Examiner Editorial - Kilgore for governor
04Nov'05

Published: Thursday, November 3, 2005 11:56 PM EST
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Competing for the office formerly held by Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry, both candidates for governor of Virginia often took the low road, spending more money on less substance than any gubernatorial campaigns in state history. Republican Jerry Kilgore's negative ads wrongly attacked Democrat Tim Kaine for legally defending a man accused of murder; Kaine's snarky implication that Kilgore's Southern accent sounded gay; and his counterfeit Virginia Club for Growth mailing attacking Kilgore's stance on taxes were tactics as underhanded as they come. Their dueling schoolhouse cake-cutting ads descended into farce.

But simplistic ads are mere distractions, and as the long campaign comes to a merciful end, the choice is clear: On key issues ranging from taxes to transportation to public safety and immigration, Kilgore is by far the better candidate.

Taxes


Kilgore has promised to veto any further tax hikes, the only acceptable position in a state that raised them $1.5 billion last year and is currently running a $2 billion surplus. The former attorney general also supports capping local property tax increases at 5 percent per year, which will give Northern Virginians the much-needed tax relief that local officials have been unwilling to deliver - and more than Kaine's 20 percent homestead exemption would provide.

Kaine, on the other hand, brags about the unnecessary tax hike and calls it "budget reform." Even fellow Richmond Democrat and former Gov. Doug Wilder, whose tepid, last-minute endorsement of Kaine spoke volumes, admitted this week that "I had a different view, in terms of whether we needed to go to raise taxes or not at that time. I still have that view." 'Nuff said.



Transportation

Neither candidate has come up with a comprehensive plan to tackle the commonwealth's No. 1 problem. Kilgore is at least willing to take the first step, although his been-there, done-that "solution" to our worsening crisis - let the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority hold another tax referendum - remains a bad idea. Kaine's otherwise excellent idea to pass a constitutional amendment to prevent future raids on the Transportation Trust Fund can't be accomplished within the next four years. Beyond that, Kaine has nothing more to offer local commuters.

Kilgore's vow to "immediately" widen Interstate 66 inside the Beltway, a long-overdue project that will boost local highway capacity with relatively little cost or traffic disruption, is exactly what's needed to break this area's enervating inertia and take transportation out of the political black box it's been in for decades. Wary voters in Northern Virginia will approve road bonds, tolls - even new taxes, if need be - but only when Richmond cleans up its act first.



Public safety

As secretary of public safety under former Gov. George Allen, Kilgore already has experience managing the state's emergency response teams. It's not his fault, but Kaine's resume is much thinner in this area, which is of acute importance for Northern Virginia in particular. If you want a recent example of an inexperienced governor fumbling during an emergency, just think Louisiana's Kathleen Blanco. Advantage: Kilgore.

Illegal immigration

Kaine sees illegal immigration as primarily a federal responsibility, which means he will do nothing at the state level to combat it. While the failure to secure our borders is a spectacular example of government incompetence, the next governor of Virginia must be a lot more proactive than this. Kilgore's opposition to the use of state funds to support illegal activity is right in line with prevailing public sentiment.

Education

Most of Kaine's positions - fully fund the Standards of Learning, increase teacher salaries, AP enrollment and graduation rates - are eminently sensible in a state that clearly values education. But he blew it with his profligate proposition to provide state-funded preschool for all 4-year-olds. That may be a nice idea, but a state that can't even maintain its roads and bridges just can't afford it.

Kilgore can also boast of his accomplishments as attorney general, including his public support of the "Stand By Your Ad" laws that require candidates - including him - to take responsibility for what their campaigns do; major crackdowns on identity theft, spam, child pornography and domestic abuse; and his defense of a widely hailed law banning cross burning that was later unanimously upheld by the Virginia Supreme Court.

When he gets past the muck and mire of the present campaign, there's no doubt Jerry Kilgore will make a fine governor.

Who reads the Examiner again? Nobody? Whatever.

I do, and they are way off on this one. Kilgore, Gilmore... *shivers*

-Yawn. Take your republican shit elsewhere.

hey, republican shit is quality stuff, hard and whole

democratic shit... I won't even get into that runny mess.

Does anyone notice any pro-Kaine articles being posted here in desperation days before the election??? This tells me one thing... Pro-Kilgore repubs are just a little worried and are trying to get the word out. Face it, a little too late.

Oh they're trying REALLY hard to get the word out. I got THREE messages on my home phone today from the RNC "reminding" me to vote for Kilgore. Give it up already, its annoying. I've gotten about 20 calls in the past two weeks. George Bush himself even called me!!! (hah)

johnnye Wrote:
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> -Yawn. Take your republican shit elsewhere.

Ted Schlamme Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> hey, republican shit is quality stuff, hard and
> whole
>
> democratic shit... I won't even get into that
> runny mess.

i would like to point out that admittedly both sides are shit. im voting for bugs bunny.


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

Gravis Wrote:

>
> i would like to point out that admittedly both
> sides are shit. im voting for bugs bunny.
>

Have things gotten that bleak for the Libertarians that they are running Bugs Bunny?

Republicans always try to undermine the public's intelligence. It's so easy to see past their bullsh!t propaganda. It's also easy to see why the rednecks love 'em. GIT ER DONE!

So have FB's posts actually gotten any extra votes for Kilgore?

Kilgore's campaign promises were so grand he should have just said, "Read my lips, no new taxes." Oh wait, people actually bought that line not so long ago...

I have my nifty sticker- do you?

And here I thought I was the only one to get a personal call from President Bush... How disappointing!!

oo Wrote:
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> And here I thought I was the only one to get a
> personal call from President Bush... How
> disappointing!!


I got the same call. He said,"For the love of God, please stay home."

True story:

A Herndon Minuteman, festooned in red, white, and blue Kilgore overalls, came to my door this morning. I'm guessing it's because I'm one shade of white darker than his pure, unmarred, ivory skin. And sometimes my colors run.

This brave guardian of freedom had trouble getting his gut up the stairs, but still managed to speak in a whistling rasp.

"Sir, I know you're aware of our immigration problem."

I said, "I know, my mom is from the Netherlands. I don't know how she managed to sneak into our country! The dirty Swede!"

"I'm here to ask you to vote for Jerry Kilgore."

"But, isn't he gay?"

"You moonbat, there is no need to spout your liberal claptrap about a great man like Jerry Kilgore!"

"Well, he sure sounds gay with that lisp. Isn't it funny how the most virile, steadfast, jesus-lovin' male republicans almost always end up fucking other men, or sound like they do?"

Needless to say, my visitor was not amused. I know it's not right to slander homosexuals by saying Kilgore might be one of them. I guess the minuteman felt the same way: he abruptly shoved a bumpersticker in my hand and heaved his girth down the stairs.

I was almost persuaded to vote for the closeted Republican; I mean, Kilgore has the prettiest bumper-stickers around.

You're one helluva storyteller, erik. Keep up the good work, friend.

That's All Folks Wrote:
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> Have things gotten that bleak for the Libertarians
> that they are running Bugs Bunny?

no, the libitarians, erm, librarians are in the same basket as the others. in short, suck it. im still voting for Bugs... the toons are the best party to date.


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

erik you sound like a worthless immigrant your self, so keep voting democrat chimp boy

So, looks like Kilgore's immigration rap helped him a lot.

Never again!!!!