Saw Mark Warner last night at the Georgia JJ Dinner...

[wyldwolf]

..an overall impressive speech. He did say a few things that would raise a few eyebrows here on DU (guns and abortion shouldn't be automatic litmus tests for Democrats and to win in the South we have to reach out to the rural moderate Southern republican voters who USED to vote Democrat.)

Many people, he said, believe liberal democrats are an endangered species in the South. He rejected that, adding that the real endangered species in the south is moderate Republicans who feel abandoned by the radicals that have taken control of their party.

He said he rejects the idea that the south can be written off and the Party still be winners on a national level.

He spoke of the economic and educational mess VA was in when he took over the Governorship and how sound fiscal policies and solid educational policies have turned things around. It mirrored GA, he said, because Roy Barnes left with a surplus and now the GOP has GA in deficits.

(One comment at my table: People wonder why our SAT scores dropped after we got a Governor named "Sonny.")

Anyway, overall good speech. He appears youthful, energetic, very intelligent.

I also got to meet Max Cleland. Very cool!

[Zynx]

1. Warner has impressed me as a solid governor.

He actually managed to get Republicans to vote for a tax increase that funded more public services.

[Clark2008]

2. Same thing happened in Tennessee, too

We had a Dem governor - Ned McWherter - who kept the state fiscally sound. Then, as a result of the Republican "take-over," we voted against Phil Bredesen in 1994 (I didn't - I voted for Bredesen back then, too) and got Republican Don Sundquist. In eight years, he ruined our budget and snubbed his nose at any lotteries because of pressure from the fundies.
In 2002, Tennesseans wised up and voted for Bredesen - finally. Now the state is getting back on track.
Yes, we have some problems with TennCare (mainly, because the Republicans will not allow us to discard our regressive sales tax and opt for an income tax), but, at least we're not limping along in ALL our public services any longer - and education is starting to improve.

[CarolNYC]

3. Thanks for the report

I know someone else who saw him at another event and was quite impressed also.

[liberalitch]

4. He's my Governor.... and I won't mince this...

I WANT HIM TO BE OUR PRESIDENT....

The repubs would try to put George "howdy-Dooody" Allen up against him

[wyldwolf]

5. He was very Presidential.. but it's too early for me to throw my support..

... behind anyone.

But he was very impressive.

[ZootSuitGringo]

6. Does the man have any National Security knowledge?

I just hope Dems don't find themselves trapped in a time wharp dated 1992, just because it was the last successful election for us (without an incumbentcy). I hope that we take the analysis as to who is a good candidate for 2008 a bit deeper than that.

[safi0]

7. Is he gonna run for Senate

Is he gonna run against Allen in 06, if he runs that would set up one of the most high profile Senate matchups in 06. But if he does run, I think it'll be difficult for him because everyone will think hes just running to get a couple years of foreign policy experience before he runs in 08