I wish it could end with a recall election!  This isn't what we worked for.  Seems Mr. Kaine has forgotten who he works for.  I hope it was worth it.

Tim Kaine has so far done a great job as Governor and is just defending his hard fought for Transportation bill... Lets not get carried away- This provision WILL get repealed in the next session and my guess is that it will be retroactive so it pays back people who have already been fined.

I can't really comment on his apitiude as an administrator of state government.  But the entire Transportation bill was garbage.  It was a Republican political ploy to back Kaine into a corner.  If he refused to sign it, then they could run this year on the platform that Democrats obstructed "fixing" Virginia's transportation problems.  If he did, they might be able to falsely assert that they did something positive for Virginia's transportation situation.  Kaine rather than taking a principled stand caved and the rest is history.

The transportation bill essentially funds only road maintenance.  It does not resolve any of the state's major transportation issues.  And the $3 billion in bonds that it authorizes are enough to fund maybe one major project.  It was a cynical poltical ploy and remains just that.  And I think it will taint his term as governor for some time to come.

On top of that, Kaine allowed that giant Dominion hand-out called "re-regulation" to pass.  While there is no damage yet, in 2009 Virginians will awaken to the true mistake that was.  And there are those choice positions that commenters have included below.

It makes me regret my vote for him.  But I am sure it would have been worse with Kilgore in charge.  It makes me realize the truism of a saying I heard from Red, White, and Tuna: "Politicians are like cats.  They rub up against your leg until they get what they want.  And then they go pee on the couch."

Tim Kaine has not done a great job as Governor.  The "Transportation Bill" was a capitulation - it was anything but hard fought by the Governor's office who did not weigh in at all until the legislative battles were over.  The only ones fighting hard when it counted were the moderate Republicans in the Senate.  If the Governor had vetoed the bill, he'd be doing a much better job.

Also, although I favor repeal of the "abuser fees," I also fear what will replace it.  The GOP will be looking for General Fund money or debt.  The Gov. has shown little concern about either which is a radical departure from Virginia transportation financing and is much more akin to Gilmoresqe fiscal shell games.

Hardly a great job.  Transportation is the defining issue of this Governorship - not preschool or healthcare - whether the Governor likes it or not.  Perhaps Governor Kaine will have another chance to lead next session.  I hope he does not than just take whatever the Republican leadership House of Delegates will give him.  He needs to peel off their swing voters like Mark Warner did.

I guess his advisory panel of attorneys aren't as smart as the ones in MI, since we DID find a way to apply the law to all drivers if I'm not mistaken. Which is why our motion to claim it violated "equal protection" failed in the appeals court I think. And I think it will fail in the VA courts. Or is kaine getting this advice from the 2 "attorneys" who got those speeding tickets, and needs a babysitter buddy to represent themselves in court because one of them is too incompetent (or lazy) to do it himself? If so, then there might be a loophole, considering how dumb they are, if they helped craft this law.

And like I said before. Even if it is successful in getting challenged and thrown out, they'll just re-write it to comply with equal protection and then slap their badge of approval on it, and you'll be seeing it again. These attorneys for the defense of this man aren't making enough arguments on why this law is illegal. Equal protection, I feel, is insufficient to stand on its own. And the judge is going to see it the state's way and uphold the "driver tax" law.

6 Months is not enough time to see anything (except a new General Assembly).  There are cases that are being charged that probably won't even go to trial before then.

One of the big problems with this system is that when applied long term - over several years - it creates an underclass. It doesn't do it on the first charge or necessarily in the first year.

Waiting 6 months to look at this is like looking at the Titanic minutes after the iceberg hit and giving it a clean bill of health because it's still floating upright.

I'm really starting to wonder about Kaine's politics.  Between his defense of abuser fees and press conference with Howell & Griffith, his support of Estate Tax repeal, and today's Washington Post article saying that Gov. Kaine stands with Bob McDonnell & Bill Bolling and endorses "covenant marriage," I'm really starting to wonder exactly where his political compass points.

I forgot to mention it in my last post since there's always so many new things to point out in reply to uninformed politicians statements.

It's not typical to do a review of a law like this until 4 years have passed, NOT 6 months! Michigan will be coming up on this time this October, and so a study might be done then to see what effect it's had. But as pointed out in the WA Post article, MI state police can't even be certain that the law has had any effect on driving habits. After this much time has gone by, you'd think they'd have SOME statistics, but it's obvious, they don't care.

It's ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL about MONEY!!!!!!!

I'm really disappointed to be reminded again that Governor Kaine supports Covenant Marriage.  My preference would be that all unions (now called marriages) should be civil and not be limited to one man and one woman.  If religious institutions wish to establish additional religious unions and call them "marriages" then that's fine....keeping religious marriages separate from the civil unions (those recognized by the state).  Civil unions would provide everyone that would enter into one the economic, non-discriminating, and legal protections that are provided under the law.

Wikipedia notes that "Opponents of covenant marriages argue that they are too religious in nature, effectively legalizing a religious view of marriage. Some worry that women can become trapped in unhealthy marriages - even in cases of abuse, it can be difficult to prove allegations sufficiently for a judge to grant a divorce.

I hope that the attempts to introduce and pass covenant marriages in our state continues to be struck down in the General Assembly, especially for the protection of the women who might get stuck in a abusive relationship. 

And the idea that children would be better off with both a father and mother just isn't so in many circumstances.

Ahem...isn't this covenant marriage thing just another way for those legislators who are lawyers to prey on those who wish to end their relationship?  You know, sort of like the "abuser fees"?

Since the Virginia Family Foundation is again pushing hard for this, if you agree that 'no fault' divorce is all that we want and need in Virginia, contact your representatives and tell him/her that!!!

Didn't get to hear most of it but the one thing I heard was the Family Foundation's dismissal of "no fault" divorce.

BTW the Family Foundation, that is pushing the Covenant Marriages for Virginians, is the same organization that just blasted the Virginia Education Association for their resolution that sexual orientation be added to non-discrimination policies in Virginia. 

This organization, like so many conservation organizations, is consumed with controlling your life and pushing their lifestyle on you, through your government!