RTD gives Cantor full Flip-Flop on the Truth-o-meter

MoonHowler

The following story appeared in the Richmond Times Dispatch in which they awarded Rep. Eric Cantor a full flip-flop for change on positions:

When Tropical Storm Gaston slammed into central Virginia in August 2004, U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor went all out to get federal disaster aid for his constituents.

The Aug. 30 deluge dumped a foot of rain on the Richmond area in 10 hours, causing floods, landslides and eight deaths.

Cantor, R-7th, fired a letter to then-Homeland Secretary Tom Ridge, seeking “immediate action” from Washington.  “Time is of the essence and it is important to start working on this matter so my constituents can receive help in this time of need,” Cantor wrote.

He issued a news release stating, “The magnitude of the damage suffered by the Richmond area is beyond what the Commonwealth can handle and that is why I have asked the president to make federal funds available for the citizens affected by Gaston.”

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Lexington ordinance bans Confederate flag on public flagpoles

MoonHowler

The Roanoke Times:

LEXINGTON — The arguments have been made thousands of times before. The Confederate flag is a symbol of history and Southern heritage. No, the flag is a symbol of hatred and racism.

In essence, the same arguments dominated a public hearing held Thursday night by the Lexington City Council to solicit input about an ordinance amendment that will effectively ban the display of the flags of the Confederacy from public light poles in the city.

City residents spoke first, and the majority, including whites and blacks, expressed support for the ordinance and described the Confederate flag as a symbol of slavery and oppression that is offensive to many. Once county residents and people from outside the area spoke, there was more opposition to the ordinance amendment and more insistence that the Confederate flag should be honored as a symbol of Southern heritage and the men who fought for the Southern side.

After a hearing of nearly three hours, in which strong emotions were expressed from both sides and there was some rowdiness at times, the city council voted 4-1 to adopt the ordinance amendment.

The new Lexington ordinance’s section on flags specifies, “Only the following flags may be flown on the flag standards affixed to light poles in the city and no others:” — the American flag, the Virginia flag and the flag of the city of Lexington.

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NatGeo: Inside 9/11

MoonHowler

National Geographic has done a great job with its series, Inside 9/11.  It tells the story of 9/11 for 2 hours a night, and then a repeat for those who might not want their kids exposed.  The series has very little politics in it and looks at what happened from an American point of view. 

It’s been good to get angry all over again.  There is something cleansing about remembering it all and bringing it to the forefront once again.   To me, the part I enjoyed the most, if one can use the word ‘enjoyed’ is the section on George Bush.  He gives a candid interview of what he felt that day.  It was very touching as we watch the president of the United States vacillate between being the president and just being an American.  He sure got more than he bargained for.  Perhaps his  9/11 Address to the Nation will go down in the annals of history as one of the greats.  It is simply too soon to tell. 

Did anyone else see the series and if so, what were your impressions?

National Geographic:  Remembering 9/11