It's official!! Mark Warner is running for the U.S. Senate. Check out his website:

[beachmom]

http://www.markwarner2008.com/

Our challenges are great, but the potential of Americans to step up and meet those challenges is more than equal to the task. Six years ago, we brought a bipartisan agenda of change to Virginia. It's time to bring that same approach to Washington and our nation.

Gov. Mark Warner


To say that he is a frontrunner for the seat is an understatement. I know plenty of Republicans who would vote for him in a second. AND, there is the confusion factor with his name being the same as the current popular senator John Warner.

[wyldwolf]

1. ... Dems on track to pick up 5-6 Senate seats...

[Tipring]

18. We need more

I think we need the magic number of 60 Democratic Senators. ther is a lot of tooth paste to put into the tube. We can start by donating to the Larry Craig Primary Campaigh war chest...we need that boy on the jballot in Id.

[beachmom]

2. The video is worth watching at the website. He takes his

successes from being Governor and says he will bring that to Washington.

Obviously, he needs to run a great campaign, but if he does that, the question won't be IF he wins, but by how high a percentage!

[Hawaii Hiker]

3. Does anyone know much about Mark Warner, is:

he a real Democrat, NOT a (DINO) like Libermann, etc?...

He's not a blue-dog socially conservative Dem is he?..

[wyldwolf]

4. actually, anyone who uses the word DINO is a DINO in my book

:eyes:

Further, I find it odd (well, not really) that someone who is throwing that naive word around with such bravado doesn't know Mark Warner.

Yep, he's DLC, moderate, centrist (the way Dems were when we won on a regular basis)

[Hawaii Hiker]

5. ???? - Did you read my post

I know NOTHING about Mark Warner other than that he made a fortune in the cell-phone business, that is WHY I ASKED....I don't know his politics, thus, I wanted to inquire as to what they were!

I'm the furthest thing from a DINO, btw....Trust me, I'm as liberal as anyone on this board...Actually, I'm a social libertarian, so please don't call me a DINO.

[Catchawave]

8. I like Mark Warner a lot !

He was my gov and left office with an approval rating in the 70's (term limited in VA). He also had a knack for reaching across the aisle to get things done.

DU still has a supporters forum here from his national popularity to draft him for Prez :)

His announcement is good news for our party, it's almost a guaranteed pick up !

[wyldwolf]

10. of course I read your post

the implication being socially conservative Democrat = DINO.

But, in my book, "progressives" (social libertarianns?) are the DINOs.

See how it works both ways?

[Hawaii Hiker]

12. "the implication being socially conservative Democrat = DINO"

Well, I think that's true....Socailly conservative Democrats generally are (DINO's) especially if they are the pro-life, anti-First Amendment types, & by anti-First Amd. I mean the types of Democrats who made a fuss over the J. Jackson Super Bowl incident and/or complain about Hollywood & Howard Stern...

Also, any Democrat who voted for Samuel Ailito is, in my opinion, a DINO as well...

I certainly prefer the Kerry & Kennedy's over the Libermann's & the B. Nelson's...

[wyldwolf]

13. interesting

Socailly conservative Democrats generally are (DINO's) especially if they are the pro-life...

Did you know abortion was illegal in all 50 states until the mid 60s - a period of Democratic dominance on the federal and state level? And such a notion as abortion was completely offensive to Democrats like FDR, Harry Truman, and John Kennedy? Were they DINOs?

anti-First Amendment types, & by anti-First Amd. I mean the types of Democrats who made a fuss over the J. Jackson Super Bowl incident and/or complain about Hollywood & Howard Stern...

None of which were violations of the first amendment.

But, no, it's actually "progressives" who are DINOS. Traditionally, they've only seen the Democratic party as the easiest vehicle to advance their agenda.

"Progressives," so disallusioned with not being able to infiltrate the Democratic party in the 30s and 40s finally ran their own candidate in 1948 - almost costing Truman the election.

"Progressives" protested the nomination of JFK and were still trying to draft another candidate at the DNC convention that Summer.

"Progressives" cost us the elections of '68 and '72. "Progressives" played a role in out '80 defeat. Because Mondale and Dukakis felt the need to pander to every progressive single issue advocacy group, they lost big in '84 and '88.

Clinton, who refused to kiss "progressive" ass, won in '92 and '96.

"Progressives" cost Al Gore the election in 2000.

"Progressive" = DINO in my book.

[Hawaii Hiker]

17. Some disagreements:

"Progressives" cost us the elections of 68."

Sirhan-Sirhan cost Demcorats the election of 1968, because had he lived, RFK would have almost certainly would have been elected...Ok, this was before my time, but I really feel RFK would have won...

"Progressives" cost Al Gore the election in 2000".

Definitely disagree there...Ralph Nader & the U.S. Supreme Court (namely Scalia, Thomas, Reinquist, O'Connor, & Kennedy) cost Gore the election....

"Because Mondale and Dukakis felt the need to pander to every progressive single issue advocacy group, they lost big in '84"...

When Mondale said he'd raise taxes, that doomed him....I hated Reagan, but unfortunately he was riding a wave of popularity & unless we would have had a near perfect candiate, we probably weren't going to win in 84....

"88"

Whoever created the Willie Horton ad, that was a big contributor to MD losing in 1988, not progressives....

[wyldwolf]

19. but none valid

Sirhan-Sirhan cost Demcorats the election of 1968, because had he lived, RFK would have almost certainly would have been elected...Ok, this was before my time, but I really feel RFK would have won...

Pure conjecture.

Definitely disagree there...Ralph Nader & the U.S. Supreme Court (namely Scalia, Thomas, Reinquist, O'Connor, & Kennedy) cost Gore the election....

Yeah - because "progressives" voted for Ralph Naded! Duh!

When Mondale said he'd raise taxes, that doomed him....I hated Reagan, but unfortunately he was riding a wave of popularity & unless we would have had a near perfect candiate, we probably weren't going to win in 84....

Democrats doomed themselves when they adopted a policy of pandering to every single issue advocacy group. It's said Mondale couldn't tie his shoe without "asking every special interest group's input on how to do it." That charged dogged him throughout the campaign.

Whoever created the Willie Horton ad, that was a big contributor to MD losing in 1988, not progressives....

Again, the "special interests" tag (Card carrying member of the ACLU) played a very large role. Also, keep in mind, both Mondale and Dukakis had to pass litmus tests with these "progressive" groups before they could get their support.

[Hawaii Hiker]

22. Pandering certainly worked for Republicans

"Dukakis had to pass litmus tests with these "progressive" groups before they could get their support."

Well, Republicans have to pass similar tests with religious right groups, who HAVE TOTALLY taken over that party...Look at the Republican senate, (DeMint, Hatch, Chambliss, Imhoffe, Brownback, etc. just to name a few), there are FEW moderates left in the Republican party anymore...

Look at how Guiliani, Romney, etc. are trying to sound socially conservative to appease the religious right...(Though if social issues were really that important wouldn't Republicans be supporting Sam Brownback, whose polling at 1%)....

[wyldwolf]

25. but it failed for Democrats.

[Hawaii Hiker]

30. They'll need to strike a balance to appease progressives

& the more conservative Democrats...

But remember, Gore won the popular vote, & Kerry recieved the 2nd. most votes in history, Democrats/progressives aren't some minority...

This nation isn't as conservative as the NY Post & FOX Noise wants everyone to believe.....

BTW, who is your choice for the Democratic nominee?...

[dsc]

31. I have been a Democrat my entire life

I worked for Mondale (too young to vote) and voted and worked for every candidate since (except Gore in 2000 since I was newly sober). I have done so in many cases despite a candidate ranging from not being pro gay to being actively anti gay. I did so because I am a real Democrat. You sir, can screw off. Clinton wouldn't have won Georgia or Florida without gays. Gore wouldn't have won the popular vote without gays. We also provided the margin of victory in the House this time around. Without us, you would be about as relevent as a dog catcher.

[beachmom]

9. Mark Warner is more moderate, but Virginia was a red state when

he was governor. Warner said that helping kids get healthcare and that the social programs like Medicaid were a priority in Virginia. Then he did massive budget cuts on lesser programs , before telling the Republican Assembly and Senate that we STILL were in the hole. Only then was there a tax increase.

Warner on foreign policy is less clear. I don't think he had gotten to the point in his presidential campaign where he had really crafted a world view. I look forward to him doing that for the Senate race.

I think the DLC was necessary in the early '90s, but now it has run its course. You can't really argue that Dems won on a regular basis under the DLC flagship, when the Congress was routed in '94, and did not come back until '06.

I think Mark Warner is not DLC or centrist, but rather a pragmatic technocrat, who always has the interests of the people (and that means health care, jobs) at heart, but found reasonable bipartisanship worked well in Virginia when he was governor.

[wyldwolf]

11. uh...

You can't really argue that Dems won on a regular basis under the DLC flagship, when the Congress was routed in '94, and did not come back until '06.

First, you're asserting the Dem party has at some point existed under a DLC flagship. That isn't accurate. The DLC never held a majority status in the House among Democrats. But the Dems did pick up seats in '98.

Regardless of the exaggerated role and influence of the DLC by the left, the DLC HAS won on a regular basis except at the Federal level - where Democrats in general haven't faired well in recent years. It wasn't the DLC brand - it was the Democrat brand.

But on the state level, the DLC has thrived. Here are current and recent DLC governors:

* Gov. Mike Beebe of Arkansas
* Gov. Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana
* Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee
* Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey
* Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin
* Gov. Michael Easley of North Carolina
* Gov. Jennifer Granholm of Michigan
* Gov. Christine Gregoire of Washington
* Gov. Brad Henry of Oklahoma
* Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia
* Gov. Joe Manchin of West Virginia
* Gov. Ruth Ann Minner of Delaware
* Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona
* Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania
* Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico
* Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas
* Gov. Eliot Spitzer of New York
* Former Gov. (now former President) Bill Clinton of Arkansas
* Former Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa
* Former Gov. Mark Warner of Virginia
* Former Gov. Jim McGreevey of New Jersey

And in 2006, over half of the new House members became DLC and at least 15 Senate members are DLC (depending on how one counts Salazar and Lieberman.)

I think Mark Warner is not DLC or centrist

Except that he is. Both. :shrug:

When Tim Kaine was running for Governor, the two campaigned together as "sensible centrists." Warner's membership in the DLC is well known and references of it can be found all over the internet, including the DLC's site:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Mark+Warner+DLC&btnG=Google+Search

Sorry, but there is a humorous trend on the left to deny someone is a DLCer when the left decides they like him/her.

[beachmom]

27. My mistake. I had never heard he was a member of the DLC.

I still think he is a good member of the Democratic party. Some in the DLC (and I have read many articles exhibiting this behavior) are not. They turn everything into bashing "liberals" and that is what I think is what is wrong with them, not necessarily having more moderate positions, especially if it is in red states.

"Trend on the left". Maybe you can check my history, but to suggest I am on the Left most point of the Democratic party is not accurate. I am in the center of the Democratic party, which makes me liberal, but not Left.

And, I voted for Mark Warner and am proud of that vote. I look forward to volunteering for him and voting for him again as a U.S. Senator.

I maintain that the "brand" DLC is very '90s, and should be scrapped.

[wyldwolf]

29. ok..

Some in the DLC (and I have read many articles exhibiting this behavior) are not.

Well, there are bad apples in every organization. Some members of PDA and the Progressive House caucus aren't exactly "good."

They turn everything into bashing "liberals" and that is what I think is what is wrong with them, not necessarily having more moderate positions, especially if it is in red states.

Then what you have a problem with is counterattacks. "Progressives" began attacking the DLC first, in 1988, when Jesse Jackson called them racist. Since then, in "progressive" publications and later on the internet, "progressives" continued their attack. This is all detailed in at least two books - one specifically about the DLC and one on the Democratic party in general. Plus, I've followed it for 15 years.

Do you have a problem with people defending themselves or fighting back?

I maintain that the "brand" DLC is very '90s, and should be scrapped.

It won us two presidential elections in the 90s, and two more this century if you believe Gore and Kerry won. It won us back the House last year. :shrug:

[Bitwit1234]

6. And old Pat Buttcannon

says he is going to run against him.....the ego of these loosers is huge.

[LynneSin]

23. I hope he runs 3rd party

that'll put a nail into the republican's head

[Catchawave]

7. GREAT NEWS !

Not a peep on MSNBC (which I've had on all morning), probably because they employ Buchanan? :evilgrin:

I bet RK is exploding right now :hi:

[ShortnFiery]

14. Hello? There's one big a** echo chamber within this thread.

:eyes:

[AX10]

15. It's another Senate seat for our side and Warner is better than..

LIEberman.

[Tipring]

20. My Dog

Is better than Lieberman.

[phylla]

16. Mark Warner is one smart cookie...

and getting smarter every day.

[LynneSin]

21. WOOHOO - 2 dems for Virginia

Way to bring em back into the Blue!

And hopefully that'll help with us securing Virginia in the dem column for the Presidential election

[FrenchieCat]

24. A good thing for Virginia and the nation!

[Trouser Trout]

26. I was able to meet him 2 months ago

Bright, charismatic Dem. What we need for '12 or beyond as President

[illinoisprogressive]

28. I am so happy. And happy for those in Virginia. Webb and Warner...