HoodaThunk?

Gov. Kaine coming to Herndon but it’ll cost you $100 to see him

And that’s $100 per person, reporters included. The folks at the Herndon Observer newspaper ain’t amused:

Having sitting governors campaign for their compadres is nothing new in the world of politics, but allowing a sitting governor to have a private audience with people—not because of the issues to be discussed or the importance of the people involved—simply because they paid to hang out with him, is inappropriate.

Is this how Gov. Kaine behaves in Richmond, holding lunches with lobbyists, influential business representatives or the media solely based on whether they show up with enough cash in their pockets?

Kaine is appearing at a fundraiser for Stevens Miller, a current Supervisor in Loudoun County who managed to locate a house to move into that happens to sit in the very thin overlap of his Loudoun District and incumbent General Assembly Delegate Tom Rust’s GA District. Millers is running for Rust’s seat and Kaine is coming to stump for him. The Observer thinks that while Millers should feel free to restrict who comes to his fundraisers, Kaine’s office should make having the press present for free a gimme. The press needs to keep an eye on our political leaders, the editor says.

I think the editor has answered his own question. Neither Kaine nor Millers wants the press anywhere near the event so they can’t do anything to derail their campaigns. No one should be surprised by this but it’s something you want to remember about these men when it comes time to ask whether they’re worthy of your trust and, hence, your vote.

September 4th, 2009 Posted by ricjames | Politics, Virginia Politics | one comment

Gandelman of The “Moderate” Voice develops liberal amnesia

Or, like many on the left, he’s decided to pretend the left’s behavior over the last 8 years didn’t really happen. Tom Maguire at Just One Minute calls him out in devastating fashion:

Joe Gandelman of The Moderately Amusing (And Reliably Liberal) Voice pens on political polarization in the US and challenges our imaginations with this toughie:

If Republicans and conservatives make the very legitimacy of Obama, his patriotism — even the safety of allowing little kids listen to him tell them to stay in school and think about helping their community — the issue, and link his name to Hitler and/or Nazism, precisely how do they think Democrats and the left will respond next time a GOPer is in power? How will the next Republican President be treated in terms of legitimacy and doing what he/she feels is in the best interest of the country?

This taxes the imagination, but let’s try – I predict wild movies alleging the President is in cahoots with foreign terrorists and domestic criminals, prominent Democrats alleging that the President conspired to kill thousands of Americans, constant linkage of the Republican President with Hitler, and an ongoing denial of his legitimacy.  At a guess.

We eagerly await Mr.Gandelman’s return to our Solar System.

Him and a few others. I mean, seriously, how can someone who was actually conscious during the last administration even think of asking “well, what will Republicans do when they get treated badly?” We’ve seen – in graphic detail – what happens and we saw most clearly who was delivering the bad treatment. To suggest that Republicans are being somehow unprecedented in their opposition actions is simply ignorant, at best. And we’re not coming anywhere near the level of vitriol directed at us over the last 8 years. If Mr. Gandelman wants to argue that we shouldn’t be doing whatever it is he’s complaining about, then he’d better find a more suitable angle than to suggest that we wouldn’t like being treated the same. We’ve been treated far worse, sir, and it was by your side. Want to see a return to less polarization? Don’t do the polarizing.

(Hat Tip: Instapundit.)

September 4th, 2009 Posted by ricjames | Blogging, Politics | one comment

Watch that line of fire

D’OH!

A Pennsylvania history buff who recreates firearms from old wars accidentally fired a 2-pound cannonball through the wall of his neighbor’s home.

Fifty-four-year-old William Maser fired a cannonball Wednesday evening outside his home in Georges Township that ricocheted and hit a house 400 yards away.

The cannonball, about two inches in diameter, smashed through a window and a wall before landing in a closet. Authorities say nobody was hurt.

September 4th, 2009 Posted by ricjames | Human Interest, Military, Technology | no comments

McDonnell calls out Deeds on lack of any leadership, plans, forward-looking agenda

Via Bearing Drift, we have this great interview segment from Bob McDonnell:

(Video by WTVR-TV Richmond, Channel 6 News. Excellent embeddable video, guys, well done!)

September 4th, 2009 Posted by ricjames | Uncategorized | no comments