Archive for the Virginia category
October 19th, 2008
Yard signs seem to be in great demand in my neighborhood these days - first by supporters, then by sad little thieves that decide to take a page from their party’s playbook by shutting down speech they don’t like. At last count, six Obama and/or Warner signs have been stolen from a prominent spot on my street. The last time it happened, I duct-taped a short note to the McCain sign that replaced the stolen Obama sign. It invited the thief to leave future Obama signs alone, as no one has stolen a McCain sign around here, as best I can tell. Alas, the Obama sign just disappeared again. So, because I know we’re not the only ones with troubled and bitter little Republican thieves, I offer this handy HOW-TO:
In the weeks running up to the 2004 presidential election, my yard sign was often pilfered and/or destroyed. After the 4th time, I had had enough, and rigged up a fairly simple alarm to help protect my sign. This post documents how to do it in case you’re facing your own First Amendment-hating neighborhood antagonists.
What You’ll Need
• Duct tape
• A wire hanger
• Fishing line (string or twine can also be used)
• A personal alarm (more on this below)
Full instructions and pictures here.
October 15th, 2008
It always makes me laugh when people refer to an “influential” blog in Virginia. People, please. The traffic numbers are pretty small all around, and mostly it’s something of a circle . . erm, mutual admiration society. That isn’t to say there isn’t a lot of smart and worthwhile writing going on, but the term “influential” - even in the loosest sense - just doesn’t apply.
With that introduction, I now direct you to the most influential blogger in Virginia.
October 15th, 2008
Amusingly, the littlest one in NoVA, Falls Church, has it handled. Blueweeds has the details. More background about the opening shots here. Short version:
As word spread today in the normally docile downstate community about Mayor Norris’ throwdown voter turnout challenge to the people of Falls Church City, the Charlottesville natives have reacted, well, let us just say poorly, to the sudden head rush of competition.
The local Charlottesville blog cVillain.com has chronicled the reaction. The self-described “hippy trippy liberals with STDs” of Charlottesville are now vowing to “bitch slap” Falls Church and to use our gift of a much beloved sassafras tree as a toothbrush before consuming it in the form of ecstasy.
Oh my.
Notoriously competitive, and a New Jersey native, Falls Church Mayor Robin Gardner was asked to comment on the escalating developments.
“Bitch slap? Did they really say bitch slap?’” asked one of only two female mayors in Northern Virgina. “Oh, this is not so good. Not good at all. Somebody may have to take a cab.”
Charlottesville is clearly struggling under the pressure of coming within 20 percentage points of our highest-in-the-Commonwealth voter turnout numbers.
(My theory on this little outburst is that they’re just clamoring for attention, hoping that NoVA will annex them as a protectorate when we finally decide we’ve had enough of Virginia and secede.)
October 14th, 2008
Today, the State Board of Elections voted to:
ban clothing and hats as well as buttons and other paraphernalia that directly advocate the election or defeat of a specific candidate or issue.
Ah, Virginia. Are you really the place that produced Thomas Jefferson?
Update: Got this in the mail just now. No, it is not a joke.
We are seeking old shirts to donate to the Voter Registrar for use on Election Day. Many enthusiastic voters are not aware of the “law” against wearing political messages into the polling area. In the past, many of these voters have been told to leave until they can change their clothes. But there is an alternative! The Registrar has agreed to accept our donations of extra shirts to give to voters to “cover up” while they vote. So we need 51 shirts! Please look in your closest and see if you can donate a few shirts for this effort! In particular, we’re looking for:
- Large or extra-large
- Short sleeve
- Button down AND
- Clean (but old and worn is fine)
If you have such shirts you can permanently donate to this effort, please e-mail me at XXXXXXXX and I will work with you to arrange drop-off at a suitable location.
I am simultaneously impressed (by the quick reaction and flexiblity) and horrified (that it is even necessary).
(It occurs to me that a donation of 51 burkhas may be appropriate.)
October 13th, 2008
This DNC tool - which lists specific projected proposed for Federal funds in Virginia that McCain voted against - is being promoted as an attack vector on McCain, but I think it’s kind of lame for that use. Because really, most of these projects were almost certainly presented as parts of larger bills that had nothing to do with the listed project, and I’m not interested in perpetuating a fundamentally dishonest approach to attacking politicians for their votes.
But it is interesting to see what those oft-maligned earmarks are really for. In my view, they’re not the best way of doing business. But if you show people in a given district what their representatives are using them for? I bet you’d find overwhelming support for Federal funding of each specific project, even while a good portion of the same people are decrying earmarks. If you’re in Virginia, click around the map and check out the examples. North Carolina residents can click here (there doesn’t seem to be any indexed list of these efforts - but if you live in a swing state, there’s probably a map available. Just drop in your own state’s name in the URL to check.)
October 13th, 2008
Washcycle has an interesting review of whether or not one can legally ride on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. It appears that it is not legal legal, but that hasn’t stopped Park Police from claiming otherwise (and occasionally citing people for it). In the past year or so, I’ve taken to riding on the Parkway between Mt. Vernon and southern Alexandria, and have never been bothered by passing Park Police. I have, however, garnered multiple fingers and honking horns from angry little men. The road is very wide down there, and there’s plenty of room and easy sight-lines for everyone. I wouldn’t say the same for the portion of the Parkway north of Arlington (that section and Rock Creek Parkway are probably the only roads in DC I’d never ride on).
Update: Allen Muchnick’s comment at the linked Washcycle post brings to light a recently updated set of regulations which appear to ban bikes from all parkways in the capital area. How in the world a cyclist is expected to know about an unposted rule which is contrary to the law in the rest of the state is beyond me.
October 13th, 2008
Jeff Frederick, recently-elected Chair of the Virginia Republican Party, thought it was a good idea to say that:
“both Barack Obama and Osama Bin Laden have friends that have bombed the Pentagon. That is scary.”
Really. That’s about as reasonable as saying both John McCain and Osama Bin Laden have killed civilians while furthering their political ambitions. And of course, McCain “would have to look at the context” before he can really judge that remark. But hey, Jeff’s just sayin’. And Waldo’s rule about RPV choices just gets more and more evidentiary support.
October 12th, 2008
Everyone on my street who had an Obama sign in their yard received a copy of this letter:
Dear Neighbor:
Please don’t take this the wrong way, but a friend has recommended that I reach out to you about a problem that you may be having but may not be aware of: Have you ever considered whether your ostentatious support for Senator Barack Obama is really a disguise that hides a deeply anchored form of racism towards Black-Americans?
And it goes on and on like that. A neighbor who writes for the Washington Independent has the whole letter here. I’m not angry about it - it’s more pathetic than anything else, really. If anything, it stoked some fires. It sure pissed off my neighbor Jack, a 70-something vet who is four-square in Obama’s corner. He went out and put up more Obama signs after getting his. Keep it up, guys. But after you lose? Please go away.
October 3rd, 2008
Closed.
Crap.
I feel so guilty.
October 2nd, 2008
really running for governor, I so hope that he hires Lowell Feld. Because truly, that would be the best thing ever.
