Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Saturday, December 29.

*‘Fiscal cliff’ agreement said to be within reach (Anything Mitch McConnell’s involved in makes me nervous, how about you?)

*Obama to GOP: Last chance

*Sen. Michael Crapo won’t fight Alexandria DUI charge

*GOP Senators Want To Take Debt Ceiling Hostage In Order To Raise Retirement Age

*Are These Guys Really In Charge Of The Republican Party? (“From a DUI to fumbled fiscal cliff talks, there’s no time for soul-searching in a leaderless party. ‘It’s a shit show,’ says one.”)

*Road revenue bills filed by legislators

*After the Newtown shootings, Virginia breaks a record for gun permits

*Va. lawmakers likely to examine innocence law

*Supporters see changed feelings on sales tax used for roads

*Map success for Norfolk schools

*Feds seize 214 pounds of khat at Dulles airport

*Little hope for significant snowfall

*How RGIII won over his teammates

I don’t know how anyone can have the patience to go on Faux “News” and put up with their constant lying, distorting, false narrative setting, slandering, etc, but kudos to Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) for kicking serious butt with these bozos.  Great job. Of course, it helps Democrats like Van Hollen make their case that the right wing has ZERO facts on its side regarding the fiscal cliff, as in nada, nil, zip, zilch, none. In reality, of course, if Tea Party Republicans didn’t control the U.S. House of Representatives, and if John Boehner hadn’t completely lost control of his own caucus, we would have had a balanced deal a long, long time ago. But that’s the situation we find ourselves in right now, thanks to the 2010 mid-term elections, when millions of Democrats foolishly stayed home and failed to offset the votes of the Teahadists. Now, we’re all suffering for that huge mistake. Let’s just hope that millions of Democrats learned their lesson and will NEVER sit out another election again!

( – promoted by lowkell)

by Paul Goldman

Having helped then gubernatorial candidate Mark Warner with his regional transportation tax referendum proposals in 2001, I naturally have no problem with the latest proposal for a regional referendum in Tidewater being pushed by several area delegates.

While Warner has turned strongly against using the referendum approach, I think he is being short-sighted in that area. In the end, it is the people’s money; giving them more power, not less, is a good thing, not a bad thing. Right now, the General Assembly seems deadlocked again. At those times, one has to be practical: and in this instance, going directly to the public can help.  

Moreover, the history of Virginia has found that referendums – used sparingly but fearlessly when needed – have been highly beneficial to the Commonwealth. Sometimes the folks in Richmond can’t get the job done. Then, the people have to step in.

Additionally, in Virginia, we only have advisory referendums, not binding ones as in California and many of the Western states, where the progressive movement at the turn of the last century held sway.

Here in Virginia, advisory referendums played a key role in establishing, for example, the lottery when the General Assembly proved unable to resolve the issue. In previous years, statewide referendums actually shot down horse racing and other forms of gambling. Moreover, all changes to the state constitution must be done by referendum, indeed a binding one. So there is ample precedent.

 

MORE TO THE POINT: In terms of transportation policy, a 1920’s statewide referendum ESTABLISHED THE GAS TAX AS THE METHOD FOR FUNDING ROADS IN THE STATE.

Indeed, Virginia voters back then rejected the “borrow and spend” policies of Governor McDonnell for a far more fiscally responsible approach: that is to say, they voted for higher gas taxes and less putting the burden on future generations to pay.

This is forgotten today, because former Governor Byrd is remembered – and rightly so – as an ardent segregationist and head of political dynasty that ruled the state by manipulating prejudices.

But he actually came to power by building an anti-debt image by supporting higher taxes for road funding, the major spending issue for state government back then. This was due to his realizing his largely rural constituency needed roads to get their good to market. Franklin Delano Roosevelt also backed gas taxes a generation before when starting out as a candidate for state senate in a rural area. He too realized his voters needed better roads, due in part to his having traveled the district in a car and gotten stuck often in the muddy back roads.

FAST FORWARD TO 2013: With all due respect to the GOP lawmakers talking regional referendums, this isn’t just a regional problem. Road policy is a fundamental state issue, and we need a better state policy.

THUS: Why not a statewide referendum?

I believe the following: The voters of Virginia would defy the conventional wisdom and vote to allow the gas tax to rise TO COVER THE COST OF MAINTAINING THE ROADS.

They would likely reject any effort to raise taxes for the sole purpose of building new roads most will not use. But everyone has a stake in maintaining the roads they do use. This is a growing expense. It is impacting new construction money too.

Virginians know the facts. They need to be trusted on this. Why not do what worked almost 100 years ago? Give the voters a chance to lead the way. Put a statewide advisory referendum on the ballot next year asking voters to choose.

Then-State Senator Byrd defied the governor’s call for more debt, instead crisscrossing the state to defeat a statewide bond referendum by saying it would be better to raise taxes as opposed to going into more debt. Everyone thought he was crazy: But the voters backed the idea.

If Tidewater wants a separate referendum, then I say, it’s their right as Virginians. But this is ultimately an issue requiring a statewide generated solution.

At some point, you’ve got to trust the people: you can’t have a democracy where leaders think they have to protect the people from themselves.

Warner and Kaine are not fans of referendums.  Neither is the Democratic GA leadership. I respect their opinions. But right now, a statewide referendum appears to be the only approach that can be enacted anytime soon.

Again: It is only advisory. What can be bad about giving the people a chance?

Warner lost his two regional referendums, but it didn’t hurt his career. The public appreciates leaders who try to solve problems. No one is right about everything. But when you are in a ditch, you’ve got to stop digging.

I say give the voters a shot at breaking the deadlock on road funding. It’s their money: let them have a direct say on the matter.  

Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, December 28. By the way, that video has absolutely NOTHING to do with politics, but it’s awesome and there were a bunch of politicians (e.g., President Obama) there watching, so what the heck? 🙂

*White House Meeting a Last Stab at a Fiscal Deal (My attitude is better no deal than a bad deal…)

*Why they want to go over the cliff

*Time to Confront Climate Change

*New Hawaii Senator: Climate Change The ‘Most Urgent Challenge Of Our Generation’ (I’d love to hear this kind of talk from Virginia’s Senators as well!)

*Lisa Jackson resigns EPA post after making big progress: Editorial

*Va. families decry potential Russian ban on U.S. adoptions (“They say Russian legislation would only punish the children.” And they’re absolutely right. What a vicious, pointless law by the Russians. Boo!!!)

*Without any limit, big money will flow into Va. governor’s race (Can’t wait, huh? Not.)

*Va. lawmakers to target exploitation of elderly

*Editorial: Make health care a priority (“Virginia Democrats recognize that most Virginians want affordable health care, and they’re ready to fight for it.”)

*Va. lawmakers likely to examine innocence law

*Legislator revives referendum on sales tax for region’s roads

*Virginia, Navy sign road deal

*Editorial: A cheerless greeting (“Free speech is free for believers and non-believers alike.”)

*Scrap gas tax, boost sales tax for roads, Fairfax delegate says (An utterly horrible idea in every way. Also brain-dead stupid. Did I mention horrible?)

*Uranium mine debate divides small southern Virginia town of Chatham

*Major Loudoun-Prince William highway moves closer to reality (Wonderful, more sprawl development. Dumb, dumb, dumb.)

LOL, Sen. Chap Petersen goes with an 1832/”Les Miserables” theme for his end-of-2012 message (question: is humanity still “miserable” 180 years later?). Also, if this sort of thing doesn't make YOU miserable, check out Chap's annual Business Leader's Breakfast on January 4 at the Mason Inn. Of course, you'll also need a lot more money than the poor French who rebelled in 1832 did if you want to attend. 🙂

************* 

Dear Friends, Virginians, Citizens of Fairfax:

Imagine Paris in 1832.  The streets are teeming with masses of young people, rallying to fight injustice.  Barricades are thrown up.  Songs and chants fill the air. 

Now imagine the first day of the 2013 General Assembly session. 

Okay, the youthful energy is missing.  And we lack operatic tenors.  But it's the same concept — we are coming together with a chance, an opportunity, to make a difference in Olde Virginia.

On the one hand is the “ancien regime” of Governor Bob McDonnell (R), which limps into its final year with control on all the levers of state power.  On the other hand are new leaders, Republican and Democratic, seeking to make a name or establish a new coalition of leadership.  These new leaders make defiant speeches and strike brave poses in Richmond, all with the hope of getting the public's attention. 

The 2013 session will see the clash of these parties; the filling of this power vacuum.  Who will be the winner?  It will be the side who chooses original solutions, whether the issue is breaking through wall of inertia in transportation, restoring voting rights to ex-offenders, or reforming laws that favor large corporations.  

One thing is for sure:  this state is looking for new voices.  It's looking for ideas.  Not cautious managers afraid to take chances or disappoint the hyper-partisan members of their own Caucus.

We have learned over the past five years that the traditional powers no longer control the vote in this Commonwealth. 

If the Assembly continues to treat Virginia voters like it's 1993 (or 1893), then there are going to be some changes around here in November …

With or without the barricades. 

Should Piers Morgan be deported back to the U.K. for his views on guns?  Many NRA diehards want the U.S. government to do just that. Of course, that’s utterly ridiculous, as the Morgan has the absolute right under the 1st Amendment to our constitution to express his views, even if they’re “controversial.” Clearly, this “deport Piers Morgan” effort is just the NRA and its allies trying to distract attention from their own problems in the aftermath of the Newtown (and many other) mass shootings. Anyway, the answer to whether Piers Morgan should be deported for his views on guns, gun control, etc, is “absolutely not.”

On the other hand, I CAN think of an issue where there might actually be some legal ground for deporting Piers Morgan. Namely, this.

Morgan is alleged to have close ties with the Rupert Murdoch family and defended them in the media against suggestions that they were more involved in the News International phone hacking scandal than they claimed.

During Morgan’s tenure as editor, the Daily Mirror was advised by Steven Nott that voicemail interception was possible by means of a standard PIN code. Despite staff initially expressing enthusiasm for the story it did not appear in the paper, although it did subsequently feature in a South Wales Argus article and on BBC Radio 5 Live in October 1999. On 18 July 2011 Nott was visited by officers of Operation Weeting. The Daily Mirror’s publishers Trinity Mirror declined to comment when approached by The Independent for its article of 6 August 2011.

On 13 July 2011 the political blogger Paul Staines alleged that Morgan published a story while knowing it to have been obtained by phone hacking while editor of the Daily Mirror in 2002.

Now THIS is something that perhaps might warrant legal action (although deportation seems a bit harsh). Also see the video about, as well as this article, about Morgan’s continued “apologia” for the heinous Rupert Murdoch. In short, Morgan is absolutely right to call out the NRA and other “any gun/any time” proponent for their extreme views. He certainly shouldn’t be deported for those views, unless tens of millions of Americans who agree with him should also be deported. But on the Murdoch/phone hacking scandal? I’m not so sure.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid correctly calls out John Boehner and the rest of the Republican House “leadership” for its utter irresponsibility as the clock ticks down to yet ANOTHER fiscal “cliff” caused by…wait for it…yep, the Republican House “leadership” themselves. It’s beyond pathetic, but sadly it’s a continuing negative effect of the 2010 teahadist tsunami, one in which way too many Democrats stayed home, apparently believing that mid-term elections don’t matter. Well, they sure do, and in fact the 2010 disaster will continue to hurt us for many years to come. The next shot at booting these extremists out of office is 2014, and all I can say is, we’d better not screw it up (at least not if we care about the future of our country)!

P.S. In stark contrast to BONEr and Can’tor, President Obama is now back in Washington, after cutting short his vacation in Hawaii to deal with this situation. Sure, he could have stayed in Hawaii until Boehn-head returned from Ohio. But unlike Boehn-head, President Obama is a responsible leader.

As always, it was a wild and wacky year for Virginia’s fine, if utterly insane, Attorney General Ken Kookinelli. With 2012 rapidly winding down, and before 2013 undoubtedly has us slamming our heads against our computers/desks/etc. at Cuckoo’s campaign craziness, I thought it would be fun to review his 2012 extremism and all-around bizarre behavior. Enjoy!

January

*Cuccinelli started off 2012 just as he behaved in 2010 and 2011 – politicizing the AG’s office, inserting himself into an intra-Republican-party dispute (over access to the Republican presidential primary ballot here in the Commonwealth), one that he certainly had a right to have an opinion on as a private citizen, but also that he would have been wise – if wisdom were one of his virtues, which it clearly is not – to keep a low profile on, at least in his role as AG. In the end, as usual, Cuccinelli was forced to reverse course, even admit he was wrong, and abandon his attempts to change the Virginia’s ballot qualification rules in midstream.

*More insanity and corporate hackdom, this time with Cuckoo-bird disavowing the health benefits of restricting mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. Of course, Cuccinelli has always served the wealthy, the powerful, and the polluters over the people, so what else is new?

*That’s right, Cuckoo compared immigrants to rats. Seriously. And again, this bigoted freakazoid is Virginia’s Attorney General. Wow.

*Corruption, anyone? Cuccinelli Announces Settlement with Fraudulent “US Navy Vets,” Totally Omits Own Involvement!

*Cuccinelli at Cocktail Party Tonight to Honor Anti-“Obamacare” Fanatic

*Rats! Cuccinelli Continues to Waste Taxpayers’ Time and Money on Utter Nonsense – Bad enough that Cuckoo compared immigrants to rats, but he also wasted Virginia taxpayers’ time and money on this nonsensical non-“issue.” So much for being a fiscal “conservative.”

March

*Of all the horrible things Kookinelli’s done since he became Virginia AG, his assault on climate science, on former UVA Professor Michael Mann, and on academic freedom is the worst, in my view. Fortunately, not everyone’s a know-nothing Grand Inquisitor type like Cooch.  Virginia Supreme Court Ruling Against Cuccinelli “a victory for science in Virginia” (“The Virginia Supreme Court today sided with the University of Virginia in its fight against the state attorney general’s investigation of former U.Va. climate scientist Michael Mann.”)

*37 Attorneys General Sign Google Privacy Policy Letter — But Where’s Cuccinelli? (“when it comes to using the considerable powers of his office to actually help Virginia consumers?  Then Cuccinelli is harder to find than an ivory-billed woodpecker.  You can almost randomly choose an issue of real concern to everyday Virginians and you’re guaranteed to find our Ayatollah General missing in action.”)

*I do what I want! Cuccinelli on Supreme Court health care ruling (“Perhaps he was feeling left out because his lower court challenge to the health care law did not make it to the big dance this March, so he’s back to fighting the health care law any way he can-even if it means breaking the law. Last week, Attorney General Cuccinelli stated that unless there are criminal penalties, he would be comfortable breaking the law by not implementing the Affordable Care Act.”)

*Why U-VA Should Be Compensated for Cuccinelli’s Follies (“Virginia Senate Democrats recently submitted their demands for the state budget, and in a stroke of inspiration, included compensating the University of Virginia $576,000 for its legal costs in fighting Attorney General Cuccinelli’s appalling legal assault on it.”)

*Cuccinelli’s Latest Enemy: Energy Conservation (“…who could be against this great idea?  You guessed it.  When Dominion spoke before the State Corporation Commission last week in favor of its energy conservation plan, Cuccinelli’s office sent a paid consultant to testify against it”)

*Cuccinelli Flip Flops on Obeying the Health Care Law – That’s right, Virginia’s chief law enforcement officer can’t figure out when or whether he needs to follow the law of the land. Earth to Cuckoo – the answer is ALWAYS! What part of the word “illegal” don’t you understand, you teahadist jerk?

*VIDEO: Cuccinelli on how it’s not his job to fight corruption; report is a Soros plot (“Yes, you heard that correctly. When asked about the widely reported State Integrity Investigation that shows Virginia is at high-risk for corruption, Attorney General Cuccinelli shrugged it off as so-much nonsense. After rudely dismissing a constituent’s concerns about government integrity, he went on to say it’s not his job to fight corruption.”)

*Cuccinelli on Electric Rates: Follow the Money (“As I predicted not long ago, our Attorney General is now launching what will surely be a major theme of his just-announced gubernatorial campaign: demagoguing electric power rate increases, blaming them on big gov’mint and environmentalists — while leaving energy companies blameless.  Yes, power rates are all the fault of that evil EPA…”)

*What Ken Kookinelli Was Up To Today (Photos, Video) (“…speaking to a few hundred anti-“Obamacare” Tea Partiers at the “Road to Repeal” rally at Upper Senate Park. Needless to say, he wasn’t speaking at the much larger Reason Rally”)

APRIL

*Ken Cuccinelli Has the Solution to All Your Problems: Ken Cuccinelli (“Ken Cuccinelli has quite the televangelist-style pyramid scheme going. He’s always so close to stopping those evil moderates … if only you’ll give him a little more money, and ask your friends to do the same.”)

MAY

*The Real Cuccinelli (“Let’s not let Virginians forget that Ken Ciccinelli has done things that raise serious questions about his fitness to fill any office in the Commonwealth. I shudder when I think of his sitting in the governor’s chair.”)

JUNE

*Convention Buys Cuccinelli More Time To Rethink Potentially Fatal Decision

*Ken Cuccinelli: Loser (“Not since the Chicago Cubs has anyone assembled as impressive a losing streak as Ken Cuccinelli.  With his reverse Midas Touch, every major case that Virginia’s chief legal officer champions just ends up swirling down the judicial toilet.  The latest flush came today, as the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit rejected his baseless challenge of the US EPA’s scientific finding that greenhouse gases represent a threat to human health.”)

*Supreme Court Upholds “Obamacare”: America Wins, Ken Cuccinelli Big-Time LOSER! (“Our fanatic, wildly misguided Attorney General calls the Supreme Court ruling ‘a dark day for the American people, the Constitution, and the rule of law…a dark day for American liberty.’ As usual, with Ken Kookinelli, take the EXACT OPPOSITE of what he says and it’s very close to the truth.”)

JULY

*Starting Today, VA Republicans Mandate (aka, “Force”) Women to Have Ultrasounds Prior to Abortion (“… you’d think that Teapublicans like Ken Cuccinelli would be screaming bloody murder today.” But no!)

*Cuccinelli’s Lame Attempt to Interfere in Senate Race (“Cuccinelli is dredging up documents and issues nearly as old.  In a NUTshell, they’re trying to blame Kaine for trying to send a German murderer convicted in 1990, Jens Soering, to complete his prison term in Germany rather than Virginia”)

*Surrogate Fail: Cuccinelli’s Obama Attack Backfires, Damages Romney (“While we already know Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is a terrible lawyer, today we also learned he’s a terrible campaign surrogate”)

*Herring Blasts Cuccinelli On Board Of Health Regulations (“Ken Cuccinelli shouldn’t be holding women’s healthcare hostage.  This is politics, not sound legal analysis, and he’s wrong.   It’s fine if Cuccinelli wants to run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, but he shouldn’t drag women’s access to healthcare through the mud along the way.”)

AUGUST

*Cuccinelli Invades Maryland (“…now the latest — Cuccinelli intervening in a Maryland gun control case with no implications whatsoever for Virginia.  As if terrorizing our state weren’t enough, he has to interfere with our neighbors too.”)

*Bewildering: Romney Kicks Cuccinelli To the Curb; Endorses Rival Bolling – Hahahahahaha.

SEPTEMBER

*Herring Urges Board Of Health To Reject Cuccinelli’s Intimidation Tactics (“Attorney General Cuccinelli has moved outside the scope of his legal authority in his attempt to substitute his extreme political ideology for the will of the Board, threatening women’s access to reproductive healthcare in the process.”)

*Did Cuccinelli Just Concede the 2013 Gov. Race? VA Board of Health Coup Will Backfire. (“No reason to call this anything other than it is: a cruel and unnecessary vindictive action by the government which serves no necessary state interest.”)

*ProgressVA Condemns Va Board of Health Decision to Bow to Cuccinelli and McDonnell’s Bullying (“ProgressVA today strongly condemned the decision by the Virginia Board of Health to prioritize politics over evidence-based medicine and bow to bullying from Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli by removing the ‘grandfather clause’ from proposed clinic regulations.”)

*Wanna Go Shootin’ with Ken Cuccinelli, “various assault weapons…with silencers?” (“When he’s not busy bullying the Board of Health into making health decisions for women, Ken Cuccinelli is helping raising cash with his allies by firing submachine guns with anyone who is willing to pay $2,500. This is what our Attorney General is focused on and this is why we need a change in the office.”)

OCTOBER

*Will Votergate Come Back to Haunt Cuccinelli?

*Climate Scientist Fights Back, Sues Right Wing Reality Deniers (“Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli clumsy attempt at “investigating” Dr. Mann’s work was laughed out of court. Mann has been contemplating a lawsuit for months and is now moving forward, so he must feel he has a much stronger legal case than science’s hapless enemies.”)

NOVEMBER

*Cuccinelli Ally Muses on When Obama “goes to Hell”

*Photo: Cuccinelli-Allen Joint #FAIL (Jamie Radtke: “So I get an invitation to attend a Cuccinelli fundraiser in my community, and look at the reply envelope they included for RSVP!! Seriously?!”)

*Rand “Aqua Buddha” Paul Endorses Ken Kookinelli for Governor

*Congratulations to Ken Kookinelli, Winner of the 2012 ProgressVA “Turkey of the Year” Award

*Ken Cuccinelli, Jeffersonian? (“Why is right wing crackpot Ken Cuccinelli running for Virginia governor?  Well of course because he is the spiritual descendant of Thomas Jefferson”)

*Audio: Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli Questions Legitimacy of President Obama’s Reelection

DECEMBER

*Audio: Bill Bolling on Takeover of RPV by Tea Party “Confederation”; Possible Run as an Independent (Run Bill RUN!!!)

*DPVA: Cuccinelli would be a Governor for Santorum, not for Virginia

Great year, huh? Can Cuckoo top it in 2013? My bet is that he most definitely can, as he’s now running for governor, believe it or not, and is certain to say all kinds of extreme, insane things before the year is out. Pop up some popcorn and enjoy! 🙂

P.S. Needless to say, all joking aside, this guy’s a menace and must be defeated – preferably by a wide margin, along with his fellow right wingnut running mates – in 2013.

Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, December 27.

*Sam Donaldson to tea party: ‘It’s not your country anymore – it’s our country’ (“It’s the Tea Party and thinking of the Tea Party and people like that that are driving the Republicans out of contention as a national party”)

*Global notable deaths of 2012

*Philadelphia mayor: NRA’s armed school guards plan ‘a completely dumbass idea’

*D.C. Police Say David Gregory’s Use Of Gun Magazine Was Illegal, Per Report (Jail time for David Gregory? It certainly wouldn’t be a loss to journalism, that’s for sure.)

*Back in town for one last try at ‘fiscal cliff’ deal (Actually, John BONEr, Eric Can’tor et al are NOT back in town. Can they stay away and never come back, please?)

*U.S. to take ‘extraordinary’ measures to avert default (This is most definitely NOT the way to run a superpower, let alone a supposedly “exceptional” nation…)

*Deadline pressure for Congress

*Schatz appointed to fill Sen. Inouye’s seat (“Inouye Chief of Staff ‘disappointed’ late senator’s final wish was not honored”)

*Editorial: Punt on the fiscal cliff (“The grand bargain the nation needs probably will not be reached in the next few days.”)

*The “fiscal cliff”: what to expect if there’s no deal

*Ex-U.S. President George H.W. Bush in intensive care

*Republicans rejecting their own ideas (That’s because today’s Republican Party has turned into a crackpot John Birch Society or whatever. It is most certainly NOT the Republican Party of 10, 20, let alone 30 years ago…)

*Editorial: Helen Dragas should resign (“The UVa rector would avoid a messy fight in the legislature and allow the university to move forward.”)

*Judge bars retrial in Pr. William murder case (“The judge ordered the defendant’s release and said the state’s case was damaged beyond repair.”)

*House District #25

*Fairfax considers overhauling county pay system

*Top Arlington Stories of 2012 (#11-15)

*[Loudoun] School Board, Supervisors ponder $55.9 million budget gap

*ODU engineers helping to design future of solar power

*Griffin gets an invite to Pro Bowl, Williams, Alexander also make roster

*NHL lockout hits local businesses