A few highlights from last night’s controversial meeting of the Fairfax City council. First, though, you might want to check out a detailed discussion of the proposed zoning regulations pertaining to “clinics, hospitals, medical or dental offices, and related uses” in Fairfax City. Also, according to this:

{The} proposed ordinance would place women’s health centers into the same category as hospitals, surgical centers and urgent care units, and would require clinics to have an expensive “Special Use Permit” as well as limit the locations they can operate in. Just to apply for a Special Use Permit costs at least $4,800 and can take as long as 6 months — and city staff is arbitrarily able to deny or approve the application. What’s worse, the new ordinance gives the Zoning Administrator power to decide exactly the amount of parking required of each clinic, and therefore gives him/her the ability to block a clinic’s approval based on frivolous and arbitrary regulations such as – you guessed it – PARKING SPACES.

Back to the video:

1. Staff discussion (by Zoning Administrator Michelle Coleman) of the proposed amendments starts around 11 minutes in and runs through about 24 minutes.

2. The public hearing begins at about 24:40, with speaker after speaker disagreeing with the proposed amendments and urging that they be voted down. You’ll hear words like “duplicitous,” “arbitrary,” “subjective,” “vague,” “unfair,” “inconsistent,” “complex,” “finagling,” “red tape,” “splitting hairs,” “ideology,” “deeply troubled,” “onerous,” “medically unnecessary,” “disproportionately difficult,” and “TRAP regulations.” The distinction between “offices” and “clinics” is brought up repeatedly, as well as the fact that these women’s health clinics provide a variety of health care services. The public hearing portion ends at 1:08, and the discussion returns to staff and council members.

3. A bit after 1:37, Council member Dan Drummond says he feels Fairfax City is being consistent with other localities, but thinks “the public has raised some valid questions” and this needs some more “fine tuning” and staff work. He says “for that reason, I will not be supporting the motion that’s been made.”

4. The discussion then turns to an exploration of the options and motives for deferring the vote. At 1:39, Mayor Silverthorne says it’s the council’s prerogative to defer the vote, but he’d prefer to have a “straight up-or-down vote,” unless the idea is “truly” to make the ordinance better. Possible deferred vote dates are batted back and forth, with September 24 as one possibility.

5. At around 1:41:45, Mayor Silverthorne says this isn’t “politically correct” to say, but after asserting that he’s “one of the more liberal” mayors in “the last 50 years,” he says he feels like it makes no sense to have the staff rework this, that the council should have a “straight up-or-down vote,” and that “dragging this out for the sake of additional feedback” won’t resolve the questions out there about this.

6. At about 1:43, Mayor Silverthrone says he doesn’t “appreciate some of the outside groups…NARAL…parachuting into my community” and “spreading some misinformation.”

7. At 1:44:30, the council decides not to move ahead with Dan Drummond’s motion to delay the vote until September 24. A bit later, at around 1:47, the council proceeds to approve the proposed measures on a 4-2 vote. Members in favor are Steven Stombres (R; Eric Cantor’s Chief of Staff), Jeffrey Greenfield (R), Dan Drummond (D), and Michael DeMarco (D). Members against are David Meyer (D) and Eleanor Schmidt (R). Worth noting is that Dan Drummond had said just a few minutes earlier that he’d be voting “no,” but ends up voting “yes.” I don’t get that one at all.

From the DPVA:

Senator Donald McEachin is submitting a Freedom of Information Act request to the Office of the Attorney General today asking for all information provided to the Cuccinelli for Governor campaign about the Attorney General’s involvement in matters related to Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams.  

The Office of the Attorney General shared information with the Cuccinelli campaign which, in turn, released  some of that information to the Washington Post.  Senator McEachin is requesting that all Virginians be offered the same level of access as Cuccinelli’s campaign, a non-governmental political organization.

The FOIA specifically asks for: 

1.  All communications between any member of the Office of the Attorney General and Jonnie Williams.

2.  All internal and external communications to which the Office of the Attorney General was a party regarding the Office’s potential conflict of interest in the Commonwealth’s case against Todd Schneider for embezzlement at the Executive Mansion.

3.  All internal and external communications to which any member of the Office of the Attorney General was a party regarding the allegations against Governor McDonnell made byTodd Schneider.

4.  All internal and external communications to which any member of the Office of the Attorney General was a party related to any "walling off" of the Attorney General in the Commonwealth’s case against Todd Schneider for embezzlement at the Executive Mansion. 

5.  All internal and external communications to which any member of the Office of the Attorney General was a party regarding the Attorney General's financial disclosures.

6.  All information concerning any fees charged by the Office of the Attorney General or paid by anyone for the preparation of the “Inquiry on Star Scientific” Memorandum dated June 27, 2013 from the Cuccinelli for Governor Campaign. 

7.  All internal and external communications to which any member of the Office of the Attorney General was a party regarding the “Inquiry on Star Scientific” Memorandum dated June 27, 2013 from the Cuccinelli for Governor Campaign. 

8. All Freedom of Information Act requests received by the Office of the Attorney General seeking information or documents related in any way to the Commonwealth's case against Todd Schneider for embezzlement at the Executive Mansion, and the response provided by the Office of the Attorney General.

The full FOIA request can be found below:

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli

Office of the Attorney General

900 E. Broad St.

Richmond, VA 23219

Dear General Cuccinelli:

Your office recently released to your campaign a document, entitled “Inquiry on Star Scientific," dated June 27, 2013.  Since you have shared information related to the claims made within that document with a non-governmental third party, your gubernatorial campaign, it is clear that your office does not consider anything related to those matters discussed in the memorandum to be privileged.  In any event, having released the information, any previous claim to privilege has been waived.

Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act follows Virginia’s tradition of an open and accessible government, and the public is legally entitled access to any information your office can release to third parties, and such documentation as would support that release.  At this point much of what I'm asking will have already been compiled by your office for your campaign for Governor, so fulfilling this request should be easy.

Your office has provided your campaign, a non-governmental organization, with information not currently available to the taxpayers who paid for your work.  The Freedom of Information Act is designed to ensure that Virginia’s taxpayers know how every elected official, including the Attorney General, is spending our tax dollars.  Pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, §2.2.3704(G) et seq., and as a Virginia resident, I therefore request copies of records of the following items:

1.  All communications between any member of the Office of the Attorney General and Jonnie Williams.

2.  All internal and external communications to which the Office of the Attorney General was a party regarding the Office’s potential conflict of interest in the Commonwealth’s case against Todd Schneider for embezzlement at the Executive Mansion.

3.  All internal and external communications to which any member of the Office of the Attorney General was a party regarding the allegations against Governor McDonnell made byTodd Schneider.

4.  All internal and external communications to which any member of the Office of the Attorney General was a party related to any "walling off" of the Attorney General in the Commonwealth’s case against Todd Schneider for embezzlement at the Executive Mansion. 

5.  All internal and external communications to which any member of the Office of the Attorney General was a party regarding the Attorney General's financial disclosures.

6.  All information concerning any fees charged by the Office of the Attorney General or paid by anyone for the preparation of the “Inquiry on Star Scientific” Memorandum dated June 27, 2013 from the Cuccinelli for Governor Campaign.

7.  All internal and external communications to which any member of the Office of the Attorney General was a party regarding the “Inquiry on Star Scientific” Memorandum dated June 27, 2013 from the Cuccinelli for Governor Campaign.

8. All Freedom of Information Act requests received by the Office of the Attorney General seeking information or documents related in any way to the Commonwealth's case against Todd Schneider for embezzlement at the Executive Mansion, and the response provided by the Office of the Attorney General.

Per §2.2.3704(G) of the Virginia Code, please send the requested records to me electronically at dmceachin@mceachingee.com.  Many of these documents were, presumably, already prepared for your campaign, therefore I request that any fees associated with preparation of those documents be waived.

Sincerely,

A. Donald McEachin

Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, July 10.

*Sabotage governing (“It’s not unusual to hear dirty hippie liberal blogger types (and the occasional lefty Nobel Prize winner) point out that today’s GOP has effectively abdicated the role of functional opposition party, instead opting for a kind of post-policy nihilism in which sabotaging the Obama agenda has become its only guiding governing light. But when you hear this sort of argument coming from Chuck Todd, the mild-mannered, well respected Beltway insider, it should prompt folks to take notice.”)

*Goodlatte, other Republicans to discuss immigration (Speaking of “nihilism,” see here.)

*GOP still struggling on gay marriage messaging (Gotta love it, Ken Cuccinelli wants to focus on Virginia, EXCEPT when he’s running around trying to meddle in Obamacare, global warming science, and 20 gazillion other things that are not Virginia-specific issues. Does this guy tell the truth about ANYTHING?!?)

*McDonnells benefited from $120,000 more of donor’s funds (If Virginia had even half-decent ethics laws for public officials, no doubt Bob McDonnell would be on his way to jail, like Rod Blagojevich. Unfortunately, we don’t, which makes us…what? One of the most corrupt states, politically speaking, in the country?)

*Governor addresses gifts issue (I say, let’s give him plenty of time to think about ways to fix Virginia’s broken system…AFTER he’s resigned as governor and goes before a court to face charges.)

*ACLU readies suit to challenge ban on gay marriage (Let’s hope they win this!)

*Schapiro: Is McDonnell finally pivoting to offense in Giftgate? (Short answer: no.)

*Terry McAuliffe to get fundraising help from Martin O’Malley, Anthony Brown

*McDonnell son arrested on intoxication charge

*New Fairfax City law aims to keep abortion clinics out, critics say (“Law redefines ‘medical care facility,’ which some say targets abortion clinics.” I’m very concerned about this, need to find out more.)

*Fairfax Zoning Amendment Clashes With Abortion Rights

*Chris Graham: Breaking down the McDonnell resignation rumor controversy (“Republicans may have some interest in seeing the issue taken off the table sooner rather than later. That may be why we’re seeing the rumors swirling in the Republican blogosphere and not the Democratic blogosphere. If I’m a Republican interested in the fall elections, I want whatever mess there is from the McDonnell gifts story done away with as soon as possible, and if it takes the lame-duck governor falling on his sword to accomplish that, so be it.”)

*Cuccinelli Calls McDonnell Controversies ‘Distraction’ (Hahaha, whatever dude.)

*Virginia slips to 5th in CNBC list of best states for business (I’d remind everyone that when Democrats were in the Governor’s Mansion, we were #1. Just sayin’…)

*Virginia’s 2013 Oyster Replenishment Program Biggest in State History

*Smithfield Foods takeover subject of Senate hearing (This company should have been the subject of hearings a long time — for its abysmal environmental, human rights, and animal welfare records.)

*Another steamy day, but relief ahead

*Phillies 4, Nationals 2: Hamels gets best of Werth as Washington rally falls short

From Rep. Connolly’s office, I couldn’t agree more. On a related note, I strongly recommend The Morning Plum: The problem isn’t generic “Washington gridlock.” It’s the House GOP. On pretty much every subject, including the sequester of course. In short, GOP=#FAIL

House GOP has Refused to Appoint Negotiators for the 100 Days Since Senate Passed a Budget

WASHINGTON – Congress can resolve the furloughs that will cut pay by 20 percent for 650,000 civilian defense workers, including more than 72,000 in Virginia, if House Republican leaders will only agree to appoint negotiators to work out a federal budget with the Senate, Congressman Gerry Connolly said today.

Connolly said the House majority has refused to appoint its budget negotiators in the more than 100 days since the Senate passed its budget resolution.  Civilian employees of the Department of Defense are facing 11 unpaid furlough days, starting this week, due to sequestration.  House Democrats have chosen their negotiators and the Senate is prepared to meet.

“Americans are waiting for a budget compromise that replaces the GOP sequester, creates jobs, strengthens the middle class, and responsibly reduces the deficit.  Republicans should come to the table to negotiate on this top priority for the nation,” Connolly said.

“I share the frustration of these dedicated federal employees, who through no fault of their own, are being forced to take an abrupt and unplanned 20 percent pay cut,” Connolly said.  “We could end the furloughs if the House Majority would appoint conferees to meet with our Senate counterparts to work out a budget that replaces the sequester with a balanced approach that includes responsible deficit reduction.”

Connolly criticized the House Majority for repeatedly and routinely using federal employees as a punching bag.  “Our federal employees, who are on the front lines protecting and serving the public every day in our communities, have weathered more than two years of a pay freeze with a third pending, and have made sacrifices in pay and benefits totaling more than $100 billion to help reduce our nation’s debt.  Now, more than 650,000 of them must face another 20 percent reduction in pay,” he said.

Connolly has been fighting to replace sequestration with a balanced approach since last August when he first called on the House leadership to cancel all recesses until the matter was resolved.

From House Democratic leader, Del. David Toscano:

STATEMENT FROM DELEGATE DAVID J. TOSCANO ON ABC CHAIRMAN’S CALL FOR STATE POLICE INVESTIGATION

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Delegate David J. Toscano released a statement today in response to ABC Board Chairman J. Neal Insley’s call for a Virginia State Police investigation of the April 11, 2013 incident in Charlottesville:

“Chairman Insley’s request for an impartial, third party review of the incident involving ABC law enforcement personnel is encouraging,” said Toscano. “A number of questions about this incident have been raised, and I believe this independent investigation by Virginia State Police will provide insight as to what went wrong, and how ABC can improve and implement better protocols and procedures to ensure that an incident like this does not occur again.”

Delegate Toscano recently sent a letter inquiring about the proper protocols and procedures to Shawn Walker, Director of Enforcement at ABC. In his letter, Mr. Toscano inquired about what policies are currently in place for ABC law enforcement to detain citizens when enforcement officers suspect individuals may be underage and in possession of alcohol, and specifically, what procedures are in place to detain individuals already in motor vehicles.  Additionally, Mr. Toscano inquired as to the specific training ABC law enforcement personnel receive in handling their weapons, and what protocols are in place to determine when an officer of ABC should unholster their weapon.

“I have lived in this community for over 30 years, and do not recall an incident like this during that time,” wrote Toscano. “I appreciate the role that ABC plays in enforcing the laws against underage purchase, possession, and consumption. But I am concerned about the apparent overreaction of the agents during the April 11 event.”

( – promoted by lowkell)

In our times, a destructive force has emerged in the American political system. This force — or spirit – should be understood as the re-emergence onto center stage of what drove the United States to polarize, break apart, and fight a bloody Civil War a century and a half ago.

This destructive force is damaging our nation now just as it did then.

The persistence through time of a recognizable pattern in a culture points to an important part of how the human world works.  Just as Great-grandpa’s red hair reappears in a new baby, so also can the patterns of social and political dynamics (in this case, destructive dynamics) move through the generations within a society. Such a pattern, or spirit, can perpetuate itself by socializing individuals in ways that lead them, in turn, to reinforce in the world around them the patterns that had been impressed upon them.

The parallels between the political crisis in America in our times, and the crisis that drove America into a terrible Civil War a century and a half ago, reveal how a spirit of this sort has re-emerged to hold major parts of the American cultural system in its grip and animate the actions, beliefs, and attitudes of millions.

I begin here a series of articles to delineate these telling parallels.  Perceiving the same pattern in these two important eras — our present crisis, and the crisis that led to the Civil War — can be revelatory just like the images in the Magic Eye books: out of the stereoscopic image, a startling figure emerges with depth out of a new dimension.

The play of forces in our society, admittedly, is far more complex than to allow one crisis to be simply a replay of a crisis of a century and a half ago. Each time has its own set of circumstances and its own mixtures and alignments of forces.

Nonetheless, the parallels between the growing crisis of 1848-1861 and that of, say, 1994 to the present- are significant.  In each case, one finds:

• Insistence on pressing conflict over seeking accord

• Systematic overreaching

• A warped view of reality, driven by bogus and invalid ideas

• A drive toward exploitation masked by deception and self-deception

• Use of divisive tactics to manipulate supporters

These and other parallels will be explored in this series to reveal the dark spirit at work in both eras. In the next posting, some remarks by Abraham Lincoln will help provide a glimpse into one such manifestation of that spirit.