750 Volts-The Third Rail on the Left Side

Moved!

2005-03-25T20:28:00.000-05:00

http://www.kentonngo.com/750volts

Update yer blogrolls!

Moving!

2005-03-25T20:15:00.000-05:00

After a week of hair-pulling, 750 Volts is on Wordpress! Update your blogrolls:

(This whole conversion has eaten my entire spring break and put a hold on blog entires...)

http://www.KentonNgo.com/750Volts

Why The Hell Do We All Care for Terry Schaivo?

2005-03-23T21:28:00.000-05:00

I've tried not to comment on the intensely personal affair of Terri Schaivo, but I can stand this no longer.

It's a private family mattter! What I say, what any "pro-life" activists say, what Congress says is pure bull! Why are we meddling in an internal family affair? Bringing ourselves into the intensely personal relationship of a man and his spouse?

Jeb Bush is not a doctor. He's trying to rediagnose Schaivo, credentials be damned. Jeb Bush knows crap about medicine. He's looking at a few blurry pictures and attempting to override her doctors and her husband and trying to make a diagnosis. He's trying to take away Mike Schaivo's rights as guardian of his wife and shove his meddling hand in the way. Why are we bashing our heads into this? What do we know?

Since when do the governor, Congress, the State Leigslator, courts, a bunch of talking heads and nosy postulating petulant strangers have any worthy say on a matter dealing with your spouse? Leave the Schaivo family alone. We have nothing to say, people. Tell the right wing of the Republican Party, which is so intent on seemingly breaking apart the Schaivo marriage, to just shut up and leave them alone. It is nauseatingly arrogant to just butt in and pretend you know what is best for the life of my family member.

Whether I want the tube reinserted is not important to Schaivo. Unless you, dear reader, are married to Terri Schaivo, what you say is not important. Let Schaivo pass in peace. Please. Take your condescension and nosiness off her life.

Victory Dance

2005-03-23T21:17:00.000-05:00

Former Democratic mayor of Petersburg Rosalyn Dance coasts to victory in the 63rd District special election:

Rosalyn Dance (D)	4,342	68.78%
Andrea Sims (R)	1,690	26.77%
Mike Bratschi (I)	271	4.29%
Write In	10	0.16%

Well done, another win!

Save The Date/Werkheiser Campaign News

2005-03-21T19:44:00.000-05:00

Greg Werkheiser, the man who will unseat Dave Albo over in the 42nd, will be hosting his campaign kickoff (save the date!):

Lorton Station Elementary School
Saturday, April 16, 2005 from 3 to 5pm
9298 Lewis Chapel Road, Lorton, VA 22079

And get Greg's campaign off to a kicking start: Two donors have offered to match, dollar for dollar, the first $20,000 raised before April 1st! Contribute online, or by mail!

Happy Birthday To Me.

2005-03-21T19:23:00.000-05:00

Resident keyboard pounder drags on into 14th year of existence! World reaction mixed.

Happy birthday to me.

Russ Potts Meets the Mafia

2005-03-21T19:13:00.000-05:00

Staunton News Leader

Potts is running as an "independent Republican" — an oxymoron if there ever was one in the hive-think of party politics — and he's got the loyal worker bees and drones who have pledged their fealty to King Kilgore in a royal snit.

...

Potts is learning what so many Mafiosi and gangsters of lesser stripe could have told him, if he'd asked — you don't go breaking the code of silence or ranks with the gang with- out consequences.

I personally find slightly amusing (in a sort of macabre way) at how the Kilgore camp is trying to stamp out Russ Potts like a steamroller operator tries to crack a peanut. Thrashing about in sheer panic! Then to wild-eyed rabid puritanical fervor!

51st District Challenger

2005-03-21T19:09:00.000-05:00

Ernie Porta has announced his candidacy as a Democrat for Prince Williams' 51st District, against incumbent Republican Michele McQuigg. (Potomac News)

Kilgore Plan Not a Joke After All

2005-03-20T21:38:00.000-05:00

Kilgore doesn't have one: Brian Patton

The Kilgore Plan for Virginia does not, apparently, include a radical social agenda or fiscal insolvency like I expected. It does, however, have this:

Jerry's Not As Funny as We Thought He Was

2005-03-20T14:08:00.000-05:00

That's saying alot. 750 Volts has obtained a copy of the now-infamous Kilgore Memo:

Memorandum

To: Lt. Governor Tim Kaine/Kaine 2005 Campaign Staff

From: Kickoff Tour Strategy Coordinator (KTSC)

RE: Our "Message": Region by Region

As we head into our kickoff week we cannot stress enough the
importance of sticking to our "message" as we travel across the
Commonwealth. For those of you who are not familiar with our message
it is really quite simple: "Your Views are Our Views, Too." This
message was realized through months of focus groups/polling/and
intensive demographic research of Virginia, as well as thanks to the
lessons provided by the campaigns of Al Gore and John Kerry. (The
winners of the past two presidential elections!)

Through prior preparation we can now guarantee that, done right, we
will be in line with the views of every community and region that Lt.
Gov. Kaine visits over the course of March 16-24. This, of course, is
the key to the campaign. Tim Kaine must be "one of the people",
depending, of course, on just what "the people" actually "are" in each
part of Virginia. With this in mind the following document should
allow the candidate, field staff and press team to adequately prepare
for each visit.

Now, we are not blind to some unfortunate realities here at the
strategy office. We certainly understand how much easier it would be
to have the same "message" for all parts of Virginia. From
speechwriting (not that we need, or have, a speechwriter!), to
backdrops, to sound bites, to guest speakers*, life would certainly be
simpler with one message for all Virginia. But who are we kidding? We
are in this thing to win, not to stick to some "core message" that
would risk putting us at odds with ANYONE in the Commonwealth. For
that reason we cannot stress enough how imperative it is that we stick
to the information below. One misstatement, one accidental truth, or
"Unintentional Moment of Candor" (UMC), as we have deemed them, could
represent a significant setback to our campaign. Consistency is for
losers. Pandering is for Governors. And we are creating a Governor
here folks!

This upcoming kickoff campaign will truly test our ability to be
everything to everybody. It has been tried before. John Kerry shot a
daggone goose for goodness sakes! Now we are not talking about
shooting anything. At least not yet. What we are talking about doing
is creating the ultimate pro-life/pro-choice; anti-taxes/pro-taxes;
pro-death penalty/anti-death penalty; conservative/liberal candidate.
One misstatement, one unfortunate UMC, and we are done for. The
strategy office has done all we can. We have laid out the high wire to
electoral triumph, now you all have to walk it. For 8 months. All
across Virginia. With the media watching. Good luck out there, and
remember, there are no wrong views; there are only views we have yet
to identify with.

* See memo from 2.18.04: "Fall 2005: A Dominion Dominated by Celebrities"

Southwest Virginia "That Place Where the People Talk Funny"

The only people getting worked up about the Kilgore accent are the Republicans. Back to the circus:

Message: "Values for Virginia."

Key Points to Make:
We love guns.
We are pro-life.
We don't like homosexual marriage.
And we hate taxes.

Key Points to Avoid:
Tax Payer Money for Anti-Gun rally (Million Mom March)
Lifetime of anti-death penalty activism
Call for massive tax increases

Note to field staff: Can we do signs in camo? You know the stuff the
soldiers wear. Look into it. Also, do we know people with accents?
Besides Jerry Kilgore of course! What about NASCAR. How does that
work? How do they "keep score"? We need to know this. And what does
"Boogity, Boogity, Boogity" mean anyway? Sounds scary.

Suggested Crowd Chant: "Values, Values, Values. Guns, Guns, Guns.
Boogity, Boogity, Boogity!"

Attire: That camo stuff. Lots of it. And blaze orange. Is flannel still in?

Good Event Music: "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi

Bad Event Music: "Brilliant Disguise" by Bruce Springsteen

Northern Virginia "Warner Land at Last!"

Allow this Northern Virginian to wear this as a badge of honor.

Message: "Mark Warner is a friend of mine. No, seriously, I can call
him right now. In fact, you call him. Here's my phone. Ask him if
he knows me. He may say 'no,' but that would be, like, just so him.
Really, he knows me by my first name."

Key Points to Make:
W is NOT my President
We hate guns.
We are pro-choice.
Those who are against tax increases do hate Virginia, and want poor
people to be thrown out on the street, our roads to turn to dust, and
our schools to collapse on themselves
I called for a moratorium on the death penalty in 2001! (wink, wink, get it?)
But I will uphold the law on the death penalty if elected Governor
(double get it?)
Try to imply that U.S. Senator John Warner is supporting us

Key Points to Avoid:
Everything we just said down in Southwest Virginia.

Note to field staff: Can we provide latte for 2000 people? (Talk to
Lowell) Any chance we could use the camo signs from Southwest, FACE
DOWN OF COURSE, as covering for the floor at the event? How do we make
the press forget Southwest, leave them at the airport? Can we actually
do this with a modicum of plausible deniability? Look into. Also, this
will be the one stop where we have to invite Howard Dean ($5 million
bucks pretty much buys you an invitation). Make sure photographers
miss him in their shots. Just a badly placed spectator here, an
overhang there, and problem solved.

Suggested Crowd Chant: "Tax Hikes, Pro-Choice, No Guns, Yes! Tax
Hikes, Pro-Choice, No Guns, Yes!"

Attire: Something springy, and fun! Nordstroms has some good deals

Good Event Music: "Saving All my Love for You" by Whitney Houston

Bad Event Music: "Destination Unknown" by Missing Persons

Tidewater: "A Kickoff About Nothing."

Message: "Tim Kaine Really, Really Wants to be Governor. Would you
please vote for him? It's like his biggest wish, and besides what skin
is it off of your back?"

NOTE: Now this is tough. Our polling and research shows that this is a
pro-military, predominately suburban, fringe rural, center urban
region. We have voters who have spent a lifetime in the military, and
voters who have attended peace rallies. One could say that here is
where we should actually try a "message" and just stand up for
something. But they would be wrong! We are trying to become Governor,
people. Focus.

Predominantly suburban fringe rural center urban. Uh huh.

Key Points to Make:
Sure the death penalty is fine, I guess, if people want it, if they
don't, well we're open to suggestions.
Taxes are too high, but those who won't raise taxes hate you.
We need to keep our aircraft carrier
We like you; We really, really like you!

Key Points to Avoid:
That whole busing people to anti-gun rally thing. Sure, it would get
some votes, but it would also LOSE some votes. This is a non-starter.
(Our polling indicates the military might just be pro-gun)
We're raising the gas tax. Deal with it.
We haven't really done anything to try to help Hampton Roads keep an
aircraft carrier

Note to Field Staff: You know if we still have some of those camo
signs from Southwest left, let's use them here. But not for all signs.
Make it 30% camo, 30% pastels, and 40% red, white and blue. (If
audience make-up appears to dictate more of one type or other that
call will be made on the ground.)

Pastels? Hmm. Very interesting.

Suggested Crowd Chant: "Greater Investment in Virginia: Not that we're
talking about tax increases or anything, what gives you that idea?"

Attire: Tye-Dye shirt. Camo pants. Brooks Brothers blazer. Now that is
inclusive!

Good Event Music: "Anyway You Want It" by Journey

Bad Event Music: "Don't Know Much, But I Know I Love You" by Linda Ronstadt

Richmond: "Home, Sweet Home"

Message: "Remember when Tim Kaine was Mayor Here? Alright, now Try to Forget It"

NOTE: Did something actually happen if no one will talk about it?
Orwellian as this seems, this mind-set will be critical to the success
of our big finish in Richmond. We have to brag about being mayor, but
not about spending taxpayer dollars to send voters to an anti-gun
rally. (oops!). Or allowing the Pay-Go scandal to fester on our watch!
(whoops!). Or the fact that shortly after Tim Kaine left office the
people of Richmond overwhelmingly voted to change their entire system
of government in order to clean up his mess. (Ouch!) So the point is
clear: Being Mayor: good. What we did as Mayor: We don't really
remember.

Key Points to Make:
Tim Kaine was Mayor.
Tim Kaine lives here.
So proud to have Doug Wilder as our mayor!
We need to invest in Virginia
We invented "Project Exile"*

Key Points to Avoid:
See above note on Tim Kaine's Mayoral years
Former council members currently "out of circulation"
Standard: Invest means: raise taxes. Look, if people can't understand
what this really means, well then we are not going to spell it out for
them!
Why is Doug Wilder the mayor? What led to this? If anyone receives a
question similar to this: RUN

Note to Field Staff: Signs will be tough. Let's go 10% camo. 10%
pastels. 10% red, white and blue. 10% just plain white. 10% dots and
circles. 50% just standard campaign signs- I really can't think of any
other colors and types. Maybe we should just have a booth of some sort
that makes a sign for each attendee based on that person answering a
few questions about themselves? Is this possible? If possible, this
could be huge.

Suggested crowd chant: "Tim Kaine Has Been Mayor. What do you care
what he actually did in that position?! He was a Mayor people! Have
you ever been a Mayor? We didn't think so!"

Attire: S&K. Buy the place out.

Good Event Music: "Here I go Again" by Whitesnake

Bad Event Music: "Always Something There to Remind Me" by Naked Eyes

*Dangerous. Similar advice to Al Gore on his issue seems to have
backfired a bit.

Paid for and Authorized by Virginians for Jerry Kilgore

This is a parody and not intended to portray an actual Kaine
memorandum (obviously).

Out of state readers: Welcome to Virginia politics. Enjoy your stay. Please, do not be afraid of the clowns.

Leslie Byrne for LG

2005-03-19T22:55:00.000-05:00

Brian Patton notes the straw poll that was taken Thursday night at Gerry Connolly's St. Patrick Day event at the Kena Temple:

Leslie Byrne - 54%
Chap Petersen - 33%
Viola Baskerville - 7%
Phil Puckett - 6%

I was there that night (and would have written about it here, and posted photos, had I been smart enough to remember to actually take photos, and smart enough to find the scrap of paper I wrote the straw poll results on. Alas, I still need to work my "blogger/journalist" credentials.) and voted for Leslie Byrne.

I had plenty of convoluted and circuitious debates with myself over Chap v. Leslie through the campaign season, but in the end Chap just didn't "catch" with me. I'm slightly put off by his stance on issues such as the gay marriage amendment, which he voted for. I personally feel the state has no business tacking discriminatory amendments to the constitution. Charismatic, young, ambitious, the kinda guy I'd really like to support, but in the end I decided to go for a record and for experience. While writing the candidates a short while back on my issues, Leslie's response to my e-mail seemed to fit most with my views.

Leslie Byrne has a long history of service, in Congress and the State Senate. She has a good progressive, non-interventionis stance on social issues, and a stellar rating on envirromental issues. She supports a "paper trail" for voting machines, and a portion of the gas tax going to Metro funding. While in Congress she fought for the funding to Dulles Metro service. I'm hesitant to call for ideological purity, but I feel that Leslie has a more progressive view of things.

Leslie Byrne for LG

Ignorance Based Education

2005-03-19T17:56:00.000-05:00

The study is in: abstinence-based sex ed increases risky behavior.

There are two main problems with abstinence-only:

1) Ignorance Doesn't Cut It. Proponents say that to teach children about contraception is to encourage them to have sex. Pompous, arrogant bull. Our children are not stupid. When we force ignorance on contraception and protection onto our teens, what does it accomplish? When they have sex, they should be fully aware of everything.

2)It's Unrealistic. Picture a house in an extremely windy plain. There is a window open and it's letting a draft in. You attempt to stop the draft not by closing the window, but by yelling at the wind to stop. It's unrealistic to expect all people to not have sex. When they do, they should be prepared.

Hat tip Waldo Jaquith

Feds Scared of Chap?

2005-03-18T17:48:00.000-05:00

Why didn't the feds let Chap talk?

Democratic Party lieutenant-governor candidate Chap Petersen was supposed to deliver a brief talk to a group of new United States citizens on behalf of a nonpartisan lawyers' group in Fairfax on Thursday.

That was before a couple of phone calls from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services led to Petersen being yanked from the schedule of events at the naturalization ceremony held at the George Mason University School of Law.

"I am disappointed the Citizenship and Immigration Service would not permit an elected state official to address this important ceremony," said Petersen, whose wife, Sharon, and her family are naturalized U.S. citizens.

For shame. What message does this send the newly minted citizens of our country about us? That reckless and vicious partisanship can simply shut a state legislator from giving a short address to them?

Memogate!

2005-03-17T17:49:00.000-05:00

Inside the Fake Kaine Memo-Augusta Free Press

The question serves as a form of greeting in the Virginia news-media cognoscenti these days.

Have you seen the fake memo?

Here in Virginia, apparently, we don't settle for old-school mudslinging. It's time for insulting jokes! To make a long story short, the Kilgore campaign has been hollering at the top of their lungs, "YO MAMA!!!".

Given the fact that I'm approaching the ripe old age of wisdom known as 14, I'm probably not in a position to complain about maturity, but Jerry's talent at playground tactics scores well with about, say, third graders.

Legislature to New Jersey: Play Nice.

2005-03-16T19:42:00.000-05:00

While our legislature is in the offseason, saving us from the incredible humiliation of, well, our legislature, let's take a peek at non-Virginia odd legislation (just to reassure us in the Old Dominion that we're not the only weird ones. Droopy drawers indeed.)

An Assembly Resolution encouraging residents to treat one another civilly.

Whereas, The root word of "civility" means to be "a member of a household;" and

Whereas, There are rules of civility that allow us to live peacefully within society, just as there are certain rules that allow family members to live peacefully within a household; and

Whereas, The Greek Philosopher Aristotle saw civility as a form of friendship, which he understood as a mutual feeling of goodwill; and

Whereas, Aristotle believed that humans are capable of promoting another person's interest without regard for their own; and

Whereas, We are all interconnected and not traveling alone in life;

and

Whereas, New Jersey is the only state in which all counties are classified as metropolitan areas; and

Whereas, The dense population of this State makes it easy to get frustrated, especially while waiting in line or sitting in traffic; and

Whereas, In an effort to enrich the lives of residents of this State, impolite and antagonistic behavior should be curtailed without the creation of new laws; and

Whereas, Increased courtesy and respect amongst residents will reduce stress and make daily tasks more enjoyable; and

Whereas, A chain of goodwill would increase throughout the stores, streets, and neighborhoods of New Jersey, even with just the slightest effort of each individual; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House hereby encourages all residents of New Jersey to join with the leaders of the State in a campaign towards civility and kindness to all.

STATEMENT

This resolution encourages all residents of New Jersey to join with the leaders of the State in a campaign towards civility, kindness and respect to all.

I wasn't kidding! Here: AR 232

Through Yahoo

Sharing and caring!

David Englin Interviewed

2005-03-16T19:20:00.000-05:00

Raising Kaine interview.

In a district like the 45th there's no excuse for not electing a good progressive to the General Assembly. Check this guy out.

Jerry Kilgore And The Gas Tax

2005-03-16T19:00:00.000-05:00

Augusta Free Press

"We must protect the transportation trust fund with a constitutional amendment saying that the money in that fund is off limits to other projects. But let me make one point clear. I will not use the protection of the transportation trust fund as a green light for raising the gas tax." -Jerry Kilgore

Gather round, children! I shall tell you a story of a miracle maker! We knew him as Jerry, Jerry Kilgore. He spoke of a magic spell, a special type of sorcery that could conjure up money by executive fiat, without raising taxes or cutting spending!

Now before Jerry came about, we all learned (or those of us that weren't glaring with glazed eyes at the clock, awaiting the joyous time when we could go home) in economics that a Budget works thusly:

Money goes in (inlays)

That money is spent (expenditures)

You can't have more money flowing out than flowing in. Pretend the budget was like your favorite pond or lake. If there is a deficit of water, it dries up. So what happens when you have this situation (called a deficit). So, to fix this, you can

Bring more money in

Have less money leave

But in Kilgonomics (derived from "kill"+"economics", or to "thoroughly butcher economics") you can ignore this painful formula and do whatever you want! Kilgonomics has one basic formula:

General Fund + Additional Transportation Spending = General Fund, or

1 + 1 = 1

Since he's not going to raise taxes to fund the additional spending, he is basically pretending that there isn't any additional spending to worry about! See no evil!

So, to reiterate:

OLD MODEL
Budgets are balanced by increasing taxes and cutting spending.

KILGONOMICS
Budgets are balanced by decreasing taxes and increasing spending. This also works as well as when you sacrifice a virgin to the Volcano God.

Kilgore Plan A Joke

2005-03-15T22:09:00.000-05:00

Literally.

See Times Dispatch. Jerry thinks he can get away with being juvenile! How low will he go? Apparently Jerry realizes he can't win with facts? Stop patronizing Virginians with this nonsense, Jerry.

Activist Majority

2005-03-14T21:48:00.000-05:00

"This is another instance of a 5-4 decision coming from the activist majority of the Supreme Court that is interested in undermining the rights of states to determine what is best for them in terms of setting their public policy."

Republican AG Bob McDonnell, unhappy with the Supreme Court striking down juvenile executions.

Last time I checked the majority on the Court were Republicans.

Kaine Blog Live

2005-03-14T16:35:00.001-05:00

The Tim Kaine for Governor campaign has launched its campaign blog: tk4g.org

Kaine Blog Live

2005-03-14T16:35:00.000-05:00

The Tim Kaine for Governor campaign has launched its campaign blog: tk4g.org

A Glimmer of Hope!

2005-03-13T17:27:00.000-05:00

Covering Virginia politics has given me that sinking feeling that the rest of the country looks down at us--not neccesarily without good reason. Witness the near disasters that were foisted upon us by legislative fiat:

The Year of the Droopy Drawers

Banning gay adoptions

Miscarriage criminilization

"Traditional Marriage" license plates

And much, much more. But apparently there are people in the world that gaze fawningly at our legislature, specifically in the Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Want a purer form of democracy? Look to Virginia - Morning Call

Shocking. But all is not well in Virginia's democracy. Our incumbents are intrenched. We have legislative districts shaped in a fashion that would make Rorscach proud. But what's wrong with someone looking up to us?

Return of The Droopy Drawers

2005-03-13T17:05:00.000-05:00

When I posted the epilogue to the Captain Underpants low-ride pants bill, I thought it was the end of it.

Algie Howell popped out of the woodwork today to write about the 2005's session signature bill, scaring my pants off (sorry, couldn't resist). And he's still singing its praises in The Roanoke Times. I'm usually not so keen on grilling fellow Democrats, but why Algie, why? Good grief.

While some complained that my legislation treaded upon the civil liberties of non-gang members, nobody in the media even considered whether my proposals would have the effect of reducing crime and gang-related behavior in blighted areas.

Lots of kooky bills got into the General Assembly, but WHOA, this was one of the few that had sponsors vigorously defending it every step of the way! Even after international ridicule! Hey Algie, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. His name is John Cosgrove.

When you're in a hole, stop digging!

When your op-ed column looks like it's written by some nimrod, stop writing! Please, Algie. For your own good. And for the good of our pants. I know you're not that batty!

Sign the Petition!

2005-03-12T21:04:00.000-05:00

Snippet from the petition:

As bipartisan members of the online journalism, blogging, and advertising community, we ask that you grant blogs and online publications the same consideration and protection as broadcast media, newspapers, or periodicals by clearly including them under the Federal Election Commission’s "media exemption" rule.

There is absolutely no reason that the FEC should not consider us media. There is absolutely no reason to stop us from discussing campaigns without regulation. Sign. Now.

Ganked from Vern

Utter Perfection

2005-03-11T21:03:00.000-05:00

Anyways, a personal note from my school orchestra festival performance...

Straight ones baby!

Tax Reform

2005-03-09T22:21:00.000-05:00

In all the blather on tax reform, the ever lucid and insightful Robert Reich weighs in on the real problem: Marketplace commentary

Kaine Announcement Tour

2005-03-09T21:13:00.000-05:00

Taken off Brian Patton

When: Wednesday, March 16, 9:00 AM

Where: UVA Wise - Bascom Slemp Student Center

RSVP

###

When: Wednesday, March 16, 11:30 AM

Where: Roanoke Fire Station #1 (13 Church Avenue, SE)

RSVP

###

When: Wednesday, March 16, 2:30 PM

Where: Herndon Municpal Center (777 Lynn Street)

Special Guest: Governor Mark Warner

RSVP

###

When: Wednesday, March 16, 5:30 PM

Where: Ted Constant Convocation Center, Old Dominion University (4320 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk)

RSVP

###

When: Wednesday, March 16, Entertainment begins at 7:30 PM

Where: Children’s Museum of Richmond (2626 West Broad Street)

Special Guest: Governor Mark Warner

RSVP

Virginia Blogger to Appear on Nightline

2005-03-08T17:34:00.000-05:00

Another Virginia Democratic blogger, Maura of Democracy for Virginia will be appearing on Nightline tonight about the Cosgrove fiasco.

Go Maura Go!

More at this Kos diary.

The line of questioning apparently stems from an "ethical" consideration: Whether we, as bloggers, should warn legislators that we blog on a bill.

Ludicrous! We're simply constituents (or residents of the state, I feel if that we aren't local we should say so) that happen to voice our opinions. We are not journalists, who focus on objective reporting that views both sides with equal merit. We are activist constituents. Legislators who aren't up to the scrutiny of their constituents shouldn't be elected.

I'm not on anyone's payroll, I am beholden to no one. I'm simply a citizen and his blog.

Silent Comeback of Offshore Drilling

2005-03-07T21:02:00.000-05:00

Look what slipped under our collective noses:

Under the comfortable cover of the annual last-minute legislative avalanche, the General Assembly decided to encourage drilling for gas off Virginia Beach.

It’s understandable if you missed it. The Senate and House passed a bill that instructed the governor’s office to lobby Washington to exempt the state from a longtime federal ban on offshore exploration and production. That move was a preliminary, though significant, first step toward erecting platforms off Sandbridge.

Frankly, I don't think it will take much "lobbying" to convince this administration to let their oil and gas buddies start drilling off our seashores. Think of what it would do for us, heading to Virginia Beach and seeing a pristine view of a gas drilling tower.

The inherent meaning in lobbying for offshore drilling, however, is more than aesthetic. Our energy policy is seemingly focused on fossil fuels and oil company profits. We drill for oil and gas to feed our insatiable appetite, whatever the cost. Our foreign policy revolves in the Middle East around oil.

When we advocate taking our energy interests out of the hands of a few Saudi sultans, we don't mean destroying our seashores. Renewable energy sources should be pursued, not drilling in cherished places.

Burning The Rails to Save Them

2005-03-07T20:35:00.000-05:00

The Daily Press weighs in on Amtrak.

President Bush's proposed budget for 2006 would all but zero out funding for Amtrak. The administration says this is the way to save Amtrak. That makes you wonder what their approach would be if they wanted to kill it.

Brings to mind the old excuse from the Vietnam quagmire: we had to burn the village to save it. Starving the rails of funding, which will excaberate the on-time, maintenance, and performance problems of Amtrak, will save Amtrak. Huh?!

The question is whether Amtrak is a company out to make a profit, or a public service. No other transportation in America is expected to be self sufficient--far, far from it.

The gasoline taxes fall woefully short of funding the roads. The government needs to bail out airlines (granted, Sep. 11 played a role, but it still counts as a subsidy.)

Marsden for Delegate II

2005-03-04T22:48:00.000-05:00

Lo and behold, Connection Newspapers writes up the Dave Marsden kickoff on Sunday, and has a wonderful picture of Dave, Fairfax Sheriff Stan Barry, and...

Over in the lower left, the back of my head.

Edwards Drops Out

2005-03-04T21:30:00.000-05:00

Edwards Drops Out-Roanoke Times

Creigh Deeds had the upper hand in the race in nearly every aspect of the race, but I don't like to see people go unopposed, we need to get their organizations in gear.

Adolescent Death Penalty Abolished

2005-03-03T20:48:00.000-05:00

I have always found that the barbaric practice of executing juveniles had no place in America, as I have written before, and the Supreme Court agreed in their landmark decision on Roper v. Simmons. This finally takes us out of the company of countries with such horrific human rights records as Iran.

Virginia gleefully kills (second only to trigger-happy Texas), and Jerry Kilgore glibly proposes the "Death Penalty Enhancement Act". Death enhancement? Those who are against abortion and for the death penalty share, in my opinion, a rather interesting set of moral codes.

The gross injustice of the death penalty system in America has taken one small blow with this decision, but the stark reality remains: In Virginia, a massive miscarriage of justice, a failure of the system, resulting in the murder of a wrongly convicted innocent person, is impending.

When a defendant goes to trial in Virginia and he cannot afford a lawyer, the Sixth Amendment provides for legal counsel. What the founding fathers had in mind is the core fundamental belief in justice--blind justice--that does not care for a person's wealth, that only seeks the truth. The Supreme Court has held in Johnson v. Zerbst that right to counsel is absolute, and Gideon v. Wainwright expanded this to state courts. The inherent unfairness of the trials in Virginia flies in the face of our historical precedents and our values.

In Virginia, a public defender is paid a paltry $1,235 in capital cases, regardless of complexity of the case or appeals. Hardly fair justice.

21 days after a conviction, no new evidence can be introduced. If a man has been wrongly convicted in Virginia, no new evidence can be considered. That's right. After a trial with underpaid counsel, you could be innocent, on death row, and have no recourse. That's not the American way.

Dave Marsden for Delegate, 41st District

2005-03-03T19:34:00.001-05:00

I was at Dave Marsden's campaign kickoff on Sunday, and I can tell this is going to be a winner:

Democrats ready to roll in 41st - Times Community Newspapers

Del. James Dillard's car was probably still cooling in his driveway when local Democrats launched their campaign Sunday to take control of the retiring Republican's seat in the General Assembly.

On the same day Virginia legislators returned home after the close of this year's legislative session, Democratic hopeful David Marsden, Dillard's former campaign manager, kicked off his campaign to become the delegate for the 41st District, which encompasses Burke and parts of Fairfax Station and Springfield.

Open seat, winnable. It's rather obvious to me that the Republicans are driving out the moderate wing, and it's coming back to bite them (nods to Russ Potts). Welcome to you all, come on in, the water's great!

Dave Marsden for Delegate, 41st District

2005-03-03T19:34:00.000-05:00

I was at Dave Marsden's campaign kickoff on Sunday, and I can tell this is going to be a winner:

Democrats ready to roll in 41st - Times Community Newspapers

Del. James Dillard's car was probably still cooling in his driveway when local Democrats launched their campaign Sunday to take control of the retiring Republican's seat in the General Assembly.

On the same day Virginia legislators returned home after the close of this year's legislative session, Democratic hopeful David Marsden, Dillard's former campaign manager, kicked off his campaign to become the delegate for the 41st District, which encompasses Burke and parts of Fairfax Station and Springfield.

Sorry about that...

2005-03-03T18:41:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the short, um, unannounced hiatus, due to, er, parental influence regarding access to the Internet.

I lay claim to being the only political blogger in the area that is allowed to say that.

Wading through large backlog of emails, regular political bloviations to return after a word from our sponsor.

Baby Steps, People. Baby Steps.

2005-02-25T18:50:00.000-05:00

The General Assembly will allow businesses to extend health care benefits beyond workers and spouses, to basically anyone--including parents, siblings, and domestic partners. Another small step from the realm of being the "last state in the nation" to see progress.

We're not as insanely backward as it may seem!

Dillard Retires

2005-02-25T17:56:00.000-05:00

Delegate Jim Dillard has unsurprisingly announced his retirement. One of the longest-serving delegates, he was a persistent moderate voice in an increasingly extremist legislature, and I wish him well.

Run Russ Run!

2005-02-25T17:39:00.000-05:00

Well whaddyaknow. The schism between the Republicans and the Extremists is nearly complete: Russ Potts is in the race. Ahh, it seems the Republican Party of Virginia has moved too far to the right for even their own senators to tolerate.

"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake..." ~Napoleon

George Fitch and Russ Potts are battling the right-wingers for the soul of their party. Russ and George represent the mainstream wing: Jerry Kilgore represents the fanatics.

I can thank the fanatics for helping me become a Democrat. Knock yourself out, Jerry!

Waldo Jaquith is all over Jerry Kill-more's flimsy flailing. Note to Jerry: Russ didn't stray from the Republicans, the Republican Party strayed from Russ.

RPV's Kate Griffin is sounding completely crazy:

"As Tim Kaine and Russ Potts battle for the hearts and souls of
Virginia Democrats, it is time for Russ Potts to officially declare
himself a Democrat.

"Russ Potts should resign immediately from his State Senate seat to
allow Governor Mark Warner to call a special election for Senate
District 27. The voters in Senate District 27 deserve a Republican who
shares their values. Russ Potts has been flagrantly disingenuous with
hard working Virginia families that took him at his word in the last
election."

The Republicans are scared silly! The notion that Russ should resign and force a special election is absolutely absurd--the people have spoken already. Russ Potts has been elected. But let's not lose sight of the point here: Russ Potts is running against Jerry Kilgore and the extremist establishment, and calling Jerry's bluff.

More Kilgore Gems

2005-02-24T20:19:00.000-05:00

Brought to my attention:

For Immediate Release Contact:
Delacey Skinner
February 24, 2005 (804) 377-0500

JERRY KILGORE'S SURPLUS MULTIPLE CHOICE

(or as we like to call it … What Would Jerry Fund?)

TODAY'S MULTIPLE CHOICE QUIZ:

From the list below, select the option that best describes Jerry
Kilgore's plan for the budget surplus:

A. Replenish the Rainy Day Fund
B. Build New Roads, Bridges, and Other Transportation Projects
C. Fully Eliminate the Car Tax
D. Increase State Spending on Education
E. Cut Taxes
F. All of the Above

_______________________________________

Did you guess F?

A. Kilgore Said the Rainy Day Fund was "An Appropriate Place" for the
Surplus. "Virginia lawmakers said that a projected revenue surplus
should be put in the state's rainy-day fund and that the legislature
should propose tax cuts next year if growth continues. … 'The
rainy-day fund is an appropriate place for [the surplus], but at the
end of the day, it's the taxpayers' money,' he said." [Washington
Times, 5/24/04]

B. Kilgore Said the Surplus Should be Used to Build New Roads,
Bridges, and Other Transportation Projects. "Kilgore … accused the
Warner administration of underestimating the surplus and said as much
of the windfall as possible should be reserved for new roads, bridges
and one-time capital construction. 'I know this is a break with
tradition of only funding transportation through certain user fees or
the gas tax capital investments. But when we have a $1 billion surplus
- and growing every day - I think it's time we start talking about
using that surplus for critical transportation needs already on the
books,' Kilgore said." [Associated Press, 11/17/04]

C. Kilgore Supports Using the Surplus to Fund Full Phase-Out of the
Car Tax. In a press conference, the Republican House leadership
"cited the state's robust economy and $1 billion surplus in arguing
that the time is right to pursue the full phaseout of the reviled
[car] tax. … Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore, backed the House
leadership. 'Jerry Kilgore believes this is a promise to the voters
that needs to continue on the course consistent [with ensuring] fiscal
responsibility,' said Carrie Cantrell, a Kilgore spokeswoman."
[Richmond Times-Dispatch, 1/26/05]

D. Kilgore Supports Using the Surplus to Increase State Spending on
Education. "Kilgore spoke repeatedly Monday about the need for more
state spending on education, saying at one point that 'funding for
K-12 and higher education has to be one of the priorities of state
government.' Asked afterward how he would pay for his education plans
if elected governor, Kilgore said his administration would fight to
ensure that education receives a large part of any future budget
surpluses. Virginia finished the fiscal year that ended June 30 -
before any tax increases took effect - with a nearly $324 million
surplus, and Kilgore said he believes the surpluses will continue."
[Roanoke Times, 9/21/04]

E. Kilgore Called for Returning the Surplus to the Taxpayers with Tax
Cuts. "Virginia lawmakers said that a projected revenue surplus should
be put in the state's rainy-day fund and that the legislature should
propose tax cuts next year if growth continues. … Mr. Kilgore said
that the growing economy means the increases weren't needed and that
next year, the state must offer cuts. 'The rainy-day fund is an
appropriate place for [the surplus], but at the end of the day, it's
the taxpayers' money,' he said." [Washington Times, 5/24/04]

F. Or … All of the Above? Once again, faced with tough choices,
Jerry Kilgore's trying to have it five different ways. Jerry
Kilgore's refusal to take a stand on managing the budget surplus shows
a fundamental failure of leadership that would reverse the progress of
the Warner years and drive Virginia back into budget messes as far as
the eye can see.

Jerry Kilgore can't make up his mind and stick with anything. ("If I
only had a heart.....") But it's very interesting how he could just
flip around with A AND E on the same day! In the same interview!

Position du jour? Position du hour! (Position de l'heure!)

If you're gonna change your positions, at least be subtle. Not that
it'll slip by. Jerry Kilgore can't figure out what to do with the surplus-oh my! Would we want to trust him with it? The last Republican tax-cutter to come in, if you remember, dropped Virginia's fiscal health down a mine shaft (into the car tax cut).

It may not just be that Kilgore can't make up his mind--he might think
he could just do it all with extra money he would just conjure up and
borrow (Option F.):

"Kilgore predicted that the surplus will top $1 billion, exceeding estimates used by Gov. Mark R. Warner's budget team. ... Kilgore said he would support an increase in borrowing to pay for road projects, but did not specify how much new debt he believes the state could support. " [Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot 11/18/04]

Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and we Democrats fought hard for a fiscally responsible Virginia-we know what to do with the budget.

Electoral Board Fires Worker, Follows Law, Is Blasted By GOP.

2005-02-24T17:37:00.000-05:00

Connection Newspapers reports on the Electoral Board:

The Fairfax County Electoral Board voted 2-1 last Thursday night to fire Diane McIntyre, the county's general registrar, for failing to adequately prepare for the large turnout leading up to the November election and for wrongly allowing 17 or 18 felons to cast a vote.
McIntyre, a Republican, was voted out by the board's two Democrats, Vice President Larry Byrne and Secretary Margaret Luca.
Byrne said McIntyre incorrectly kept 70 felons on the county's eligible voters list and kept three citizens from voting who should not have been on the list. Approximately 462,000 Fairfax County residents voted in the Nov. 2 election.
"These failures occurred despite repeated warnings by the electoral board," he said. Byrne's wife, former state senator Leslie Byrne, is running for lieutenant governor of Virginia.
Electoral Board President Nancy Krakover (R) said McIntyre was relying on the state board to provide the registrar's office with the list of prohibited voters, but it only sent her the list the Thursday before the election. Furthermore, a subsequent investigation found that five of the alleged felons turned out to have voting rights, she said.
"She was set up to fail," Krakover said.
McIntyre did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Fairfax County Republican Chairman Eric Lundberg said McIntyre's firing was politically motivated.
"Larry Byrne is on a reckless vendetta to make the electoral board highly partisan," Lundberg said.
The electoral board will make decisions about whether provisional ballots should be accepted or rejected following the June 14 primary election. Lundberg said it is a conflict of interest for Byrne to make such decisions about his wife's election.
Byrne dismissed assertions that the electoral board's decision was politically motivated.
"None of this was done on a partisan basis," he said. "I don't see how abiding by the laws and electoral rules could be considered partisan."

Eric Lundberg: "WHINE!"

Flubbing up turnout preparations and allowing felons to vote? Dubya might fork you a Presidential Medal of Freedom, but I highly doubt we'd want to keep a person on the job. It's a matter of electoral integrity.

With regard to the "conflict of interest", there is none. Whether or not provisional ballots are counted rests simply on looking up the voter's name and checking whether the voter is registered. Larry Byrne would have to fudge the lists (very improbable) to swing the election with provisional ballots.

Bruce Rommelt for Delegate

2005-02-23T21:08:00.000-05:00

Received in my email inbox:

Hey guys ;) I'm sending this to all five of you openly because you all have
expressed an interest in helping us get out the word about Bruce Roemmelt's
run for the 13th District House Delegate seat against incumbent Republican
Bob Marshall. As this list grows, I'll move it to a mailist an blind copy
you, but I wanted each of you to know what a very small core group you are.
Onward and upward!

Today, we launched Bruce's website: http://www.electroemmelt.org The blog
will come within a week or so, and Waldo has expressed interest in helping
us round our rough edges out, so expect a few items to slightly modify, and
far more content come online soon, including a press clippings section,
photo blog, main blog, press releases, and if the bandwidth allows...
podcasts and soundbytes, etc.

For now, you'll notice our 'March campaign toward viability' fundraiser
going on. Since launching today, the contributions are already starting to
come in, and this is where we need your help to keep that happening. The
next 30 days we've set a very ambitious goal to raise $30,000 and need your
help! If you click on the CONTRIBUTION page, you'll see a code you can copy
and paste onto your blog or website. This will place our fundraising button
on your site, which will update our amounts on a regular basis. This button
will change throughout the campaign promoting fundraising goals, upcoming
events, issues and more. As the campaign grows, we'll add more features like
this.

March 26th, Bruce will officially announce his candidacy for VA's 13th
District! You are in on the ground floor, and this is our campaign! If you
have suggestions, please shoot them to me. The website is currently being
managed by Jennifer Bishop. Thank you for your early comittment is spreading
the word far and wide, and here's to a November Victory!

Another extremist Republican (of anti-adoption infamy) on the chopping block. I would be very happy to see him go.

Kilgore Gems

2005-02-23T20:09:00.000-05:00

Times Community papers discusses with Kilgore various whatnot. Snippets:

Kilgore discusses the Techway connection, the third Potomac bridge:

"We're coming through. It's necessary to this region. If you don't want an exit ramp in your locality, fine. We'll blow right over you, but we've got to move people that are just going north-south through this region more quickly."

Don't want another highway blasted through your neighborhood? Screw you!

Kilgore, the former state attorney general and leading Republican candidate for governor, wants to tap into the state's general fund—that pot of tax dollars typically reserved for spending on such staples as schools, public safety and mental health services.

...

He did not specify how much money he is considering or from where it might come from, but he said annual growth in the general fund should be enough to limit the pain of cuts or revisions to spending.

Ominous. Tap into the general fund now and hope for the best.

The Crashing Dollar

2005-02-22T20:32:00.000-05:00

Put your hand in your pocket. Pull out your wallet. Inside are probably some (or a lot) of green pieces of paper-dollar bills.

Those green notes aren't as valuable as you think. In case you haven't noticed, the dollar has been slipping steadily, and our nation's finances are in quite a precarious position.

Now news comes in South Korea's central bank is ditching the dollar. This is, shall we say, a problem.

Who is financing our national debt? Foreigners. When they lose faith in the dollar and pull out, then what? We're stuck.

1000 HITS! YEAAARRRGGGGGHHHHHH!

2005-02-19T15:20:00.000-05:00

Back to your regularly scheduled doldrums.

Special prize to the referrer of the proverbial "1000TH READER!",

BRENDAN!

Is voting a bad thing?

2005-02-19T14:18:00.000-05:00

The General Assembly seems to say so.

The House Privileges and Elections committee went on a PBI and table rampage with voting reforms at its final meeting before sine die adjournment yesterday:

Absentee ballot elgibility took a hit (remember guys, increased turnout is bad, bad!)SB 838, sponsored by Sen. Ken Cucinelli (R-Centreville), which would have extended elgibility to parents of homeschooled children, was PBI'd 15-4, SB 1104, extending elgibility to seniors, was tabled 13-7

Technological progress is also seemingly anathema to the absentee voting process:
SB 899, sponsored by Sen. Thomas Norment (R-Williamsburg) would have allowed absentee ballot applicants to apply online was tabled, effectively killing the bill:

YEAS--Putney, Ingram, Marshall, R.G., Hargrove, Jones, S.C., Albo, Black, Rapp, Cole, Cosgrove, Hugo, Frederick, Fralin, Phillips, Alexander, Joannou, Sickles--17.

NAYS--Dillard, Scott, J.M., Brink--3.

Voters can already apply for an absentee ballot online in Humboldt County, CA for example. Voting should be as easy as possible, increased participation and turnout strengthen our democracy. And in an response to our armed forces, a bill allowing absentee ballots to be sent electronically to our troops stationed overseas was PBI'd unanimously after passing the Senate unanimously (SB 1133, from Sen. Jay O'Brien (R-Clifton). Oh, a word on Jay O'Brien. Election Day 2003 comes around and I'm working a precinct, and O'Brien comes up and says, "Vote for me!", and leaves. I was the only person there who caught that the precinct wasn't in his district. But I digress.). There were numerous cases this year of absentee ballots being mailed too late to military voters.

Sen. Harry Blevins's (R-Chesapeake)SB 923 makes it a felony to destroy voter registrations, reported unanimously, this is sorely needed in the aftermath of the Voter Outreach of America scandal. SB 923 reported unanimously.

A constitutional amendment allowing the General Assembly to restore voting rights to nonviolent felons (SJ 259, sponsored by Sen. Yvonne Miller (D-Norfolk)) was tabled 11-8. As of now, only the Governor can restore voting rights. These nonviolent felons have already done their time, and the General Assembly should be allowed to hear them out.

After refusing to reform voting, P & E decided to pass the anti-gay constitutional amendment. Go figure.

Best wishes Arlen Specter

2005-02-16T21:23:00.000-05:00

Through Kos-

http://www.nationalreview.com/beltway/056398.html

Senator Specter had experienced persistent fevers and enlarged lymph nodes under his left arm and above his left clavicle. He received testing on February 14th at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. The testing involved biopsy of a lymph node and biopsy of bone marrow. The lymph node was positive for Hodgkin's disease. The bone marrow biopsy showed no cancer. A follow up PET scan and MRI at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania on February 16th established that Senator Specter has stage IVB Hodgkin's disease.

Senator Specter is expected to receive ABVD chemotherapy every two weeks over the next 24 to 32 weeks at the Abramson Cancer Center. It is expected that Senator Specter will be able to perform all duties of his office including those related to the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee.

Senator Specter's oncologist, John H. Glick, M.D., said: "Senator Specter has an excellent chance of being completely cured of his Hodgkin's disease. Senator Specter's Hodgkin's disease has a five-year survival rate of 70%. He is in superb physical condition, particularly in light of his daily squash regimen."

Senator Specter said: "I have beaten a brain tumor, bypass heart surgery and many tough political opponents; and I'm going to beat this too. I have a lot more work to do for Pennsylvania and America."

I wish Senator Specter a speedy recovery. He may be wrong on some things, but he's a fighter, he's a survivor. Good luck.

"Traditional Marriage" Plate Killed

2005-02-15T20:12:00.000-05:00

Traditional Marriage Plate Killed

Good. About time. Get a bumpersticker, people.

VA Politics Quote of Day II

2005-02-15T17:50:00.000-05:00

"No one has caught rabies from one of these." -Senator John Chichester

CONTEXT: Remember the state bat bill I mentioned? ("Virginia's big eared bats! Film at eleven!" I raved). On the Senate floor, an amendment was briefly
put in to designate the Louisville Slugger (see the amendment here. I can't make this up.)

The nerve! The Louisville Slugger isn't even native to the state! How dare they insult the Old Dominion!

Much to the dismay of the Louisville Slugger community, the amendment was withdrawn. The bill goes back to the House to vote on a minor spelling correction (bleary-eyed legislators can't spell "Corynorhinos townsendii virginianus". Incompentents all.)

So, a reminder of what could have been:

You can buy the bat nearly designated Virginia's finest for $1200.

Through the Times Dispatch

Public Defenders

2005-02-15T17:30:00.000-05:00

The Virginian Pilot weighs in on court-appointed counsel:

Living up to the spirit of the U.S. Constitution by providing poor people an adequate legal defense carries a price tag. Unfortunately, the Virginia General Assembly never wants to pay it.

We like to pride ourselves on the notion of justice in America, but in Virginia, justice comes to those who can afford it. It comes down to one of the very ideals and values that drive this country: every man is equal in the eyes of the law. When a man's life is on the line for a crime they're accused of, if he's innocent, he should be able to fight for his life, right?

If they're poor, no. Public defenders are compensated a mere $1,235 in death row cases. In light of a rash of exonerations, we need to either compensate public defenders so that we can retain fairness in the system, or abolish the death penalty.

AFL-CIO/Kaine/Kilgore, Final Act

2005-02-14T17:34:00.000-05:00

PolState's Will Vehrs writes up the AFL-CIO's unanimous endorsement of Tim Kaine, and a missing Jerry Kilgore.

Big labor organization endorses Democrat. Big whoop, so what? Nearly zip effect. But Kilgore's insistence on playing scaredycat troubles me.

Hate State

2005-02-14T17:20:00.000-05:00

Hampton Roads Daily Press op-ed-

I have sometimes wondered how unthinkable actions against minorities take root in civilized societies. Now I think I know. It happens cumulatively. Drip, drip, drip. Nice people sit by and say nothing while the bar on the rhetoric and the discrimination inches higher and higher.

Those who want to legislate the lives of gays and lesbians at least ought to spend some time with the people they condemn.

But then, recognizing humanity carries a heavy risk. It’s not so easy to demonize a person who’s real.

What she said. I'm thoroughly amazed at how accepting the public is of simple discrimination. Liberty and justice for all, as long as their red-state white (males) with superior "values".

General Assembly Pages

2005-02-13T16:20:00.000-05:00

It's said there are two things you never want to see made: sausage and legislation. 76 lucky kids get to see the latter hammered out in Richmond up close and personal. The Roanoke Times profiles the life of a page....snippets:

Don't call the sergeant-at-arms who opens the sessions at the House of Delegates with a ceremonial staff called a mace "the mace dude."

Always write down the soup of the day.

And don't venture too far down the center aisle when the House is in session, or you might get sent back to the page room.

Since Colonial times, young Virginians have assisted the legislative process by working as pages at the General Assembly. It's not an easy job. They digest a dizzying array of protocol, run errands, collate copious amounts of proposed legislation, and in more recent times, scurry down to Chicken's Snack Bar to pick up cream of chicken soup for a legislator who didn't have time to grab lunch.

...

As a page, "you're walking into a pressure-packed situation that some adults couldn't handle," said Ellett.

Hah.

Then there are what Arnett called "little puppy loves" and the occasional heartaches.

Dating among the page set generally consists of walking from the General Assembly building to the hotel and going to dinner, Arnett said. Four couples have gotten together this session, one of the head pages has informed Arnett.

"We kind of flirted with the Senate pages," probably because they were a little older, Apostolou recalled. This apparently paid off for him. He had his first romance and had smooched two separate Senate pages by the end of the session, he said.

Sometimes things don't work out as well.

Arnett recalled seeing a former page crying uncontrollably one day in the back of the page room. He found out that while she was away from home working as a page, her boyfriend had started dating her best friend.

"Life as you know it is over," Arnett said. He shared with her the story of the girl who broke his heart in the ninth grade.

Awwwwwwwww. Politics gets painful.

The only reason I bring this up is that I applied for a page spot...

The only reason I'm able to tell you about it while the session is going on is that Speaker Howell turned me down.

(Still haven't gotten over it. Pfft.)

Kilgore Gives Big F-U to Labor Unions

2005-02-12T20:07:00.000-05:00

Richmond Times Dispatch

Jerry Kilgore refused an invitation to speak before the AFL-CIO, not just declining, but trashing the organization, saying the AFL-CIO "consists of partisan Democrats who would not be open-minded to my candidacy."

Jerry Kilgore pontificates that he will speak "directly to the rank and file members of the AFL-CIO here in Virginia." Horsefeathers. Seems Kilgore doesn't think think the largest labor organization, representing all stripes of people from across the state, isn't worthy of his attention.

If he's not catering to the interests of Virginia's workers, then who is he catering to? The extreme right wing of the Republican Party, where he is right now. Coward.

Hat tip Waldo Jaquith

Feedburner

2005-02-11T18:47:00.000-05:00

To the multitudes of readers out there reading my site feed (I know you're out there. And to the huddled masses reading through my site), I've just switched to Feedburner:

David Englin, 45th District

2005-02-11T18:09:00.000-05:00

There's a wide field of talented candidates in the 45th district, but I'd just like to put in a good word here for David Englin.

Englin is a former Air Force officer. He lobbied Congress and the White House to take action on the horrible genocide in Darfur, at his site, Ripple of Hope, and wants to bring good solid, progressive leadership to the House of Delegates.

Everybody in Northern Virginia should have a decent place to live, and Englin, as a member of Alexandria's Affordable Housing Advisory Committeexandria's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, is doing just that. Hardworking, middle class citizens shouldn't be priced out of a home.

Englin wants to keep the government out of the personal aspects of our lives. He is active in NARAL and Planned Parenthood, and believes in equal rights for all Virginians.

That's just a smattering of what he'll fight for, good progressive values. Visit the campaign journal, and campaign site.

Epilogue: Virginia Caught With Its Pants Down

2005-02-10T20:28:00.000-05:00

The saga of the Captain Underpants bill (see here) has drawn to a close. A hastily called special meeting of the C & J committee PBI'd the bill unanimously, to put down the crisis that is making Virginia look like a bunch of backwards dopes in the national (and international) media.

So what do you know. Perhaps there's hope.

Albo has something against health...

2005-02-09T21:11:00.000-05:00

Benefits Targeted-WaPo

David Albo's HB 1798 passed today. The bill would deny health care benefits to anyone who cannot prove legal presence.

I'll make this simple.

1. People without health care get contagious diseases.
2. They don't get treated.
3. We get the contagious diseases.
4. Sickness very bad.

My point is that the more people that can spread an infectious disease, the more damage it will cause to us. And what about people who are in the process of getting legal presence papers? They'll be left out in the cold.

If They're Looking at The Old Dominion as If It Were Crazy...

2005-02-08T20:43:00.000-05:00

... it just might be. After I was finished pondering the low-ride pants ban, (HB 1981), I moved onto other things and assumed the bill would be laughed out of the House of Delegates.

Shows what I know. A solution to the crisis of boxers poking out from pants requires immediate government intervention, to save our children! And it passed the House of Delegates. It PASSED.

Let me reiterate. The statewide dress code PASSED. I really shouldn't be surprised by now, given this is the state that bans fornication. It passed 60-34. Ridiculous. I seriously hope that this state has better things to do.

The House of Delegates list of Nutty People and Sane People:

YEAS--Abbitt, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, Barlow, Black, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Councill, Cox, Dillard, Dudley, Fralin, Gear, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Howell, A.T., Hugo, Hurt, Ingram, Janis, Johnson, Jones, S.C., Keister, Kilgore, Landes, Lingamfelter, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., McDonnell, McDougle, McQuigg, Miller, Moran, Morgan, Nutter, Parrish, Plum, Pollard, Purkey, Putney, Rapp, Reese, Reid, Scott, E.T., Shannon, Sherwood, Shuler, Suit, Tata, Wardrup, Ware, R.L., Weatherholtz, Welch, Mr. Speaker--60.

NAYS--Albo, Alexander, BaCote, Baskerville, Bell, Brink, Bryant, Byron, Callahan, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Frederick, Joannou, Lewis, Louderback, Marrs, May, Melvin, Miles, Nixon, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Petersen, Phillips, Rust, Scott, J.M., Sickles, Spruill, Stump, Van Yahres, Ward, Ware, O., Watts--34.

NOT VOTING--Hull, Jones, D.C., Saxman, Van Landingham, Wright--5.

Man oh man. Watch your pants, for if your Fruit of the Looms show, you are a MENACE TO SOCIETY. Interestingly, this matter is earning itself some mention in the press: (link, link). Both articles are from out of state, and are in the context of "we have a laughingstock!"

Who's going to enforce the law, anyway? Captain Underpants?

The bill is now before the Senate.

Richmond Report: Gas Guzzler Edition

2005-02-07T21:53:00.000-05:00

SB 1099-Motor fuels tax; additional imposition in Northern Virginia transportation district. passed the Senate today (28Y-10N-1A), a 2% increase. If you use the roads, you pay for them. Besides, oil prices shouldn't be such a large factor if we would just give Detroit a good shock and increase fuel efficiency. Through all these years of technological innovation, gas mileage lags behind. It seems counterintuitive to have gas guzzlers when our oil reserves are stuck in a region that hates us with a passion.

YEAS--Blevins, Chichester, Colgan, Devolites Davis, Edwards, Hawkins, Houck, Howell, Lambert, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, Miller, Mims, Norment, Potts, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Reynolds, Ruff, Stolle, Stosch, Ticer, Wagner, Wampler, Watkins, Whipple--28.

NAYS--Bell, Bolling, Cuccinelli, Deeds, Hanger, Martin, Newman, Obenshain, O'Brien, Rerras--10.

RULE 36--Saslaw--1.

NOT VOTING--Williams--1.

Hate Amendment Passes Senate

2005-02-07T20:48:00.000-05:00

SJ 337 passed the Senate today 30-10. SJ 337 was the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. The vote:

YEAS--Bell, Blevins, Bolling, Chichester, Colgan, Cuccinelli, Deeds, Devolites Davis, Hanger, Hawkins, Houck, Martin, Miller, Mims, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, O'Brien, Potts, Puckett, Quayle, Rerras, Reynolds, Ruff, Stolle, Stosch, Wagner, Wampler, Watkins, Williams--30.

NAYS--Edwards, Howell, Lambert, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, Puller, Saslaw, Ticer, Whipple--10.

Helooooo Democrats voting for the hate amendment! Not sure if we want Virginia to codify denying rights in their constitution!

Running short on time for now, more on this later. The amendment is now in the House of Delegates.

Solve the Problem...

2005-02-06T16:11:00.000-05:00

"You are in an ALGEBRA class, you do not GUESS AND CHECK. Solve the problem algebraically."

So says my algebra teacher. In case you missed Meet the Press today, so says Donnie Rumsfeld:

SEC'Y RUMSFELD: Well, the answer to that question is not complicated. We need as many as are needed. If you have an insurgency that's this level, you'll need X. If you have an insurgency that's that level, you'll need X-plus. And if you have an insurgency that's quite low, you'll need X-minus. And to think that you can sit here today and--I mean, no one predicted the level of the insurgency as it is today.

Read the transcript here

Can you graph that?

I=X
I(T)=X+X
1/2I=X-

Way to tell 'em. No one thought we'd get bogged down in Iraq.

Trying to eliminate Saddam, extending the ground war into an occupation of Iraq, would have violated our guideline about not changing objectives in midstream, engaging in "mission creep," and would have incurred incalculable human and political costs. Apprehending him was probably impossible. We had been unable to find Noriega in Panama, which we knew intimately. We would have been forced to occupy Baghdad and, in effect, rule Iraq. The coalition would instantly have collapsed, the Arabs deserting it in anger and other allies pulling out as well. Under the circumstances, there was no viable "exit strategy" we could see, violating another of our principles. Furthermore, we had been self-consciously trying to set a pattern for handling aggression in the post-Cold War world. Going in and occupying Iraq, thus unilaterally exceeding the United Nations' mandate, would have destroyed the precedent of international response to aggression that we hoped to establish. Had we gone the invasion route, the United States could conceivably still be an occupying power in a bitterly hostile land. It would have been a dramatically different — and perhaps barren — outcome.

Guess who? George H.W. Bush, Poppy Bush, in his book with Brent Scowcroft, A World Transformed

The Nanny State

2005-02-06T15:55:00.000-05:00

The Daily Press weighs in--

There seems to be a passel of the "hands-on" conservatives running around in Virginia these days, and they are well represented in the Virginia House of Delegates, the source of much of the aforementioned legislation. It's a brand of politics that is in your face, in your lives and, if need be, in your bedroom.

For a party that loves to go after the "big government" boogeyman, they seem to like telling you what to do, who to love, and what to believe.

General Assembly Roundup

2005-02-05T13:26:00.000-05:00

Tuesday is the final day for the House and Senate to consider their own bills, so expect a madcap rush to actually get something done.

With that in mind, let us consider the vital issues being put forth in the vaunted halls of our legislature:

There is a crisis in Virginia--people are wearing low-cut pants, and for the sake of our children, we must stop them. According to Del. Algie Howell's HB 1981, wearing low-cut pants would award you a $50 fine. What's even scarier? It reported out of the Committee on Courts and Justice 14-5. 14-5! And I find myself in agreement with David Albo.

In more serious news, Del. Robert Brinks's (D-48) HB 2412 is is before the Privileges and Elections Committee still. The bill would make the destruction or failure to deliver voter registrations a felony (examples include the Republicans throwing out Democratic registrations in Nevada).

Also, in a rebuke to the Bush administration, SB 1136 reported out of Education and Health unanimously (11-0), which would direct the Board of Education to seek a waiver on the No Child Left Behind provisions that are ineffective and overlap the SOL's. It's a start--we can get along just fine with our system without the added strings of NCLB.

In the simple common-sense department, Del. Kristen Amundson's (D-44) HB 2855 reported out of Courts and Justice, 12-6. This bill would make the distinction that contraception is not abortion, and is now before the Committee on Health, Welfare, and Institutions. Remember, however, the yanking of Mary Margaret Whipple's SB 456, which had to be pulled after an amedment stripping the bill of its operative portion passed. The amendment would have considered, for examples, condoms to be abortion.

Tobacco City, Inc....or Not?

2005-02-04T22:01:00.000-05:00

Much to my surprise, SB 1191 reported out of Education and Health 8-7:

YEAS--Potts, Saslaw, Lucas, Howell, Quayle, Edwards, Whipple, Mims--8.

NAYS--Lambert, Houck, Martin, Newman, Bolling, Ruff, Blevins--7.

The bill bans smoking in public places excepting hotel smoking rooms, private events, homes, and cars, and the like, which is a good idea. This is not a question of civil liberty-rather it is a question of public health. Secondhand smoke is a silent menace that can cause as much damage to the innocent nonsmoking passerby as it does to the smoker. If people want to smoke, let them smoke in the privacy of their private property--not in front of our faces and our children. The air quality around here is bad as it already is.

I'm surprised this bill even lived to see a vote in tobacco-lobbyist-infested Richmond.

Halliburton Sweetheart Getaways

2005-02-04T19:02:00.000-05:00

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and BushCo's love affair with Halliburton took another saucy turn. Here's the story: Kellogg, Brown, and Root (KBR), a subsidiary of Halliburton, got itself a logistics contract (these guys are frequent recipients of no-bid contracts, you know, the type that smacks of Tammany Hall?), and chared taxpayers an extra, unfounded $2 billion. Billions! That's a little less than the entire GDP of Equatorial Guinea. Money we could have used to, say, save Social Security, or reform education, or maybe even perhaps buy armor.

The Pentagon itself (!) slammed KBR and friends in an audit, and was about to follow government rules and only pay KBR 85% of regular payouts until the situation was resolved.

But wait! We can't just let them follow the rules! We have to make a special exemption for our wonderful campaign contributor and Cheney's old company! We'll just let this massive defrauding of the American public slide. You know, let them off the hook.

This comes off the heels of a report that the US of A suffered through a record $412 billion deficit last year. $412,000,000.00 If you prefer, that's 318,771,404,000 Euros, 514,645,680,000 Canadian dollars, 42,718,632,000,000 yen, or 31,088 tons of gold. For the party of fiscal responsibility, frittering away money on cronies' contracts is an interesting way to tackle this.

This from the party that complains about the permissiveness of liberals, and prides itself on spending the taxpayer dollars wisely.

No Cut in Halliburton Payments-NYT

Nuclear Proliferation

2005-02-01T17:31:00.000-05:00

Apparently Rummy isn't giving up on his pet bunker-buster project.

It's another waste of money, developing new nuclear weapons we don't need. There's a reason we haven't dropped a nuclear bomb in sixty years. The repercussions would be catastrophic.

But they're not just ordinary nuclear weapons, we're told. They burrow deep, and maybe it'll contain the radiation and stuff!

Hah. Fat chance. If it walks like a nuke, talks like a nuke, and quacks like a nuke, it is a nuke. Why should we reopen the nuclear door when we're desperately trying to stop nuclear proliferation?

15 Picoseconds of Fame

2005-02-01T16:51:00.000-05:00

After a short while blogging, someone has picked up on what I oughta do with life. Besides this.

This guy should certainly consider a future in politics...

Kenton Ngo for President, 2027!!

Now, I'd love to run, but that'd require a constitutional amendment. No not THAT amendment, not the Ahhhh-nold! amendment. An amendment...

...moving the election year to 2027.

I know I, like any good aspirant, should play coy and pretend I don't want higher office. Didn't say I would. :P

Thanks Vern!

High Schoolers Blase About Fundamental Rights

2005-01-31T22:37:00.000-05:00

This is truly sickening. America's slow trudge to empire has begun. We have crossed the Rubicon.

Yet, when told of the exact text of the First Amendment, more than one in three high school students said it goes "too far" in the rights it guarantees. Only half of the students said newspapers should be allowed to publish freely without government approval of stories.

...

When asked whether people should be allowed to express unpopular views, 97 percent of teachers and 99 percent of school principals said yes. Only 83 percent of students did.

America has left to destroy what made us a republic. What does government approval of stories lead to?

Dictatorship. Saddam Hussein. Adolf Hitler. Joseph Stalin.

The end of freedom. The death of our society.

What happens when unpopular views are banned?

Dictatorship. Saddam Hussein. Adolf Hitler. Joseph Stalin.

Americans have given up on their fundamental rights to protect this republic. A brutal, repressive autocratic government is in the works if we do not stop this. This is dangerous, when dissent is crushed and the public condones it. This could signal the end of the United States of America.

How do you rationalize this? The destruction of the underpinnings of America? The only thing that separates us free people from repressed, starving, tortured souls under a dictatorship is the expression of dissent. Government censorship has only lead to disaster.

AMERICA! DO NOT FORGO YOUR RIGHTS! DO NOT FORGO YOUR SOUL!

The abandonment of a free society and the condoned repression of dissent will destroy us all. IT WILL LEAD TO OUR DEATHS.

I am rendered nearly speechless by this. America's future is in grave peril when its very underpinnings are left to die.

Private Schools to be Allowed to Use Public School Buses?!

2005-01-31T22:06:00.000-05:00

HB 1589 could be up for a House of Delegates vote tomorrow.

This is rather disingenuous--allowing private school students who chose not to go to public school go ahead and ride public school buses anyway. Aren't school buses crowded enough as it is? This just seems to be an attempt for private schools to get a free ride at the expense of the public schools.

Courts Puts Squeeze on Affordable Housing

2005-01-31T21:30:00.000-05:00

Ruling could affect affordable housing-Charlottesville Daily Progress

There is a crisis unfolding here in NoVa: Affordable housing.

Housing prices are hitting the roof, and bursting through, and poking into space around here, and low-income families struggling to climb the ladder of oppurtunity are left high and dry. We have a moral responsibility to house the poor, for without housing, they can't contribute to society. A roof over your head does wonders for your family (family values, no?), and for society as a whole, the oppurtunity for low-income families to afford housing are positive.

And The Award for Best Government Goes To

2005-01-31T19:08:00.000-05:00

Any guesses?

The Government Performance Projects rate the state governments, and the verdict is that Virginia, on an A-F scale, earns an A-. Tied with Utah, the Old Dominion scores highest in the nation!

Four years of Mark Warner did wonders for us, how about four years of Tim Kaine?

Snippets from the Governing article:

There is little that Virginia does not do well in government management ... But it keeps looking for improvements, and very often finds them. ... Virginia has an ethos of good management that has genuinely been institutionalized. Even if a governor betrays that culture—as did Jim Gilmore when he opened a $1 billion budget shortfall in the late 1990s with a cut in car taxes that was politically popular but fiscally unsound—the state seems able to find its way back to the path of good managerial
sense.

Emphasis mine. I wonder who brought the state back on the path of good managerial sense? Sure wasn't the anti-tax zealots.

More snippets:

Incumbent governor Mark Warner, who followed Gilmore, got off to a running start by instituting performance contracts for top officials throughout state government. These “executive agreements” provide a clear and measurable way to communicate priorities to the 10 cabinet secretaries and roughly 100 agency heads. Warner personally evaluates each agreement along with a coordinating scorecard for each agency, holding every major instrument of government that reports to him accountable for meeting specific goals and objectives.

Again, Governor Warner bringing this state to integrity and accountability. Didn't see our "fiscal responsibility" Republicans being careful with the people's money, did we?

Raising taxes by a sufficient amount to stabilize the state’s fiscal condition wasn’t a choice the legislature made easily, or even—for many members—willingly. It required rancorous special sessions that lasted long beyond the General Assembly’s normal adjournment time. But in the end, it was done. Other states in similar fiscal condition shirked their responsibilities.

We should be thankful we had responsible leaders willing to put the health of the state above political demagogery. Other states are still mired in budgetary crisis, but Governor Warner and the Democratic and no-nonsense Republican coalition in Richmond was able to pull us out.

The article even cites VDOT, not neccesarily the harbinger of timely performance, as an improvement. And, yes, VDOT is progressing under, guess what, Democratic leadership. One example: the Dashboard, launched by the Warner Administration, allowing the public to see what projects are on time and on budget. Transparency precedes accountability, and accountability is something we Democrats pride ourselves on. Four years ago, less than 20 percent of projects were finished on time-thanks to Democrats, two-thirds are humming along on time.

The Kilgore campaign is going to try to pull the wool over our heads and pretend this race is about moral values. Tim Kaine was an ACLU lawyer! Dear God, hide the children--he represented black people denied housing in a white neighborhood! Gasp!

What they won't tell you is this state was left a mess to Governor Warner, and he's done a darned good job fixing it up. Warner will leave this state a well-oiled roaring machine of growth and fiscally sound--let's keep it that way and elect Tim Kaine.

Richmond Report: Elections and Voting

2005-01-28T22:09:00.000-05:00

Several bills dealing with elections are on the calendar as we speak:

The General Assembly is toying with bills that fiddle with absentee ballot qualifications, extending elgibility to home-school or pre-school children caretakers (SB 838, 3rd reading uncontested), and seniors age 75 or over (SB 1104, 3rd reading uncontested). The age was 65, but the Privileges and Elections committee tacked on an amendment.

What baffles me is why we even have these requirements in the first place, making applications more complex. Lines on election day can stretch around the block, and people simply don't have time for that. Allowing voters to vote absentee would only increase turnout and alliveate pressure on harried poll workers. SB 1226, currently in the Committee on Privileges and Elections, would do just that, however the P&E Committee in the House of Delegates has passed by indefinetely other attempts (HB 1909, HB 2153, HB 2636).

Absentee ballots and technology are also on the third reading uncontested calendar: SB 899, allows for absentee ballot applications to be made online, catching up with technology, and SB 1133 would send absentee ballots electronically to applicants out of country, which would solve the problem of them not getting there in time.

Finally, some bad news. HB 2414 failed to report out of committee today (Died on a 10-10 tie, if you'd believe that), and would have required testing of voting machines. Hello! Is there something the P&E Committee has against working voting machines? Is there anything more basic than a test to show whether a machine is working properly?

The vote:
YEAS--Dillard, Albo, Frederick, Fralin, Phillips, Scott, J.M., Brink, Alexander, Joannou, Sickles--10.
NAYS--Putney, Ingram, Marshall, R.G., Hargrove, Jones, S.C., Black, Rapp, Cole, Cosgrove, Hugo--10.

Gun show loophole still open

2005-01-27T21:18:00.000-05:00

SB 807 was defeated by the Senate 20-17. The bill would have subjected buyers at gun shows to the same background checks that apply at gun stores, which I wrote about earlier.

YEAS--Chichester, Colgan, Devolites Davis, Howell, Lambert, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, Miller, Mims, Norment, Puller, Quayle, Stosch, Ticer, Watkins, Whipple--17.
NAYS--Bell, Blevins, Bolling, Cuccinelli, Deeds, Edwards, Hanger, Hawkins, Houck, Martin, Obenshain, O'Brien, Puckett, Rerras, Reynolds, Ruff, Stolle, Wagner, Wampler, Williams--20.
NOT VOTING--Newman, Potts, Saslaw--3.

A picture is worth a thousand...

2005-01-27T20:49:00.000-05:00

Jail terms?

Through Verns Blog:

Students Arrested Over 'Violent' Stick Figure Drawings

OCALA, Fla. -- Two boys, ages 9 and 10, were charged with felonies and taken away from school in handcuffs, accused of making violent drawings of stick figures.
The boys were arrested Monday on charges of making a written threat to kill or harm another person, a second-degree felony.

[snip]

The boy depicted in the drawings told his teacher, who took the sketches and contacted the school dean, Marty Clifford. Clifford called police, who arrested the boys after consulting with the State Attorney's Office.

They were also suspended from school.

[snip]

Parents of both of the arrested boys said they thought the boys should be punished by the school and families, not the legal system.

Ocala police said they stand behind the decision to arrest the children.

"When an adult or even myself look at the picture looked at it at first I was thinking there is really not much to the picture or I would not be that scared by the picture those children drew," Ocala police spokesman Russ Kearn said. "However, we have to put ourselves in his mind and that's the bottom line here. It is his well-being and the way he perceived that picture to be. It actually put him in extreme fear and he was in fear for his life."

DEAR. GOD. I can't make this up.

OVERKILL!

Aaaahhh! Little Timmy drew a stick figure WITHOUT A HAPPY BACKGROUND! THROW HIM IN JAIL!!!

This is a felony?

COME AND GET ME, COPPERS!

Act One: Courtroom

PROSECUTOR: Your Honors, these boys are a menace to society. Their crude artwork and malicious sketchy intent are dangerous, and signs of their feckless disregard for society as a whole.
DEFENSE: OBJECTION! My client is 10 years old! He can't even spell "feckless"!
BOY: YES I CAN! F-E-K-L...
DEFENSE: Shh!
JUDGE: Overruled.
PROSECUTOR: They are forcing us to waste the taxpayers money and taking police officers off the streets with their heinous acts! Who may be their next victim?? The Prosecution rests.

...

We the jury find the defendant guilty of attemted homicide by malicious paper cut and artwork...

[crying heard in background, BOY handcuffed and placed in jail]

Act Two: Jail

MAN #1: Hey, fresh meat, what are you in for? I'm here for rape.
BOY: Wape?
MAN #1: Never mind.
MAN #2: I'm here for stabbing someone
BOY: Do you have a marker?
MAN #2: Uhhh...here.
[BOY begins drawing stick figures on walls]
ALL: OH MY GOD!!!!! THIS KID IS DANGEROUS! AAAAHHHH!!!!
[PANIC ENSUES]
MAN #2: I'm getting the warden to put me in solitary! Get me away from this danger!!!

[fade to black]

Scene.

No On Gonzalez

2005-01-25T18:09:00.000-05:00

I sign the No on Gonzalez petition over at Daily Kos

Unprecedented times call for unprecedented actions. In this case, we, the undersigned bloggers, have decided to speak as one and collectively author a document of opposition. We oppose the nomination of Alberto Gonzales to the position of Attorney General of the United States, and we urge every United States Senator to vote against him.

As the prime legal architect for the policy of torture adopted by the Bush Administration, Gonzales's advice led directly to the abandonment of longstanding federal laws, the Geneva Convention, and the United States Constitution itself. Our country, in following Gonzales's legal opinions, has forsaken its commitment to human rights and the rule of law and shamed itself before the world with our conduct at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib. The United States, a nation founded on respect for law and human rights, should not have as its Attorney General the architect of the law's undoing.

...

We Americans must lead the world in human rights as the world's superpower.

This unconsciable behavior has destroyed our standing world today. No one will join us if we are not to be respected.

Del. Black attempts to stop adoption

2005-01-24T20:45:00.000-05:00

HB 2921 was introduced by Del. Richard Black, attempting to ban adoption by homosexuals. The bill is now in the Health, Welfare and Institutions committee.

Good, permanent, loving parents are the best thing we could do for these children. Worse things have happened with straight adoptive parents.

About me?!

2005-01-23T13:40:00.000-05:00

Time for an installment in INTRODUCE THYSELF!

Update 1.23.05

Wait a second! Who is this dork?!

What is your name?
Kenton Ngo

What do they call you?
Kenton. (There are also some unprintable ones used by certain people. I digress...)

How old are you?
13 years.

Email?
Kenton.Ngo @ gmail.com

IM?
ObfuscateThis

Obfuscate?
Never mind.

What do you look like?

EEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!
Can we move on?

And the wondrous day your birthday falls on is?
March the 21st.

Select your gender.
[X] Male
[ ] Female
[ ] Radiation disaster

Where do you live?
Springfield, VA

Select your political party:
[X] Democrat
[ ] Republican
[ ] Spoiler

Where were you born?
Los Angeles

Where else have you lived?
Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston

What's your race?
[ ] White
[ ] Black
[X] Asian
[ ] Hispanic
[ ] Native American
[ ] Alien

Ethnic group?
Chinese

School?
Washington Irving Middle School

Elementary School?
Rebecca Minor Elementary
Hillside Elementary
John P. Oldham Elementary
Orange Hunt Elementary
Keene Mill Elementary

When you grow up you wanna be
President. Failing that an incredibly rich lawyer.

Play an instrument?
Violin.

Play it well?
Once I am finished picking the pieces of shattered glass off the floor I can tell you.

What chair are you?
20th

Out of?
36

BWAHAHAHA. LOSER.
Loser your mom.

Can you sing?
Due to pending lawsuit involving pain and suffering, I am not at liberty to discuss this question.

Do you have a pet?
A dog.

Breed?
Maltese.

Awwwww. What does he look like?

AWWWWWWWWWWWWW. WHATS HIS NAME? HE'S SO CUTE!
Snowball

Hobbies?
The blog which you enjoy so mu--

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ENJOY??!
Well, you went through all the trouble of clicking "About Me." Can I continue?

No.
Wrong answer. What is the correct answer?

Yes, sir, Dear Leader.
Much better. Politics, the stringed screech box.

Stringed screech box?
The violin.

LOLZ. ORCHESTRA DORK!
You know, I can just delete your part of the interview.

NO! PLEASE SPARE ME!
Fine.

Awards?
Geography Bee state finalist, 2002, 2003
11th District Democratic Convention page, 2004
Virginia State Democratic Convention page, 2004

That's it?
Shut it.

More to come later! I know you're so proud.

VA Politics Quote of Day I

2005-01-23T13:07:00.000-05:00

"I just don't like bats."
~Del. David Albo (R-42)

(Oh, and by the way, check out the guy who'll take his seat, Greg Werkheiser.)

CONTEXT: HB 2579-Bat, big-eared; designating as official emblem of State.

Snippet from the Hampton Roads Daily Press-

RICHMOND -- It lives in a cave and eats bugs by the mouthful. It can be distinguished from its brethren by the color of its toe hairs.

At the State Capitol, it is House Bill 2579. With luck, it will become the Official Bat of the Commonwealth.

At first, Del. Jackie Stump of Buchanan County wasn't sure Virginia needed its own bat, or what type of bat it should be. After all, Virginia has 16 species of bats and only three or four species of politicians, even counting those tax-raising Republicans.

VIRGINIA'S BIG-EARED BATS! Film at eleven!

Breaking News!

2005-01-22T15:57:00.000-05:00

We interrupt this blog for an important news bulletin.

SNOW THAT COVERS THE TOPS OF THE BLADES OF GRASS!!!

It's the one and only SNOWBALL frolicking in the snow! He ran for hours! Aren't you cold? :)

General Assembly Calendar 1/24/05

2005-01-21T22:17:00.000-05:00

Coming up on Monday:

SENATE CALENDAR:
Third Reading Regular Calendar:
SB 782-Absentee ballots; current provision modified if statutory procedures not followed. -Allows absentee ballots to be counted even if some procedures are not followed correctly if the errors were minor and the intent of the voter is clear. Count every vote, people.

Second Reading Regular Calendar:
SB 456-Abortion; contraception not to constitute. It's important to realize, people, that no sane person believes life begins before contraception (Delegate Cole, (R-88), introduced a bill-HB 1918-defining life beginning at fertilization!). Abortion is an entirely seperate issue--read a better explanation at VA Family Values.

Referred to Committee:
SB 1317-Recycling of cell phones-A problem that comes with wondrous technological advances is what to do with all the old waste. Old electronics are thrown away, and as a consequence, dangerous metals are leaching into our air and water. This bill provides for a program to recycle dead cell phones. It's a start.
See article in today's Post

In today's high-tech era, the temptation for upgrades is everywhere: a slimmer cell phone, a sleeker desktop, a sportier BlackBerry.

But the consequences of the constant quest for better gadgetry are piling up. Every time last year's monitor is chucked, it becomes a piece of potentially hazardous waste.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES CALENDAR:
Second Reading Regular Calendar:
HB 1600-License plates, special ; issuance to members of United Daughters of the Confederacy.-Great-great-great-grandpa fought in the War of Northern Aggression! Whatever. Guess the Old South is still alive. Let 'em have it, I guess.

Referred by Committee:
HB 1962-Cell phones; prohibits use while driving-*CRUNCH* is the sound a distracted cell-phone driver's car makes when it catapults into the guardrail.

The Gerrymander

2005-01-21T21:06:00.000-05:00

HB 1507 died in the Committee on Privileges and Elections today.

Partisan Republicans, refusing to submit to the electoral process, kept the tool of the gerrymander to protect their incumbency.

This was the original gerrymander--Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry decided his party needed more seats in the legislature. Rather than accept the radical idea that, well, you let the people decide, he carved out districts that made certain he'd gain seats. The cartoonist, of course, noticed the incredible similarity it had to the monster you knew you always had under your bed.

The bill would have established a nonpartisan commission to redistrict fairly, as opposed to circumventing the electoral process, similar to the Iowa plan. Without competitive elections keeping lawmakers honest, there cannot be an effective democracy.

With all the talk about bringing democracy to Iraq, why don't we bring some back home?

A "yea" was a vote to "pass by indefinitely", or kill the bill:
YEAS 14
Ingram (R-62)
Marshall (R-13)
Hargrove (R-55)
Jones (R-76)
Albo (R-42)
Black (R-32)
Rapp (R-96)
Cole (R-88)
Cosgrove (R-78)
Hugo (R-40)
Frederick (R-52)
Fralin (R-17)
Phillips (D-2)
Joannou (D-79)

NAYS 6
Dillard (R-41)
Scott (D-53)
Brink (D-48)
Bland (D-62)
Alexander (D-89)
Sickles (D-43)

NOT VOTING 2
Putney (I-19)
Van Landingham (D-45)

Hide the children!!!!

2005-01-20T13:37:00.000-05:00

Day care gun-ban bill barely defeated - Hampton Roads Daily Press

SB 743, sponsored by Sen. Yvonne Miller (D-5th) was killed by the Committee for Courts and Justice. The bill would have banned the carrying of guns in day-care centers.

We Virginians are proud of the fact we can defend ourselves against vicious toddlers in day care. THEY BITE, YOU KNOW!!!!!

This bill was a sensible prevention matter--a gun in the presence of toddlers is an accidental child death waiting to happen. (Somehow, Republicans care for fetal safety and not child safety). The lowdown:

YES-7
Saslaw (D-35)
Marsh (D-16)
Norment (R-3)
Howell (D-32)
Lucas (D-18)
Mims (R-33)
Puller (D-36)
Lucas (D-18)

NO-8
Stolle (R-8)
Quayle (R-13)
Edwards (D-21)
Reynolds (D-20)
Rerras (R-6)
Blevins (R-14)
Cucinelli (R-37)
Obenshain (R-26)

I just sent an email to Creigh Deeds about the issue, and if he comes back with the right response, he gets my support. I have no idea what was going through Edwards's mind here.

Also, Cucinelli is my legislator. Yuck.

Later, the committee redeemed itself, sorta, by voting to extend background checks to gun shows for prospective handgun buyers. State law already said that background checks were for handgun buyers elsewhere, so its nice to expect consistency from the law, aside from the obvious benefit of keeping guns out of the hands of psychopaths while allowing good, upstanding citizens to own guns. Switching his vote from the toddler-killer bill was Quayle (R-13).

Second Coronation of King George W, Part I

2005-01-20T13:25:00.000-05:00

The speech is over. Quickly, turn on your hypocrisy meters for the deconstruction!

Read the transcript

Inaugural Address by President George W. Bush

-snip-

We are led, by events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world.

Sometimes it helps to bring liberty home. Pontificating meter: ORANGE.

America's vital interests and our deepest beliefs are now one. From the day of our Founding, we have proclaimed that every man and woman on this earth has rights, and dignity, and matchless value, because they bear the image of the Maker of Heaven and earth.

Every man and woman has rights, dignity, and matchless value unless they happen to be Muslims (they could be terrorists, better single them out!), anti-war protestors, unconvicted detainees, or gays. Hypocrisy meter: RED.

So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.

Ending tyranny, again, begins at home. Government transparency, privacy rights, all the things that make a free society start here. Crusades alert: ORANGE.

This is not primarily the task of arms, though we will defend ourselves and our friends by force of arms when necessary.

Defending ourselves from imaginary threats while ignoring the true ones. Quagmire alert: RED.

Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen, and defended by citizens, and sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities.

Protection of minorities??? Hoo boy. Underfuding minority schools, sending minorities to Iraq, pushing minorities down economically, dismantling of affirmative action, etc. Hypocrisy meter: RED.

America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way.

Oh GOD. Impose our own style of government on the unwilling! Ahem! Ahem!

Some, I know, have questioned the global appeal of liberty

Veiled slap at the patriotism and intelligence of anti-warmongerers. Character assasination alert: ORANGE.

And all the allies of the United States can know: we honor your friendship, we rely on your counsel, and we depend on your help. Division among free nations is a primary goal of freedom's enemies. The concerted effort of free nations to promote democracy is a prelude to our enemies' defeat.

From the "FUCK THE ALLIES" administration. Honor your friendship? Rely on your counsel? Don't bet on it. Unilateralism alert: RED.

In America's ideal of freedom, citizens find the dignity and security of economic independence, instead of laboring on the edge of subsistence. This is the broader definition of liberty that motivated the Homestead Act, the Social Security Act, and the G.I. Bill of Rights.

These acts were all examples of an activist government which protects and helps society, whose legacy Mr. Bush is trying to destroy.

More to come after lunch, and vomit cleanup.

Second Coronation of King George W, Part II

2005-01-20T13:18:00.000-05:00

Continuing on...

To give every American a stake in the promise and future of our country, we will bring the highest standards to our schools, and build an ownership society. We will widen the ownership of homes and businesses, retirement savings and health insurance - preparing our people for the challenges of life in a free society. By making every citizen an agent of his or her own destiny, we will give our fellow Americans greater freedom from want and fear, and make our society more prosperous and just and equal.

Highest standards, unfunded mandates.

And what exactly is meant by an ownership society? It's part of the Golden Rule. He who has the gold, keeps it. The "ownership society" is a society which abdicates itself of the responsibility of helping its fellow citizens. The right to health, already being eroded, will be weathered further, and Social Security would be subjected to the whims and luck of investors. It won't make society just or equal-far from it-but it will sure make (Wall Street) society prosperous.

In America's ideal of freedom, the public interest depends on private character - on integrity, and tolerance toward others, and the rule of conscience in our own lives.

See, we're very tolerant of others, except when they're gay. Then they can go to hell. HYPOCRISY METER: RED

And our country must abandon all the habits of racism, because we cannot carry the message of freedom and the baggage of bigotry at the same time.

Unfortunately, if you're Muslim, it's hazardous to fly. If you're black or Hispanic, you get the death penalty.

When the Declaration of Independence was first read in public and the Liberty Bell was sounded in celebration, a witness said, "It rang as if it meant something."

When I say the Pledge of Allegiance, it rang as if it meant something. Of liberty and justice for all. The past four years make those words ring hollower every day.

Overall, a speech full of fluffy puffery, blatant hypocrisy, and nausea-inducing bloviating.

Babykillers!

2005-01-17T16:47:00.000-05:00

Q. What do these places have in common?
Congo
Nigeria
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Virginia

A. They execute juveniles. And they're known for stellar respect for human rights and dignity, and good moral values.

Activists seek end for death penalty to juveniles - WAVY

RICHMOND, Va. Sixteen-year-old Brian Bills says the state recognizes that he isn't responsible enough to vote or drink alcohol ... yet he's considered accountable enough to be eligible for the death penalty.

In his words ... "I think there's a fundamental flaw in this logic and it needs to be addressed."

The Charlottesville High School sophomore was one of several speakers attending a news conference this morning to promote legislation banning the death penalty for juveniles. Similar legislation died in a House of Delegates committee last year.

Jack Payden-Travers is executive director of Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. He says there's a growing international consensus against executing juveniles. He said Virginia has executed 21 juveniles and has one on death row now.

Death penalty opponents say studies have shown that the part of the brain that governs impulse control isn't fully developed until a person reaches adulthood.

A 16-year-old isn't old enough to vote, drink, or smoke, but IS old enough to be executed here in Virginia.

Please note that Iran (yes, that's right, IRAN, the most famous of the puritanical backwards conservative faction) abolished the childhood death penalty in 2003. Iran. Iran, with an anti-fornication law (as it were, Virginia does too, it was just struck down).

Regimes that I mentioned at the top of this post aren't really known for progressive or human-rights respecting behavior. Please, make Virginia a less sadistic place.

Rather than laboriously bang it all out myself, read this excellent article in Slate dealing with the execution of children.

Making Love out of War

2005-01-15T16:38:00.000-05:00

From the BBC

The US military investigated building a "gay bomb", which would make enemy soldiers "sexually irresistible" to each other, government papers say.
Other weapons that never saw the light of day include one to make soldiers obvious by their bad breath.

The US defence department considered various non-lethal chemicals meant to disrupt enemy discipline and morale.

The 1994 plans were for a six-year project costing $7.5m, but they were never pursued.

The US Air Force Wright Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, sought Pentagon funding for research into what it called "harassing, annoying and 'bad guy'-identifying chemicals".

The plans were obtained under the US Freedom of Information by the Sunshine Project, a group which monitors research into chemical and biological weapons.

'Who? Me?'

The plan for a so-called "love bomb" envisaged an aphrodisiac chemical that would provoke widespread homosexual behaviour among troops, causing what the military called a "distasteful but completely non-lethal" blow to morale.

Scientists also reportedly considered a "sting me/attack me" chemical weapon to attract swarms of enraged wasps or angry rats towards enemy troops.

A substance to make the skin unbearably sensitive to sunlight was also pondered.

Another idea was to develop a chemical causing "severe and lasting halitosis", so that enemy forces would be obvious even when they tried to blend in with civilians.

In a variation on that idea, researchers pondered a "Who? Me?" bomb, which would simulate flatulence in enemy ranks.

Indeed, a "Who? Me?" device had been under consideration since 1945, the government papers say.

However, researchers concluded that the premise for such a device was fatally flawed because "people in many areas of the world do not find faecal odour offensive, since they smell it on a regular basis".

Captain Dan McSweeney of the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate at the Pentagon said the defence department receives "literally hundreds" of project ideas, but that "none of the systems described in that [1994] proposal have been developed".

He told the BBC: "It's important to point out that only those proposals which are deemed appropriate, based on stringent human effects, legal, and international treaty reviews are considered fordevelopment or acquisition."

That is what we're spending money for...our VITAL DEFENSE!

STARTING NEXT WEEK

2005-01-15T15:24:00.000-05:00

Graner Convicted!

2005-01-14T18:49:00.000-05:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9343-2005Jan14.html

Story just breaking...The sadistic master of Abu Ghraib, who destroyed the damaged moral standing of the United States with his illegal torture operations, has been convicted.

But I should stop picking on Graner for a moment. While nothing will excuse his behavior, his "following orders" defense has some plausibility. Responsibility goes straight to the top, and, as expected, the top isn't being put to the fire.

ABOUT FUCKING TIME

2005-01-14T18:33:00.000-05:00

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-bush14.html

President Bush has expressed regret for "bring 'em on."

592 days later, Mr. President. 592 days after your imperial hubris reared its hideous head once again. Look up, Mr. President. Up there are the 1,358 soldiers that gave their lives for your imperial hubris. It's about fucking time. It's too late.

You, Mr. President, you, whose party tore Democrats for not supporting the troops, sent them to die, with a massive miltary budget that couldn't afford to protect our soldiers, sent them and left them and incited the terrorists. Incited them to kill our soldiers, for pretenses which are discredited.

Words cannot describe the inhuman callousness, bordering on those of the terrorists we despise, on the lives of our troops. And you, you who wrap yourself in the flag, refused to regret leaving our soldiers behind.

Three words that became a self-fulfilling prophecy. You refused to see the truth, refused to regret, and still refuse to see reality. You couldn't name a single thing that you have done wrong.

Despicable, just despicable.

Your craven mind has callously reduced our soldiers to cannon fodder. You couldn't hold back, have the patience to let inspectors do their jobs, we went to war to find the weapons of mass destruction that don't exist, to neutralize the threat that was never there, and now we have created.

You, sir, left our soldiers behind. It's about fucking time you owned up to it.

When The Powers That Be Say the Earth is Flat, Nod Accordingly

2005-01-13T22:03:00.000-05:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6841-2005Jan13.html

Courts finally ended the reign of the backward in Cobb County.

Down in Cobb County, GA, biology came with a disclaimer!

"Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered."

The stickers are to be removed, by court order.

Also, stickers saying "Earth revolving around the sun..." were not found.

Look, evolution is the best we have now. Unfortunately, the rising theocracy is refusing to admit progress. That sticker, construed literally, had some legitimate meaning, but its motives were more sinister. There really is no scientific, empirical backing for other theories.

2005-01-10T20:53:00.000-05:00

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=80310&ran=105799

Our friend Del. Cosgrove (the guy who tried to criminalize miscarriages, if you recall), is now targeting marriage!

Frankly, this is pointless.

Special note to Del. Cosgrove: Get your head out of the 19th century, dear God. We've got crumbling infrastructure, children left behind, and the first thing you can think of is restricting rights. Get this guy out of here, somebody!!! Codifying discrimination supposedly went out with the old South.

Traditional male-female marriage “has been one of the cornerstones of family life in the country”

So was racial discrimination. "Tradition" is not always a coherent argument.

Family Values and Valuing the Family

2005-01-10T20:43:00.000-05:00

http://www.vafamilyvalues.org/blog/

You see, not all of us in the Old Dominion are flat-earth fundies. Finally promoting progressive (that is, looking for progress, as in forwards!) "values" here in VA.

Hat tip The Virginia Progressive!

The Politburo said so!

2005-01-08T16:28:00.000-05:00

I really should have gotten used to all of the muck that comes from the administration, but authoritarian-style (well, Ehrlich-style?) government-funded state-sponsored television propaganda is new.

Apparently Armstrong Williams, commentator/pundit from somewhere, received $240,000 to mention and promote NCLB all the time. Bring it up, talk it up. They spend $240,000 for favorable press and couldn't spend the cash to fund the act.

Oh the corporate-controlled LIBERAL MEDIA! Whatever shall we do?

In other news, Kim Jong Il issued statements ordering the press to talk positively about his agenda.

Rep. Robert T. Matsui, 1941-2004

2005-01-02T16:37:00.000-05:00

Matsui, 63, Dies After Battle With Blood Disorder
January 2, 2005
By Erin P. Billings,
Roll Call Staff

Veteran California Rep. Robert Matsui (D), the head of the party’s fundraising committee and one of House Democrats’ most senior and knowledgeable Members on tax policy, died on New Year’s night of a rare blood disease. He was 63.
Matsui died at 10:10 p.m. Saturday at Bethesda Naval Hospital. According to his office, the Sacramento lawmaker had been suffering from Milo Dysplastic Disorder, a stem-cell ailment that prevents bone marrow from producing blood products such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

MDS can also lower immune systems and lead to a heightened susceptibility to other illnesses. Matsui was admitted to the hospital on Dec. 24 with pneumonia.

Very few people knew of Matsui’s illness.

For the last two years, Matsui held a leading post in the Caucus as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The long-time Member known more for his love of policy than of politics took on the job after much cajoling from Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), a personal friend and political ally.

Pelosi mourned the loss of Matsui on Sunday, calling him a dear friend, respected leader and dedicated family man. Matsui is survived by his wife, Doris; son, Brian; daughter-in-law, Amy; and granddaughter, Anna.

“In recent days, Bob spoke often of his parents, whose fortitude during his youth and grace during his adulthood shaped so much of his respect for America’s seniors and his resolve to preserve their retirement security,” Pelosi said in a statement. “With dignity, integrity and passion, Bob Matsui served his family, his community and his country. He will be sorely missed and long remembered.”

Doris Matsui said of her husband: “Bob wanted me to express his most profound gratitude to all of those he had the honor to serve and who made his life so extraordinary. Thank you to his constituents, his friends, his staff, and his colleagues. Brian, Amy, Anna and I will forever be grateful.”

Matsui was just elected to a 14th term in Congress. In addition to serving as chairman of the DCCC, Matsui was also the third most powerful Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee and ranking member of that panel’s the Social Security subcommittee.

A charitable fund is being set up in memory of Matsui, and friends and family ask that gifts be sent to The Matsui Foundation for Public Service, P.O. Box 1347, Sacramento, CA 95812. Memorial services have yet to be announced.

Matsui's California colleague Rep. George Miller (D) called his friend "one of the toughest and most morally principled people in public service.

"His vision of fairness and principle for how to take care of the disadvantaged and poor was unparalleled in the political arena," Miller said. "His vision of right and wrong always guided him in the complex and politically challenging policy fights in Congress over welfare reform, taxes, pensions, and Social Security, issues in which he was a recognized leader."

Under California law, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has two weeks to decide when the election to fill Matsui's 5th district will be held.

The special general election must be held on a Tuesday, no sooner than 112 days and no later than 119 days after Schwarzenegger officially declares the seat vacant.

An all-party special primary must be held on the eighth Tuesday before the date set for the general, according to the state's election code.

If no candidate receives better than 50 percent of the vote in the primary, the top vote-getter of each qualified party advance to the special general election.

Matsui's northern California seat is a Democratic stronghold were Republicans are not likely to seriously compete.

Chris Cillizza contributed to this report.

My condolences go out to Rep. Matsui's family, rest in peace.

I'd like to stress one more thing

2005-01-01T16:57:00.001-05:00

Third party candidates request another recount - AP

Look, guys, can I say something, just between us Democrats?

WE LOST. GET OVER IT.

It's now our duty, coming into 2005, to be an effective opposition party. Speak out, make your voice heard. Never shut up. It's not obstructionism, it's democracy.

Yes, there were many irregularities, but we are to reform for the future, not look to the past. How do we maintain a clean election system?

Verifiable voting systems. There must be a backup mechanism, so that if one system crashes, an election is not thrown into doubt (a la missing votes in Carteret County, NC, which I wrote about earlier.
That doesn't mean paper ballots! We can have electronic systems that print out a paper trail, or better yet in my view, print out an optical scan ballot. Voter intent (bad marks, faint marks) would be clear with a computer-printed ballot.
Voters who are at the wrong precinct should be able to be told quickly how to get to their correct polling place.

I'd like to stress one more thing

2005-01-01T16:57:00.000-05:00

Tom DeLay is a corrupted SOB

2004-12-30T13:05:00.000-05:00

^^That we knew.

Anyways, today in the WaPo's Washington in Brief

Pelosi Warns Against Ethics Panel Ouster

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said it will be a "stain" on Congress if House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) replaces the chairman of the House ethics committee after the panel admonished House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.).

Rep. Joel Hefley, a Colorado Republican, "presided over the ethics committee's three bipartisan and unanimous rebukes of Majority Leader Tom DeLay," Pelosi of California said in a written statement. "It is our responsibility to uphold a high ethical standard -- removing a chair of the ethics committee for upholding that standard would be a stain on the House of Representatives."

The Washington Post reported that Hastert is considering replacing Hefley with Rep. Lamar S. Smith of Texas, who once led the panel and who contributed to DeLay's defense fund.

Sweet Jesus. Nixonesque, no? These were unanimous, bipartisan slaps for Tom DeLay, and the Speaker of the House decides that, hey, their moral values must not be mine!

The ethics committee is not a witch hunt sponsored by Democrats, it's out there to keep the House of Representatives in good ethical standing. And when they do their job, it's time for a Saturday Night Massacre.

The Saturday Night Massacre, if you recall, was when Nixon fired the special counsel investigating Watergate.

Tom Delay and Speaker Hastert have no respect from me. Thank God for people like Pelosi.

Look, if the jury was a major contributor to the defendant's defense, does anyone smell trouble?

Carteret County Ate My Vote

2004-12-29T17:02:00.000-05:00

The 2004 election is not yet over.

N.C. Board Orders New Election for Ag Post
3 minutes ago

By GARY D. ROBERTSON, Associated Press Writer
RALEIGH, N.C. - Following nearly two months of court fights and wrangling over lost votes, the North Carolina Board of Elections on Wednesday ordered a new statewide election for the closely contested race for agriculture commissioner.

Republican Steve Troxler leads Democratic incumbent Britt Cobb by 2,287 votes in final results from the Nov. 2 election. However, that figure was left in doubt by the discovery that an electronic voting machine error in Carteret County eliminated 4,438 votes that were cast early.

Read on...

Emphasis mine. This time the debate is not whether to count valid votes (as it was in Washington) , its whether they were even recorded!

This is why we need a paper trail! If there was a paper trail of any sort, one mishap would not throw the entire election out. At least have a Voter Verified Audit Trail, which I heartily support. This is VOTING we're talking about, there is nothing more fundamental or sarcosanct!

There must be a backup mechanism, period.

EDIT-VerifiedVoting.org-Good resource site.

Governor Lame Duck

2004-12-28T17:29:00.000-05:00

Time for an installment in Virginia politics:

Should they stay or should they go?-Hampton Roads Daily Press

Virginia, my friends, is the only state in the nation that has a one-term limit on its governors. The second the man (and they all have been men) gets elected, he's a lame-duck!

I think that we already have perfectly good term limits. Are you ready for this? They're called elections.

We should let governors have the oppurtunity to have good long-range plans for Virginia, and if they don't work, we throw the bastards out! If the people happen to think the current guv's doing a good job, we shouldn't go around subverting their will.

Governors will get a second term if they deserve it. Scrap this ridiculous antiquated provision.