“Pat Robertson embraces debunked conspiracy theory that the government is stockpiling armored vehicles and ammunition for use against Americans.” Yes, “Bobby” McDonnell’s “dear friend” (and top donor) is frighteningly deranged.
From the Mark Herring for AG campaign:
FORMER DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR BRIAN MORAN ENDORSES HERRING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
Leesburg – State Senator Mark Herring’s (Loudoun & Fairfax) campaign for Attorney General announced today the endorsement of immediate past chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia, former Delegate from Alexandria Brian Moran.
“Mark Herring has a strong record of service in the state Senate, he has served his community and now he’s ready to serve as our next Attorney General,” Moran said. “Mark gives Democrats the best chance to retake the Attorney General’s office for the first time in 24 years.
“We’ve seen what happens when the wrong person gets in the Attorney General’s office. Virginia can’t afford another four years with a clone of Ken Cuccinelli. We need someone we can trust and a proven winner like Mark Herring,” Moran added. “Herring is a tough campaigner – he was one of the best surrogates we had last year and he worked hard to help re-elect President Obama and elect Tim Kaine to the Senate, and he has consistently won races in one of the most important swing counties in the state – Loudoun. I endorse Mark and look forward to working to elect him our next Attorney General.”
( – promoted by lowkell)
by Paul Goldman
Two months ago, I would have said the issue of restoring the voting rights of those convicted of a felony would never be a front-burner 2013 campaign issue. I would have bet George W. Bush’s ranch on it. Dick Cheney’s too. But politics today moves at Internet speed. Governor McDonnell is quoted in today’s Richmond Times Dispatch as promising more executive action on the issue, above and beyond what he has done to date, the most of any Governor on the subject in VA history.
As a numbers matter, it is one of the biggest voting rights issues in the state right now, perhaps the biggest: roughly 400,000 Virginians fall into the category that has cost them the right to vote due to Article 1, Section 2 of the Virginia constitution. When we consider that they all have family members and friends, we are talking a big voting group. Contrary to conventional wisdom, this is not just a “Democratic” issue, but rather the polls show a solid block of GOP voters who are interested in the issue.
Politically speaking, overwhelming majorities of voters say the current constitutional lifetime ban – only removable by the Governor – on ex-felons being allowed to vote again is too restrictive. Virginia is one of only 5 states which are in this lifetime ban category, so we get a fair amount of national attention from the media and whatever on the issue.
Governors Warner and Kaine moved the ball forward in the issue, the ban itself first came under gubernatorial scrutiny under Governor Wilder.
In 1982, Democrats first tried to amend the Constitution’s rigid procedures which, in effect, have made it a lifetime ban for all practical purposes for most of the 400,000. The voters rejected the Democratic amendment. Since then, the issue has taken any number of twists and turns. McDonnell made it a surprise 2009 issue. But it was back burner.
WHY COULD THE ISSUE EMERGE FRONT BURNER THIS YEAR IN THE GOV RACE?
Voting rights issues have some saliency now, and this is a big one on the numbers. MORE IMPORTANTLY, the issue falls into the pattern of 2013 campaign issues in this regard.
Terry McAuliffe, and Democratic leaders in the General Assembly are for automatic restoration of rights for non-violent felons. This has basically been the Democratic position for a long time. Senator Henry Marsh wanted to do it legislatively in 2000, Senator Lucas put in a Constitutional Amendment in this past GA Session.
Moreover, Governor McDonnell backed Lucas on it. So the issue is teed up as never before entering an GUV election year. Since he is a Republican, this has had a very big effect on the matter as a political campaign issue in 2013.
Ken Cuccinelli and Republican leaders in the General Assembly have their differences on the issue. He testified for a Constitutional Amendment, and they rejected it big time.
SO WE SEE A PATTERN WHICH HAS SOME 2013 KEY ELEMENTS: Terry and the Democrats are united: Cuccinelli and the GOP are split. While that is admittedly a very simplistic sort of bumper sticker thing – and not all splits and unity are equal so to speak – campaigns often work better with a very basic narrative. You skip over the details.
The bottom line: Since this is an issue which unites Democrats, but splits Republicans, it might emerge as 2013 campaign issue for this reason and no other. The press likes this kind of thing, warring factions. It fits their Cuccinelli narrative too. Moreover: Cuccinelli is not backing down on his testimony in favor of the Amendment killed by the GOP in the House but supported by Democrats.
And then there is this: Terry’s ticket will be fully supportive of automatic rights restoration regardless of the nominees down ballot. But what will be the GOP ticket’s position? There is a good chance they will have different opinions on the issue, perhaps widely different ones depending on who gets nominated for AG and LG.
Historically, such ticket splits have often proved a problem for one or more members of the ticket. It killed the 1985 GOP ticket and the 1997 Democratic ticket. My gut still says: This will not be a major 2013 campaign issue. But it is a lot bigger right now than I would have predicted 60 days ago.
Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, March 28.
*Court seems set to strike Defense of Marriage Act
*Why the Democrats are better off without Ashley Judd in Kentucky (I agree, this would have been a debacle.)
*Corporations Pay Historically Low Tax Rates While Lobbying To Make Them Even Lower (How do you like living in the new Robber Baron Era?)
*Hands off women’s health care (“The governor seeks to tell health insurance companies what they cannot cover.”)
*Business sense on Medicaid (“Refusing to expand the insurance program will affect working families as well as some Virginia employers.”)
*McAuliffe submits 35,000-plus signatures for ballot spot
*Poll: Virginians split over expanding Medicaid
*Warner Explains Change of Mind on Same-Sex Marriage
*McDonnell walks a fine ideological line
*Sen. Warner strikes bipartisan tone at Staunton event (LOL, it’s “news” that Mark Warner struck a “bipartisan tone?” That’s his whole brand, for god’s sake!)
*Groups ask McDonnell to issue felon-voting order
*McAuliffe strongly backs Medicaid expansion
*Virginia Chamber of Commerce names Howell Legislator of the Year (Hahahaha, that’s unintentionally hilarious, as Howell does the corporations’ bidding 24/7. He scratches their back, they scratch his. Charming.)
*Terry McAuliffe faces uphill climb against Ken Cuccinelli in Virginia governor’s race
*Cuccinelli bid is GOP experiment (“Despite its Southern conservative history, Virginia is not Kansas or Oklahoma.”)
*Virginia governor’s candidates embrace popular Gov. Bob McDonnell
*Voters see Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell doing good job (Actually, 53% is a mediocre number.)
*Va. delegate ending legislative service after 5 decades (“Del. Lacey Putney of Bedford County won’t seek re-election to another term this November, bringing to a close a record-setting 52-year career in the Virginia House of Delegates.”)
*A bad deal dies at Virginia’s port
*Columbia Pike Streetcar Town Hall Gets Heated (“Several residents stayed afterward to thank the board members for their leadership on what’s turning out to be an increasingly difficult issue. “‘I came in skeptical but now I think the streetcar is a no-brainer,‘ one woman told Tejada after shaking his hand.” Exactly!)
*Shaka Smart staying at VCU
Great job by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), confronting Sen. Warner on his badly mistaken vote regarding the Keystone dirty Canadian tar sands pipeline (note: click on image to “embiggen”)! Here’s how they described it:
Today in Harrisonburg, over 70 Virginians confronted Senator Mark Warner on his decision to support the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Not only did the Senator receive our message as he walked into a private luncheon, a group of pipeline protesters were also invited to sit down for an hour-long meeting with his Chief of Staff, where we demanded a public response by next week.
I’d also note that Sen. Warner’s just plain wrong that we need an “all of the above” strategy. To the stark contrary, there have been multiple studies demonstrating that we could feasibly power the country, and the planet, on 100% (or close to it) clean energy, if we just put our minds to it (I strongly recommend that Sen. Warner read this NY Times article, “Life After Oil and Gas”). But if we keep repeating the false mantra that we will “need” coal, oil, etc. for decades to come, that will only make it harder to do what we have to do: get off this planet-destroying stuff ASAP. What about that does Sen. Warner not “get?”
The following press release is from Arlington Streetcar Now. I’ll have more later, but for now I’ll just say that the County Board and staff thoroughly, patiently, and comprehensively answered every question about whether or not to build a streetcar, and overwhelmingly confirmed my view that this is not just the best way to go, but the only serious way to go. Let’s build this thing already!
Arlington, VA – Supporters of the long-planned Arlington street car project came out in force tonight at a town hall meeting held to inform the public about the proposed streetcar system that would link Fairfax County and Alexandra through Columbia Pike and Crystal City. County staff presented information about the project, dispelled myths, and answered questions from citizens.
“Arlingtonians strongly support moving forward with the streetcar which neighborhoods and businesses have been working to bring about for a decade.” said John Snyder, president of Arlington Streetcar Now, a grassroots organization of Arlington residents and business leaders who support the streetcar as part of the revitalization of Columbia Pike and Crystal City. “The streetcar represents a next-generation transit solution that will increase capacity, improve ridership, and spark new investment that will enhance and revitalize our community.”
Lots more on the “flip,” including some photos.
“Arlingtonians acknowledge the foresight of those who supported Metro over the naysayers, and know that this generation has a similar choice to make.” Snyder said, noting that Arlington’s investment in Metrorail is widely regarded as a principal reason that propelled Arlington from being a community in economic decline in the 1970s to one of the most desirable locations in the region to live and work in 2013. “Tonight Arlingtonians demonstrated that they know the streetcar is an extraordinary opportunity to support an transportation investment in our future that will pay dividends for South Arlington neighborhoods and the well being of the county as a whole.”
The forum addressed many questions about the streetcar plan, including why bus-rapid transit options were considered and rejected as infeasible, how streetcars operate well in mixed traffic, the role of the streetcar in the Columbia Pike Neighborhoods Plan and affordable housing preservation, and the potential economic benefits of the streetcar over bus options alone. In addition to Arlington Streetcar Now, the project is supported by the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Coalition for Smarter Growth, many current and former elected officials, and civic and business leaders.
Arlington Streetcar Now can be found at www.streetcarnow.org and on Facebook and Twitter.
The Coalition for Smarter Growth table, with Executive Director Stewart Schwartz on the left.
Arlington County Board member Mary Hynes and others chatting before the forum.
Information on the streetcar system, as well as the long and involved process that led to the (correct) decision in favor of going the streetcar route.
A photo of the crowd, which got larger and mostly filled the auditorium at Kenmore Middle School at its peak.
Not all the streetcar opponents are Tea Partiers, but they certainly seemed to make up a significant contingent on that side tonight.
Cross posted at Daily Kos
Is Ken Cuccinelli moving to the political center to win the Virginia governor’s race? Um…no.
Quite to the contrary, our Ayatollah General is once again petitioning the courts to validate his favorite climate change conspiracy theories. Just last week, he asked the Supreme Court to throw out the US EPA’s scientific finding that climate change represents a threat to human health.
If he wrote that he is filing his petition out of concern for his fossil fuel industry donors, who may have to sell a yacht or two if oil, gas and coal stocks sink, I might give him an A for honesty. No such luck — his rationale (or more accurately, irrationale) is that thousands of scientists worldwide falsified their data as part of the biggest conspiracy since the faked moon landing.
David Doniger of NRDC demolishes this shoddy edifice in his blog by playing the dirty trick of quoting the last court — the US Court of Appeals in Washington — to throw this bum and his bull-hockey out on the street:
State and Industry Petitioners assert that EPA improperly “delegated” its judgment to the IPCC, USGCRP, and NRC by relying on these assessments of climate-change science. … This argument is little more than a semantic trick. EPA did not delegate, explicitly or otherwise, any decision-making to any of those entities. EPA simply did here what it and other decisionmakers often must do to make a science-based judgment: it sought out and reviewed existing scientific evidence to determine whether a particular finding was warranted.[…]Relying again upon substantial scientific evidence, EPA determined that anthropogenically induced climate change threatens both public health and public welfare.[…]State Petitioners have not, as they assert, uncovered a “pattern” of flawed science. Only two of the errors they point out seem to be errors at all, and EPA relied on neither in making the Endangerment Finding.
But undeterred, our Kook presses onward. If you feel any temptation to praise him for his doggedness, please note that most conspiracy theorists tend to be just as persistent. That is because they are, not to put too fine a point on it, INSANE.
( – promoted by lowkell)
As supporters of equality all across the country have turned their eyes to the Supreme Court this week to watch arguments about California's Prop 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act, Corey Stewart has issued a statement regarding his views on “traditional marriage.” No, Corey Stewart has not joined “moderates” such as Dick Cheney, Bill O’Reilly and Rob Portman in supporting the rights of all people in this country. After all, how would doing something like THAT help Corey win the LG nomination at the Virginia Republican convention in May?
Instead, earlier today on his website, Stewart published a bizarre video (see above) reaffirming his support for what he calls "God Ordained Marriage". According to Stewart, "Public policy should first be aimed at strengthening families, whether that be economic policy, education policy or family policy.
Let's take a look at Corey Stewart's record on these three key public policy areas.
After Stewart's failed, hate-fueled immigrant bashing in 2007, Prince William County became the epicenter of the underwater housing crisis and one of the largest foreclosure markets in the country. Businesses and consumers fled Prince William County for a more stable business climate. Prince William County has still not fully recovered, with empty store fronts all along major business corridors in the county.
Under Stewart's 10 years on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, we've seen him cut funding to schools, as class sizes have exploded and Prince William County teachers continue to be the lowest paid in the Northern Virginia region. Last year, government relationships with PWC teachers grew so bad that PWEA (Prince William Education Association) members organized a "teach to the rule" demonstration, refusing to work any hours over what was outlined in their contract. Corey Stewart's "education policy" continues to hurt Prince William students, teachers, families and businesses.
I sure hope that over the next few weeks Corey Stewart explains to voters what a "family policy" is. Maybe Stewart got some interesting ideas when he traveled to China last year?
Lastly, with all of the rumors surronding Corey Stewart I'm not sure I would be quite so eager to post videos and start talking about "traditional marriage." It sure would be terrible for such a promising political career to get derailed in the next 6 weeks based on interesting definitions of "God Ordained Marriage", wouldn't it Corey?
It’s kind of ironic that I’ve been spending so much time talking about Howard Dean this week. Why ironic? First, because I was a big supporter of General Wesley Clark – not Governor Dean – for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2003. Second, because two of the biggest stars of the Draft Wesley Clark movement – both of whom get major shoutouts in my book, Netroots Rising (“How a Citizen Army of Bloggers and Online Activists is Changing American Politics”) – passed away recently, and they’ve been on my mind a lot.
Let’s start with the most recent: Stan Davis (to Clark’s right in the photo, the one with all the Clark buttons), who passed away on Saturday. Stan ran the main Draft Wesley Clark Yahoo group, and said of the Draft movement that it was made up of “ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” As I wrote in Netroots Rising, Stan was a “56-year-old Colorado man who had nearly died of a stroke in 2002, and was retired for medical reasons.” Like me, Stan saw Clark’s June 15, 2003 Meet the Press interview, and “Clark’s persona and message excited” Stan, spurring him to attend the first Denver Draft Clark Meetup on July 7, 2003. Stan soon became the moderator of the largest Clark Yahoo group (Clark 2004), as well as one of General Clark’s most passionate – and effective – netroots supporters. He also became someone I considered a good friend, comrade in arms, also a friendly debating partner (as much or more about philosophy and other subjects than politics). Stan was also one of the nicest, classiest, most diplomatic people I’ve ever met, and he needed to be, moderating a group with thousands of members and tens of thousands of messages.
There’s a lot to say about Stan, but it’s hard to top his own life described in his own words. A few points that jump out at me as I reread this: 1) Stan started out as a big Goldwater fan, before his “flaming liberal fiancĂ©e opened my eyes;” 2) in 1999, he was given 6 months to live following a stroke, exacerbated by hemochromatosis (a genetic blood disorder in which “the body doesn’t metabolize iron”) and diabetes; 3) after languishing for three years or so, Stan was rejuvenated by the Draft Clark movement, to which he committed “my support…and my life;” 4) as Stan puts it, the Clark movement – along with “crossword puzzles” and his divorce – “combined to…well…save my life.” Politics saving someone’s life? How can that be possible, the cynical might ask? Very simple: believing in something bigger than yourself; connecting with a community and a movement that inspires you; finding a purpose to your existence; those things can make all the difference in having the will to live – or not. And in Stan’s case, it worked – until this past Saturday.
Finally, before I move on to the other Draft Wesley Clark leader who passed away recently, here’s General Wesley Clark himself on Stan Davis, and what Stan meant to him. Very moving.
I will really miss Stan Davis. He was a Navy veteran and a fine man. But for me he had a special role as one of a handful of people who really provided me the will to run for President. He helped organize the draft, and encouraged me at every step. Not because he had great money, or huge political influence but because he had a strong faith in America, and believed that someone had to stand up for our country and our principles. Again and again, Stan was there for me. I could look into the audience in California, or Denver, or New Hampshire, and Stan was there.
I knew Stan would rally the troops, and that he cared about the big issues, like I did.
I knew he was ill, and in failing health. Still, it’s a shock, and a loss. Stan, we miss you!
Yes, we do. Rest in peace, my friend (or as Stan would say, “mon ami”).
The other Draft Clark superstar who passed away recently is Ellen Dana Nagler, who Stan Davis identified as of his key mentors. On February 2, I got an email – followed by a long phone call – from our mutual friend (and Clarkie) Kelly Flinn, informing me that Ellen had passed away the day before. There’s a lot to say about Ellen, but to give you a flavor of her role in the Clark movement, here’s an excerpt from Netroots Rising:
On October 5, Ellen Nagler, the leader of Santa Barbara for Clark, and one of the brightest political people in the Clark movement — her campaign experience went back to Bobby Kennedy in 1968 — wrote to Lowell in an instant message chat that “the Clark Movement is being systematically excluded.” Nagler complained that Digital Clark (a repository for radio and TV interviews with Clark) “is gone” and that “for days, if you clicked on the [popular] Clark Tribune newsletter on the main site you got redirected to the main campaign press page.” Nagler expressed her belief that the campaign professionals viewed the draft people as “mavericks” or even “unruly children” who needed to be “brought under control or sent away from the table if we ‘misbehave’.”
In short, Ellen was a fierce defender of – and believer in – the power of the progressive grassroots/netroots activism to change American politics for the better. And she certainly practiced that in her life. Of course, that shouldn’t be surprising for someone who called herself an “unreconstructed liberal,” and who never lost her Brooklyn/NY City attitude (“chutzpah”), nor her sense of outrage at injustice and right-wing lunacy. Ellen also was highly involved in her local and state Democratic Parties.
As for the Clark campaign, Ellen and I both grew increasingly frustrated – and alienated – during the fall of 2003, after we had both been as excited and energized as can be for General Clark during the summer. In numerous, early-morning (for me – VERY late night for her in California!) chats, Ellen and I discussed our growing frustration over the systematic exclusion of the draft elements from the Clark campaign. Among other things, this contributed to the decision of Clark’s first campaign manager, Donnie Fowler Jr., to resign on October 7, 2003. As Fowler told me later, the “professional” political folks brought in to run the Clark campaign had made the mistake of trying to “dam up the river” of netroots talent and enthusiasm, instead of working to harness it intelligently, as the Obama campaign did in 2008 and 2012. In my view, and I’m confident that Ellen would agree, the decision to make the Clark campaign “top down,” instead of “bottom up” (or even better, a hybrid of “top down” and “bottom up,” as we ended up with in the Webb campaign of 2006), played a major role in General Clark losing the primary.
The last I heard from Ellen was actually in September 2009, when she emailed to tell me that Virginia is “such a critical state” politically, and how glad she was that I was still blogging, at Blue Virginia, after the demise of RK/Raising Kaine. My hope is that if there’s an afterlife, that Ellen and Stan are sharing a cool drink, debating politics and philosophy, in English and/or in French, which they both loved. And, of course, leading a “draft” progressive political movement wherever they are! 🙂
P.S. I miss you both!
From the Terry McAuliffe for Governor campaign – impressive!
Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe hand delivered 35,746 signatures to the Virginia State Board of Elections to secure his place on the ballot. Former Republican Delegates Vince Callahan, Katherine Waddell, businessman Major Reynolds, and supporters from across Virginia joined McAuliffe to deliver the petitions.
“I’m grateful for the support I’ve gotten from folks across the Commonwealth,” said Terry McAuliffe. “I think this is a testament to the energy and passion there is behind our message of overcoming extreme gridlock to find mainstream solutions on transportation, education, and economic development. I look forward to continuing to work with Virginians of all political affiliations as we strive to make Virginia the best for business.”
“In turning in three times as many signatures as necessary from every Congressional district, it is clear that Terry is earning support from every corner of Virginia. Terry has traveled to every corner of Virginia and his focus on mainstream solutions for economic growth appeals from Bristol to Virginia Beach to Arlington,” said Del. Callahan. “I’ve endorsed Terry because I know we need our next Governor to focus on the economy instead of divisive social issues.”
About 500 volunteers carried the petitions and helped collect signatures from across the Commonwealth, including collecting more than three times the required amount from each congressional district. These signatures include Republicans, Democrats, and Independents who are supporting Terry because he is willing to work with both parties to find solutions on transportation, education and economic development.
