New Quinnipiac University poll finds a majority of Virginians approve of King McDonnell

Quinnipiac University Polling Institute released a new poll on Thursday that found Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA) has a 2-1 approval rating. 53 percent of Virginians polled give McDonnell the big thumbs up while 26 percent of Virginians living on planet Real don’t.[1]

What is particularly shocking and newsworthy are the demographic blocs that approved of McDonnell’s job performance: young voters and women, two of the same groups who largely voted against Mitt Romney.

Young voters aged 18-34 approve of McDonnell 48 percent to 24 percent while women approve of McDonnell 48 percent to 26 percent.

As if these numbers weren’t staggering enough, Quinnipiac assistant director Peter A. Brown noted, “He [Bob McDonnell] is the only Republican office-holder in the seven state surveyed by Quinnipiac University who get positive ratings from women…and a plus score from black voters. A 2-1 approval rating among young voters doesn’t hurt.”[2] What it does hurt, however, is my ability to make any sense of these poll numbers.

While McDonnell hasn’t been the vocal “the government is taking away your guns” or “President Obama is a communist” Republican, he also hasn’t been a friend to demographic blocs in Virginia that are not white and male.

It wasn’t too long ago that Gov. McDonnell stated that he wouldn’t make an exception for abortions for women who’ve been raped.[3] He also strongly supported a General Assembly bill that required women to receive an ultrasound before undertaking an abortion.[4] Don’t tread on…a woman’s vagina!

Public naiveté or general lack of knowledge regarding the views of their elected representatives is not a new phenomenon. Most of us want to see the good in others, especially those who are supposed to be looking out for our best interests in government. And McDonnell has abetted this process by being careful not to crazy into crazy far-right territory too often and throwing himself and his actual political views too far into the spotlight.

But McDonnell is not the kind of politician that liberal or conservatives in Virginia want. He has subverted individual liberty, the democratic process, and his own integrity for misguided ideological and political goals.  

---

[1] http://hamptonroads.com/2012/11/poll-mcdonnell-remains-popular-scores-well-women-young-voters

[2] http://hamptonroads.com/2012/11/poll-mcdonnell-remains-popular-scores-well-women-young-voters

[3] http://www.examiner.com/article/bob-mcdonnell-defends-anti-abortion-positions-that-doesn-t-exempt-raped-women

[4] http://www.newsmax.com/US/McDonnell-abortion-ultrasound-education/2012/03/09/id/432018

Virginia Democratic Party chairman Brian Moran to step down in December on high note

Democratic Party of Virginia chairman Brian Moran finally announced on Wednesday that will he be stepping down from his post in December after a two year stint as “leader” of the Democratic Party of Virginia. [1]

Moran stated that serving as Democratic Party of Virginia chairman was “one of the greatest honors of my life,”[2] while noting that he plans on continuing to play “a visible role” advocating for the Democratic Party in the future.

Moran’s resignation following a victorious election cycle for the Democratic Party is a good way to call it quits, especially considering the umbrella of scrutiny Moran has been under for his day job as a lobbyist for the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities, a for-profit “college-group.” Moran noted, “There is no question that Virginia Democrats will play a critical role in this year’s election more than we 

have in modern times, and I do not want to wake up on the morning of November 7^th with any doubts…”[3]

Moran’s resignation from his lobbying day job is much to his credit and it highlights an important point for political leaders: political office is not a stepping stone towards amassing greater wealth; it is a post that comes with enormous responsibilities. As leaders, conflicts of interests should always be avoided.

If this doesn’t sound glamorous it’s because serving the public welfare isn’t necessarily supposed to be. Taking political office is a sacrifice akin to serving in the military. It is a necessary sacrifice to make our country what it is.

---

[1] http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/14/moran-leaving-va-democratic-leadership/

[2] http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/14/moran-leaving-va-democratic-leadership/

[3] http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/virginia-politics/post/brian-moran-quits-his-controversial-day-job/2012/07/05/gJQAY5unQW_blog.html

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell disappointed about George Allen’s farewell to politics

On Tuesday, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell “expressed disappointment”[1] over recently defeated U.S. Senate candidate, George Allen’s, farewell from political life.

McDonnell stated, “We’re going to miss George Allen in Virginia politics. For two decades he played a leading and pivotal role in making Virginia such a great place to start a business, raise a family and call home.”

Whether or not McDonnell actually believes this, or if he’s searching for a political handout down the road, is beside the point.

Allen’s main claim to fame as a politician has been his unrelenting support for Big Oil, a support that can only be called socialism for Big Oil. For instance, in 2005, George Allen voted for the Bush energy bill which gave away $6 billion in tax breaks for oil and gas companies[2]. But when it comes to America’s middle and working class, “you’re on your own.”

Allen also will leave behind a public history of racial bigotry that clearly shows Allen to be a racist. Aside from the “macaca” slur[3] during his U.S. Senate campaign against Jim Webb, Allen also supported a “racially charged” state song, “Carry Me Back To Old Virginia,” in 1991.[4] The song included references to “massa” (WTF?!) and “darkey.”[5] Would anyone but a racist support such a song?

Or maybe Allen’s naivete will be his most memorable legacy as a Virginian politician. In response to criticism surrounding his support of the song, “Carry Me Back To Old Virginia,” Allen stated, “This song was written years ago and it was not written to offend anymore.”

Regardless of the original intent of the song (which was clearly to offend!), anyone with any kind of political astuteness would have realized that this was a lightning rod for controversy. Virginia in particular still has not completely surpassed the scars of hundreds of years of racial indifference and bigotry. And as such, songs about “darkeys” tend to not go over too well with some segments of Virginia’s population.

George Allen has, if nothing else, been a symbol of the past that a majority of Virginians are attempting to move away from. A past haunted by close-minded individuals whose greatest words were “state’s rights” in the face of one of our country’s most trying problems, slavery.

Bob McDonnell may truly miss George Allen, but as for the majority of Virginians who voted against him in this latest election, its goodbye and hello to a brighter future.  

---

[1] http://hamptonroads.com/2012/11/mcdonnell-laments-allen-withdrawal-elective-politics

[2] http://www.lcv.org/elections/dirty-dozen/george-allens-big-oil-record.html

[3] http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/george-allen-im-really-sorry-about-that-whole-1.php

[4] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/04/george-allen-virginia-senate_n_2073510.html

[5] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/04/george-allen-virginia-senate_n_2073510.html

Former U.S. Senate candidate George Allen states his intention of never running again

On Monday, former U.S. Senate candidate from Virginia, George Allen, uttered uplifting words, stating “I have no intention of running for office again.”[1] On November 6^th, Allen was defeated for the open U.S. Senate seat in Virginia by Democrat Tim Kaine.

Allen went on to state that he hasn’t decided what he’ll do in the future. George Allen still has his consulting firm, George Allen Strategies, LLC[2] that his website concludes “is a recognized leader in helping clients navigate the waters inside – and outside – the Beltway.”

And what muddy waters they are inside the Beltway, as evidenced by the U.S. public’s approval of Congress[3], which is why Virginians ultimately chose Tim Kaine to be their next U.S. Senator.

Journalists, commentators, pundits, political amateurs and professionals of all political stripes usually like to pick this or that example or piece of evidence to argue the case for their candidate of choice or to pick this or that example to denigrate political figures they don’t agree with or like.

But the fact is, every politician, like every individual, has acted in ways that some will perceive as ‘good’ or ‘bad’.  There are no perfect politicians.

The more important distinction between George Allen and Tim Kaine therefore is the latter’s genuine ability to cross political and ideological bridges to find common ground for the good of all Americans and not merely a select class.

Like him, love him, hate him, however you may feel about George Allen, only the most tunneled-visioned of his supporters would not consider Allen a polarizing politician, the type of politician that America doesn’t need more of.

Maybe Virginians recognized this, if not in his statements and demeanor, then in his divisive policies that do more to keep Virginians and Americans apart then bring them together.

George Allen and other divisive politicians like him had their chance and Americans spoke: it’s time to come together for the good of the country.

---

[1] http://hamptonroads.com/2012/11/george-allen-rules-out-future-runs-political-office

[2] http://www.georgeallenstrategies.com/

[3] http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/congressional_job_approval-903.html

VA’s Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli denies an innocent man’s release from jail

Virginia’s right-wing heart-throb Attorney General , Ken Cuccinelli, reportedly denied an innocent man his release from jail after Cuccinelli ruled that the Hampton judge who issued the order, Circuit Judge Randolph West, to release the imprisoned man lacked the jurisdiction to do so.[1]

The imprisoned man, Jonathan Montgomery, was convicted on charges of sexual assault. However, his accuser recently recanted her allegation. Judge West subsequently issued an order exonerating Montgomery and voiding the last two years of his sentence.

A spokesman for Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, Brian Gottstein, said that while Montgomery’s case is a “tragedy”, Judge West’s exoneration of Montgomery and the elimination of Montgomery’s final two years on his sentence is “void” under Virginia law.

According to Gottstein, Montgomery “probably” needs to petition the Virginia Court of Appeals for a writ of actual innocence, a writ that Cuccinelli would support.

There is no question that our system of justice stands and falls by procedures that cannot be abridged excepting the rarest and direst of circumstances. Montgomery’s case seems like one of those circumstances.

Essentially, Cuccinelli is saying that an innocent man must stay behind bars for however long it may take for a “writ of innocence” to be issued. Regardless of whether it takes a week, a month, or a year to issue this writ of innocence,  leaving an innocent individual in jail so that “proper procedures” can be followed is one of the surest ways to undermine our country’s system of justice in the minds of the public.

Justice is supposed to be swift and fair. In Montgomery’s case, just has been neither.

What is our system of justice worth if the system that is supposed to protect the innocent and punish the guilty blindly punishes the innocent as well?

There are exceptions to every rule ever created. In the case of Montgomery, an exception should be made.

---

[1] http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/ap/va-attorney-general-blocks-innocent-man-s-release/article_f6c2c9c3-2642-5d4a-b4a8-5a274bcd9410.html

Richmond Planning Commission proposes a state gas tax indexed to inflation

Attempting to address Virginia’s growing list of transportation needs and seemingly shrinking funds to pay for these line items, the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission[1] (RRPDC) included a proposal in its legislative agenda that proposes state legislators index Virginia’s gas tax to the rate of inflation to cover the costs of Virginia’s transportation needs.

The RRPDC is composed of 33 officials and Virginia residents from 9 Richmond-area localities.[2]

Virginia’s 17.5 cent tax on gas has stayed the same since 1986, remaining lower than any of Virginia’s neighboring states.

According to the RRPDC’s chairwoman and mayor of Ashland, Faye O. Prichard, “The math just doesn’t work. The state runs out of road funds in 2017. It’s a quality of life issue, and it’s an economic development issue.”[3]

Some state legislators, like Sen. John Watkins (R-Powhatan), also think indexing the gas tax is a good idea. During the last session of the General Assembly, Watkins tried to pass such a measure before it was killed in the lopsidedly Republican House of Delegates (i.e., the House of no new taxes).

Watkins informed his legislative brethren that if the gas tax had been indexed for inflation 26 years ago, it would have gained Virginia an additional $1.2 billion in revenue for transportation.

What’s more, a higher gas tax could cut down on the amount of travel by Virginians, reducing the stress on Virginia’s roadways as well as reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that Virginia’s vehicles release.

However, indexing the gas tax to inflation would also disproportionately hurt the most economically disadvantaged residents of Virginia.

No matter what route Virginia’s legislators take to raise money for transportation, there won’t be many easy decisions. There are going to be winners and losers. So the issue should really be how those winners and losers can be spread out across a broad spectrum of socioeconomic groups.

---

[1] http://www.richmondregional.org/

[2] http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/virginia-politics/2012/nov/11/tdmet01-area-planning-district-commission-urges-la-ar-2352517/

[3] http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/virginia-politics/2012/nov/11/tdmet01-area-planning-district-commission-urges-la-ar-2352517/

Chesapeake Judge strikes down DMV attempt to restrict free speech in Virginia

Chesapeake Circuit Court Judge John W. Brown correctly ruled that the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) was in the wrong when it revoked Sean Bujno’s, an Army veteran, personalized license plate that reads, “ICUHAJI.”[1]

The license plate was revoked in 2011 because the DMV, in its unquestionable wisdom, claimed it could be interpreted as ethnically, socially, or racially offensive or disparaging; and we wouldn’t want to offend anyone would we?!

Judge Brown concluded in his judgment that if Virginia allows individuals to praise ethnicity or religion on their personalized license plates, it must also let individuals disparage them. That is, free speech cannot be arbitrarily granted to certain words and phrases.

While Mr. Bujno might be a racist and a bigot, that’s his right, and if he wants to put words on his personal property that may be perceived as racist or bigoted, that’s his right as an American as well.

When I see the Confederate Flag traveling down the highway, a chill of discomfort and disgust initially sets over me. But then I come to an understanding that this kind of personal display is what makes America the country that it is: the freedom of each individual to express him or herself as long as it does no physical harm to anyone else.

If we begin to arbitrarily decide what speech should be free and which should not, where do these arbitrary decisions end? And who will decide, the DMV??!

We have attempted to become so politically correct in Virginia and America that some of our most basic founding freedoms are being chipped away at for the perception of greater social comfort for all of society’s groups.

However, there is no such thing as a perfect society, a worry free society, a society of indefinite emotional and physical comfort. And it seems like the more we try to find this type of society, the further from it we move.

This is not to argue that we as a country should not strive to make the lives of everyone in America better. It is to argue, though, that our actions often times have unintended consequences that all too often go unrecognized.  

The wholly intended consequence in this case is the denial of speech, be it racist or not, to a Virginia citizen.

---

[1] http://hamptonroads.com/2012/11/judge-dmv-cant-revoke-ethnically-offensive-tags