Karl Rove is resigning. What a day for the American people. The man most responsible for the deep divisions in our country which have caused political stalemate for the past 7 years is gone at the end of the month. It is my hope that he will be remembered for his morally bankrupt political strategies, and the damage he did to our political system.
Rove's political strategy can be described as "divide and conquer." He would find weakness in an opponent's strength (such as Kerry's war service), and somehow gain political mileage out of it. He also is known for using issues that should have been non-partisan, like the War on Terror, into winning issues for the Republican Party. After 9/11, his strategy was to advocate as extreme policies as possible. This would force the Democrats to oppose legislation such as the Patriot Act, and the creation of the Homeland Security Department, and Rove could then turn around and label the Democrats as "soft on defense." He also played on prejudice by advocating a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage to turn out evangelical Christian voters.
The goal of politicians should be to bring out the greatness of the American people. Rove did the exact opposite, by playing on our fear and prejudice for political gain. I hope he can do what former Republican consultant Lee Atwater did, admit his sins and seek forgiveness from the American public.
Over the past few years I have become more aware of the fact that the whole election process in the United States is in need of serious reform. I have been supportive of efforts to make Election Day a National Holiday because I think everyone should be given time off to vote! It’s our Constitutional right to choose who we want representing us, especially in Presidential Elections. Many people say that voting for President is the most personal vote you'll ever cast, and I totally agree. So how is it that in a great nation such as ours, millions are disenfranchised in the nominating process, and as we witnessed in 2000, we can elect a President who was not chosen by the majority of Americans. Whether you're a Democrat, Republican or neither, the fact that a President can be elected without winning the majority of the votes of the American people seems undemocratic and at the very least unfair. That is why I feel we should abolish the Electoral College, and support direct election of the President. Some say that if something isn't broken, you shouldn't fix it. The current Presidential Nominating system is broken, and time to fix it is now. Read More »
The annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Richmond, Virginia took place yesterday February 17, 2007 in the Greater Richmond Convention Center amid what was declared as the largest JJ Dinner in Virginia history with over 3,000 guests. Last year's JJ dinner was also a milestone but it only featured 1,400 guests, an indication that the Democratic Party of Virginia is on a roll in 2007, 2008 and beyond. The insider pundits in VA have never been more energized as Virginia Democrats have salivated over the recent domination of the governorship from Mark Warner (2001-2005) and current Governor Tim Kaine (2005-2009). Unfortunately Tim Kaine is constitutionally barred from running for a second term but Democratic party activists in the state are already preparing for the 2009 race with talks of defeated Attorney General candidate from the 5th district Creigh Deeds running as his replacement.
With the victory of Senator Jim Webb last November, Democrats in Virginia have officially designated Virginia as a "purple state" and rightfully so. Northern Virginia, outside the suburbs of greater Washington, DC is exploding with economic and population growth. This region is also a hotbed of growing progressive political leanings. At the JJ Dinner featuring speakers Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, Congressman Bobby Scott and Senator Jim Webb, all were in attendance to endorse the candidacy of Senator and Presidential Candidate Barack Obama. This was Obama's first campaign visit to Virginia and the first endorsement from a sitting governor. As Virginia becomes a critical battleground state in 2008, this endorsement is significant.
Senator Obama's speech was poignant and well received by the audience. He frequently referred to education, his life story, and his message and motif of the "audacity of hope" which reverberated well with the crowd. Although it was interesting to see the various Edwards and Hillary supporters in the crowd who came just to see the show, over 25 University of Virginia Democrats came to volunteer at the event to show their support for the rising young star in the Democratic Party. It is worth noting also that there was much speculation at the event that if Obama were to win the Democratic primaries, former governor Mark Warner would be an unbeatable choice for Vice President forming a ticket that would crush any Republican ticket. Warner's enthusiasm, charm, and Bill Clinton-esque personality and political leanings would serve Obama well in Virginia which has a more moderate Democratic Party than say Hillary Clinton's New York base.
All in all, the dinner was a huge success for Barack Obama. His rising popularity among Democratic primary voters seems only to grow as the field of the Hillary, Edwards, and Obama triumvirate travel the country trying to prove to Democrats and all Americans alike that they are the best candidate to move the country forward, end the war in Iraq, enact universal health care by 2012, and promote economic fairness. It seems from my observations at the College Democrats of America National Leadership Summit, the Democratic National Committee's Winter Meeting, and the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner that the 2008 Democratic candidates are the strongest and most diverse group of candidates that the Democrats have ever seen in American history. This is a testament to not only the changing face of the party but also of society as the possibility of a female or black president becomes ever-more on the horizon of reality.
As I predicted earlier this month, Sen. Joe Lieberman has all but abandoned the Democratic Party.
Lieberman was on FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace on Sunday, and discussed his support for the President's plan to escalate the war in Iraq. When asked if there were any Democrats running in 2008 that Lieberman would support Lieberman made his intentions known.
"Are there any Democrats who don't appear to be running at this point? Look, I've had a very political couple of years in Connecticut, and I'm stepping back for a while to concentrate on being the best senator I can be for my state and my country."
"I'm also an Independent-Democrat now, and I'm going to do what most Independents and a lot of Democrats and Republicans in America do, which is to take a look at all the candidates and then in the end, regardless of party, decide who I think will be best for the future of our country."
"So I'm open to supporting a Democrat, Republican or even an Independent, if there's a strong one. Stay tuned." Read More »
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