Governor Warner: A Uniter for 2008.
Governor Warner: A Uniter for 2008.
Lately it seems that the extreme wings of both the Democratic and Republican parties are calling the shots. Because the reactionaries of both parties are asserting themselves at an unprecedented level, Washington is now a center of bitterness, partisanship, and revenge. The Gang of 14 gave us a glimpse (maybe a blink after the Bolton vote) of what can be accomplished when people reach across the partisan divide and try to sensibly get things done. But that compromise is the exception to the rule and, unfortunately, there is no evidence that the spirit of cooperation that produced the filibuster compromise will continue.
While Washington bickers, energy prices are rising, we have no energy plan that liberates us from foreign energy sources and avoids polluting the environment, our soldiers don’t have the armor they need to protect themselves, Iraq is increasingly dangerous (even after the historic elections), both parties have members in both chambers who are ethically challenged, and the lid is about to come off of health care costs. Polls also show that Americans are disillusioned with politicians, spurred by a disgust for hard-core partisan politics.
Historians may say that partisan rancor is not a new phenomenon. But that neat historical point, however, does not apply any healing power to a disillusioned electorate. Nor do we, as voting citizens, have to accept this method of doing the People’s business.
We need of a leader who is able to unite separate and distinct political groups in an effort to find solutions to the most pressing problems this country faces. We need a leader who sees the “other” party as an opportunity to solve problems, not an obstacle to reaching a partisan agenda. We need a leader who brings people together and doesn’t force them to separate corners of the boxing ring. That leader must have the courage of conviction and the backbone to stand and fight when necessary, but must possess the wisdom to compromise when compromise is in the best interest of the country. We need a principled leader that puts this country first over partisan politics and doesn’t just pay lip service to such an ideal.
I have been hoping for such a leader to come along and when Mark Warner was elected Governor of Virginia I found that leader. Simply read his speeches and look at his accomplishments in Virginia and you, like me, will come to the same conclusion.
Governor Warner, against all odds, was able to unite conservative Republicans and Democrats alike to restore fiscal security to Virginia. At the same time, he had the courage to veto a bill that was against his principles. He understands the problems the small business and large corporation faces but also the problems the farmer, the waitress, and the bus driver encounter everyday.
His campaign for Governor was a true Virginia-wide campaign where he appealed to rural and urban voters alike and was sincere in his desire to find solutions to problems that everyone deals with—not just the ones who vote for him. Governor Warner’s base is not a special interest group or a discreet voting block—his base is and can be every voter, every citizen, and every person from every walk of life. What he did for Virginia he can do for this great country.
Lately it seems that the extreme wings of both the Democratic and Republican parties are calling the shots. Because the reactionaries of both parties are asserting themselves at an unprecedented level, Washington is now a center of bitterness, partisanship, and revenge. The Gang of 14 gave us a glimpse (maybe a blink after the Bolton vote) of what can be accomplished when people reach across the partisan divide and try to sensibly get things done. But that compromise is the exception to the rule and, unfortunately, there is no evidence that the spirit of cooperation that produced the filibuster compromise will continue.
While Washington bickers, energy prices are rising, we have no energy plan that liberates us from foreign energy sources and avoids polluting the environment, our soldiers don’t have the armor they need to protect themselves, Iraq is increasingly dangerous (even after the historic elections), both parties have members in both chambers who are ethically challenged, and the lid is about to come off of health care costs. Polls also show that Americans are disillusioned with politicians, spurred by a disgust for hard-core partisan politics.
Historians may say that partisan rancor is not a new phenomenon. But that neat historical point, however, does not apply any healing power to a disillusioned electorate. Nor do we, as voting citizens, have to accept this method of doing the People’s business.
We need of a leader who is able to unite separate and distinct political groups in an effort to find solutions to the most pressing problems this country faces. We need a leader who sees the “other” party as an opportunity to solve problems, not an obstacle to reaching a partisan agenda. We need a leader who brings people together and doesn’t force them to separate corners of the boxing ring. That leader must have the courage of conviction and the backbone to stand and fight when necessary, but must possess the wisdom to compromise when compromise is in the best interest of the country. We need a principled leader that puts this country first over partisan politics and doesn’t just pay lip service to such an ideal.
I have been hoping for such a leader to come along and when Mark Warner was elected Governor of Virginia I found that leader. Simply read his speeches and look at his accomplishments in Virginia and you, like me, will come to the same conclusion.
Governor Warner, against all odds, was able to unite conservative Republicans and Democrats alike to restore fiscal security to Virginia. At the same time, he had the courage to veto a bill that was against his principles. He understands the problems the small business and large corporation faces but also the problems the farmer, the waitress, and the bus driver encounter everyday.
His campaign for Governor was a true Virginia-wide campaign where he appealed to rural and urban voters alike and was sincere in his desire to find solutions to problems that everyone deals with—not just the ones who vote for him. Governor Warner’s base is not a special interest group or a discreet voting block—his base is and can be every voter, every citizen, and every person from every walk of life. What he did for Virginia he can do for this great country.
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