Well lookee lookee Gov. Warner (D) of Va. has a SURPLUS!!

[underpants]

He will be speaking for four minutes at the convention on economic outlooks of Dems vs. Republicans.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031776858337

Even before the record $1.4 billion package of tax increases kicks in, Virginia will reap a significant $324 million surplus from last year's budget.

The Warner administration, which successfully sought the tax boosts this year during the longest-ever session of the General Assembly, disclosed yesterday the unexpected bumper crop of revenues for the fiscal period ending June 30.

Despite cries of cover-up or incompetence voiced yesterday by anti-tax Republicans, Gov. Mark R. Warner, a Democrat, hastened to emphasize that most of the extra cash will be deposited in the state's rainy-day fund.

[buycitgo]

1. pugs will claim that, since the Pentagon is in VA

it's Bush's surplus

I used to ride bike through the cemetery

sigh

[demnan]

2. Can you say, "cabinet post"?

Good for you, Mark! Thanks for picking up after the Republican assholes who came before you!!

[liberalitch]

3. I luv my guv!

[underpants]

4. Gilmore the Frank Burns of politics

I am still not sure who looks like Frank Burns-Gilmore or O'Reilly.

Gilmore was such a deuchbag. That was such a stupid idea and the Virginians fell for it completely.

[buycitgo]

6. but the coach's son makes him look like, oh, say,

stephen hawking

[underpants]

7. Goldenboy Allen has been trumped by Goldenboy Santorum

Sorry George looks like they found someone else to carry their banner for the next generation. Oh and Mark is going to waste your ass in the 2006 Senatorial election.

[JohnKleeb]

10. Could be one for him

He came out for Kerry and he's speaking at the convention, personally though I think Mark is our best shot against beating George Allen. Anyone else agree? I dont know a good cabinet post for him but if not that, then he should for sure run against Allen, he nearly beat John Warner a few years back and Allen isnt as popular as John Warner, so I say he has a shot, because he can get us NoVA voters and the southern part of the state voters with his views on guns.

[Bucky]

5. Prudent fiscal management? Why does he hate America?!?!

...Despite cries of cover-up or incompetence voiced yesterday by anti-tax Republicans

I loathe predictable people

[underpants]

9. From day one they have been saying Warner has no "vision"

The Richmond Times-Disgrace has been leading the charge. Warner got in office, closed the door and went to work fixing the MESS left by the Gilmore and Allen administrations like "lowering the government payroll" by laying off droves in VDOT and then rehiring them at 140% of their previous pay GENIUS!

The repubs are scared to death of him-Allen doesn't look so safe anymore in 2006.

[JohnKleeb]

8. Way to go Mark

Thanks for doing good for our state.

[maxrandb]

12. Don't know if it is possible

but if VA goes for Kerry, then * is in serious trouble and the Repuke party is headed back to 50 or so more years of screaming about "morality" on the margins of power.

Oh Gawd, how I hope these "cheneyers" go back to the minority status they so richly deserve.

[JohnKleeb]

13. I think NoVA will go for Kerry more than they did for Gore

I see people with Kerry stuff everywhere, its rather amazing.

[underpants]

18. NOVA always votes heavy Dem/liberal

Roanoke and the city of Richmond do too.

Hampton Roads usually goes Repub but I don't think W is going to get the number of votes there that he expects. Va.Beach is a lost cause-all Repub all the time and most of the Repub money comes from the Beach-fully funded Ollie's run for Senate.

I am not sure about Charlottesville but the Shenandoah Valley (Drudge actually mentioned it as a place that Clinton's book is not selling well but I did see that F9/11 was in the mall theater in Staunton) votes Repub save for Roanoke -railroad town.

The counties around Richmond vote Repub. Henrico ($$$ in the western part) and Chesterfield (rebel flags and gun racks) but I think some of the the moderates in those counties are too keen on W anymore, just a gut feeling.

[JohnKleeb]

19. Well yeah NOVA is heavily dem because we're diverse

Yeah Va Beach is lost and its Pat's home. I think I heard that the city of Charlottesville is quite democratic but the areas around it are conservative and represented by former dem Virgil Goode, the original Zell Miller.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

11. VA must have few sevices

seriously, how can any state be running a surplus nowadays?
Are there high local property taxes? WTF?

[maxrandb]

14. Being in the military and spending a great deal of time

stationed there, I can honestly say that it is fiscal discipline that has brought this state back from the brink.

VA elected this kook Gilmore. His only idea, and his only accomplishment was to end the car tax. Idiots slogan was "no car tax". That's it. He found something extremely unpopular and ran on that single issue (kinda like gropenator in CA). Yep, he ended the car tax, but the results were devastating to cities and local communities that counted on that revenue to function.

Warner was given almost no chance as a Democrat running in a state that is home base to Pat Robertson and the 700 club. Well, the people took a chance on Warner and he has done a fantastic job.

Great that they are giving him some time in the spotlight at the convention. I would love for him to take out Smirkin' "we will knock their soft teeth down their whiny liberal throats" George Allen (another great uniter). The "smirkster" used to show up at a lot of military functions. I actually met him once and he is the kind of guy that makes you feel like taking a shower after he speaks to you. I find his smirk more disgusting than *'s.

[JohnKleeb]

15. I remember that

God it got so annoying. I believe the repeal of the car tax or some other policy implented by Gilmore or Allen has made the price of getting a year long parking pass at the high school very pricy granted I do live in one of the more wealthy areas but we all arent that well off, and I think 100 dollars is very pricy for something I was told once cost 20-50 dollars a year. Allen also implented that SOL bs. As a student of the Va public school system, I can tell you that the current near voting age generation of Virginians could become democrats, they are generally tolerant and despite living in a republican area, the young dems outnumber the young republicans and the newspaper leans liberal.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

16. Thanks for the view from VA

I'd like to hear from others too.

[wishlist]

17. lGreat! N.C. under Dem Gov Easley also has budget surplus

so that should help his re-election campaign here in N.C. Repubs are even calling attention to the surplus, calling for tax cuts.

[maxrandb]

20. We NEED to spotlight this stuff (DNC are you listening?)

Look, two Dem Governors in what are traditional "wingnut" states operating with a budget surplus? Could it be that this is what happens when you put a "true" fiscal conservative in power?

If NC and VA took chances on Dems, and it seems to be working out..then maybe, just maybe, the south is not lost.

[underpants]

21. My wife and I signed up to volunteer just last week

I understand from a co-worker who went to a Kerry houseparty that the party workers just finished training last week (the new ones) and the Va campaign starts after the convention.

[maxrandb]

22. Look at the Freepers response. Too funny

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1177281/posts

"The one thing I hated about the Clintoon years was the Dems trumpeting the surplus like it was something to be proud of, when in fact, it's tantamount to highway robbery by the government. The fact that it's happening at the state level is even more appalling."

"Those poor folks in Virginia are being taxed to death."

- I'll tell you, I've never seen a more delusional bunch of people in my life. Yep! According to Freepers, living within your means and setting aside some extra money is tantamount to treason! Why do financially responsible people hate Amurika so much? Below is great stuff from this article.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031776858337&path=!news&s=1045855934842

Brings back memories of what it was like in the Federal Government just a little over 3 years ago.

"Warner says Va. has $324 million surplus
Governor says most of the extra cash will go to rainy-day fund"

"Surplus dollars went, to among other things, the rainy-day fund ($178 million); upkeep for state buildings ($51 million); the water-quality improvement fund ($30 million); and relief for victims of Hurricane Isabel and other disasters ($26 million)."

[maxrandb]

23. OK. Which evil DUer posted this over there?

"...trumpeting the surplus like it was something to be proud of, when in fact, it's tantamount to highway robbery by the government."

If surluses are bad (highway robbery) what then are deficits - candy for the masses?

[underpants]

24. Wow they really don't have any idea what they are talking about

The "tax raise" (65% of us will pay LESS) just got passed so this surplus is the result of increased economic activity (much of it W propping up the economy with govt. contracts-ironically) and FISCAL DISCIPLINE.


Warner wants to put into the rainy day fund (sounds like a good idea huh) and make sure that Va.s AAA rating isn't in danger anymore.

Wow they really are amazing.

[NewJeffCT]

25. Similar in CT as well

Our state legislature is overwhelmingly Democratic and they passed a combo of tax increases & spending cuts and now we have a $200 million surplus this coming year... and I'm pretty sure CT has a smaller budget than VA.

(they tried to also pass a millionaire's tax, but our lovely now ex Governor threatened a veto)