Most People can't deal with right-wing radicals because to simply put their agenda in terms, they try to dictate life with their "march to the king beat" and it has nothing to do with being conservertive, I can't even put a name on it, but it's like agree with the King's every gesture and thought or idea or be ex-comunicated from the King's Club. I want a say in Government and my life and how my taxes deducted from paycheck are spent. I want a State Referendum by Popular vote on hot shock taboo issues such as Gay Marriage or Gun Control. I want the citizens opinion on issues not just in the feedback section of the newspaper but at the voting boothes. I want to improve voting with reciepts like a AMT machine. I want a voter control pin number, so I can vote online. I want Citizen Democracy, I scream for Citizen Democracy, I demand Citizen Democracy, no election should be bought by the highest bidder. I want Virginia to be the first state to issue voter control pin numbers to vote on-line. I want Janet Reno as our next Supreme Court Justice. 

Lowell, I'm mad about this. 

What about my ego? 

Other people think I am NLS!!!!!!!!

Obviously you don't think it could be me.  :(  At least include something like "other than the oversized ego, NLS could certainly be Ben".

haha

To add a bit more levity to this discussion,  I might add that it's not like there were no homosexuals back in the day. ;) Let's see, we've got:

James Buchanan (who was thought to be in a relationship with his VP)

Abe Lincoln was thought to be bi-sexual from some letters sent back and forth b/t an old roommate and himself.

Eleanor Roosevelt was supposedy carrrying on an affair with a female associated press reporter

Now, who's lived in Washington too long? *points at self*

I went to the Kilgore Campaign Desk and told them I don't believe in Gay Marriage but do believe in a woman rights to choose abortion to her own body but don't believe in Corporation Welfare, can I still vote for Kilgore, the lady said she would have to check with the Corporate Welfare Lobby and The Moral Committee, she came back and said, NO, I'm sorry it's a package deal. I then went over to the Kaine Campaign Desk and before I could hardly speak, the Lady at the desk pointed to a sign that said, Tim Kaine don't dictate Moral Issues, Please discuss these issues with your Religious Clergy. I then asked about how my tax revenus are going to be spent, and the lady gave me detailed plan. The Democrat Party is open to All Americans regardless of private beliefs on moral issues, we talk only money and how that money will be spent, to be honest we don't time for moral issues, We are very busy. PLease Visit your Religious Clergy for Moral Issues. 

Pastor John, I think the founding fathers took government a bit more serious than today's politicians who ponder life's deep thoughts of Gays and Lesbians lifestyle and abortion while US Soldiers are being killed everyday overseas away from their homeland and Country. The Founding Fathers always claimed that they were only a proxy for the citizens opinions and ideals. THe founding Fathers believed in separation of Church and State because The Religious Body was as big as Government itself at the time. Pastor John without immigrants America would be a Third World Country living in the stoneage. Immigrants built America and everthing in America from electricity to the Atomic Bomb to modern medicine. Paster John small minds are a easy vote for the Republican Candidates who set their fishing lines with a light drag and bait their campaign hooks with taboo shock bait of moral issues only to feel small minds nibble at the bait and it's jerk and reel and it's another sucker fish in the Republican Cooler. Remember Pastor John, the republican package deal for your vote is like a new car package deal meaning it can't be busted-up,Endorsing Republican Moral Issues also endorses Corporation Welfare with your taxes, it's a packaged deal and you can't separate the package. Come on over to the Democrat side of the fence Pastor John, we give you the citizen the right and freedom to seperate Church Moral Issues from Financial Issues of spending your tax revenues. Ours is not a package deal, Your Moral Beliefs is your Constituional right and not our government business, Spending Tax revenues deducted from your check is our business and your business. 

the founding fathers would not recognize america today with it's homosexuals, freemasons, kleptomaniacs, and especially the large number of immigrants. the founding fathers loathed immigration and the first flag betsy ross designed actually had a picture of a decapitated portaguese man.

"Duncan is a level-3 sex offender from two states. He was released from prison in 1994 after serving 14 years for the rape of a 14-year-old Tacoma, Wash., boy in 1980. Level 3 means authorities believe he is likely to re-offend."

That quote is from another news source, but it outrages me...why in the h*ll would authorities release someone who they believed likely to reoffend?

Isn't part of the law's responsibility to be certain that someone is safe before releasing them back into society?

A known sex offender moved back into the last neighborhood I lived in. He liked little boys. I don't have children, but how do you think the mother of a four year old son felt about him moving next door to her family? What, are people supposed to just pick up and move when one of these pieces of sh*t move in?

Also, a known sex offender lived in my neighborhood when I was a girl. Everyone said, "He's crazy." But you know what? He'd pull up along side the curb where you were walking and say "Hey, baby...you 18 yet?" That's not crazy. Crazy people don't know the law. That guy was a sick bastard who knew EXACTLY what he was doing.

And this Duncan guy knew exactly what he was doing to. Over and over again.

I am not for capital punishment, but it would be interesting to make an example out of one of these "individuals" and see how erotic child molestation seems to sex offenders afterward...

Blog entries can be seen from 2004 up to may of 2005- just three days before the tragic ordeal started. Just look at www.fifthnail.blogspot.com. Although his actual web site with mission statement is down, Way Back Web Archive can still take you there.
As to if anyone was reading it BEFORE American learned who this was. Amazing yes there where some. He in fact had a small gathering of fans and friends that read it. Sick eww?
Been blogging myself on this animal (www.lostinlimaohio.blogspot.com)- and to save everyone the time of reading his bull... it's him defending himself for being him. Justifing his horrifing behavior and blaming the justice system. He compares himself to Jews, African Americans, and others. Due to what he calls "sanctioned discrimination".
Sorry sex offenders should have a one way ticket to hell... and with the help of the state should get there fast.

Death it should be no other way if he is guilty.Imagine it happening to your family members.

This type of ppl don't deserve to live as he still can blog about it.

i am a survivor of sexual child abuse. i understand the victim and what motivates the abuser. help the victim as soon as possible so they may not themselves become the abuser.

that said, no matter what this man suffered as a child, or an adult, does not excuse his acts. he's blamed everyone but himself. if he is found guilty of the murders and any sexual abuse he should die...period. we can blame people, society, parents, abusers, economy, the war, the weather, even god, but that is all crap. *we* are responsible for our own actions, we are the ones who have the power over ourselves and make the final call. it is *his* fault, no one else's, and he should burn for it.

i have empathy for all people, but as a survivor of abuse, i say remove him from this earth and let god sort it out. if he is guilty, i'd gladly kill him myself.

Since you've already decided that this guy is guilty, it appears that there's no purpose in having a trial.

People often Wonder, How would the Democrats manage the Global War on Terror? The Democrats will manage the Global War on Terror the same as they will manage the Palestine-Israeli Conflict and this is a managed organization first and second Internationalize both with an Organized Hedquarters and Websites on Progress and honesty. The Saudi Arabia Government Government invited the World to organize an International Terror Tracking Center under INTERPOL, so the average citizen could go to the Terror Tracking Center and website and monitor the War by each each corner of the Globe and view that countries most wanted list in that corner and also our global success on breaking up the terror gangs worldwide. THe Bush Cabinet said, they would keep the citizens informed through pep talks and propaganda media without other countries inputs. More isolation from the Bush Cabinet in a State Controlled Media Forum. There was a chance when President Putin of Russia said the Palestine-Israeli Conflict should be Internationalized but again the Bush Cabinet ignored this chance and stuck to it's isolation policy once again. Folks we have need to cut the Republican isolation Policy overseas and reverse Iraqi Business Policy and open Oil Markets in Iraq to include Russia and China Companies to bring and end to the conflict because sooner or later the Russian and China diplomats will offer the Iraqi government a sweetheart deal that could put pressure on Syria and Iran to end the conflict, something Dick Cheney and his Oil Contract Isolation Policy of Prolonging the War cannot do. 

Yes, this article is on point and I hope Portland can serve as a great example to the east coast and to the nation as a whole.

Dan Kachur,
>Death is the easy way out for Duncan. Much
>worse would be making license plates for
>the rest of his life knowing he will never
>get out.

Evidently you never saw Richard Speck's prison video?
http://www.mayhem.net/Crime/speck.html

You are certainly jumping to a lot of conclusions. Why not wait to convict him until we know the story?
This is a highly intelligent man with outstanding academic acheivements. He could have been saved and become an asset to any community. Just think what mental health care could have done for him and others like him.
We are seeing the backlash of registration. As these offenders are pushed further from society they sometimes become dangerous. By continuing to make these laws harsher we are creating monsters.
There are more than 500,000 registered sex offenders who are being made to pay for crimes they had nothing to do with.
By now everyone in this country should clearly see that registration prevents nothing. The entire thing could be brought down if all offenders just refused to register and our nation would be better off without it. Sure, some would go to prison but there is an increasing number of those who are deciding it is worth it. How much blood must run before our American citizrns see that we are on the wrong track? The power to punish is not something that ordinary citizens should have. It takes a much bigger person to forgive and lend a helping hand and fix those minds that need repair. I look forward to the return of common sense.
No, I am not a sex offender. I am a victim of sexual abuse. Do not try to use me, and thousands of others like me, to justify your actions. People such as you frighten me far more than a sex offender. The constant rape of sex offenders by politicians  doing your bidding makes you the greatest Predator of all. You rape the offenders and the constitution on which our nation was built. If you are unhappy with the civil rights to which every American is entitled I suggest you leave. If you decide to stay you should put your r efforts into uniting, rather than dividing our country.Discard that cloak of outrage and become a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem. It is your duty as an American.
Ohara

Lowell... reasons to lock him up for life instead of execution (assuming he is found guilty):

1) Life inprisonment without the possibility of parole is actually cheaper than the death penalty (the penalty phase of the trial is crazy expensive).
2) Death is the easy way out for Duncan. Much worse would be making license plates for the rest of his life knowing he will never get out.

And for the death penalty in general:
1) As long as it is still possible for an innocent person to be executed, the practice should be stopped. Recent developments make the need for an immediate moratorium abundantly clear.
2) Thou shalt not kill, not even the State. I can see warfare as a viable option... killing in order to serve a greater good. But, a prisoner stuck in jail for life serves no more danger to the public than a dead one.

a new National one strike law was needed before he perped the first time 

tall tree........ short rope

if hes found guity...he should  be externinated on prime time pay per veiw

Sex at gunpoint makes you a  sex offending, perverted bully. 42 years old having sex with children you are the same. You deserve all of the pain and suffering you get. Sex offenders deserve no mercy. people who molest children do not get better they should be sent out to  a walled camp in the woods where they can sodomize each other(.Of course that would not appeal to them).These people are so incredibly nasty.  I do not advocate the death penalty however I would shed no tears at the death of one who molests ans kills children.  I am sick of them

"First, how the hell can there be people like this in the world running around, blogging freely about their (evil/sick) intentions without getting caught?"

The police can't do anything about evil intentions.  The most they could do is follow him and arrest him AFTER he carried out those intentions.  Just another reason for normal law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons.

"Second, my views about the death penalty are once again being challenged severely, as they were a few days ago with the capture of the ?BTK? killer. What is the point of keeping people like this alive in jail? Is death a suitable punishment, or is that not even bad enough for people like this?"

My death penalty opinion has faltered because of the numbers of innocent people on death row, but I am 100% pro death penalty for cases like this.  However, if you just want to torment an obviously insane person for his insane actions, a supermax prison will definitely do it.  People criticize Guantanamo Bay, but they don't have anything on a supermax prison.  Hell, zoos aren't even allowed to confine animals like that.  Supermax prisoners usually go insane from the isolation, and the cool thing is that they aren't even given an opportunity to end their suffering.

So, I guess it depends on whether you just want to put a little chlorine in the gene pool, or if you would simply feel better by torturing a defective animal for the rest of its natural life.

Ohara,

Some pedophiles will admit that they can't be cured.  They only pretend to be cured.  They can curb their actions, but the appetite will always be there.  Gays can pretend to be straight, but the appetite will always be there.  Before you automatically assume I am equating pedophelia with homosexuality, let me say that I love Asian women.  I have dated other nationalities and races and enjoyed their company very much, but even if I have a hundred beautiful blonde haired blue eyed women, I will still have this appetite.  I can't explain it, and I can't be cured.  If you make it illegal, I will hide my urges as much as possible, but when I think nobody's looking, and I think can get away with it, I'm gonna satisfy my hunger.

I think it is a reaction against what liberals (me included) see as the spinelessness of so many Dem members of congress since the DLC took over control of the party, and the fact that we are losing ground each election.

To me, you start with your position first, then try to find common ground or tradeoffs.  And triangulation is not a core belief.

[Aside]

"But he ran on a middle tax/lower class tax increase."

Oh come on. He argued for returning the tax structure back to what it was under Clinton given changing economic conditions (helllooooo deficits!) and the fact that we're at war.  In other words, he (partially) ran on reversing Bush's foolish fiscal policies. 

If fiscal responsibility and managing a budget responsibly now gets someone tagged as "liberal" we're in even more trouble than I thought.

[/Aside]

As my hero Ronald Reagan once said, ?There they go again.?  ROASS cannot restrain himself from personal attacks and name-calling.  He writes like he has a personal vendetta towards the Kilgores rather than indicating a desire to elect a new delegate for political reasons.  Does he really believe that schoolyard attacks on a candidate have the impact of persuasion?  I believe it has the opposite affect.  As to discussing the issues, the primary issue addressed by him is the  ?anything but the Kilgores? issue.  He needs to take the blinders off and read a little history to find out all that Delegate Kilgore has achieved for the 1st District.  If he doesn?t think so, he should say specifically what it is to which he disagrees, or would do differently.  Is he that insecure with the Democrat platform that he will not articulate it?  All he has done is whine about solely local issues that have little to do with the major issues facing our area by our State politicians.  He cites his hard feelings about absentee balloting in Scott County, out-of-context references by a former mayor of Gate City, suggestions of nepotism, etc.  Is that all that is of concern?  The people of southwest VA are more sophisticated than ROASS would believe and in no way will be swayed by such gibberish.  The public would be better served if the McCarty supporters would discuss IMPORTANT issues up front and honestly.  The McCarty campaign does not need a debate to iterate his platform.  There are many forums available.  Let?s hear what the Democrats have to offer.  I suspect there will be lots of emotional filibustering and very little new substance.  I also suggest that before maligning the opposition with slanderous rhetoric, McCarty supporters take a good look in the mirror.  Their integrity is really suspect, and their tactics to intimidate are very transparent.  I expect that such actions will lead to fewer votes for McCarty, not more votes.  The first rule of politics is that voters have to have positive reasons to vote for a candidate.  They will not vote against the opposition just to satisfy someone?s personal vendetta against his family.  McCarty supporters all need to act like adults, stop the schoolyard name-calling and stick to the important issues facing the 1st District voters.  Over and out.

This is typical liberal Democrat dribble.  To begin with the underlying premise, that the Kilgores are arrogant and must be feared, is totally nonsensical.  The writer obviously has no political issues to discuss, and therefore has resorted to name-calling and personal attacks.  That says a lot about the Democrat philosophy and approach to politics, e.g., gain power at any cost.  I have nothing personal against Mr. McCarty, but I have to question his judgment and ethics if he in fact endorsed this irresponsible diatribe.  And I wonder why he feels that it is so important to emphasize that he ?has no fear of the Kilgores.?  Generally, when someone goes out of there way to make such a declarative statement, the opposite is often the case, and they are trying to convince their supporters otherwise.  I don?t know what Mr. McCarty?s true perception is, but,  I suspect he is more secure in himself than sinking to that level.  Notwithstanding,  I submit that the persons who do subscribe to Lowell?s vicious personal attack approach ought to be ashamed for pushing their candidate into the gutter,  and they certainly do not represent the moral values and high standards of the people of southwest Virginia.  To unabashedly slander a candidate?s family doesn?t take a lot of courage and represents the tactics of cowards.  I think the McCarty campaign has a right to run and to present their platform for the future.  But they do not have a right to slander good moral people.  I know that the voters of southwest Virginia will see through the charade perpetrated by the Delegate Kilgore?s Democrat opponents and he will be returned to Richmond to continue serving the people of the 1st District.  Lowell?s obsession with the success of the Kilgore family is nothing short of pure jealousy.  His persuasion using personal attacks clearly shows his ambivalence to the real political issues facing the county and our State government.  All through his monotonous diatribe he reflects one theme, i.e., I hate the evil Kilgores.  He uses the standard mantra of the Democrat party, us verses them class warfare rhetoric.  We need to get beyond that if we want conditions in southwest Virginia to improve.  What we really need is a cohesive approach to planning the future.  We need more self-reliance and entrepreneurial support. We need to keep taxes low and grow the economy.  We need better, but more efficient schools.  We need to decrease dependence on the government.  Terry Kilgore supports policies to achieve these things, and he has been very successful in pushing the House of Delegates towards these goals in the face of tremendous odds.  His seniority in the State House of Delegates is critical to fending off the overwhelming forces of big voting blocks of northern Virginia and Richmond area delegates.  As well intended as Mr. McCarty might be, he would be starting from the beginning in forging necessary alliances among delegates.  We don?t need a new [junior] representative to be our 1st District Delegate.  Terry Kilgore is the clearly the best choice for the job.

I have to second all of those comments about Rex McCarty not being mean and nasty or running a negative campaign.

I have known Rex for over ten years and he is one of the nicest people one could ever hope to meet.

I have to be honest and say that I have known Terry Kilgore for longer, and he is not mean or nasty either.  I think that sometimes he gets lambasted for ambitions which reside in places other than in his heart and soul.

The bottom line is that Rex McCarty is a really good guy, and, also, Terry should not be painted with the political ambition brush which has often been placed on him.  This will be a good campaign between two good guys.  I think that Rex is talking about some very important issues, some of which Terry has neglected to address.  I think that timing and the events of Scott County politics bode well for Rex.  Also, he has some new and innovative ideas which might catch on.  The " bottom line"is that this race will be too close to call.  We will have to wait and see how things develop.  If Rex keeps doing what he is doing then I think that the political atomosphere is right for him to pull out a big victory.

Truth center here:  Rex is not Satan and Terry is neither Satan nor his spawn.  Rex is right on the issues and is hitting on some cylinders which Terry has missed.  Hmmm  close one...probably too close to call now....

RMJ

I went with a friend of mine to his announcement tour in early June at Valley Institute, and it certainly wasn't nasty.  It was really very positive.  Kind of John Edwards/Barack Obama with a bite to it.  He will have to put up one heck of a fight to do it, and TK will likely start getting statewide help if and when it gets close.
I met TK once, and, not knowing I was on the other side, he began talking about his brother.  "He's a forest guy, I focus on the trees."  So maybe that means he'll be focusing on all the little things like helping his momma, and miss the big picture that he could be in trouble.  Bush isn't exactly as popular as he was in 2004 here because of the war and the economy (and in senior citizens groups, the lack of proper V.A. funding), so Bush could adversly affect TK.

I don't understand why anyone would FEAR the Kilgore's in the first place.  Would someone please answer that question for me?!  He must FEAR something for that to be an issue. I HAVE NEVER EVER heard of any other political canidate saying that they don't "FEAR" the opponent.  The voters don't want to think that one side FEARS the other. We all just want a clean, informative campaign.

Now, the color issue, how crazy is that?!!!! I really feel sorry for Rex that he doesn't like his colors, (who picked them for ya Rex?) that he feels so strong about Terry's that he has to wear them....Orange and blue. Wait I was at the Big Stone Gap, 4th of July parade and if my memory is not letting me down here, REX DID NOT HAVE ON Terry's colors that day. What happened...did he have fear that day!!!??? And he just doesn't have fear today, right?

I have to agree with Susan ....your NOT winning any votes here guys. Give us, the VOTERS what we expect a clean, honest, and INFORMATIVE campaign. 

Neal,

Nice to see a fellow SWVA'ner around here.  I will have to start checking out your blog. 

Susan,

I have no idea what you are talking about.  Rex is anything but nasty or bitter.  Can you point to some examples? 

I live just outside Washington County (Bristol City) and I'll go ahead and say this'll be a close race.  52-48 or 55-45 either way and it will teeter back and forth.  If Kaine starts beating Jerry in places, and Bush keeps going down in the polls, I can see an upset...

Interesting comment Susan.  In what way nasty? Is McCarty simply teling the truth about the Kilgores and it sounds nasty? I really want to know.

I have read no real facts in this blog to inform anyone of how the Kilgore's have left a legacy of fear. Anyone?? Hello.... can anyone just back up Rex's statements with some concrete facts?

Indeed there are progressive Christians, and, in case you did not already know, there exists an organization for them, The Interfaith Alliance.  Well, actually, TIA is not all Christian, but its beginnings were a group of Christians who felt their faith was being hijacked by the right and wanted to point out that the right did not speak for all Christians.  All faiths are now included in TIA, but it is still headed by a Christian, Rev. Welton Gaddy.  I try to plug it as much as I can, since the "Christian" Coalition seems to get most of the press....  www.interfaithalliance.org, in case anyone is interested....

I'm a little disappointed in Rex's nasty, bitter campaign.  He has turned into a disappointing candidate.  Unfortunately, I don't see him getting more than 25%-35% in this race.  I'm a diehard "D" but, unlike some of the folks who routinely post here, I am a realist.

From what I heard, there was great turnout for all of the Democratic candidates in NOVA parades and firework shows!!!

There certainly are very many progressive Christians.  I belong to a church full of them.  Our pastor's sermon this past Sunday dealt with what the 4th of July really should mean.  He ended his sermon by stating that "God Bless America" is a bit myopic...and we should really revise that to "God Bless the World".  He also strongly stated that only the Lord has the answers.....not George W. Bush or any other leader. 

Of course, I gave my pastor the book that all Christians should read....."God's Politics" by James Wallis.  A great read that provides a perspective on such things as "God loving a Cheerful Giver" and other important matters of what being a Christian is really all about.  My understanding is that Wes Clark has it in his briefcase. 

  Yes he may be a Christian, who is against the saying of the Pledge of Allegience, but he is no true "right winger". It angers me how sites such as this place people like Edward Myers on pedestals. He sues endlessly, wasting the taxpayers money, and places stickers of an American flag burning on school bus. These acts are not needed to make a point, and only anger patriotic conservative's such as myself.This case is NOT destined to end up in the Supreme Court, considering it has already been rejected numerous times by them, and they have already within the past two years made a ruling that it is legal to say Under God. Thank god the court is not THAT liberal.

"Of course, I gave my pastor the book that all Christians should read?..?God?s Politics? by James Wallis. A great read that provides a perspective on such things as ?God loving a Cheerful Giver? and other important matters of what being a Christian is really all about. My understanding is that Wes Clark has it in his briefcase."

I've just finished that book and a review will be on my website soon. I have to admit that it has made me reconsider actively going to church to see what good I can do for people religiously.  If a serious Democrat would go with it's message, they could win the 2008 Presidential race and most southern state seats.

The National Journal's view of divisive and left-liberal is any Democrat who fights back. Their idea of moderate is a Democrat who knows their place.

I don't think we should get our advice from the National Journal.

Honestly, I don't think you'd get nearly as much pressure to fight from the liberal wing if we saw any compromises from Republicans that were actually compromises.  On the national level, we're dealing with Republicans who have no compunction about reneging on substance of the deal once they've gotten the veneer of bipartisanship (No Child Left Behind being a classic example.)  They abuse the conference committee process such that any provision may be altered, even ones that received a majority in both houses.  And finally, they declare any compromise to be the new Democratic starting point, and any further compromises must be between that position and the original conservative position.  When you're dealing with people who've repeatedly and demonstrably negotiated in bad faith and with contempt for the rules, what can possibly be gained by trying to make deals with them?  Lieberman is treated with derision because his compromises gain stature for him personallly, but gain nothing for the Democrats or their supporters.

As true as that is on the national level, I think the article is seriously misunderstanding Kos and MoveOn and such overall.  They're *partisan*, but not nearly as ideological as the people on the other side that the National Journal equates them with.  In places like Virginia, where there are still reasonable Republicans who respect the rules and bargain in good faith, I doubt there are many in those groups who would criticize compromises made in that spirit.  Similarly, I'd expect Mark Warner could garner considerable support there without any change in his political positions (remember, Dean was not particularly liberal.)

I agree with RaisingKaine on this one.  Divisiveness is not a good idea, although I can understand the sentiment.  As you noted, Clinton was the last big Democratic winner, and I believe that if we want to win, we must reach out to the center, which is where most Americans live.  Not only would we win this way, but it is indeed the best way for America.  As Republicans get more and more extreme, they will likely alienate more and more mainstream voters.  We can pick up those voters, UNLESS we go the polarization route that the Republicans are going.  By becoming extreme and "confrontation-philic", we ensure that we don't get moderate votes, either.  The result will be more wins for Republicans and a general electorate fed-up and pessimistic about both parties.  We must take the high road rather than dropping to "their" level.  A moderate Democrat can make Bush-type Republicans look crazy.  A far-left Democrat just looks like a mirror image of them.

Dean wasn't liberal as a governor. But he ran on a middle tax/lower class tax increase.

Spanking the Monkey? Oh my! That's not good.

~ the blue dog

Thanks for the "warm" comments.  =)

Here's a link to the play by play:

www.humantorchproposal.com

Thanks for this post - hopefully someone high enough up in the campaign who's not a monkey will heed it. (Coincidentally, I'd been starting to get a bad sense about the campaign and had been thinking of posting something here about it to see whether I was missing something..)

I've been increasingly uncomfortable/disappointed with the campaign over the last weeks and months, and I haven't even been following it that closely (albeit I'm a bit of a political junkie, so following it more closely than the average voter, I guess) - I'm just getting a disinterested and 'removed' vibe.

I've gotten a couple of invitations for $500+ gatherings in DC which put me off in two ways: 1) $500? come on! NoVa (where I am),  has a huge number of young Dems (I'm in my 30s, so I may not count, but..). Throw a $25 barbecue in Falls Church and get a mass of volunteers at the same time. 2) DC??? This is a Virginia campaign! It's summer - time to be away from the District and in the State, no matter if your 'good fundraisers' are in DC.

Also, didn't the DNC drop a huge amount of money into the Kaine campaign? *What* are they doing with it? Even small targeted investments here and there aimed at Dems could raise interest, activity, and excitement levels. I don't see the Kaine folks doing that at all. I can't figure out *what* they're doing.

Yes, yes, I'm and independent and I'll vote for him - but he hasn't yet persuaded me to put a bumper sticker on the car, nor persuaded me to talk him up to anyone in my neighborhood.

Something's not right.. I'm no campaign expert, but I've been inclined to jump on the Kaine bandwagon and yet the campaign's not closing the deal at all.  Shame.

(I don't care at all about a public 'meltdown' or not - I really hope there's some follow-up, though, and not just back to business as usual - I don't think business as usual is going to cut it... Kaine needs to really shake things up, I think.)

I agree, the monkeys are running the show and should be terminated immediately. It is, I suspect, the same old Main Street crowd that's screwed up other Democrats' campaigns, and is pompously, arrogantly, and stupidly extending their act to some otherwise viable campaigns for Delegates, too. GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY you airheads (euphemism for another moniker lower down in the body). This is serious, and is exactly what ruined kerry, for example. As a former Republican I have to say the other side is expecting exactly this assinine foul-up-- the Repugs absolutely are more professional and KNOW the Dems will be dumb. Makes me wonder if there's a Trojan horse somewhere.

PS - I forgot to remark about Kaine's limp Transportation program... it's frankly nothing to write home about. Even the Washington Post has noticed, and I can tell you most Northern Virginians I've talked with, who have bothered to check out the Transportation proposals of the candidates for Governor are also not impressed, and are concentrating more on Transportation than on the real estate taxes on their properties, contrary to what was excpected. To the uneducated eye Kaine's ideas look anemic beside Kilgore's, despite the fact we know Kilgore's ideas are a cop out and, again, Government by Devolution.

The problem is that no one thought Kaine had a chance until the GOP melted down in 04. So the prep work wasn't there...

Has anyone emailed Mike about this?  What did he say?  The Coordinated Campaign in 2001 was very well run, which is why Mike got this gig to do Tim's Governor's race.  I just hope people have gotten word to him on this, and that the first he is hearing about this isn't now.  I'm not sure he would let this go on IF he knew what was happening on the ground.

I'm saying this firsthand because when I managed a Congressional race (less than 10% of the state) I was amazed then at how little I could see first hand on the ground of what was happening.  I was blown away by how difficult it was compared to a House of Delegates race, and I really can't imagine what it must be like for Mike to try to track what is going on statewide.  As reliant as I was on people calling me during that campaign (again, less than 10% of the state), I'm positive Mike is totally reliant on people communicating these concerns to him.

There are problems with Tim's campaign, but I really don't think it is the manager.

"2005 may not be the year of the blog in Virginia, but 2006 could be if the MZM/Goode scandal gets into the public consciousness. "

The great thing is that with blogs and their booming popularity, the Goode scandal will gain legs as long as blogs keep pounding on it.

"I would be happy with a hundred a day"
Shoot, I would be happy with 10 a day...
Or a hundred a month would be good.
But that was an extremely negative critique of blogs.  Blogs are part of the future of grassroots politics and they can't be shot down or ignored forever.

Teddy, you're on the mark.  Whether it's transportation, capital punishment, abortion, schools, etc., Kaine's vision is cloudy, at best.  He runs the risk of "for it before against it" labeling.  If moderate Republicans are the key to his victory, he needs to give them a reason to switch parties.

Friends with David Cho? After that terrible article and leaving me off the blogroll? Ha!

I attempted a double feint by disparaging the hub-bub over the NLS identities and commenting on the Miller controversy. Apparently I missed on both. Dang subtlety.

2005 may not be the year of the blog in Virginia, but 2006 could be if the MZM/Goode scandal gets into the public consciousness.

Good analysis. 

Terrible "reporting" by the Post.

Lately, the only good political reporting of any sort has been done by a *sportswriter* at WaPo.

Sigh.

Wait, David Cho spoke by phone with someone involved with "Not Larry Sabato" ... could someone subpoena him to find out their identities? Maybe even throw him in jail? Makes about as much sense as throwing Judith Miller in jail ...

Lowell, totally agree.

Excellent post! Lowell is a blog god.

The Blue Dog says, the WaPo article was all bark, no bite.

Shameless plug.  I pile on...we need to do a better job or we'll be saying "Hello Gov. Gilmore" in January.

"The whole MZM thing doesn?t prove your point. That stuff was in the blogosphere way before any newspaper picked it up (which is good, we?re doing the hard work), but as a story, it only picked up once the newspaper got it. Proving, that the general audience and general voters aren?t really affected by blog stories at all. "

But in terms of Virgil Goode, nobody was talking about it.  Waldo started posting links to MZM and Goode...eventially it was picked up by the mainstream media...

That's a victory for blogs!

Yes, the article had problems, but it wasn't as horrible as it's being described as. It's true, the VA blogs won't have much of an impact on the election in November. You talk about the people who read this - we're all hardcore Democrats or Republicans who'll vote anyway. I doubt non-serious voters read these blogs and get up-to-date information on who they'll vote for. They'll be swayed by sound-bytes and t.v. ads, just like most voters will. Political / Election blogs are really a niche market for political enthusiasts and campaign people. We probably bring in a few other people on the Internet who wouldn't originally search out blogs, but that number is so marginal.

The whole MZM thing doesn't prove your point. That stuff was in the blogosphere way before any newspaper picked it up (which is good, we're doing the hard work), but as a story, it only picked up once the newspaper got it. Proving, that the general audience and general voters aren't really affected by blog stories at all.

"True, most Virginia political blogs receive only a few HUNDRED readers daily (not ?a few thousand,? as the article incorrectly asserts), but that does not provide much indication regarding their significance."

I would be happy with a hundred a day...

This article did not deserve a front spot in the Metro section.  It ticks me off that some of the blogs in VA are allowing totally anonymous posts...true some of them could bring forth decent info but that's the case in about 5% of the "anonymous" posts.  The rest are just rants and putdowns that could be easily seen on bulletin board or some other partisan forum. 

I like that Raising Kaine uses a name requirement...at least that way you can associate comments and user names.

They also could have brought up with Waldo's "MZM Story" other bloggers comments on Jerry Kilgore ducking debates, fundraising figures, and volunteer recruitment efforts.

Silly me for thinking they could bring something with some substance instead of the superfluous.

Is it a supply problem or a demand problem? Is the campaign not demanding workers? Or are people just not offering their services? You offer an example of where the campaign failed to reach out. But I wonder whether there are other culprits at work here.

Is the Democratic base depressed after the 2004 campaign? That's what I'm trying to ask. It could be a combination of supply and demand. Who knows.