Wakeup call

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 – 9:35 am

Chris Graham of the Augusta Free Press has up a post asking what is going on with Virginia Democrats. What he said was what I alluded to in my post almost a month ago. It’s more than just money – and we’ll see that with tomorrow’s report filings. There seems to be lethargy almost everywhere.

Perhaps it is the never-ending election cycle. I know I’m tired and I guess others are, too. Perhaps it is the incessant call to action and requests for money. My email box is constantly full from candidates and campaigns everywhere.

Whatever it is, somehow we’ve got to get it together. (And I find it hard to believe that OFA’s Listening Tour on health reform is the ticket. Yes, I’m still upset about the demise of the 50-state program.) November will be here soon. History isn’t on our side.

We’ve got a lot of work to do, folks.

By vjp | Posted in 2009 Elections, Local, Politics, Virginia | Comments (4)

I wish people could read

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 – 7:06 pm

I was about to respond to a post about the Governor’s plan to provide loans of up to $500 to state employees and then decided my response would be too long.  Let me start with a link to the Governor’s news release about the program.  Now, a few quotes from it:

The pilot program, a partnership between the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) and Virginia Credit Union (VACU), will offer small loans-$100 to $500-to state employees facing financial difficulties.

OK, so just who is the CVC?

The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) facilitates state employee giving in Virginia.

And this (emphasis mine):

Loans will be backed by the Virginia State Employee Assistance Fund (VSEAF), a 501(c)3 charity administered by the CVC team within the Department of Human Resource Management. Both CVC and VSEAF programs are run by state employees for state employees, and are funded solely from employee contributions, with no state tax dollars involved.

So the money is coming from the employees and will be loaned to employees. Where’s the problem with that? For those who are not familiar, the term for this is micro lending and it has been used successfully across the globe. Here is one source.

As for complaints about the stated interest rate of 24.99%: would you rather the employee go to a payday lender and pay a much higher rate? Remember, there has been an effort underway to put a cap of 36% on payday loans for the last several years but the caps have been resisted.

But hey, don’t let the facts get in the way when you can rely on misrepresentations of the MSM.

State employees interested in the program can check out the website here.

By vjp | Posted in Local, Payday lending, Politics, Virginia | Comments (6)

A shortage of ammo

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 – 11:58 am

Over the last few months, I had been hearing that there is a shortage of ammunition. Honestly, I thought it was just a local thing. That is, until I read this article on the front page of today’s Virginian-Pilot:

…blame politics, and the thoroughness of the Democratic victory in November. Gun owners have long viewed Democrats as enemies of the Second Amendment. With that party now in control of the White House and both branches of Congress: “People think they’d better buy while they can,” said Ron Hess, a long time Norfolk gun shop owner. “Gun owners just figure that Democrats make screwed-up gun laws.”

My response to the story was the same as when I first heard it: are you serious?

Frankly, I’m surprised that people would think that the Second Amendment – or any amendment – could be overturned by any political party. We do, after all, have a process for amending the constitution. Not to mention the fact that I doubt legislation to do so could make it through the House or Senate, despite the size of the Democratic majorities.

Gun control legislation – which wouldn’t require a constitutional amendment – is also unlikely to gain favor in Congress. After all, we’ve got the Blue Dogs in the House and the centrists in the Senate. Democrats can’t agree on much these days, so the majorities mean little.

To those who think otherwise, I say: get a grip.

By vjp | Posted in Hampton Roads, Local, National, Politics, Virginia | Comments (6)

More info on online broadcast of 7/25 gubernatorial debate

Monday, July 13, 2009 – 12:18 pm

I just received a press release from the Virginia Bar Association regarding the online broadcast of the July 25 gubernatorial debate. As previously mentioned, the debate will take place at the Homestead and will be broadcast over the internet from the website, Virginia Talks, and will be interactive.

According to the press release (below the fold), the debate will be moderated by Rod Smolla, dean of the Washington & Lee University School of Law. And, I was surprised to learn, the debate is free and open to the public.
Read More »

By vjp | Posted in 2009 Gubernatorial Race, Local, Politics, Virginia | Comments (1)

Opinion, please: candidates’ families off-limits?

Monday, July 13, 2009 – 10:35 am

Like many, I was upset by the article announcing that Creigh Deeds’ 20-year-old son, Gus, had been charged with misdemeanor alcohol possession. Perhaps it was because of this characterization in the story:

His legal entanglement was unearthed through the research of political operatives

I was all ready to call out Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell and ask him to denounce such tactics – that is, until I looked at my own handling of Sarah Palin’s daughter, which I reported on here. Some may argue that the circumstances are different: in the latter case, the disclosure came from the campaign itself while this story was appears to have been spread by those seeking political advantage.

In either case, though, I found myself in a bit of a quandry, one that, no doubt, others found themselves in. If Palin’s daughter was news, so then was Deeds’ son. But there is a bigger issue here.

Candidates’ families aren’t the ones running for office.

I’m old enough to remember Billy Carter, President Jimmy Carter’s brother, who inserted himself into the news whenever and wherever possible. But if I recall correctly, he did that himself. It wasn’t an “outing,” if you will, by the media. And he was an adult. Palin’s daughter was 17, Deeds’ son, although legally an adult, is underage for drinking. (Whether or not the drinking age should be lowered is a topic for another post.)

So my question, dear readers, is should candidates’ families be off-limits?

By vjp | Posted in 2009 Gubernatorial Race, Local, National, Politics, Virginia | Comments (24)

The Pulpit Speaks: January 28, 1956

Sunday, July 12, 2009 – 12:48 pm

The Pulpit SpeaksAn article written by my father, the Rev. C. Thomas Paige, as it appeared in the Tri-State Defender on the date shown.

“Train up a child the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart.”

The most disturbing element of modern society is the behavior of our young people. The behavior has been summed up by some people in terms of juvenile delinquency. This label has been attached to those whose unconformed, unapproved, and reckless behavior has caused headaches for many people. Sometimes life seems almost hopeless as a parent sits down to ponder over a child who has suddenly adopted the Epicurean outlook as his outlook of life.

In his adolescent mind, eating, drinking, and being merry are the basic concerns of life. Sometimes, after he has been maimed for life, critically injured, or killed, the full realization of the purpose of life comes into being.

Read More »

By vjp | Posted in Religion, The Pulpit Speaks | Comments (4)

Blue Dogs blocking health care reform

Saturday, July 11, 2009 – 8:32 pm

According to this AP article (via PilotOnline), the Democratic Blue Dog coalition has put the breaks brakes on health care reform in the House of Representatives.

The Blue Dog Democrats’ list of demands came on the eve of House Democratic leaders’ planned unveiling of their final bill Friday. The bill release was pushed back to Monday at the earliest and Democratic leaders agreed to devote Friday to meetings with the fiscally conservative Blue Dogs to work through their concerns

The size of the coalition – 52 members, of which my own Congressman, Glenn Nye, is a member – makes it almost impossible for the bill to get out of the House without significant changes.

Their letter can be read here (pdf).

By vjp | Posted in National, Politics | Comments (11)