VB Dems

Meet the true Scott “Suck Up” Seery, candidate for the at-large School Board seat this Nov. 2nd. At our VBDC breakfast last Saturday, Paul Baker asked which of the 2nd district congressional candidates he was supporting. Suck Up Seery declined to answer, saying that it was inappropriate to weigh in as he has is own race to run. Well, if his $100 contribution to the Repug Party of Virginia Beach doesn’t give you some indication of his leaning, check out his Facebook posts! Holy cow! Can you say “winger”?!?

Suck Up Seery was appointed to his current school board seat. This will be the first time he faces the voters of Virginia Beach. In typical GOPper style, Suck Up Seery is the new chosen son, who will use his School Board appointment as a stepping stone to higher office. How else would one explain all the sucking up?!?

Let’s squash that idea right away. The last thing our kids need right now is another vapid right-wing kiss-up like Carolyn Weems (go Dr. Carray Banks!) Let’s work hard to get Dottie Holtz elected. She’s the real deal!

Share on Facebook

Awhile ago I tried to help Libertarian Bob Dean by doing up an online petition that folks could sign in protest to the City of Portsmouth enforcing eminent domain on this poor guy’s crab shack livelihood simply because a developer and the once and future residents considered that crab shack an eyesore and wanted it instead developed as a park. For whatever reason he didn’t use the petition but I enjoyed our phone conversation about the matter.

Bob got 100 protesters out there on the site and the City did back off. Power to the little guy!

Cue the screech of the needle skidding over the record album…

From the Virginian-Pilot…

MISS No hero

Sometimes, people let you down. In 2008, John T. Johnson, who owns a crab shack on Scott’s Creek, rallied more than 100 protesters to oppose Portsmouth’s attempts to take his property through eminent domain. Neighbors complained about the property and wanted it turned into a park. This week, Johnson pleaded guilty to 18 of 21 charges related to the sale of heroin and cocaine at the shack. And the city plans to seize the property.

Ouch! Although an interesting legal question though… do convicted felon’s still have property rights?

Share on Facebook

I’ve never heard Scott Rigell speak before. But from this video, he sounds like a frickin’ preacher. Egads! All that Pat Robertson guck looks like it’s rubbed off on him.

So my prediction is Glenn Nye wins the debate with a close second to Kenny Golden. Glenn has a brain that he can engage when speaking. Golden, I suspect, will have some wild card things to throw out, which will knock Rigell out of his preacher-like comfort zone.

http://www.youutbe.com/user/scottrigell2010#p/a/u/0/-JBHe4wx4Bg

Share on Facebook

Share on Facebook

This might be the one and only time to see all three 2nd congressional candidates on stage together. Check it out Thursday, August 19, 7:00 at Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach.

Share on Facebook

It’s all Glenn Nye’s fault, didn’t you know. Had he been paying attentions, says GOPper Scott Rigell, the Joint Forces Command would not be shuttering its operations and costing Hampton Roads thousands of jobs.

In typical hypocritical style, Righty Rigell limits the alleged inattentiveness to a Democrat. So knowing Repulsicans stay so fixed and attuned, what’s Reps. Randy Forbes and Rob Wittman’s excuse then?

What an egotistical doorknob!

Share on Facebook

Senate Democrats (with the help of the only two remaining moderate Republicans: Collins and Snowe of Maine) broke a Republican filibuster of a bill to assist states in paying for Medicare and preventing the layoff of 300,000 teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public employees.  The Senate will vote to pass the bill today, and then the House will have to reconvene from their recess to pass it again with the Senate changes.

The bill doesn’t add a dime to the deficit.  It is actually projected to reduce deficits by $1.4 billion over the next 10 years.

Virginia will receive $249.5 million for 3,800 jobs.  I wonder whether Gov. McDonnell will refuse the money on principle?  (UPDATE: Gov. McDonnell signed a letter urging Congress to pass the bill.)

UPDATE: The public supports it 60%-38%.

Share on Facebook

Senate Republicans unanimously blocked a bill to aid small businesses with expanded loan programs and tax breaks. The bill was written with the help of several Republican Senators, and it was supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business.

Share on Facebook

A Cuccinelli profile in the Sunday Washington Post.

Share on Facebook

Step 1: A flat tax on all income: eliminate the current tax exclusion for income in excess of $106,800.

Problem solved: the projected deficit would be completely eliminated.

Also, it is the only solution with broad public support (67%).

Share on Facebook

Congressman Nye joins the shameless “Support the Troops” chorus of Cantor and all who proffer use of the HOV lanes as honor for service rather than offering substantive support by calling for an end to the waste of American blood and treasure in foreign misadventures. Cower behind the troops, again.

Beyond the fact that this is part and parcel of establishing a separate military class and walking away from the concept of the citizen-soldier, it is idiotic; it is unenforceable; it rewards personnel whose only sacrifice has been a paper cut when opening their paychecks. It gives short shrift to civilian members of DoD. But nice stab at reaching out to the same people Palin abuses. It is a modern day Napoleonic ribbon.

“Traffic congestion is a serious problem in Hampton Roads, and our HOV lanes are often under-utilized,” Nye said. “This legislation will help ease traffic for everyone in the region, and make sure our military and emergency response personnel get where they need to go.” – Glenn Nye

(more…)

Share on Facebook

Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms is building what the Pilot calls a “massive war chest” which he is considering throwing into City Council races this year. It’ll be interesting to see what he thinks his money can buy. The man definitely likes to be surrounded by only those who support his agenda, which might prove lucrative for Barbara Henley. The Princess Anne district councilwoman faces a tough Republican opponent. Left dangling could be At-Large Councilman Bill DeSteph, the darling of the VB Tea Party.

With a few exceptions which otherwise can be fixed, Sessoms’ agenda is a good one. I do wish he’d get rid of the ignoramus that is Bob Mathias though. The boob makes no attempt to educate himself. Instead he comes down hard with a position and lets nothing, to include facts over fiction, dissuade him.

Share on Facebook

Despite Republican obstruction, a lot of President Obama’s agenda has already been enacted in just the first 18 months:

• Economic stimulus / tax cut
• Expanded SCHIP children health care
• Health reform
• Expanded embryonic stem cell research
• Financial reform
• Expanded student loan program
• Expanded enforcement of pay discrimination
• Expanded hate crime enforcement
• FDA regulation of tobacco
• EPA regulation of carbon dioxide
• Extension of Unemployment Insurance benefits
• Two Supreme Court Justices (soon) UPDATE: Done
• UPDATE: Aid to states (soon) UPDATE: Done
• UPDATE: child nutrition (soon)
• UPDATE: enhanced border security (soon) UPDATE: Passed the House UPDATE: Done
• UPDATE: last combat troops leave Iraq
• Repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” (soon)

Unfinished business:

• Extension of middle class tax cuts and expiration of tax cuts for income more than $200,000
• Comprehensive climate change legislation
• Immigration reform
• Employee Free Choice Act
• Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Share on Facebook

Most of our tax dollars are subsidizing archaic and destructive sources of energy:

Share on Facebook

Senate Democrats have abandoned their efforts to achieve comprehensive climate change legislation this year in the face of unanimous Republican opposition.

Three years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court mandated that the EPA regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act.

Nearly everybody, including most corporations (except oil and coal companies) and even most Republicans (except the die-hard global warming deniers) would prefer cap-and-trade as a market-based solution. Just two years ago, the McCain/Palin campaign promised that they “will establish a cap-and-trade system that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions…A cap-and-trade system harnesses human ingenuity in the pursuit of alternatives to carbon-based fuels.”

Now Senate Republicans routinely filibuster just about everything. Perhaps their corporate sponsors will persuade them to see the light eventually (but it looks like we may have to wait until after November).

Share on Facebook