Bayh is out, Edwards is in, and Gilmore is thinking about it

More Presidential fun – Evan Bayh has decided not to run. IMHO, that is a good thing. I have no love for Bayh and I will have a difficult time supporting anyone that voted for the Iraq war. Edwards vote for the war is somewhat redeemed by the fact that he is an economic populist with a terrific message. The “Two Americas” theme is especially pertinent given the bonus news from Wall Street (more on that business later). That said he is still not on my dream ticket – still holding out for Gore/Obama.

On the other side of the aisle, former Virginia Governor James Gilmore appears to be weighing a decision to run. Aside from being arch-conservative, anti-tax zealot, the guy was an awful executive. He, in collusion with the State House Republicans, damn near bankrupted the Commonwealth with their insistence on disposing of the car tax. Mark Warner had to step in and raise taxes just to balance the books. Indeed, Gilmore’s legacy of fiscal recklessness has sorely exacerbated Virginia’s chronic shortfall of transportation funds. That issue is still the overriding budget issue tem years after he took office. Just imagine the damage this guy could do at the Federal level. Oy…