Mark Warner to Give Keynote Address at DNC

A tremendous choice by Barack Obama.  This will put Virginia seriously in play.  Brilliant.

Comments

[Sam]

Two Virginians in prime speaking spots at the convention would be a bad idea, and Obama's people are smarter than that... I think this announcement pretty much guarantees that Kaine is not the VP pick.

[eh]

In a rational world, Mark Warner would be the Dem nominee.

[Adam Parkhomenko]

Congratulations to both Warner and Mike Henry -- Mike is doing an amazing job over there and he continues to keep Virginia in the spotlight.

Supposedly Hillary had some dirt on Warner, hence his non-entrance into the presidential primary.

[Tatum]

Mark Warner's an outstanding choice. I only wish he were the nominee.

[Hokie Guru]

10:07 AM, what is your opening line on the United States State race in Virgina? Would you bet if said Mark Warner had to win by 16 points?

[Hokie Guru]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/12/AR2008081202011.html?hpid=topnews

Here's the post story on Mark Warner.

[Doug]

Mark Warner made it clear when he dropped out that he did so because he did not want to put the strain on his family of a national campaign. That's the reason he stopped running and the reason he did not choose to run as VP. I completely understand and then he can run in 8 years after winning two Senatorial elections and his kids are grown.

[J. Tyler Ballance]

Mark Warner could appear as the local Wal-Mart Greeter and get more of an audience.

Most Virginians won't care if he is at the Convention or not. We already know that Warner represents an agenda of political correctness, increased taxation and NEVER any targeted cuts to pet patronage programs, along with no enhancements to our LIBERTY through restricting the power of government.

The only thing interesting about the Democratic Convention is that they usually have some pretty good riots.

[Bruce]

Is there any evidence that the "Key Note Speaker" ever has an impact on a result?

Did Anne Richards' role in 2000 help Gore carry Texas?

[Not Hussein (formerly Not Ben)]

Bruce, try not to be stupid. Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. of Tennessee was the keynote speaker in 2000.

[charlie]

great move. I agree -- two Virginians are too much, so I'd read this tea leaf as saying Kaine isn't in play.

Sad for Kaine -- after his staff spends two weeks venting every bit of radioactive information into the press, Obama goes and gives the plum to Warner. I can't help but think this is Obama political cunning at work: give the Kaine people a long rope to hang themselves.

The only thing I'll say is Warner is NOT the most inspiring public speaker. I'm sure he is up to it, but his strength lies in what he does, not the way he speaks. However, having Warner campaign with Obama really does but Virginia into play.

Can anyone explain why Warner elected to run for senate instead of president? He would have crushed the field, including extreme socialist obama. I like the hell out of Mark Warner but I feel he's shooting too low... for now.

[the poster formerly known as 147.]

Warner would not have stood a chance going up against Obama and Clinton. And if you're calling Obama an extreme socialist I'd say you're not in touch with the grassroots of the Democratic Party in the least.

reality check

Mark Warner was getting crushed in polling, that is why he dropped out

Its pathetic how simple you all are

There is a reason that politicians are one of the worst respected job occupations

For gosh sake pick other people to be your heroes

Obama is an extreme socialist

He is taking from one group and giving it to another. He beleives that government exists to solve all of your problems (but only if you fit certain demographics).

Thats socialism, buying votes, whatever its been the democratic party for at least 70 years. Don't see it changing anytime soon.

[the poster formerly known as 147.]

My head is spinning. Under your definition, how is Warner's tax increase not 'socialism'? And if socialism is the way of the Democratic Party, how would Warner, presumably not a socialist, have won the nomination?

Anyways, this is a good move for Obama but it's interesting on Warner's part. He's always resisted being seen as a 'National' Democrat and now he's going to be a primetime speaker? He almost certainly won't be throwing out typical partisan rhetoric, but doesn't this make him vulnerable to attacks from Gilmore? Is he already that confident in victory?

[the poster formerly known as 147.]

*I should clarify I was assuming 1:02 and 2:35 were the same person, perhaps I was wrong...

anyone who really believes that Va is in play doesn't have a clue. Obama will lose VA by 7 pts.

[Doug]

I know it is complete insanity to respond to and argue with those who post on here, but, really, if you don't know what the fuck Socialism is, please don't use the word:

"Socialism refers to any of various economic and political concepts of state or collective (i.e. public) ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods and services, some of which have been developed into more or less highly articulated theories and/or praxis."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism

I could go get more sources than wiki, but we can agree this is what Socialism actually is.

There is no party in American politics that is even close to Socialism, except the Socialist party. Anyone know who is running for President there? I didn't think so.

While I am independent, I know that the Democratic Party believes the vast majority of operations in our country need to be privately held, mostly as small businesses. The Democratic Party is more progressive in giving advantage to small businesses to boot, so labelling them as Socialist is about the most idiotic and false thing one can do.

[Bubby Hussein, Hillbilly Sheikh]

Doug, Doug, Doug, you are schooling people that worship a degenerate and corrupt rightwing politic that has bankrupted our economy and eroded our armed forces. Limbaugh, Hannity, and OReilly are their revered shepherds as they shuffle to their authoritarian reward. If you kicked your dog for 8 years he would have enough sense to run away...not these people.

Dougie,
Maybe you did not read enough of your wiki... you and bubby should go play in your sandbox together and forget trying to invade the adult conversation. Remember that children should be seen and not heard (from).

The following excerpt from wiki def of communism

"Socialism is the intermediate system between capitalism and communism, when the government is in the process of changing the means of ownership from privatism, to collective ownership. "

I would say that taking from one to give to another(others) is a pretty good start.

[Doug]

On the political scale, or really the governmental management scale, what we do and propose in the US is so far from Socialism that your retort is the weakest I've ever seen on this blog.

Doug,

You now argue that the “degree” the democrats wish to move towards socialism is the prevailing factor and not the factual definition itself. It is good that you at least see your previous post as incorrect.

The original post(s) were critical of the democrats move towards socialism. Your most recent post also states “what we do and propose….” as you go on to again deny a socialist movement.

These statements seem to contradict your claim of being an “independent”. I would suggest you try to keep your lies straight as you move along with your argument.

[Doug]

Wow, read much? "what we do and propose in the US". I was including Republicans and Democrats. So, I should have written, what the entire Government of the United States does and proposes is very, very far from Socialism. Welfare reform in the 1990s was both parties coming together and passing those laws. But if you are going to call discussion of restoring something like a 39% tax bracket for those of us making over $250,000 annually to pay for infrastructure and idiotic, ill conceived occupations, then you really don't know what you are talking about.

Please, share details with me- do you mean to say that Social Security is Socialism? If so, say so. I believe it is a well needed, though sometimes flawed social safety net. When my uncle died in his 30s it allowed my cousins to keep their house (well, trailer), meet basic needs and even help with college. Maybe that's too much help for your tastes, but my uncle and aunt paid into the fund and got to see the benefits (well, not my uncle) and the his boys, since they were smart enough to succeed in college, really benefitted from the program. I think we all benefit when people like that aren't completely let to fend for themselves through a rough patch.

You see socialism, I see investment.