Waldo’s Virginia Political Blogroll

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling announced yesterday his plans to participate in the “Steptember” initiative to help Virginians lose weight. The LG plans to lose 30 pounds by the end of the year. Good for the LG. I hope others follow his lead.

Here are two releases about it:
Lt. governor urges residents to join effort to create a leaner state

The Steptember Initiative - Statement of Lieutenant Governor Bolling

The best part about it is that it does not use state dollars - it’s a private partnership with America on the Move and the YMCA of America. As I commented not long ago, I don’t think obesity is a government problem. That’s why this -

In a study performed by the University of Baltimore, researchers looked at what states are doing to treat obesity as a threat to public health. The study revealed that Virginia received a D for state efforts to control obesity and an F in state efforts to control childhood obesity.

- doesn’t bother me. In fact, the state should put forth zero effort in the way of tax dollars to “control obesity.” It’s a shame that people are obese, but it’s not the role of the government to protect us from ourselves becoming overweight.

That said, don’t wait until the beginning of the year to make a resolution to meet your fitness goals. Those are often about as meaningful as a UN resolution - not very. Make the decision now to get in shape. Join the LG in his worthwhile effort and make Virginia healthier.

Richmond, Virginia — August 31, 2006

A hat tip to Howling Latina for directing me to this article.

Max Blumenthal’s “Beyond Macaca: The Photograph That Haunts George Allen” brings additional information to light about Allen’s racist pedigree. Here’s a taste:

In 1996, when Governor Allen entered the Washington Hilton Hotel to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference, an annual gathering of conservative movement organizations, he strode to a booth at the entrance of the exhibition hall festooned with two large Confederate flags–a booth operated by the CCC, at the time a co-sponsor of CPAC. After speaking with CCC founder and former White Citizens Council organizer Gordon Lee Baum and two of his cohorts, Allen suggested that they pose for a photograph with then-National Rifle Association spokesman and actor Charlton Heston. The photo appeared in the Summer 1996 issue of the CCC’s newsletter, the Citizens Informer.

According to Baum, Allen had not naively stumbled into a chance meeting with unfamiliar people. He knew exactly who and what the CCC was about and, from Baum’s point of view, was engaged in a straightforward political transaction. “It helped us as much as it helped him,” Baum told me. “We got our bona fides.” And so did Allen.

Now, there are probably still a few Allen apologists left at this point who would try to excuse this incident. Some banter, some hand shaking, a photograph . . . where’s the harm in that? These folks apparently think it is okay to secretly be a racist, as long as it doesn’t affect your public performance. Well according to Blumenthal, Allen went on to appoint a prominent racist activist to a post in Virginia’s state government:

But George Allen’s relationship with the CCC is different; it went beyond poses and portraits. In 1995, he appointed a CCC sympathizer, Virginia lawyer R. Jackson Garnett, to head the Virginia Council on Day Care and serve on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Self-Determination and Federalism. According to the CCC’s Citizens Informer, Garnett delivered a speech before a CCC gathering saying that the Federalism Commission was “created to study abuses by the Federal government of constitutional powers that rightfully belong to the states.”

Later that year, Garnett closed the Virginia Council on Day Care after accusing it, as he wrote in a letter to Governor Allen, of attempting to “form the minds of our young children with a radical ideology before they enter public schools.” The Virginia Council had aroused Garnett’s ire, according to the Virginian-Pilot newspaper, for preparing an “anti-bias” curriculum for daycare teachers. Allen approved the shut-down.

Translation: Allen isn’t a closet racist at all: he’s a very public racist who lets his racism shape his policy decisions. A vote for George F. Allen is a vote for racism and racist policies.

Here’s a link to Max Blumenthal’s “Beyond Macaca: The Photograph That Haunts George Allen.”

It’s still early, but if you haven’t already heard the Virginia Conservative Convention is coming up on November 11 in Richmond. I have not signed up yet, but I will definitely be there.

Religion of Peace–from the Barrel of a Gun?

We rejoice with the families of the two FOX journalists who were released in Gaza over the weekend. We pray for all those who are held by jihadist terrorists, as Steven Centanni and cameraman Olaf Wiig, a New Zealander, were for thirteen days. I must take issue with the headline in today’s Washington Times, however. The Capital’s conservative paper shows the freed journalist smiling and labels them: “FREE AND UNHARMED.” You are not unharmed when you are held at gunpoint for nearly two weeks. You are not unharmed when restrained in very painful positions–something called “torture” when Americans were accused of doing it to prisoners. You are not unharmed when you are forced to change your name on worldwide television. And you are certainly not unharmed when you are forced to convert to Islam at the point of a gun. Is this a “religion of peace,” or a “religion of the piece?” We denounce this terrorist action against these journalists. And we call on Islamic groups in this country and around the world to assure us that this is not the way they would advance their religious beliefs. Or is the deafening silence from these quarters an indication that this is the way Islam advances?

FRC Website

Every time I hear about an abduction, break in, home invasion, or similar occurence it only strengthens my conviction that people should take their personal protection seriously. Recently there have been a number of tragic stories where sick people have taken the lives of others. Unfortunately, it’s really not anything new, but some of the recent cases have hit a little closer to home than usual.

My wife and I both have our concealed handgun permits. I would encourage anyone reading this to do the same. Find a good trainer, take a safety course, and practice, practice, practice. I also think it is important to mentally prepare yourself for bad situations. The police cannot always help us and ultimately your protection comes down to one individual - you. That responsibility should be taken seriously.

Richmond, Virginia — August 30, 2006

There’s a lot going on this weekend, so be sure to make some plans to attend. Jim Webb has posted his schedule here, and it includes Labor Day stops in Buena Vista, Covington, and Newport News, Virginia.

If you are interested in catching up with the Allen campaign and experiencing George F. Allen in person, you can click here.

Sadly, the quickening pace of the litigation I am working on means that I will be working all day Saturday and much of the day Monday. The rest of my weekend will be taken up by family visits. Take lots of pictures so I have something to look at Monday nighht.

That's a curious idea that everyone's favorite Rep. Windbag has proffered. So if State and God are sine quo non and god selects those that govern, does that mean that our lord in his indisputable wisdom has chosen to reject Katherine Harris? Furthermore, if god rejects a subject from say being elected to the United States Senate (a lofty post as far as divine providence goes) what chance does that soul have of making it to a pleasant afterlife?

The more I ponder Harris's constitutional interpretations, the more I concur. Clearly Rep. Katherine Harris must go to hell.

Kat at CatHouse Chat has done the most exquisite job of documenting the affair. So far, everything she’s presented is organized chronologically, makes perfect sense and serves as a wonderful memento from a time to be remembered. We would expect nothing less from her.

For the sake of “equal time” I’m going to present my “memento” to you in an unorganized hodgepodge of photos and words. You’d expect nothing less from me!

Humor disclaimer: Since our Commonwealth has yet to hold a referendum on what constitutes humor, someone may be offended by the following comments. Don’t run whining to the local newspaper. Simply e-mail me so that I may forward your e-mail to the biggest gossip monger in your party as an example of how weak your party is.

Judging from the photo above,  Norm loves the BEER GUY! But look what happens when he learns that the Beer Guy is also the THE BLUE DOG! Where’s the thumbs-up, now? Greg’s getting the doggy scoop for his site. Speaking of Greg, I don’t recall ordering cheesecake….Black Velvet Cheesecake. When’s breakfast?

AND, Speaking of love and beer, Josh and Jay BOTH told me the old adage is true:   Bedfellows do indeed make strange politics. Ask Queen Megan! I wonder how she got her crown to light up? The illuminated crown was the prize for being the best dressed AND getting her husband to wear a matching tie!  Mr. Blackwell has nothing on these bloggers.

Now while I’m on the subject of love, beer and pantyhose, did you know that……  

Jim needed some pantyhose for a pre-dinner “poof deflector.” Tucker said, “Just a second, kid, I’m working on it!” For those of you scratching your heads, a poof deflector is a nifty Podcasting creation by Jim. Come to next year’s blog conference and see it for yourself!

Mary Rives was all smiles until her dirty little secret slipped out. . . She wanted Badrose to make the name tags so she FAKED a broken arm. I promise to make the names bigger next year.

 Jim Patrick seems mighty happy…especially for a man sitting at a table with no legs. No legs? Yes, according to Eileen, this was the table that wouldn’t stand!

“So forgive me when myself and a few others at my table Friday night failed to give standing ovation to LG Bolling concluding his remarks. I thought I was being civil and respectful enough by just clapping.”~ Eileen Levandoski

Well, thanks for trying, Eileen.

Richmond, Virginia — August 28, 2006

The “macaca” story made it to Meet the Press yesterday. A panel of high-powered commentators, including conservatives as well as liberals, discussed the fact that Allen has thrown away a chance for easy re-election. A new poll shows Allen now trailing Jim Webb by a small margin, though still within the margin of error. These two facts taken together point to

    Now that the affair is over, I’m feeling a little sad, very fatigued, relieved that we “pulled it off” without getting caught and just can’t wait to do it again!

    I made more memories than I knew I could in such a short time - some captured on film that I hope to post soon. Especially the one that proves I was kissed by the Truman Capote of Blogdom.

    I gathered some quotes that may very well end up on tee-shirts, met people that I have no doubt someday (soon) I’ll be proud to say, “I knew them when.” Hell, I’m proud to know them now! The creative talent, intelligence, wit and vision, combined with the wisdom of experience and the enthusiasm of the inexperienced, created an indescribable synergy. I hope to describe the indescribable after the thoughts have a little time to settle and I’ve had a little more sleep. In the meantime, I now have at least 30 new people to call when I run out of gas - even if it means I have to carry a blue gas can…..

    Regrets, I have a few….the biggest of which is not gathering all the bloggers together to sing Martinsville’s “We Love This Place” jingle and posting it on Youtube. There’s always next year, though. Speaking of which, please let me know how we can make next year’s better.

    More to come….

I love media watchdog group Media Matters, the folks over there do such a great job covering the outrageous venom conservative pundits are spewing over the airwaves.

Today Media Matters reports that CNN's conservative hack Glenn Beck is sick and tired of society's overwhelming desire to make public places hospitable to the blind!

Yah Glenn that would really teach those disabled people a lesson!

Check out the video and full story at Media Matters!

• I didn’t post a recap of the last TMG meeting due to lack of time, but one of the speakers was talking about school choice. He said (I’m not sure if it was intentional) that those in private schools were getting the treatment. That made me wonder, are those in public school getting the placebo? In most cases I think so.
• The Reds are in a tie for first. Keep your fingers crossed we stomp the Giants, Dodgers, and Padres.
• Marcus Allen has a brother that plays in the CFL? Who knew?
• We have a water cooler at work and now we have a picture of General Jack Ripper with the quote “And as human beings, you and I need fresh, pure water to replenish our precious bodily fluids” over the top of it. Is that the best quote to use? And if you aren’t reading Richmond War Room, you should.
• It’s nearing the end of summer and Edgar Winter still has a better tan than I do.