In a recent interview with Jim Lehrer, Sen. John Cornyn said that Republicans would move "pretty quickly" to repeal health insurance and Wall Street reform if the party wins control of congress in the November election.
Today DNC Chairman Tim Kaine hit back against Cornyn, the chairman of the NRSC.
“Senator Cornyn is not the first Republican to call for the repeal of Wall Street reform and health insurance reform, but I grow more concerned for our country's future every time I hear another Republican leader pledging to do away with critical legislation that guarantees, among other things, that American taxpayers will never again be left to bail big banks out of a mess of that the banks created.
"There is a rapidly growing rank of Republicans who show themselves to be hopelessly out of touch with middle class Americans’ concerns – for their families, their finances, and their future.
“Senator Cornyn and Republicans might act like they’re promising change, but really they’re just promising more of the same policies that failed so miserably and put us on the brink of a second Great Depression. It's more of the same back-room dealing with special interests – like the strategy sessions they held with Wall Street lobbyists shortly before voting against financial reform in the first place. And it's more of the same cynical obstructionism – like the political tactics they used to delay reforms that are ending unfair lending practices and putting a stop to unfair credit card rate hikes.
“If Senator Cornyn thinks the America people want to go back to the policies that nearly left our economy in tatters; if Senator Cornyn thinks the American people are ready to let corporate special interests and lobbyists write their own rules again; and if Senator Cornyn thinks for minute we’re not going to spell out very clearly for the American people how Republicans are putting these special interests at the head of the line; then I have a message for Senator Cornyn: 'You are wrong.'”
Tim Kaine is exactly right: John Cornyn is wrong. More talk like this from Republicans will enable Democrats to make it clear what this election is about. The more Cornyn continues to talk, the greater chance Democrats have to fair far better in November than the coventional wisdom would dictate.
The Democratic National Committee will hold its quarterly meeting this September 10 through 12 in Austin, Chairman Tim Kaine announced earlier today.
To have many of the national party's leaders in Austin can only be a good thing, especially if either President Obama or Vice President Biden is able to attend.
From Postcards from the Lege, here is an excerpt from an e-mail Chairman Kaine sent earlier today:
Texas is an increasingly diverse state with a burgeoning and politically active Hispanic population that went strongly for Barack Obama in 2008…. (W)e have every reason to feel bullish about our chances in Texas.
Let's hope by that time we have many quality candidates for high statewide office to show off to DNC members.
Update: Texas DNC member Rick Cofer had this to say about the selection of Austin for the quarterly meeting:
The DNC selected Texas for the September meeting precisely because we're on the cusp of turning Texas blue. For over 100 years our state reliably elected Democrats to high office and within the near future we will reclaim the dominant electoral position in Texas.
Our state has a proud legacy of leadership within the Democratic Party. From Sam Rayburn to Lyndon Johnson to Ann Richards, our state has consistently been a source of the best and brightest political leaders in the nation. This DNC meeting marks the beginnings of our reemergence.
Democratic National Committee Chairman, and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, brought the Organizing for America listening tour to Dallas today where he intimated several times over that a competitive 2010 election cycle across the United States for Democrats includes the Lone Star State.
Kaine mentioned the positive dynamics of Democrats winning a gubernatorial seat here in Texas, especially if Rick Perry is the Republican nominee, and also took a moment to mention the potential of picking up a U.S. Senate seat with a special election upon the expected fall resignation of Kay Bailey Hutchison. Kaine spoke as if he was well aware of some emerging competitive statewide races on the horizon here in Texas.
Overall, Kaine articulated three goals that the Democratic National Committee has:
DNC Chair Gov. Tim Kaine will hold an informal meet and greet with Organizing for North Texas (Dallas/Ft. Worth) volunteers and supporters on Wednesday, May 20th between 3PM and 4:15PM at the Iron Cactus, 1520 Main Street, Dallas.
Luke Hayes, OFA's Texas Director, will also be in attendance and will speak briefly about the President's upcoming focus on health care reform and future plans for OFA in Texas.
The event is free and open to the public but please RSVP to gillianpar@gmail.com.
There's no question it'll be hard to match Howard Dean's record as chairman of this party. His 50-state strategy was simple and powerful. The Obama campaign adopted it and the results speak for themselves.
The basic point-and the principle I'll carry with me as DNC Chair-is that everybody matters...
...You don't have to be a big donor for your donation to matter.
...You don't have to be an expert for your idea to matter.
...You don't have to be a full-time campaign worker for your effort to matter.
I will be true to that strategy-every state, every community, every person matters.
Together, we'll do some new things-because we can never rest on what worked yesterday. But we will never again as a party write off states or regions or people.
...
The 50 state strategy is now and forever what Democrats do.
If Kaine keeps his word, it appears that reports of the demise of the Fifty State Strategy were greatly exaggerated. Good news for Texas.
That's what Chris Bowers of OpenLeft says the DNC, under the new leadership of Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, is planning.
During the festivities here in D.C., I ran into a source close to the transition at the DNC who was able to provide an update on the new outlines of the DNC strategy, which does diverge from the current form of the fifty-state strategy in multiple ways:
Increasing Centralization: The shift in resources away from paid media and toward on the ground organizers will continue. However, these resources will be more directly controlled by the DNC itself, rather than by state parties. In other words, the SPP program where the DNC pays for organizers chosen by the state parties themselves is, as previously reported, done. Instead, the DNC will likely hire and assign organizers themselves. State party grants will also likely be transformed into more centrally directed expenditures by the DNC.
More swing state, less fifty-state: Many, if not most, states will have more resources spent on them during the next four years than during the previous four years. In addition to increasingly centralized control over how these resources are spent, there will also be a return to a swing-state focus for 2012. However, it is important to keep in mind that the Obama campaign's version of a swing state strategy was broader than either the Gore or Kerry incarnations.
In short, the DNC will be moving away from the long-term, decentralized, fifty-state strategy of Howard Dean's tenure, and toward serving as a short-term, centralized re-election effort for President Obama in 2012. It will continue the move away from paid media ushered in by Howard Dean, maintain or increase the amount of resource expenditures in most states, and the number of states it targets will be a broader effort than the narrow focus we saw in 2001-2004 (but more narrow than 2005-2008). However, it will return to the traditional role of the DNC as a supplement for the sitting President's re-election campaign, rather than as the long-term, localized institution building operation that is was from 2005-2008.
The fifty-state strategy of 2005-2008 is going to be replaced with the "re-elect President Obama" strategy of 2009-2012. Both have their advantages, but I still consider firing the 200 state party organizers a real blow to the long-term development of local Democratic Party talent and infrastructure.
Obviously planning for the re-election of President Obama is important, but investing in an aggressive Fifty State Strategy like the one Howard Dean has implemented is an investment towards Democratic victories in 2010, 2012, and beyond.
Some of us had reservations when the Obama campaign moved volunteers out of Texas, but overall I think the Obama team really understood the upside of the Fifty State Strategy. Unlike the 2004 campaign of John Kerry, Obama's campaign seemed to get "it."
The change in attitude that came to the DNC with Dean's January 2005 election helped Obama win in places like North Carolina, Virginia, and Indiana.
Since Dean took over at the DNC, Democrats have won U.S. Senate and House races in many areas not traditionally friendly to Democrats. As Gov. Dean said on Morning Joe yesterday, the 2006 elections, which included Democratic Senate pickups in Montana, Virginia, Missouri and Ohio, "gave our strategy credibility."
So what exactly happened to justifty getting rid of the 50 State Strategy?
It is unclear of course what influence, if any, Emanuel (who I still believe is a great pick for CoS) had in killing the strategy of Dean. The two had many disagreements over 50 state vs. swing state issues when Emanuel served as Chairman of the DCCC.
It is not all gloom and doom though. Bowers makes a good point that Obama's swing state strategy is significantly broader than that of Gore or Kerry.
If Texas Democrats can continue to make progress and win a few statewide offices in 2010, perhaps there is a chance we can end up on the swing state list. If we do, there will be a lot of people to thank. Howard Dean will be one of them.
Looks like Karl Rove argued against Tim Kaine for lack of experience just last month.
But now ~ Sarah Palin is the perfect choice for VP because of her experience ~ which just so happens to be much less than Tim Kaine's. If you haven't seen it, this video from last night's Daily Show is hysterical.
And Rove believes her to be a populist, too. He absolutely adores her!
Update 11:33pm: It is now official, according to CNN and Politico. The ticket: Obama-Biden. The Obama campaign will announce the selection to supporters in (the long awaited) text message later Saturday.
Update 11:13pm: ABC News is reporting that Secret Service agents have been dispatched to Delaware to begin protecting Joe Biden. It seems more and more likely that Biden is the pick.
The AP is reporting that both Evan Bayh and Tim Kaine have been told that they will not be Barack Obama's running mate.
Though Chet Edwards had been said to be a finalist, Chris Cilliza believes that most of the talk in the coming hours will focus on Sens. Joe Biden and Jack Reed.
It is starting to look like Biden has gone from merely the conventional wisdom to the likely choice. We should know very soon. Keep your cell phones on.
This may be your last chance to make a prediction. Do you think our own Chet Edwards has a chance? Or will Obama pick a senator like Biden or Reed?
The convention is less than two weeks away and the tension is mounting. Who will Barack Obama select to be his running mate? It is starting to look like George W. Bush's congressman, Chet Edwards, is more and more likely.
Certainly, Pennsylvania will be key to victory. Women, older voters, and suburban voters will all be necessary to achieve this win ... Chet Edwards would help Sen. Obama win in swing districts like mine and in states like Pennsylvania...
Chet Edwards would provide strong support to the new administration by engaging Members of Congress to pass critical legislation: health care for all Americans; comprehensive energy policy; new tax policy; and an end to war in Iraq, bringing our troops home safely and responsibly..."
Even as national bloggers like Chris Bowers and some inside the progressive community remain skeptical, the likelihood that Edwards maybe the Senator's choice is increasing.
CQ Politics points to an interesting fact, most of the people rumored to be on Obama's short list are slated for speaking times already, and unless they are scheduled to speak twice, the list is either shrinking rapidly or way off base.
As of yesterday, the only rumored candidates not slated to speak in Denver were, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Sen. Evan Bayh, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Texas Rep. Chet Edwards, and Gen. Wes Clark. With today's announcement from the DNCC that both Joe Biden and Evan Bayh have been scheduled to speak at the convention on Wednesday, the list of 5 is down to 3.
This late afternoon announcement has led some to think Kaine is on the cusp of being announced as Obama's V.P., but something appears to be off in that assessment.
Virginia is already in play. Mark Warner looks to be the heir apparent to John Warner's vacated seat. Adding Kaine to the ticket doesn't look to get Obama anywhere. Clark would be a solid choice, looking at a geopolitical question, what states will Clark move? Clark will also highlight the fact that Obama's resume is focused on domestic policy. Plus, Clark is the only man in the world with a better title than President-Former Supreme Allied Commander. Why would you go from that to Vice President?
That leaves Rep. Edwards. He is a candidate who is a moderate. He is a Democrat who can win tough elections. He is dynamic and engaging. He appeals to independents and moderate Republicans. He expands the base and puts southern races in play on a state and congressional level. He can campaign in rural areas inside New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Georgia, Virginia, and Ohio. Not to mention the fact he would force the Republicans and McCain to dump money and resources into protecting Texas (a state Obama has been organizing in since March).
Mr. Edwards, 56, is a moderate, a respected voice on veterans and military issues and well regarded across the political spectrum. Colleagues describe him as a pivot between liberals and Blue Dogs - the bloc of budget cutters and gun rights backers - so he could help Mr. Obama reach swing voters.
As chairman of a subcommittee that controls billions in annual spending, he's already got more clout than most members of Congress. He's one of a dozen "cardinals" who serve under the even more powerful Appropriations Chairman, David Obey of Wisconsin.
Mr. Obey called Mr. Edwards one of the "top five or 10 House members" he knows in either party, "an incredibly nice, decent human being" who is "very, very tough minded. ... He is most definitely not a slashing partisan. He would be a very good salesperson for the president's legislative package."
Simply put, Edwards on the ticket would turn Texas purple in one cycle.
Primarily, the concern is that Kaine is about as far-from progressive as anyone could imagine. Virginia's top state-based blog, "Raising Kaine" helped elect Kaine Governor. Today, here's what they write about him, in a post titled, "Won't Get Kained Again":
Three years into the Kaine Administration, Virginia Progressives stand aghast at what it has become. From his repeal of the estate tax to his abandoned plan for universal Pre-K, to his opposition to embryonic stem cells, from his failed transportation plans to cozy relationship to Dominion Power and his reprehensible support of the Wise Coal Plant, the Kaine administration has fulfilled our every early fear and never failed to disappoint progressive Virginia.
Wow. I mean, I don't want anything to do with Kaine. Nothing. I hope he isn't really considered on the ticket, and his name is being thrown out there to "feed the beast" of the media for another wek or so. Because someone who opposed stem cell research, supports the construction of coal plants, and apparently has no record of success on any public policy issue should not be our VP.
With a mindset that Kaine is little more than a 21st century Joe Lieberman, I decided to go back and watch his speech at the Texas Democratic Party Convention in early June. After watching it, I came away thinking one predominant thing:
Tim Kaine is a perfect stump candidate for Vice President. Here's why:
He perfectly compliments the stateman-like persona of Obama's public speaking without even drawing a real comparison. He's young, exciting, and enthusiastic. He doesn't mind yelling -- but does so in a way that really fired me up. And while he's great on message, his oratory skills leave a lot to be desired. His repetitions were rather drawn out and forced, so while I liked what he was saying, I wasn't impressed with how he was speaking -- instead, I just felt fired up. Which is what you want from a stump candidate for Vice President -- especially a plain-spoken one that can go into the Appalachia country where Clinton outperformed Obama.
"Andando Con La Gente!" For about a minute (go to the 2:45 mark of the video) Kaine slips into perfect Spanish. It sounds authentic (re: not forced), he's comfortable in the language, and he weaves into it seamlessly. A stump candidate that can call up Spanish phrases at a moment's notice is impressive.
He speaks passionately about the importance of down-ballot races. Everyone thinks, "Kaine on the ticket helps Obama in Virginia." That may be true, but the more important piece is that Virginia on the ticket helps Obama in other conservative states. The Virginia story (Mark Warner, Kaine, and Jim Webb) is incredibly encouraging for red-staters like Texas, Montana, Idaho, etc.
As a stump candidate for Vice President, Kaine would be expected to be a huge partisan -- but he can avoid his bad history on policy issues (he'll just be repeating Obama's, and unfortunately no one ever scrutinizes the Vice Presidential candidates that much) and just talk about winning down-ballot races. Then, every speech he gives in Obama's "50-state strategy" becomes a speech where he shows how passionate he is about down-ballot races. Obama appears in swing states, Kaine in likely McCain states, but either way, an audience feels good when they leave
Remember -- I started watching this video not liking Kaine. I already didn't like him because he (and his staff) were surprisingly and unnecessarily pushy backstage at the TDP convention (where I was volunteering). After reading about his policies, I liked him even less. Suffice to say, I'm really, really unexcited about any prospects of him as Vice President.
But if the only measuring stick is, "how good of a stump candidate for Vice President" would Kaine be, I'd have to say excellent. He can speak in Spanish, delivers red-meat to the base without becoming too partisan or overshadowing Obama, and can honestly tell a real-life story of flipping conservative states red-to-blue.
He's one of the worst choices for anyone who cares about policy, but is a damn good choice for anyone who only cares about politics.
Given how well he compliments Obama on the campaign trail, progressive Democrats are going to have to work extra hard if we don't want Kaine and his long list of terrible, terrible policies as a Vice Presidential candidate.
