Washingtonian Lumps Kaine In With Bush, Cheney, Inhofe

Is Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine a "dirty rotten scoundrel"? That's what Washingtonian magazine is calling him. Gov. Kaine is included in a list of ten DC-area residents "standing in the way of change":

Governor Tim Kaine
In September, Kaine unveiled an ambitious energy plan that included cutting Virginia’s greenhouse-gas emissions 30 percent by 2025. But environmentalists point out that Kaine’s support of new coal-fired plants will increase the state’s dependence on dirty energy.

Also included in the list - leading global warming denier Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), President Bush, and Vice President Cheney. As Austin Powers would say ... ouch, baby. Very ouch.

But if anything, the write-up itself is kind to Gov. Kaine. His Virginia Energy Plan doesn't cut greenhouse gas emissions 30% from current levels by 2025. It's a 30% cut from the projected rate of growth by 2025, which only works out to about a 7% cut from current levels.

How could Gov. Kaine turn his image around? Easy. Stop cheerleading for new coal power plants. Invest in energy efficiency and conservation to save Virginia taxpayers and businesses millions of dollars in energy costs. Create new jobs by promoting clean energy sources like solar, wind and tidal power.

In fact, the poll right now on the eponymous Raising Kaine blog asks whether Gov. Kaine should stop supporting the proposed coal-fired power plant in Wise County. Vote now and tell Gov. Kaine to choose clean energy over coal!