One thing I don't get with the Tim Kaine pick, is why pick someone who's outside the mainstream?

[Solon]

He opposes federal funding for Stem Cell research, something that 60% of Americans back.

Source:

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/DailyNews/poll010626.html

On Abortion, outside of his personal views, he's more or less mainstream in that he doesn't call for banning Abortion outright, though this is probably the only social issue in which he is mainstream.

http://www.pollingreport.com/abortion.htm

On Marriage Equality, he opposes it, putting him in with the mainstream, but beyond that he also opposes Civil Unions, which puts him, decidedly, outside the mainstream.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4496265/

Given current trends in public opinion, I would imagine that in as little as 2 years, he may find himself outside the mainstream on Marriage Equality itself soon enough. At least, that's my hope.

He also supports "Right to work" laws and doesn't support unions, something Americans do not agree with.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/112717/Americans-Remain-Broadly-Supportive-Labor-Unions.aspx?version=print

All these issues may or may not be make it or break it for Americans, and while Tim Kaine won't set policy, he will be the face of the Democratic party to come, and given current trends in all the polling I mentioned above, it seems like he's just going to move further away from the majority of Americans on a number of issues. The man is from a red state, I wouldn't expect a firebrand leftist to become governor of Virginia, after all, but why should he be Chairman of the Democratic National Committee? I don't see any benefit to the man being the Chairman over someone who, on a national level, is much more mainstream, and has equal organizational skills.

[ShortnFiery]

1. Because Kaine doesn't outrightly anger small "d" democrats and he fits into the right wing duopoly

quite nicely. We only THINK that we have two distinct parties, when in essence, we have two branches of ONE right wing duopoly thoughtfully providing us unwashed masses "bread and circuses."

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. It's a loyalty reward for a rising star.

I agree - I don't really like the pick - but it is what it is. For what it's worth, Obama's the true head of the party and Kaine is more or less the PR guy, which actually is good because he doesn't put up with BS and will attack.

[Solon]

3. Rising up to what level?

The highest office I can think of, outside of being Governor, that he can reach would be Senator, and that's elected office, but no more than that. The guy is outside the mainstream compared to the Majority of Americans, so you can only imagine how outside the mainstream he is compared to the Democratic Party. He'd never make it through a nationwide Democratic Primaries.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. Unfortunately for Kaine, both Senate slots are filled by young Dems.

They're unlikely to be available to him any time soon. He's term-limited in Virginia. There's not much else he can do.

[Solon]

7. So, I guess it would be more accurate to call him a "falling star"...

though the fall itself will be slow, everything is more or less a step down for him from the position he's in now. Even as DNC chairman, its still a "step down" for him.

[BeFree]

5. True

And, come to think of it, neither would have Dr. Dean made it through primaries.

[Solon]

6. Not to defend Dean too much, but he probably would have, if not for the "Dean Scream"...

I was never that big of a fan of his, but he is a moderate who would have appealed to a larger swath of Democrats than Kaine could ever hope to reach.

[BeFree]

8. Heh

Some of the old timers I knew hated Dean.

What Dean stood for -- Real Democracy, overcame the PTB and gave us the 50 states winning strategy.

I am a big fan of Dr. Dean. Everyone should be, imo.

[Jennicut]

9. Because he is Obama's friend?

Obama has appointed the least amount of crony-buddies I have seen in recent years as far as presidents go but I guess he is allowed one or two appts like that.
:shrug:
He didn't get VP so what do you give a loyal political buddy?