My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in Wednesday's Virginian-Pilot. How many of these kinds of events have we political junkies attended? There but for the grace of God go I. That was one of the many thoughts I had in my head as I watched the coverage of the massacre in Tuscon. And I'll bet … Continue reading Don’t surrender to violence
Category: Local
A win for the citizens of Norfolk
Developer, Norfolk abandon deal: Faced with certain defeat, developers withdrew their request to the City Council on Tuesday for additional incentives to construct a $32.7 million office tower in a low-income neighborhood. [...] ... council members said the public reacted sharply once word of the proposal broke Monday, showering City Hall with e-mails and telephone … Continue reading A win for the citizens of Norfolk
Sharon McDonald needs to go
So says The Virginian-Pilot: McDonald, elected in 2009 to a fourth four-year term, is either defiant or oblivious to the wishes of her constituents to a degree unprecedented in recent memory. Or she just doesn't care enough to do the right thing. Or she thought nobody would notice. Regardless, the only conclusion that reasonably follows … Continue reading Sharon McDonald needs to go
Why the rush?
With the announcement of the retirement of Del. Tom Gear and the Governor's setting of the date for the special election for March 8, one would expect that the contest for the Republican nomination would be around mid-February. Not so. The party-run firehouse primary is set for next Tuesday, January 18. What, exactly, is the … Continue reading Why the rush?
Just say no
Norfolk developers want city guarantee: Tivest officials want the city to guarantee 65 percent of rent payments for space the Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project will lease. The guarantee would kick in only if STOP could not pay its rent.STOP, a private social services provider funded largely with government dollars, would pay annual rents of more … Continue reading Just say no
Useless redistricting commission
According to The Washington Post, Governor Bob McDonnell is appointing a bipartisan redistricting commission. Good, right? Well... Rather than proposing legislation to establish the commission and give it legal teeth, as other states have done, he is creating it by executive order and giving it only an advisory role. The 11-member commission, equipped with neither … Continue reading Useless redistricting commission
No words
I have been glued to the TV and computer for the last few hours since getting a phone call from a friend urging me to turn on the TV. The shooting in Arizona of Rep. Gabby Giffords and others is almost beyond belief. The Congresswoman is expected to survive but five six others, including a … Continue reading No words
JFCOM gone?
Announced today: Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Thursday he will cut $78 billion from the Pentagon's budget in the next five years — money that will come from shrinking the military's ground force, increasing health care premiums for troops and other politically unpopular cost-saving measures. Not specifically mentioned was Joint Forces Command, which is located … Continue reading JFCOM gone?
Condolences to Webb on loss of mother
Vera Hodges Webb, the mother of Senator Him Webb, died earlier this week. My condolences to Sen. Webb. The press release from Webb's office is below the fold. Vera Hodges Webb, mother of U.S. Senator Jim Webb (D. Va.), died on January 3rd in Jacksonville, North Carolina, after a long illness, at the age of … Continue reading Condolences to Webb on loss of mother
Leadership without labels
The above is the title of my latest op-ed, which appeared in Wednesday's The Virginian-Pilot. The "No Labels" movement is about getting things done. It's not about setting aside party but setting aside partisanship. To be perfectly honest, while I find the idea appealing, I just don't see it happening. Our system - at the … Continue reading Leadership without labels
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 