Very Different
Brian July 30th, 2005
One of the key themes of the first debate was that Kaine and Kilgore are each very different in a lot of ways. Several people are quick to suggest their positions are only different on a few key issues. Something that Kaine did yesterday reminded me of just how very different they are and why I support Tim Kaine.
As you may remember, I bumped into Jerry Kilgore at the Bristol race earlier this spring in the plush hospitality tent for Food City. First hand, I witnessed Kilgore walk among and interact with the wealthy corporate types. At the time, I did not understand why Tim would have missed out on such a great opportunity to meet with potential voters.
However, yesterday Tim also visited Southwest Virginia and walked among the people. The kind of people that do not have health insurance, that cannot afford to go to the doctor’s office when they get sick, and the kind of people that are willing to sleep in their cars for a chance to get free medical treatment. Tim attended the Remote Area Medical event held in Wise, Virginia. The organizers were expecting to care for over 6,000 patients.
Even if Kaine and Kilgore are only different on a few issues - remember they are very different people.
Brian,
Great post. It hits at the essence of this campaign. I just do not think I could imagine a better way of pointing up the differences.
I hope the bar went well.
Tim Kaine in Wise
Tim Kaine showed up in Wise at the yearly RAM held at the fairgrounds. RAM is based in Knoxville and has been coming to Wise for several years. Enter Kaine, to a captive audience-
Have you had a chance to observe Potts?
–|PW|–
Actually I have not. He sounds like an interesting guy that really ticks off Republicans, so I would probably like him.
Have you, PW, and if so what were your observations?
I’ve usually focused on national politics rather than state, so I can’t say I’ve fully appraised either one.
I will confess that I don’t care for Leslie Byrne. I realize this is a reaction based on emotion and gut rather than logic, but I’ve met Ms. Byrne and something about her just didn’t strike me right. I can’t describe my feeling, exactly, but it’s enough to make me hesitant to vote for her.
As for the gubernatorial election … I’ve got a soft spot for third-party candidates who probably won’t win. My gut feeling about Kaine is that he’s got the Warner-era good government on his side. Kilgore, on the other hand, spends far too much time on cultural issues to earn my respect.
Potts, though. As soon as I read that he wants to call a special session of the legislature to address Virginia’s transportation system, he got my attention. Since I live in Northern Virginia, somebody who has something useful to say about roads is somebody for whom I’m inclined to vote.
And, truth to be told, I call myself “liberal” or “centrist,” but there’s a strong Northeastern Republican streak in me … and anybody who’s browbeating state Republicans for moving too far to the right on cultural issues certainly gets my attention … and maybe my vote.
Now that the long dark nightmare (law school + bar) is over, I’m giving serious thought to involving myself with the local political apparatus up here … but before I get involved, I need to get educated, so I’m curious both about your thoughts and about objective views of the situation.
–|PW|–
To be honest, I wish I knew more about Potts too. He was in Abingdon recently, but I did not get a chance to meet him. That would have been a good chance to learn more about him.
I think the most important question that needs to be answered is what he expects to accomplish. Is he running to help Kaine? A lot of Republicans have argued that. Or, could it be that the Republican party has moved so far to the right that it has left behind moderates like Potts?
[…] verwhelming and the spirit of the volunteers is inspiring. Just that Tim would pick this event as a “moving experience” shows how great he will be for rural Virginia.
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