watch this space

What's Bigger Than This?

2008-11-04T20:08:00.000-08:00

Nothing in my lifetime.

Calling for a National Intervention

2008-08-30T04:23:00.000-07:00

I still hold to the opinion expressed below. Undecided voters are going to go with their guts, and, in anxious times like these, their guts will be crying out for relief.

McCain's selection of Palin yesterday was the exact opposite of an offer of relief. If Obama doesn't overreact, and the most recent evidence of keeping it together was the successful convention, and the polls reflect my opinion, the only suspense left will be whether McCain will keep gambling with his decisions.

It's possible that Palin has the potential to be a great President. There's simply not nearly enough evidence of that potential, nor enough time before election day to generate new and convincing evidence.

Before yesterday, McCain's most forceful argument, righteously rebutted by Obama in his acceptance speech, was that in his decisions McCain puts "Country First." There's no way now for McCain to avoid admitting that actually his campaign needs to put "Winning First." It's not a senseless argument. After all, every President, except Ford, had to win the election first. And, there's nothing essentially worse about reminding voters it's up to them as opposed to offering oneself as a leader whom one has to take or leave as is. But, Obama's already done a good job of grabbing that humble populist turf. Essentially, McCain has conceded that Obama is qualified to be President.

McCain is admitting he's a gambler, and he's asking us to give him chips to keep going.

Yeah. Right.

Should Be a No-Brainer, Again.

2008-08-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

I set my Mom up with her own blog, though I'll only link to it, if she starts posting. Meantime, I'm reclaiming this space.

So, on the Presidential race (duh), here are my homestretch thoughts. Fair warning - I thought both Gore and Kerry would win big.

Barring some unexpected major event, this election will turn on the economy as the leading indicator of how much change we need.

Both nominees acknowledge that the economy is in very bad shape.

McCain, like his Republican predecessors beginning with Reagan in 1980, says the economy will come around because that's what economies do. The worst thing we should do is look to Federal Government to intervene, because at best it's a waste of time, and at worst it'll delay the inevitable recovery and dampen the growth rate once the recovery does start. McCain may call for a freeze on federal spending while he tries to make cuts and privatize. McCain will be under great pressure to extend the expiring tax cuts that he argued against in 2001.

Obama, like his Democratic predecessors probably going back to FDR in 1932, says proper leadership demands the Federal Government step in. Doing nothing would be practically immoral, especially given how inequitable things have become. Obama may renege on any promised middle class tax cuts once in office, the way Bill Clinton did at the start of his first term. Obama may, however, be able to take back Bush's tax cuts, the ones that are set to expire anyway. Obama will be under great pressure to use the savings from those tax cuts to fulfill other promises, like expanding health care.

I think both nominees will be able to unify their parties and get their bases to turn out. Once again, I think it'll be a close election (popular vote) decided by the self-declared independents who, as they've done before, will mysteriously all break the same way late in the process, leading to a deceptively large electoral vote victory.

It's so hard for me to see Obama not be that victor. I agree with what Bill Clinton said early in the primary season that voting for Obama is a gamble. I can see how present circumstances would make voters not want to gamble. Because, however, McCain won't be able to make the case that he represents a safer alternative, and because there are only two choices, I think voters will decide that not voting for Obama is a bigger gamble.

Brighter Ideas

2008-08-03T05:46:00.000-07:00

“Our lives would be much poorer without newspapers,” says columnist Jay Ambrose.
But there’s light at the end of that journalistic tunnel. Technology has given us wider range and up-to-the-minute news-gathering tools with enhanced dissemination methods.
We’re allowed newspaper nostalgia — we loyal readers and writers of print. But now we’ve digital journalism, not only giving us news, but research abilities and worldwide opinions.
It’s all there for us, on our computers. No, it’s not on TV where we’re “prisoners” of talking heads. Even static newspapers are limited, replete with wire-service reports and by-lined articles.
Want to know what the world thinks? Want to know the story behind? Want to add your opinions? Get interactive.
We’re not dimming those lights, Mr. Ambrose. We’re upping the wattage.

We did this to ourselves.

2008-08-02T06:27:00.000-07:00

AT&T announces the death of the pay phone, almost 130 years after its birth.
The Daily News chimes in, ’’Pay phones becoming extinct ...,” on July 21.
Cell phones rang the death knell of pay phones. And now we’re all privy to this lack of privacy.
Remember swinging shut that hinged phone-booth door? We were seen but not heard.
And, so long as we fed the coin slot our words meant something, but only to the listener at the other end of the line.
And, remember when eavesdropping was considered rude? Now we’re all forced to listen in.
We did this to ourselves. We’re attached and dependent on those plastic cylinders, our cell phones. We slide them into pockets where once we might have stashed our cigarettes, determined to keep our mouths busy.
Now the time's come to hang up the pay phone, tear down the booth and evict Superman.

Greatest Show on Earth

2008-08-02T04:33:00.000-07:00

Check the clock.
It’s 3 p.m.
Check the weather.
It’s raining.
There’s not much these days we can count on, but the weather is reliable.
Every July afternoon the skies darken, the wind picks up, the deluge starts and we’re treated to nature’s sound and light show.
If you’re not out and about these afternoons — and apologies to those who get soaked — it is interesting.
Up North we just didn’t have dependable downpours. But here, in defiance of our moniker, “the Sunshine State,” nature plays its little joke and it rains on all our parades.
So I position my chair under the eaves and enjoy the drama. It’ll clear up and be sunny soon enough, but for now we’ve a show to watch.
And when the skies clear and lighten, and all that grows, as if on steroids, shoots up almost before our eyes, we’ve the encore — one of Southwest Florida’s glorious sunsets.
Best part. This atmospheric free-for-all is free for all.
Enjoy!

Out of Lemons....

2008-08-02T04:17:00.000-07:00

Don't want to campaign for Connolly.

Don't need to campaign for Obama.

Not ready to think about 2009.

Gotta work.

Gotta entertain the kids.

Gotta endure "hot, hazy, and humid" every f#$%^n' day.

Could it be more doldrummy?

Happily for you dear reader, along comes none other than my very own mother.

Enjoy!

Ouch!

2008-06-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

I hope the overwhelming majority of VA-11 Dems knows what it's doing.

VOTE FOR BYRNE TOMORROW!!!!

2008-06-09T16:21:00.000-07:00

Keepin' it simple.

Connolly's o.k.

Byrne is GREAT!

Please don't waste this opportunity to help yourself, help your neighbors, and help your country.

VOTE FOR LESLIE BYRNE TOMORROW!!!!

so much louder than words

2008-04-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

Inspired by President John F. Kennedy's 1961 challenge to "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," Jeremiah Wright gave up his student deferment, left college and joined the United States Marine Corps and became part of the 2nd Marine Division with the rank of private first class.

In 1963, after two years of service, Wright then transferred to the United States Navy and entered the Corpsman School at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, where he graduated as valedictorian.

Having excelled in corpsman school, Wright was then trained as a cardiopulmonary technician at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland where he graduated as salutatorian.

Wright was assigned as part of the medical team charged with care of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Before leaving the position in 1967, the White House awarded Wright three letters of commendation.

- adapted from wikipedia, inspired by Daniel Schorr

So Very Progressive!

2008-03-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

It's been publicized elsewhere in the NoVA blogosphere that Leslie Byrne has been endorsed by the great folks over at openleft. I want to highlight here, however, a Q&A between openleft and Leslie that demonstrates so well how progressive she is.

1) How would you have voted on the war funding bill that the Democrats passed in May?

I would have voted against the war funding bill. I have been on record since January,2003 as being against the war and the occupation of Iraq when a dozen former members of Congress and I sent a letter to President Bush not to embark on this foolhardy war.

2) What is your position on the Protect America Act that went through Congress in August, the bill that extended the President's eavesdropping power?

I would have voted against it. Warrantless wiretapping, cutting courts out of the process and giving the power to the administration, under any fair reading of the Constitution should be illegal.

3) What is your position on retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies?

I'm against immunity. The telecommunications companies who complied (not all did) have some of the highest priced legal talent available. They should have asked for a court ruling before handing over their customers records. I was very pleased that the US House found their voice on this issue.

Byrne Steps Up on Ending the War!

2008-03-21T05:30:00.000-07:00

Leslie Byrne joined a growing number of House candidates endorsing a way out of Iraq.

http://responsibleplan.com/

Gerry Connolly, you specifically cited the war as a reason you entered the race. Will you do the right thing and follow Byrne's lead? Or, because you wouldn't want to give credit to your opponent for her conscience, courage, and intelligence, will you prove that you place politics over principle?

tick, tick, tick.....

I'm for Leslie Byrne.

2008-03-10T16:21:00.000-07:00

I've been leaning toward supporting Leslie Byrne in the race for the Democratic nomination for VA-11 ever since she announced last year. I was hoping Gerry Connolly would make my decision easier by not running. He didn't. I tried in vain to discover a reason to prefer Connolly. Last weekend, Leslie was endorsed by the Act Blue folks and participated in a liveblog at Firedoglake with Jane Hamsher and Howie Klein. With the fervent local backing of my two favorite local bloggers, Ben Tribbett and Lowell Feld, and now with the backing of two prominent progressive national bloggers, I proudly joined the Byrne Brigade at Leslie's campaign website. In addition to blogging here and commenting elsewhere, I'll be actively volunteering, and I hope to enlist all three of my kids. So, look out VA-11 residents. Even if you manage to miss my web words, you'll likely hear my voice and see me at your doors. I encourage everyone who isn't already pro-Leslie to check her out. I also encourage everyone who is already pro-Leslie to join the Byrne Brigade. And, if you have a website of your own, you can add a snazzy Byrne Brigade logo like I just did.

Gerry's in today?

2008-02-07T02:44:00.000-08:00

The WaPo reports today that Connolly will announce he's running for the Dem nomination for VA-11.

Unlike the Dem Presidential race, Byrne and Connolly, the clear frontrunners in terms of name recognition and funding, don't pose a choice between experience and change. Byrne and Connolly both cite experience.

Leaving aside whether this leaves room for Denneny [or Alexander?] to emerge as a serious contender, the WaPo article still leaves me thinking that the only difference between Connolly and Byrne is that he's not lost an election, while she lost her first re-election bid to Davis in '94 and the Lt. Gov's race in '05, though the Post points out that she received 55% from the 11th District in that race.

Perhaps more differences will emerge between now and the June primary.

I was hoping Connolly would stay out.

Now, I can only hope that the race is clean and fair and leaves whoever wins in a good position to win the general.

The GOP race consists of Fimian and Hunt with Fimian able to self-fund and according to the WaPo having Davis's support.

Bye Tom. Gerry, money isn't everything.

2008-01-30T14:32:00.000-08:00

Today, Tom Davis officially announced his retirement at the end of his term this year.

Gerry Connolly is still officially in the exploratory phase of his campaign for VA-11.

The Washington Post recently reported that Connolly has raised a sum of money that I think is more than Leslie Byrne has raised, even though Byrne's campaign started just after election day last year, while Connolly's exploratory bid started this year.

I'm going to take a wild guess that the other two announced Dem candidates, Denneny and Alexander, are far behind Connolly and Byrne in fundraising.

I'm going to take another wild guess that none of those mentioned as GOP candidates, Fimian, Connaughton, etc., will be able to outraise either Byrne or Connolly, particularly during the general election period.

As I've opined before, the only even arguable advantage Connolly has over Byrne is that he's never lost a race to Davis.

Without Davis on the ballot, I feel more strongly than ever that for the good of the Dem Party and, more importantly, for the good of the District, Connolly should opt not to run for VA-11.

Even if Byrne and Connolly were to wage a completely fair and honest primary battle, I see no reason for Connolly to make Byrne spend the money and distract her from the goal of putting the seat in the Dem column.

Being Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors ain't chopped liver, and a big majority of Fairfax County voters very recently expressed their trust that Connolly can and should perform that job.

The waiting is the hardest part.

2008-01-10T14:19:00.000-08:00

Gerry Connolly has formed an exploratory committee. Most assume he'll run, but until he makes it legal, I'll not so assume.

Tom Davis says he'll let us know by the end of January.

It'll be a while until a Democratic Presidential nominee is known.

And, now I just found out I have to wait until May 13 for Rick Perlstein's Nixonland.

I'm quite sure of all four pending events, Nixonland will be the one most worth waiting for.

If you don't believe me, check out the prequel on Goldwater.

Tom and Gerry, the clock is ticking.

2007-11-26T14:44:00.001-08:00

How can we enjoy the holidays waiting to find out whether Tom Davis will run for re-election and whether Gerry Connolly will run for the Democratic nomination for Davis' seat?

Today, Sen. Trent Lott announced he's resigning before the end of the year. According to politico.com:

"A Lott friend said part of the reason, and a factor in the timing, is a new lobbying regulation, signed by President Bush in September, extending the existing lobbying ban for former members of Congress from one to two years. The lobbying ban takes effect at the end of this year."

Undoubtedly, Tom Davis knows the effective date of the new lobbying ban, too. C'mon Tom, go for the gold! It'll be a win-win: more money for you and a better representative for your constituents.

Speaking of the voters of VA-11, does Gerry Connolly really think delaying his decision to run is hurting anyone but himself? Leslie Byrne is out there campaigning up a storm. If Connolly does run, he'll have a higher hill to climb, not only to persuade us that he has something to offer that Byrne doesn't, but also to offer a good explanation for the delay in announcing in order to overcome our doubts about how badly he wants the job.

Tom Davis admits he didn't do his job.

2007-11-25T12:01:00.000-08:00

I missed this Washington Post article when it was published last month. I read about it in a comment made today at Raising Kaine.

Tom Davis' quote at the end of the excerpt below speaks for itself.

White House Feels Waxman's Oversight Gaze
By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 25, 2007; A01

[Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee] has become the Bush administration's worst nightmare: a Democrat in the majority with subpoena power and the inclination to overturn rocks. But in Waxman the White House also faces an indefatigable capital veteran -- with a staff renowned for its depth and experience -- who has been waiting for this for 14 years.

"We have to let people know they have someone watching them after six years with no oversight at all," said Waxman, 68. "And we've got a lot of low-hanging fruit to pick."

Republicans have their share of complaints. They say that Waxman's staff cuts corners, plays "gotcha" with witnesses and committee Republicans, bypasses GOP staff members by interviewing witnesses rather than depositioning them, and would rather investigate than legislate. But even some of them speak with grudging admiration.

"For the administration, and for a lot of others, people need to be careful now," said Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (Va.), the ranking Republican on the committee. "Someone is looking over their shoulder."

I knew George was tanking, but Laura, too?!

2007-11-19T02:52:00.000-08:00

A Troubling Case of Readers' Block
Citing Decline Among Older Kids, NEA Report Warns of Dire Effects
By Bob Thompson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, November 19, 2007; C01

Americans are reading less and their reading proficiency is declining at troubling rates, according to a report that the National Endowment for the Arts will issue today. The trend is particularly strong among older teens and young adults, and if it is not reversed, the NEA report suggests, it will have a profound negative effect on the nation's economic and civic future.

Something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving

2007-11-12T16:51:00.000-08:00

From the Washington Post's VA politics blog -

Corey A. Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, said today he won't be a candidate for Congress next year.

The Washington Post Asks, Is Tom Davis a Eunuch?

2007-11-10T04:27:00.000-08:00

Eventually, I'll have to start a new blog, because I doubt Chap will face another Jeannemarie ever again.

Until then, I'll use this one to track the political future of Mr. Jeannemarie, a/k/a, Tom Davis (R-VA-11).

Today's Washington Post has what amounts to a pre-death obituary for the Davises.

I commented on a bunch of quotes from the article in a diary at raisingkaine.com entitled "With friends like these..."

I saved the best quote for here:

Michael W. Thompson, a longtime friend who is president of the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, a center-right think tank based in Virginia....Just because she lost it doesn't mean he's a eunuch."

The system works for a change!

2007-11-07T02:46:00.000-08:00

Chap, congratulations and thanks for running. I'm confident you'll do great things in Richmond.

Voters, thanks for voting.

Let's enjoy this victory and soon return to the task of improving our representation.

Chap's Positive Election Eve Message

2007-11-05T14:07:00.000-08:00

Please take the opportunity tomorrow to vote. Thanks.

Below is Chap's election eve e-mail message.

Friends, Virginians, citizens of Fairfax:

Tomorrow is Election Day. For me, it's been a year of knocking doors, shaking hands, and giving speeches. Now the day of reckoning is here.

With all the attacks, counter-attacks and media blitz, it's important to remember why we started this effort in January. And why we will end it victoriously tomorrow. Quite simply, the General Assembly of Virginia needs new leadership.

With new leadership, we can produce a 21st-century transportation system which does not just "tax and pave" but rather integrates new technology, proper land use, and energy conservation.

With new leadership, we can become a leader in preserving our open spaces, promoting renewable resources and encouraging sustainable living.

With new leadership, we can build our legacy of higher education with expanded campuses, merit-based scholarships, and student loan reform to permit opportunities for all.

With new leadership, we can demand that Assembly members are fully accountable to their constituents, not their financial contributors.

With new leadership, we can change the tone of the Assembly from one of division to one of unity. We can knit together the disparate elements of Virginia to create a state that is first among equals.

Tomorrow, when you go to the polls, vote for a positive change for this community and our Commonwealth. Vote for new leadership.

I'm Chap Petersen, Democratic candidate for State Senate, and I respectfully ask for your vote.

Sincerely,

Chap Petersen

Visit us at www.fairfaxsenator.com

The Final Fortnight

2007-10-23T15:56:00.000-07:00

The most important e-mail message I received today is reproduced below. Please read it. Thanks

Friends, Virginians, citizens of Fairfax:

Twenty-five years ago, a band called Twisted Sister had a hit called "We're Not Going to Take It!" That's where this campaign is sitting. For ten months, we have walked this district, meeting voters and spreading a positive message of "new leadership." As we close in on Election Day, our spirits are high. And we're not taking it anymore.

Our opponents have no message (except slogans they borrow from us). On TV, it is fabrication, attack, fabrication, attack. Their thought is that we don't have the funds to fight back.

Wrong.

Today, we are airing a TV commercial that sets the record straight. Here it is. My opponent doesn't want people to see it, because it exposes her State Senate term as just another "no show" job. Apparently, she only shows up to raise Fairfax County taxes!

With every donation at www.fairfaxsenator.com, we keep this commercial on the air. And we keep our positive message on the ground and in the mailbox. That's the winning combination as we close in on Election Day.

Please help us keep this commercial on the air (and "no show" legislators out of the Virginia legislature). A donation of just $250.00 buys an additional time slot. As we prepare for Election Day, please contact kathy@fairfaxsenator.com or (703) 349-3361 to help us on Tuesday, November 6th. And, as always, let us know how we can represent you better.

Sincerely,

Chap Petersen

Visit us at www.fairfaxsenator.com

and we'll all live happily ever after (or at least for a term)

2007-10-17T05:28:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, the Davises must have been either sufficiently impressive candidates/incumbents or incredibly lucky on their election days. That was then.

Recently, Jeannemarie Devolites Davis publicly and proudly called herself a Republican In Name Only, a/k/a, a RINO. Yesterday, Tom Davis effectively told the National Press Club that he couldn't even withstand the fight for the Republican nomination for Senate next year, let alone hope to defeat Mark Warner. But Tom, ever the babbler, gratuitously added the following, "so what? I've been a committee chairman in the House. I've got my portrait hanging on a wall. I've been pretty productive legislatively."

To recap, we're supposed to vote for Jeannemarie three weeks from yesterday, ignoring the party banner she and her husband have been running under their whole careers and which party they've reliably supported on issues from embroiling our military in the middle of a civil war in Iraq to imposing four digit fines for speeding? And, next year, we may have to consider sending Tom back for another two years, overwhelmed by the fact that there's a picture of him on wall and he's been "pretty productive?"

Tom Davis is many things, but he's not stupid. In fact, he's so taken with his own intellect that he just had to confirm what we all know about the virtual impossibility of getting the Republican nomination for Senate via a convention and he just had to signal yesterday that he thinks his wife will lose to Chap three weeks from yesterday. He knows better than anyone that if he can't even get his own wife re-elected this year, not only does he lack the support of the Republican faithful outside VA-11, his support within his district is gone.

Unfortunately, because Jeannemarie can't convert her campaign warchest to personal use, and because there are few other RINO's out there to donate the money to, the next 20 days will see more negative and lying ads about Chap. I suppose Republicans in Jeannemarie's district were so depressed anyway that her crappy campaign couldn't do any more harm to bringing out her vote. All she has left is trying to depress Chap's support.

The good news is that not only is Chap running a brilliantly uplifting campaign, but we have the power to do something quite easy to help ourselves for the next four years (and beyond, if Tom hangs it up) by getting off our butts for a few minutes on election day and voting.

If we do, like all good fairy tales, this one will have a happy ending.