Today's Washington Post has an article by Not Larry Sabato...er, Michael Shear (just kidding, although Shear has been widely rumored to be NLS) about Mark Warner running for President. Yep, there's no doubt about it, that's what Mark Warner was doing in Phoenix in the 110-degree desert heat of July. Let's put it this way, it wasn't for the cool ocean breeze!! It sounds like Warner got a good reception from 400 Arizona Democrats, where he talked up his core message: "This country is ready for a party and leaders to reclaim the sensible center." I couldn't agree more.
Look, I'm a proud progressive/moderate myself, but I'm also a strong believer in keeping the country united and also in getting things done. I hate the politics of the extremes, of dividing people against each other, of demonization. I also refuse to pigeonhole myself ideologically in any one camp. For instance, I believe in balancing the budget, which theoretically makes me a "fiscal conservative," at least as that concept used to be understood before the "spend and borrow and spend and borrow" Republicans took charge. I also believe in maintaining a strong military, along with all the other tools of foreign policy -- diplomatic, economic, ideological, humanitarian, "soft power" and "hard power" both. I favor interventions for humanitarian purposes, like in Rwanda or Bosnia. On social issues, I'm somewhat of a libertarian, actually, although I'm also a strong environmentalist. And I'm for a progressive taxation system and the inheritance tax, both of which were started by one of my all-time favorite presidents, Teddy Roosevelt. However, I'm for as low taxes as possible to get the job done. I agree with the "safe, legal and rare" formulation on abortion. So, I'm a mix, just like most all of us are.
This brings us back to Gov. Mark Warner and his heir apparent, Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine. These guys both make up the "sensible center," in which fevered far-right or far-left ideology have no place. Instead, these guys are both in the Bill Clinton mold in terms of their "Third Way" approach. And yes, I am fully aware that many liberals don't like that. But, guess what, it's been the only proven WINNING Democratic formula the past 35 years: Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter (who ran as a centrist, religious, "I won't lie to you" southerner ). Sadly, Jimmy Carter's presidency foundered on the Iran hostage crisis, but the truth remains: southern, "sensible center" Democrats can win. People like Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and Wes Clark.
In contrast to Warner/Kaine, the Allen/Kilgore/Bolling/McDonnell view of the world is one of polarization, taking us backwards, dividing and polarizing, tearing people apart. As Tim Kaine said Saturday regarding Kilgore, he?s all about ?divide and conqure,? ?trashing people,? and ?motivating 60% by demonizing the other 40%.? That, unquestionably, is not the way to go. We also don't want to drive Virginia back into the "ditch" it was in after four years of disastrous "leadership" under Republican Gov. Jim Gilmore. No thanks.
Now, we've got yet ANOTHER Republican ticket running in Virginia that, as Democratic Attorney General nominee Creigh Deeds put so well (in reference to Bill Bolling, but it could apply to any of them), "opposed every single thing Mark Warner and I have accomplished the last three years.? Opposed balancing the budget. Opposed restoring Virginia's AAA bond rating. Opposed being named the "best managed state in the country." Opposed working across the aisle to achieve solutions for all Virginians. If this is the type of government you prefer, then by all means vote for Kilgore-Bolling-McDonnell. If "sensible centrism" is what you prefer, then vote for Mark Warner's heir apparent, Tim Kaine. It's that simple. The future of our state is at stake this year, and the future of our country will be at stake once again in 2006 and 2008. In both cases, Virginians will play a big part in determining which way we go.