Saturday, May 31, 2008
Bob Marshall: #2 at convention, #1 in our hearts
Well, mine at least.
In case you missed it, earlier today former VA Governor Jim Gilmore just barely beat out conservative Delegate Bob Marshall for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
Reports the WaPo:
I voted for Marshall at the convention and I don't regret it. I'm not bitter or anything, but I suspect that Republicans will find they have saddled themselves with damaged goods. Even though Gilmore enjoys great name recognition, he starts with negatives in the 40s. By contrast, so few people know who Bob Marshall is; Marshall could have started out on a clean slate and the like. Besides, Marshall is inspiring and unique.
That being said, I wish Gilmore the best of luck. But I don't see myself volunteering for him, unless of course he manages to climb some in the polls on his own.
In case you missed it, earlier today former VA Governor Jim Gilmore just barely beat out conservative Delegate Bob Marshall for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
Reports the WaPo:
Despite outspending his rival by more than 8 to 1, Gilmore
was nearly upset by a coalition of antiabortion and anti-tax activists,
libertarians and some moderate Republicans from Northern Virginia who backed
Marshall.
I voted for Marshall at the convention and I don't regret it. I'm not bitter or anything, but I suspect that Republicans will find they have saddled themselves with damaged goods. Even though Gilmore enjoys great name recognition, he starts with negatives in the 40s. By contrast, so few people know who Bob Marshall is; Marshall could have started out on a clean slate and the like. Besides, Marshall is inspiring and unique.
That being said, I wish Gilmore the best of luck. But I don't see myself volunteering for him, unless of course he manages to climb some in the polls on his own.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
ICYMI: Dunkin Donuts pulls ad due to potential terror connection
An ad featuring cooking guru Rachel Ray was pulled recently, reports MSNBC.
As an aside, terror or no terror, Dunkin Donut's iced coffee is pretty good. Be sure to get it with cream and sugar.
As an aside, terror or no terror, Dunkin Donut's iced coffee is pretty good. Be sure to get it with cream and sugar.
Bill Pantele announces RVA mayor bid
Friday, May 23, 2008
Tom Tancredo endorses Va. Delegate Bob Marshall for US Senate
This is just great.
I realize not everyone likes Tancredo, and that's fine with me. (I am friends with two of his former campaign staffers, so I may be a wee bit baised in favor of Tancredo.)
In case you forgot, Tancredo is the Colorado congressman who ran a longshot campaign for President last year, whose marquee issue was illegal immigration.
Anyway, Tancredo basically ripped Jim Gilmore. This is just fantastic. Tancredo's endorsement is especially significant since they both tried running for president. Not only does Tancredo eat into Gilmore on immigration, he by extension eats into him in general.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
FLYOVER!
I photographed a pretty neat Black Hawk flyover today when I was at the Virginia Wall of Heroes memorial event on Capitol Square.
Towards the end there was a flyover from two F-18 jets, but they went by much faster and, alas, I was unable to photograph them.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Spring Cleaning
I am in the process of cleaning up my apartment, something I have not done since Januaryish.
I can tell it's been a while because while cleaning, I found stuff. I was wondering where my Kinkos card was. Now I know.
I also found a valuable coupon for Qboda, which by the grace of God has not yet expired!
I'll update this posting if I can find anything else.
I can tell it's been a while because while cleaning, I found stuff. I was wondering where my Kinkos card was. Now I know.
I also found a valuable coupon for Qboda, which by the grace of God has not yet expired!
I'll update this posting if I can find anything else.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Message from the Libertarian Party of Virginia on the "Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Equipment" Sales Tax Holiday
I found this item in my inbox yesterday from Marc Montoni, the Secretary of the Virginia LP. He makes a lot of good points. I admit full well that I forgot all about the tax holiday until I saw the email. Shop away! -SCL
Dear Readers,
As you know, the Libertarian Party works towards the elimination of as many taxes as poossible. One that we could all do without is the state sales tax.
For a brief time, you have an opportunity to live in a world with fewer taxes. Take advantage of it. This month, your opportunity comes in the form of the "Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Equipment" tax holiday, which runs from May 25-31, 2008.
"Under Virginia law, most purchases of tangible personal property are subject to both state and local sales and use taxes. The tax rate is generally 5% of the cost price. The rate on sales of food for home consumption is 2.5%. A sales tax holiday is a temporary period during which purchases of certain items are exempt from the sales and use taxes."
The above description is from: http://www.tax.virginia.gov/site.cfm?alias=STHoliday.
The list of exempt products can be found here: http://tax.virginia.gov/web_pdfs/Exempt_Products.pdf
You will note that there are at least a few items on the list that are common household needs, whether for hurricane preparedness or not.
Naturally, the Libertarian Party does not advocate discriminatory taxes that favor one kind of merchandise or retailer over any other. That said, we also support the right of every individual to spend their hard-earned treasure without the government sticking its nose in for a percentage. So, please take advantage of tax freedom and purchase, between May 25-31, any supplies your household will need for the next year.
You can always write your state legislator a nice note thanking them for the thought, and then ask that they extend the holiday to cover every day of the year, and all products. After all, the Sales Tax only raised a projected $6.5 billion for the 2006-2008 budget cycle. How far back in Virginia budget history do you have to go to find a state budget at least $6.5 billion less? Not very far at all. Just two years ago:
2006-2008: $74,908.3 http://dpb.state.va.us/budget/06-08/revenue.cfm
2004-2006: $61,404.2 http://dpb.state.va.us/budget/04-06/revenue.cfm
-- Marc Montoni, Secretary Libertarian Party of Virginia
Dear Readers,
As you know, the Libertarian Party works towards the elimination of as many taxes as poossible. One that we could all do without is the state sales tax.
For a brief time, you have an opportunity to live in a world with fewer taxes. Take advantage of it. This month, your opportunity comes in the form of the "Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Equipment" tax holiday, which runs from May 25-31, 2008.
"Under Virginia law, most purchases of tangible personal property are subject to both state and local sales and use taxes. The tax rate is generally 5% of the cost price. The rate on sales of food for home consumption is 2.5%. A sales tax holiday is a temporary period during which purchases of certain items are exempt from the sales and use taxes."
The above description is from: http://www.tax.virginia.gov/site.cfm?alias=STHoliday.
The list of exempt products can be found here: http://tax.virginia.gov/web_pdfs/Exempt_Products.pdf
You will note that there are at least a few items on the list that are common household needs, whether for hurricane preparedness or not.
Naturally, the Libertarian Party does not advocate discriminatory taxes that favor one kind of merchandise or retailer over any other. That said, we also support the right of every individual to spend their hard-earned treasure without the government sticking its nose in for a percentage. So, please take advantage of tax freedom and purchase, between May 25-31, any supplies your household will need for the next year.
You can always write your state legislator a nice note thanking them for the thought, and then ask that they extend the holiday to cover every day of the year, and all products. After all, the Sales Tax only raised a projected $6.5 billion for the 2006-2008 budget cycle. How far back in Virginia budget history do you have to go to find a state budget at least $6.5 billion less? Not very far at all. Just two years ago:
2006-2008: $74,908.3 http://dpb.state.va.us/budget/06-08/revenue.cfm
2004-2006: $61,404.2 http://dpb.state.va.us/budget/04-06/revenue.cfm
-- Marc Montoni, Secretary Libertarian Party of Virginia
Friday, May 16, 2008
Virginia Commonwealth hikes tuition
From the Richmond Times Dispatch:
Virginia Commonwealth University students will be paying more for school.
The Board of Visitors voted this morning to increase in-state undergraduate tuition and fees by 9.4 percent for the 2008-09 school year. It will cost those students $6,779 per year, not including room and board.
Tuition and fees will rise by 5.3 percent for out of state undergraduate students, to $19,724 per year.
I guess the VCU Board of Visitors was afraid to make it an even 10 percent.
Virginia Commonwealth University students will be paying more for school.
The Board of Visitors voted this morning to increase in-state undergraduate tuition and fees by 9.4 percent for the 2008-09 school year. It will cost those students $6,779 per year, not including room and board.
Tuition and fees will rise by 5.3 percent for out of state undergraduate students, to $19,724 per year.
I guess the VCU Board of Visitors was afraid to make it an even 10 percent.
This just in...
Richmond mayor Doug Wilder will NOT run for re-election this November. There has been speculation for quite some time as to what Wilder will do and he has stayed mum on the issue, until now.
So far three Richmonders have declared their candidacy for mayor: State Delegate Dwight Jones, former Richmond Democratic Committee chair and activist Paul Goldman, and cross-dresser Donnie "Dirtwoman" Corker of Southside. City Council president Bill Pantele is expected to declare his intentions soon. The deadline to file is June 10.
Wilder's announcement comes shortly after Police Chief Rodney Monroe announced he is stepping down to become top cop in Charlotte, NC.
So far three Richmonders have declared their candidacy for mayor: State Delegate Dwight Jones, former Richmond Democratic Committee chair and activist Paul Goldman, and cross-dresser Donnie "Dirtwoman" Corker of Southside. City Council president Bill Pantele is expected to declare his intentions soon. The deadline to file is June 10.
Wilder's announcement comes shortly after Police Chief Rodney Monroe announced he is stepping down to become top cop in Charlotte, NC.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
McCain's global warming folly
Here, McCain wastes Republican donors' valuable time and money on a pointless ad that will not win him any votes in November: all the hippies who buy into this global warming nonsense will be voting Democrat anyhow.
Republicans are donating money to McCain because they want to hear him talk about how he wants to get tough with terrorists, or how he wants to make tax cuts permanent. Talking about make-believe pansy issues like "global warming" turns off the base and does nothing constructive. McCain would be wise to pull this ad immediately.
Monday, May 12, 2008
3 Years Down, One to go
Alas, my Spring 2008 semester has come to a close and I find myself back in Newport News for at least a week or so.
Because nothing is happening in Newport News, Virginia I can't think of anything to blog about.
If you have any topics to suggest, comment on this post or email me.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Woodbury wins NN City Council seat; Beato falls short in Williamsburg
Yesterday Pat Woodbury won her race for City Council in Newport News, replacing the retiring Bill Haskins. Woodbury, a Republican, ran a "conservative" campaign: her website expresses support for Reaganomics, while serenading you with such tunes as "America the Beautiful" and "God bless America." I met Pat Woodbury in November 2007 at the First District Republican Convention in Caroline County. Woodbury was a delegate for Paul Jost, and I was working the convention for Jost.
I will admit this is the first election in which I did not vote. Too busy with school and finals and such.
On a sad note, William & Mary student Matt Beato (pictured) was not able to win his City Council race in Williamsburg. Beato became a member of the Libertarian Party of Virginia in March, and is a friend of the W&M College Republicans.
Monday, May 05, 2008
They Said WHAT?!?!
"I don't give a crap about what you think."
— To me from ex-VCU Student Body President Jessica Lee
Keep in mind this wench got paid about $2,000 for her services and has almost nothing to show for it.
— To me from ex-VCU Student Body President Jessica Lee
Keep in mind this wench got paid about $2,000 for her services and has almost nothing to show for it.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Jim Gilmore's Limited Wardrobe
After reading (and viewing) fellow blogger and friend Shaun Kenney's May 3 post on Gilmore's questionable online video acumen, I couldn't help but notice Gilmore's limited wardrobe. The above video is from when Gilmore was running for President.
Compare this to the more recent video I posted on May 1.
Do you recognize the tie?
To be fair to Gilmore, I realize full well that every man has a favorite tie. But this justs looks wrong.
If Gilmore ends up as the nominee, let's hope he goes on TLC's What Not to Wear.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
I surived The Great Shafer Riot!
This year marked VCU's first annual (and perhaps last?) "Midnight Breakfast," which featured breakfast items served late at night. This video comes to you courtesy of Gonzalo Aida. I can be viewed toward the end.
Enjoy!
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Jim Gilmore Creates a Fresh Buzz on Youtube
The Jim Gilmore campaign is touting their new online video, featuring the former Virginia Governor.
In the video, Gilmore declares that since Mark Warner said he wouldn't raise taxes, then raised them anyway, when Mark Warner says he will raise taxes in the US Senate, we should believe him.
Allow me to play Devil's Advocate for a moment. By this logic, if Mark Warner does the exact opposite of what he says he'll do, then if he says he will raise taxes, he will actually work to enact tax cuts!
(And is Mark Warner really catering to conservatives?)
I like Jim Gilmore's video, but I am not sure this is the right kind of buzz.
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