by Lowell
Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Saturday, November 21. Also see the White House weekly address, this time by VP Joe Biden about how “in the face of terror, we stand as one.” Biden also debunks dangerous myths about how Syrian refugees – mostly women, children, orphans, survivors of torture and persecution – are screened (hint: it’s slow and intensive) before they are allowed into our country. Biden: “To turn them away and say there’s no way you can ever get here would play right into terrorists’ hands…Earlier this year, the top ISIL leader…revealed the true goal of their attacks…’compel the Crusaders to actively destroy the gray zone themselves.’…They want to manufacture a clash between civilizations.” Don’t let them get away with it.
- Brussels put on high alert, officials warn of ‘imminent threat’
- Mali hotel attack: Hunt for three suspects
- Paris and Mali Attacks Expose Qaeda-ISIS Rivalry
- New York Times’ Paul Krugman Calls Out Conservatives’ “Bizarre Reaction” To Terror Attacks (“Krugman: ‘The Same People Now Hyping The Terrorist Danger’ Of Syrian Refugees In Right-Wing Media Also Hyped The ‘Greatly Exaggerated’ Ebola Scare Of 2014.”)
- A surprise in Syria’s civil war that could be bad news for the Islamic State (“Diplomatic negotiations are making progress.”)
- Democrats push to prevent gun sales to terror-list suspects (No brainer, except to the NRA and its puppets.)
- Louisiana voters will pick their next governor Saturday (Despite a bunch of polls in this race, I’d still say “Diaper Dave” Vitter has got to be the favorite in this deep-“red” state. We’ll see if Democrat Johgn Bel Edwards can pull an upset, but I’m not holding my breath.)
- The shadows of a new American fascism: Why our surging xenophobia could have some very dangerous consequences (“Trump is calling for a Muslim database. Congress is passing anti-refugee legislation. What is going on in here?”)
- Republicans Launch New Offensive to Take Down Donald Trump
- Veteran GOP Operative Joins Politico In ‘Unconventional’ Hire (Yep, there’s that “liberal media” again. Heh.)
- Rubio Trumps Trump: Shut Down Any Place Muslims Gather To Be ‘Inspired’ — Not Just Mosques (Rubio is appalling.)
- Ebola, Syrian Refugees, And Fox News’ Annual Hysteria Over Dark, Invading Forces
- McAuliffe middle of the pack in gov-by-gov approval poll
- History repeats itself in Syrian refugee debate, Virginia college professors say (“Hampton Roads professors argue the current debate over whether to admit Syrian refugees into the United States is nothing new.”)
- Editorial: Stop the bed-wetting over refugees (This editorial is by the right-wing Richmong Times-Dispatch. Amazing.)
- Cruz is fifth GOP hopeful to submit signatures for Virginia’s presidential primary (This guy’s a theocrat, bigot and all-around extremist. How is Ted Cruz any better than Donald Trump? Got me.)
- Lynchburg Mayor offers statement on Syrian refugees (“While one Virginia mayor calls for suspending assistance to Syrian refugees, another affirms the resettlement of refugees is a decision that is not made on the local level.”)
- Mayor Bowers apologizes for comparison of Syrian refugees situation to Japanese-American internment (“The mayor took responsibility for his comments and 27 people spoke to the council and the mayor during a special meeting.”)
- Our view: Dealing with our fears (Uhhh…are there any actual liberals who “talk about tolerance without addressing security concerns?” Seems to me everyone wants to be secure, the only question is how best to get there, balancing individual liberties in the process of course. Now, there certainly are conservatives who “look xenophobic when they inveigh against an entire nationality or religion.”)
- HOT enough for you? Virginia has a new plan for interstate toll lanes.
- Ex-Fairfax officer’s motions to move Geer murder trial, grant bond denied
- Virginia to extend I-95/395 HOT lanes north to D.C. line
- Arlington comes in under budget, board struggles over leftover money (The only reason it “struggles” is because the board has two people on it who are apparently just there to be obstructionist for no good reason.)
- Traffic troubles likely at Oceanfront arena, Virginia transportation chief says
- Hundreds gather to celebrate the ‘Real Roanoke’ following mayor’s remarks (“‘We are the real Roanoke,’ Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, said Friday before an audience of more than 250 people celebrating Roanoke’s diversity”)
- D.C. area forecast: Cool today, then downright chilly Sunday into Monday
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