Three Virginia news items, quite possibly unrelated:
- First, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling today played his role as lieutenant governor to break a tie in the Senate -- but in a surprising way. Bolling sided with Democrats in the Virginia Senate to delay a bill that would make voting harder. The bill takes away common documents like utility bills and paycheck stubs as means of complying with voter ID rules at the polls. Barring more changes in the legislature, Bolling's vote means the earliest the bill could come into effect would be 2014. Bolling reportedly voted for the delay because there's no money for teaching voters about the change in time for this year's election.
- Second, the Virginia Senate has approved a bill that would let the state's governor serve consecutive terms. Only in Virginia is a governor one-and-done. The measure passed with bipartisan support, 25-15. For now, the Republican Party's pick to replace current Governor Bob McDonnell is Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Having conceded the GOP nomination, Bolling seems to be considering a run as an independent.
- Third, just for kicks: The Northern Virginia Tea Party tonight takes up the Obama-UN-mind-control plot known as Agenda 21. The meeting includes James Parmalee, chair of Northern Virginia GOP PAC, among other speakers not yet announced.
Wonder if they'll show the same movie that worked out so well for Republicans in Georgia....
Bonus stuff from Virginia: The long list of failed election measures, including one to shorten lines to vote; and hey, a bill [adding: to amend the state Constitution with] for union-stripping "Right to Work."
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I am at heart an Optimist...I can't help but hope that Bolling's decisions indicate that he is going to try and break away from "the Crazy" and make an appeal to sanity...
I think a big indicator would be whether he is at the "Agenda 21" meeting or not
Thing is, on high-profile policies, Bolling, Cuccinelli and McDonnell came in with a lot of common ground.
Yeah but if he has any aspirations to higher office and/or sees the demographics in VA shifting it might make him a little more pragmatic...or at least willing to look like it.
Maybe he is actually taking the advice the they have been giving Republicans lately..."If you think you might say something stupid, Just shut up"...or in this case "Shut up and try and look reasonable"
What are we not seeing? If these fanatics do anything right, it's for the wrong reason.
Agenda 21
In their confusion, Virginia Republicans have introduced oppressive legislation that significantly reduces the free speech of all state licensed Mimes. As one Republican said " We know the UN is controlling these mimes - without this new law, there's no telling what they might say."
The new law, however, is conspicuously quiet on the topic of clowns.
Don';t like the outcome of an election? Just rig the rules so you can win by any means next time. Maybe the Niners ought to petition for a replay... Here is the biggest pile of sore losers we have ever seen assembled. But far worse than mere moping, the bitter and fairly unhinged reaction of Republicans to their sound drubbing in this last election is a direct threat to the kind of democracy that this great nation was founded upon. How absurd that the party of "traditional" values and that wrap themselves in the Constitution would blow up the system created by our founders and tailor it solely for their own political gain. What happened to the GOP's promise to reach out more to minorities and women voters? Guess they realized changing their radical and hate-filled policy stripes is too darn hard. These plans to rig future elections are the single greatest danger to American freedom since World War II. - progressive
I'll bet Reynolds Aluminum loves southern republicans.
I swear, it's getting embarrassing to live in my home state of Virginia. Interesting thing about using utility bills and paycheck stubs as a form of identification. This is fairly commonplace throughout Virginia for a verity of things. To turn on utilities when you move to a new home, they will often ask for multiple forms of identification, which includes utility bills and paycheck stubs. You're also required to show 2 forms of ID when buying a gun that has your address on it, and utility bills and paycheck stubs are included in that.
Virginia is weird in that our governors only get to serve 1 term. They can serve a 2nd term, but not consecutively. We also hold elections on odd years. This is an election year in Virginia.
Another weird thing. Virginia is already a Right To Work For Less state. Republicans sure like to pass laws they've already passed.
If I'm not busy tonight, I might go see what that Tea Party event is like and report back.
Good point, @Alva. The new one would make it a constitutional amendment.
Adam Selene, re: Agenda 21,
Good Lord.
A little paranoia goes a long way with these people. They would never believe that Obama has shrunk government. We don't want to confuse the T-Party "intelligentsia" with facts.
My worst nightmare, a T-party insurgence against big government. (Translation: Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, Obamacare). But keep the bloated defence budget as big as possible, you right-wing morons.
Alva, do you carry any of your guns to the T-Party meetings?
I would.:)
India,
I'm getting desperate for serious discussion and it seems MSNBC is giving me only material for one-liners. If you spot something where I can crunch some numbers or dig out elusive data please let me know. In the mean time, be not discouraged - think of our postings as the tapping on pipes to keep up the spirits of the other prisoners.
Ada - something to think about - If McDonnell does not get to be gov. again, could he actually cause more trouble in another position?
Well, I couldn't find any other info about that Tea Party meeting, and plus I had family in from Florida, so that got scrapped. Oh well. India, I have a bone to pick with you. I was sipping some hot cocoa when I was reading your comment, and I laughed so hard when I read "T-Party 'intelligentsia'" that a good deal of hot cocoa went up my nose.
BTW, Adam, I wasn't able to pull up the Manchurian Candidate link for some reason.
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.......ding, ding, ding,.......ding, ding.......ding......................
Little serious reporting in America, some on PBS with their Newshour. Charlie Rose often has good guests, and I listen to the BBC. Better reporting there. I'm thinking............ding, ding, ding......
problem is, the BBC is not big on American politics such as we'd be looking for. It's tough, no doubt, to get any salient information.
I just remembered: John Messerly often has good info. If you see him, he might be a valuable asset. He seems to know where to look for things, and likes a serious discussion. I saw him earlier somewhere on the Maddow blog this evening.
I am terrified about Agneda 21. You know it is evil when they reverse letters!
Jamie,
Just for kicks I searched for "agneda" - we should be very afraid - there's an awful lot of "agnedas" going on.