Sitting on Centrist Aisle, Warner Is Standing Out

The Washington Post ^ | July 26, 2004 | Michael D. Shear

[neverdem]

A New Breed of Democrat

BOSTON, July 25 -- Among the accolades heaped on Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner in recent months, one of them brings the Democrat particular pleasure: The upcoming issue of American Rifleman magazine features Warner's photo, right there next to Republican Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's, lauding both for signing "pro-gun" bills into law.

For Warner, who craves evidence that he's a different kind of Democrat, it couldn't get any sweeter than that.

Even as he leads his state's party to the Democratic National Convention this week -- to nominate a candidate he has supported from the start -- people close to Warner have said he remains an uneasy partisan whose success at home is a product of close relationships with the state's Republicans and a willingness to embrace conservative principles.

"He's more comfortable in a bipartisan situation . . ," said Mame Reiley, director of Warner's political action committee. "If he thinks it's too far to the left, he's not comfortable with it."

[RockinRight]

He's no Zell Miller, though...

[iceskater]

Richmond ping.

[iceskater]

BTW, I forgot the barf alert.

Sorry about that.

[iceskater]

Some in the party are urging him to run for the U.S. Senate. The state's junior senator, George Allen (R), 52, is up for reelection to a second term in 2006; the senior senator, John W. Warner (R), 77, could choose to run for a sixth term in 2008.

If Kerry wins, some believe he might offer Warner a Cabinet position or perhaps an ambassadorship. Either job would allow Warner to stay in public service while he plans another run for elective office.

Pleeeeeease run against George Allen. Please!!
George Allen will kick his a$$.

[Mudboy Slim]

"...people close to Warner have said he remains an uneasy partisan whose success at home is a product of close relationships with the state's Republicans and a willingness to embrace conservative principles."

NONSENSE!! Warner's a tax-raising, big-spending Lib'ral and no amount of Washington ComPost propaganda is going to change that. Ol' HorseFace thinks he's gotta future in Viginny politics after his gubernatorial term is over, but I think it's all downhill fer MarkyMark from here!!

FReegards...MUD

[R. Scott]

If Kerry wins, some believe he might offer Warner a Cabinet position or perhaps an ambassadorship. Either job would allow Warner to stay in public service while he plans another run for elective office.

With the added advantage of getting his away from Virginia.
But of course it’s a moot point - Hanoi John won’t win.

[pragmaticgal]

I hope you're right that Mark Warner is on the way down. Incredible that he claims to be a fiscal conservative. He's the biggest taxaholic that VA has seen in a long time.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Incredible that he claims to be a fiscal conservative. He's the biggest taxaholic that VA has seen in a long time."

Yep...and considering the FACT that he lied about the fiscal situation in oprder to get his tax hike passed, the TRUTH will come back to haunt him, imho.

FReegards...MUD

[Spirited]

This, my Governor, is one of the better deceivers/liars out there. It will not surprise me to find him as VP to Hillary.

Be forewarned, he is not what he is pretending to be and the rhetoric will not be borne out. He is downright dangerous.

[Corin Stormhands]

I hope you're right that Mark Warner is on the way down. Incredible that he claims to be a fiscal conservative. He's the biggest taxaholic that VA has seen in a long time.

Yep. He's carrying on in the spirit of Gerald Baliles.

[Mudboy Slim]

Baliles...yet another example of a Leftist VA DemonRAT doing NOTHING politically following his gubernatorial term...only Chuckie (Back)Robb and George Allen have remained politically-viable after serving their four years in the governor's mansion for the last quarter-century.

Oh, and Doug Wilder will soon be Richmond's new mayor...MUD