I tuned into the WCVE-TV program Perspectives today, seeking some forward looking Virginia punditry. Barbara Berlin’s guest would be Professor Stephen Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington, discussing “What to expect from the upcoming Kaine administration and the battles the new democratic governor will face with the Republican-controlled legislature.”

Unfortunately, Berlin didn’t deliver as advertised. She spent 90% of the time asking Farnsworth questions about the “whys” of the November election results. Farnsworth gave a solid presentation of the now accepted conventional wisdom that is more than familiar to anyone who even casually reads blogs or follows politics.

In the waning moments of the interview, Berlin finally asked Farnsworth about the upcoming General Assembly session, but with the lead question, “Is Kaine too liberal?” Farnsworth couldn’t do too much with that, pointing out the obvious: “We’ll have to see what Kaine proposes.”

Remember that you heard it on “Perspectives” first: Kaine will cultivate an alliance with the more moderate Senate, but will have “rougher sledding” with the House of Delegates. The House will be “skeptical and suspicious, not inclined to cooperate.”

I hate to rag on Barbara Berlin, but she didn’t deliver the promised program. What good are pundits if we can’t make them to go on record with some predictions? Guess we’ll all just wait “to see what Kaine proposes.”