Month: May 2011

Pitts on Freedom Rides 50 years later

Leonard Pitts nails it in his column about the 50 years after the Freedom Rides. >" /> One never encounters this wholesale dismissal of the past when one commemorates, say, the Kennedy inauguration or the Holocaust. That’s because those things makes us feel sorrow, nostalgia, resolve. As Ryan Price would testify, African-American history makes us … Continue reading Pitts on Freedom Rides 50 years later →

Huckabee not running

"My heart says no," said former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee on his show last night. The Republican field is getting more narrow all the time.

Friday fun: what musical instrument should you play?

What musical instrument should you play? Take the quiz and share your results. I got ... You Should Play the Guitar You're very independent - both in spirit and in the way you learn.You can teach yourself almost anything, even if it makes your fingers bleed.You're not really the type to sit patiently through a … Continue reading Friday fun: what musical instrument should you play? →

Thanks to VPAP, we can follow the money

And a lot of other things. My op-ed column this week for The Virginian-Pilot focused on the Virginia Public Access Project, a source of information about candidates and campaigns with which most political junkies are quite familiar. But it's not all about the money, even if everything is about the money. VPAP has done a … Continue reading Thanks to VPAP, we can follow the money →

American Idol results: James voted off

Rocker James was eliminated on American Idol Thursday night. The top three are Haley, Lauren and Scotty. Plans for Scotty's homecoming are already underway.

Political map of Virginia

It is easy to see, from this map, why the political power in Virginia has shifted. The map, courtesy of Sabato's Crystal Ball, shows the population of the Commonwealth. Compare that, if you will, to that produced after the last census. It is easy to see the growing influence of Northern Virginia. One last map: … Continue reading Political map of Virginia →

Norfolk judge unanimously confirmed for bench

Norfolk federal public defender Arenda Wright Allen was unanimously confirmed by the Senate to serve as a judge for the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia. She was recommended by Virginia Senators Webb and Warner and is the first African American woman so appointed in the state.

Post poll: support for gay marriage, adoption

The Washington Post has released more data from its recent poll of 1,180 adults in Virginia. The results are hardly surprising: 47% are in favor of gay marriage and 55% are in favor of gay couples being able to adopt. As Waldo Jaquith points out, it is the younger people who are making the difference. … Continue reading Post poll: support for gay marriage, adoption →

Daily Press: eliminate constitutional offices

Making the same arguments that I have for some time now, the editorial board of the Daily Press has come out in favor of eliminating constitutional officers. ... stop electing this [commissioner of the revenue] job and make it a staff position in the county finance department, where it — and the treasurer — belong.Every … Continue reading Daily Press: eliminate constitutional offices →