Tim Kaine's Problem: Politics vs. Legacy

The DCTimes has a good analysis of the problem facing Tim Kaine now:

But while the plan's last-minute approval gives Kaine the opportunity to make good on his campaign pledge, it also could rob Kaine's Democratic Party of a compelling issue when all 140 lawmakers face the voters Nov. 6.

For months, Democrats have been hammering Republicans for the bickering that led to years of stalemate over the budget, taxes and transportation. In partisan speeches, Kaine had promised to seek "new partners" in the General Assembly, a thinly veiled code for his desire to unseat Republican lawmakers.

If the Republicans had failed to deliver a roads plan again this year, Democrats would have been able to run this fall against a do-nothing GOP legislature. Now, they need a new tactic. The roads plan on Kaine's desk is clearly from the Republicans. Only a handful of Democrats voted for it

According to the article, Kaine will be touring the state talking about how its bad for teachers, bad for police, blah blah blah. The usual Democrat diatribe. But Kaine now faces a problem in Northern Virginia. Certainly the Democrats have their eyes on the Senate - Ken Cuccinelli, Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis, and Jay O'Brien specifically. But how does he attack those senators for voting on a bill that NOVA delegates Steve Shannon, Mark Sickles, David Bulova, David Poisson, Chuck Caputo, and Dave Marsden ALL voted for?

So how can Tim Kaine come to Northern Virgina and attack a plan that the NOVA Delegation, outside of Alexandria, almost uniformily voted for?

In fact, yesterday word got out that Tim Kaine unleashed a explitative-laiden threat on the Democratic caucus to block this thing. Looks like that didn't work on the above delegates. What is interesting here is that it shows that despite all the press on the NOVA Republican seantors being in trouble, the NOVA Democratic delegates were in an equal amount of trouble if they came home empty handed.

Kaine went all-in in stopping this measure in the Senate, and he failed. His biggest problem is best articulated here:

"Now they have a lot less argument about us not providing a transportation plan and providing leadership on this issue," Del. Thomas Davis Rust (R-Fairfax) said. "Clearly, the Republicans provide the leadership, because I am not aware of any Democrat transportation plan."

So Timmy, your move. Take note from the end of the Post article:

In Virginia, voters typically reward governors who get things done. Republican George Allen was popular as he left office, having ended parole and revamped welfare. Democrat Mark R. Warner turned his budget and tax victory into a reputation as one of the nation's most efficient governors.

So far, Kaine does not have a legacy-making success. A transportation bill that he and his party can live with would go a long way toward giving him one.

Comments

[George Templeton]

I can't see anyway that Kaine can sign this, as is, and retain political credibility, particularly in his own party. How can you go into the caucus room and go ballistic denouncing this and then sign it.
To me he has one move and that is to amend it a little bit, claim that he has changed it enough to make it palatable and then sign it (the Bill Clinton welfare reform strategy).

[Chris]

George, your exactly right. The pressue is on becasue the entire Democrat stratgy was based on the presumtion that the GOP couldn't get anything together. If he goes too far, he knows the GOP now has the votes to beat back anything he wants to do that is too radical. Bill Howell is the man right now, and he just outmanuevered and outclassed Tim Kaine badly. I personally think is shocked this happened.

One thing is clear, Tim Kaine's "leadership" consists cheifly of hoping others will lead for him, then ranting and raving like a lunatic to scare the votes his way.

[eileen]

Not quite. The only thing Dems lost in this "battle" was one grenade amongst our arsenal of things to be used against O'Brien, Cuccinelli and Devilites-Davis. Watch how skillfully our level-headed leader Tim Kaine, with assistance from both sides of the aisle, mends the monstrosity that GOPpers themselves admit to having to pinch their noses to support, into something that even Bob Marshall can get in bed with. How obviously so trusting GOPpers are in Kaine's abilities.

[Chris]

"our level-headed leader Tim Kaine"

?

You mean the guy who went into the Democratic caucus and went absolutely ballistic over some bloggers and Ed Gillespie calling him do-nothing?

Yeah. He's REAL level-headed

[eileen]

One time instance. Name another if you can. And I'll challenge you to name an instance when he wasn't amongst his own.

[Chris]

Ok I can't come back t that. But where has Kaine been in this entire session? All we heard from him was that he wanted to put forth the EXACT same plan as last year that failed.

0-2 Timmy.

Now to be fair, if Kaine returns the bill with some reasonable changes, the call for compromise should be enough for Republicans to vote for it. I just think that Kaine is shocked that this even past. I be he thought he HAD it with Chich and ChamberPotts along with Quayle, Watkins, and Hanger. Speaker Howell has finally emerged as the strong willed leader of the Republicans in the GA. He proved here he has the power to control legislature. Kaine can't walk too far on the plank or he'll fall off.

[eileen]

Correction... Howell emerged as a leader in the House and in the House alone. So what! Quayle, Watkins, and Hanger voted in desperation, not wanting to go on record as contributors to Dems take over of the majority in the Senate this November.

Now, how come you can call Dems and Pottsie names and not have the likes of Squeaky Wheel not attacking you? ;)

[James Atticus Bowden]

The bill is a compromise of Republican principles predicated the premise that the voters are stoooopid.

It's pathetic politics and lousy legislation. Every Republican yes vote should be ashamed.

[Chris]

Eileen,

I think its becasue they like me. ;)

James,

I respect your opinion greatly. We obviously will have to agree to disagree. But keep posting and keep reading! Your a gentleman and a scholar.

[George Templeton]

Eileen the reason those Senators you named voted yes is because a no vote probably would have doomed them in the primary.