Some on the left are already attacking Mark Warner...

[SaveElmer]

Telling us here in Virginia that Warner will be a bad candidate and a bad Senator...

Way out in left field (pun intended)...

by Matt Stoller

Mark Warner has annouced he's in the Senate race with this disgusting Lieberman-esque video. Running for Governor is a different game than running for Senate; as Governor, social issues are much less important, foreign policy ideas are irrelevant, and the national infrastructure of the parties don't matter. It's really just about local competence, which is why Mitt Romney and George Pataki were easily reelected Republicans but could never move to the Senate in their states.

Warner's a centrist, not a partisan, and my guess is that this will turn a lot of people off who had previously 'loved' Mark Warner. If the Republicans can find a candidate, I think he's going to have a bumpier ride than expected. He'll still win, in all likelihood, but he's going to be a bad Senator.

But those were delicious chocolate fountains.

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=B5441EF7413E2A9749F81B146F2F8952?diaryId=1323

Pushback at RaisingKaine...

1. Warner's a "centrist" or not a "partisan" - that's not an insult here in Virginia, that's a compliment. And it's why Mark Warner is BY FAR the most popular politician in Virginia. Because he cares about Virginia above party and ideological purity. Unfortunately, certain bloggers seem to have their priorities a bit confused.

2. We really DO love Mark Warner here in Virginia. Perhaps if people like Matt Stoller would spend less time bashing fellow Democrats and demanding ideological purity, we'd all be better off. Recall that Stoller also bashed candidate Jim Webb, writing "James Webb should be ashamed today. He acted without honor, without decency, and without courage. For shame." Verrry nice.

3. Republicans are going to find a candidate, and Mark Warner is going to crush him whether it's Jim "No Car Tax" Gilmore, Tom "DeLay" Davis or Pat "Better in the Original German" Buchanan.

4. Mark Warner is going to be a great U.S. Senator for Virginia and for the nation, teaming up to create one of the best -- if not the best -- Senate duos in America. It's too bad that certain bloggers not only can't recognize that fact, but choose instead to piss on Mark Warner's announcement day. Nice.

5. Why is Stoller bringing up the Yearly Kos "chocolate fountain" (and dragging Jerome Armstrong into this) again? And why now? And why Jerome? The fountain was always a bullshit issue -- simply part of the standard package at a typical Las Vegas over-the-top hotel, nothing more. What, Stoller would have preferred acai juice and wheatberry sprouts? Whatever.

http://www.raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=10377

[xchrom]

1. a republick party person is a republick party person is a republick party person...

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. And all Democrats are the same, too

Like Lieberman and Zell Miller.

The one and only important thing is the letter after their name. Didn't you get the memo?

[xchrom]

15. care to pint out the many passages where mark warner has loudly and pointedly denounced

the republick party for the horrific things said by them -- say since the clintons?

because i don't know of any.

and center politics? -- didn't centrist politics get us roberts and alito? -- that's centrism -- roberts and alito.

whether dems or republick party people -- centrists are the most dangerous and unreliable political animal in these modern times.

zell miller or mark warner -- it's all the same and they are walking rightwing nightmares.

[SaveElmer]

16. Do you live in Virginia?...nt

[ShortnFiery]

2. I won't vote for him in the primaries. However, I haven't decided my vote in the GE.

Gee, if he campaigns/behaves like Bob Kerrey, a PNAC supporting war-monger - you're right: no war-mongering corporatist score my vote, not even those with D after their names. :shrug:

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. If not Mark Warner, then who?

Bobby Scott? :rofl:

[Catchawave]

17. There ya go :)

We had this same problem with Jim Webb on DU/other lefty blogs...there were a lot who supported his primary opponent Harris Miller ?

I am vexed :D

[TwilightZone]

4. Some people don't seem to understand that Democrats vary by region.

The average Nebraska Democrat and the average Connecticut Democrat, for example, are two very different animals. What works in a race in Connecticut most likely won't stand a chance in Nebraska. Hence, Ben Nelson.

We're not going to win Virginia (or Nebraska, for that matter) running a liberal for Congress.

[ShortnFiery]

5. I grew up in Nebraska and now live in Virginia. I'm not voting for Republican "lite" just because

some centrists from OTHER states think they know what's best for our party HERE. I'd rather a true Republican Senator fuck-up our efforts to extract our children from Iraq, than some DINO who chooses to put a D after his name.

Newsflash: Not every Democrat in Nebraska OR Virginia is "CENTRIST." :eyes:

[cali]

8. Bwahahaha

are you sure you're not a republican operative?

[Bucky]

19. according to DU rules, you're not allowed to accuse other posters of being Republicans

Just hit the "alert" button if you suspect a push-poster.

[TwilightZone]

9. Newsflash: not many of them are liberals, either.

There's a reason why the Congressional Democrats from the upper Midwest are some of the most moderate/conservative Democrats in Congress.

Hint: It's not because those states are loaded with liberals.

[ShortnFiery]

10. OK, then don't be surprised when this liberal-democrat does not vote for the DINO. nt

[TwilightZone]

18. Why would I be surprised? You already said you'd take a R over a "supposed" D

No, thanks.

[Hippo_Tron]

11. Can you suggest a viable more liberal alternative to Mark Warner?

If you have one I'd certainly like to hear it. That is what primaries are for.

[cali]

7. idiots. n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

12. Mark Warner is somewhat of an unknown commodity, but he was a fairly progressive governor

Truth be told I don't think we really know yet how he will vote on foreign policy issues.

I also think it's a safe bet that he's infinitely better than any Republican.

[wyldwolf]

13. Why don't we run someone like Kucinich in VA! Yeah! A REAL Progressive would win there....

:rofl:

[onenote]

14. some on the left apparently know diddly about virginia

Lived here my entire life and I'm thrilled to have Mark Warner running for Senate.

[William769]

Just goes to show how some people are idiots.

I just read a glimpse of his record as Governor and any supposed Democrat who would not vote for this man in the general election is just well, stupid.

[William769]

20. self delete Double post.

[phylla]

21. Mark is smart, capable, forward looking, and a terrific campaigner

I heart Mark!

[Totally Committed]

22. He's another DLC Stooge that'll just vote with the other side when we need his vote most.

Another conservative corporatist in a seat in the Senate. Pretty soon it won't matter WHO'S in the "majority", it'll be Conservative Corporatism 24/7 for this Party, and we, the people will mean even less than we do now with every one of these bozos that gets elected.

TC