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13.08.2008
Virginia GOPer Headlines Denver! Oops--Other Warner

When the Obama press-team email "WARNER TO DELIVER CONVENTION KEYNOTE ADDRESS" hit my inbox at 7:15 this morning, for a minute I actually thought, "Oh my God! It's a coup! They've gotten John Warner to break ranks!", until I clicked through and saw that, of course, the Warner in question was Mark.

I'm sure the charming, youthful, up-and-coming Warner will give a nicely charming, youthful, and up-and-coming speech in Denver. But I also think my reaction reflects something about Mark Warner: he's a little forgettable, especially after he suddenly begged off of what seemed like an inevitable run for the top this year. I know he's supposed to be the Next Big Thing in Democratic politics, but hasn't that been true for a while now? Will he ever stop hovering around "Next" and make a pass at being the Big Thing proper?

--Eve Fairbanks

Posted: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:29 AM with 8 comment(s)

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Rhubarbs said:

What does a guy have to do to keep Eve happy? Warner served one term as governor of a state. Now he's running for a Senate seat. And Eve is already writing him off as yesterday's boring old news? It feels a bit like a baseball fan looking at Ryan Howard's 2005 Rookie of the Year trophy and calling him a loser because he isn't in the Hall of Fame already.

August 13, 2008 9:54 AM

The Stump said:

I agree with Eve . I've found Mark Warner an underwhelming speaker in the past (maybe he upped his

August 13, 2008 10:19 AM

ratnerstar said:

They should have chosen some razzle-dazzle up-and-comer who gives great speeches, like they did in '04.

August 13, 2008 10:32 AM

blackton said:

Rhubarbs, right I agree 100% Now if Obama loses and Warner doesn't go for the brass ring in 2012 (two very big ifs) then we can write him off as a pretender.

August 13, 2008 10:46 AM

a_long said:

Rhubarbs, I agree, but I think your analogy is off slightly. It's more like thinking Howard is a loser because he hasn't hit 58 home runs and won the MVP (2006) more than once. And that's silly. But you're right, Warner hasn't exactly had the chance to prove himself the true next big thing, because he hasn't had enough at-bats. But given that at the national level you only get 1 or 2 chances to step to the plate, and he PASSED on his first one, Eve is right to put some of the accountability squarely on his shoulders.

August 13, 2008 12:39 PM

teplukhin2you said:

Warner lacks that dashing Celtic southern warrior mystique.

August 13, 2008 3:08 PM

ackyri said:

There were rumors that he had done a lot of coke and men in his wild youth. Hillary's folks knew about it. Of course, maybe my friends are pulling my leg.

August 14, 2008 9:39 PM

Robert Powell said:

As long as it's only your leg, ackyri...

Great point by tep. We need a very high Webb profile in the GE. In the mean time, Warner is a great guy who embodies much of Obama's "new way". This convention should be about showcasing ideas Obama plans to put into effect, and about carrying Virginia and Indiana. "Evan Bayh is the best VP choice" (tm).

Cue the Dancing Girls.

August 15, 2008 8:42 AM