By Steve Vaughan The General Assembly goes back into session Wednesday. So it's time for our elected representatives to start putting off until tomorrow what they could be doing today. They'll be ably assisted by Gov. Bob McDonnell. It's easy to tell the governor is a former legislator, because his administration has been busy pushing … Continue reading Time for a new round of kick the can
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
Another few changes
You've no doubt noticed that the masthead for the blog is now All Politics Is Local. I've been thinking about a name change for a while, and this name, which has appeared on the site since the beginning, as the two pictures show (thanks to the Way Back Machine - click to enlarge). Plus, I … Continue reading Another few changes
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
Friday fun: Preamble to the Constitution
In honor of yesterday's reading of the Constitution, here's a little quiz on the Preamble. I finished it in 1:26. Guess memorizing that thing back in junior high school paid off 😉
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?
The only constant is change
The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, is "known for his doctrine of change being central to the universe." I found his quote appropriate today. Earlier this week, I mentioned that things were going to change around here, primarily because I was going to be enrolling in school. As it turns out, the combination of my CPA license … Continue reading The only constant is change
Redistricting seminar Friday
Sorry for the late notice on this but there will be a Redistricting Seminar tomorrow morning in Fairfax. Date: January 7, 2011 Time: 10am - 12pm. Registration begins at 9:30am Place: Fairfax Government Center, The Auditorium, 12000 Fairfax Government Center Parkway The event is free and open to the public. RSVP to RedistrictingSeminar@gmail.com From the … Continue reading Redistricting seminar Friday
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 