No set agenda today. Does the weather get any better than this?
104 Thoughts to “Open Thread”
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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
Fall Jubalee in Old Town yesterday was lots of fun. The weather made it even better. The Chainsaw Chicks were great and the Pig Roast at Okra’s was even better. Outstanding turnout, politicians were everywhere.
I would like to know what was going on 234 yesterday about 1:10 pm. From Coverstone Dr to Ballsford Rd. there were about 20 people out on the median with huge signs under each arm and two-sided with some very gross pictures on them. Well, I thought I was going to vomit when I saw these signs(very weak stomach here). Then I noticed one lane of traffic was closed, yes I said closed. There were two PWCPD cruisers on the median talking to a car pulled over. Then I looked ahead towards Ballsford Rd and saw more of these signs and people, but they were getting off the median. These protesters probably were NOT supposed to be there yesterday. I do understand that today they will be out there in full force for the chain of life. I think my daughter got pictures of the 234 incident yesterday. I will be adding them to my webshots. I can’t decide do I file them under the album. Signs(MrF’s sign) or The Masses Gather(various rallies hosted by MSF).
Decisions, decisions. 😉
Seems those people must have gotten a little off course by about 2 miles, Lafayette. What on earth were they doing?
That is just too congested of an area on Sat. am to have roads closed and protestors. What on earth were they protesting down that far?
If I were Queen, there would be no protests on Sudley Road ever because of the safety factor. I would start off at Forestwood and route all that protest down Forestwood that runs behind the medical facilities. The intent of protest is to attract the attention of the people in the cars, one of whom is the driver.
After everything that has come out about cell phone distraction, what does it take to convince us that any distraction to drivers is dangerous, regardless of message.
There are probably a lot of people who wouldn’t let me be queen and would be hollering about first amendment. First Amendment can take place on Forestwood as well as Sudley Road and fewer lives would be endangered.
Good for the cops for running off demonstrators on the median strip in the county. While no permit is needed, I think the cops can re-route those folk over to a side street. Anything that deliberately attracts the attention of drivers is not in the best interest of safety, regardless of message, and that includes those waving chickens and vampires out there in October.
Post them up with Mr. F’s pics, Lafayette. Is that under the title of PESTS?
Ivan, thanks for your update. You couldn’t have had a more beautiful fall day!
Where were people parking?
Ah, Queen for a day!! LMAO
Well, have no idea what on earth they were doing down there. I don’t do protests. I will speak out publically in the proper venue, but protest? No thanks.
Any sign waving, protesting, assembling, etc. on the side of a busy thoroughfare is a major distraction to drivers. I thought we beat this horse dead the other day. I saw some cheerleaders near the mall waving signs and screaming for their carwash.
Well, my camera is broken. I can’t post the pictures yet. I have to wait for my Queen to do it for me. I hope she got some decent pictures. I don’t plan on going near 234 today. I will stay on myside of 234. I don’t care to see those sick signs and protesters. This goes for any and all protesters. I do fully respect the First Amendment, but don’t be a distraction to others.
I don’t have any album titled PESTS. However, boy, I could move some pictures to that one. I could start it the rats, then protesters and rally pictures. Thanks for the idea. 😉
Oh Lafayette, I would not stop there, with the PEST list.
The cheerleaders ought to move on off the main drag also. A distraction is a distraction, whether it is Mickey Mouse, car washing cheerleaders, a NOW round or an aborted fetus waving at you.
Apparently the horse-beating will have to continue since it is still going on. I think as more is learned about distraction, the more law enforcement will try to curtail distractions along busy thoroughfares.
Queen for a Day? No. If I get to be queen it would be a lasting thing.
Mr. Obama, you lost your Olympic bid. Now may we have your attention?
Eight more American soldiers have died in a vicious Taliban battle.
We realize that decisions like these don’t involve a lot of the smiling, cheering and waving that you love so much. But if you look closely, they are listed under the “Commander–in-Chief of the Armed Forces” category of your job description.
Please make a decision, sir.
Indeed Ivan, the Manassas Fall Festival yesterday was
spectacular. Thanks to all the organizations and individuals who
helped make it such a special day for our community.
You may want to circle these dates:
-November 7th, the first Greater Manassas Veterans Day Parade.
-December 4th Old Town Manassas tree lighting.
-December 5th Greater Manassas Christmas Parade.
Hopefully the weather will as perfect as it was for the Fall Festival
and the Edgar Rohr Memorial Antique Car Show two weeks ago.
Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ9Te1XP8RM
Did anyone attend the Country Fair at Joe Gibbs’ Youth For Tomorrow yesterday? There was to have been a silent auction, moon bounces, and fun for the family.
I’m very sorry to say I missed yesterday’s festivities in Manassas. I did go to the Farmers Market before town got crowded. Took a nice trip to Winchester with my daughter. You really don’t have to go that far to get away from the “rat race” of this place. Nice change of pace.
Hopefully, when President Obama met with General McCrystal, more was resolved. I don’t think to just keep pouring troops into the region without a plan serves anyone’s purpose. It appears that the nation is at a cross roads as far as Afghanistan is concerned.
Is more of the same the right idea? How has it worked out for us so far, after 8 years? Do we need to redirect? What is our objective? Do we need to continue with the same one?
The Olympics has nothing to do with whatever we do in Afghanistan.
Emma, did you watch the National Parks series this past week? There were a lot of pictures of FDR in there during the Great Depression and WWII. He was smiling and waving all the time, despite what else was going on in the world. Part of his goal was to keep the mood of America upbeat. How is Obama different?
@Moon-howler
How about those sign spinners?? Talk about distractions!
Many here enjoy the many video clips posted at the expense of those from the right, so here is one that shows a slightly different point of view. Funny thing is, SNL is probably a better source of factual information than those from the 3 letter media world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEZFBozWg8E
SNL plays no favorites. I can remember some really pointed skits directed at Bush 1, Bush 2, Clinton, and Reagan. Guess its Obama’s turn now.
FYI County auto taxes are due, October 5.
You can pay them by check or credit card online or pay by phone. Or…you can do it the old fashioned way and walk it up there.
No decals will be issued, yet you still have to pay for one. I guess it is just invisible.
Deeds’ Gains Among Women Narrow Va. Governor’s Race
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/09/20/deeds-gains-among-women-narrows-va-governors-race/
McDonnell’s views of women are like those of the Taliban in Afghanistan. In a thesis he wrote in college, McDonnell said that women should be prohibited from working. He sees women as property of the man. This is not the direction for Virginians. If you support equal treatment for all, vote for Deeds for Governor of Virginia.
Starryflights,
Nice quote of the commercial. If what you quoted was true, and not out of context, then how would you explain his ability to be in the position he is in? Surely someone who practiced what you say would have been outed long before now, and marriage would have been a failure. His focus was on that which would improve the quality of family life in terms of raising children, and don’t we all know that a lot of kids will get in trouble without proper parental supervision. That’s one of the biggest problems today. Kids being guided by their peers instead of by their hard working, but absent parents.
Starryflight
“McDonnell’s views of women are like those of the Taliban in Afghanistan”
Really? You think McDonnell believes in honor killings, would marry his daughters off at 14 and keeps his wife and daughters completely covered from head to toe? You think if his daughter ran off with someone she was in love with, he’d take her to Redskins stadium and stone her? Really?
That kind of rhetoric won’t get you many votes. Everyone knows his wife worked, his daughters work with one even serving in the military, so when you make outrageous statements like that about McDonnell, you do Deeds a huge isservice. Why don’t you go back to Deeds campaign headquarters and ask if they want you compaigning for Deeds by saying McDonnell is Taliban.
“Everyone knows his wife worked, his daughters work with one even serving in the military”
Well I guess he changed his opinions in life pretty drastically. Just what does the guy believe in? He’s unfit for Governor if you ask me. Unfortunately, so is Deeds.
Actually, anona, (re McDonnell’s views of women) while you go directly to extreme examples McDonnell is philosophically right in tune with the Taliban. Referencing his Thesis, he believes that women should remain subservient to their husbands, remain at home, and have no role in the working world. (IMHO), he’s Taliban V2.0.
It’s a shame… I was a McDonnell supporter until this came up as I think he has some good ideas for Virginia; however, I won’t compromise my social values to vote for him. From the pole numbers, I’m not alone.
Opinion, you most certainly are not alone. I’m sick of going to the polls and picking the lesser of two evils.
Taliban V2.0, haha.
I’d like Deeds to win, but I’m afraid he has taken the wrong track with this harping about McDonnell’s alleged anti-female stand. Twenty years is a long time – what he wrote in his thesis was almost despicable, but it was a thesis written for a super rightwing evangelistic school. Gotta try to please the prof, iow.
I hope Deeds gets out of this subject and starts talking about what he plans to. Look to the future, for pete’s sake.
“what he wrote in his thesis was almost despicable, but it was a thesis written for a super rightwing evangelistic school”
I know that in my own life, the things I learned and the worldview I learned in college is deeply embedded within me.
Not so for McDonnell? He stands for what? “Moderate Republicanism”?
“I hope Deeds gets out of this subject and starts talking about what he plans to.”
Yeah, like this – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE6d36a2gso
Elitism meets lack of substance meets anger issues. Also unqualified for this position.
I myself do not even perceive a “lesser evil” between these two eunichs, one of whom seems to stand for nothing real, and the other of whom doesn’t either and can’t even admit he used the f-word.
Either is probably better than kaine though, that’s the bright side. I voted lesser of two evils in that election and went on to regret it.
Hitler wrote Mein Kampf in 1925. Personally, I want to see McDonnell out of politics. Let him join the ministry if he wishes to promote a narrow moral agenda.
After voting for the illegal immigrant’s best friend Tim Kaine in office last time, as the lesser of two evils, I’m not doing that again. or voting for a Democrat for governor any time soon.
Hitler was 36. If someone tells you what they plan to do and then sets about to do it, I would suggest that prudence dictates you believe them.
Shucks, here I get pounced on because I happen to believe that people change over the years. Anybody who stays the same all through life, doesn’t live. Can I help it if I’m an optimist?
I’d rather not have either of these two as governor. But there they are, and THAT is not going to change.
Punchak, my experience is that a person’s nature doesn’t change over the years. Understand a person’s nature, and you understand the person. Fortunately, McDonnell gave us a pretty good picture of his nature. He would like you to think he has changed; however, I’m not so sure… and I’m not willing to bet the Commonwealth’s future on it.
It’s a pity… I liked McDonnell’s views on transportation and taxes; however, his efficiency could be a bad thing if he uses it to implement his social plan. Sometimes, a less efficient Government is a good thing (think about that one).
Can we have a decent discussion on anything without one side or the
other bringing up Hitler?
Opinion
Your comparison with Hitler is outrageous.
cite=”#commentbody-62727″>
Opinion :Hitler wrote Mein Kampf in 1925. Personally, I want to see McDonnell out of politics. Let him join the ministry if he wishes to promote a narrow moral agenda.
Right on, Poor Richard! I’m with you 100%.
Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. I can only say that I consider McDonnell an honorable man of his word with whom I disagree on social issues. For that reason, I hope he fails in his bid for Governor (and all other elected offices in the future.) I will pull the “anyone but McDonnell” lever on election day.
Rick, I don’t think Deeds was on the ropes as much as he was talking to a bunch of idiots. I am surprised he didn’t drop the f bomb right in front of the word ‘idiots.’ He clearly said from the beginning that anything was on the table except raising general fund taxes. They kept badgering and badgering trying to get a different answer from him.
He actually as a very good track record as a moderate in the VA Senate. He isn’t the world’s best speaker, I will grant you. But does he need to be?
I don’t think that McDonnell is a horrible person. I don’t want him selling state liquor stores. I also really don’t want someone as governor who thinks like he does.
That thesis should serve as a window into what McDonnell views as a perfect world. Very few people write crap like that who don’t believe it. I also truly believe if you don’t think like that in your heart of hearts, you don’t end up at Pat Robertson’s Regent University. That is the most damning bit of information to me. Anything else is simply secondary.
I understand what Opinion is saying. When someone writes these things, you have to be damn cautious, not because they are going to turn into Hitler himself but because they have had some dangerous thoughts that they MIGHT bring into office with them. Then you MIGHT get a clan of people who say yeah, let’s keep women at home, barefoot and pregnant. It has been done before to every group of disenfranchised people in the word.
When these folks get into office, it’s dangerous, especially if you get extremists supporting them. Extremists are the ones who carry out the mission of their espoused leader–they take it to the streets, and this is a frightening place to take it.
Ever read “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
Sorry, but we need to learn from the Hitler experience.
“I have no plan to raise taxes” Deeds says, and then gets angry when it gets clarified. Totally vacuous candidacy.
Rick, he qualified his remarks with general fund taxes. Go listen again. He isn’t saying there won’t be a special transportation act. He knows there will probably have to be one.
He got angry because the idiots kept badgering him with the same freaking question. Over and over and over. You are seeing what you want to see and hearing what you want to hear. Pick a better reason than that for not voting for him.
I think I’ll pick up a copy of “the Handmaid’s Tale”. Haven’t read it. Thanks for the suggestion.
From famous Wiki: he Handmaid’s Tale is a feminist dystopian novel, a work of science fiction or speculative fiction,[1] written by Canadian author Margaret Atwood[2][3] and first published by McClelland and Stewart in 1985. Set in the near future, in a totalitarian theocracy which has overthrown the United States government, The Handmaid’s Tale explores themes of women in subjugation and the various means by which they gain agency.
The Handmaid’s Tale won the 1985 Governor General’s Award and the first Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1987, and it was nominated for the 1986 Nebula Award, the 1986 Booker Prize, and the 1987 Prometheus Award. It has been adapted for the cinema, radio, opera, and stage.
Handmaids tale is an excellent novel, a real classic.
Hitler’s comparison should be reserved for when the discussion is about Hitler. The more his names is used, the more likely it is that the atrocities he committed will begin to lose their over reaching evil. Just my opinion.
In everyone’s defense, Opinion made the reference that Hitler wrote Mein Kampf when he was 36. He wasn’t comparing him to anyone, just noting the age when he wrote a book that was used as a paradigm for the Third Reich.
I read The Handmaiden’s Tale a long time ago and it sort of left me shrugging. I can’t even remember the plot. Maybe its just me.
Virginians want to decide if they want someone in the Governor’s Mansion with personal beliefs that were hatched at Pat Robertson’s Regent University. I prefer my church and state a little more separate.
Thank you, Moon-howler. Your assessment is correct. I was not comparing McDonnell to Hitler; I was suggesting that one’s earlier writings are fair game when deciding whom to vote for. Hitler is but an example of that logic. Some may consider McDonnell’s early writings a reason to vote for him, some may not.
Only a fool would discount such an important work as McDonnell’s thesis when deciding whom to vote for. Rarely does a politician give the electorate such insight into what he plans to do.
@Moon-howler
You kind of have to be in an Orwellian mood to read Handmaide’s Tale, MH. Some people don’t care for that kind of literature. It’s complicated in that on one level, you are reading the plot and looking at character. But there so many other levels of metaphor and analogies to current society that it takes a lot of sorting out. Then there are the symbols and…
Anyway, I’m not sure why you didn’t get much out of the book, but I am saying it’s not an easy read.
@Elena
I understand what you are saying, Elena, but I am wondering, then, how we can take the lessons of WWII and ensure we don’t repeat history if we don’t talk about it.
Don’t misunderstand. Discussions on Hitler and the Nazi movement aren’t things to be thrown around. They require thought, time and discourse. They require a platform of historic study.
I subscribe to a list serve in which you can’t really participate in the discussion unless you have completed the required readings. Then you have a basis for real discussion. Obviously, that’s a little academic for a blog, but you can see where I am going with this. The topic is THAT serious. It’s not something you can do in a four second posting.
So perhaps we DO need a post just on Hitler. However, given this blog’s history and the reticence to discuss the topic in a meaningful way and the refusal of posters to ask people, “What do you mean? Can you clarify?” but instead jump to conclusions, I suspect it would be a messy flop.
PAP, It has been 20 years since I read the book. It wasn’t memorable enough to stay with me over the years. I remember it as a chick book. I don’t remember if I was Orwellian back in those days.
How do they know if you completed the required readings? Now THAT sounds Orwellian! Hidden cameras?
@Moon-howler LOLOLOL! Ironically, it’s a quasi-government list serve!
The basis for the conversation is from the readings. Most people who participate are in the literacy field and wouldn’t participate much unless they had at least previewed the readings. It’ more of an honor system thing. There are lots of teachers on there who are there to learn. Like I said, it’s far more academic than a blog–unless you’re talking an academic blog.
@Moon-howler
LOL! Chick book. Funny, that is the last thing I would have thought of it as.
You are making me want to read it again. It has been a long time for me, too–probably 13 years or so. It just made quite an impression.
I just got a flier in the mail that said McDonnell voted twice to allow pharmacists to deny filling birth control prescriptions. HB563 2002 and HB1741 2003.
Now this behavior is NOT an abstract. It is living, breathing legislation. There is no way to chalk this off as a scholastic paper.
As far as I am concerned, if you are a pharmacist, you fill what you are given. No conscience clause. If you are not willing to do that, then don’t become a pharmacist. Couldn’t be simpler.