P.S. Also, congratulations to Toby Quaranta, former Executive Director of the Virginia Young Democrats, on his election as president of the Young Democrats of the District of Columbia!
In Florida, you must register to register persons to vote unless they are immediate family or you work for the state. It is more difficult to register voters there than it is to get a concealed carry permit in Virginia. McDonnell is missing the boat on the voter ID veto.
As indicated last week, the voter ID bill that the Governor seems intent to allow to go into law without his signature is unimaginative child's play on the part of Virginia Republicans. In Florida, other than the two exceptions, anyone who solicits or collects any voter registration application is or is an agent of a Third-Party Voter Registration Organization (3PVRO). Some specific responsibilities of 3PVROs:
Timely submit all voter registration applications collected, including incomplete applications
Serve as a fiduciary for the applicants from which it collects voter registration applications
Ensure its assigned ID # is on any voter registration application
Keep its registration and registration agents' information updated within 10 days of any change
File monthly reports on Form DS-DE 123 no later than the 10th of each month reflecting an accounting of all registration forms it provided to and received from its registration agents during the preceding month
So why, in a year that he could be on the Republican national ticket, McDonnell even hesitates is the bigger question. And the biggest question of all is why, if he is the leader of the state party, he cannot manage to influence his own party members in the legislature to let go of this voter ID nonsense. Next year, he and his could ramp up suppression so much more effectively following Florida's (and ALEC's?) lead.
Here are a few Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, May 7. Also, check out the great photos (including the one here), by The Richmonder, of President Obama's "Ready to Go" Rally in Richmond on Saturday.
On Saturday, concerned Virginians met in Richmond outside of Dominion Virginia Power's headquarters to take part in Climate Impacts Day, a global day of action bringing awareness to the issue of climate change.
Concerned Virginians also gathered in Blacksburg, Yorktown, Hampton, a Harrisonburg farmers market, local vineyards, and elsewhere to "connect the dots" between extreme weather events and climate change.
Environmental groups such as the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), the Sierra Club, 350.org, and many others also took part in this day of action as part of their mission to reign in the forces that are driving climate change.
Over the next 15 years, until 2026, Dominion intends to increase its renewable energy piece of its energy portfolio from 2.4% to 2.8%. That's 2.8% renewable energy by 2026. So where is the rest of Dominion's energy going to come from?
Here are a few Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Sunday, May 6. Also, here's some video from yesterday's Obama for President rally in Richmond. Sounds like a great event, verrrry different (in terms of size, enthusiasm, diversity, activity level, you name it) from a Romney "rally."
Here are a few Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Saturday, May 5. Also, check out President Obama's weekly address, "A New Chapter in Afghanistan."
A couple of months ago, Frank Leone opined that "Virginia Democrats Shouldn't Vote in GOP Primaries." His legalistic rationale: it's "malevolent interference." Well, here's the bottom line, without a Democratic candidate in the race, Republicans have all the say. There's nothing malevolent about wanting a vote in your representation.
"One caveat - there may be the rare time when people actually think a GOP candidate is worth voting for (McCain in 2000, some would say) - but mostly Democrats think that they want to vote for the 'weaker' GOP candidate. Don't bother." - Leone
Frank seems blind to the fact that Virginia Democrats increasingly have no say in local and state elections unless they vote in Republican primaries or for Republicans. City and County Democratic Committees are reluctant for many reasons (some not so honorable) to field any candidates at all. And if there is no Democratic candidate, then the only say Democrats have is by voting in the Republican primary or backing an Independent or Republican in the general election, hoping a less reactionary soul will win out. That is not malevolent. It is informed self-interest. Frank is really expressing the self-cultivated paranoia of the DPVA Central Committee. They know Republicans pull off malevolence without a hitch. They also know that they just don't have what it takes to organize a successful raid on a Republican primary.
In Part 2 of my interview with DNC candidate Ben Tribbett, we discussed how DNC membership should not be a "lifetime achievement award" or "gold watch," but a place for someone "who wants to DO something with the position rather than BE something with the position." In Part 3, below, Ben explains why we need to democratize the Democratic Party of Virginia. For instance, Ben advocates allowing the grassroots, not just "some attorney on Central Committee" (hmmmm...wonder who he could possibly be talking about there - lol) having a voice in deciding on DPVA resolutions - on issues like the public option (support!), Citizens United (oppose!), etc. In the past, my understanding is that many of these resolutions have been watered down or even killed by one or more of those attorneys on Central Committee, without ANY consideration of what the grassroots might happen to feel about the issue. That's absurd. Ben also notes that if DPVA is going to hit up people for money by claiming they will be "members" of DPVA, then they should give those "members" a real voice in running DPVA. Right now, that isn't the case. Why not?!?
Here are a few Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, May 4. Also, check out the three right-wingnuts on stage together - Crazy Eyes Bachmann, Transvaginal Bob, and Willard - and laugh at them, just laugh.
The Kaplan Post says it's: a test of principle versus partisanship. It's really: choosing between riding with Romney or getting kicked to the curb. Virginia Republican legislators didn't give suppression enough thought. They could have suppressed the vote and still allowed McDonnell the veep seat.
These new restrictions fall most heavily on young, minority, elderly, and low-income voters, as well as on voters with disabilities. This wave of changes may sharply tilt the political terrain for the 2012 election and beyond. - Brennan Center for Justice
Requiring voters to show government-issued photo identification is a hardship on as many as 10% of the electorate. But that may not be as effective as more surreptitious methods. Limiting early voting is one. Another is making registration much more difficult. But Virginia Republicans chose the lightning rod.
A recent "report" in the Richmond Times Dispatch stating that Dominion Virginia Power's conservation programs will raise power rates for Virginians by 34 cents disregards the $1.32 extra that Dominion's Virginia ratepayers will have to fork over to pay for a new coal plant in Wise County, euphemistically dubbed the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center. That is, Dominion's residential ratepayers in Virginia will be paying nearly four times as much on their monthly utility bill for a new coal plant as for energy efficiency.
With coal as a rapidly declining source of energy for Virginians, as for Americans in general, and an indisputable source of greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants, the headline should have made hay over the inexcusable construction of another coal-fired power plant in the commonwealth and the subsequent financial toll it will make on Virginia's ratepayers.
What the headline could have also said is that the new energy efficiency programs introduced by Dominion will reduce the utility bills of Dominion's residential ratepayers more than the price of the efficiency programs.
Dominion's new energy efficiency programs are a win-win for Dominion, its customers, and Virginia, not a new coal plant in Wise County that costs nearly four times as much as energy efficiency. That's the real headline.
Someone should trademark the name because it could be the next Baby Ruth or Old Henry. Imagine nostalgic holidays with Crazy Canes decorating the tree. You can witness the inspiration on 12 May in Hampton Roads when the Hermanator graces the Republican 2nd District Convention.
Hard to say if the Southside Republicans drew a short or long straw among the 5 districts holding conventions that day. The conventions were called long before speakers could be lined up and announced as part of the calls even if it were appropriate. But what is it about Hampton Roads that the loonier of the Party is perceived the greater draw? Michele Bachman speaks today in Portsmouth and again at the Regent University commencement this Saturday.
Maybe the Mittster will visit Virginia Beach with Michele today for an audience with Pat Robertson in an attempt to get an evangelical base pass.
Here are a few Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, May 3. Also, gotta lope this video; even a Faux "News" host is dumbfounded by the insanity of Newt Gingrich, and by Willard's "creepy" statement about how he considers Newt - who he savaged with millions of dollars in attack ads - a "friend." It's beyond bizarre into Twilight Zone territory.
Here are a few Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, May 2. Also, check out President Obama's speech from Afghanistan, a year after he ordered the raid that "got" America's Archenemy #1. Also remember, with President Obama, Detroit's alive and Bin Laden's dead. With Willard, it would have been the opposite.
Here are a few Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Sunday, April 29. Also, check out the video of President Obama from last night's White House Correspondent's Dinner, in which among other things he reveals his "secret agenda" for the second term -- winning the "war on Christmas," instituting a new policy called "it's raining men," etc. Oh, and I'm sure lot's more "slow jammin' the news.' Hahaha.
Here are a few Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Saturday, April 28. Also, check out President Obama discussing "a new Executive Order designed to crack down on the bad actors who prey on our veterans and service members considering higher education." Bad actors like DPVA Chair Brian Moran, who is doing just that as a top official in the for-profit "education" lobby! (Brian Moran's lobby shop is now attacking President Obama's executive order as "deeply unfortunate")
The Republican Party of Virginia has spent most of this century chasing its transformation tail. Now it is mimicking the Organizing for America strategy with VA Victory. There was something of a rollout at Shad Planking, but it was not ubiquitous. No threat to Obama, it does threaten the DPVA.
VA Victory is taking an "all of the above" approach including t-shirts and stickers with QR codes and using mobile payment systems with smartphones to take donations. On the face of it, the Republican demographic does not seem poised to embrace all such innovation, though the donation ready smartphones fit. The rubber meets the road energizing social media and that too appears incongruous with the party still mired in the age of Lincoln, only on the opposite side. Whether their intent is to attract followers then use a shotgun approach to contact or to organize leads in the manner Ben Tribbett suggests will determine how much progress they will make this year. Nevertheless, it leaves Republicans a leg up for 2013 as the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA) takes a breather year, relieved of responsibility for any substantial grassroots effort.
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Here are a few Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, May 8.
In Florida, you must register to register persons to vote unless they are immediate family or you work for the state. It is more difficult to register voters there than it is to get a concealed carry permit in Virginia. McDonnell is missing the boat on the voter ID veto.
Here are a few Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, May 7. Also, check out the great photos (including the one here), by 
A couple of months ago, Frank Leone opined that 
Here are a few Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, May 4. Also, check out the three right-wingnuts on stage together - Crazy Eyes Bachmann, Transvaginal Bob, and Willard - and laugh at them, just laugh.
The Kaplan Post says it's: 
Someone should trademark the name because it could be the next Baby Ruth or Old Henry. Imagine nostalgic holidays with Crazy Canes decorating the tree. You can witness the inspiration on 12 May in Hampton Roads when the Hermanator graces the Republican 2nd District Convention.
