Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, July 5.

*Arab leaders say they’re happy that Morsi is gone

*Poll: Founders wouldn’t be pleased

*Republicans Have Tough Choices On Voting Rights Act

*Richmond scandal grows into a crisis (“To finish his term, McDonnell must provide a thorough, public accounting of the gifts that he and his family have received. Anything less will make the next six months untenable.”)

*Kaine visits with Virginia troops in Kabul

*Putting the hurt on hybrids (“Efforts to end a fee on vehicles that use alternative fuels aren’t likely to get  out of the driveway.”)

*Wind power won’t ruin the OBX view

*Plan for East’s largest US forest stirs concerns (“Environmental groups are fearful that a new blueprint for the 1.1-million-acre George Washington National Forest will open the largest federally protected forest in the East to a form of natural gas drilling that has spawned its own environmental movement.” Not acceptable.)

*In Portsmouth, crew is trapped on coal ship by legal proceedings

*Dominion: Proposed Va power plant best option (That’s just ridiculous. Has Dominion pushed energy efficiency to its max? No, it hasn’t. And until it does, no new power plants should be considered.)

*Man drowns in flood; Roanoke River crests at 10th-highest level (with reader photos)

*Virginia Not Changing Park Camping Reservation System

*Nationals vs. Brewers: Wilson Ramos lifts languid offense in return to lineup

How are you spending your Fourth of July? In Senator Tim Kaine’s case, he decided to traveled to Kabul, Afghanistan, in order to visit with Virginia troops serving our country there. Kaine’s stop in Afghanistan is part of a weeklong visit to the region. Safe travels to Sen. Kaine (see photos below – click to “embiggen”)!

With challenging times, it’s understandable we slip into the ease of

anniversary celebrations of heroic actions that change life and nations,

without immolating the exceptional character of those we honor – legends

known and unknown who raised the bar through sacrifice – even suffering a

bloody or fiery death.

Most often we seize and ride the dynamic splash of media hype, rather than

ingest the soulful ripple from the core of heroes, and rarely entertaining a

taste for those who prep heroism without spotlight and by candlelight,

follow in its footsteps.

With the knowledge of historically overlooked heroes our lead, we bathe in

the wisdom of those forgotten – a journey proving, most people whose faces

remain unrecognized and names seldom whispered, are at some point heroic for

some person, place or thing, they don’t even know…

Battlefields – 9/11 – Boston Marathon – Wild Fires – City Streets

Maybe Heroes, like sandwiches, come in different shapes, sizes and toppings.

So perhaps before our children learn which screen star, athlete or

neighborhood bully to hero worship, we should check the ingredients – theirs

and ours:  

Though DOMA is not dead, its cemetery plot has been chosen.  

A self-righteous court can never be supreme in its rulings as long as true

patriots demand for all, what they themselves already heroically possess:  

* Constitutional Equal Rights for Women

* Restoration of Rights for those who’ve done the time

* Exemplary education for our children of all ages at every grade level

* Excellent salaries for teachers

* Elimination of crippling loans for those who only desire to contribute to

us what we teach each other.  

What is a court ruling that slices and dices a voting act for which many

have so dearly paid?  

How are we Jesus-like when asking, seeking and knocking to crush descendants

of Stonewall, Woodstock and Selma?  

Without cloaking ourselves in hypocrisy, how is Independence Day celebrated

by imposing second class citizenship on those with whom we disagree?

Wouldn’t June 28th be best celebrated with an Independence Day that extends

the freedoms, justice and equality we hold so dear, to all Americans and all

they hold dear?

When we celebrate Wendy Davis, remember to cheer Leticia de Putte who gladly

took the baton and carried on.

Celebrate lives of Arizona “Hot Shots,” by cutting back trees from homes and

power lines.  

When thinking Edith Windsor and Harvey Milk, think also of Thea Clara Spyer

and all those who can no longer celebrate anniversaries.  

When we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., reverently acknowledge

Representative John Lewis – especially after a 5-4 skillful surgical removal

of what Congressman Lewis was nearly beaten to death to achieve.

Of course, not all members of Congress are heroes, nor all nine Supremes

skillfully dissecting what has made America exceptional since before the

first Independence Day.

Most remember giving most newcomers work, fraternity home, and eventually,

sometimes, health and educational opportunities.

In return America was enhanced and evolved into ‘The Beautiful,’ away from

senators who intimidate gridiron folks to reject Obamacare’s new green

energy, for health insurance green.

Yet, I still have a dream, that one twenty-eighth day of August we will hold

these truths to be self-evident: The Declaration of Independence is now the

Emancipation of the Equal Rights Amendment with equal voting rights &

marriage rights for all, for that’s American justice.

Then we can celebrate like heroes with Mandela forgiveness, after

non-violent Gandhi like Marches on Columbus, Ohio, Perry’s Austin,

McDonnell’s Rolex Richmond and all state capitals warring against the rights

of American women and men of every shade, color, political & sexual

persuasion and yes, religion.

Now let us march again, but heroically uniting where marching is needed —

to carry on!

Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, July 4, 2013. Happy Independence Day! Also see President Obama’s Independence Day message.

*Egypt’s army ousts president (Building a democracy isn’t easy, certainly not after having been ruled by authoritarians for…pretty much forever, going back through the Ottoman Empire, the Roman Empire, the Pharaohs, etc.)

*What The Mainstream Media Misses About Texas’ Ongoing Abortion Battle (“In addition to criminalizing abortion services after 20 weeks, the other provisions in Texas’ abortion proposals would impose harsh restrictions on abortion providers”)

*Republicans Attack Obama For Not Implementing Health Care Reform Quickly Enough (Heck, these people would attack Obama for anything – what next, for cutting taxes and government spending too much?)

*Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s involvement with Star Scientific

*Debate squabbling intensifies as Cuccinelli refuses AARP/League of Women Voters invite (So…in Ken Cuccinelli’s world of utter delusion, the League of Women Voters is “partisan” while the Chamber of Commerce is “non-partisan.” Hahahahaha.)

*Judge won’t make Cuccinelli testify in chef’s case

*For months, Cuccinelli didn’t know of McDonnell allegations, campaign says (The Cuccinelli campaign clearly thinks the citizens of Virginia are imbeciles. Beyond that, their best excuse for Cuccinelli’s abysmal behavior was that…wait for it…he was CLUELESS?!? Wow, great.)

*Amid controversy, Va. Republican proposes political gift limits (“Sideshow Bob” of all people rides to the rescue? LOL)

*Past union words, climate deeds stalk Va. governor candidates (Not sure what these things have to do with each other – McAuliffe supports working people, Cuccinelli persecutes a leading scientist.)

*McDonnell Solicits Ideas for “Air Rights” Development

*Warner raises $1.4 million in second quarter (Since he’s going to be reelected easily, how about transferring a few hundred thousand of that to Virginia Democratic House of Delegates candidates? Just a thought.)

*Washington lawyer Flood counsels McDonnell on probes (“Flood represented Cheney and Clinton, worked for Bush”)

*Goodlatte on delaying implementation of employer mandate in health care law (You don’t even have to read this; if it’s Bob Goodlatte, you know it’s going to be reflexively anti-“Obamacare.” Yawn.)

*A dandy of a day as storms turn scarce (Yeah, if you like your Independence Days hot and humid!)

*Flooding forces evacuations, cancellation of race in Roanoke

*Nationals fall to Brewers again (Incredibly frustrating season…one step forward, one step backwards.)

I think Stratfor’s analysis is spot on, except that I agree with Tom Perriello (see below) that this wasn’t a pure “coup” (as Stratfor’s video headline states, oversimplistically), but more of a hybrid of a popular uprising and military intervention. I also recommend the analysis of former Rep. Tom Perriello (see his tweets from the past few days below), who knows Egypt well.

*”Reformist @monaeltahawy just rocked @jaketapper: How were people to use the ballot box when Morsi jailed/intimidated the opposition?”

*”Army closed deal, but this revolt was led by brave reformists who never gave up spirit of Jan25 and millions who rallied with them. Not over”

*”Classifying this as “military coup” is intellectually dishonest at best. Whether for or against it, this was people-powered from the start.”

*”Given it would have ZERO legitimacy w/o the people having risen up first, reducing Egyptian military’s roadmap to the word “coup” seems lazy”

*”Egypt’s revolution succeeds when activists organize outside the square then return, as with 18 days & Tamarod et al.”

*”Dvpts in Egypt kinda validate Obama’s don’t-pick-sides/support-dem-process approach: MB can’t play trump card of protests being a US plot.”

UPDATE: See the statement by the White House in the comments section of this post.

UPDATE #2: Rep. Gerry Connolly weighs in on Twitter – “Morsi’s ouster due to lack of respect for dissenting views & civil society. Military coup is not viable alt, Morsi’s faults notwithstanding.”