thinking of maybe a new proposal from Mr. Kilgore.  He changes positions so fast it's really hard to keep up.

Kilgore has proposed protecting it:
http://www.jerrykilgore.com/contents/issues/transportation.shtml

And before you talk about using General Fund revenues for transportation, Kaine has proposed the same thing by proposing to use insurance tax premium revenues for transportation (general fund $).

I feel dumber-er already.

Gang Activity Jumped 220% on Kilgore?s Watch. The number of Virginia cities and counties reporting the presence of youth gangs went up 220 percent, from 10 to 32, while Jerry Kilgore served as Secretary of Public Safety between 1994 and 1996, according to a report jointly released by the Virginia State Crime Commission and the Virginia Commission on Youth. The number of gangs went up 160 percent, to 260, with 85 percent of street gangs engaging in violent crime and 80 percent using weapons including firearms. [?The Study of Youth Gangs in Virginia,? Report of the Virginia State Crime Commission and the Virginia Commission on Youth, House Document No. 30, 1/8/97; Richmond Times-Dispatch, 10/22/96; Newport News Daily Press, 6/23/98]

Looks like there was a similar exchange on Waldo's blog.  But while your point was made, it was never substanciated.

In fact, I can't find where it has been substanciated.  I do know that Tim Kaine helped reduce gun violence in Richmond by 50% when he was mayor there, and that NRA President Charlton Heston is quoted as saying that, "not many felons carry firearms in Richmond anymore."

Did gang violence go up under on Kilgore's watch?  It seems the statistics are murky.  You say it didn't, I'm willing to hear you out. 

I do know that gun violence declined rapidly in Richmond thanks to Tim Kaine, and that's a statistic that isn't murky.

"What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

When pressed by the NRA on his role in Project Exile, Kaine said:
"In implementing this program, we sat around city-council tables, and we told our city manager, beginning in 1994, your job is to reduce violent crime in this city by 30 percent by the year 2000. And we don't know how you're going to do it, but every month, you're going to come back with the crime stats, and you're going to show us what the crime stats are, and we're going to stay on you until you do it."

He didn't know how someone else was going to do it, but he was going to demand that someone else come up with a plan so he could later take credit for a program he didn't come up with.

Kaine continues:
"Project Exile arose out of us flagging that issue as public issue number one, and the discussions between our police chief, our prosecutor, our city manager and federal prosecutors. It was those conversations that brought Project Exile to the fore."

So, the program he now takes credit was created in meetings he admits he wasn't in. 

He realized that murders were a problem--I'll give him credit there--that was true leadership to realize that a lot of murders in your city probably weren't a good thing.  For him to take credit for a program he admits he had very little role in is a big stretch, though.

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Should all gun owners belong to a militia?

Tell me how it's a bad thing to champion a voluntary program to buy back illegal guns when it reduces gun violence by 50%. 

How does that infringe on gun owner's rights?

2.  It's called the separation of church and state.  We all bring our beliefs to the table in the political realm, but that doesn't mean that we represent the will of God. 

While the republican party has become the political arm of extremist christianity, I wouldn't expect you to understand.  It's in the first ammendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...

While Christ may inform my life, I know, and Tim Kaine knows that that doesn't mean I speak for God.  How many in the Republican leadership could honestly, honestly say the same?

3.  The death penalty just doesn't work.  Scientific studies have never shown that it is a deterrent to crime.  It costs $ 1.25M to put a convict to death, that's much more expensive life in prison.  Couldn't that money be better spent helping victim's families?  The courts are notoriously bad at determining authentic guilt: 68% of death penalty cases are flawed enough to require a retrial.  Worst, the death penalty is like a death lottery, of 22,000 murders each year there are 150 who get the death penalty, and it all depends on where the crime was committed, quality of legal council and politics. 

Is our system a system of justice or vengence?

When Tim Kaine said this:

"I generally don't believe that expansion of the death penalty is the way to fight crime," Kaine said, adding that his support for Project Exile, an award-winning program that targets gun crimes, makes him a "crime fighter." Washington Post , July 17, 2005

He was correct, but the law is the law.  We have the death penalty, and Tim Kaine, unlike Jerry Kilgore believes that no one is above the law. 

Meanwhile, how on earth can Jerry Kilgore claim that there was no deficit.  It was $6bn.  The entire DC-Area Metro system cost $2bn to make.  Maybe 3 DC area metro systems doesn't seem like a big deal to Jerry Kilgore, but that represents a lot of work a lot of jobs and a lot of money.  Kilgore's either stupid, lives in a fantasy land where up is down and wrong is right, or HE'S A LIAR.

Let me make it easy for you since I know all this decision making isn't easy.  He's a liar.

There used to be lies, damned lies, and statistics.  Now there are only lies.

1.  Al-qaeda IS working and Hispanic Street Gangs - LIE
2.  Tim Kaine supports gay adpotion - LIE
3.  There was no deficit - LIE

3 strikes and you're out.

-Tim Kaine supports gay adoption by individuals.
-Virginia's constitution prohibits a deficit.

A command of the facts would probably be a good thing before going on the attack.

Tim Kaine is pro life-LIE (as evident by his life time support for abortion on demand)

Time Kaine is supports the death pentalty-LIE (as evident by his lifetime opposition, and his refusal to retract a statement calling for a moratorium)

3 strikes HE'S out.

but wait there's more...what about the anti-tax conservative former mayor of richmond??

Now where to begin?

TIM KAINE ROCKS, First of all!!!

I have been a Kaine supporter for sometime, and today he showed yet another reason why! 

TIM KAINE IS A LEADER! 

Tim, if you are listening (reading):
THANK YOU for running!  You are the man!  Boy are we gonna have a Party in Williamsburg come January!

Thank you for a great write-up, Josh--and for making the effort to get there and report on the debate.

I think this is a real disaster for Kilgore.

What about the O&D trail, that'd have to die.  Who owns it?

Personally,I would have liked more from Tim on his traffic/transportation proposals, comments about results vs plan notwithstanding. Also, there is some concern by landowners that his proposals on land use vis a vis transportation planning might adversely impact private property rights, and I think that must be resolved. I guess you can only do so much in the time frame allowed. Jerry really bombed (unless you're so glamorized you can't think beyond his "Republican" label).

Yep, and he always have, always will!! :)

P.S. It's because he DOESN'T trust the people...or himself.

Tomorrow the watercooler chat will all be about Jerry's "That's a hypothetical question" debacle.

Sidle up to a cuppa joe and share the tale with a co-worker.

I just couln't get over how miserably horrible Kilgore came across in the debate, and couldn't wait to get it out there.

If every Virginian had seen this debate, Kilgore wouldn't get a single vote in Novemeber.

Under relentless questioning about what he would do if a new Supreme Court overturned its 1973 abortion decision, Kilgore answered only that he supported a ??a culture of life.'?

??But, Mr. Kilgore, it?s a simple question,'? debate moderator Tim Russert said, demanding a yes or no answer to whether he would outlaw abortion except for cases of rape, incest or the mother?s life.

Kilgore replied that the question was ??a hypothetical. You don?t know what any Supreme Court in the future is going to do.'?

??If the Virginia legislature passed a tax increase, would you veto it or sign it?'? Russert persisted.

??I would veto it,'? Kilgore answered.

??That?s a hypothetical question,'? the NBC ??Meet The Press'? host interjected, cutting Kilgore off as a crowd of about 500 business leaders and politicians _ most of them sympathetic to Kaine _ broke into laughter at Kilgore?s expense.- apparently from the AP, lifted from TK4G blog

This is HYSTERICAL!

I finally understand the Republican approach to budgets.  Thank you, Jerry, for clearing this up for me!

I once said I would never understand where republicans are coming from - I do now! 

So to bring this home... If I think I should get a raise this week, I can spend that money, let's say by writing checks.  Then if I do not get a raise all I have to do is tell the bank that I was counting on the money, and all is well?!?!?  Should the bank decide to pursue these funds through some form of legal action, I can submit a claim to my insurance company?!?!?  Then if my insurance company refuses to cover the claim I can sue them! 

Is this how it is done, Jerry?

I move for additional Weasels, yet again!

Jerry Kilgore doesn't want to pay his way and he's willing to lie about it.  He's willing to lie again and again.
Tim Kaine says what he means and means what he says.

In a car “D” is for “Drive”, It is not a coincidence that “Democrat” also starts with “D”. When you want to move forward you put it in Drive. Conversely, in the same car “R” is for “Reverse” and “Republican.”

This is awesome.

While we're talking initials, remember that Dubya is the middle initial of both, Mr. Bush, and Jerry W. Kilgore.

There you have it... food for thought.

This speech was marvelous! 

To this day one of the best speeches I have ever witnessed! 

It was the first time I saw Tim Kaine and I was totally captivated. 

I remember the passion in Tim’s voice and thinking - WOW this guy is amazing! 

Tim ruined me – I will never accept less!  Good thing I don’t have to!

Here’s my favorite part, I know there is a link, but this is good stuff: 
“We have to fight to keep moving forward. Key Republican leaders fought us every step of the way as we tried to forge a practical budget compromise. They advanced wacky ideas like massive borrowing, California-style referenda and threats to shut down your state government. Now, after fighting the budget, Jerry Kilgore even says that he wants to undo the very progress that we just made—progress in education, in public safety, in job creation. Well, I have a message for him and for any other official who wants to return to recklessness. I won’t let you roll back progress. The Democratic Party won’t let you roll back progress. You can look backward all you want, but we are looking ahead and moving Virginia forward.”

There was an analogy excluded from the transcript so it must have been off the cuff – which makes it that much better!  I am giving my account as it was over a year ago:  In a car “D” is for “Drive”, It is not a coincidence that “Democrat” also starts with “D”.  When you want to move forward you put it in Drive.  Conversely, in the same car “R” is for “Reverse” and “Republican.” 

Tim Kaine will definitely keep Virginia moving forward!

Again, great post, with the hubbub toward November it is terrific to remember great moments like this one.  Classic!

Thanks for putting it on here!

I think that a series of "Tim Kaine and Jerry W. Kilgore in their own words" commericals would be extremely effective.

Jerry W. Kilgore's performance in that debate was an affront to the intelligence of every man, woman, and child in the commonwealth.  He should be beaten around the neck and shoulders with it like a rubber chicken until he concedes the race. 

If I had an extra hundred grand hanging around I'd absoluely love to put them out there.  Mo Elethree!  You listening?!  Let Jerry W. Kilgore sink himself... throw him the lead lifepreserver his candidacy deserves.

You apparently don't know what a position is.  Do you actually believe that Jerry W. Kilgore has a real position on the issues? 

To lead many people, with conflicting interests you need to be able to set direction, listen, balance concerns and then take action.  Tim Kaine has proven time and again that he is capable of both consideration and courage. 

Jerry W. Kilgore has proven time and again that he is capable of neither.

Autocracy isn't the American way.  Working together is the American way.  It's what this nation is founded on.  Why do you hate America?

Btw, there's no better representative of French living than our own George W. Bush.  He takes enough vacations to make a Frenchman jealous.  Funny how when he's on vacation thousands of Americans pay the price with their lives.  9/11 New York, 8/29 New Orleans... Feeling safer?  At least Mr. Bush is nice and rested for his vigorous gauntlet of media spin control.

Jerry Dubya's got nothin' on his side except the politics of division, fear, and ignorance.  Virginians will stop those poltiics here and now.  If not forever, then at least time we can show that there is no profit in the Rove playbook.

However, does Jerry understand what it is to run a small business and manage people and finances?  The answer to that is no. 

When you run a business you have tough decisions to make.  You must make decisions not ask employees to vote on what should be done.  Sometimes you have to decide which bills get paid that week - Jerry can't handle that stuff!

Jerry is not a leader, he has no clue what it takes to run a small business.  He doesn't know what to do half the time.

I am glad you brought this up, Rat, as I stated Jerry lacks the leadership qualities to manage a business, therefore he has no business running state government! 

Never has, Never will!

Tim Kaine on the other hand, get's it.  Tim understands what it is to have employees who rely on you, and the stability of your business to support their families.  Tim Kaine knows that healthcare is necessary for employees, and it is expensive for employers to carry.  Tim has laid plans out to help businesses and families.  Tim Kaine get's it!

Jerry has no plans!

Rat:  Kilgore has a Sinking Ship - JUMP!  Leave the darkside, man!  It is not too late!

Take a quick look at their Legal Advisory Board.  Does this seem like a political cross-section to you? 

Jonathan H. Adler served as a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, "an ideologically-driven, well-funded front for corporations opposed to safety and environmental regulations that affect the way they do business." http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Competitive_Enterprise_Institute. 

James F. Blumstein was nominated by George HW Bush for a position with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs but was not confirmed. 

Cameron Findlay was a GWB appointee http://www.dol.gov/_sec/aboutosec/Findlay.htm.

Robert Gasaway has ties to the American
Enterprise Institute http://www.aei.org/events/eventID.781/event_detail.asp. 

C. Boyden Gray served as counsel to President George H.W. Bush from 1991 to 1993.

Sherman “Tiger” Joyce is a leader in the tort-reform (cut public defense attorneys off at the knees) movement.

Edwin L. Lewis made almost $400K http://swz.salary.com/execcomp/layouthtmls/excl_execreport_105818.html last year as general council for a company that makes x-ray devices.  Before that he was Legal Council for right-wing anti-environmetal, anti-tax group Atlantic Legal http://www.atlanticlegal.org/, which is supported by the ultra right-wing Scaife Foundation http://www.politicalamazon.com/scaifefoundations.html.

Theodore B. Olson argued Bush v. Gore before the Supreme Court and was rewared with the position of solicitor general of the United States from 2001 to 2004.

OF COURSE THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO ENDORSE KILGORE.  HE'S BEEN CARRYING WATER FOR THE NATIONAL GOP FOR DECADES.  SHEESH!

Isn't this the definition of Cronyism?