Posted on 04/18/2005 6:12:41 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands
Weekly wrap-up of Virginia Campaign New. Post 'em if you got em...
April 11, 2005 Thread
Related threads:
VA Gubernatorial Race: Kilgore(R) 44% Kaine(D) 36%
Corin's Comment: Great news, just remember tho, it's Rasmussen.
Senate 2006: From Venerable to Vulnerable The 14 seats most likely to change hands in 2006
Corin's Comment: Just remember it's Sabato.
J. Warner mum on rule vote
by Peter Hardin
WASHINGTON -- It's not clear if he got it from former wife Elizabeth Taylor or if it is innate, but U.S. Sen. John W. Warner has a flair for the dramatic.
The fifth-term Virginia senator was one of only a handful of Republicans to remain undecided last week as their leaders weighed a possible Senate rule change to ban filibusters of judicial nominees.
Corin's Comment: Not printable on FR.
From Sunday:
Hanger misses ballot deadline
GOP hopeful was minutes late, came up short on signatures
by Larry O'Dell
State Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr., R-Augusta, came up minutes late and about 3,500 signatures short in his bid to get on the Republican primary ballot for lieutenant governor.
Corin's Comment: Tax-hiking RINO goes down.
From Saturday
Kaine camp raises red flag on Kilgore ad spot
by Jeff Schapiro
Jerry W. Kilgore, the likely Republican nominee for governor, is stepping up his attack on Lt. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine with a tongue-in-cheek radio commercial likening the Democrat to a motorist who signals right, "then suddenly turns hard to the left."
Corin's Comment: Schapiro
#35 was posted to you, but it got taken care of before you got to it, I guess ;)
The photos got replaced by some sort of placeholder, so you wouldn't have seen anything anyway. Lucky for you :)
Now, everyone else, back to business:
The RTD has another online poll to freep.
Speaking of business, please add me to your VA ping list - as a relative newcomer, I can use the insight into matters political down here ;)
consider it done
Now git back to work, dude...MUD
Danke.
Plant signs, plank shad
Even a duck is caught up in the controversies at the annual political gathering
by Tyler Whitley
WAKEFIELD -- Kaine appeared to have won the sign war, but Kilgore cried foul yesterday as the two candidates for governor battled for supremacy on this dusty Southside Virginia turf.
Con: This Proposal Is Merely Another Tax-Cut Masquerade (Kaine Tax Proposal)
by Delegate Scott Lingamfelter
Woodbridge. Imitation may be the highest compliment when running for Governor in Virginia. In 1997, candidate Jim Gilmore proposed to end the hated car tax. And whether you liked that policy or not, at least Governor Gilmore was a consistent and credible opponent of higher taxes. Enter Lieutenant Gov- ernor Tim Kaine, the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for Governor, who in 2004 supported the largest tax increase in Virginia's history. Now he's in search of the "silver bullet" that will galvanize support for his candidacy, and he appears to be taking a page from the Gilmore campaign play-book. Kaine is proposing a constitutional amendment allowing local governments to exempt up to 20 percent of the assessed value of homes and farms from real-estate taxes at a time when people are facing stratospheric assessments. Some think this is that silver bullet. But is it? Can't local governments grant tax relief now? Is Kaine a credible and sincere tax-cut candidate? And is it real tax reform?
Pro: Only the Kaine Plan Offers Homeowners Real Tax Relief
by Delegate Brian Moran (yeah, his son)
Alexandria. Whenever I talk with my constituents at the grocery store or in line at the bank, the issue of skyrocketing homeowners' taxes al- ways takes front and center. That's no surprise. Over the past few years homeowners have seen their property taxes soar. This important issue has the at- tention of Richmond. Both candidates for Governor have proposed plans to address this problem, but only Tim Kaine's plan is based on tax fairness, local government involvement, and maintaining quality services while still preserving our reputation as a low-tax state.
What excitement? You must have a more exciting job than I...MUD
You missed the pics?
What pics? How come I'm always the last to know these things?!p>
SHEEEESH...MUD
Check yer FReepmail.
From another thread, a discussion about whether or not America should hold Bill Clinton accountable for the multiple felonies he and his Administration have committed...
bayourod in bold
"...focus only on the question of whether Bill Clinton should be brought to trial. This was the great question when Nixon resigned and Ford pardoned him because he didn't think the nation should be put through the ordeal of a trial of Mr. Nixon."
First off, Nixon was never accused of committing a criminal offense vis a vis Watergate. Ford pardoned him, but there was never an actual law broken...I would argue that Clinton has committed multiple felonies that, if prosecuted, would have him in jail until the day he passed on to his Final Judgement.
"Some of the considerations should be:
1. How serious was the offense? Was it a technical violation such as comingling union contributions in hard money accounts; or was it a universally recognized crime such as murder of a potential witness?"
While I seriously believe Clinton has most likely conspired to have folks murdered, I've yet to see the concrete evidence; still, just because he's an ex-POTUS, should he be allowed to get away with rampant Abuse of Power, blatant Obstruction of Justice and Perjury, and making a mockery of our existing Campaign Finance Laws? I say no.
"2. What was the impact of the crime on the nation? Was the impact negligible like pardoning someone for going AWOL during World War II; or does the crime threaten the very existence of the country, such as selling China the secrets enabling them to destroy every major city in the nation?"
As the highest-ranking member of the Executive Branch, IMHO Clinton's crimes have done major damage to the legitimacy of our government, and thereby the "very existence of the country." How can a blatant abuser of our laws be allowed to go absolutely unpunished in a Land that claims that NO MAN IS ABOVE THE LAW?! Explain that to the teenager imprisoned for smoking a weed in his basement.
"3. How strong is the evidence? Is it circumstantial, relying on the testimony of dubious witnesses; or is there incontrovertable physical evidence such as video recordings and records written in Bill's hand?"
The arrogance Clinton has displayed in committing multiple felonies has resulted in a carelessness that will bear fruit in any SERIOUS investigation of his crimes. There are many, many people within his sphere of influence who know where the skeletons are buried, and they have likewise committed crimes in his service. As these underlings are brought to Justice and plead out, they will provide valuable testimony linking Clinton to any number of crimes that you and I may never even been aware of. And Clinton has been extremely sloppy in leaving documented proof of his guilt to be readily discovered by hungry investigators.
"4. Was the offense committed as an official act, such as selling seats on trade missions, or was it entirely separate from official duties, such as rape?"
SHEEESH, my FRiend, I cannot believe you actually believe this is a consideration. We are a Nation of Laws, and if those laws are legitimate enough to prosecute you or me for, why not some hayseed from Arkansas?
"5. Would prosecution cause bitter division among Americans because the offense is one that people hold strongly held opposite opinions on, such as lying about having sex because that's what gentlemen are taught to do; or one that everyone is in agreement on, such as using FBI files to blackmail elected officials?"
Once again, if folks are going to argue that the Laws are invalid, how come we don't see an uprising calling for said laws to be revoked, so that you and I cannot be held accountable for them, just like the ex-Most Powerful Man in the FReeWorld?!
"6. How would prosecution effect future policy. Would it create a public outcry for campaign finance reform that would result in destruction of our First Amendment rights and turn the government over to liberal Democrats? Would it appear to Democrat voters as petty vindictiveness on the part of Republicans that would result in such a backlash that Democrat Senators would be forced to reject confirmation of pro-life judges?"
Here, my FRiend, you are arguing political strategy. Fair enough, as that seems to be most FReepers' argument against holding the ex-First Felon accountable for his many crimes against this Nation. My response is that this is a very important time in our Country's history, as we are deciding whether or not We the Sheeple will sit idly by and allow Rampant Corruption to go on at the highest echelons of the Federal Guv'ment, and do absolutely NOTHING!! SHEEESH...Clinton's not a frickin' KING...he's no different than you or I!! Are LeftWing DemocRATS going to actually argue that a corrupt ex-POTUS should be allowed to get away with committing multiple felonies? If so, are the Sheeple going to go along meekly and support those same hopelessly-corrupt individuals in the next election? If so, we've already lost this Country, and we should readily expect to go the way of the once-great Roman Empire.
"Now to answer your question. I believe we elected a President who is of extremely high moral character who loves this country and is trying as hard as he can to do what he sincerely believes is best for our nation. I believe that he chose an honest, conscientious, competent Attorney General. I have complete confidence in their judgment and will support whatever decisions that they make."
Here, my FRiend, we are in complete agreement...however, I believe Dubyuh and Ashcroft need to hear from folks who "sincerely believe [what] is best for our nation" is that the Guilty--no matter how Powerful or allegedly popular--are brought to Justice!! Are we a Nation of Laws? Or are certain folks in this Country ABOVE the Laws that govern and restrict the rest of us?
Seriously, my fellow FReepers, am I just a Right-Wing Whacko for expecting the Laws of this Nation to apply to ALL Americans...even those who once held office at the highest echelons of our Federal Guv'ment?!
FReegards...MUD (07/14/2001)
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