209 Thoughts to “Open Thread………………………………………..Tuesday, Feb. 8”

  1. !@Big Dog

    Agreed. I guess he wanted more private time. Perhaps politics make him sick now.

  2. Juturna

    Run, Corey, run!

    1. @Juturna, bite your tongue, girl!

      The Democrats have several people in mind to run. Stay tuned.

  3. Steve Thomas

    Moon-howler :@Juturna, bite your tongue, girl!
    The Democrats have several people in mind to run. Stay tuned.

    Moon,

    As a student of the game, I am gonna have to disagree with you. The Democrats bench is thin everywhere outside of their Northeastern/Westcoast strongholds. This especially holds true in Virginia. I am going down the list of viable candidates in VA (those who have even a remote chance of winning in 2012), and it is extremely short. Sure, Obama at the top of the ticket will help some, but not nearly as much as it did in 2008. The “bloom is off the rose” with independents, and conservatives are much more organized and motivated than they were in 2008. The biggest name I have heard is Tim Kaine. Not nearly as popular as Warner, so he’d need to ride the Obama coattails tightly. I’m not saying it’s a walk for the GOP, but our bench is much, much deeper.

    1. @Steve,

      I haven’t said anything to disagree with other than the Democrats have several people in mind to run. Allen would have had a hard time against Webb. There are a few other D. contenders that might just surface. I can think of 2 who might just make Allen break a sweat.

  4. Ya know…….Webb’s not running….and everyone assumes that Obama is……what if he doesn’t? Who do you think is going to be running on the Democrat side if Obama says, “The heck with you guys, I’m going to go play golf.” (Oh, wait. He’s doing that now…. 😉 )

    1. @Big Dog,

      The NYT left out Terry McCauliffe. I doubt he is ready to retire yet. The Senate race is very different than a gubenatorial primary. Primaries really don’t reflect reality in many cases, as we found out in 2009.

  5. marinm

    ALso listed on NYTimes http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/02/09/us/AP-US-Joint-Command-Closure.html?ref=us

    “While Joint Forces Command will still close, we were successful in retaining 50 percent of the command’s positions in the region,” McDonnell said in a statement.

  6. marinm

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110209/ap_on_re_us/us_black_lawmaker_immigration

    COLUMBIA, S.C. – An African-American lawmaker in South Carolina said Tuesday that stricter illegal immigration laws would hurt the state because blacks and whites don’t work as hard as Hispanics.

    I almost spit diet pepsi on my monitor when I read this one….

  7. Juturna

    Is that really any different from saying they will take jobs others won’t?

  8. @Juturna
    Actually, the Mexicans are outsourcing illegal immigration to India. See my #1 on this thread.

  9. Big Dog

    – M-H, you are right, Terry McCauliffe belongs in the discussion.

  10. Big Dog

    Corey Stewart statement on the retirement of Senator Webb is up
    the blog Too Conservative.

    Corey says he is the type of candidate Republicans need to win the Senate seat,
    but then seems to veer back to his running for re-election to the PWC BOCS
    Chairmanship.

  11. Juturna

    I saw that. I was discussing the border issues with a pal. $1,700 from India to Mexico City.

  12. Juturna

    run for senate cory, run

  13. Juturna

    From CNN

    Washington (CNN) – Virginia Republican Corey Stewart told CNN Wednesday that Sen. Jim Webb’s decision not to seek reelection makes it more likely he will enter the high profile Senate race himself later this year.

    “It significantly changes the race,” Stewart, the GOP chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, told CNN of Webb’s decision. “The Democrats have a weak bench and the odds a Republican will win are significantly higher.”

    Should Stewart enter the race, he would face off at least against former Sen. George Allen and Tea Party-backed candidate Jamie Radtke. Allen, the former senator who lost to Webb in 2006, is thought to be the early favorite. But some state GOP activists are wary of another Allen bid and Tea Party organizations are suspect of some of his positions.

    Stewart meanwhile says Allen has little chance of winning statewide should he capture the party’s nomination.

    “The problem with George Allen is that he has the whole ‘macaca’ thing,” Stewart said of Allen’s now-infamous 2006 gaffe that cost him that election. “And that’s not his only problem. He is going to have a real tough time reaching out to African Americans in particular. The African American turnout in 2012 is going to be very high and George Allen has very little room to grow.”

    Stewart says he won’t officially launch a campaign until next November, after the race to retain his chairmanship in Prince William County is over. But the Virginia conservative appears to suggest he’s all but running now

  14. @marinm

    Why? Do you agree or disagree?

  15. No one seems to think McCauliffe when they start thinking of Virgina Democrat replacements. I would not rule him out. Shoot, Chuck Robb is only 72. Someone mentioned Doug Wilder on Too Conservative. Why would an 80 year old man do that to himself?

    On to Corey….why would he run for chairman of the BOCS if he is going to turn right around and run for Senate. Corey can’t have it both ways. Who would vote for him if they knew he would spend all his time stumping for senate race?

  16. Juturna

    In case he loses board chair? He said he won’t make a decision until after the local race is over. He’ll be more absent than Stirrup.

  17. marinm

    @Moon-howler

    Not that I agree or disagree with him just that it was both shocking and funny. Also, because nothing at all will happen to this guy as he’s a -D. 🙂

  18. Juturna

    No other reason than being a D?

  19. @Juturna, I rest my case. Why would anyone want to elect someone who would not be focused on the county.

  20. Juturna

    A lot of people did that already.

  21. @Juturna, you got me on that one.

    On another note, is The Social Network the most boring movie in the world or is it just me?

    Mr. Howler is yawning also.

    We watched Secretariat last night Fabulous movie. Whinny! Neeeeiiigghhh! What a magnificent animal.

  22. Slowpoke Rodriguez

    The Washington Post has already released the first of what will be many endorsements of Creigh Deeds for VA Senator in 2012!

  23. Starryflights

    Who in the hell is Jamie Radtke? Is he one of those wacky teahadis?

  24. @Starryflights
    http://radtkeforsenate.com/

    Hear ya go. I know Google is so hard to use.

    Join the Teahad!

  25. Sarah Palin with a bleach job?

  26. Liberty University and a home school mom. Who will teach the kiddies if she gets elected?

    It sounds like Jesse Helms was a mentor of sorts. Did I read that wrong? Just what Virginia DOESN’T need.

  27. marinm

    LOL.. yah, the claws came out on that one. JAMIE, JAMIE, JAMIE.. 🙂 @Cargo, know of a place where I can get a TP flag for my house? Neighbor moved in and I think I spotted an Obama sticker…… Must bring balance to the force.

  28. Juturna

    Don’t notice everything. Makes for a saner and more productive life.

  29. @marinm
    “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”
    Mahatma Gandhi

    I guess that he was talking about the Tea Party.

    When you say “TP flag” do you mean Gadsden flag? Otherwise, I think you would have to find a local TP and see what they have. Otherwise, Google is your friend.

    There are all sorts of “liberty” flags out there. Gadsden style with the snake wrapped around an AR, etc. If the Tea Party ever actually becomes an actual party, we should use the Rattle Snake as our totem, like the GOP elephant and the Democrat Jack Ass.

  30. marinm

    Sorry, yes. I was writing about the Gadsden but as some people on here might not know about the history of the Gadsden (or the name) I didn’t want to confuse anyone. Aye, will check google was just hoping to buy local with “Virginian” dollars. 😉

    Radtke will probably be ignored for awhile. When Webb announced his retirement all eyes were on Allen. I can’t put my support behing an anti-gunner, big government RINO. I think Jamie could make a difference.

  31. Cargosquid :

    @Moon-howler
    Meeeooow…..

    Absolutely NO one has sharper claws than Moon-howler.

  32. Marin, you might want to study up a little on George Allen before you call him a RINO. I am about ready to make RINO a trigger word. It is so condescending.

    I am no Allen fan but he is still seen in the realm of normal.

    This Jamie woman doesn’t represent mainstream Virginians. We all don’t home school (I would rather be shot) and we didn’t all go to Liberty University. Jerry Falwell was not our guru. While I think Pat Robertson is a total fool, at least McDonnell didn’t do his undergrad work at Regent U.

    More religious right/wrong from the Tea Party. Make my day. Convince me. I want to see the Tea Party send out a good agnostic rather than the RR. They send out the RR and then deny they are for values. PUH-LEEEZ. 🙄

  33. @marin, the only good thing to do to a rattle snake is chop its head off with a shovel and cut off its rattles for earrings.

    One of my favorite commercials is the snake with the baby rattle tied to its tail. There is a field of rabbits rolling around on the ground laughing.

    Yes, there is a point here…..

  34. marinm

    I’m curious. Why would you not home school? Do you not have confidence in your ability? My coworker homeschools. His wife stays home (she has an advanced degree but IIRC only a high school diploma is required) and teaches both the kids and they are part of a larger group that offers field trips and other socializing activities.

    Homeschooling won’t work in my situation but private school or religious school may work if I can tweak the financials.

    Would -R lite or -R wannabe be less offensive? If you feel that RINO is offensive I’m willing to use another word that we can agree on.

    I could care less abotu Jamie’s religious beliefs or background. She could pray to the altar of Cthulhu and I would still care less. If she’s pro-gun and small govt she has my vote.

  35. Juturna

    Thank you for not confusing me.

  36. Juturna

    If education is that important it’s not a matter of tweaking. It’s smply priority. Come from a long line of middle class privately educated. It’s a lifestyle and tuition is above car payments and most other items. Hope I didn’t confuse you with this.

  37. marinm

    @Juturna, no not at all. That’s exactly what I was talking about — for example modifying my mortgage from the current 15Y to a 30Y note or stalling on buying a minivan or buying a used minivan. I 100% agree with what your saying.

  38. Juturna

    You got it. It’s a real subculture – the middle class and private shools. Car pooling, travelling weeall over NOVA weekly for basketball, volleyball, baseball games. The other parents who think they are “elite” because they write a check, the constant fund raising, the constant explaining to others that you are not rich or even wealthy, LIfetouch photos charges private shools more for school pictures. And charges that it’s not diverse enough.

    But used uniform sales are popular, issuing homework warnings and agendas by grade four, the respect requirement and the unbelievable standard of work habits is worth ever penny.

    Good luck and enjoy the experience. It’s well worth it. Our experience was terrific. The classes were diverse it was the parents that all were the same – priorities and expectations. The kids thought we were all one person. My husband, after spending some time with my family, was absolutely convinced although he was public school educated and his father a public school teacher. In fact, his father supported it completely for HIS grandchildren.
    My advice, get the used minivan – you’ll drive the heck out of it and can share the load with other parents.

  39. Juturna

    Oh, I forgot. The other reason for the used car is that you will eat in it and have several changes of clothes (your kids and others) because you will be in it ALL the time. Mine realized when I stopped driving them every day we really missed those conversations and togetherness 🙂

  40. Why would I not want to home school? I can’t think of one reason why I would want to do that. It has nothing to do with confidence and every thing to do with just not wanting to.

    It would be restrictive. You would always have to be there. I would feel obligated not to be blogging or on facebook during school time.

    Why wouldn’t home schooling work for you?

    I very much care if someone uses their religion in office, whether they are Christian, Jew or Muslim. Reading her bio tells me that the wall of separation would be an invisible fence with weak voltage.

  41. Jon Kyle is retiring from the senate Jan. 2013. He will have served 3 terms.

    Rough week for the Senate.

  42. Juturna

    Is there a Democrat to blame for it?

  43. marinm

    HS wouldn’t work for me because I’m the main breadwinner and my wife has a learning disability. I love the concept but in our case we couldn’t execute it in a way that would be a + over public education. I saw a link (foxnews so I won’t post) about Catholic schools doing more (better scores) with less (avg -2K cheaper than public). That has me interested.

    Religion or lack of is not a factor I look at for a candidate. Same with gender, race, and even sexual orientation. Don’t care and none of my business.

    @Jut, re the minivan I’m being told used might be the way to go as long as it’s reliable as MVs have almost no real resale value. I’m just told that an entertainment system is pretty much a requirement and that an electronic door is worth it’s weight in Beck-gold. 😉

    1. @marin, I don’t care what religion a person is as long as it isn’t part of the package deal. In her case, it is part and parcel who she is.

      Using a Fox News link is fine. I do it all the time. If I do it, fair game.

      As for RINO, it isn’t forbidden either. I just hate it. I was musing. It is not the opposite of blue dog.

  44. Big Dog

    On Blue Virginia blog -“US Senate or Prince William County – which is it
    Corey Stewart?” Seems Dr. Lateef and the Dems might make this a key
    issue in the fall election.

    1. @big Dog,

      I saw that. I guess Dr. Lateef ought to be worrying that people confuse him with ‘Dr. Letieqc.’

  45. @Moon-howler
    Religion is part and parcel of everyone that has religious views. Religious views influence all of their views. That’s part of the value system of humanity.

    1. Cargo, are you willing to extend that religious value system to someone who is Muslim? If not, then the sentiment is disingenuous. I don’t want anyone”s relion in policymaking.

    2. Cargo, are you willing to extend that religious value system to someone who is Muslim? If not, then the sentiment is disingenuous. I don’t want anyone”s relion in policymaking.

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