Cantor: Another GOP Embarrassment

by: Elaine in Roanoke

Thu Mar 25, 2010 at 19:49:21 PM EDT

Now we have the absurdity of Cantor blaming the people who have been victimized by death threats and obscene comments left on answering machines for the hatred the Republican party has only too happily promoted.

Cantor angrily lashed out at several Democratic leaders, accusing them of "dangerously fanning the flames" by blaming the GOP. He said he, too, has also been the recipient of threats.

The incident he was evidently referring to was last week when Cantor's office in Richmond had a window broken by a bullet. Police now believe that someone fired a weapon in the air after hours, and the bullet broke the window as it fell to the earth. It did not even have enough force to penetrate the window's blinds.

(I once had my classroom penetrated by a bullet after school hours. A window was broken and the bullet lodged in the wall opposite the windows. The police determined the bullet was probably fired by vandals with no malice. So, Mr. Cantor, don't worry. Your incident was probably like mine.)

That's not what we are talking about here. We are discussing why Republicans have spent most of this year fanning the fires of extremism and why Eric Cantor would dare to blame the Democrats for it.

Next week Stafford County starts BPOL wars

by: CADeminVA

Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 16:45:11 PM EST

The Republicans swept out the Independents and Democrats and now hold a 5-2. The GOP candidates ran against the BPOL. It would seem that its repeal is a foregone conclusion.

The Stafford County Democrats fractured over the issue dissolving into incoherence and incapacity, guaranteeing the Republican sweep last November.

The BPOL was scheduled to begin on 01/01/10 but the Republicans have suspended it pending the hearings and repeal.

In addition, Del. Mark Cole, HD-88 part of whose district is in Stafford, is sponsoring a bill in the General Assembly that would prohibit any jurisdiction that has repealed the BPOL from reinstating it. The fate of that legislation is unclear at this point but portentous.

Many funding initiatives for transportation, etc. were predicated upon BPOL revenue that was estimated to be somewhere in the $3-4M range. The Royalty Tax, repealed when BPOL was passed, brought in under $1M.

Stafford County was the largest jurisdiction in the Commonwealth not to have a BPOL. All the neighboring jurisdictions, larger and smaller, have it.

It's very difficult to get really good information about BPOL revenues and effects over time; opponents maintain that it drives businesses away and costs jobs, although nothing specific can be cited. I believe that is not the case.

Currently, businesses pay around 10-15% of Stafford's tax burden. BPOL would raise that to 20-25%. Stafford's homeowners are already groaning under the tax burden.

I am requesting information on BPOL and its effects, good and bad. I will provide what verifiable information I receive to those who are mounting the defense.

Thanks for your support!

Kaine's Budget...For What It's Worth

by: Elaine in Roanoke

Sat Dec 19, 2009 at 12:55:55 PM EST

It took about 15 minutes for Del. Bill Howell and Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell to shoot down the revenue elements in the budget, though they did not seem upset by the cuts in services...well, except for McDonnell's discomfort in cutting funds for public safety programs.

Kaine actually included the demise of the hated "car tax" that Jim Gilmore rode into office on his way to destroying the state's budget. There was a real kicker, though.

Kaine proposed a one percent increase in the state income tax, with all the additional revenue dedicated to localities. That "ain't" going to fly.

Below are the main points in the governor's budget, including exactly how it will hurt the"least among us" the most:

GOP Mocks Obama "Celebrity" and Nobel, But Declares Reagan King?

by: KathyinBlacksburg

Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 11:15:13 AM EDT

And so it's almost too precious to note that while Republicans fulminate over "celebrity" Obama, Nobel Laureate Obama, and Communicator Obama, this is what they are doing on the side:

They created a revised website that actually referred to Ronald Reagan as Ronaldus Magnus!

Ronaldus Magnus?  BWAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHA! Do they think he was our king?

Connect the Dots

by: Dixie Liberal

Fri Jul 10, 2009 at 22:56:27 PM EDT

http://voices.washingtonpost.c...

She couldn't connect the dots to her own previous posting:

Just a few days after Deeds' June 9 primary victory, a stranger showed up at the Bath County Courthouse, asking to review Deeds personal and legal records.

Bath is the Virginia's second least populated county. There aren't a lot of strangers there. So the young man attracted a bit of attention from the clerks at the courthouse and then from Chris Singleton, Bath's part-time Commonwealth Attorney, who just happens to be Deeds' former law partner.

Who was he? He was Republican operative Jared Wheeler, and he spent a couple solid days sifting through records in the county courthouse. Though he attracted attention, the folks in Bath said they were careful to give Wheeler everything he asked for and be as helpful as they could.

http://voices.washingtonpost.c...

Gee, I wonder who gave her the pdf file?

In the comments section seigead1:

Have to wonder, where did you get this pdf document?

Did it, perhaps, come from the Republican operatives that you, yourself, reported on so recently: http://voices.washingtonpost.c...

Why is it irrelevant, in this report, to be mentioning where you got this material?

Taxes and the Party of No

by: Sora Dina

Sun Jun 28, 2009 at 21:01:53 PM EDT

    Reading an article in the Sunday, June 28, 2009 Metro Section of the Washington Post entitled "For GOP, Taxes Retain Potency" has left me wondering what issues our GOP gubernatorial opponent will think is relevant in the fall. The Democrats have already identified some key issues revolving around the economy and job creation, making Virginia a leader in renewable energy, coming up with viable solutions to resolve Virginia's transportation problem, and investing in educational opportunities for all young Virginians in the future. The Party of No seems to rapidly be becoming the party of "No way we will fund viable solutions to Virginia's problems if that course of action involves raising taxes."    

    Raising taxes? If I remember correctly, that was the main line of reasoning the GOP had during the 2008 presidential election and look where it got them. I think that the problems facing today's economy go much deeper than the "do not raise taxes" mantra the Republicans seem to relish.

    Virginia is facing some serious budget shortfalls. Nowhere is that more evident than in Prince William County.  

Flailing and Failing: GOP Can't Handle Even 100 Days-Dick Cheney to the "Rescue"

by: KathyinBlacksburg

Thu Apr 23, 2009 at 11:59:16 AM EDT

Yesterday my daughter asked, "Why is Dick Cheney everywhere on TV?"  His behavior of late has been more than disappointing.  Appalling would be a better word.  He has all-time low favorability ratings for a VP.  He left in disgrace.  His "legacy" is that he repeatedly lied to Americans and used his office to promote war rather than defend America.  The fact is that the way he used his office was tantamount to terrorizing Americans with threats and intimidation.  He knowingly used false claims, tried to shape the intel, and fear-mongered to manipulate a citizenry.  And it had lethal consequences, not just for Americans, but also for Iraqis Afghanis unnecessarily dying because he neglected Afghanistan.  But there Cheney is, still pretending that the US must torture to get answers, despite research showing it doesn't work.  Check out the MSNBC video at the top of this thread.