it’s not surprising why virginia chose their new governor tim kaine over jerry kilgore. i don’t know either man very well, but i like tim kaine’s message, and i think it’s a message that other democrats running for election/re-election should adopt. it’s not enough to be against everything that is currently happening in congress and in the executive branch. the democrats (and republicans) need to say what they are FOR. that’s what 1994 was all about — setting an agenda for the country. you can agree or disagree with that agenda, but voters responded to it. more importantly, the democrats need to have a overall positive view of this country’s future, which is something rarely featured in current Dem speeches.
here’s my favorite part from the kaine inaugural address:
First, we reaffirm the necessity of courage. This is the defining trait of those who came to Virginia aboard the Discovery, Godspeed and Susan Constant, landing just a few miles from this place at Jamestown Island in 1607. They knew that earlier efforts, by the Spanish and English, to establish settlements in this region had ended in disaster. But they crossed treacherous seas to arrive at a new world because they understood the need to do and to dare. Their survival and success depended upon bold leadership. We must be equally bold to tackle the challenges of our day.
Second, we acknowledge that individual opportunity is the most powerful engine of progress. The first English settlers came as part of a commercial venture, the Virginia Company, seeking economic riches in the New World. Others came seeking the opportunity to worship as they pleased or to trade away an aristocracy of birth for an aristocracy of merit. When individuals have the opportunity to set their own purpose, and determine the bar for their own achievements, they are able to harness their God-given talents and ensure our economic and social success.
And third, we recognize that our destiny is a shared destiny and that our commitment to community is a condition of our advancement. Our Virginia might not exist today were it not for the generosity extended to those first settlers by the native Virginia tribes living in this region. Without the hospitality of Chief Powhatan or the compassion of Pocahontas, those in Jamestown would have perished. Throughout Virginias history, we have succeeded only when we have welcomed all to the table of Thanksgiving.
first of all, he’s got one fantastic speechwriter, if this isn’t kaine’s original work. having a positive vision and speaking to the values that resonate with voters — that’s the message that democrats need to adopt. they still haven’t figured out that it’s not enough to blame bush for everything wrong with the country and the world at large. the democrats need a unified message. they need to stand FOR something. let’s see how long it takes them to find that message.