What do you think has been more important in the dynamics of the Senate race to date, Jim Webb running a positive and effective campaign or George Allen self-destructing?  Do you believe that George Allen really has a positive, affirmative vision for Virginia, as he claims (but never articulates)?  If so, how do you think it contrasts with Jim Webb's vision of realigning our national security policy, restoring fundamental notions of American fairness to our economy, and reining in the power of an out-of-control President?

Thanks again.

Lowell. Thanks for the great question. Good to see you last night at the Webb/Fox event. What a great turnout.I was sorry I couldn’t stay late into the evening, but I also participated in a fundraiser last night for the Commonwealth Coalition with Mark Warner. That was a great event as well and I’m proud to be supporting their efforts.

George Allen said that his record in the US Senate is an ‘open book.’ I submit to you it looks more like a blank page. It’s hard for the Senator to run on his positive vision of Virginia when he hasn’t demonstrated one. That’s why we see the negative, slash-and-burn, Karl Rove politics here in Virginia. They don’t have anything better to sell.

Jim Webb, on the other hand, has a clear vision for our country. He has the credibility to lead us out of the War in Iraq, to restore justice and fairness to working families, and to serve as a check on the President. Jim is a man of honor, courage, and conviction and that’s exactly the type of person we need in Washington. Jim Webb supports raising the minimum wage, he supports 21st century research to cure life threatening diseases and he believes that we need to get the corruption and special interests out of Washington. George Allen opposes him every step of the way. It’s time for a change.

As you may know, one of my top priorities is environmental protection.  Currently, we face horrendous environmental challenges.  For instance, right here in Virginia we have a seriously sick Chesapeake Bay.  In the world more broadly, we've got extremely dangerous climate change, which a new report in the UK just said posed a grave threat to the economy.

Here's my question.  Why are we not doing more, right here in Virginia, to take strong action in protecting the environment?  For instance, why haven't we moved to do what Arnold Schwarznegger and the Democratic legislature have done in California - pass historic caps on greenhouse gas emissions while requiring higher fuel economy in automobiles?  Why haven't we instituted renewable portfolio standards here in Virginia, as has been done in 22 states plus the District of Columbia?  Why haven't we provided tax incentives, as is being done in Chicago, for energy efficiency improvements to homes and businesses, like "green roofs?"  And why aren't we building a mass transit system here in Virginia that is second-to-none in the world? 

As Al Gore says, these are not just practical issues - saving money, keeping fishing industries alive, etc. - they are MORAL and ETHICAL ones.  I would love nothing better than to see Virginia become a moral leader in protecting the planet.  What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks.

Thanks.

You’re absolutely right. The environmental challenges facing our country are substantial. I’ve been proud to be a repeat recipient of the 'Legislative Hero' from the League of Conservation Voters. Our environmental problems are moral, ethical, economic and security based. Sixty percent of Virginia’s waterways are contaminated, the greenhouse gas emissions are playing havoc with our ozone, and the number of ‘unsafe’ air days continues to rise. It seems like such a simple commitment that our Government should be able to make – to drinkable water and breathable air. But we are failing. Just this morning we read about the impending disaster wiht our fish and sea life.

I was proud to work with former Governor Warner and now Governor Kaine on making some record investments in preserving the Chesapeake Bay. Talk about a natural treasure – we must do all we can and we haven’t done enough. But thanks to their leadership, we got the ball rolling for the first time in a generation.

We should be looking at alternative energy sources – switch grass, ethanol and others – to use the agricultural capacity in Virginia to produce products for the 21st century economy. We should be examining green construction for state facilities to ensure we minimize our energy consumption. But with all the things we SHOULD be doing, this year we almost took a step backwards. Republicans sponsored legislation to allow off-shore drilling in Virginia Beach. I was proud to stand against that effort because our natural resources and gods-given beauty aren’t something we can restore at a later date… But without a majority of the members in the House of Delegates, we can’t advance the ideas that you and I know are so important. That’s why I’m working 24-7 on changing the House of Delegates, more on that later.

I am very frustrated, as I know many people are, on the decision to ditch the underground tunnel option for Metro in Tysons.  Personally, I place a lot of blame for this on Republicans in Congress like Frank Wolf and Tom Davis in the House, John Warner and George Allen in the Senate.  Yes, I understand that there are Federal formulas and procedures that apply here, but I still fail to understand how Wolf, Davis,  Warner and Allen couldn't get this done.  Your thoughts?

Thanks.

Lowell: I am very frustrated, as I know many people are, on the decision to ditch the underground tunnel option for Metro in Tysons.  Personally, I place a lot of blame for this on Republicans in Congress like Frank Wolf and Tom Davis in the House, John Warner and George Allen in the Senate.  Yes, I understand that there are Federal formulas and procedures that apply here, but I still fail to understand how Wolf, Davis,  Warner and Allen couldn't get this done.  Your thoughts?

Brian: I'm among those frustrated. I believe we should be building underground. Policy decisions made today will have long-term and lasting impact and we don’t want to find ourselves with our own version of the ‘Big Dig’ to correct a problem we created. We should do it right in the first place. I’m hopeful that with a Democratic Congress this fall, we can re-evaluate those formulas and procedures and see if we can change the direction. This is yet another reason why this fall's election is so vitally important.
The urban village scenario, so vitally important to the future of Tyson's is difficult to envision with an elevated metro system. I am still optimistic we can revisit this decision.

event last night.  I'm just curious, in all your years in Virginia politics, have you ever seen the level of excitement and intensity that you're seeing now for Jim Webb?  I'm truly - and pleasantly - astounded myself! :)

Lowell:  I'm just curious, in all your years in Virginia politics, have you ever seen the level of excitement and intensity that you're seeing now for Jim Webb?  I'm truly - and pleasantly - astounded myself! :)

Brian: Great question Lowell. You’ve got a good series of them here! I’ve been involved in politics in Virginia for over 20 years, first as a local prosecutor and volunteer, then as a Delegate, and now as the House Democratic Chairman. The energy we are seeing right now reminds me of the energy we saw with Governor Kaine's election last year. I believe it began with Mark Warner in 2001. He again made it popular to be a democrat. In 2004 we demonstrated good governance and a commitment to our citizens. We made and historic investment in education.
Virginia Democrats have a proven record of results oriented leadership.
But we’ve got to keep up the effort every minute of every day from now until election day. I’ll be traveling all weekend and on Monday and making sure I do all I can to help everyone come across the line this November. I know many of you all will be joining me in the final big push, and I look forward to seeing you out there.  The stakes are too high for anything less.

And what do you think our chances are of making big gains in the Virginia House of Delegates, if not taking control outright?  Thanks.

I’ve put over 20,000 miles on my car since mid-March helping to support our candidates this fall, spread the Democratic message across the Commonwealth, and recruit candidates for 2007. We have some great prospects coming forward. From Fairfax County to Virginia Beach and down through Southside and Southwest Virginia, people are saying they want to run, and to run as Democrats. They are tired with the Republican inaction in Virginia and the inability to solve the most basic problems that the people of Virginia face. When people are stuck in traffic and unable to get home to their family dinner, they know it's time for a change. I was very proud of the Delegates we elected in 2005, they are the best class I’ve seen. And now, I think we are poised to do even better.

But we need good people. We can’t do it alone. All the House Republicans do is offer a discriminating amendment to our constitution which is aimed to divde us. We have to change the Republican leadership in the House if we want to get anything done. They fought Governor Warner’s investments in education and his efforts to put our fiscal house in order. And now they are stonewalling Governor Kaine on transportation and early childhood education. When Jim Webb is elected our next US Senator, Phil Kellam is elected our next Congressman from Virginia Beach, Judy Feder is elected the next Congresswomen from the 10th district and other Democrats are elected, we will clearly have the momentum to recruit the best candidates for 2007. I look forward to working with you to make it happen.

the hate...,er ANTI-marriage...er, Marshall-Newman amendment?  Thanks.

Absolutely. I’ve been proud to oppose this amendment since it was in introduced, to vote against it in 2005 and 2006, and be one of the three members to speak against it on the floor of the House. I’ve spoken out against this at rallies and events all across the Commonwealth. I even debated Bob McDonnell on this very amendment on the floor of the House two years ago. This amendment is mean-spirited and sends the wrong message about the future of Virginia.

Mark Warner reminded me last night that on the same day as we passed House Bill 751 – the pre-cursor legislation to this hateful amendment – we also began a process of providing education grants to those residents of Prince Edward County who lost their chance to go to school because of massive resistance. We were apologizing for restricting the rights of a minority of our population in the 1960’s and, yet, we were about ready to do it again. This amendment has nothing to do with marriage – marriage has been defined in the Virginia code since 1975. This amendment takes away rights for civil unions and harms basic contract rights among all unmarried people.

Proponents of this amendment, including AG McDonnell and Lt. Governor Bolling, warn Virginia voters about the ‘boogeyman' of activist judges. In Virginia, our judges are elected by the General Assembly. Bob McDonnell chaired the Courts of Justice Committee. So, I have just one question for all those proponents of the ‘activist judge’ theory for approving this amendment – which activist judges did Bob McDonnell appoint?

I prosecuted domestic violence cases for seven years and the statute we used to provide for protective orders of unmarried peoples in domestic abuse situations was the same as the one for married people. This amendment would make it impossible to protect victims of domestic violence in unmarried couples, that’s dangerous for women and children all across the Commonwealth. I urge everyone to vote NO.

I could name a number of other reasons to VOTE NO, but the list would get too long. Suffice it to say, the language of amendment is far too broad and vague and raises too many dangerous legal questions. It was born of a Republican party that believes in dividing us, not uniting us. The amendment was the first thing that they passed during the last session of the General Assembly but, yet again, their priorities are skewed..

The danger to my marriage comes not from someone elses' loving relationship, but from being stuck in traffic and unable to make it home for dinner with my kids.

"The danger to my marriage comes not from someone elses' loving relationship, but from being stuck in traffic and unable to make it home for dinner with my kids."

And wakefield tarlton, hello!

Do you have any aspirsions for higher office, or is this just  not the time to discuss this?I like your big brother, but you are my favorite oran{Sorry, Jim!}

Paul V.

Right now I’m focused on the 2006 elections and changing the makeup of Washington. Our country needs a new direction. After that my attention will turn to the next session of the General Assembly and making sure continue the tremendous progress we’ve made here in Virginia (that I wrote about above). I’ve made it no secret that I might consider seeking higher office, but at this time my focus is elsewhere. I’m make that decision soon enough and hopefully Lowell will invite me back on here to talk about it then. Virginia – and our nation – needs leaders that will continue the legacy or Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. That is where my focus is today.

two questions  -- first, how successful do you think Gov Kaine's approach to early childhood education will be in getting through legislature

second - what should be Virginia's approach to the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind?  What changes in the law would you urge our House and Senate reps to seek?

Great questions Ken. And good to see you at the event last night as well…

Education is the key to success in the 21st century economy. We are no longer competing against Maryland and North Carolina to get jobs, we are competing against India and China. When it comes to Early Childhood Education, it’s vital to our long-term success because so much of the brain's development takes place in those early formative years. We can’t afford to neglect them. I believe the strategy is absolutely right.  The way to make improvements to our education system a reality and bring about early childhood education is to change the makeup of the House of Delegates.

We absolutely have to address the failures of No Child Left Behind. Two particular failures come to mind. First, they failed to provide adequate funding to achieve any of the lofty goals laid out in the legislation. I am a strong believer in standards and accountability, but I also recognize that an engine doesn’t run without fuel. We have to invest in our education system for it to meet our goals and expectations. It has to be about more than chest thumping an speech giving, we have to put our money where our mouth is. Second, we have to recognize the strengths of some existing systems of accountability in various states, like Virginia. Having redundant systems merely inflates the bureaucracy and harms the children. All wisdom doesn’t necessarily rise in Washington (haha) and we need Congress to let Virginia’s success continue.

We had the highest math SAT score increase in the nation last year. We must be doing something right.

thanks for coming by! You describe a new direction for Virginia - how do you see Jim Webb helping bring about this vision?

Jim has the character, credentials and qualities to be the next Senator from Virginia. He’s the type of leader that will provide a check on the Bush administration and ensure we get our country back on track. I could list to all his biography and his credentials, his tremendous service to or nation, but it’s more than that. There is something you just understand when you stand in a room with him that says this man fights for what’s right - he poses the 'right stuff' to lead our Commonwealth and Country.

It’s not because he’s a Democrat or a Republican, but because he’s an American and he has fought for the last 9 months because he believes we need a change. I’ve been proud to campaign for him, fundraise for him, speak for him, and will be VERY proud to vote for him on November 7th.

- Dropping by RK;
- Supporting Jim Webb; and,
- Working to reach the magic number (51) in the HoD.

What about the Jim Webb campaign has most surprised you?  The fundraising?  Online support?  Volunteer strength? 

In 2007, Del. Bill Carrico will be back on the ballot and feeling like he just got ran over by concrete truck the previous year.  Can we beat him and take that seat? 

Nothing has surprised me about the Jim Webb campaign because I could tell the quality of his character from the start and I know Virginians’ were hungry for a change. BUT, each of those things – his fundraising, his volunteer strength, his online support, the crowds all across Virginia – they have impressed me.

Any Republican who challenges Rick Boucher in the 9th congressional district leaves himself alienated from the majority of voters up and down Southwest Virginia. Congressman Boucher has been a steadfast fighter for that region. Opposing him means you oppose the work he’s done and I think that makes anyone – like Bill Carico – vulnerable next year.

for visiting RK on the final days before the big mid-terms!  You're always a welcome guest here.

Prognostication time: What do you think the odds are of a House pick up or two for the Democrats in Virginia this year?  Two races look tight - the 2nd and 10th.  Do you think voter frustration with 6 years of Republican led failures finally overwhelm the 20-plus year tenure of Wolf?  Will Drake be a one hit wonder?

Thanks Eric for the question...

I think we are going to pickup seats in Congress and in the US Senate. We are going to retake the US House of Representatives and refer to Bobby Scott, Jim Moran, and Rick Boucher as Mr. Chairman starting next fall. (I might still call Jim Moran, Jim). We are going to defeat George Allen, and we are going to win congressional seats here in Virginia. Phil Kellam is a strong candidate with a great background. His job has since 1997 has been to balance the books of the city of Virginia Beach. Now we need to send him to congress to do what Thelma Drake and her Republican colleagues have been unable to do. They have run up record deficits as far as the eye can see and they are sending over $100,000 bills to each of our children. It’s time for a change. The 10th district is changing and Judy offers an intelligent, energetic alternative for it's voters. As well, Andy Hurst, Al Weed, Jim Nachman and Shawn O’Donnell are all strong candidates and they deserve every bit of support in these final days. I’m confident we will pickup seats in Virginia.

I have noticed that your hair is very versatile and is successful in rooms with little lighting, while at the same time, remains successful in windy and rainy conditions.

How did you achieve this, and do you have any advice for the rest of us?

Also, Jennifer McLellan and I were voted the worst dressed at Mark Warner's pig roast.  What advice do you have for your constituents and colleagues for future fashion hits and misses?

I'll jump in:  boxers or briefs?  Haha. :)

I am sorry.  I couldn't help myself; Brian has great hair.

:)

Plus, all of the good questions have already been asked, and I wanted some action.

I agree, brian moran has great hair! but so do you jaime! don't be so modest!

Jaime, say it ain't so. :)

Don't wear white after labor day...

Other than that, I'm afraid I'm not the one to ask about fashion advice...

Let me take this moment to thank Ben Tribbett for making my hair a topic of discussion all across this great Commonwealth...

And let me thank my mother and father, for I still have a full head of hair...

by Charles Krauthammer?

"In Virginia, George Allen has run the worst campaign in living memory, stumbling onto one ethnic land mine after another - macaca, the Yiddishe mama, N-word allegations."

I don't think you'll hear this often, but Charles Krauthammer has hit on a major part of this years campaign.

But in the end, it's not the bad campaign he's run that makes people question him - it's his record. Voting against Martin Luther King Holiday, promoting confederate history month, failing to ever visit Norfolk State while Governor and the list goes on. That's the reason that Virginia voters are going to change direction this November and vote for Jim Webb.

what is your top legislative priority for 2007?

I'd like to tell you that it's continuing the work we've done under Governor Warner and now Governor Kaines' leadership. Id like it to be investing in education to raise teacher pay, expanding lifesaving research for debilitating illnesses and raising the minimum wage....and solving our transportation crisis...

But, I fear that - until we change the makeup of the General Assembly - my top legsilative priority for 2007 will be making sure that the House Republicans don't undo all the progress we have made.

I mentioned to someone that a week after Jim Webb gets elected, I wanted to start working on finding good Democratic candidates to unseat all bad incumbant Republican seat holders in 2007.  The person told me it could never happen bc of how horrific the gerimandering has been in Virginia.

Thoughts?

To a point they are right, but don't lose hope.

Our redistricting system in Virginia is a disgrace. I've been proud to champaion reforms of it in previous years and will do so again. We have districts drawn that don't represent voters - they maximize partisan advantage. That drives our elected officials to govern from the left and the right, not from the middle.

We should not have our representatives chosing thier voters, we should have voters choising their representatives.

That said, and despite the redistricted seats, we have consistently won seats in the General Assembly in every election since 2001. We had fallen to 34 members (out of 100) in the Democratic caucus - barely able to uphold a Governors veto. We've won seats in Loudoun and Lynchburg, Norfolk and all across Fairfax. There are real prospects for that kind of success yet again in 2007 and I hope you'll help us make it happen

We can't do it without everyone in Virginia pulling together....

I think you are one of the more warmer politicians thus far I have met in Virginia. (excluding Kaine, J. Moran, Webb, and Warner)

I think your political future has a LOT of potential. I think you come off as being truly genuine, and you give real answers. That's what we need in politics in this country. Real Leadership, real answers. So with that.. I have a question sir.

What do you think about Allen's endorsement by the racist Minutemen?

Thanks for the nice comment.

On the same day that Michael J Fox endorsed Jim Webb and Barak O'Bama came to campaign for him, George Allen was getting the endorsement of the extremist Minutemen organization.

This is just another signal that Jim Webb represents the values we share and will change the direction of our country....

Is he part Irish? :)

Showing his true committment and valor, Brian trucked all the way down to Fredericksburg to keynote our Democratic Homecoming and whip up the faithful for GOTV efforts here in Central Virginia.

We really appreciate it Brian!  Keep up the excellent work!

Amy LaMarca

Hey Amy! Good to see you last weekend and great job with the event. You all had a terrific crowd and incredible energy. It's a sure sign that we are going to win this November.

Thank you for your tireless efforts to organize the fredricksburg committee and to your colleagues in Spotylvania and Stafford. It was a great event!

Thanks for your comment. I hope to see you soon. And I look forward to comming back to the area soon...

I think we have a job for you unseating a certain someone:)

Brian:

Last time around, Greg Werkheiser ran a good campaign aganst Del. Albo in Springfield and came very close to winning.  I think he should run again, since his name recognition is high.  What are your thoughts?

Lowell, Rob, and all the RK audience,

Thanks for having me on here. It's been a great set of questions and I'm really glad that I got a chance to answer them.

We have a lot of work to do in the next 96 hours to make sure that Jim Webb is our next Senator and we change the makeup of the US Congress. I'm confident we will be successful because we have the will, the energy, and we are on the right side of history.

Please remember to vote NO on Amendment #1 and to support our great Democratic candidates on Tuesday...

... let's get to work!

P.S. There's a question by Ingrid Morroy if you still have a minute... :)