Mark Warner Announces
By Greg L | 13 September 2007 | US Senate | 47 Comments
Hold onto your wallets, folks. Mark Warner is now officially running for the United States Senate.
From DontMarkWarner.com:
Once failed Senate candidate, former presidential candidate and still VP hopeful Mark Warner decided today to take on a campaign he’s never run before — a campaign focused on his record. The first question he’ll have to answer is a $1.38 billion question: why did Mark Warner break his number one campaign promise to the people of Virginia?
In 2001, Warner PROMISED Virginia taxpayers he wouldn’t raise taxes: “I will not raise taxes. I will not raise taxes. I will not raise taxes.” (Richmond Times Dispatch, 3/8/01)
Warner even told voters he thought they wanted someone who wouldn’t break promises — “What I believe the people of Virginia want is they want people who are going to keep their promises.” (Virginia Club for Growth, Accessed 9/12/07)
But apparently, saying he “[would] not raise taxes” three times wasn’t the charm, because Warner did the exact opposite — he raised taxes $1.38 billion. (The Washington Times, 5/13/04)
To add insult to injury, Warner also vetoed the repeal of the estate tax in 2003 because he said it was an “irresponsible fiscal policy.” (Roanoke Times, 3/25/03)
“Make no mistake about it, Mark Warner is a politician who can’t be trusted to keep his promises to voters,” NRSC Communications Director Rebecca Fisher said. “And his prime example is raising Virginians’ taxes by $1.38 billion.”
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
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JUST SAY NO!
Couple that with being an apologist for illegal aliens and Marky Mark will eventually crash and burn…
Unfortunately, Marky Mark isn’t going anywhere. He’s beating likely challengers by 20-30 points. Illegal aliens and tax hikes aside, the atmosphere is too toxic for any Republican to win. I guess we have to choose who to sacrifice - I say Gilmore.
He also left Richmond with the highest approval ratings ever for an outgoing Governor; he had to clean up the mess left by Gilmore (that is a dream match-up if I ever saw one), and he was instrumental in having a Dem take over after his term expired in a deeply Red state. Warner still polls higher than any other Virginia elected past or present except for the current Sen. Warner.
I am so glad that I don’t live by polls but rather by what is RIGHT. Bill Clinton governed by polls (in more ways than one) and if not for the Republicans in Congress, would have completely ruined this country. Yeah, I can’t stand the mess Gilmore left Virginia in - every time I pay my personal property tax on my car, I think how much better the State could have used my money vice me…NOT. THANK YOU, Jim Gilmore, for having a clue.
Jim knows about terrorism and isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. The dems are CONSTANTLY giving aid and comfort to the enemy, and now some Republicans are doing the same (all for campaign donations). Give me Jim ANY day of the week over that tax and spend Warner (you chose the first name).
JL - AMEN!
The problem is that Mark realizes his fellow liberals do not mind paying more and more taxes each year in order to pay for their liberal social programs. So, while it bothers right minded folks to hear such lies coming from a liberal, the libs could care less.
Its not just liberals. Centrist voters are now willing to tolerate tax increases, so long as their called ‘investments’ and put towards education, transportation, etc. Tax cuts are just not a winning issue for Republicans anymore.
It is a shame, that people believe increased taxes will solve the transportation problem. Will a tax increase cause people to use their turn signals more? Will it stop people from rubbing necking, driving slow in the left lane? Will it make people pay more attention to what is in front and back of them, rather then what might be happening on the side of the road?
Of course not. So why bother.
I have a friend who recently moved to California, and he was floored when it cost him over $500.00 to register his car there with the DMV. How is that helping the traffic issue, or the education issue for that matter in California?
Maryland has a higher gas tax then we do, and yet they still have traffic issues maybe even worse then we do. Look at the huge fight over the inter-county connector. Exactly how much space do we have left for new roads? How many more lanes can be added to Routes 29, 50. Little River turnpike? I wish people would pay more attention to details like that. The COMPOST rips the Virginia GOP for not fixing the transportation issue, yet they never seem to do the same for the MD Dems. I wonder why…..
All we have to do is look at Washington DC, and realize spending more and more money on education is not always the solution to a better education.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/trade/2007-09-12-mexico-trucks_N.htm?csp=34
Our elected officials hard at work!
Regards of the economic truths, the perception still exists that tax increases improve transportation infrastructure and educational outcomes.
The simple truth of the matter is that more money is needed to build more roads, commuter lots and improve public transportation. There are, however, economic and fiscal downsides to raising taxes.
I’m not sure where exactly Mark Warner’s popularity arises from, but I don’t see any political situation under which it diminishes.
Let’s save money and let Warner run unopposed. Maybe that will keep Dem turnout in house races low.
VB, I thought you were overseas and were backing off from the blogs. Now you’re turning into one of my most prolific comment posters. You back at VCU now?
VB,
That is why those running on a lower tax or a hold tax platform need to have a clear and easy to understand message regarding why higher taxes will not improve the mess we are in. There are a number of other ways to try that are not costly.
manassascityresident - thank you
The problem is that Mark Warner will run on a hold tax / cut tax platform again and will get away with it. Us VA Republicans will be better off when we recognize the Mark Warner is untouchable. The cult of personality associated with his governorship combined with the national decline of the GOP makes Mark W. unstoppable. Then again, I thought George Allen was untouchable and unstoppable.
VB writes “the perception still exists that tax increases improve transportation infrastructure and educational outcomes.”
Where exactly is THAT perception??? Maybe in New England, but definitely not here. NOVA has shot down higher taxes which were promised for transportation, hence the $1000+ fines that are now working their way through the courts.
I believe it was Delaware, but not 100% sure, where there were two cities where one was taxing like crazy and the other was not and guess who had the better school system? That’s right, the lower taxed city. And why? Because you can throw all the money you want at something, if it is not structured to succeed, then all it will be is a syphon for the money. The lower taxed city ran a fiscally responsible government, cut the pork from the schools/administration, and actually TAUGHT their students instead of indoctrinated.
It is just impossible to tax something or someone and turn it into a success. Our country was founded on a revolution of a 2% tax hike, what would our founding fathers think if they even heard us debating raising MORE taxes.
Virg. B - George Allen should never have been governor in the first place. If he didn’t have the famous Redskin name, he would have been a nobody. He certaily didn’t have much intellectually, IMO. Just like W, he slid in on his dad’s coat tails.
People will vote against tax increases arising from referendums but not from elected officials. Case in point, the referendum failed by wide margins even in Fairfax a few years back but Brickner still lost.
Tax cuts are simply not the politically seductive issue they were 10-20 years ago. We Republicans need to craft a new message with new ideas to continue to win elections. If you don’t believe me, just wait until November 2008 when Mark Warner trounces whatever nominee the Virginia GOP throws at him.
Our founding fathers also starting a quasi-civil war because they couldn’t brew there own whiskey. “Founding father” arguments are ridiculous.
What I’m most worried about is how many people will go to the polls and see “Warner” on the ballot and think they’re voting for John Warner instead…
I suppose that Gilmore is hoping that people will get confused and think they are voting for the Gilmore Girls?
The planner,
Enough of the Repubs are stupid. That is a myth created by the elitist left.
VB,
Exactly what would that message be? I still say that if someone used a common sense and simple message regarding the myth of higher taxes equals better service it would work.
Outside of liberals, people do not want to pay more for something if they do not have to.
Mark Warner may very well win, but to toss in the towel at this point is not only premature but silly.
The only reason why Webb was able to win was the mistep of Allen. However, if you look at where the race was before that, Allen was far ahead. He was running a good campaign and would have coasted to victory.
I don’t know who is going to win the GOP nomine, but keep in mind Tom Davis and where his district is.
Isn’t Mark Warner’s father-in-law head of NVR homes (or am I mistaken)? Don’t homebuilders rely on cheap foreign labor and day labor sites? Very interesting!
Balance the budget & pay down the debt. The problem is is that Republicans cannot portend to be America’s fiscal savior when they have been America’s fiscal demon the past 6 years in DC.
Here come the historical revisionists like Matt above claiming that Marky Mark only raised taxes because Jim Gilmore irresponsibly kept his word and cut the car tax. Just get look at what he wrote:
Time for a reality check. To put it succinctly:
Actually, it wasn’t that hard to get a handful of Republicans to go along with the plan. All Marky Mark had to do was withhold the information that tax revenues to the state treasury were soaring until after the vote on the tax increase was taken. Had that been common knowledge beforehand, many of those Republicans would not have voted for the tax hike and have said so on numerous occasions since then.
By the way, only 12 days after the vote to raise taxes, Mark Warner announced that we were not $1.4 billion in deficit, but instead running a surplus.
More Enron-style accounting from Marky Mark and His Flunky Bunch.
Hey Planner, if GB is so stupid, what does that make Kerry? Seeing that George’s report card in college WAS better than Johnny’s, and that GB’s popularity rating IS higher than the Democratic controlled Congress, I would think before I speak, if I were you.
Riley, I have to take exception with your comment on the Republicans that voted for the tax increase. When the vast majority of my party is voting a certain way, and I am being told by the opposition that times are bleak, trust me, I will side with MY party over the Dems any day of the week. Thanks for posting those facts, it is sooo difficult to argue with truth.
John Light - I didn’t say GB was stupid. I said he slid in on his dad’s coattails. - Gilmore might get mixed up with Minunteman father, Gilchrist of Calif, and make a big splash among the contributors to this blogg.
OMG — you are acting like sore losers already. If it will always be bad news to elect ANY Democrat then perhaps we could get Sen. Craig or Sen Vitter to run here??? They might need jobs soon.
VB,
I agree the GOP in Washington has been spending like mad. However, that is not the fault of the VA GOP. However, I suppose I am assuming folks can see the difference…
Lets see just what are the lies.
Gilmore said elect me and there will be no more Personal Property Tax and it can be eliminated with out any fiscal impact on local government. LIE
Stewart and the BOS said pass this 300 million dollar bond and said there will be no tax increase. They could not issue all the bonds this past year because it will increase taxes. The public will elect anyone who tells them what they want to hear. Who is so stupid to believe that if Governemnt borrows money that it will not come out of your taxes. Lingamfelter is that stupid.
Stewart said that there would be no more residential rezoning approved but none has been denied or changed except for one. That individual was an African American and he had to reduce the number of units down from 21 and sell one of them at 1/3 off regular selling price to get his rezoning. Of course a white man wanting to rezone 20 house in Lake Ridge at the same BOCS meeting was passed with out a problem and he only had to pay 225.00 per unit toward Affordable housing cost.
A horse or jackass is given more rights for building protection then a Disabled Vet or those with disabeling illnesses in PWC.
Stewart will do nothing to stop the county from takine your application for a variance at a cost of about 500.00 each. Of course the county can not and will not grant a variance for any addition to a house because of a State Supreme Court ruling.
If you were a business man you would be put in jail if you did that.
A true conservative would not borrow money to pay for something but would say that each and every person should pay their fair share as they go along. Frederick, Lingamfelter, Stewart, Stirrup, May are nothing but flaming Liberals.
Bob,
Are you a bit slow on the up take??? The GA did not follow through on the elimination of the car tax. How is that Gilmore’s fault?
Wow, it did not take long for the COMPOST to lie. They ran an editorial today that is basically a free campaign ad for Warner. They really pile it on with his lead from the center, that he left the State with a balanced budget, without of course stating he raised taxes after he lied and said he would not do it. They also add that he did with the help from some republicans. While the COMPOST points out he has to do better with foreign policy and defense issues, he should win easily.
“Bob,
Are you a bit slow on the up take??? ”
Bingo, COM, you win the prize!!!
citizenofmanassas said on 13 Sep 2007 at 10:23 pm:
Bob,
Are you a bit slow on the up take??? The GA did not follow through on the elimination of the car tax. How is that Gilmore’s fault?
As always it is someone else falut is it not COM !!!!!
Gilmore prommissed that it would be eliminated as did the Republican party and it would not cause any fiscal problems. Well that was and is a lie but you do not even seem to be able to get started much less being “slow on the uptake” Gilmore got elected because the public believed his and the Republican lie.
These are the same type of lies that the Frederick, Lingamfelter, Stewart,Stirrup and May are telling to try and get elected this time around as well. It is always someone elses fault for the problems we have. Well in 30 years they have not solved any of them so they must be falilures. But then you as a Liberal think that someone else is going to pay for your impact on the county. The real world does not work that way.
Before long the Builders will be giving you your house because” the Developer pays not the public who is buying” the Proffers, Tap Fees as the government would want you to believe.
Bob,
Again, you are missing the point. He can only do so much for his policies and cannot help the fact many in the GA did not want to give more of our money back to us.
Unlike Mark Warner who said he would not raise taxes, he could have vetoed the tax hike but did not do so.
How are high taxes helping Maryland traffic out? Do you think they do not have any traffic issues? If more taxes and liberals equal less traffic issues, why is it the leading opponents of the inter-county connector are liberals?
Are you calling me a liberal in the classic sense, or in the typical Democrat sense? There is a huge difference between the two.
For the record, I live in the City of Manassas, and I in fact pay more into the system then I use in services, since we send our child to private school though we still pay taxes for public schools.
I, the liberal, pay taxes to PWC, send my children to private schools, don’t use the roads west of Hoadley and I don’t have any parents in the Adult Day Care program (now a private program for delegates) - so do I pay more into the system than you do?
Anon,
I only said that in reponse to the paragraph below by you. You made it seem as if I expect others to pay for my impact on the County. How is it that now you think I am questioning your impact on it?
But then you as a Liberal think that someone else is going to pay for your impact on the county. The real world does not work that way.
Before long the Builders will be giving you your house because” the Developer pays not the public who is buying” the Proffers, Tap Fees as the government would want you to believe.
Bob Wills, Frederick doesn’t belong on your list of flaming liberals, but Tom Davis cetainly does!
If we had real Reagan Republicans elected to office, we’d have programs such as a SCHOOL VOUCHER system in place today and the education system wouldn’t be holding on by a thread.
Candidates are pandering to voters to get money and votes. Then there is the one that has money and votes and wants power. Bring back the true Republicans because we sure has hell need them right now!
Scott Lingamfelter referred to himself as a Reagan Republican at last night’s C-100 debate…it was BLASPHEMY! I nearly choked. $400 million dollar tax bill that he refused to support, later voted for it, and shortly after attempted to defend it in an Op-Ed, then ooops, he must not have read the bill before he voted on it because his Op-Ed was WRONG!
BLASPHEMY!!
Com you are a liberal is the real sense. The last true conservative in Va was Senator Byrd and he was a pay as you go conservative. The so called conservative today wants someone else to pay for your cost and the attitude that if we borrow money it will not cause a raise in taxes. The public might want to belive that but it is a false lie.
Gilmore promissed to eliminate the Personal Property taxes and if can not do something then he lied to the public to get elected which is a fact.
You pay for schools so that when you sell you house at a HUGH tax free profit the buyer can let their children go to a public school. You pay for the police and fire department even though I hope you do not need them but they are availalbe if needed. Do you consider that a waste of money as well.
If you want your money back then call a Proffer just what it is and that is a Capital Improvement Tax which would be deductable by the home owner. They would only pay about 4% interest on the tax free bond. This would be applied to structure built as to its impact not just a few houses and nothing from the commercial or industrial or office building being built. It is your liberal politicians like Frederick, Lingmafelter, Stewart, Stirrup and May who do not want the public to get money back from the government.
Bob,
You are too much. The only liberals we have today are on the Dem side. How exactly is selling a house tax free? Did I not already mention I do not live in the County? Yet, you still ramble on as if I do. You assume I want someone else to pay for what I use, again where and when did I say that?
What do you consider Kaine, Mark Warner, etc to be?
Do you not think Mark Warner who said he would not raise taxes and then signed the tax increase into law did not lie?
To compare Gilmore to Warner is like comparing apples to oranges.
Issues, my friends….issues. With Hillary as the Dem. nominee and no matter who we end up with as the GOP nominee, the driving issue that will rightfully surface again nationally and in Virginia is national security (the war on terror and how it ties into illegal immigration/securing our borders). They aren’t going to be doing some tit for tat over past state budget battles, or at least the GOP candidate can’t allow that.
So, when the US Seante race is debated on those terms, the GOP wins. Who in Virginia politics OWNS the national security/anti-terror issue? — GILMORE.
www.goodbyefaisal.com
Gill Sighting posted by Harry Wiggins at 2007-09-14 01:23
Gill and Tom Davis, along with Davis’ crew of Hitler Youth, were at the Giant at Hedges Run and Old Bridge Road yesterday handing out Jihadist(Gill) lit to the shoppers.
Tom Davis hasn’t been around PWC much this election cycle, only to host a fundraiser for Michele McQuigg and Mike May, and now he is in Lake Ridge supporting Gill at the local Giant.
Rumor has it he is supporting Steve Keen who has been associated with the “Hitler Youth” and that’s fine because Royse has earned his respect, can run on his own merits, and will be the next Woodbridge Supervisor.
As for Mike May in Occoquan, he served on the credentials committee with Michele McQuigg at the 51st first convention debacle that got Gill the nomination.
Tom Davis must think the voters in PWC are idiots. Let’s show him just how smart we are by voting for John Gray in Occoquan and Lucy Beauchamp for Clerk of Courts!
Tom Davis made one other appearance, at the new Mosque on Hoadly road along with Chairman Corey Stewart after the convention. Davis has a history with Norquist that dates back to 2000, at least.
Elect Paul Nichols for Delegate.
As for Corey….write in Mickey Mouse if you have to but he doesn’t deserve your vote.
Ari,
For those of us who do not know, can you please explain who the “Hitler youth” are. I thought they were wiped out in WW2.
Bob,
You are too much. The only liberals we have today are on the Dem side. How exactly is selling a house tax free? Did I not already mention I do not live in the County? Yet, you still ramble on as if I do. You assume I want someone else to pay for what I use, again where and when did I say that?
citizenofmanassas said on 14 Sep 2007 at 8:37 am:
For the record, I live in the City of Manassas, and I in fact pay more into the system then I use in services, since we send our child to private school though we still pay taxes for public schools
asked and answered COM
Com if you think that someone is a liberal because of a party they belong to what a narrow minded person you are. Yes when you sell your house for more then you paid for it the first 500,000 for a married couple is “TAX FREE” if single then it is 250,000. Maybe you think this is not tax free you need to learn something about economics. It does not matter where you live as every new house in the county or city uses “Proffers” which is paid for by the buyer not the builder as the elected officials Republican or Democrate like the claim. Maybe you have some kind of idea that local government can print money like the Federal government does and creats such hugh deficits. Local government can not spend more then they take in period.
What do you consider Kaine, Mark Warner, etc to be?
The same as anyother politician and which of them does not lie to get elected
Do you not think Mark Warner who said he would not raise taxes and then signed the tax increase into law did not lie?
To compare Gilmore to Warner is like comparing apples to oranges.
Well the public must have thought there was a rotten apple in office compared to the fresh orange by the time either of them left office :)))
Bob,
When was the last time or anytime you have heard of a liberal conservative? I can’t help it that you liberals are now embarrassed of a word and philosophy y’all embraced for so long.
Though, now y’all want to run as if y’all are conservative, just look at the way Mark Warner ran. Did he run as a wimpy liberal? Nope he knew in order to win he had to lie and tell folks he would not raise taxes, yet still did. Talk about a smelly orange.
Timmy Kaine lied too. But I can understand why you are not going to accept the fact both of those men lied. You simply cannot bash a fellow liberal.
I pay my taxes, therefore, I am not receiving anything for free. I suppose if I did not pay my yearly real estate tax bill, and then moved out and got the tax break, I might agree with you. However, since that is not the case, you are wrong.
Well, I will give you credit, you finally realized I do not live in the County. I guess there is hope afterall.