Virginia
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New report shows the higher the income, the wider the gap RICHMOND, VA – Women in Virginia earn an average of just 81 cents for every dollar men earn, and this difference is larger than in most other states, according to a new report by The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis. In addition, the new [...]...
The Farm Team - 9:05 a.m.
In This Issue State of Emergency Declare for Hurricane Earl Delegate Herring Needs Your Help Welcome to Delegate Herring’s Newsletter Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. I hope you find the information in here valuable. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns. STATE [...]...
The Farm Team - 7:21 a.m. - 2 clicks 
The last time I heard anyone say something about increasing revenue without raising taxes, I looked at them as if they had grown horns. (I can’t recall the legislator, but it was during LG Bill Bolling’s blogger’s day a couple of years ago. And yes, he got legislation passed that fills the coffers of Virginia [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - 7:05 a.m. - 2 clicks
Slate has an interesting take on Ken Cuccinelli's time as AG so far (In Ken We Trust: Why do Ken Cuccinelli's legal opinions always match his personal ambitions?). It's really interesting to see the national take on all this since we're somewhat used to it in Virginia. What Slate starts to get at (but I think ultimately misses) is that Cuccinelli isn't just using the law to...
Blue Virginia - 6:45 a.m. - 2 clicks
My latest op-ed appeared in Wednesday’s Virginian-Pilot with the above title. As I’m sure you can guess, the topic was that of redistricting, one which is pretty important to me. There have been a number of editorials written recently about redistricting – and I’m sure there will be many more in the coming months. We [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - 5:23 a.m. - 3 clicks
I'm the type that likes to know what's going to happen, prepare for it, and then get it over with. Unfortunately, Hurricane Earl is not cooperating and the waiting and wondering continues to drive me crazy. Living on a tidal creek and across the street from Hampton Roads harbor in a home that has flooded before, the boyfriend and I have taken the storm warnings seriously and have completed the...
Michael in Norfolk - Wed 8:47 p.m. - 4 clicks
Terry McAuliffe, former Democratic National Committee chairman, is hosting a fundraiser for the Farm Team, a group created to help women seek public office, as he looks to stay active in state politics in Virginia in advance of the 2013 elections. McAuliffe and his wife, Dorothy, will host a Sept. 26 reception for the Farm [...]...
The Farm Team - Wed 6:01 p.m. - 4 clicks
According to Merriam Webster , "non sequitur" can be defined as "a statement (as a response) that does not follow logically from or is not clearly related to anything previously said." Well, Merriam Webster's got nothing on Rick Boucher, who provides a perfect, video definition of "non sequitur" in this ad. So, let's get this straight: Rick Boucher has Southwest Virginia values, and ...
Blue Virginia - Wed 3:09 p.m. - 4 clicks
If you're not a fan of Ken Kookinelli, you've gotta love this headline by "Above the Law" - "Virginia State Judge Screws the Cooch." Not bad, not bad at all, definitely one of the best headlines I've seen in a long time, what do you think? By the way, I find it fascinating that even though this writer admits, "I don't care at all about the environment" (and finds anthropogenic global warming...
Blue Virginia - Wed 12:30 p.m. - 6 clicks
A local screening of the film, “9500 Liberty,” is coming up this Saturday, September 4, at the Virginia Beach Central Library (4100 Virginia Beach Boulevard) at 10am. This documentary received 3 1/2 stars from film critic Roger Ebert when he screened in it Chicago. I caught it earlier in Norfolk and it is an amazing [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Wed 7:44 a.m. - 4 clicks
The once great newspaper known as the Washington Post continues its sad decline into illiteracy and irrelevancy. [Connolly] has also taken the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission's commuter bus, slugged and road with a constituent from Bristow into the district on what a Census Bureau report said last year is the longest average commute in the country. Uh guys, it's "r-o-d-e,...
Blue Virginia - Wed 4:48 a.m. - 4 clicks
Thanks to Tom Whipple for the Wednesday "Clips." 2. MCDONNELL TAKES PRIVATE LIQUOR PLAN TO BRISTOL 3. MCDONNELL APPLIES FOR ABSTINENCE-ONLY EDUCATION GRANT 6. CUCCINELLI TOWN HALLS CRITICIZED AS CAMPAIGN STUMPING 8. HOUSE SNUBBED SENATE ON REDISTRICTING HEARINGS 9. KINSER CHOSEN TO BE NEXT CHIEF JUSTICE OF VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT 10. COMPUTER OUTAGES PERSIST AT VIRGINIA AGENCIES ...
Blue Virginia - Wed 4:30 a.m. - 4 clicks
So says Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim of Commissioner of the Revenue Sharon McDonald. “Sharon felt once she had a travel budget, it was an entitlement,” he said. “There is no logical justification for the … hundreds of hotel room stays, hundreds and hundreds of meals, gifts, et cetera. The council no longer has faith in [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Wed 4:10 a.m. - 10 clicks
It is almost frightening how untethered the far right Christianists are becoming. First there's Don Feder posting another anti-gay screed on WingNutDaily alleging that civilization will be surrendered if same sex couples are allowed to marry nationwide. This lunacy is matched by Mike Huckabee who wants to turn the United States back over to God and Jesus. Both Feder and Huckabee ...
Michael in Norfolk - Tue 5:21 p.m. - 4 clicks
Another great video diary by Jeff Schapiro of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. In this one, Schapiro explains that "Gov. Bob McDonnell wants to get the state out of the liquor business, but not everyone thinks it's a good idea." Actually, after watching this video, my question is whether anyone other than Bob McDonnell thinks it's a good idea. That, in turn, raises an...
Blue Virginia - Tue 3:29 p.m. - 5 clicks
Sen. Webb issued the following statement a short while ago. After more than seven years of operations and countless rounds of troop rotations, I am heartened today by the President's confirmation of the end of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq and his stated intention to withdraw all our troops by the end of 2011. Although our residual force of 50,000 will continue to perform hazardous duti...
Blue Virginia - Tue 2:28 p.m. - 7 clicks
I finally got a copy of the audit report. Read it and draw your own conclusions. Filed under: Local, Norfolk, Politics ...
Vivian J. Paige - Tue 2:27 p.m. - 7 clicks
For residents of southeast Virginia a good indicator of whether or not a hurricane is believed headed to strike the area is watching to see what the U.S. Navy does with its ships based in the area. Since the likelihood of damage is less if the ships head out to sea and sail out of harm's as opposed to staying tied up in port, whenever the Navy expects a serious hurricane risk, the fleet is or...
Michael in Norfolk - Tue 1:03 p.m. - 4 clicks
One of Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s campaign promises was to sell the 332 state-operated liquor stores for $500 million, then invest that money into transportation. This proposal—which has surfaced many times in the past—does not so much involve fiscal concerns as it does McDonnell’s belief that the liquor distribution business should be left to [...] ...
The 28th Amendment - Tue 10:29 a.m. - 8 clicks
There is a special election in Portsmouth in November for mayor. Eight people have filed, and are making the rounds to introduce themselves to the voters. I get a lot of emails and phone calls from candidates and campaigns in the region. One email I received recently disturbed me. Apparently, one of the mayoral candidates [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Tue 6:46 a.m. - 8 clicks
According to The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk Commissioner of the Revenue Sharon McDonald “did not break any laws” in her use of a city credit card but she did not follow the rules regarding the use of credit cards. The audit looked at credit card transactions beginning in July 2005. Of the more than $80,000 in purchases, [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Tue 6:05 a.m. - 5 clicks
Another study by a top flight university has shot another major whole in the Christianists whining that children need a mother and a father in order to develop properly. This time the study is from Stanford University and it confirms what was found by a recent study done at the University of Virginia. The bottom line is that other than Christianist witch doctor like experts, there is no cr...
Michael in Norfolk - Tue 4:47 a.m. - 6 clicks
A judge has set aside Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's subpoena of climate science documents from the University of Virginia: Judge Paul M. Peatross Jr. ruled (PDF) that Cuccinelli can investigate whether fraud has occured in university grants, as the attorney general had contended, but ruled that Cuccinelli's subpoena failed to state a "reason to believe" that Mann had commi...
The Green Miles - Mon 12:08 p.m. - 12 clicks
First reported in the Daily Progress, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s subpoena of records from UVA regarding climate change researcher Michael Mann’s records has been quashed. Other reports from the Virginian-Pilot, Roanoke Times and the Washington Post offer different points on the effect of the ruling, which can be viewed below. Filed under: Local, Politics, [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Mon 10:08 a.m. - 10 clicks
The Virginian-Pilot this morning printed two op-eds about transportation. The first, from Senator Creigh Deeds, takes Governor Bob McDonnell to task for not fulfilling his campaign promise to tackle transportation. Deeds writes: The one-term feature of the governorship means a governor’s political capital is greatest the first year. McDonnell understands that, and it is why [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Mon 7:46 a.m. - 11 clicks
In This Issue Congressman Connolly Deserves Our Help Sleepy Hollow Crosswalks Food For Others Needs Your Help Environmental Awareness and Action Featured Article Gerry Connolly has been one of the most effective members of the freshman class and an aggressive advocate for Northern Virginia’s interests. He has taken an active role [...]...
The Farm Team - Mon 7:06 a.m. - 9 clicks
While September and October are two of the most beautiful months weather wise in southeastern Virginia, they also coincide with the period of highest hurricane activity. Based on news reports, we may be off to a bang late in the week when Hurricane Earl - projected to perhaps reach category 4 strength - is likely to be right off the coast. Obviously, that's not exactly how one wants to spen...
Michael in Norfolk - Mon 4:28 a.m. - 8 clicks
In This Issue Delegate Herring Needs Your Help Welcome to Delegate Herring’s Newsletter Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. I hope you find the information in here valuable. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns. NOVA TRAFFIC ALERT 7:00 pm Friday Night – [...]...
The Farm Team - Sun 2:40 p.m. - 8 clicks
At a rally in Martinsville on Saturday, the local GOP trotted out former Congressman Virgil Goode Jr., to support candidates for the upcoming elections. That was the best they could do. A former Congressman who didn't even know Martinsville and Henry County existed when he was in office. Oh the one thing he did for this area, helping to bring defense contractor MZM to Martinsville was a bust and...
What IS Right for Virginia - Sun 5:43 a.m. - 11 clicks
Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Virginia Museum of Natural History's opening of the Hahn Hall of Biodiversity in Martinsville. An excellent addition to the museum to be sure, but it was a conversation with Del. Don Merricks that I'm reflecting on this morning. Merricks is one of the few Republicans in Virginia that I respect and admire, he is also my delegate in Richmond. Don and ...
What IS Right for Virginia - Sat 7:27 a.m. - 12 clicks
The Town of Leesburg is remarkably well-run. This is thanks in large part to prudent, long-term fiscal and operational planning on the part of Town staff and their boss, John Wells. Executing on prudent long-term planning is what helps keep Leesburg's taxes low and quality of life high. Every year, Public Works staff conducts a review of town streets and gives each a Pavement Condition Index ra...
Leesburg Tomorrow - Fri 8:22 a.m. - 7 clicks
Hello Virginia Young Democrats! In your communities and college towns, your efforts and your votes can put Tom Perriello, Gerry Connolly, and Glenn Nye over the edge. I know that each an every chapter will be hitting the doors and the phones for victory, but we want to put you to the test. With the generous support of the Democratic Party of Virginia, we are going to offer prizes to the three cha...
Virginia Young Democrats Blog - Fri 7:05 a.m. - 14 clicks
I tell you: it’s rough living in Norfolk these days. Seems like every day, there is some new revelation about somebody doing something wrong. Just this week: Sunday – we learned that a Norfolk city official used a city credit card to buy a $250 phone for a gang banger. The guy used the phone [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Fri 7:05 a.m. - 15 clicks
One of Eric Cantor's supporters has breathed new life into the Waugh campaign by giving Waugh lots of good coverage in the media and an issue that will rally his supporters. ...
The Richmonder - Aug 26 - 14 clicks
90 years ago today, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote. My column in yesterday’s paper covered a bit of Virginia’s role in the struggle. Today, I head to Ft. Story to give a speech for Women’s Equality Day, which is what 8/26 has become known. I will [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Aug 26 - 13 clicks
The redistricting subcommittee of the House of Delegates Committee on Privileges and Elections has announced six public hearings to be held this fall. The hearings are: September 8th, 7pm – Natural Science Center, VA Western Community College (Roanoke) September 22nd, 7pm – Roper Performing Arts Center, Tidewater Community College (Norfolk) October 5th, 7pm – Mason [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Aug 25 - 14 clicks
Senator Jim Webb continues to impress … for more about his latest work on making sure our country’s military leaders and congress are making informed decisions with proper oversight check out Senate Panel To Hold Hearing on JFCOM Closure – Defense News. ...
VirginiaDem - Aug 25 - 14 clicks
Who is Wynne LeGrow ? He is a husband, father, doctor, veteran and candidate for Virginia's 4th Congressional District. He graduated from The Ohio State University and its College of Medicine. While at the university, he joined ROTC and received a commission in the U.S. Army. He graduated from medical school in 1972, and then completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at th...
What IS Right for Virginia - Aug 25 - 12 clicks
When Virginia Republicans get over-confident, they frequently get sloppy. That's how "macaca" happened, and it's probably the best explanation for this lapse in judgement : The House campaign of Democrat Rick Waugh says an African American couple in Louisa, Virginia, found a plastic sign in their yard defaced last night. I'm no expert in handwriting, but it looks to me like whoever did this c...
The Richmonder - Aug 24 - 10 clicks
By: Inoljt, http://mypolitikal.com/ To follow up the series on Virginia, I’ve posted a few recent presidential elections in the state (courtesy of the New York Times). Each map comes with some brief analysis. Capitalizing on a decade of Democratic movement, Senator Barack Obama becomes the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Virginia since 1964. The Senator perf...
DailyKos (Virginia) - Aug 24 - 2 clicks
Virginia Senator Jim Webb has convinced the chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services to hold a full committee hearing on the closing of the U.S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) in Norfolk, along with the other efficiency initiatives announced by Secretary of Defense Gates. The hearing will be scheduled when the Senate reconvenes in [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Aug 24 - 9 clicks
I have generally loved living in Virginia. There are a lot of good things to like about living here. Until recently, Virginia was more or less a "red" state. Then we had not one, but two Democratic Senators. Oh yeah, we voted for Barack Obama for President. The state's electoral votes had not gone to a Democrat in 40 years. But then, 2009 happened, and of course, the almighty and all-knowin...
DailyKos (Virginia) - Aug 24 - 3 clicks
How is it that I went so long before finding Citizen Radio? They're awesome. On that note, I did a lot of blogging over at Loudoun Progress this week. Head over and take a look. (I thought about posting this as an Interlude , but it seemed to topical for an Interlude.) ...
Leesburg Tomorrow - Aug 24 - 5 clicks
ODU President John Broderick gave his State of the University address to a packed house at the ODU Constant Center this morning. Among the many in attendance were Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, former Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf, Delegates Lionell Spruill, Matthew James, Ron Villenueva, John Consgrove and Senator Harry Blevins. Broderick laid out the [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Aug 24 - 5 clicks
If you want to understand Eric Cantor, you need to understand Tom DeLay. Cantor was one of DeLay's top lieutenants. DeLay taught Eric Cantor everything he knows about pay-to-play politics. If you'd like to refresh your memory of Tom DeLay and how he operated, Hulu.com offers the documentary "The Big Buy: Tom Delay's Stolen Congress" for free. ...
The Richmonder - Aug 24 - 4 clicks
Traci Dippert, the Chairwoman, Culpeper County Democratic Party, took on Representative Eric Cantor in a Culpeper Star Exponent Op-Ed today: Problem two: He stated that this legislation “would create a $10 billion Education Jobs Fund for state and local governments and would also extend the federal matching rate for state Medicaid programs through June, 2011.” He reported that the bill passed the ...
The Richmonder - Aug 24 - 5 clicks
... print this article about Koch Industries' perversion of our democracy , write PLEASE FIGHT BACK in big red block letters across the front, and give it to them. You know I couldn't help but think of while reading this article? Someone who's not even named: Senator Jim Webb. Even though the Koch-funded Club for Growth was George Allen's #2 donor in the 2006 Senate race, Webb hews close...
The Green Miles - Aug 24 - 3 clicks
Eric Cantor (left) and David M. Rivera (right) Via the DCCC: A shocking investigation by the Miami Herald and CBS 4 Miami alleged that highly touted Republican candidate, David Rivera, has a history of domestic violence and even ran a delivery truck off the road to prevent a rival candidate’s campaign literature from being mailed about the situation. House Republican Whip and Young Guns Pro...
The Richmonder - Aug 24 - 4 clicks
I've written more than once on this blog about neo-confederates and the threat they pose to our society with their threats of "secession." But now we are confronted by an entirely new threat from the far right wing: "Cessationists." Cessationists are neo-confederates who aren't smart enough to use the word "secession" in a sentence: Right to cessation? How about a right to expel? With the way...
The Richmonder - Aug 23 - 9 clicks
A Richmond icon passed away yesterday. From the Richmond Times Dispatch : Dalton Ricky Duling, a retired city policeman known to thousands of underprivileged Richmond children as Sergeant Santa, died Saturday at age 84. Known for his red Santa suit with the three sergeants stripes and his trademark white beard and hair, Sgt. Duling had packed a marked police cruiser with packages containing com...
The Richmonder - Aug 22 - 12 clicks
This is Randolph Walker’s “Geographically Inclusive State Song of Virginia,” since the state lacks a song right now. Hey, it’s better than most of the crap other people have proposed. This was our last state song. It’s amazing that it remained the state song as long as it did. (Via Craig Fifer)...
Waldo Jaquith - Aug 22 - 8 clicks
Because I’m a big dork, when I encounter Virginia place names that I’m not familiar with, I like to look them up on Google Maps and see how many times I have to zoom out until I recognize what part of the state that the place is. Sometimes there’s a highway or a river that [...]...
Waldo Jaquith - Aug 22 - 8 clicks
Like the Aesop’s Fable “The Tortoise and the Hare”’ the race for the 5th Congressional District has its unique attributes, only this time it includes three participants: Congressman Tom Perriello, his Republican “challenger” Robert Hurt and Independent challenger Jeff Clark. I put challenger in quotation marks for Robert Hurt because he cannot be counted on…for anything, except flip-flopping an...
What IS Right for Virginia - Aug 22 - 5 clicks
In This Issue Delegate Herring Needs Your Help Governor’s Remarks on the Fiscal Year and Forecast BRAC Update Report On Joint Subcommittee On Substance Abuse Prevention And Treatment Welcome to Delegate Herring’s Newsletter Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. I hope you find the information in here valuable. As always, please [...]...
The Farm Team - Aug 21 - 4 clicks
