Home Blog Page 2017

National and Virginia News Headlines: Saturday Morning

By
lowkell
-
0

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Saturday, May 9. Also, check out President Obama’s weekly address, on the 70th anniversary of V-E Day.

*Britain’s election stirs questions on E.U., Scotland

*Krugman: Triumph of the Unthinking (” Like Mr. Obama and company, Labour’s leaders probably know better, but have decided that it’s too hard to overcome the easy appeal of bad economics, especially when most of the British news media report this bad economics as truth. But it has still been deeply disheartening to watch.”)

*British polling flop prompts global reassessments (“Too few cell phones? Internet bias? Pollsters grope for answers.”)

*Jeb Bush hopes to sway evangelicals with speech at Liberty University

*Dark money, taxpayer money, flow in redistricting lawsuits

*Va. House speaker’s upstart challenger loses another key campaign aide (“Grass-roots director Daniel Bradshaw confirmed Friday that he had left former Stafford County supervisor Susan Stimpson’s campaign for the House of Delegates.” LOL)

*Federal officials: More transportation funds would help Northern Virginia

*Fairfax’s stand against discrimination

*Norfolk State to cut 97 jobs to help balance budget

*From thorny to thornier: Pipeline companies tap state law to gain access to properties

*Think big, McAuliffe tells ODU graduates

*Sage advice on clinic rules

*Some Fairfax Co. Parents Protesting Vote on Transgender Students

*Southwest Virginia has right environment for economic growth, experts say

*Capitals can’t finish off Rangers in Game 5

*Harper homers twice; Nats hammer Braves 9-2 to return to .500

*Nationals vs. Braves weather forecast: Warm and a bit muggy

Reversing 2013 Cuccinelli opinion, AG Herring says localities can ban fracking

By
ivymain
-
1

( – promoted by lowkell)

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring issued an official advisory opinion on May 5 holding that Virginia localities have the right to prohibit hydraulic fracturing (or “fracking”) as part of their power to regulate land use within their boundaries. The letter reverses a two-year-old opinion by former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

Herring’s opinion cites §15.2-2280 of the Virginia Code, which grants broad zoning powers to localities. These include the power to “regulate, restrict, permit, prohibit, and determine” land uses, such as “the excavation or mining of soil or other natural resources.” Thus, writes Herring, “I conclude that the General Assembly has authorized localities to pass zoning ordinances prohibiting fracking. The plain language of the stature also authorizes localities to regulate fracking in instances where it is permitted.”

The letter is not available online as of this writing, but is expected to be posted on the Official Opinions page.

Herring’s opinion comes in a letter to Senator Richard Stuart, who had asked whether Virginia law allows localities to prohibit “unconventional gas and oil drilling,” commonly known as fracking, and whether they may use their zoning authority “to regulate aspects of fracking, such as the timing of drilling operations, traffic, or noise.”

The letter overrules a January 11, 2013 opinion by then-Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, which held that the General Assembly had preempted localities’ right to regulate or ban drilling when it passed the Virginia Gas and Oil Act.  Under §45.1-361.5, localities may not “impose any condition, or require any other local license, permit, fee, or bond to perform any gas, oil or geophysical operations which varies from or is in addition to the requirements of this chapter.”  

But, Herring notes, the statute “also includes a savings clause stating that the Act does not ‘limit or supersede the jurisdiction and requirements of . . . local land-use ordinances.'” Thus, it explicitly preserves local zoning authority to prohibit or limit fracking.

Herring concludes, “To the extent that the 2013 Opinion conflicts with this conclusion, it is overruled.”

Interestingly, if localities choose to restrict fracking but not prohibit it, they may actually leave themselves more open to challenge. Herring’s opinion reaffirms that portion of Cuccinelli’s opinion that upheld the right of localities to impose some restrictions on fracking, short of outright prohibition. However, the restriction must be “reasonable in scope” and “not inconsistent with the Act or regulations properly enacted pursuant to the Act.” As a result, a fracking company might have a better shot at challenging a restriction than it would an outright ban.

Herring adds, “Determining the extent to which particular zoning restrictions on fracking may possibly be preempted by state law will be governed by the particular facts, restrictions, and regulations at issue. Consequently, I can express no opinion on whether any particular zoning restriction has been preempted.”

Ken Cuccinelli Tortures Words “Liberty” and “Freedom,” Has No Clue He’s Doing So

By
lowkell
-
1

Ken Cuccinelli this morning introduced his “Liberty Now PAC.” In reality, of course, what Cuccinelli really stands for – a theocracy in which (his) church and state are one; a “Handmaid’s Tale”-style dystopia in which women, gays, and lots of others have no rights to control their own bodies, sex lives, reproductive decisions, etc.; in which the wealthiest and most powerful corporations leave the rest of us begging for crumbs; in which polluters run amok and climate scientists run from witch hunts – is the exact antithesis of “liberty” and “freedom.” But of course, Cooch thinks he’s doing the work for Saint Ronald Reagan. Yeah, the same Ronald Reagan who raised taxes multiple times, who grew government by leaps and bounds, who saw the deficit/debt go through the roof on his watch, who signed a mass “amnesty” into law, who got into huge battles with Israel, etc, etc. I know – all down the “memory hole,” but still…it’s exasperating.

Dear Friend and Fellow Virginian,

Ronald Reagan was right when he said that “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction”. It was true then and it’s true now. That’s why I created the Liberty Now PAC.

As we look forward to the Virginia state elections this November, we are faced with an incredible opportunity and sobering responsibility. Right now, Republicans hold the Virginia State Senate – but only by a slim 21-19 majority. This is why Virginia’s 40 state senate races this year are especially crucial.

Liberty Now will work to support individuals who will fight for our core conservative principles and shared values. Individuals that we can trust to defend freedom, promote Virginia’s economic growth, and support the families and small businesses that call the Commonwealth home.

Will you visit our website at www.libertynowva.com (http://cuccinelli.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=23436f8bc90c2dbd7381cc1c3&id=69088f0b5e&e=028ac56387)

and join with me in standing with candidates who support our shared first principles and free-market initiatives? You can also sign-up to receive my Cuccinelli Compass email updates and receive information on candidates and races across the Commonwealth.

Together, we can help send principled representatives to Richmond this November by providing resources and support to conservative campaigns where it’s needed most. When you donate to Liberty Now, 100% of your contribution will go to support these candidates.

Virginia has a rich history as the home to many great statesmen. We can continue that tradition by working to elect hard-working, principled men

and women to the Virginia state legislature. Conservatives across the Commonwealth deserve to have their voice heard in Richmond.

Visit ** www.libertynowva.com

(http://cuccinelli.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=23436f8bc90c2dbd7381cc1c3&id=43b9491159&e=028ac56387) to get involved. Together we can take a stand for life, liberty, and the opportunity to pursue happiness… now.

For liberty,

Ken Cuccinelli, II

Barbara Comstock Wants You To Think She Supports The Silver Line, But Voted Against It As Delegate

By
lowkell
-
0

From DPVA:

Already on the NRCC's most vulnerable incumbents list, Comstock is proving she will say or do anything if it will trick voters into thinking she's a moderate. While she may be gung-ho on Metro for the cameras, let's be perfectly clear: Comstock, in the General Assembly, voted against funding the Silver Line. Yet, when the photo ops come up, she's first in line to claim victory.
Comstock can't have it both ways, and Northern Virginians are not impressed.

“If Barbara Comstock had her way, the Silver Line would've never been funded in the first place,” said Delegate Ken Plum (D — Wiehle-Reston Metro Stop). “Our bipartisan transportation plan, which I'm proud of supporting, passed without Comstock's vote. To show up for a photo op having done nothing but oppose the Silver Line is misleading.”
Barbara Comstock ultimately chose partisanship over critical solutions to traffic problems in Northern Virginia. Does she think voters will forget her behavior?
 
“It's odd for Barbara Comstock to act like a supporter of the Metro Silver Line when, in 2013, as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, she voted against providing $300 million in critical funding for Phase II of this important project,” said Delegate Mark Keam (D – McLean, Tyson's Corner, Spring Hill and Greensboro Metro Stops). “While I worked closely with then-Gov. McDonnell and other Republicans to deliver a landmark NoVA transportation funding bill, Delegate Comstock opposed our bipartisan efforts to combat traffic congestion and to provide more mass transit options.” 

National and Virginia News Headlines: Friday Morning

By
lowkell
-
1

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, May 8. Also, check out the video of last night’s Fairfax County Public School Board debate over transgender protections. Actually, only 1 of the 12 members voted the wrong way, and she really had no coherent/sane arguments, but the audience of organized, anti-transgender “activists” more than made up for logic with volume and vitriol. Ugh.

*Cameron set to retain power (“Conservatives’ gains upend

pre-election polls.” Pathetic performance by YouGov polling, which screwed up big time the entire way, including election day itself.)

*Senate approves bill on reviewing a proposed nuclear deal with Iran

*NSA program on phone records is illegal, appellate court rules

*Netanyahu’s shaky base

*Kaine calls Congress ‘shameful and cowardly’ for inaction on war powers (Hate to say “I told you so,” but I saw this one coming a mile away.)

*Jeb Bush’s terrifying W. strategy: How he’s sucking up to extremist billionaires-with the help of the worst president ever

*Terry McAuliffe mocks Jade Helm conspiracy theorists (Which is exactly what they deserve.)

*The Beginning Of The End Of For-Profit Colleges (Good riddance!)

*Weather Forecasters Used To Be Among The Country’s Staunchest Climate Deniers. Why That’s Changing Fast. (How about WUSA-9’s resident science denier Topper Shutt?)

*Don’t worry, Virginia, presidential spotlight is coming soon

*Editorial: Governor gives police too much license (Looks like we’ll be taking another crack at this one next session.)

*McDonnell appeal hearing Tuesday

*Who were the 12 people who decided the fates of the McDonnells?

*Fairfax school board approves transgender protections (Teapublican and ignoramus Elizabeth Schultz needs to be voted out of office this November.)

*Portsmouth mayor, sheriff fail to talk about proposed cuts

*UMW Feminists United file Title IX complaint against university

*Virginia Beach Hoteliers Oppose Offshore Drilling

*Editorial: Hanover delegate disgraces county, GOP

*Sheriff nominee Allman asked to leave Loudoun Dems’ meeting (Charming.)

*D.C. area forecast: Dry and warm today, increasingly like summer in the days ahead

Video: Heated Debate Over Transgender Rights in Fairfax County Public Schools

By
lowkell
-
8

UPDATE: See full video of last night’s Fairfax County Public Schools meeting below. Also, superb job by Joshua Israel (former head of the Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club) a little while ago in Fairfax, especially given that the audience is filled with people who are clearly, vehemently opposed to this policy change. By the way, prior to Joshua Israel, a speaker actually claimed that this nondiscrimination ordinance could result in an increased suicide rate among transgender kids, as well more sex crimes by “predators.” These people have wayyyyy too much time on their hands, and clearly not enough access to accurate information, let’s just leave it at that.

UPDATE 6 am Friday: Joshua Israel writes on his Facebook page: “Very very proud to say that 10 of Fairfax’s 12 school board members voted tonight to add gender identity to the FCPS non-discrimination policy. Proud to say that I made it through my speech in support without breaking down, even though the room was mostly filled with screaming, angry, anti-LGBT activists.”

Also, House of Delegates Democratic candidate Joana Garcia writes: “Appalling behavior at the school board meeting tonight. From the woman out in the lobby who mumbled under her breath for the mom to ‘take your screaming kid outside why don’t ya’ to another who said ‘why not’ to the statement by a board member ‘we should not discriminate against anyone’. At least 5 people removed from the meeting due to disruptive behavior.”

Catherine Read writes: “People turned their backs on Ted Velkoff when he quoted scripture. Because . . . you know . . . that’s would Jesus would do. That woman in black commented and yelled throughout the meeting. Disrepectuful, ugly . . . this was like sitting with the extras from the movie ’42.'”

Sen. Adam Ebbin writes: “Hats off to Josh Israel for reasoned and eloquent testimony in support of Fairfax County Schools’ new policy against discrimination based on gender identity!”

UPDATE 9:07 pm: John Riley tweets, “Schultz motion to postpone fails 2-10.” Also: “McElveen: misinformation is that this policy will not change practices in #FCPS”; “Anti-side has older white men walking up and down aisles. Making hand signals to opponents in crowd. Lots of outbursts”; “Crowd boos McElveen for calling transgender rights ‘civil rights struggle of our generation.'”; “Moon: school administrators will meet with people who claim to be transgender and determine if genuine. Change not putting anyone at risk;” “McLaughlin decries misinformation. As of today, you thought your children were safe. They are and still will be. Garza already practicing it.”

FCPS Student Rep Harris LaTeef writes: “Thank you to the Fairfax County School Board for staying calm and professional even when others certainly were not this evening. I thank you and history will thank you.”

UPDATE 8:17 pm: Jarrod Nagurka tweets, “Shameful. Dan Stork just seconded motion to postpone inclusion of gender identity in Fairfax nondiscrimination policy.”

UPDATE 8:15 pm: John Riley of Metro Weekly magazine tweets: “Fredy Burgos, who opposed @EFillerCorn last election, says policy will undermine 1st Amendment rights of anti-trans students…Burgos decries heavy-handed federal government interfering in local schools. Talking about genital mutilation, HIV rates…Hispanics and blacks will be worst affected by policy. B/C they are largely Christians, Burgos calls #Policy1450 ‘racist.’ Standing ovation.”

UPDATE 8:06 pm: Democratic campaign manager Jarrod Nagurka, who is at the meeting, just wrote on Facebook, “Wow. I was just called a “gangster” and “racist” for supporting nondiscrimination policy. You can’t make this stuff up.” Jarrod also tweets, “Wow. Speaker claim nondiscrimination policy including gender identity is RACIST and would INCREASE black/hispanic dropout rates.” Uh huh.

Video: Gov. McAuliffe Says “We love the military,” Invites Texas Companies to Virginia

By
lowkell
-
0

A few quotes by Gov. McAuliffe from his interview earlier today with Bruce DePuyt, including the one I put in the headline:

  • “I gotta say, the Texas situation has to be one of the dumbest things I have ever heard — to bring out your Guard to follow the military around. Let me tell you, I spent the day yesterday with the military at Hampton Roads with my Guard doing exercises. We love the military, we’re the #1 recipient of Dept. of Defense dollars.  So, if Texas companies are watching this and saying what a waste of time and resources…come to Virginia, we love the military…We’re too busy for that foolishness in Virginia, we’ve got serious things to do.”
  • Agrees that the bloody arrest of UVA honor student Martese Johnson was “disturbing,” says his Administration has taken strong action/undertaken reforms. Also notes that the criminal part is now complete, although he hasn’t seen it, and has been sent to the Commonwealth Attorney. Also notes that Baltimore’s recent unrest illustrates that “a tipping point could occur in any city in America.”
  • “I need Baltimore to be strong for Virginia, for our region…sure we’re competitive, but we’re stronger” if we “act together” to bring jobs to our region.
  • Says economic diversification is an imperative right now, given federal sequestration, defense cuts, etc. Says there are “huge opportunities” for human genome sequencing, biomedical research…”the jobs of the future.” Says “we have totally transformed workforce development” in Virginia, that “we’re rebuilding our econmomy.”
  • Asked about Del. Buddy Fowler posting an image of a snarling police dog eating Baltimore protestors, Gov. McAuliffe said it’s “disgraceful, I don’t know how in your wildest dreams you can put something up like that.”

    • Says he’s had Bruce Allen, Dan Snyder to the Executive Mansion to discuss the R**skins possibly moving to Loudoun County. “We are aggressively working to try and get the R**skins to come to Virginia,” but it’s “got to make economic sense” so it may not end up happening. “We have shown them sites in Loudoun close to Metro that may make sense for a stadium.” But “I can’t sit here today and say I’m even close to a deal with Dan Snyder yet.” But “you can’t win if you’re not on the playing field.”

  • On law enforcement collecting data from license plate readers, Gov. McAuliffe says that Arlington County Board Chair Mary Hynes and Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille – “both I would say liberal jurisdictions” – both “begged me to veto that bill.” Also noted that “the sniper was capture by a license plate reader.” Says this bill was rushed through the legislature at the end and there were a “lot of mistakes made on the bill.” Among others, McAuliffe says the bill wwould have forced him “to shut down the new 95/495 lanes” because they rely on license plate readers.

Audio: Extremist Ken Cuccinelli Attacks AG Mark Herring on Abortion Clinics Opinion

By
lowkell
-
2

I think the best way to listen to this garbage is to just keep in mind the following rule at all times: if Ken Cuccinelli’s lips are moving, he’s lying (or at the minimum, distorting). The fact is, Cuccinelli bullied the state Board of Health “into a stance – unprecedented in state history – that could force most of the commonwealth’s 20 or so abortion clinics to close.” Cooch can use the excuse all he wants that what he REALLY cares about is women’s health, but of course it’s utter nonsense; this is 100% about Cooch’s virulent, absolutist opposition to abortion. Period.

As for Mark Herring’s recent decision protecting these clinics, the overwhelming consensus regarding the “ideologically-motivated ‘twisted legal logic’ from former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli,” is strong support.  Here are two strong examples.

“Mr. Cuccinelli, a crusading culture warrior, advanced a rationale as flawed as it was novel…Mr. Herring’s opinion provides a correction.” – Washington Post

“If they had any sense of shame, conservative Republicans would feel some in the wake of Attorney General Mark Herring’s recent opinion about abortion-clinic regulations.” – Richmond Times Dispatch

The bottom line is that Ken Cuccinelli was a disaster as Virginia’s Attorney General, got almost everything wrong, went on crazy (and taxpayer-money-wasting) witch hunts, and thankfully is now out of public office. On the other hand, Cooch IS the “gift that keeps on giving” politically, as every time he speaks, he reminds people how extreme, intolerant, and downright crazy his party has become. For that service, I thank him from the bottom of my Democratic, progressive heart. 🙂

National and Virginia News Headlines: Thursday Morning

By
lowkell
-
3

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, May 7. Also check out the video of protests yesterday against Dominion Power in Glen Allen.

*Britain’s election could trigger a political scrum

*Populism could divide the Grand Old Party

*Why Won’t Pamela Geller Shut Up? (Because demented, raving bigots usually don’t shut up?)

*Goodbye to all that: Hillary ditches the caution that helped doom her 2008 campaign

*GOP’s gay marriage dilemma: Concede to reality, or go all in on bigotry? (What would Ken Cuccinelli, E.W. Jackson and Mark Obenshain want them to do? Hmmm.)

*‘The Texas of Canada’ Just Elected A Left-Wing Government (Now if only the “Texas of TEXAS” would do that! LOL)

*Clinton Takes the Lead on Immigration

*Atlantic Coast Pipeline issue dominates Dominion shareholders meeting (“Opponents of a 500-mile natural gas pipeline targeted Dominion Resources Inc.’s annual shareholders meeting Wednesday, with more than 100 protesters picketing outside…”)

*Kaine to press Congress for war authority, again

*Portsmouth sees chaos during budget time

*Election-year shakeup in Virginia Democratic Party continues (“The party’s executive director says he will step down, two months after the chairman’s unexpected exit.”)

*For transgender teens and teachers, acceptance could be two words away (“Northern Virginia school administration will vote on a proposal to protect transgender students.”)

*Feminists at Mary Washington say they were threatened on Yik Yak app (Yik…Yak…Yuk!)

*Capitals’ Andre Burakovsky doubles up in win over Rangers

*A prelude to summer? Hot and sticky again today, but without the rain

Video: Arlington County Board Debate

By
lowkell
-
17

The Arlington County Democratic Committee held a County Board candidates debate earlier this evening, ably moderated by Stephanie Clifford. I will upload a few videos now, here and in the comments section. I’ll upload the rest tomorrow morning when they’ve finished processing on YouTube. Enjoy!

P.S. My preferred answer to the question about whether the candidates would support John Vihstadt (R, pretending to be an “I”) for Arlington County Board chair in 2017:  I can’t imagine voting for a Republican who waged a campaign of lies and demagoguery to get on the board in the first place, while severely harming Arlington in the process. So, barring a miracle…no!

1...2,0162,0172,018...3,299Page 2,017 of 3,299












EVEN MORE NEWS

POPULAR CATEGORY

©