We asked the folks at the Center
for Politics, and they agreed that in Virginia
politics, this congressional style press courting and
coverage is new in Virginia. One has only to look at
the myriad dog and pony shows trotted out by either
party’s leading political divas of the day on
C-SPAN. There they grin and jostle with fellow players
for the microphones and cameras. It’s sound bite
over substance. Are these future scenarios for us here
in the Commonwealth? We fear so.
During the most recent legislative
session while Governor Kaine used his bully pulpit as
BMOCS (Big Man On Capitol Square) to take his transportation
show on the road, the legislators pouted and in general
did not seem to want to be in Richmond. When the
Governor called them back to session to resolve the
budget, and some of them slipped away to their
districts or dithered at their desks, the Governor
blasted them for not staying at their post in Richmond
and doing the job citizens elected them to do. This
generated special revenge pouting, not to mention the
dreaded press conferences and announcements.
And for one of the few times we
can remember, legislators agitated to oust one of
Governor Kaine’s Cabinet nominees, Daniel LeBlanc
whose union background offended some and simply puzzled
others. LeBlanc was denied the post of Secretary of the
Commonwealth, the job where all the goodies are handed
out in the form of perky appointments. He was later
appointed as senior advisor to the Governor for workforce
issues. Former Fairfax Supervisor Kate Hanley was
appointed in his place.
Just a few months ago, we attended
the dedication of the Capitol construction project
(Virginia Review January/February 2006, p. 47) a
massive undertaking including an underground entrance
and office
