The D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia was dedicated in 2001. Why Bedford? Bedford lost the most number of troops per capita than any other locality in the United States– 19 boys from one town dead.
The D-Day Memorial is operated by a private foundation, rather than the park service. The recession economy is the main reason for its financial difficulties. The following video is from last year. Hopefully the Park Service will take it over. We need to remember those brave souls who stormed the beaches at Normandy.
If anyone feels generous, the D-Day Memorial certainly needs help from private donors. Government does not operate this memorial to our heroes. WWII veterans are now dying at the rate of 1800 per day.
RICHMOND — At a news conference last week at Northrop Grumman’s Rosslyn offices, where a panoramic view of Washington loomed outside a floor-to-ceiling wall of glass, Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell ticked off the reasons he thinks the giant defense contractor chose to locate its new corporate headquarters in the commonwealth.
He cited the state’s low corporate tax rate, its business-friendly regulations and right-to-work laws that prohibit requiring employees to join unions.
One factor the Republican didn’t mention: The massive flow of federal spending that provides the core of Northrop’s business and has made it the nation’s 61st-largest company.
McDonnell has been a leading voice in railing against rising federal spending. But lost amid the calls for Washington to freeze or reduce spending is this twist: Although most economists agree that mounting federal debt could be dangerous to the national economy, Virginia has thrived on Washington’s decade-long spending spree, according to analyses done by professors at Virginia colleges.
Ten cents of every federal procurement dollar spent anywhere on Earth is spent in Virginia. More than 15,000 Virginia companies hold federal contracts, a number that has almost tripled since 2001. Total federal spending — from salaries to outsourced contracts — has more than doubled, to $118 billion, since 2000, as homeland security and defense spending skyrocketed in response to the 2001 terrorist attacks and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. By 2008, it accounted for about 30 percent of Virginia’s entire economy.
Federal dollars have filtered through the rest of the economy, too, helping to build the high-tech Dulles corridor and funding new homes and cars for federal workers and contractors and meals at local restaurants. The billions have helped fuel the economic boom cycles of the past decade and have cushioned the blow of the recent recession, particularly in Northern Virginia, where the unemployment rate has stayed stubbornly below 6 percent, less than the state and national rates.
“We have a rich uncle, I like to remind people — Uncle Sam,” said Stephen Fuller, director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University.
Maybe Cuccinelli shouldn’t be trying so hard to piss off the feds. It sounds like Virginia is riding the old gravy train. To have less than 6% unemployment in this economy is enviable. To be getting 10 cents of every federal procurement dollar spent anywhere on earth is quite an accomplishment.
Much as McDonnell probably won’t like sharing the limelight, much of Virginia’s pro-business reputation was developed and nurtured by people like Mark Warner. Under the Kaine administration, Virginia was voted the number one state to do business in. McDonnell is savvy and should continue the tradition of attracting and maintaining businesses and a robust economy. He just needs to rein in his attorney general since much of that business originates with federal contracting.
George Huguely, 22, has been charged with murder in the death of Yeardley Love, 22. Both were fourth-year U.Va. students from Maryland and lacrosse players. Huguely is from Chevy Chase and Love was from Cockeysville. Both students were to graduate in a few weeks.
Love, 22, was found dead in her apartment yesterday morning. Hours later, 22-year-old George Huguely was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Roommates summoned police thinking that she was comatose from alcohol poisoning. First responders found that Ms. Love’s condition was far more serious and that she had suffered physical trauma. While not elaborating, police ruled out weapons. Neighors heard nothing.
Police say the two had been in a relationship but investigators plan to interview fellow players. Huguely’s lawyer says that “he is confident the death of a women’s lacrosse player from the same school, Yeardley Love, was not intended.” What a horribly tragic accident. One of these young people will probably spend time in prison and the other, who has been described by those who know her as an angel, is gone. Dead. Never to play lacrosse again, never to graduate, never to go to that first day of a new job. Her life has been snuffed out, for whatever reason.
Ms. Love is the 7th UVA student to die this academic year. We don’t send out children to college to die.
The University issued the following:
U.Va. President John T. Casteen III said in a statement that he hopes Love is remembered for her talents and her potential and not for the way she died.
“However little we may not know now about Yeardley Love’s death, we do know that she did not have or deserve to die — that she deserved the bright future she earned growing up, studying here and developing her talents as a lacrosse player,” Casteen said.
“She deserves to be remembered for her human goodness, her capacity for future greatness, and not for the terrible way in which her young life has ended.”
Casteen said he knows of no explanation for what happened to Love.
“This death moves us to deep anguish for the loss of a student of uncommon talent and promise, and we express the university’s and our own sympathy for Yeardley’s family, teammates and friends,” he said.
The Virginia AG has decided that the replacement breast plate lapel pins he had made for his staff were just too distracting so he has returned to the bare-breasted Goddess Virtue of the Great Virginia Seal. He did try to lame out of why he did such a stupid, cultural warrior stunt in the first place:
“The image on my office lapel pin is similar to that of a large antique state flag that hangs in the Virginia Capitol,” Cuccinelli said in a statement yesterday. “That is where I got the idea for my pin. I liked this particular image and thought it would be something unique for my employees.
Cuccinelli attempted mock outrage that people would find his decision to cover up the Goddess ridiculous:
“I cannot believe that joking with my staff about Virtue being a little more ‘virtuous’ in this antique version has become news.
“This is simply a media-made issue that has become distracting to the work of my office. I am going to end this distraction by discontinuing future use of the pin.”
The Democrats opportunistically have been laughing their hind-quarters off because of Ken’s efforts to make an Amazon Goddess more modest. According to the Richmond Times Dispatch:
The Democratic Party of Virginia also called the latest dustup a distraction — and blamed Cuccinelli. “Does Ken Cuccinelli have anything better to do?” the party asked in news release.
“All Virginians should be concerned that Ken Cuccinelli is wasting the people’s time applying his ultraconservative political agenda to every aspect of his job, even classical art,” said party Chairman C. Richard Cranwell.
“Attorney General Cuccinelli’s good will has run out with our citizens,” Cranwell added. “Virginians demand common sense, results-oriented government, not distractions, embarrassments and misplaced priorities.”
Steve Farnsworth, a political scientist at George Mason University, said the seal flap “is the latest in a whole session of national punch lines.”
The controversy has been a distraction from the accomplishments of the McDonnell administration, and it has made life difficult for the Republican Party of Virginia, he said.
If Cuccinelli really was on top of things he would know that Goddess Virtue didn’t get on the state seal by being a cream puff. Sic Semper Tyrannis! Thus Always to Tyrants. Don’t mess with Virginia’s boobs!
Apparently AG Ken Cuccinelli feels the Goddess Virtue is revealing too much wardrobe malfunction on the Virginia State Seal. He is now handing out pins with less …errr….cleavage? It sounds like he has been listening to too many Iranian clerics for his own good.
Traditional Virginia SealCuccinelli Goddess Virtue
The Cuccinelli goddess is more modest. Perhaps he is trying to prevent earthquakes like that wacko in the middle east.
Iranian cleric Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi angered women’s groups around the world on Monday when he claimed that promiscuous women were responsible for literally making the earth move.
“Many women who do not dress modestly … lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes,” Sedighi said.
“What can we do to avoid being buried under the rubble?” he asked during a prayer sermon on Friday. “There is no other solution but to take refuge in religion and to adapt our lives to Islam’s moral codes.”
So is Ken is trying to prevent our own Boob-quake here in Virginia with his new pins? Is he like the Taliban or something? The Virginia State Seal has the goddess Virtue vanquishing a tyrant. Sic Semper Tyrannis: Thus always to tryrants. Not that most NORMAL people have ever noticed, but her left breast is slighly exposed, in goddess warrior like fashion–classical art and all.
The Norfolk Pilot states:
When the new design came up at a staff meeting, workers in attendance said Cuccinelli joked that it converts a risqué image into a PG one.
The joke might be on him, said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato.
“When you ask to be ridiculed, it usually happens. And it will happen here, nationally,” he said. “This is classical art, for goodness’ sake.”
It wouldn’t be the first time that Cuccinelli has found himself in a punch line since taking office. The conservative Republican made Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” in March after he advised state colleges and universities they lack the legal authority to protect gay employees from discrimination.
“You can’t be gay in college?” host Jon Stewart asked in mock disbelief. “That’s the whole point of going to college!”
If the jokes start to fly, Cuccinelli can’t say he didn’t see it coming, Sabato said – not after what happened in 2002, when U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft ordered drapes installed to cover partially nude statues at the Justice Department. “Ashcroft had one excuse: it hadn’t been done before and he wasn’t prepared for the critical onslaught that he faced,” Sabato said. “Cuccinelli has no excuse at all. He knows what’s coming because of what happened to Ashcroft. You can only conclude that he enjoys being the center of pointless controversy.”
Efforts to reach Cuccinelli on Friday were unsuccessful.
His spokesman, Brian Gottstein, said the pin was paid for by Cuccinelli’s political action committee, not with taxpayer funds. He acknowledged that the attorney general has pointed out Virtus’ “more modest attire,” adding that the rendition chosen by his boss “harkens back to an older version of the seal.”
The Great Seal of the Commonwealth is a two-sided image dates back to the year 1776.
The Code of Virginia stands firmly on its description of the State Seal:
The side depicted on the state flag features Virtus standing victoriously over Tyranny, a male figure prone on the ground in defeat, his crown fallen from his head. Beneath him is the motto Sic Semper Tyrannis: Thus Always to Tyrants.
Click the link for exact wording.
Now we know why Taliban Cooch is sending out those beg letters! He needs to buy new pins to hand out with Goddess Virtue fully clothed. He appears to have little regard for Virginia traditions, the Virginia Constitution, and anything past his own sense of misguided morality. Perhaps he is now an ‘earther’ in addition to being a birther. You know, one of those people who think showing breasts causes earthquakes.
When is our AG going to stop with the circus sideshow stuff? He just has too many attention seeking behaviors for most Virginians. Larry Sabato is correct. The Cooch’s behavior is juvenile and distracting from real governance. Meanwhile, Virginians anxiously await being the butt of yet more jokes on late night comedy.
I will admit it. I would have been up all night trying to figure out why this license plate was racist. I still wouldn’t have gotten it.
VA License Plate: 14CV88
It seems that Virginia uses a computer to root out off color, racist and other types of messages that the state doesn’t want dotting its hiways and by-ways. Sometimes, however,, expressions that aren’t quite as obvious slip through.
The owner of a Ford truck bearing the license plate 14CV88 will have to find a new message after the DMV on Wednesday canceled its earlier approval of that series of letters and numbers.
A photo of the truck hit the Web a few days ago, went viral on car and other blogs and finally came to the attention of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an advocacy group for American Muslims. On Wednesday morning, the group complained to the DMV that the plate contained a white supremacist and neo-Nazi statement.
A few hours later, the DMV agreed that the plate contains a coded message: The number 88 stands for the eighth letter of the alphabet, H, doubled to signify “Heil Hitler,” said CAIR’s Ibrahim Hooper. “CV” stands for “Confederate veteran” — the plate was a special model embossed with a Confederate flag, which Virginia makes available for a $10 fee to card-carrying members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. And 14 is code for imprisoned white supremacist David Lane’s 14-word motto: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.”
“If the license plate had been on a VW Beetle with nothing else on it, or a Volvo station wagon, no one would probably have noticed,” said Hooper. “But when the Confederate flag is thrown in . . . it shows the convergence of anti-government and anti-Islamic sentiments that unfortunately seem to be growing.”
The DMV would not release the identity or location of the vehicle owner, citing privacy laws. Virginia has the highest percentage of personalized plates in the nation
The giveaway that something was amiss, Hooper said, was the truck itself. An enormous photo of the burning World Trade Center towers covers the entire tailgate, with the words: “Everything I ever needed to know about Islam I learned on 9/11.”
It certainly wouldn’t have offended me. I wouldn’t have gotten it. I have a hard time decoding plates that are n’t even off color or racist. I am sort of impressed that VA has the highest percentage of personalized plates. That is sure making some money for someone. On many of the plates, the addtional fees are due each year.
A panel can convene to judge ‘expressions’ that might not be too obvious. I don’t think that would be a good job for me. How many people on this blog have personalized plates or vanity plates? I am too cheap. And why is 88 a reference to Hitler? [best Jon Stewart voice: sillll eeeee]
3 short years ago. Who will forget watching the events unfold on TV that left 32 people dead and 17 wounded at Virginia Tech? The killings at VT became the worst massacre ever in the United States. And that day we were all Hokies.
There has been plenty of criticism to go around. Tech was criticized for failure to notify students of the dangers of a marauding student killer on campus. The cops have been criticized for tracking down the wrong person while the real killer went on a rampage. Fairfax County Schools were criticized for not notifying Tech of Cho’s (the killer) anti-social behavior. Laws have been criticized, with everyone declaring ‘NEVER AGAIN.’
What has changed? Does Tech have a better notification system? Have the police come up with a better way of tracking crime on campus? Is it more difficult to obtain guns or is it easier? Are there better checks and balances in place so that people with mental illness are prevented from purchasing guns? Is student information more readily available? Do schools have to notify receiving schools of student mental illness?
Other than a better danger notification system, I am not sure that one thing has changed. The legislature spent the winter trying to relax hand gun laws. Student privacy laws still seem to be in place. I just don’t know how NEVER AGAIN is working out for us. Any ideas?
Meanwhile, a moment of silence for the fallen and a hopeful NEVER AGAIN.
Update:
April 16th is turning in to a real bad day for me. (See first thread)
I am not sure Virginians are ready to move on. I am not sure the mourning process is over. Maybe it won’t be for a long time. The last class to experience the massacre will graduate this spring. Maybe then. Maybe. University Distinguished Professor Nikki Giovanni speaks at the convocation on 4/17/07:
Somehow, everyone wants to claim my hometown’s founding father, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. Shadwell was actually a plantation. It burned around 1770 and Jefferson moved to Monticello Mountain outside of Charlottesville. He is truly Virginia’s native son.
Jefferson is claimed by Democrats, libertarians and Republicans alike. Certainly the Jefferson Jackson Dinner Fling put on the Democrats each year speaks to their affinity for Jefferson. The Tea Party people seem mighty fond of Jefferson also. He was quoted all over the place today during the rallies. Some quotes are included below.
Jefferson was an inventor, an author, he wrote the Declaration of Independence, he was a farmer, a building, a statesman, an educator, a diplomat, a scientist, a musician, a visionary, a philosopher…the list goes on. He founded and built the University of Virginia towards the end of his life. His ‘academical village’ is one of the top universities in the nation.
You have to be doing something right when that many different people coming from that many points of view think you are a rock star. Exactly what is it about Jefferson that people find so appealing?
Some quotes from Jefferson might help illustrate his popularity:
“A wise and frugal government – A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government…”
“On every unauthoritative exercise of power by the legislature must the people rise in rebellion or their silence be construed into a surrender of that power to them? If so, how many rebellions should we have had already?”
“The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.”
“The multiplication of public offices, increase of expense beyond income, growth and entailment of a public debt, are indications soliciting the employment of the pruning knife.”
“I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious.”
Thanks to Governor Bob McDonnell for doing the right thing. He has signed the Trust Women/Respect Choice license plate into law and has maintained the funding for prevention services. $15 for each plate will go towards Planned Parenthood.
The license plate faced a three-month back and forth challenge in the General Assembly. Apparently some of our legislators confused reproductive rights with first amendment rights and tried all sorts of sneaky tricks to stop the stream of money into Planned Parenthood.
Virginia is one of only FOUR states to have a pro-choice license plate, let alone one with a funding stream supporting reproductive health care services.
Hat Tip to Governor McDonnell. Frankly, I am pleasantly surprised. This really was a free speech issue.
The governor can be emailed from the here. I have already emailed him a thank you.
We are but one of 50 states but it seems we are getting more than our fair share of negative attention.
The AG seems to feel upstaged by his partner in crime, the honorable Mr. Stewart. He wants to rein in the federal government. He tells the crowd: “There’s no hide the ball with Ken Cuccinelli. What you see is what you get.”
And now for some more fun…..
Holy cow. Why would someone fight health care and then take part in this kind of scene. What century do we live in. I guess what people do on their private time is their business but not when they are representing MY state. I hope the AG is going to the Awakening and Revival as a private citizen. Cindy Jacobs seems to be overly excited as does Lou Engles as he prays for whatever it is he wants? Overthrowing the government? How many people think this is appropriate behaivor?
The fact that at least 9 minutes of an 11 minute segment was about Virginia simply shames me. There is just too much negative publicity. Too much cultural warrior being presented as mainstream. Thank goodness the subject changes to Michigan.
The other day someone challenged me about Rachel Maddow being mainstream. Hell, she was just in Parade Magazine. Today Parade, tomorrow, Readers Digest. If Koo…err Cooch is your mainstream, then Maddow much be the rest of the world’s Oprah Winfrey.
Civil Rights are defined as: the right to vote, the right to serve on a jury, the right to hold public office and the right to serve as a notary public. if someone is convicted of felony, then one loses these civil rights. Virginia Constitution says, “No person who has been convicted of a felony shall be qualified to vote unless his civil rights have been restored by the governor.” There is no limitation on the governor’s power to restore rights, and no mention of having to report the names of such people to the General Assembly.
Virginia and Kentucky are the only two states that do not automatically restore convicted felons’ civil rights. Most states restore these rights upon the completion of a prison sentence, probation or parole. In Virginia, felons convicted of a nonviolent offense must wait three years after completing all court obligations—sentencing, fines and probation—then file an application for the restoration of rights to the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
If your conviction is for a violent offense —or a drug manufacturing or distribution offense—the process is much more difficult.
The nonviolent offender’s application is two pages. The violent application is 12. Iachetta calls the violent felony forms cumbersome. “They’re horrible,” she says.
After waiting five years after all court obligations, a person convicted of a violent felony must obtain a burdensome collection of paperwork: a letter from your most recent probation or parole officer, copies of your pre- or post-sentence report, certified copies of every order of conviction and sentencing orders, three letters of reference and, to top it off, a personal letter to the Governor explaining your convictions and how your life has changed.
Iachetta says that roughly half of the people she sees who start the process don’t complete it.
“There’s got to be an easier way,” says Iachetta. “I don’t know at this point what it is. The process can be streamlined. That being said, until it happens, we’ve got to deal with what we’ve got.”
[Note: Iachetta is Charlottesville’s general registrar]
Governor Bob McDonnell has added another hoop for former felons to jump through. He is now proposing that those who want voting rights restored must write an essay outlining their contributions to society since their release, Civil Rights leaders and many others interested in prisoner rights, are outraged by this plan. They say it targets minorities, the poor and the under-educated and denies them of their civil rights. Others are cheering on McDonnell for ‘meaning business.’
McDonnell’s administration said the essay requirement is designed to put a human face on each applicant and to help staff members better understand each person’s situation.
“It gives all applicants the opportunity to have their cases heard and have their full stories told,” said Janet Polarek, secretary of the commonwealth, whose office handles the requests. “It’s an opportunity, not an obstacle.”
McDonnell is revamping the entire system for felons to have their rights restored as he works to make good on a campaign pledge to process every application within 90 days, considerably faster than any other administration in recent history.
“Under Republican and Democratic governors, they have had to wait six to 12 months — longer in some cases — to get an answer,” Polarek said. “Under the McDonnell administration, our goal is to restore the rights of everyone who has fulfilled their obligation in the most timely manner in Virginia’s recent history.”
For those who have difficulty with literacy, writing an essay seems like an immovable obstacle. Where in the Virginia Constitution can this kind of requirement be found? Many prisoners and past prisoners suffer from the same malady; under-education plagues prisoners. To ask someone with limited education to write an essay might just fall into the realm of cruel and unusual punishment.
Here is the new proclamation issued by Governor McDonnell. The bold is mine:
Confederate History Month
WHEREAS, April is the month in which the people of Virginia joined the Confederate States of America in a four year war between the states for independence that concluded at Appomattox Courthouse; and
WHEREAS, Virginia has long recognized her Confederate history, the numerous civil war battlefields that mark every region of the state, the leaders and individuals in the Army, Navy and at home who fought for their homes and communities and Commonwealth in a time very different than ours today; and
WHEREAS, it is important for all Virginians to reflect upon our Commonwealth’s shared history, to understand the sacrifices of the Confederate leaders, soldiers and citizens during the period of the Civil War, and to recognize how our history has led to our present; and
WHEREAS, it is important for all Virginians to understand that the institution of slavery led to this war and was an evil and inhumane practice that deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights and all Virginians are thankful for its permanent eradication from our borders, and the study of this time period should reflect upon and learn from this painful part of our history; and
WHEREAS, Confederate historical sites such as the White House of the Confederacy are open for people to visit in Richmond today; and
WHEREAS, all Virginians can appreciate the fact that when ultimately overwhelmed by the insurmountable numbers and resources of the Union Army, the surviving, imprisoned and injured Confederate soldiers gave their word and allegiance to the United States of America, and returned to their homes and families to rebuild their communities in peace, following the instruction of General Robert E. Lee of Virginia, who wrote that, “…all should unite in honest efforts to obliterate the effects of war and to restore the blessings of peace.”; and
WHEREAS, this defining chapter in Virginia’s history should not be forgotten, but instead should be studied, understood and remembered by all Virginians, both in the context of the time in which it took place, but also in the context of the time in which we live, and this study and remembrance takes on particular importance as the Commonwealth prepares to welcome the nation and the world to visit Virginia for the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Civil War, a four-year period in which the exploration of our history can benefit all;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert McDonnell, do hereby recognize April 2010 as CONFEDERATE HISTORY MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.
Is the inserted paragraph an improvement or did it make matters worse? The Proclamation was issued at the request of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Did any of them stop to think about the unintended consequences of this blunder?
I am not happy with the new paragraph buried within the ‘whereases.’ It sounds to me too much like the Governor is now saying slavery was the cause of the Civil War. Many historians, including those with Sons of the Confederate Veterans, would probably find that statement erroneous. Slavery was certainly factor, a strong factor in Civil War causes, but most folks agree that it was not the only cause.
We should acknowledge the Civil War as we enter the sesquicentennial time period. However, we need to talk about it with the sensitivity of 2010. And I have to say it, white people simply cannot tell black people how to feel about slavery. They just don’t have standing or the ‘right stuff.’ This situation is living proof why the heritage of Virginia cannot ever become political. Perhaps it simply is not up to government to keep our history alive.
Many past governors have avoided this topic. Governor McDonnell has issued a proclamation that April is Confederate History Month in Virginia. Here is the proclamation that is posted on the Governor’s website:
“It is important for all Virginians to reflect upon our commonwealth’s shared history, to understand the sacrifices of the Confederate leaders, soldiers and citizens during the period of the Civil War, and to recognize how our history has led to our present.“
The action states that “this defining chapter in Virginia’s history should not be forgotten, but instead should be studied, understood and remembered by all Virginians, both in the context of the time in which it took place, but also in the context of the time in which we live, and this study and remembrance takes on particular importance as the commonwealth prepares to welcome the nation and the world to visit Virginia for the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Civil War, a four-year period in which the exploration of our history can benefit all.“
McDonnell’s proclamation heralds an upcoming anniversary April 17, 1861 which is the anniversary date that Virginia seceded from the union. McDonnell has issued about a dozen proclamations since taking office.
Perhaps it would have been more sensitive in 2010 for Governor McDonnell to have proclaimed April to be Civil War History month. Many young men lie buried here in Virginia who fought for the Union. 150 years later seems a long enough time to have divisive issues like north and south as part of our current dialogue.
Before anyone races over for the attack, let me state that I am currently looking at my picture of Robert E. Lee in my living room. I have had 2 dogs named for Stonewall Jackson, and my great-great grandfather was a Confederate soldier. Those are personal things that affect my family. I am free to honor our past heroes in any way I choose, from placing their likeness on my desk to naming my dogs after them. That isn’t the point. The point is, this is 2010 in Virginia. Sure, Virginia seceded and was a Confederate state. But, they had to fight someone didn’t they? One cannot study Confederate History without studying Civil War history.
The Civil War is still, even after 150 years, a very contentious subject. People are sensitive. The governor needs to be inclusive if he is going to tackle this subject for the sake of history. If there are other points to be made, perhaps they shouldn’t be and he should be more careful of the advice he is receiving.
UPDATE: The governor has issued an apology for an omission that mentions slavery. New Proclamation link
Buying a gun is taking longer and longer these days, here in the Old Dominion. What’s the hold up? It seems that gun sales are up in Virginia. However, there are fewer state and federal employees to do that background checks. According to the Richmond Times Dispatch:
The Virginia State Police, the agency that administers the checks, acknowledges that there has been an increase in processing time.
Officials say it is tied to increased demand for firearms at the same time that budget and funding constraints have reduced the number of staffers available to handle the transactions.
Spokeswoman Corinne Geller said that since May 2009, the agency has lost 11 people from its 28-person staff at the Virginia Firearms Transaction Center, including two federally funded full-time workers who used to attend gun shows and conduct the computerized checks on-site.
She said the delays during peak periods can take four to six hours, with a few that require research into out-of-state records taking overnight.
So how many of the people who are grousing and grumbling were also those same people who advocated for smaller government and to cut back state spending?
Apparently some people find the state of the state unacceptable:
“This is not acceptable,” said Philip Van Cleave, president of the pro-gun nonprofit group, Virginia Citizens Defense League.
Van Cleave had more to say:
Van Cleave said the delays are costing dealers money and keeping firearms out of the hands of people who need them.
“It is a safety issue,” Van Cleave said. “A person experiencing a death threat and who is denied a lawful gun purchase overnight would be left helpless at the hands of an assailant.”
He said he has received reports of dealers at gun shows losing up to half their business because purchasers’ background checks have not been completed by the time the show closes.
“We cannot afford to have our dealers weakened by artificially sagging sales and purchasers unreasonably inconvenienced,” he added.
Everyone seems to think their issue is more important than someone else’s. We need more cops, more library staff, more teachers, more magistrates, judges, clerical workers in the Bureau of Vital Statistics, more DMV employees. Too many people are hollering less government but are not willing to make the sacrifices needed. Cutting spending involves us all. Government waste is never in the area of our favorite thing to do. It is always in someone else’s camp.
I would prefer to pay more taxes and have restrooms and shorter lines. Throw in a sunset clause to 2 to get us over the hurdle. When those screaming less taxes and less government wake up to the realization that goods and services cost money and that government employees aren’t the ugly step children of private industry, then perhaps we can stop looking like an underpaid third world nation.
Meanwhile, the gun buyers will just have to suck it up and wait in line longer like everyone else is having to do. I hope they will be right out there leading the charge to raise taxes to pay for the goods and services we need to operate as a state. Should I be holding my breath?
Now the AG Ken Cuccinelli is ready to file his third lawsuit against the United States of America. This time his is suing the EPA because they have said greenhouse gases and carbon emissions are harmful. According to Lychburg’s News and Advance:
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli stands ready to take more legal action against the federal government if the Environmental Protection Agency announces new fuel economy standards for vehicles Wednesday, he said in Lynchburg on Tuesday.
Cuccinelli has sued the EPA over its finding that greenhouse gases harm people, and if it issues regulations Wednesday that are based on that finding, “We will sue them again,” he told the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Virginia’s Democratic Party renewed its accusations Tuesday that two Cuccinelli lawsuits against the federal government over global warming and health care are wasting the state’s resources “to wage a personal, political fight.”
Apparently the AG missed seeing our atheletes disembark from the plane in Bejing 2 summers ago. Some of them were wearing gas masks because of the horrible air quality in that city. Where does the AG think that smog comes from? Could it be the millions of cars in that city?
What stance will out BOCS take on his new lawsuit? Will they be sending him atta-boy letters on Prince William County Board of Supervisors letterhead? At least one supervisors feels he was looking out for the people of Prince William County during the last letter of praise that went out to the AG. Will they be willing to look out for us now, since we live in one of the most impacted emissions areas? Will there be a directive for the AG, Cuccinelli to knock it off on our behalf?
The AG says these lawsuits only cost the $385 filing fee. Yea. Right. Is he also ignoring that we are all Americans and what the cost is double? We will pay the Virginia fees and the United States fees. Perhaps the AG forgot we are Americans. Meanwhile, I am not unconvinced that the AG ran for office just to advance his personal agenda and that we have given him the platform to do it. I have to get used to this new idea that carbon emissions and green house gas emissions are good for me. Why don’t I just go back to smoking?
Somehow, everyone wants to claim my hometown’s founding father, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. Shadwell was actually a plantation. It burned around 1770 and Jefferson moved to Monticello Mountain outside of Charlottesville. He is truly Virginia’s native son. 
