Category: Politics

Opinion, please: politician participate in program

A Virginia Beach council member, Barbara Henley, helped to create a farmland preservation program some 15 years ago. Tonight, the council will decide if Henley, 69, along with her husband, can put 99 acres into the program. If approved, they will receive about $32,000 a year for each of the next 25 and a lump … Continue reading Opinion, please: politician participate in program →

The mis-education of the Wall Street Journal

I can't believe this editorial. Yes, the Wall Street Journal is entitled to its opinion, but not to its facts. Yet this editorial is full of what can politely be called inaccuracies. How about this? But Ms. Sullivan—a sociologist by training—turned out to favor what she called an "incrementalist" approach. As late as this March, … Continue reading The mis-education of the Wall Street Journal →

A proud heritage has been stained

My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Thursday. It was an attempt to answer a question that I had seen posed around the 'net as well as to me personally on Twitter: why is the UVA story news and why should we care? I didn't even mention the issue of transparency, which I … Continue reading A proud heritage has been stained →

Is UVA mess brought to you by Goldman Sachs and EDMC?

While others have written about the UVA mess in terms of deconstructing it and the people involved, I have been taking a look at why the university would want to bring upon itself all this unwanted publicity. I don't think that any organization wishes to have a situation like this thrust upon them, and that's … Continue reading Is UVA mess brought to you by Goldman Sachs and EDMC? →

Florida, League of Women Voters and the US Attorney General

A while back Vivian wrote a blog about the registration problems that were happening in Florida that made groups like the League of Women Voters stop registering students and other groups.This month Florida lost that fight.  The League of Women Voters said they are ready to resume their interrupted registration efforts just days after winning … Continue reading Florida, League of Women Voters and the US Attorney General →

Thorne-Begland appointed to the bench

The Circuit Court of Richmond has appointed Tracy Thorne-Begland to the open seat on that city's General District Court. Thorne-Begland has accepted the appointment. A couple of things have happened since the House of Delegates rejected his appointment in a late night session. Legal heavyweights from Richmond, including a Republican former AG, announced their support. … Continue reading Thorne-Begland appointed to the bench →

WTH Portsmouth?

When the word came last week that the Portsmouth city charter had been changed to reflect a filing deadline for November elections of the first Tuesday in June, people were miffed - and rightfully so. It seems that a whole lot of folks were asleep at the wheel. Portsmouth asked the General Assembly to make … Continue reading WTH Portsmouth? →

E-day roundup

The Republican race for the nomination for U.S. Senate was the attention-grabber yesterday, especially in areas of the commonwealth where there was nothing else on the ballot. The win by George Allen wasn't unexpected, although the margin - he received more than 65% of the vote - was. There are a lot of pieces to … Continue reading E-day roundup →

American wealth down 40%

So says the Federal Reserve. And most of it? The downward spiral of the housing market. Rakesh Kochhar, associate director of research at the Pew Hispanic Center, calls this phenomenon the “reverse wealth effect.” As consumers watched the value of their homes rise during the boom, they felt more confident spending money, even if they … Continue reading American wealth down 40% →