Hey Democrats, here’s what we get to do when we WIN: Kaine Inaug

[autorank]

VIRGINIA HAD A CHOICE BETWEEN THIS

:

(Gov. Tim Kaine, D, with his father –in-law, first VA governor
to integrate public schools)

The new governor, Harvard-educated civil rights attorney, grew up in Kansas City. … worked as a missionary in Honduras. Mayor of Richmond (passed a living wage) and lieutenant governor.

“As a people, we have come through storm after storm after storm, working out the meaning of our own destiny and coming closer and closer to the Virginia idea of equality that Jefferson articulated in America’s Declaration of Independence,” he said.

On immigration and immigrants: “welcome newcomers to this Commonwealth and nation, just as Chief Powhatan did 400 years ago.”

He delivered a portion of his speech in Spanish -- a first for a Virginia governor -- promising to be fair and inclusive of all ethnic groups. He also pledged to press for federal recognition of the state’s native http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=98160&ran=118695&tref=po">Indian tribes.

or this
=

Well the DEMOCRAT WON!!!

So we had a little celebration, in colonial Williamsburg, where it rained all day. Kaine said the rain helped remind “not to take ourselves too seriously.” What would Robertson have said..

Here are some pics. This is what we get to do when we win. It’s fun, rain does not’t matter. The people in the crowd are almost all Democrats.


The Virginia General Assembly met next to the original Virginia Capitol to hear the Governor Speak. He traveled the parade in a carriage, no thing electronic or high tech in the parade. Just people.



The leaders of the parade. Colonial fief & drum corp.. They went into battle with the troops to signal maneuvers.


The governor greets the locals. They’re grateful for a competent, sane man.


Chickhomoney Tribe of Virginia, seeking recognition, they DO NOT want gambling. Mary Baldwin Women’s College ROTC.


A great tribute to the past. But band people are the same throughout the centuries..


"This blessed country of free inquiry and belief has surrendered its creed and conscience to neither kings nor priests."
--Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Waterhouse, 1822. ME 15:385

[AX10]

1. Wonderful!

"welcome newcomers to this Commonwealth and nation, just as Chief Powhatan did 400 years ago.”

[wake.up.america]

2. Wow! Great!! Tremendous!! Sanity in the Commonwealth!!

[autorank]

4. We kicked their ass -- 54% - 46%

KAINE 52% + ANTI KILGORE CANDIDATE POTTS 2%
Sanity 54%
Kilgore 46%

[autorank]

16. Kaine explained how the founders would have starved w/out Powhatan.

What a great point to make. When he spoke in Spanish, it was just terrific. He gets very little for this politically, he's just inclusive and believes this stuff.

[...of J.Temperance]

3. What charming and beautiful pictures :) And hello Governor Kaine :)

I'll give your thread a vote...because it's a nice thread.

[autorank]

5. It's nice to win.

The ceremony was packed and it rained all day!

[...of J.Temperance]

6. It is nice to win...and our party is going to win more!! Are those your

Pictures, did you take them?

Those pictures just make one feel all warm and fuzzy :)

[autorank]

11. They're mind, "wet," warm, and fuzzy. Well since you asked;)...a bonus

H.S. kids who marched for a bill to put the Constitution on the back of the dollar bill.


VA National Guard


This horse had a short day!

[autorank]

12. dupe, oops

[stevedeshazer]

13. Those high school kids who want the Constitution on the dollar bill?

Wow!

:patriot:

[autorank]

15. Yep, it's a bipartisan thing here but I LIKE the idea, especially now!

[MrBenchley]

7. Thanks for sharing....

Sounds like it was fun.

[autorank]

8. It's amazing how winning makes you forget the elements! Rain, who cares!

[MrBenchley]

9. I know the feeling...

Thansk again for the pictures and the essay. Hope you enjoyed Williamsburg...

[wiley]

22. They wish you were there.

:patriot:

[jackpan1260]

10. We also get 4 more years of a well run state.

Kaine is far from my dream candidate, but he is much, much better for Virginia than Kilgore would ever be. I think Virginian's will be happy with him.

[autorank]

14. The alternative was a horror...Kaine will surprise us, I think.

He did living wage in Richmond as mayor. He's got a strong civil rights advocacy background. I think he knows the ropes in VA. I also think when Warner and Kaine say "bipartisan" they mean, the Republicans will do the sensible thing or we'll focus on the consequences. In Warner's case, the consequences for the Republicans would have been a full vetting of the probably
illegal budget tricks of his Republican predecessor. Kain will need a bigger club, maybe a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans (from No. VA).

Who knows but Kilgore was a fright fest. Unfortunately the R. (Robertson backed) Lt.Gov. and A.G. snuck in. Hmmm....next time, a clean sweep.

[ruggerson]

17. Why should we celebrate a bigot being elected Governor?

Just because he's a Democrat?

I have no argument with those who deem it politically necessary to oppose gay marriage, though I think an argument can be made that there is a popular position in support of it that has not yet been made successfully.

I DO have an argument with Dems who oppose civil unions, as about 75% of the nation supports them, so it will not hurt them at the polls.

Sorry. We can do a lot better than bigots.

http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=4540

The Virginia House voted 73 to 22 to approve a constitutional amendment banning equal marriage rights for gays. The proposal must be voted on by the Senate and signed by Gov.-elect Tim Kaine (D) before it can go to voters in November.

Kaine spokeswoman Delacey Skinner said that the governor-elect will sign the bill to call for a referendum. Kaine supports the amendment and opposes civil unions, she said.

[autorank]

18. Wrong. Is Kerry a bigot? You'd prefer Pat Robertson? No 'jacking.

A) Kaine favors civil benefits. He does not favor a gay marriage. This is Kerry's position. (I do favor gay marriage btw, have NO problem with it at all).

B) Kaine favors adoption by gays, just not "married gays." (I disagree!)

c) If the bill has a ban on gay marriage and denial of civil benefits, he'll veto it. Warner vetoed the last bill like this instantly.

"Bigot" is such a foul term. Is Kerry a bigot. His position is exactly like "A"?

[ruggerson]

19. Wrong. Kaine opposes civil unions.

Kerry supported them. Even BUSH supports them.

Don't give me this crap. Go on celebrating your "victory" at the expense of a whole segment of the population, but don't fool yourself into thinking he isn't a bigot.

The bill is a constitutional amendment and Kaine has indicated he will sign it.

[autorank]

20. My last message to you. You're WRONG. We're done.

1) Climate: Running for Lt. Gov. the Robertson clan accuses him of opposing the Boy Scouts}
2) Start here. Read this for an analysis that makes sense. [br />3) "Del. Robert Marshall, R-Prince William - whose bill to prohibit homosexuals from adopting children failed last year - has introduced a measure that would prohibit doctors from performing in-vitro fertilization or artificial insemination for unmarried women. Gay rights groups are saying it's an effort to prevent lesbians from having children." This couldn't even pass the state legislature and the Democrats are moving to take back the majority, maybe in 2 years.
4) Kain supported the ban on discrimination against gays in state employment.

You have no idea how bad Robertson-Falwell would be in control of this state. None. You'd prefer to trash a politicalliy expedient Democrat, I agree, who will not inflict the horrors on us that the extreme right will and who will, like Warner, undermine their bigotry in a less direct way than supporting a position that he can't win. It's not that far off from Kerry's position during 2004.

You're on ignore.

[ruggerson]

21. You can ignore all you want

but you can't ignore the fact that you're celebrating a man who is supporting a bigoted constitutional amendment.

Deal with reality, not what you wish reality to be.

And, btw, no one was discussing adoption or employment. That's not the issue at hand. The issue at hand is a state constitutional amendment which would ban both same sex marriage AND civil unions.

Keep on celebrating.

[spooky3]

25. Please see Kaine's first executive order barring discrimination

in employment:

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0106/294059.html

I realize it is not comprehensive in covering all aspects of life, but it's not something that a bigot would order.

[ruggerson]

26. Didn't Warner do this as one of his last acts?

And Kaine is merely perpetuating it?

Regardless, as I've said on another thread, obviously, I would have put aside great disagreements and either voted for him anywayw or abstained from voting.

But, I've decided, it being a new year and all, that Democrats should not get away with being JUST AS or MORE bigoted than Republicans when it comes to human rights.

I would have far less of a problem if this was a constitutional amendment banning marriage, period. But it also bans civil unions.

A vast majority of the country supports civil unions. Kaine would lose very little political capital by vetoing this and telling the legislature that he will not sign it until it addresses SOLELY marriage and does not ban civil unions.

As the amendment reads now, it sets up, in Virginia, a brand new set of Jim Crow laws which afford rights and privileges to one group while denying them to another.

I won't stay quiet while Republicans OR Democrats sign legislation turning gays and lesbians into second class citizens. It's wrong. It's morally reprehensible.

The fact that he's a Democrat almost makes it worse.

[paineinthearse]

23. We won!!!!!!!!!!!

:applause:

Anyone have an idea what the rethug spin is?

[autorank]

28. We did. When Bush came it really helped! Might have been closer but

we would have won anyway.

Now get rid of Mitt, Mitten, whatever he calls himself...oh, right, he's not running. What a shame;)

[spooky3]

24. Thanks for representing us so well and for the wonderful photos!

I think Kaine will do a good job and move the state slowly more in a blue direction once he gets established. Did you see Marc Fisher's column in the WaPo today/

[autorank]

27. I was proud to be there. Check this out---VERY dirty Repup. $$$'s

The money in the campaign was a huge factor. The Robertson - right wing folks ran a unified campaign. I think that they gave up on Kilgore at the end and shoved their resources into the Lt. Gov and A.G. But the money is very dirty. The link above is to a great article.

We'll see how the campaign finance stuff plays out. It won't look good for the Republicans as the details come out. Possibly, the Abramoff scandal will be a stimulus.

Thanks!

[spooky3]

32. Excellent article. The hypocrisy of these people knows no bounds.

I wish more Americans cared about this issue.

[autorank]

33. The core research for this was developed by a VA blogger.The

The kid has real guts, just dove in to this head first.

This should have been a national scandal. Amazing isn't it. They won't even take this on, CM that is.

http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/category/politics/virginia/

I wonder ... if we had pictures of the President of Iran giving a Republican a suitcase full of $20.00's, would CM (corporate media) cover it. Nah...

[autorank]

29. How Kaine won--The Rise of the NoVA "creative class" - great stuff.

Ths is a belle weather development for our party. Where the professionals congregate, dense suburbs, and work, Kaine had a huge margin. My precinct just over 50% for Kerry in 11/04. This year it was well over 60% for Kaine...and by pure demographics, it should be Republican. The shift here in No. VA is permanent. There are no wedge issues. The Republicans are through over the next 4-6 years in this state unless they find a moderate...but it can't be an anti-abortion, anti-black/Hispanic/gay candidate. The Republicans have painted themselves into a corner.

'Rise of Creative Class' & Its New Political Clout in N. Va. Was Area's Top 2005 Story
http://www.fcnp.com/543/lead.htm
By Nicholas F. Benton

The “rise of the creative class” in Northern Virginia to deliver a Democrat into the governor’s mansion of a solidly-red (i.e. pro-Republican) state in November was the biggest news development in the region, if not the nation, in 2005. The development has also propelled current Virginia Democratic governor into the front lines of the hunt for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.

The national implications of November’s Virginia gubernatorial election are obvious. Given how close the last two U.S. presidential elections have been, the prospects for turning a major “red” state “blue” in time for the next election are of enormous import.

(Explains how this group is located in Fairfax & Arlington Counties & Alexandria made the difference. Kaine won them with 60-70%! majorities)

The contiguous jurisdictions of Fairfax and Arlington counties, plus the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax provided Kaine with 102,663 of his total 113,340 statewide margin of victory, or 94% of the entire margin. Kaine won the entire rest of the state by only 10,677 votes, and that margin was more than accounted for by the City of Richmond, alone, where he’d served as mayo

[understandinglife]

30. Bravo!! This is very, very special. Murtha tonight, Gore tomorrow, ...

..., Conyers Friday, .... let's take back our Republic and send all the neoconsters to jail.


Peace.

[autorank]

31. I'm there to cheer Gore. I can't wait. It will blow everybody away...

We need a leader for the party. Why not Gore? He'll become that by acclamation, I'm sure, when he just lays * out.

[Eurobabe]

34. WOOHOO Gov. Kaine!!

I met him at during the prez primaries in Jan 2004 -- we showed up for the delegates voting to support Clark.

Glad he's my new Gov. (I'm leaving shithole OH in a few months)

[autorank]

35. Welcome to Virginia! If your in No. Virginia, you're in 60-70% Dem

voting, as of 2005. Huge shift. Kaine would have wone without us by about 10K votes. With us, it was a kicker. Fairfax is the next Marin County!