Home | Virginia
Politics
| National
Politics
| 2010
Races
 
Menu

Make a New Account

Username:

Password:



Forget your username or password?


Search




Advanced Search


The Stench
Stench Find out how Cooch took $55,000 from the disgraced "U.S. Navy Veterans Association," in apparent exchange for his promise to get the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs (which had "notified Thompson's group that it no longer qualified for an exemption from state registration requirements") off the group's back. Can we say "pay-to-play?" Find out more.

Blog Roll
Virginia Blogs
Article XI
Assembly Access
Augusta Free Press
Bacon's Rebellion
Bearing Drift
Byrne-ing Up the Internet
Coarse Cracked Corn
Crew of 42
DemRulz
Dixie Pig
Equality Loudoun
Fairfax City Dems
WaPo - The Fix
The Green Miles
Heartland of Va
In Through The Out Door
Leaving My Marc
Leesburg Tomorrow
Left of the Hill
Loudoun Progress
Moonhowlings
Not Larry Sabato
Off K Street
Old Dominion Blogs
Ox Road South Blog
Renaissance Ruminations
Richmond Sunlight
Roanoke Times blog
RockDem
Shad Plank
SlantBlog
Southeast Virginia
Too Conservative
VB Dems
VB Progressives
WaPo - Virginia Politics Blog
Vivian Paige
Waldo Jaquith
Waldo's VA Political Blogroll
xcurmudgeon

National Blogs
DailyKos
Five Thirty Eight
Gristmill
Huffington Post
Matthew Yglesias
Memeorandum
OpenLeft
TPM


Subjects
- 2010 Races (74)
- Bill Bolling (5)
- Chap Petersen (5)
- Economic Issues (56)
- Energy and Environment (126)
- Entertainment (15)
- Local Politics (26)
- Media (12)
- National Politics (181)
- Politicians (28)
- Science (2)
- Social Issues (33)
- Transportation (5)
- Virginia Politics (332)

University of Mary Washington Sophomore Teaches Gov. McDonnell a Lesson

by: lowkell

Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 23:00:00 PM EDT


For more, including a transcript of the exchange between University of Mary Washington sophomore and environmental studies student Abbie Rogers and Gov. Bob McDonnell, click here. Great stuff; go Abbie!
Discuss :: (0 Comments)

"The Job's Not Done Tour" Comes to Virginia

by: lowkell

Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 18:56:36 PM EDT

Good stuff, courtesy of the BlueGreen Alliance.
SPRINGFIELD, VA - A bus tour highlighting the potential to create good American jobs by passing comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation in the U.S. Senate stopped by the Re/Build Warehouse in Springfield, Virginia, today to urge Senators Warner and Webb to support action on comprehensive legislation that will create and save millions of American, clean energy jobs, including up to 50,000 jobs in Virginia.

"Nearly 1 out of 10 Americans are still out of work and we need action now to create and preserve millions of jobs across the country," said Lindsay Patterson, President of USW Local 404 of Philadelphia. "We have a solution right at our fingertips - we can create good jobs here in Virginia with clean energy."

Re/Build Warehouse was formed in 2008 to receive and sell reclaimed building material donations in order to provide funds to train unemployed and underemployed unskilled workers for "green collar" jobs and to educate the community in affordable ways to live sustainably.

There's More... :: (0 Comments, 244 words in story)

Computer Crashes and Sweetheart Contracts

by: Elaine in Roanoke

Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 17:41:05 PM EDT


It's now been over a week since the once-ballyhooed, privatized state computer system crashed, a mess caused by a malfunctioning storage unit in Richmond. The unit has been repaired, but, as anyone who has ever dealt with a hard drive crash knows on a small scale, the work in getting everything back in order still goes on, while state business doesn't get done very well.  

Some relief has been promised for today. However, according to the Washington Post, three state agencies - the board of elections and the departments of motor vehicles and taxation - are still experiencing major computer issues that hamper daily operations.

More than 32,000 Virginia residents haven't been able to renew or get new driver's licenses in person. Taxpayers have been unable to file returns, make payments or register online through the  Department of Taxation. Tax account information is unavailable for bills and refunds. Residents can apply to register to vote, but the applications won't be processed until the agency's database is completely restored.  

Computers for 24 other state agencies are operational, but the computer problems mean that they can't operate efficiently. The Washington Post noted that those agencies include social services, environmental quality, juvenile justice, criminal justice services, professional and occupational regulation, and information technologies.

So, in this year of budget shortfalls and phony "surpluses," state employees will now get  overtime pay to work through the backlog of more than a week's down time. You know, I wonder what possessed Virginia to give Northrup Grumman a contract to create a single state computer system - something Northrup had never done before. The history of that $2.4 billion - and counting - contract is a convoluted one, beginning in 2002 when JLARC reported that the state computer systems were out-of-date and expensive. (If JLARC thought the old way was expensive, wait until they figure out the ultimate cost of this system that has caused trouble from day one.)  

There's More... :: (2 Comments, 347 words in story)

Now THIS Is a Good Ad

by: lowkell

Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 15:13:25 PM EDT


How about more ads like this one by Glenn Nye, touting the hard work he's doing for his district, instead of ads attacking his own party and its leaders? C'mon, it's not so hard!
Discuss :: (2 Comments)

NLS Live Blogs Cooch's Taxpayer-Funded "Town Hall"

by: lowkell

Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 13:35:52 PM EDT

I'm following Ken Cuccinelli's wildly inappropriate and unethical, taxpayer-funded, political "town hall" meeting in Rocky Mountain at NLS's Twitter feed. Here are a few "highlights," to use the word loosely, so far. Thanks to Ben for the excellent coverage, by the way!

*"Wow, huge crowd, I have to go in the overflow room. Must be 200+ people here"

*"Wow, they are introducing Republican party officials for applause at a town hall paid for by the state."

*"Cooch just said 'from the dark side' when intro speaker said he was from Fairfax."

*"Poindexter claiming VA passed HC Freedom Act in response to federal bill that was passed. actually 2 month earlier"

*"Ken says he is here to discuss federal legislation that will raise electricity costs. Too bad cap+trade is dead."

*"Words not used: "energy conservation"."

*"Wow, Cooch is bragging about blocking money for utilities for Carbon Capture costs. Disgusting."

*"Cooch claiming Cap+Trade will raise rates here by 35 percent. #liar"

*"Cooch claiming cap + trade will cost Virginia 50,000 job losses. #liar"

Lots more after the "flip." My god, this is pitiful.

There's More... :: (3 Comments, 182 words in story)

Who Needs the General Assembly When You've Got Ken Cuccinelli?

by: aimeefausser

Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 07:24:46 AM EDT

( - promoted by lowkell)

Slate has an interesting take on Ken Cuccinelli's time as AG so far (In Ken We Trust: Why do Ken Cuccinelli's legal opinions always match his personal ambitions?). It's really interesting to see the national take on all this since we're somewhat used to it in Virginia.

What Slate starts to get at (but I think ultimately misses) is that Cuccinelli isn't just using the law to push an agenda--he actually believes that his agenda and the law are not distinct things. 

While it's not surprising that Cuccinelli is pushing issues and positions in his role as AG that he couldn't get through the General Assembly as a state senator, it is interesting that his base--which tends to advocate for democracy and protests that Democrats are doing any number of things to subvert the process or the Constitution--buys this sort of thing, presumably because they believe in it. Do they think that the General Assembly is just not important anymore, or do they think that Cuccinelli has a mandate to do this sort of thing outside of the legislative process? Or do they just not care about process when their positions come out on top? When I was canvassing in '09, I had quite a few people telling me that they weren't voting for Democrats because they "didn't want no kings here." Apparently they don't care now. 

Keep in mind that this is a man who talks to fake elephants:
There's More... :: (2 Comments, 288 words in story)

Whipple Clip Dozen: Thursday Morning

by: lowkell

Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 07:31:56 AM EDT

Thanks to Tom Whipple for the Thursday "Clips."

1. GOVERNOR DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR HURRICANE EARL
2. CRASH OF VA. COMPUTER NETWORK HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR TECH WORLD, STATE POLITICS
3. VA. DMV WILL RETURN TO FULL OPERATIONS THURSDAY
4. DMV EXTENDS LICENSES, HOURS AFTER COMPUTER OUTAGE
9. ADVOCATES WORK TO BLOCK MCDONNELL ON IMMIGRATION POWERS
10. CUCCINELLI WILL VISIT, TALK ON ENERGY ISSUES
11. VA DEMS SLAM CUCCINELLI FOR 'WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY' AND 'ABUSING HIS AUTHORITY'
12. MCAULIFFE LENDS THE FARM TEAM A HAND RAISING MONEY
13. PERRIELLO OPTS FOR PUBLIC EVENT AFTER TEA PARTY CLOSES MEETING
15. BOUCHER'S LATEST AD TOUTS HIS 'VALUES,' NOT HIS PARTY
16. CLARK CAMPAIGN TAKES AN ODD TURN IN 5TH DISTRICT
17. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT POPULATION DROPS IN VA.

Discuss :: (1 Comments)

Here Comes Hurricane Earl

by: lowkell

Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 06:26:00 AM EDT

For more information on Hurricane Earl, check out the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service websites.

Discuss :: (0 Comments)

Rick Boucher Ad Defines "Non Sequitur"

by: lowkell

Wed Sep 01, 2010 at 18:04:26 PM EDT

According to Merriam Webster, "non sequitur" can be defined as "a statement (as a response) that does not follow logically from or is not clearly related to anything previously said." Well, Merriam Webster's got nothing on Rick Boucher, who provides a perfect, video definition of "non sequitur" in this ad.

So, let's get this straight: Rick Boucher has Southwest Virginia values, and "that's why he voted against the health care law" and is "a leader in the bipartisan effort to balance the budget." There's just one problem with that reasoning, namely that the health care law and increased federal spending both disproportionately help relatively low-income, net-recipient-of-federal-money areas like Southwest Virginia. Also, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics illustrates, Southwest Virginia has among the highest unemployment rates (11.3% in Radford City, 11.6% in Smyth County, 11.4% in Grayson County, 11.2% in Patrick County, etc.) in the Commonwealth. How would cutting back on federal spending or making it harder for people to get health care coverage improve conditions in this region?  It wouldn't; hence, the non sequitur.  

Discuss :: (6 Comments)

President Obama Restarts Arab-Israeli Peace Talks

by: lowkell

Wed Sep 01, 2010 at 15:44:47 PM EDT


Since I'm sure the Obama bashers out there, on both left and right, will not give him credit for the great work he and his Secretary of State have been doing since they took office to restart stalled, Arab-Israeli peace talks, I just wanted to say, "thank you!"  Also, for any of my fellow pro-Israeli, Jewish Americans, I sincerely hope that you will rethink the notion that Barack Obama is in any way, shape, or form anti-Israel. To the contrary, as you can see here, Obama is working closely with Prime Minister Netanyahu to promote a just and lasting peace in the region. And, if you believe this analysis, the threat from Iran may be just what is needed to focus everyone's minds - Arabs and Israelis - and "serve as a common bond keeping a frail peace process intact." On that score, we should also give President Obama credit, by the way, as he has skillfully ratcheted up international economic and diplomatic pressure against the despotic, oppressive, woman stoning, nuclear-weapons-seeking Iranian regime. For my part, I am strongly rooting for President Obama to succeed on all fronts, before it's too late. At the least, I give him tremendous credit for trying, which is more than can be said for the Bush administration for much of its time in office.

UPDATE: Check out the Stratfor video analysis after the "flip."

UPDATE #2: Video of Obama with Secretary of State Clinton and special envoy George Mitchell is after the "flip."

There's More... :: (3 Comments, 28 words in story)

Warming Threatens Jamestown, Chincoteague, Shenandoah

by: TheGreenMiles

Wed Sep 01, 2010 at 15:31:10 PM EDT

Jamestown SettlementReports USA Today's Green House:
Human-caused climate change threatens to flood Jamestown, the first permanent European settlement in what became the American colonies and the United States, says a report Wednesday by environmental groups.

Jamestown Island, the site of the original 1607 settlement, is low enough to be inundated by rising seas and tidal waters -- even if the waters do not rise as much by 2100 as scientists predict, according to the report by Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Colorado-based Rocky Mountain Climate Organization. [...]

"Climate change poses the greatest risk our National Parks have ever faced," says Theo Spencer, senior advocate of NRDC's Climate Center. He says Jamestown, along with two other parks, attracts six million visitors each year who spend more than $200 million and support 4,000 Virginia jobs.

The report (PDF) says the other two parks also face grave risks: Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge could lose its beach and Shenandoah National Park could see it brilliant fall colors muted by air pollution and encroaching pine trees.

Previous reports have made similar warning about threats to Virginia's coastal communities & wildlife habitats. And that's on normal days, never mind when a hurricane threatens to bring a storm surge.
Discuss :: (0 Comments)

Best Headline Ever? "Virginia State Judge Screws the Cooch"

by: lowkell

Wed Sep 01, 2010 at 15:03:51 PM EDT

If you're not a fan of Ken Kookinelli, you've gotta love this headline by "Above the Law" - "Virginia State Judge Screws the Cooch." Not bad, not bad at all, definitely one of the best headlines I've seen in a long time, what do you think?

By the way, I find it fascinating that even though this writer admits, "I don't care at all about the environment" (and finds anthropogenic global warming to be "such a boring story"), he is nonetheless forced to conclude to conclude that "The Cooch is tripping." With regard to Cooch's "latest...crusde," "Above the Law" adds, "It appears that The Cooch is on a mission from God, and this latest obstacle will do nothing to deter him."  Finally, "Above the Law" concludes, "I'm only speaking for myself here, but The Cooch is crazy y'all."

Yes, we've known that for years now, but thanks for reminding us! :)

UPDATE: Also, check out "The Voices In Cuccinelli's Head..."

Discuss :: (2 Comments)

If Cuccinelli Cared About Consumer Protection

by: Dan Sullivan

Wed Sep 01, 2010 at 09:18:34 AM EDT

He'd take the lead on combating the fraud of the new "professional" credit cards. There'd be a hard look at lending practices that allow the payday and refund lending industry to exceed the maximum interest limits. The Attorney General's website would show him instead of Bob McDonnell as Attorney General.

The last Consumer Alert of the Month wouldn't be December 2009. The link to the "Nigerian Bank Account Scams" would not take the user to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) webpage where another link must be selected; it would link to the SEC page for the Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud. The link to FAQs on Consumer Fraud would not navigate to a general page that includes one on "Why Virginia is suing the federal government over the new health care law" (a political statement on a state website). The Virginia Consumer Guide would be updated with a cover letter from the current rather than the former Attorney General. It would contain links to relevant online resources. It would include warnings about debt relief schemes, their effects on income tax, and the outcomes of bankruptcy. There would be a mortgage foreclosure step by step for after it happens rather than "Prevention Tips." No one who thinks about foreclosure in time to prevent it comes looking for foreclosure prevention help.

By the way, those new "professional" credit cards also known as small-business or corporate credit cards, aren't covered under the Credit Card Accountability and Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (Card Act). There is a The Wall Street Journal article this morning that provides plenty of information about this scheme that allows the predatory practices that the Card Act was designed to stop: hair-trigger interest rate increases, shortened payment cycles and inactivity fees. Suddenly anyone qualifies as a small business. But the Attorney General is oblivious to this scheme that will defraud thousands of Virginians. And he doesn't have a clue about advising the legislature concerning leaks in the payday lending law. It has to do with numbers and math, so maybe he ought to contact the ABC Store vultures for some crafting of the formula for annual percentage rates; or not.

Discuss :: (0 Comments)

Gerry Connolly "slugged and road?" The Post Continues Its Sad Decline

by: lowkell

Wed Sep 01, 2010 at 07:27:58 AM EDT

The once great newspaper known as the Washington Post continues its sad decline into illiteracy and irrelevancy.
[Connolly] has also taken the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission's commuter bus, slugged and road with a constituent from Bristow into the district on what a Census Bureau report said last year is the longest average commute in the country.
Uh guys, it's "r-o-d-e," as in past tense of the verb "r-i-d-e."  Well, at least the author of this article wasn't sending out false tweets. Ugh.
Discuss :: (9 Comments)

Whipple Clip Dozen: Wednesday Morning

by: lowkell

Wed Sep 01, 2010 at 07:04:16 AM EDT

Thanks to Tom Whipple for the Wednesday "Clips."

2. MCDONNELL TAKES PRIVATE LIQUOR PLAN TO BRISTOL
3. MCDONNELL APPLIES FOR ABSTINENCE-ONLY EDUCATION GRANT
6. CUCCINELLI TOWN HALLS CRITICIZED AS CAMPAIGN STUMPING
8. HOUSE SNUBBED SENATE ON REDISTRICTING HEARINGS
9. KINSER CHOSEN TO BE NEXT CHIEF JUSTICE OF VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT
10. COMPUTER OUTAGES PERSIST AT VIRGINIA AGENCIES
13. ETHICS PROBE SOUGHT ON 1ST DISTRICT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
16. PERRIELLO: HURT VOTE BOOSTED POWER BILLS
18. CONNOLLY RIDES COMMUTER TRAIN AS PART OF TRANSIT TOUR
28. NORTHROP GRUMMAN CONTINUES TO FAIL
29. JUDGE SHOOTS DOWN CUCCINELLI
32. ROANOKE BEATS SUMMER RECORD

Discuss :: (1 Comments)
Next >>
Advertising


Donate to Blue Virginia

Recommended Diaries

Recent Diaries
Happy Birthday, Lowell
by: TheGreenMiles - Sep 02
3 Comments

Recent Comments

About
The purpose of Blue Virginia is to cover Virginia politics from a progressive and Democratic perspective. This is a group blog and a community blog. We invite everyone to comment here, but please be aware that profanity, personal attacks, bigotry, and "trolling" are not allowed. Thanks, and enjoy!

P.S. You can contact us at lowell@raisingkaine.com and you can subscribe to Lowell's Twitter feed here. If you'd like to subscribe to Miles Grant's Twitter feed, click here. For Teacherken, click here.

P.P.S. To see the Blue Virginia archive, please click here. To see the Raising Kaine archive, please click here. To see the Blue Commonwealth archive, please click here.


Powered by: SoapBlox