'D' Day

Yesterday was a good day for Democrats. Tim Kaine was elected governor of Virginia while Jon Corzine beat Republican Doug Forrester in the race for governor in New Jersey. And in California, all four of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ballot proposals failed.

Of California's four reform measures, I thought that Proposition 75, which would have required union leaders to get written consent before spending workers' dues money on partisan political activities, at least would have passed. As The Club for Growth's Andy Roth wrote yesterday, "I can’t believe the paycheck protection initiative is in trouble. It’s a pecuniary version of Kelo." So true.

In his victory speech, Corzine said, "We will restore the simple truth that public service is about serving the public." If he means using his reputation as the country's biggest tax and spend liberal to grow government, New Jerseyans should be able to rest easy knowing he'll likely stick to his word.

Finally, while most Republicans were pulling for Jerry Kilgore in Virginia, Tim Kaine's victory might yet prove to bear a silver lining. Michael Barone, who knows a thing or two about elections, wrote yesterday, "If Kaine wins, one of the losers will be Hillary Rodham Clinton. Reason: that will be a big boost for outgoing Gov. Mark Warner, who has very high job ratings and wants to run for president in 2008."

Kaine, who by almost all accounts is a liberal Democrat, will most likely be forced to govern as a moderate because Virginia's House is still controlled by Republicans. And if he's smart, he'll simply ride the record of Warner. Hell, everything considered, I might have even voted for Kaine if I lived one state over if that meant jamming Hillary in 2008.