Virginia
updated
9:05 a.m.
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.
The list includes the radio talk show host who called a female senator a “prostitute” for cutting a deal to benefit her state, the male challenger who referred to his female rival “attractive” and “probably a good mother,” and the TV host who noted that the candidate’s wife looked like an angry woman. Those comments [...]...
The Farm Team - 9:05 a.m.
Yes, let's all stop and thank former President George Bush for getting us into, and eventually out of, a war with Iraq. Listen at the 1:45 point: "Well, of course the fundamental reason we went to war was because President......
Armchair Generalist - 8:40 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
Chapter leaders--you have already heard about VAYD's Chapter Campaign Contest, in which your chapter can win a table at JJ, a VIP visit to your chapter, and ticket to the 2010 JSR dinner. Now we have another prize to throw into the mix. Courtesy of Terry McAuliffe, the individual Young Democrat that collects the most points for their chapter--by registering the voters, making phone calls and knoc...
Virginia Young Democrats Blog - 6:26 a.m.
Thanks to Tom Whipple for the Thursday "Clips." 1. GOVERNOR DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR HURRICANE EARL 2. CRASH OF VA. COMPUTER NETWORK HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR TECH WORLD, STATE POLITICS 3. VA. DMV WILL RETURN TO FULL OPERATIONS THURSDAY 4. DMV EXTENDS LICENSES, HOURS AFTER COMPUTER OUTAGE 9. ADVOCATES WORK TO BLOCK MCDONNELL ON IMMIGRATION POWERS 10. CUCCINELLI WILL VISIT, TALK ...
Blue Virginia - 5:24 a.m.
Having been raised Roman Catholic I grew up well versed in the Church's obsession with all things sexual and the sometimes less than subtle message that women were temptresses looking to corrupt men and/or dirty. After all, Eve was and is depicted as responsible for mankind's fall in the Garden of Eden. Add in the celibacy requirement for priests who are banned from marrying women and the ty...
Michael in Norfolk - 5:23 a.m.
While anti-gay lunatics like Elaine Donnelly whine and carry on that allowing gays to serve openly in the U.S. military will harm military readiness and damage troop safety and morale. Thus, they claim DADT protects our troops. The sad truth, of course, is that DADT does just the opposite of what the wingnuts allege and that repeatedly DADT has meant the loss of much needed speci...
Michael in Norfolk - 5:23 a.m.
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
For more information on Hurricane Earl, check out the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service websites. ...
Blue Virginia - 3:41 a.m. - 3 clicks
Reports USA Today's Green House : Human-caused climate change threatens to flood Jamestown, the first permanent European settlement in what became the American colonies and the United States, says a report Wednesday by environmental groups. Jamestown Island, the site of the original 1607 settlement, is low enough to be inundated by rising seas and tidal waters -- even if the waters do n...
The Green Miles - Wed 9:05 p.m. - 4 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
It's certainly no secret to readers that I am far past being just a little disgusted with Barack Obama's betrayal of LGBT Americans. He courted our votes and more particularly our money during his presidential campaign and has delivered nothing in return. The feckless Congressional Democrats by and large have been little better. One would almost think that a deliberate effort is being made...
Michael in Norfolk - Wed 8:47 p.m.
I think that the new iPods look great, but that the best news out of Apple today was the price reduction on the classic AppleTV devices… only $149 while supplies last… Classic AppleTV (160GB) The new AppleTV also looks pretty cool, and at $99 it will likely be a market success, but it does not [...]...
Life is a State of Mind - Wed 6:22 p.m. - 2 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
Since I'm sure the Obama bashers out there, on both left and right, will not give him credit for the great work he and his Secretary of State have been doing since they took office to restart stalled, Arab-Israeli peace talks, I just wanted to say, "thank you!" Also, for any of my fellow pro-Israeli, Jewish Americans, I sincerely hope that you will rethink the notion that Barack ...
Blue Virginia - Wed 2:45 p.m.
Reports USA Today's Green House : Human-caused climate change threatens to flood Jamestown, the first permanent European settlement in what became the American colonies and the United States, says a report Wednesday by environmental groups. Jamestown Island, the site of the original 1607 settlement, is low enough to be inundated by rising seas and tidal waters -- even if the waters do not r...
Blue Virginia - Wed 12:42 p.m.
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
One of the things that I distinctly dislike in our national security dialogue on WMD issues is how the medical community tends to lump emerging infectious diseases with biological warfare agents as all part of the "biological threat" continuum. It's......
Armchair Generalist - Wed 8:09 a.m.
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
He'd take the lead on combating the fraud of the new "professional" credit cards. There'd be a hard look at lending practices that allow the payday and refund lending industry to exceed the maximum interest limits. The Attorney General's website would show him instead of Bob McDonnell as Attorney General . The last Consumer Alert of the Month wouldn't be December 2009. The link to the "Nige...
Blue Virginia - Wed 7:07 a.m.
A while back I noted how Mexico City, Mexico planned to woo same sex honeymooners following the legalization of gay marriage in the Mexican capital. Now, the city has formally opened the new gay tourism office. CNN has coverage of this step in a country which despite severe crime problems and poverty is out stripping the United States in terms of marriage equality. I find it nothing short of h...
Michael in Norfolk - Wed 6:05 a.m. - 2 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
Click to enlarge image. Having followed the professional Christian set for well over a decade, one thing becomes readily discernible - many of its talking heads bounce from one homophobic organization to another, never holding a real job. Instead, they move from state based anti-gay groups to more national level organizations and the lies that they disseminate never change no matter what...
Michael in Norfolk - Wed 4:30 a.m. - 2 clicks
At this point, after watching the "Party of No" and the "Tea Party" in action since Barack Obama's election (and, really, during the entire Bush presidency), I'm highly skeptical that Coffee Party founder Annabel Park's suggestion of "transpartisan dialogue" will prove to be worthwhile. How can you "dialogue" with people who create their own "facts," who are impervious to empirical evi...
Blue Virginia - Wed 4:10 a.m.
I bookmarked this article a day ago, but the topic is still relevant: younger voters who surged out to vote for Barack Obama and promises of systemic change are apathetic and inclined to stay home this coming November . Words do have meaning and broken campaign promises can have dramatic consequences - something the Democrats may discover in spades two months from now. Yes, the GOP has be...
Michael in Norfolk - Wed 4:10 a.m. - 2 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
I have been actually consumed with other affairs and didn't see The Speech last night. So I'm just going to take Spencer Ackerman's critical assessment of the speech. He notes: “I’m mindful that the Iraq war has been a contentious......
Armchair Generalist - Wed 4:09 a.m.
Let's acknowledge up front that Republicans do not want the economy to improve, at least not until after the mid-term elections, if then. From the moment Obama was in office, they have delayed, watered-down, or stymied every economic initiative from this administration, even if it was something they themselves had proposed earlier, like jobs bills, or pretending that the bank bailout begun u...
Blue Virginia - Tue 5:21 p.m.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy UPDATE 9:15 pm : I agree with Jed Lewison's take on the speech . Basically, this was a unity speech, a "the past is over/let's move forward together" speech, a "thank the troops" speech, a "pivot back to the economy" speech. On all those grounds, I think Obama did well, looked and sounded presidential, ac...
Blue Virginia - Tue 5:21 p.m. - 2 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
Looking for some late summer reading? May I suggest Markos Moulitsas' latest: "American Taliban: How War, Sex, Sin, and Power Bind Jihadists and the Radical Right"? Here's the product description from Amazon: America’s primary international enemy—Islamic radicalism—insists on government by theocracy, curtails civil liberties, embraces torture, represses women, wants to eradicate homosexuals from...
The Richmonder - Tue 2:28 p.m. - 2 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
A lot of us have Linksys home routers. They are cheap, effective, and easy to use. I’ve have a BEFSR81 8 port fast ethernet broadband router/firewall for many years… it recently started locking up when anyone in the house shops Amazon.com using Firefox (started in early May we think). Frequently the router will lock up [...]...
Life is a State of Mind - Tue 2:27 p.m. - 2 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
Controversies continue to dog members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). First was former Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangle (D-NY). Next was Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA). This time the controversy relates to more than $25,000 of scholarship money from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) to relatives of a member of the CBC and a s...
Off K Street - Tue 9:00 a.m. - 2 clicks
There was a recent flap over an Army lieutenant colonel who was on a deployment to Afghanistan when he was fired and sent home for an article he submitted - without command authorization. Oops. In the article, he blasted the......
Armchair Generalist - Tue 9:00 a.m. - 2 clicks
Michael O'Hanlon is confused, and that's not a new thing. He's confused a great deal of the time, and yet the Washington Post reporters still flock to ask his opinion on national security issues. No matter how many times he's......
Armchair Generalist - Tue 7:21 a.m. - 3 clicks
Many countries allow charitable organizations some sort of non-profit status provided that they document that they offer educational and non-profit motivated benefits to society. Unfortunately, in the USA many of the far right Christianist organizations hide behind the smoke screen of such educational endeavors when in reality their stock in trade is hate and prejudice - not to mention inter...
Michael in Norfolk - Tue 6:47 a.m.
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
The UK Guardian reports that the Bush administration expressed "grave doubts" to Tony Blair about the suitability of Gordon Brown as the Prime Minister of England. According to the Sunday Telegraph, Brown is said to have "harangued" Rice, then secretary......
Armchair Generalist - Tue 2:43 a.m. - 2 clicks
Back in 2007, I posted a diary on DailyKos calling for Vehicle Milage Labels to be put on cars , showing relative levels of mileage. I believe we should institute a policy of vehicle labels, applied by the dealerships, and linked to local property taxes. The labels would reflect the predicted around town gas mileage of the vehicle. I propose four levels of labels, to be applied as a sticker to th...
Leesburg Tomorrow - Mon 9:01 p.m. - 2 clicks
After months of tiny-to-smallish Tea Party gatherings garnering lots of press, it finally seems to have dawned on someone from the Left that they can march in Washington, DC as well. Barack Obama's Organizing for America supposedly has millions of members, but Obama never called for a public demonstration in Washington, DC in support of his policies. But now an organization calling itself " O...
The Richmonder - Mon 7:04 p.m. - 6 clicks
For those of us who came out in mid-life, we have no first hand knowledge of what it means to be young and gay. Oh yes, we see young gays around us at events and may read about it, yet we will never know what it is to be gay and out before finding ourselves in middle age. As I have remarked on occasion, "I was a has been from the moment that I came out." I suspect that getting older isn't easy...
Michael in Norfolk - Mon 7:04 p.m. - 2 clicks
Personally, I believe that the far right opponents of the proposed Islamic community center WANT and endless war against Islam. They, like the delusional Chimperator George W. Bush did while in office, believe that they are on an anti- Muslim crusade. Their handiwork, however, is aiding Taliban recruiting efforts and in the process likely to be endangering the lives of U.S. service members ...
Michael in Norfolk - Mon 6:22 p.m. - 3 clicks
The caption of this post is seemingly the type of headline that Maggie Gallagher, Pope Benedict XIV, Tony Perkins, Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, and other opponents of any rights for LGBT citizens like to see. Otherwise, they would not claim gays can be "cured," endeavor to denigrate LGBT individuals at every turn, and oppose all recognition of same sex couples and relations...
Michael in Norfolk - Mon 6:22 p.m. - 3 clicks
A really useful graphic to help people compare and contrast Martin Luther King, Jr. and Glenn Beck from the good people at Celebrate the Dream . Click on the image to enlarge it . ...
The Richmonder - Mon 1:47 p.m. - 2 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
If you go to WashingtonPost.com right now, you'll see this : A year ago, environmental groups seemed at the peak of their influence. Now they are struggling. Except that exactly one year ago, the Washington Post didn't say environmental groups were at the peak of their influence. It literally said they were struggling using the exact same reporter , using those exact words : It seem...
The Green Miles - Mon 9:06 a.m. - 2 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
Adam Serwer agrees with my analysis of the Beck rally : In fact, given the money and technology available to Beck, it feels like there should be a way to adjust for inflation when it comes to historical comparisons of crowd sizes. Imagine what King, the black church and labor movement could have done if they'd had access to the Internet and a television network. When you have Glenn Beck, Sarah Pa...
The Richmonder - Mon 7:06 a.m. - 4 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
It's a sad thing when Admiral Eric Olson, the commander of the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM), admits that his dance card is so full that he can't commit forces to what President Obama calls the gravest national security risk......
Armchair Generalist - Mon 7:06 a.m. - 2 clicks
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy President Barack Obama sat down with Brian Williams in New Orleans last night. ...
The Richmonder - Mon 6:04 a.m. - 2 clicks
I’m convinced that the Republican and Democratic candidates in the 2nd Congressional District are competing to see which of them can alienate the most people. First we have Democratic incumbent Glenn Nye releasing a campaign ad in which he purports to be an “independent voice,” brags that he has voted against health care reform and [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Mon 6:04 a.m. - 5 clicks
This weekend my partner and I decided to finally execute a many year plan to set up a home theater in our basement. We shopped around a little and scored an LCD television, receiver, disc player, and speakers from a local Best Buy. I was sad to see that the decade old practice of price [...]...
Life is a State of Mind - Mon 5:40 a.m. - 2 clicks
The ever toxic and dishonest folks at the National Organization for Marriage (" NOM ") - a/k/a Maggie Gallagher and Brian Brown's self-enrichment program - have been playing Peter Paul and Mary's version of Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land at NOM's hate fests. It goes without saying that Guthrie would not in any way support NOM's theocratic agenda nor would the remaining members of...
Michael in Norfolk - Mon 5:09 a.m. - 2 clicks
Since back in 2007 I have been arguing that "It's Housing, Stupid" and that unless and until the housing market is revived, one can kiss the prospect of economic recovery good bye. Following disastrous reports on the declines in housing sales at the end of last week, The Hill has a story that looks at the 11 MILLION some homes with negative equity - something that forces homeowners to walk a...
Michael in Norfolk - Mon 5:09 a.m. - 2 clicks
And I'm shocked, shocked to find out that it's a middle-aged, disgruntled white man from a red state who sent President Obama a "white powder" letter. A man from the Denver area pleaded guilty Thursday to sending letters containing white......
Armchair Generalist - Mon 5:09 a.m. - 3 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
Last week we saw the Taliban's continued attacks against young girls' education in Afghanistan with poison gas. It's a particularly vile thing to do, but it's educational to note the amateur hour approach that they used. A total of 46......
Armchair Generalist - Mon 3:29 a.m. - 2 clicks
If there is any better example of why comprehensive Health Care Reform was needed, 5th Congressional District candidate and Tea Party Activist Jeff Clark is it. One problem,... Clark didn't support it. And as far as anyone can tell, neither Clark or Republican candidate Robert Hurt have said what would be better. Click here for the News Advance story. While being i...
Off K Street - Sun 5:21 p.m. - 2 clicks
As the United States winds down operations in Iraq, now is the time to start counting up the cost. One of the highest ticket items on our Iraq adventure was plain and simple waste: Perhaps nothing symbolizes the failure of America's aspirations in Iraq more than the lack of electricity. Back in 2003, the newly installed U.S. occupation authority announced plans to increase Iraq's power generation...
The Richmonder - Sun 3:27 p.m. - 2 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
Forty-seven years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his contemporaries could only dream that one day, a black man would grow up to become president—and then get called a socialist Nazi by thousands of white conservatives. The tea party movement and the followers of Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin use a [...] ...
The 28th Amendment - Sun 2:22 p.m. - 2 clicks
I spent the weekend visiting Every Day Father . One day this summer, it hit 97 degrees. That same day, the maple tree in his backyard dropped 80% of its leaves. Clearly, this tree needs to heed Joe Barton's advice and start adapting to the Anthropocene . Get on that, maple tree! ...
The Green Miles - Sun 10:09 a.m. - 3 clicks
I'm not going to dwell on Glenn Beck's rally yesterday because I just don't think it will have any real or lasting impact. The event was a small-to-medium rally by Washington, DC standards, attended by 85,000 to 90,000 people. That amount would be fairly respectable were it not for the large amount of publicity and hoopla surrounding the event. Given the resources put towards promoting this even...
The Richmonder - Sun 6:24 a.m. - 3 clicks
President Obama stood by and watched as clean energy & climate legislation died in the Senate. His administration claims EPA regulation of global warming pollution is coming, but a new court case has conservationists questioning President Obama's commitment once again: Administration officials said the Environmental Protection Agency's regulatory moves to restrain carbon dioxide emiss...
The Green Miles - Sun 6:23 a.m. - 3 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
Nothing Glenn Beck can do or say can cheapen or in any way reduce the significance of what happened in Washington, DC forty-seven years ago today. Beck, the Tea Party, and their allies are trying to hold back the ocean with a push broom. ...
The Richmonder - Sat 8:22 a.m. - 8 clicks
Time is growing nigh and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has put out the word to its candidates to make their case, show how they're going to win in November, or they're pulling the plug on money and support. "At the end of the day, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will look at races we can win,” said DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen, as reported ...
Off K Street - Sat 7:28 a.m. - 5 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
Extravagance Feels Like Home to You You love to pamper yourself, and why should that stop at home? You have the finest furniture and home decor that your money can buy. You know that you’ll be spending a lot of time at home, so you try to make it as wonderful as possible. Your home [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Fri 2:24 p.m. - 6 clicks
Eugene Robinson blasts Glenn Beck in today's Washington Post. The majestic grounds of the Lincoln Memorial belong to all Americans -- even to egomaniacal talk-show hosts who profit handsomely from stoking fear, resentment and anger. So let me state clearly that Glenn Beck has every right to hold his absurdly titled "Restoring Honor" rally on Saturday. But the rest of us have every right to cal...
The Richmonder - Fri 12:10 p.m. - 8 clicks
Apparently reconstruction didn't quite "take" the first time around. Perhaps it's time we send a few divisions in to reconstruct Mississippi and finish the job this time: With the election of President Barack Obama, the country heralded the coming of an age in which an African-American could overcome significant historical prejudice to ascend to the presidency. But while the country celebrates th...
The Richmonder - Fri 10:43 a.m. - 3 clicks
In a stunning announcement yesterday, Admiral Mike Mullen told the Detroit Economic Club that the national debt had replaced nuclear terrorism as the greatest threat to national security. The single biggest threat to national security is the national debt, the......
Armchair Generalist - Fri 10:43 a.m. - 4 clicks
Never let a crisis go to waste. At least the United States wasted less energy last year , and significantly increased it's use of renewable energy sources (specifically wind energy). Too bad it wasn't an enlightened response to a long overdue change in our consumer mentality, but I'll take an economy related behavioral change. How much did we reduce our overall energ...
Off K Street - Fri 8:22 a.m. - 5 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
The io9 site has a pretty good list of 25 sci-fi movies that should be on everyone's "must watch" list and a short discussion on why they made the list. I only have a few changes in mind. Not crazy......
Armchair Generalist - Fri 3:07 a.m. - 5 clicks
Whatever one might think of Rep. Tom Perriello, only a fool or a liar would deny that the guy has cojones. Just look at what he did this evening: speak at the monthly meeting of the Jefferson Area Tea Party. Consider that for a moment. Perriello is, for the second year in a row, holding [...]...
Waldo Jaquith - Thu 7:40 p.m. - 9 clicks
Glenn Greenwald keeps up the good fight in responding to two essays which: perfectly illustrate the continuous stream of manipulative fear-mongering over the last decade which has reduced much of the American citizenry into a meek and submissive faction for whom no asserted government power is too extreme, provided the scary menace of ‘Terrorism’ is [...]...
Blacknell.net - Thu 7:40 p.m. - 2 clicks
Read Fred Kaplan's article on how the US government still isn't developing a regional approach to solving the Afghanistan challenge and how Pakistan isn't really helping....
Armchair Generalist - Thu 11:44 a.m. - 3 clicks
My brother has blogged for a few years now. My sister just started. She’s a neurolinguist who specializes in product branding, and that’s the topic of her blog. You know, for all of your neurolinguistic branding needs....
Waldo Jaquith - Thu 10:48 a.m. - 11 clicks
This should surprise no one: In an interview with the Huffington Post on Wednesday night, former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman -- who announced earlier Wednesday that he is gay and intends to join the fight for marriage equality in California -- said he wishes he had come out while he was the face of a historically anti-gay Republican Party platform. Mehlman acknowledged regr...
The Richmonder - Aug 26 - 7 clicks
The Washington Post reveals that the CIA is recommending Yemen as the next objective on the War on Terror. Fortunately, they don't have any WMD programs there - just bad mixes of liquid explosive molded into underwear for suicide bombers.......
Armchair Generalist - Aug 26 - 2 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
Celebrate the 90th Anniversary of Suffrage with the Sewall-Belmont House & Museum August 26, 2010 On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment Guaranteed Women Right to Vote Alice Paul unfurls the Ratification Banner at NWP headquarters. On August 18, 1920, one man, Harry Burn, changed his vote in the Tennessee state legislature from a “Nay” [...]...
The Farm Team - Aug 26 - 3 clicks
Finally, the long battle for the vote for women was won when a young legislator voted as his mother urged him to vote. Votes for women were first seriously proposed in the United States in July, 1848, at the Seneca Falls Woman’s Rights Convention organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. One woman who [...]...
The Farm Team - Aug 26 - 2 clicks
What else can be said, except WOW?! Click here and here for the related stories. ...
Off K Street - Aug 25 - 9 clicks
Washington, DC (August 25, 2010)—Over 70 prominent Christian leaders and denominational heads from across the ideological spectrum joined together today to call for a stop to the misrepresentation of President Obama’s Christian faith. In an open letter, these Christian leaders called on the media, public officials, and their fellow Christians to stand with them in opposing those who continue t...
What IS Right for Virginia - Aug 25 - 6 clicks
What appeared to be a ho-hum line-up late season Primaries turned out to be quite dramatic in several. Here's a quick look at some of them: Florida The Republican Primary for US Senate went as expected with Marc Rubio winning by a wide margin. In the Republican Primary for Governor, Rick Scott (former head of Columbia/HCA hospitals that paid a $1.7 billion fine for Medicare a...
Off K Street - Aug 25 - 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
The U.S. Open tennis tournament is continuing to take more steps to reduce its environmental impact : Working in conjunction with its partners at the National Resources Defense Council , GreenSlam and Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the USTA will once again conduct an extensive consumer-waste recycling program for all plastic and cans throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean Kin...
The Green Miles - Aug 25 - 5 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
Details, details, don't bother House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) with details. Especially for the economic speech he gave in Cleveland on Tuesday, where he left at least 2.5 billion of them out when he said: Last year, House Republicans launched the State Solutions project to bring Republican governors and state legislators together to fight big-government policies and promote bett...
DailyKos (Virginia) - Aug 25 - 4 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
Political polls tell us exactly what will happen. Except for when they do not. Millions of dollars and thousands of seconds are wasted each week as the media, party operatives, candidates, and academics try to discern how the November elections will play out. If you have been following the schizophrenic coverage, you should [...] ...
The 28th Amendment - Aug 24 - 6 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
I would really like to see the polling that GOP House Minority Leader John Boehner is seeing that indicates Americans have totally forgotten that their social and economic agenda drove this nation into a ditch. Click here for Politico's coverage. What's even better, he is calling on the President to fire Treasury Secretary Geithner and Economic Advisor Larry Summers. Two...
Off K Street - Aug 24 - 4 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
Jane Mayer has an important exposé of the Koch brothers in the New Yorker. Who are the Koch brothers? The Kochs are longtime libertarians who believe in drastically lower personal and corporate taxes, minimal social services for the needy, and much less oversight of industry—especially environmental regulation. These views dovetail with the brothers’ corporate interests. In a study released this ...
The Richmonder - Aug 23
Two stories, one from Politico and one from CNN , on what Obama needs to do in order for Democrats to hold on to their majorities in the House and Senate. The message is pretty clear from both stories: 1. Tell us where we are going and how we get there as a nation. 2. Use the Bully Pulpit of the Oval Office. 3. Lead, Lead, Lead. If...
Off K Street - Aug 23
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
My buddy Fitz recently launched a blog called Every Day Father . It's a brutally honest, laugh-out-loud funny account of his efforts to be a better father -- both his touching successes and down-goes-Frazier-level failures . As I watched him develop the blog & tinkered with the format, I came to the startling realization that his blog, in which he's invested dozens of hours, actually looke...
The Green Miles - Aug 23
I first became aware of this story last week. From one of the soldiers: “Those of us that chose not to attend (about 80, or a little less that half) were marched back to the company area. At that point the NCO issued us a punishment. We were to be on lock-down in the company [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Aug 23
This story is making the rounds. For the past three years, Marilyn Bess has operated MS Philly Organic, a small, low-traffic blog that features occasional posts about green living, out of her Manayunk home. Between her blog and infrequent contributions to ehow.com, over the last few years she says she’s made about $50. To Bess, [...] ...
Vivian J. Paige - Aug 23
Times are tight--ordinary people don't have a lot of disposable income to spend and there are a wide variety of retailers to choose from. That being said, it's really a no brainer to make certain that your day to day purchases don't go to support a company that works against your values. A boycott of Target will also serve as a warning to other corporate leaders who might be tempted t...
The Richmonder - Aug 23
Via Ecorazzi , here's a new video from NRDC. It's a powerful ad, although I have to ask ... why not have him do something silly? Isn't that what Ryan Reynolds is good at, making us laugh? I kind of want to see him arguing with a sock puppet . ...
The Green Miles - Aug 22
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
With all the uproar around the proposed Islamic Center in lower Manhattan, it appears that religious freedom has come under attack again. This time from within the United States Army. According to an Associated Press story on August 20, 2010, the Army is investigating if Fort Eustis soldiers who did not want to attend a Christian Rock concert on base were forced to stay in their...
Off K Street - Aug 22
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
