Oregon's secretary of state Bill Bradbury wrote an op-ed piece for the Washington Post which was reprinted in today's Virginian-Pilot. Last year, a similar piece by the same author appeared. In both pieces, Bradbury extolls the virtues of voting by mail, which Oregon adopted in 1998. The results of this process cannot be denied. Fraud-free … Continue reading Vote by mail
Category: National
Democrat v. Democratic
dem·o·crat (dĕm'ə-krăt') n. An advocate of democracy. One who believes in social equality or discounts distinctions in rank. Democrat A member of the Democratic Party. [French démocrate, back-formation from démocratie, democracy. See democracy.] dem·o·crat·ic (dĕm'ə-krăt'ĭk) adj. Of, characterized by, or advocating democracy: democratic government; a democratic union. Of or for the people in general; popular: … Continue reading Democrat v. Democratic
Bankruptcy and tithing: a no-no
In a column reprinted in today's Virginian-Pilot, Michelle Singletary points out another loser in the last change to the bankruptcy laws: recipients of tithes. Before the new law went into effect, bankruptcy court judges were required to permit debtors to tithe a portion of their income on a regular basis. Specifically, the Religious Liberty and … Continue reading Bankruptcy and tithing: a no-no
Poisoned Russian spy dies
While we were celebrating Thanksgiving, Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko died from poisoning. Litvinenko served in the KGB counter-intelligence department but became a critic of the agency and its successor, the Federal Security Service. As the result, he was jailed several times. After his last release, he fled to Britain. Litvinenko, 43, fell ill three weeks … Continue reading Poisoned Russian spy dies
We’re No. 53!
According to the Annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index for 2006, the United States has fallen nine places since last year, to # 53 on the list. Relations between the media and the Bush administration sharply deteriorated after the president used the pretext of “national security” to regard as suspicious any journalist who questioned his “war … Continue reading We’re No. 53!
Conspiracy theories
On November 22, 1963 - forty-three years ago today - President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. As a student of history, I went thru what I call my JFK phase, where I read everything I could get my hands on about him and his assassination. I have a copy of the Warren Commission … Continue reading Conspiracy theories
The draft and Charlie Rangel
Back in 2003, Democratic Representative Charles Rangel introduced a bill to reinstate the draft. On last Sunday's Face the Nation, he reiterated his call, saying: If we're going to challenge Iran and challenge North Korea and then, as some people have asked, to send more troops to Iraq, we can't do that without a draft … Continue reading The draft and Charlie Rangel
“Kramer” makes racist statements, apologizes
In case you have been under - as I have been - you may not be aware of the case of Michael Richards, aka "Kramer" from the hit TV show Seinfeld. Last Friday, Richards was performing a stand up comedy routine and some folks were heckling him. Richards seems to have lost it, and hurled … Continue reading “Kramer” makes racist statements, apologizes
Go Big, Go Long, Go Home
Thus are dubbed the three plans by the Pentagon on what to do about Iraq. According to the Washington Post: The Pentagon's closely guarded review of how to improve the situation in Iraq has outlined three basic options: Send in more troops, shrink the force but stay longer, or pull out, according to senior defense … Continue reading Go Big, Go Long, Go Home
Ruth Brown: 1928-2006
Portsmouth's own Ruth Brown passed away Friday at the age of 78. Brown was an R&B singer most popular in the 1950s. Two years ago, I attended a concert of hers at the historic Attucks Theater. Although I am a fan of the music of that era, Brown was not one of the singers I … Continue reading Ruth Brown: 1928-2006
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 