Did anyone happen to catch the Quadrantid Meteor shower this morning? That had to be one freezing cold sky watch. I couldn’t muster up the courage to even go as far as my car. It was about 14 degrees out there.
Happy birthday Elena.
106 Thoughts to “Open Thread…………………………………..Wednesday, January 4”
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Blogroll
- 9500Liberty
- Bacons' Rebellion Blogspot
- Bearing Drift
- Blue Virginia
- Citizen Tom
- Counts of Monte Cristo. The
- Derecho, The
- Dixie Pig, The
- My Side of the Fence
- My Star Journey
- NARAL Pro-Choice VA Blog
- New Dominion Project
- Nova Common Sense
- NovaTownHall Blog
- One Libertarians's Point of View by Al Alborn
- Pete Candland's Blog
- Potomac Local
- Prince William Muckraker
- PW Conservation Alliance
- PWC Moms
- PWCPolitics.com
- PWCPolitics.com
- Red NoVA
- Shad Plank, The
- She the People
- State of NoVA, the
- The Jeffersoniad
- Townhall
- VEA Daily Reports
- VivianPaige
- WDGolden.com
- You, Me and the Lamp Post
..Unemployment near three-year low
By Lucia Mutikani | Reuters – 6 hrs ago….Email
U.S. employment growth accelerated last month and the jobless rate dropped to a near three-year low of 8.5 percent, the strongest evidence yet the economic recovery is gaining steam.
Nonfarm payrolls increased 200,000 in December, the Labor Department said on Friday. It was the biggest rise in three months and beat economists’ expectations for a 150,000 gain.
http://news.yahoo.com/hiring-seen-gaining-traction-december-050500830.html;_ylt=AsWXdBxTRvliK0B9oAsjbWGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNsYXVubjNqBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBGUARwa2cDZGUzZWJjNDItYzg4Zi0zZjg4LTg0MWEtNmVkYjcyNzY4MzJhBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkEdmVyA2ZkYmU0ZGEwLTM4YmMtMTFlMS1iZWVmLTEwYWExMDU3YTYxOQ–;_ylg=X3oDMTFvdnRqYzJoBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3
Good way to start the new year and good news for the President
Absolutely! Thanks for bringing us some good news, Starry.
@Starryflights
We will see if these are real jobs or rather seasonal hires associated with the holidays. Also the Administration continues to lower the effective participation rate (those that are working or seeking employment), which has the effect of reducing the reported unemployment rate. If the number of people “participating” in the work force decreases (i.e. the denominator in the calculation gets smaller), the unemployment rate can decrease without adding any jobs.
I do believe the economy is showing signs of life, but it is difficult to gauge what is happening due to the manipulation of the statistics.
Are you implying that government is manipulating unemployment rates?
Speaking of unemployment, how about discussion on the radical cutback of our military capabilities by the Administration? Our pullout in Iraq has resulted in an immediate deterioration of the security situation there with the Shia and Sunnis at each other’s throats and Iran moving in to take advantage. This is accompanied by a change to our National Security strategy and large-scale cuts to our force structure (much reduced ability to put boots on the ground).
Do our contributors think that our capabilities and strategy are headed in the right direction?
http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/why-panettas-pentagon-cuts-are-easier-than-you-think
Food for thought.
That said, I don’t think that we’ll find 1 trillion in “waste, fraud, and abuse”.
What we need is a Congress willing to look at the ENTIRE budget and make necessary cuts. Cuts to the military SOLELY because we’re broke is idiotic if we’re not cutting elsewhere.
That said, we do need to look at our current needs and possible future threats and THAT should drive force requirements. Plan for that. Do not hollow out the force. Cut elsewhere.
Congress can’t find its butt with both hands. Why would you entrust Congress to sit back and make that determination. Tell everyone to shave it back 10%. Let agencies and departments find their own way . Or–make some agencies cut back more than others. Maybe museums can take a 10% hit and safety and only take a 5% cut. Just throwing numbers out there.
Not everything is waste, fraud and abuse. Sometimes we can just do with less. All cuts shouldn’t come from the military but I would start with the generals always and work down where personnel is concerned. Generals and retired generals live a pretty cushy life. Leave the lower eschelons alone!
Moon, if Andy does not get the nod for Mayor at Convention, he returns to his current role which runs until 2014. As he wrote on his blog, he is a Republican and would not run as an independent for the May elections.
Now, if he does get the nod, what will happen and elected, that leaves his current position as an “unfilled term of office”. There would be no hidden special election or anything else, since four years ago, we had Councilman Smith being appointed as a Circuit Court Judge not too long after he was elected. So, a call is made out to the City residents for individuals who which to fulfill his vacated term of office.
As I recall, there were around 7 people who submitted their applications. The Council had two public hearings where these canditates had I think 15 or 20 minutes to state their case. I sat in the Council Chambers for both of those public hearings. The Council then goes into closed session as required by Virginia FOIA, and came out with Sheryl Bass getting the nod.
Another example is about six years back when Councilwoman Judy Hayes passed away. Same process as described above with Jon Way getting the vacant seat to fill her term, and then he was subsequently elected.
All out in the open; all presentations by canditates in the public eye; and all done following the Code of Virgina.
The law changed two years ago, now the vacancy would be temporarily filled by appointment until such time (approx. 90 days) as a special election is held to fulfill the rest of the term.
Yes.
They are indeed.
@Steve
How?
Moon,
It means if Harrover is successful at the convention, he is the nominee for Mayor. If he wins in the general, he resigns his council seat, and it is later filled by appointment. If he is not nominated at the convention, he serves out the remainder of his term on council. If Parrish holds off the challenge at the convention, he is the nominee for Mayor. If he is successful in the general, he is reelected Mayor. If he fails to achieve the nomination, then he is out at the end of his term in July, or if nominated and later loses in a general (unlikely), he’s still out at the end of his term. If he fails to get the nomination, and is out at the end of his term, I suppose he could seek appointment to the vacancy that would be created if Harrover is elected Mayor. Stranger things have happened.
Is there a Democratic challenger to the Republican mayoral candidate?
@ steve
Sound Familiar?
Two spouses were talking about their household budget:
Spouse 1: We are spending way too much money, we need to slow down.
Spouse 2: The problem isn’t spending too much; you don’t make enough. Get a second job.
Spouse 1: But why should I have to work 12 hours a day, when we can take care of it by lowering our monthly spending? If I get a second job, will you stop spending as much?
Spouse 2: Nope, I won’t need to stop since we will have more money coming in.
Spouse 1: Well, I am not going to get a second job unless you stop spending.
Spouse 2: Well, I am not going to stop spending until you get a better job or a second job.
So, since they couldn’t agree, they just went further into the hole. It was easier that way!
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2012/01/06/unemployment-rate-drop-is-for-real/
Employment growth is slow and fragile but it is real.
The real test may come after we see the employment numbers minus the x-mas seasonal work.
@Moon-howler
I know the lady who is the Democrat and she is trying to collect signatures but having a tough go. The independent who announced is also collecting signatures. Time will tell.
@Ray
How many do they need each to get on the ballot?
@Moon-howler
“Is there a Democratic challenger to the Republican mayoral candidate?”
No idea. The Democrats tend to be very closed regarding how they nominate. There’s never an announcement or “call” run in the paper, or anything like that, listing filing dates, method of nomination, etc. It just seems candidates materialize out of the ether. I’ve heard whispers of a Democrat running for council, but nothing for Mayor.
M-H, Manassas requires 125 “qualified” signatures to obtain a spot
on the ballot in municipal elections (note: all school board candidates
must run as independents).
Like you, I don’t know what the Dems are doing. It has been over
twenty-five years since a “D” has even run for local office in Manassas.
For sixteen years, in fact, only one independent has been elected to
a local office in Manassas (outside ,of course, of the school board).
What is it you all do to Democrats over there?
Holy cow. I think you all need to recruit some Democrats.
I think they might have a few D leaning R’s in the city. 🙂 The MGOP is a well-oiled machine. Sadly, the Dems in the cities and county can’t say the same. I don’t know much about the PWGOP, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t run in the same open/fair manner the MGOP does.
@Lafayette, if there hasn’t been a D running in 25 years, then I would say something is wrong. My question is why? Are Democats not welcome to hold office in the City?
I agree with you about the leaning.
I certainly hope that the only woman remains on the council.
When you look at the county supervisors…let’s just say its good to be male, white, Catholic, 30 or 40 something. That would make a wonderful Venn Diagram.
I think they are welcome to hold office. Perhaps, the D’s have just given up on the city for their candidates. I know quite a few D’s in the city, but clearly they haven’t had a D candidate for 25 yrs.
I think Councilwoman Bass will remain. An all male board/council in this day in age is absolutely insane. imho. Of course here in the county we have our token female, that nobody seems willing to run against. That’s a big problem we face in the county NO challengers for our BoS.
Oh, I don’t dare get started on being male, white, Catholic and 30/40 something. You know Mr. Lafayette calls me a man hater, and I won’t touch the Catholic part. It’s a hot topic in my house on a regular basis. 👿
Let’s face it. It hasn’t been too friendly to run for office around here if you are a democrat or female. Let’s look at how Sharon Pandek, Jeanette Richell, Krystal Ball have been treated in the blogosphere. How many people really want to subject themselves to that short of ridicule?
It is no wonder Democratic women don’t run in this area. Ann Wheeler was really brave. She also was not subjected to that type of derision, thank goodness.
Charlie Sturm (D) ran for mayor in 2004 and got 20% of vote.
I stand corrected “Not a Dem”. Charlie Sturm did indeed run for Mayor as
a Democrat in 2004. He was a super guy and a true “happy warrior” –
very community oriented and always helping those in need.
I will never forget Charlie (or the large van he, with a laugh, called
the “Mayor Mobile”)but obviously forgot he ran as Democrat.
Did he move away? (Charlie?)
M-H, I have no doubt it was an upward “move away”,
Charlie died not very long after the campaign.
Awww, I am sorry to hear that. Well, as long as it was an upward move-away, he might be in a far better place than we all are.
Charlie Stums was the last Democrat to run for local office. He ran against Doug Waldron. I think it was eight years ago. It was a three-way-race which included a kid running as an independent.
The fact that Democrats don’t run in the city has everything to do with their party, not the MGOP. Now if they actually run, but are regularly defeated, that would be something that could attributed to the effectiveness of the GOP. I appreciate Lafayette’s comments regarding our effeciency. The reason is the organization is made up of good, committed people, from which emerge good candidates. Mostly, we make sure to show up for every race, campaign for every race, even if the race is uncontested.
@Steve, maybe you need to take the democrats under your wing. I guess that would be self defeating though.
It was 4 way race in 2004. X. White ran too.
Not a Dem, you are correct. how could I forget that. Thankyou.
Sure, if you don’t mind the Earth spinning out of it’s orbit and leaving our galaxy at the speed of light, I could do that.
Nah…probably not. I guess they are on their own. they have enough savvy to have gotten me my Mark Warner sign a few years ago though. Gotta give em credit.
City of Manassas General Election – May 4, 2004 (* won)
Mayor
Waldron* – 1793
White – 1118
Sturms – 676
Grimes – 76
Council
Parrish* – 2772
Smith* – 2394
Miller* – 2050
Wimmer- 1712