Waldo’s Virginia Political Blogroll

What kind of deal had Hicks made? Did he offer to provide the names of hidden terrorists in the United States? Did he reveal Osama's secret hiding place? Did he help foil one of those vaguely-defined plots Bush is always alluding to?

Just what could a man who supposedly was involved in plotting attacks against the west both with the Taliban and al Qaeda have to offer? His silence.

“He says that if he is the worst of the worst, and the person who should be put before a military commission first,” Mr. McLeod said, “then the world really hasn’t got much to worry about.”

Mexico City may soon legalize abortion making it the first entity in Latin America to overcome the influence of the Roman Catholic Church on this controversial issue. It will be recognition that abortion is already commonly practiced but unregulated.

This from the New York Times via the International Herald Tribune:

Dominated by liberals, Mexico City’s egislature is expected to legalize abortion in a few weeks. The bill would make this city one of the largest entities in Latin America to break with a long tradition of women resorting to illegal clinics and midwives to end unwanted pregnancies.

But the measure has stirred a vicious debate and shaken this heavily Roman Catholic country to its roots. In recent days, the bill has dominated conversations from family dinner tables to the president’s office. Celebrities and politicians of all stripes have lined up on both sides, throwing verbal darts at one another. Catholic and feminist groups have staged dueling protests and marches.

The contours of the debate are familiar to veterans of similar battles in the United States. But Mexico City’s law would be groundbreaking in Latin America, where most countries allow abortion only under strict conditions, like when the life of the mother is in danger or when she is a victim of rape or incest. Only in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Guyana can women have abortions for any reason during the first trimester. Three countries — Chile, Nicaragua and El Salvador — ban it without exception.

The Mexico City bill would make it legal to have an abortion during the first trimester for any reason. The procedure would be free at city health facilities. Private hospitals would be required to provide an abortion to any woman who asks for one, though doctors with religious or ethical objections would not be required to perform abortions.

Catholic leaders and church officials have denounced the proponents as “baby killers” and have warned that the law could provoke violence against doctors who agree to provide the service. A group of Catholic lawyers are pushing for a citywide referendum on the issue, hoping to avert the vote in the city Legislative Assembly.

The debate in Mexico threatens to revive tensions between President Felipe Calderón, a conservative who opposes abortion, and the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution, whose candidate narrowly lost the election last year and still refuses to concede.

Calderón has tried to stay above the fray, but he said last week, “I am in defense of life.” His health minister and other surrogates in the conservative National Action Party, however, are in the thick of it. They have proposed streamlining adoption laws, improving sex education and providing subsidies to unwed mothers as alternatives.

Leftists and feminists, meanwhile, have accused opponents of turning a blind eye to reality. They say millions of women here, and indeed throughout much of Latin America, already ignore the law and choose to abort fetuses, often in dingy underground clinics or the private homes of midwives. They risk infection, sterility and sometimes death.

“Women are dying, above all poor women, because of unsafe abortions,” said María Consuelo Mejía, the director of Catholics for the Right to Decide. “What we would like is that these women never have to confront the necessity of an abortion, but in this society it’s impossible right now. There is no access to information, to contraceptives. Nor do most women have the power to negotiate the use of contraceptives with their partners.”

****
Many women here are watching the political battle with a mix of trepidation and hope. Like many laws in Mexico, the abortion law is honored as much in its breach as its observance.

Government officials estimate at least 110,000 women a year seek illegal abortions in Mexico, and many abortion rights groups say the number is much higher. At least 88 women died in 2006 from botched abortions, the Health Ministry says, though it is far from clear that all cases were reported.

For the well off, it is common knowledge that certain gynecologists perform illegal abortions in private hospitals, disguising the procedure as something else on documents.

For the poor, unwanted pregnancies often mean finding a midwife or an underground clinic, abortion rights advocates say. Some young women also resort to huge doses of drugs for arthritis and gastritis, available over the counter, that can cause miscarriages. Others use teas made from traditional herbs to cause miscarriages. All of these methods carry dangers.

You may read the complete article here.

Too Conservative has more details.

This is a major loss for the GOP- Eric Lundberg had been all that held local Republicans together.

Adam Sharp did an amazing job live-blogging the VAYD Convention, here are some snipits:

John Alex Golden (Arlington) is the next VAYD president! (Dom was gracious enough to remind me that Erick received more votes than I did last year.)
Jennifer Bissett (Alexandria) is unopposed for Executive Vice President.
James “Skippy” Martin (University of Mary Washington) is unopposed for Vice President of Membership.
Mike Sizemore (Virginia Tech) is unopposed for Vice President of Political Action.
Ally McIntosh (William and Mary) is unopposed for Vice President of Communication.
Anthony Dale (Alexandria) is unopposed for Vice President of Finance.
Mark Turnbull (William & Mary Alumni) is unopposed for VAYD Secretary.
Andrew Almand (Arlington) is unopposed for a THIRD term as VAYD Treasurer.
John Taylor Chapman (Alexandria) is unopposed for National Committeeman. He’s going to blog!
‘Lil Amy” Lewis (Arlington) is unopposed for National Committeewoman.

Sources tell me Leo Wardrup was circulating petitions at this mornings Virginia Beach Republican breakfast.  Yet, 3 of his Republican colleagues in the House have told me he is retiring.  What's going on here?

Earlier this evening on my way to work I was pulled over by a state trooper for an “exhaust issue”.  The stop then turned into “farm use vehicle issue”.

I found myself explaining to the trooper how running a Geo Storm between farms is more profitable than running a 12 mile to the gallon pickup truck.

It didn’t seem to bother him that I had no liscense with me and I never gave him my name, just my father’s.

Truth be told, as he said, he just wanted to make sure I wasn’t some “illegal guru” putting “farm use” tags on a Honda to go to work at the poultry plant…..

Since I had some free time, I wanted to talk to people I hadn't met before. So I asked Denny Daugherty, and he introduced me to Grover Norquist, who isn't that tall so I enjoyed our chat because I didn't have to strain my neck. I also met Suhail Khan, who worked in the White House and for Rep. Tom Campbell of California. And I shook hands with the great Morton Blackwell, Virginia's RNC representative and member of the executive committee. (from left: Suhail, Grover, David Ray, Morton, and Denny)

Grover and I discussed blogging in Virginia at some length, as well as the various attacks being made on Faisal Gill regarding his association with Suhail and Grover. It was good to be able to talk directly with those involved and get the "other side of the story". I've often found that reality is not what you read, and this was no exception.

A little later, State Senator Ken Cuccinelli and Lt. Governor Bill Bolling came over and took Grover from me. But they were nice enough to let me take their picture. (In case you are wondering, not, I never got any pictures of myself at the event. You'll have to take my word for it that I was there).
(left/right: Ken, Bill, Grover)


Scott Lingamfelter was there, and I caught him in a spirited discussion with State Senate candidate Bob Fitzsimmonds. Both Scott and Bob have endorsed Faisal Gill, and Scott was there to give an endorsement speech and to rally the troops. Bob was there to lend support and clap. I have more pictures of Scott where you can see his face. (left/right: Scott, Bob)

There was a lot of great food at the event. I didn't spend a lot of time eating early on, as I was talking and taking pictures. I did take a plateful of food with me at the end. Here's some pictures of the food tables (I never did get to the cookie plate):

I also got a chance to chat with current Delegate and Clerk of Court candidate Michelle McQuigg, who was sitting up on the stage. I asked about her support, and she said she would be voting for Gill. She gave the speech that introduced Bill Bolling.

After people had had their chance to chat with each other and to eat some food and grab chairs at the tables, the main event began. PWC Board Chair Corey Stewart ran the event, and introduced the speakers.

(Left/Right: Michelle, Faisal, Corey, Bill, Ken, Scott)




By the time the speakers started talking, the parking lot was full and the room was pretty crowded. Before it was over I counted over 100 people in the room. I counted about a dozen times to be sure, and I got a different answer every time. I wish people would not move around while I'm trying to count.

Last month an alert, loyal, and quite kosher Extreme Mortman reader brought to our attention Orthodox Jewish anger over Washington-area Dunkin’ Donuts establishments that once were Kosher-certified but had begun offering sausage and bacon.

Sunday’s Washington Post advances the story.

Extreme Mortman doesn’t keep kosher — but we do want to show solidarity with our Orthodox brethren engaged in this epic David and Goliath battle.  So as a symbolic measure, we’ll boycott all doughnuts during Passover.

Greg, how can you possibly suggest that “shared values” are more important than “personal integrity?” People lacking in personal integrity would have absolutely no problem sharing the values of each and every person to whom they speak, regardless of what those values might be. If you can’t trust them, how can you trust what they say?

(I originally wrote this as part of a bigger piece for MSNBC two years ago, when the Washington Nationals’ inaugural baseball season began.  Opening Day Sunday prompts me to run parts of it again now)

Even the most singularly focused political junkie must acknowledge the influence of baseball on politics.  President Bush was a managing partner of the Texas Rangers baseball team.  Ronald Reagan used to broadcast and re-enact baseball games on the radio.  Hall-of-fame pitcher Jim Bunning is a U.S. senator.  And who was that sitting next to Hillary Clinton during President Clinton’s 1999 State of the Union Address?  None other than Sammy Sosa, who made a repeat appearance last month in Congress, joining other Major League Baseball star players to discuss the problem of steroid use.  Fortunately for Washington baseball fans, Sosa is Peter Angelos’ problem now.  No wonder with Sosa, the Orioles are so-so.

President Bush this week throws out the opening pitch at RFK Stadium (only D.C. would name its ballpark after an attorney general), an act itself proving the intertwining of baseball and politics.  The president’s pitch resumes a tradition that began with William Howard Taft, who in 1910 tossed to the Senators’ Walter Johnson. (Here’s one for you baseball trivia lovers: Johnson pitched a shutout win, allowing the Philadelphia Athletics just one hit in a 3-0 victory for Washington. This year, the other Philadelphia team, the Phillies, beat Washington on opening day.)

Baseball’s Hall of Fame Web site describes the executive act this way: “The president’s annual appearance at the start of each season symbolically renews the bonds that unite the country, its leaders, and the game — a ceremonial springtime rebirth as America’s National Pastime. For presidents, baseball offers a welcome connection to a wholesome, all-American image.”

Sounds like a State of the Union address. Or the budget request.

Don’t forget: In 2001, President Bush threw out the first pitch at Game Three of the 2001 World Series at Yankee Stadium, weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks.   It was a warm, supportive crowd.  Surely April 14 will be equally friendly to the president — what with all those W’s on everyone’s cap.  But opening day presents this political sub-drama: The Nationals battle the Arizona Diamondbacks. That’s right, Arizona, as in John McCain.

Let there be little doubt who will be in the stands on Opening Day: Politicians.  Lots of politicians.  And the people who lobby politicians.  And the people who donate to them.    And the media celebs who cover them.  Better be careful getting angry at a player or umpire.  Yell out “Get rid of the bum!” and half the crowd will think you’re demanding a recall election.

The Washington Post reported on political and media heavy-hitters angling for the best seats in RFK stadium: “Major League Baseball is returning to Washington after a 34-year absence, but the game of connections and status never left town. So for months, VIPs from business, politics and the media have been working to get choice tickets to Nationals games.”

Yes, along with patriotism, there’s status.  Political status.

“One of the things that Washington has is many people who define themselves as being important,” team President Tony Tavares told the Washington Post about ticket requests. “There are very few people that don’t define themselves as being important in Washington.”

That’s politics for ya.  Everyone’s important.

Of the old Washington Senators, it used to be said: “First in war, first in peace, last in the American League.”  Of our new baseball team we can add, “And always in politics.”

(Photo Credit: By Ricky Carioti — The Washington Post Photo)