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July 30, 2005

Tim Kaine's commitment to public education should make us all proud

Education always ranks among the top concerns of American voters, whether in national campaigns or statewide and local elections here in Virginia. For good reason, too. Most of us have children in public schools or know someone who does. It's more important than ever - in a complicated new world with something called a "global economy" - that our kids be prepared for an increasingly competitive job market. Education is the key to that. We know it, and so does Tim Kaine. His commitment to education goes beyond the usual political rhetoric. It's a too-little noticed aspect of his campaign that we need to push more agressively. (By Rick Howell)

During his tenure as Mayor of Richmond, Tim Kaine frequently visited public schools. Support for and encouragement of public education has been a consistent thread of his career. He has three children of his own in public schools, and, like any good parent, has always taken a hands-on interest in their schools.

He has committed himself to visit each of Virginia's 134 public school systems during this campaign for governor. Cynics would say that this is a mere public relations stunt designed for good publicity and cheap photo ops. If it is, it's got to be costing him time that he would otherwise use campaigning. Already - according to a recent "podcast" interview with the Roanoke Times' Dwayne Yancey - Kaine has been to 118 of those school systems. To listen to him talk about some of the things he's seen during those trips is to know that this candidate is not playing political games. He truly cares about public education in Virginia.

The fact is that while this man is running for governor, he's taking time to go into our schools, see what's happening, and judge what works and what doesn't work. He talks to teachers, parents, administrators, guidance counselors and others who work every day in our public schools to carry out Thomas Jefferson's dream of a broad-based education for all.

Look at what's been accomplished during Kaine's tenure with the Mark Warner administration. Budget reform in 2004 brought 1.5 billion new dollars to public schools. Today, Tim Kaine stands up for raising teacher salaries to the national average, and then going beyond that. He supports the basic goal of standards of learning, but doesn't want our children's education to be merely a series of tests.

Yes, even Republican candidates will say that they want education "fully funded," whether they really do or not. But Tim Kaine is putting in the extra effort that's a real sign of a true commitment. This is one of the most important reasons that he must be the next governor of Virginia. Let's do more to promote this aspect of his campaign. Parents are watching and listening to what these candidates do and say about their children's education. Tim Kaine's obvious commitment could make a real difference in November.

(Rick Howell is chairman of the Amherst County Democratic Committee. He can be reached at NewCenHowell@aol.com.)

Posted by rickhowell at 05:05 PM | Comments (0)

July 24, 2005

New Mason-Dixon poll has good news for Tim Kaine!

We knew it, right? Across this state, those of us who have been working for Tim Kaine, showing up at public events with signs and stickers, lobbying our friends and families, could feel a solid level of support for his campaign. The new Mason-Dixon poll that hit all the papers July 24 proved it. Tim Kaine is very much in this race. Even though it's a statistical tie, the Kilgore people have got to be worried. (By Rick Howell).

In case you didn't see the numbers, it shows Kaine with 38 percent to 37 for Kilgore. Russ Potts - who must be giving Kilgore nightmares - is at 9 percent. Sixteen percent are said to be undecided. That's a lot, but it's decreased from the 25 percent the same poll found undecided last September.

In a state thought to be as red as Virginia, any guy with the "R" beside his name ought to be doing better at this stage than Kilgore is doing. And you can bet they're worried about it. For our guy Tim Kaine, it's proof that his message of fiscal responsibility, fully funding education and transportation, and keeping Virginia on the forward march as Mark Warner has done, is catching on.

Yes, people are starting to notice that Tim Kaine simply looks and sounds the part of governor better than Kilgore. You may consider this the gubernatorial version of "looking presidential." Some of this may be attributed to the awful performance that Kilgore mustered in the first debate. But it's something that can't be faked. Tim Kaine has good, sound ideas for the future of our Commonwealth. People seem confused about Jerry Kilgore.

The poll also looks very favorable for Kaine on the issues. A full 56 percent of people said they thought the governor's tax reform package was the right thing to do. Kilgore has tried to make great hay out of opposing that bill. In doing so, it appears he's out of step with the voters in this state.

For all of us out here on the stump for Kaine, we can certainly enjoy this poll, but only for a minute. There's much work to do. Summer is passing, and after Labor Day our window of time until the voters speak will ever decrease. Let's take heart, but let's get going. Go to www.Kaine2005.org if you don't know where the Kaine campaign is in your area. Get connected and help us put this talented Virginian in the statehouse. We've got the better candidate, and people besides ourselves are starting to figure it out.

(Rick Howell is chairman of the Amherst County Democratic Committee. He can be reached at NewCenHowell@aol.com)

Posted by rickhowell at 01:08 PM | Comments (0)

July 17, 2005

Let's help Tim Kaine build momentum after first debate

Since the first debate of this campaign for governor wasn't televised, none of us saw it unless we were there. Like most of you, I was in Virginia, not West Virginia, on July 16. But from all the reports I've read and heard, our candidate, Tim Kaine, did us proud with a clear vision for Virginia, resolute statements about his beliefs and what he'll do as governor. The time is now to resist the temptations of the doldrums of summer, and get out and build upon this debate performance. (By Rick Howell)

First, we need to continue to press the legitimate case that Jerry Kilgore just doesn't seem to want to agree to many debates. Why? What does he fear? Again, my knowledge of the first debate is only from various reports I both read and heard. But it appeared that Mr. Kilgore was ignorant about some basic things that any Virginia governor should know, such as how education and transportation are actually funded. Is it this lack of knowledge he's hoping to hide?

Secondly, we have to make it clear that Tim Kaine's position on the death penalty must not become the issue Kilgore is trying to make it out to be. He said during the debate that Kaine had "a history of activism against the death penalty." That's simply not true. Most Virginians support the death penalty. But most also recognize that in this era of DNA, when more than 100 death sentences have been overturned by DNA results, it is more important than ever that we be certain before we execute someone. Kaine has said over and over again that his personal objection to capital punishment - a religious conviction - won't stop him from upholding state law.

Summer is the season of vacations, a reprieve from school, a time of baseball, swimming and sun-tanning. But we should continue to press the case for Tim Kaine as governor of Virginia. Put that bumper sticker you have on your vehicle. Go to those Tim Kaine meet-ups that regional field directors are holding in your community. Write that letter to the editor.

Summer will also pass quickly, and before you know it we'll be celebrating Labor Day. Then the campaign will face a truly short window of time before Election Day. Let's get out there now - in any and every way we can - and show our support for this good and decent man as the next governor of Virginia.

(Rick Howell is chairman of the Amherst County Democratic Committee.)

Posted by rickhowell at 07:10 PM | Comments (0)

July 01, 2005

SCOTUS: What you can do NOW

The nomination battle is going to commence very quickly now that Justice O'Conner has announced her retirement. DailyKos has posted a list of immediate actions you can take starting right now:

• If you have a cell phone, sign up for People at the American Way's Mass Immediate Response site. This way, you'll be able to receive text message action items instantly as events break. (If you signed up during the nuclear option fight, you'll need to re-sign up.)

• Also sign up with the Save the Court, another PFAW website devoted specifically to this issue.

• Recruit friends and family members to the cause.

• Write to the President, telling him he should choose a consensus candidate to replace O'Connor.

• Contact your Senators to tell them the same thing.

• Contact members of the media and tell them you think Bush should nominate a consensus candidate. PLEASE be polite, be brief (200 words or less), and don't do copy-and-paste jobs - put things in your own words.

• Stop by Hunter's thread and make suggestions for potential nominees.

Posted by amahler at 04:29 PM | Comments (0)