Tim Kaine achieved a notable accomplishment last night

He actually made John Kerry look like the opposition.

Bush: "Today our nation lost a beloved, graceful, and courageous woman, who called America to its founding ideals..."

Reality: Coretta Scott King stood for world justice. The administration condones inhumane treatment of prisoners, sanctions secret prisons, and practices rendition.

Democratic response: Silence

Reality: King fought for affirmative action. The White House appoints judges that oppose it.

Democratic response: Silence

Reality: King was an advocate for gay rights. The Bush administration opposes gay marriage and supports the states which have taken civil liberties from gay citizens.

Democratic response: Silence

Bush: "The terrorists have chosen the weapon of fear."

Reality: George W. Bush has chosen the weapon of fear, right within the homeland.

Democratic response: Silence

Bush: "We're on the offensive in Iraq, with a clear plan for victory."

Reality: No one has yet to outline that plan.

Democratic response: Silence

Bush: "In recent years, you and I have taken unprecedented action to fight AIDS..."

Reality: The Bush administration has allowed right-wing Christian organizations to dictate its AIDS policies, depriving women and girls of crucial disease prevention education, and has fought to keep affordable AIDS medicines out of the hands of Third World victims.

Democratic response: Silence

Bush: "The terrorist survellance program has helped prevent terrorist attacks."

Reality: There is no evidence whatsoever that the interventions to which he referred could not have been made without illegal surveillance, and plentiful evidence that they could have been made.

Democratic response: Silence

Bush: "We hear claims that immigrants are somehow bad for the economy--even though this economy could not function without them."

Reality: The corporate-driven economy does not want to function without a large work force that receives very low wages and no protections from abuse.

Democratic response: Silence

Bush: "We need more than temporary tax relief. I urge the Congress to act responsibly, and make the tax cuts permanent."

Reality: The great bulk of the tax cuts have gone to the very wealthy, while health care, veterans' programs, educational programs, and first responder needs have been continually cut.

Democratic response: Silence

Bush: "America is addicted to oil."

Reality: Bush was put into office by oil companies, who donated unprecedented millions of dollars, over and over, to his campaigns. Oil companies have also been the greatest recipients of the administration's generosity, particularly with regard to the Iraq war.

Democratic response: Silence

Bush: "We must also change how we power our automobiles."

Reality: Bush said this a few years ago, and then promptly ignored it.

Democratic response: Silence

Bush: "A hopeful society expects elected officials to uphold the public trust."

Reality: The Bush administration is based on corruption. There are truckloads of evidence that the Bush campaign stole both the 2000 and the 2004 elections. Bush has repeatedly appointed people of dubious ethical character (in some cases, convicted criminals) to positions in the administration. He has told multiple lies about everything from weapons of mass destruction to his association with corporate thugs. He has prevented Congress from obtaining vital information related to September 11 and to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Administration agencies such as the EPA have deliberately omitted and distorted official information in order to protect companies which poison the air, water, and food. The religious right has been permitted by the White House to enter the schools and tell lies about disease prevention that could endanger the lives of adolescents.

Democratic response: Silence

Bush: "We're removing debris and repairing highways and rebuilding stronger levees. We're providing business loans and housing assistance."

Reality: The people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast would beg to differ.

Democratic response: Silence

Bush: "... we must also address deeper challenges that existed before the storm arrived."

Reality: Bush is refusing to cooperate with the commissions investigating those challenges.

Democratic response: Silence


Did Kaine actually say anything besides "There's a better way?" Yes, a few times. He responded directly to Bush's statement, "We've made a good start in the early grades, with the No Child Left Behind Act..." Kaine pointed out that NCLB had caused chaos in school systems throughout the nation. Bush said "Our government has a responsibility to provide health care to the poor and elderly, and we are meeting that responsibility," and Kaine brought up the cuts in Medicaid.

Kaine also addressed the fact that Bush wants to keep the tax cuts even though there is a huge national debt. Bush said, "We must keep our word...and stand behind the American military in this vital mission....We're grateful to all who wear our nation's uniform." Kaine responded that our soldiers had inadequate body armor and veterans' programs had been cut, but he failed to mention inadequate miltary vehicle protection, lack of improvement in the nation's veterans' medical facilities, and lack of protection for female soldiers are are raped and sexually assaulted.

Generally speaking, Kaine ignored the corruption, duplicity, dishonesty, Constitution-bashing, stonewalling, and amorality of the Bush administration.

One commentator--I forget who--made the delicious point that Kaine performed a piece of "life imitates irony," in that his speech echoed the superficiality and hollowness of the Robert Redford character's in The Candidate.