UPDATE:  See comment #39 about Pete Candland’s staffer.

The dog days are here for sure.  No relief in sight from the heat and the F word has come to town.  (F word = FAIR in Moon-ese)

Manassas is cleaning up after all the big political activity.  Will Prince William  be getting any of the action?  Who pays for all of that?  Will the campaign reimburse the City for the extra police efforts and the work of municipal employees?

Was PWC ever reimbursed for the 3 events in 2008?

The Olympics are over.  Congratulations to Team USA.  What a performance!!!  The Republican VP candidate has been chosen.  Manassas is in clean up mode.  The BOCS is in a holding pattern.  Is there really any news?  You tell us.

107 Thoughts to “Open Thread…………………………………………….Sunday, August 12”

  1. Elena

    Moon,
    Yes, I too especially enjoy the blatnet hypocrisy between the Jenkins amendments and Candlands resolution.

  2. Elena

    I wonder why people aren’t talking about giving the banks free reign again?! Maybe we can reach a full depression second time round!

  3. Once a candidate is official, campaigning becomes a National Special Security Event which involves all sorts of rigamaroll.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Special_Security_Event

    Right now, Obama is NSSE and Romney isn’t, until after that convention.

    Virginia is being stomped over like the Civil War.

  4. AndyH

    @Moon-howler
    I’ve emailed the City manager about cost and payment status. However, It’ll end up costing less than you might suspect: we didn’t have to handle security for the whole event by ourselves as the Governor was present. When that’s the case, the State Police are involved in a primary capacity (maybe bad words but you get the idea).

    1. yes, I do. I am just trying to figure out how this all works. I know that when that Obama event happened right before the election, that was a BFD. That was the event that cost the county $100,000. I have always resented that these politicians can just come in here and grace us with their presence and we get stuck with the bill. $100,000, PWC can probably absorb but some of these localities really can’t. It irritates me also because here’s a reading teacher or a cop for a year or perhaps a new cruiser that is badly needed.

      These guys are going to be stomping all over Virginia between now and Nov. I sure hope they pay their bills. Talk about some reform that is needed.

      Oh, McCain cost about $45,000 I think and he was at the plaza at county central, not at the stadium. I was wrong. His was not as much of a BFD I guess.

  5. AndyH

    I suppose that the locals can always elect to not cooperate….

  6. Lyssa

    Not with politicians in charge!

  7. blue

    Here is today’s BIG news. The question is what does he really know?

    A former four-term Democratic congressman from Alabama best known for seconding Obama’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention in 2008, when he served as an Obama campaign co-chairman — will campaign for Mitt Romney Wednesday. A Romney campaign aide confirms to CNN that Artur Davis will stump for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee in the battleground state of Virginia — Arlington.

    1. Other than no one has really ever heard of him….that is HUGE NEWS! Geez blue, run all the way to the bank with it.

      People change political sides all the time. One day they think a poltician is wonderful and the next day they are out on the street. Life goes on.

      Now, if Ron Reagan Jr. switches sides, I will think that is a BFD.

  8. Morris Davis

    What does Artur Davis know? He knows that when he ran for governor of Alabama in 2010 he couldn’t even win the Democratic primary and he went from rising star (or so he thought … recall he said he plans to run for the Senate seat held by Richard Shelby when Shelby retires in 2016) and he faded into oblivion. Switching to the dominate party in his home state and then gaining national news media attention by bashing Obama … what he knows is that he wants to be Senator Davis in 2016.

    1. At least you have a little name recognition there with old Also-Ran Davis. @Moe

      Thanks for clarifying what he really knows. I am thinking the guy probably just turned cookie. Shame on me. My age is showing with that remark.

  9. SlowpokeRodriguez

    Elena :
    I wonder why people aren’t talking about giving the banks free reign again?! Maybe we can reach a full depression second time round!

    Do you by any chance believe ANYTHING politicians tell you?

  10. I don’t remember the banks EVER having “free rein.”

    I do remember the banks being given certain demands and rules and the banks following those. And then when they failed, their political connections enabled them to make a profit off of tax money.

    Free rein would also mean that if they screwed up and failed…they go broke and go away.

    Too big to fail is a GOVERNMENT program.

  11. Lyssa

    The Government supports corporate and individual welfare. Let’s make strides on both. More people rich and poor make money off the government than any other source.

    Have you heard that Israeli Power may turn off the lights in Gaza as their $1M electric bill is overdue. The reason – less foreign aid than in the past. Let’s just see what happens.

  12. Trying to post this comment in the DC shooter thread…its not accepting anything.

    Apparently the shooter was politically opposed to the Family Research Council.
    And the silence is DEAFENING from the gun control groups. And the shooting should have been “unpossible” since we all know that guns are banned in DC.

    The shooter planned it, even arriving with a Chick-Fil-A bag and posing as an intern.

    But, who really knows, besides the criminal? I’m just glad that somebody was there with a gun to stop him.

    http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57493780/cops-lgbt-volunteer-shoots-conservative-groups-guard/

  13. @Cargosquid

    Too big to fail is a reality having to do with a domino effect.

  14. Really? Standard Oil would disagree with that. They were broken up. Lets break up the bigger banks that fail, sell of the assets and move on.

  15. I’m sorry, on second thought, that analogy doesn’t work. Standard Oil didn’t fail. It was too successful.

    But still, too big to fail is too big to be a business. All business must have the danger of failing. Otherwise, we, as a society, are at risk.

  16. @Cargosquid

    Since when is Standard oil and bank?

  17. @Cargosquid

    I think there is something in that imbed that is broken. I just took it down. I cannot fix it because I don’t know what is wrong, but none of the usual things.

  18. I don’t really hate Republicans. I hate what some people have done to the party. I used to be a Republican, back when moderate Republicans weren’t called RINOS and there wasn’t a litmus test and they werent obsessed with reproduction and religion.

    I just really get furious when my words are used for distortion.

  19. marinm

    “Without question they were appeals to race,” (Doug) Wilder told CNN. “And if you don’t argue with that, then you understand that, then the next question is why? Why do you feel you need to do that? But the more important thing that I got out of this was Biden separated himself from what he accused the people of doing. As a matter of fact what he said is, they are going to do something to y’all, not to me, not us. So he was still involved with that separate America. And I’m sick and tired of being considered something other than an American.”

    “Why did he feel the need to do that?” Wilder told the AP. “Did he feel that these people were so dumb that he had to appeal to them with something like that? You can forgive people for gaffes, but there comes a time when you realize you’re forgiving the same guy for making the same mistakes.”

    I personally think that the Administration should continue to send Biden on his tour of America and let the voters decide.

    1. @ Marin,

      Don’t cozy up too close to Doug Wilder. He will take your guns away. That’s where the 13 handguns a year came from.
      Seriously, why is he even commenting on it? I have an idea….everyone who was offended by what Biden said just shouldn’t vote for him. How about that?
      Perhaps he would like to comment on the use of the state helicopter along with state cops while he was in office….ooops…didn’t think so.

      I honestly cannot effen believe that America is hung up over a comment that Joe biden made. Joe has been around for decades sticking his foot in his mouth. This country has some serious issues: Aghanistan, jobs, oil prices, the worst drought in what, 40 years? a huge deficit, college costs that are preventing young people from even going to college, immigrant kids who are being denied a future, a housing market that is still anemic, veterans who can’t find jobs when they come home, overcrowded classrooms and school curriculums that are just boring the living crap out of kids so they are dropping out in record numbers. There are American Indians living on reservations that have 80% unemployment rate and an alcoholism rate the same. You have weather gone bad with the hottest July in recorded history, gasoline prices that make commuting to work almost impossible for some families and an national electrical grid that is aging. Shall I go on? Why are be obsessing over Joe Biden? Who cares what he meant? His audience isn’t upset. They laughed at him. In the grand scheme of things, that was pretty harmless. Could he have said it better? Sure.But that’s Joe.

      Let’s get on with it. How about let’s talk about why nothing at all gets done in Washington, especially since the 2010 election when all the people who knew all the answers got elected. As they are finding out, it isn’t quite so easy. They need to get busy and create some jobs!

  20. marinm

    @Moon-howler

    As I said.

    I personally think that the Administration should continue to send Biden on his tour of America and let the voters decide.

    You don’t need to apologize or explain for him. Let the voters decide.

    1. I am sure the Administration has every intention of doing that. Why wouldn’t they?

      I will comment on what I wish to comment on given it is my blog. I certainly did not apologize for him or explain for him. I commented.

      I expect those people like you with mock outrage weren’t planning on voting for Team Obama/Biden anyway. I put up Jon Stewart because it was funny andpointed out the foibles of both sides.

      How about the 6 people killed in Aghanistan this week? What should we do about leaving that godforsaken place?

  21. marinm

    Mr. Obama had a lot of anti-war support and could’ve turned off the war at any time (was there a campaign promise for that? I can’t recall).

    Even won the Nobel Peace Prize…

    I have no ‘mock ourtage’ on this issue (Biden). I have no outrage at all. To me it’s just another example of Biden and something that the electorate should be more exposed to.

    I also will note that both Stewart and Wilder both stated that they think it’s odd that Biden used y’all but not because of the southern context but because he (Biden) believes he wouldn’t be placed in chains but that everyone else would. Now, we can argue that he could’ve meant a few things.

    1. He’s a 1%r so these chains are really only applicable to the 99%.
    2. He’s a politician so can exclude himself from many laws and rules that others have to play by.
    3. He’s a member of the upper elite so he thinks that he’s insulated OR has friends in those banks that would insulate him.
    4. He was making an obvious reference to race.
    5. He’s just not a great public speaker.

    Pick whichever. Does not matter to me. But, I do get some pleasure in the left charging to defend the speech. I really don’t care that you defend him (or don’t) as I know you’re throwing your lot behind him. I only care about TRUE independents that can be swayed or convinced. For that I think Biden is a sweet sweet gift and I think – no I hope – that Mr. Ryan (during the debate) simply says, “I yield all my time to Mr. Biden.” and let him talk….

    1. Actually, that isn’t what Jon Stewart said.

      So you all now have Biden running against Ryan? too funny. Its a shame you can’t trot Palin out also. I need a laugh.

  22. Lyssa

    Gee, I didn’t realize Scranton produced upper elite. Bet they don’t either.

  23. “that Mr. Ryan (during the debate) simply says, “I yield all my time to Mr. Biden.” and let him talk….”

    LOLOLOL! I almost snorted all my coffee through my nose.

  24. marinm

    This made me chuckle.

    http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj7-radford-business-owner-declines-joe-bidens-request-to-stop-in-store-20120815,0,4370357.story

    Would you say no to the Vice President?

    One New River Valley business owner turned Vice President Joe Biden down. To see video of the story, click here.

    This might happen more than you think from both political parties, most businesses just don’t talk about it. The owner of “Crumb and Get It” – did.

    Why in the world would a new business owner say “no” to a photo op with the Vice President of the United States?

    McMurray said it was President Obama’s recent remarks about small business and who built what.

    “Very simply, ‘you didn’t build that’” McMurray said. “Speaking of small businesses and entrepreneurs all across this country and actually last night my wife was up all night. No sleep, she’s worked a full 24 hours.”

    Here’s the back story, we’re told that shortly after Crumb and Get It told Biden’s advance people ‘no’ — the secret service walked in and told Chris McMurray ”Thanks for standing up and saying ‘no’ — then they bought a whole bunch of cookies and cupcakes.

  25. @marinm

    Yet another ignoramous who doesn’t listen or doesn’t get what was said.

    Oh well, his loss.

    I just bet the secret service came by to thank Mr. Chips or whatever his name was for saying no. That’s a good way to get fired.

  26. Are you all just trying to be offensive? If you aren’t, then let me tell you…you really are being offensive. Why don’t I just create a mosh pit thread of sorts and you all can go in there and squirt things out your nose, belch and whatever the smug to do entertain each other.

  27. @marinm

    Biden doesn’t think he is elite. Do you not understand he thought he was being funny? He was getting all homesy to the Danville folks.

    You are spending too much time on it. I doubt that Biden is a 1$-er. He wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth. In fact, he comes from humble beginnings. I think his father was a factory worker.

    what difference does it make? Does spending 2 days on Biden enhance your candidate?

    My only criticism of your candidatte is that I don’t agree with his policies. Some I seriously disagree with. Period. I have said nothing negative about him.

  28. marinm

    @Moon-howler

    You assume Mittens is my candidate. He is NOT. So, I can look at this subject a lot more objectively than you or a Mittens fan as I have no dog in this hunt.

    While my overall preference would be a President Ron Paul — if I can’t get that I’d be happy with a House and Senate held by Republicans and Obama holding the presidency. 4 years of stagnation at the Legisltative and Executive would make me giddy.

    1. I am not believing you would vote for Obama. You have 2 years and stagnation. Isn’t that enough?

      If I am ever in doubt I think about Supreme Court appointments.

  29. Marinm

    Didn’t say I’d vote for him. Just wouldn’t care if he’s the guy.

  30. kelly_3406

    This is an interesting quote :

    ‘Larry Sabato, professor of politics at the University of Virginia, said: “It is base v base. There are hardly any independents.” At the cost of winning over a percentage of that small group in the centre, the campaigns risked alienating their core support, he said.’

    Does this really mean that moderates no longer matter? If so, Paul Ryan was a brilliant choice.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/16/romney-gamble-paul-ryan-vicepresident

    1. Someone said today that Independents usually vote a certain way, they just don’t want to be locked in or identify with their party.

      I had never thought of it that way but I think they are on to something.

      @Kelly

    1. Slowpoke, while I know your love is sarcastic,I am going to thank you for leaving that link. I am sorry I missed it today. That is an important conversation to be having actually. Remember, I am an ex-republican. Toure is right. There are built in codes. I used to know some of them.

      I am going to give serious thought to posting the extire video clip. Good for them for having the guts to have the discussion, regardless of how uncomfortable they were. Unintentionally, you have brought an unseen part to the table. You know Harry Potter’s invisible cloak? that is what the race part is….its there. We just can’t see it.

      You know that this issue has broken a set of friends who have had dinner together every weekend since 1995? It was a comment about “”I don’t know why someone hasn’t shot that n*****.” Race was very much a part of it. It needs to be discussed and not denied. Also, anyone who thinks the races are A-OK in this country is deluded.

  31. SlowpokeRodriguez

    marinm :
    @Moon-howler
    You assume Mittens is my candidate. He is NOT. So, I can look at this subject a lot more objectively than you or a Mittens fan as I have no dog in this hunt.
    While my overall preference would be a President Ron Paul — if I can’t get that I’d be happy with a House and Senate held by Republicans and Obama holding the presidency. 4 years of stagnation at the Legisltative and Executive would make me giddy.

    Except for the fact that Congress has relinquished most of its powers to the executive branch. Now the executive can cause intense damage all by itself.

    1. Were you carrying on this much during the Clinton and Bush years? How about Reagan?

      Who issued the most executive orders?

      How about Gerald Ford and the executive order not to assassinate heads of states?

      Here is a brief history of executive orders…or at least major ones:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_federal_executive_orders#Franklin_D._Roosevelt_.281933.E2.80.931945.29

  32. Marinm

    A majority GOP house and senate could take on a weakened executive. Now let’s be honest. That’s not the fight they want to have because both parties love having a strong (powered) executive (when it’s on of theirs!).

    But maybe we get lucky and a combined Congress does its job…

  33. SlowpokeRodriguez

    Moon-howler :
    Were you carrying on this much during the Clinton and Bush years? How about Reagan?

    No, No, No, you are reading things into my words. I didn’t say this JUST happened. Bush was horrible with executive orders, this is a process that has been happening for a while, but it feels like the velocity is getting higher in the last decade or two. I’m not even saying I know of any answer that will work, because I honestly think the legislative branch has turned over their power all too willingly.

  34. SlowpokeRodriguez

    Or were they “signing statements”? instead of executive orders.

  35. From Slow’s link
    “That really bothered me,” he said. “You notice he said anger twice. He’s really trying to use racial coding and access some really deep stereotypes about the angry black man. This is part of the playbook against Obama, the ‘otherization,’ he’s not like us.”

    This is so much bull crap. There’s no “code.” This is what that idiot says is “code.”
    http://www.mediaite.com/online/romney-obamas-campaign-strategy-is-to-smash-america-apart/

    Toure is the one that’s bigoted.

  36. @Cargosquid

    Of course there is a code. Now, I am not saying that Romney was using it. but there is a code. there is white people code and there is black people code. I am sure that other ethnicities have codes and code breakers also but lets not complicate things.

  37. @Cargosquid

    How do you know that is what he is talking about? I got no clues that he was speaking of something specific.

    I think what Romney said was definitely not true. I don’t think that Obama has tried to divide people. That is a Republican strategy. Shall I list the things I wouldn’t want to be if I were republican?

    A union member, a public employee, pro choice, an atheist, a member of a liberal Christian Church like Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Chursh of Christ, etc, Unitarian, gay, a person who is not married to their partner, a teacher, a planned parenthood employee, poor, shall I go on?

    I don’t think the Democrats display the same animous towards members of those subgroups.

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