Mark Warner, who is he and why is he getting some attention?

[SeaNap05]

Warner is being mentioned lately I'm interested what he is all about.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. DLC.

[marmar]

2. Yup...

Because on his own, he's about as interesting as a piece of Wonder bread.

[nickshepDEM]

3. Who is he?

The democrats best chance of capturing the White House in 2008.

Sorry, I couldnt resist.

Go here for real info: www.forwardtogetherpac.com

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Not so much.

Warner is another bland, triangulating corporatist masquerading as a Democrat. He'd be better than whatever the Republicans come up with, but that's about it. Meh.

[Crunchy Frog]

5. A Moderate Southern Governor.

He fits the "formula", therefore he's getting alot of attention from people who think we only need to hit the right formula to win the Whitehouse.

I haven't seen anything in him that I find particularly inspirational myself.

[TwilightZone]

6. Since you're getting such helpful answers, here are a couple...

...of places to start:

http://issues2000.org/Mark_Warner.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Warner

Warner is a moderate Democrat who had some impressive approval ratings (75%) as governor of a predominantly "red" state, Virginia. He's probably too moderate for a lot of liberals, but his ability to work both sides of the aisle could be a plus in the general election should he get nominated.

[Warpy]

7. He's just another conservative southern Democrat

and the inside the beltway wonks love those conservative Democrats. They're gonna make all those old GOPers see the light because we all know they want to vote for a sane GOP instead of the batshit crazy GOP they have now.

At least that's the way it's supposed to work, the true conservatives deserting the GOP in droves to vote for Democrats, who have seen the light and picked up Goldwater's mantle.

Too bad it doesn't.

Warner's not a bad guy. He's just not the right guy.

[ArkySue]

13. Not Southern

He grew up in Indiana I believe.

[Warpy]

16. Indiana may look like it's up north

but it truly does qualify as one of the conservative, rednecky, wingnutted, religious hysteric states and the culture more properly belongs with Dixie.

Part of that is due to a huge migration up from the south, especially from Appalachia, during and just after the Depression as coal jobs dried up.

Most of 'em even sound southern.

And yes, I lived there.

[Clark2008]

20. Good Lord - there are wingnutted rednecks everywhere.

Please don't confine them to the South.

Geesch.

I HATE SOUTHERN BASHING CONSIDERING MOST OF DU IS FROM THE SOUTH!!

:grr:

[Name removed]

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[Bake]

60. Speaking just for me, WE DON'T WANT 'EM in the South.

Bake

[IndyOp]

43. Indiana *is* more southern than most states in the south. I live here. nt

[Penndems]

8. I'm proud to say he's the former Governor of my state

You can learn about his record by clicking on the link (video):

http://www.forwardtogetherpac.com/contents/show/42

[SaveElmer]

9. Outstanding Governor...

Handed the Republican legislature their lunch for four years. He is a moderate on most issues...though he did get the legislature to approve a tax hike on upper income earners. He is also pro-choice.

Very intelligent, very savvy politically. Not the greatest speaker in the world especially in a one on one format...ok giving a speech. Can be a bit goofy sometimes, but overall would be a formidible candidate.

[Awsi Dooger]

10. That's a good summary

He's also the second favorite behind Hillary to win our nomination. I'm talking the actual betting lines not DU polls.

Warner will be the nominee and the next president if we apply the electability angle again during the primaries. In his case it would be legit, due to more states in play and the impact of Virginia's 13 electoral votes. My greatest fear is the primary voters abandon or don't trust that electability aspect after ignorantly applying it to Kerry in '04. A military record or proper resume is not the key to evicting an incumbent. You need charisma for that, unless the incumbent cooperates with an abysmal approval rating, similar to what Bush has now. He was bacially 50/50 in November 2004.

[Wesin04]

37. Doesn't have what it takes

Warner was a popular governor and did reach out to attract rural voters in Virginia. He accomplished some good things for Virginia in the business sense, but then, he's a successful, millionaire cell phone businessman, so I would expect that he'd do well in that aspect. What he lacks, totally, is any foreign policy, national security, military knowledged or experience, and this shows when he's questioned. No cred on these topics. In this world we live in today, and with the GOP pushing security and terror above all else, Warner doesn't have what we need. (and I'm a Virginia Dem). He's only a "favorite" with the DLC cause he's won a race in a red state and he can fund his campaign and attract big $$ from friends. He needs some substance to back up his money.

[jackpan1260]

11. Warner and Feingold are my picks right now.

Warner was a great governor. From what I have seen, he is confident and genuine about where he stands. I know I am in the minority here, but I don't really care.

[mike_c]

12. he's the ham sandwich...

...in an ABB world. That's about the most cheritable thing I can say for him. Better than Lieberman. On a par with Hillary Clinton. Meh.

[1932]

14. Warner's running as CEO of the USA.

The MSM will probably like him to be the fallback Dem if they can't get the Republicans a win because he's not going to start a revolution and he comes from the corporate world.

[RDU Socialist]

29. and name one single viable candidate who will start a revolution

please comrade 1932, name one single candidate who will do that.

[1932]

48. Hopefully, someone running in 2008 will be inspired by legacy of FDR.

[FrenchieCat]

15. Someone that Some Democrats want to run for President.....

Even though he has nada Foreign Policy Experience or National Security Experience.

I mean, after all, we are only fighting 2 or 3 wars, with rumblings of more problems on the horizon..... so why not run a Democratic Nominee that could easily be whupped with just a Bin Laden Tape? :shrug:

I'm sure the Repugs won't mind him as our nominee one bit (which is why he is getting a lot of press, if you ask me).

I've tried to tell them that it won't be 1992 (when we were at peace, and it was the Economy stoopid), but they ain't listening.

Now, what I'm sure of is this: Warner ain't no Bill Clinton

[Placebo]

19. Thanks for the impartial opinion, FC.

Not like you're heavily biased toward another candidate already, or anything.

*cough*CLARKIE*cough*

[Clark2008]

21. So the fuck what?

Her assessment of Warner is still dead-on accurate.

Maybe the reason she - and many others - LIKE Gen. Clark is BECAUSE we're smart enough to know that foreign policy will ONCE AGAIN be the MAIN issue in the election. And because we already know Democrats beat Republicans on the "Mommy" issues - where we lose is on the "Daddy" issues, such as foreign policy and national security.

Did you ever thing of that? :eyes:

[Placebo]

23. Thanks for proving my point.

Your depth of knowledge is only as deep as your biased rubber-stamp blind faith in a single American. You will never support anyone else until the primaries are over or your candidate of choice says they aren't running, so really, there's no point in talking to you or the other Clarkies since you will never give an inch or allow yourself to be reasoned with.

It's important to know where the people you're getting information are coming from in terms of their personal beliefs, which is why these blatant attacks on Warner's credibility and leadership abilities need to be called out for what they are: bitter hatred for a man who could keep your preferred candidate out of the democratic party's slot on the ballot for president and the White House.

[Texas_Kat]

24. So explain to us what his foreign policy creds are again....?

It's important to know what the background of potential candidates are in one of the most significant areas that is THE RESPONSIBILITY of the office of the President.

Warnerites very often mention some sort of mythical ticket that would buck-up this missing (crucial) piece of a General Election candidate's knowledge. Guess what.... we don't vote on 'tickets' in the primaries.

P.S. Being introduced at Bilderberg isn't a foreign policy credential..... If you want to see foreign policy credentials and credibility... you can check this out:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1505641>%20&address=364x1505641

Double-yellow-dog Dare ya'

[Clark2008]

31. Wow! Thanks for knowing so much about me. NOT.

Your depth of knowledge about ME is only as deep as your preconceived notion about other candidates' supporters, which isn't much.

I don't hate Warner, you twit. I am just sick and fucking tired of the same slice of corporate cheese being served over - warm and mushy and green - to the American Democratic voter. The Democratic Party needs to stop trying to shovel the Bill Clinton-model of shit over and over again, because this isn't 1992 and these people aren't Bill Clinton.

Warner is not the person for the low- to middle-class voter, which is the group of people the Democratic Party is SUPPOSED to be most-representative of and his foreign policy credentials are sorely lacking, which will make a difference if our GIs are fighting on two to three fronts. The Republicans, even the numbnutted Bush, have an advantange of mammoth proportions when it comes to national security and foreign policy, perceived or real, and it would behoove the Democratic Party to at least TRY and beat them at their own game.

[Name removed]

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[RDU Socialist]

26. i don't "thing" he "thung" of that (i guess thung is the past tense of

thing).

And how is Clark's national security and foreign policy plan any different from nearly every other Democratic contender? Oh it's because he was a general for NATO, and the American people are so easily impressed by someone's military credentials. I mean that's why George W. Bush beat John Kerry, it was because when the American people sat down and looked, George W. Bush's military service record impressed them much more than Kerry's.

Republicans win on social issues. They get their base out in force much more than we do.

Plus watching Wesley Clark speak on the stump is more painful than watching John McCain speak.

[Name removed]

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[lumpy]

57. Republican win on social issues????

Oh man, I've heard it all. Nominated the most ridiculous statement of the month. Didn't hit the history books enough?

[PeaceProgProsp]

58. They win on low taxes & smaller government, and then they

use fear of crime, terror and foreigners to convince you that you don't need higher wages and better opportunities.

[FrenchieCat]

62. False!

Plus watching Wesley Clark speak on the stump is more painful than watching John McCain speak.

Wes Clark is beoutiful on the stump, unless you are buying into the meme sold to you by the corporate media!

I double dare you to watch him!

See here! http://securingamerica.com/taxonomy/term/58

[FrenchieCat]

54. You are welcome, Placebo.......

I mean.....*cough*Hillariette/Warnerite*cough*cough*!

[kaygore]

17. Warner did take the state deficit which the Rep governor left him--

a huge deficit--and turned it around into a surplus while he supported education.

He is not a "pretty boy." Nor is he very compelling, but as much as many of us want blood and want those who got us into this mess nailed, what would be best for the country would be to try to be bi-partisan and attack the problems that face the nation from both sides of the aisle.

Having said that and being a Virginian, my first choice is Gore. I think that if he doesn't listen to all those poll guys and just is himself and is honest with the American people, he can win. There is a lot of dis-ease. People want to come together and I think he is the guy to do it.

[Midlodemocrat]

53. I like him. He is very fiscally savvy, as evidenced by what

you just posted.

Agreed, no foreign policy experience, but consider for a moment who the rethugs will run? Anybody there who isn't a chickenhawk? Didn't think so.

[Texas_Kat]

18. Here he is:

The camera isn't very kind to him, though this isn't (by far) his worst picture.

[Patiod]

47. "Camara isn't kind" is a nice way of putting it

And he's got to get that eyebrow thing under control - I remember seeing him give the Democratic reply to one of That Horrible Man in the White House's speeches, and I couldn't concentrate because Warner's eyebrows were distracting me.

It's a television world, and he comes off dorky.

[JeffR]

49. I think you're thinking of Tim Kaine...?

[Patiod]

51. Yikes! Quite right! Never mind

Damned interchangable Virginia governors.

[JeffR]

56. LOL Warner has eyebrow issues, too

[Placebo]

22. He's a leader that most of the Democratic party could easily rally around.

Which is why you'll find so many DUers who enjoy and make a hobby of beating him to a bloody pulp and talk about him like he's a republican or something. They know that he is an attractive candidate for president and would be a serious threat to any of their favourites (the Clarkies and Deaniacs are the worst).

That being said, he was an extremely successful democratic governor from a red state who had the highest approval ratings ever measured when leaving office (he only left the Governor's mansion because of term limits) and who managed to solve that state's budget problems and had broad appeal across party lines. If he didn't run for president in 2008, he'd be an idiot, which is why he will run.

He was the first person in his family to go to college and after a lengthy career that spanned George Washington University, Harvard Law School, and working for Senator Dodd of Connecticut, eventually lead him to be the co-founder of NEXTEL Communications.

Really, why so many on DU rip him to shreds, I'll never know.

[RDU Socialist]

27. because the most vocal extremist members of du want to run this man

[Placebo]

28. If he was in a 4 star general's uniform...

DU would be saying "Fucking Wes Clark, fucking neo-con DINO piece of shit, motherfucking loser DLC, Clintonista killer war criminal. Foreign policy experience is going to be the biggest issue in 2008 and fuck you if you're gonna sit there and tell me that General Vladdy Lenin doesn't ooze foreign policy experience and expertise out of every greasy bloody pore!"

[Crunchy Frog]

35. Oooo, he's so sexy!

I wonder what he looks like with his shirt off.:loveya:

I wonder how the reanimation technology is coming along. We really do have to run this man.

[Eurobabe]

39. Dunno, but I'm glad most of us know what our guy looks like

with his shirt off.

[IndyOp]

45. Eeeeewwwwwwwww.... Your taste is your taste, but he is OLD.

Let's please get the beefcake and cheesecake out of politics and journalism!!!

:(

[FrenchieCat]

52. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk.....

Let even out the score....

although I couldn't find a pic of Warner with his shirt off, here he is lookin' at ya on his website!

[Placebo]

59. GROSS!

:puke:

[FrenchieCat]

61. But much better Clark than imagining Hillary, or Warner that matter.....

in the same pose! that would be double :puke: :puke:

PS. The fact that Wes Clark would have such photo of him (he does swim daily so this pic could have easily been taken) shows that he certainly in better shape, for a 60+ year old man than many his age AND younger! :loveya:

[Placebo]

63. I don't want to imagine any of the candidates naked.

Just sayin'. lol

[FrenchieCat]

66. But some might........

Just sayin' :)

[Name removed]

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[halobeam]

25. Recommending.

It's great to discuss everyone who is a possible/probable run in '08. I don't have details such as this thread is starting to provide, on the less well-known politicians (speaking for myself). These type of threads are extremely helpful....thanks.:hi:

[fujiyama]

33. Former governor of VA

To his credit he won in '01, soon after 9/11 in a red state. His sucessor helped ride his coattails to win the governorship.

He was a moderate and apparently ran the state well. Some ranking called it the "best managed state" in the US.

He's a self made multimillionaire. Unlike Bush, he started a company and was sucessful.

That's part of the reason some fear he is too close to big business. He does seem to be the favorite (or second favorite to Hillary) among corporate interests. He has also been featured at the Bilderberg group (or however you spell it), which I believe is made of various corporate interests. I believe Edwards has spoke to them as well.

I've seen him speak on C-Span and while he wasn't terribly exciting, he was fairly interesting. As someone else stated, he seemed a bit goofy at times, but had an odd charm with a self deprecating sense of humor. He hasn't given too much details in the way of foreign policy but it's obvious he doesn't want people to start piling on (but as you can see it's already started om this forum).

With a crowded field, it will be interesting to see how it plays out. In the end, depending on whether Gore runs or not, I believe he will be one of two anti-Hillary candidates - the other being Russ Feingold, whose popularity is catching on among many Dems.

[Douglas Carpenter]

36. Why is Mark Warner Richard Perle's (PNAC) second favorite Democrat??

link:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php context=viewArticle&code=CAR20060607&articleId=2596

from: A New "Perle Harbor": Neocon Foreign Policy Architect Richard Perle reveals US War Plans in the Iranian Theater

by Dr. Michael Carmichael

"When a perceptive student asked about his preferences for the next president of the United States, Perle made some riveting remarks. He immediately stated his hope that Senator Joseph Lieberman would be the Democratic candidate. Failing that miracle, Perle hopes former Governor Mark Warner will win the Democratic nomination. Perle warmly praised both right-leaning Democrats who are doyens of the Democratic Leadership Council. Richard Giuliani is Perle’s favorite Republican. When asked about potential presidential candidates who would cause him concern, Perle swiftly reeled off a long list of Democrats led by Governor Howard Dean, followed closely by Senator John Kerry, former Vice President Al Gore, former Senator John Edwards, and he finished his list of neoconservative hate figures with a revealing comment about Senator Hillary Clinton."

I would just like to know where Gov. Warner is at on foreign policy issues

that's all...

I spent hours and hours trying to look for clues and could find almost nothing except vague generalities and this:

1. He heaped praise upon Peter Beinart's latest book, "The Good Fight" which advocates a highly interventionist-highly militaristic worldview.
Is this Gov. Warner's world view? I don't know? But it does concern me.

2. This article from the daily kos regarding comments he made regarding Venezuela and Iran - link: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/6/11/03338/1129

3. And a number of sites quoting the comment listed above by Richard Perle; a man who did not have anything good to say about any other Democrat - even centrist/DLC Democrats except Sen. Lieberman.

I am not saying that these point disqualify Gov. Warner. If he wants to lead the most powerful country in the history of the world, he should let the world know where he stands on foreign policy issues.

I just hope he clarifies his foreign policy positions soon. That's all.

[Douglas Carpenter]

38. here's another link for the Richard Perle comments:

http://www.watchermagazine.com/?p=5373

[Eurobabe]

40. Say what you will, Warner bashers

I lived in VA while MW was governor, and to his credit, Virginia has it all over most of the states in the US. Low sales taxes, LOW RE taxes, good roads, user-friendly websites for govt. business (car reg., etc.)

We'll probably buy property again there because it's such a well run state. And the legacy continues with Tim Kaine!

[Totally Committed]

41. He's Michael Dukakis, without

the charm or charisma. The man is twelve shades of beige.

He's DLC, and their hedge-bet in case Hillary bites the dust.

He's getting a lot of attention because he has the DLC Corprate $$$ and "machine" behind him.

TC

[Catchawave]

42. Warner would be a great v.p.

He was a great governor, but still not sure if that can translate outside Va...yet.

[FrenchieCat]

55. As long as Warner doesn't ride in a Tank, he may pass mustard

until the release of the Bin Laden tape a few days before the GE vote!

Here he is making a toast!

[Lerkfish]

44. I assume every pro-DLC DUer will praise him in this thread

(posted before I scroll down).

I will say one thing about the DLC that's a compliment: they vehemently protect their own. That's a good quality for a political organization.

Now, if only they considered the democratic party as a whole "their own", we'd be in better shape

[wisteria]

50. DLC- fence sitter and very weak on defense and foreign relations. n/t

[iconoclastNYC]

64. DLC establishment tool

[leveymg]

65. Boy, is that a loaded question. Who's asking?

Welcome to DU. ;)