FamilyFoundationBlog.com

I was in the Senate Finance Committee this morning watching, thankfully, two good bills, which may lead to some much needed tax reform, fly through. The committee agenda was short, normal right after “crossover,” and only six bills were heard, all passing on unanimous voice votes. Can’t be much simpler than that. At what should’ve been a quick bang of the gavel to dismiss, committee Chairman Chuck Colgan (D-29, Manassas) made the announcement, the first one in public as it turned out: Former Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leroy Hassell, Sr., died, unexpectedly, at age 55 (WTVR.com). He previously stepped aside as chief justice, but remained on the court. 

Governor Bob McDonnell ordered that the flag of the commonwealth be flown at half-staff on all local, state, and federal buildings and grounds (WTVR.com). New Chief Justice Cynthia Kinser was scheduled to be sworn in officially this week. There is no word on the status of that ceremony at this point. She will be the first woman Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice.

(Updated 4:45 p.m.: The governor has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff until his burial on all local, state, and federal buildings and grounds in Virginia. Additionally, Justice Hassell will lie in state in the Virginia State Capitol prior to burial. See his official statement honoring Justice Hassell)

Chief Justice Hassell was the first black person to serve in that position. He was a native Virginian, and proudly so. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli included this 2003 quote in the Richmond Times-Dispatch in his statement honoring Mr. Hassell:

I do not wish to serve, however, because I happen to be black. Rather, I desire to serve because I am a Virginian by birth who has a strong affection and love for the commonwealth and its people.

He will be missed. He was a man of great faith, intellect, warmth, stature and humility.

Later in the morning, a bombshell e-mail from a political consultant friend: U.S. Senator Jim Webb will not run for re-election in 2012 (Washington Post Virginia Politics Blog). Though not totally unexpected, the timing (through no fault of Senator Webb) was strange, so soon after the sad news about Justice Hassell. Mr. Webb had not actively engaged in fundraising and many thought from the beginning he would term limit himself, given the flukish nature of his election — and a possible Defense Secretary appointment in a potential Obama second term.

Now, the attention turns to who the Democrats will nominate. Early speculation ranges from everyone from former Governor Tim Kaine and Terry McAuliffe (if he can be pulled away from running for governor) to former Congressmen Rick Boucher and Tom Periello, to Krystal Ball, who unsuccessfully challenged Republican Rob Wittman in the first district last year.

Whoa! Is that defeated Democrat governor wannabe Terry McAuliffe with Bill Clinton and Mick Jagger at the U.S. game at the World Cup? It is! Forget the game. There really must be a party going on in South Africa!

I’m as hardcore a soccer fan as you will find, yet even my mind was temporarily derailed from the intensity of the U.S. soccer team’s second round World Cup match against Ghana Saturday when I saw the obligatory shot of the VIP box. I knew Bill Clinton was there — he was there at the Algeria game a a few days before. Seeing Jagger next to him was only a mild surprise. (Hillary, do you know where your husband is — and who he is hangin’ with?) Bill is the honorary chairman of U.S. Soccer’s bid committee to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, so it was actually expected of him to attend.

But McAuliffe? Why is T-Mac there? Other than in his longtime role as Clinton consigliere, why is the wannabe governor in South Africa? Is he a big soccer fan? Just wanted to party with Bill and Mick? That’s not too gubernatorial looking. In fact, why be governor of Virginia when you can jet off with the international swank set at the drop of a taxpayer dollar (as being in the company of a former president entails security)?

T-Mac (on the left, of course) jinxes the U.S. soccer team (along with Bill Clinton and Mick Jagger). Have you ever seen three completely different facial expressions of people watching the same thing?

But that’s not the point. The point is T-Mac jinxed us! Four years of hard work, an exhilarating win over Algeria, winning our group and for what? So T-Mac, who wore Carolina blue to a U.Va. game during his 2009 Democrat primary campaign, could rub off his sports neophyte negative karma on us? (See the tweets about the T-Mac curse his sighting set off.) No doubt, this will be a big issue when he ramps up again in 2013. Not that Clinton and Jagger get off the hook either. Here is what former Germany superstar and national team coach (and possible future U.S. coach) Jurgen Klinsmann said on ESPN about Clinton and his coterie:

Clinton and company: A distraction for the U.S. team! Hey, if the libs can blame everything on George W, why not blame our loss on Clinton and McAuliffe?

So one of the game’s greats says the U.S. team was distracted by its sudden fame and bandwaggon climbing by Clinton and McAuliffe! We won’t forget Terry! We won’t forget! Here is the evidence of the Clinton corruption of the U.S. team:

Fans want to use “video evidence” in soccer. We got it right here — Clinton breaking training with team captain Carlos Bocanegra.

Annotations & Elucidations 

The Final — Debate — Edition

The final gubernatorial debate took place last night at Roanoke College and almost all the coverage in today’s News Stand is about it. Perhaps the biggest news coming from it, though, is that Democrat Creigh Deeds pulled another one — a post Fairfax debate-like meander to a reporter’s question, which makes one wonder if he can say decisively anything about what he believes (see the video here). But the worst of it is that “friends” Bill Clinton and Terry (T-Mac) McAuliffe (remember him?) came to the upper and friendly reaches of the commonwealth yesterday, only to be met by a 100 or so people, and had to hear both the former president and the former rival repeatedly remind the faithful of Deeds’ dismal poll numbers. (See the Politico, below.) So much for picking your friends.

News:

No clear winner, loser in final governor debate (The Daily Press)

Hopefuls hammer each other (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

In final debate, Deeds and McDonnell discuss health care (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Deeds, McDonnell sharpen attacks in final debate (Washington Post)

Gubernatorial candidates stick to scripts in final debate (Roanoke Times)

Deeds, McDonnell battle in final debate (Washington Times)

Clinton helps Deeds — sort of (Politico.com)

Control of House will come down to few races (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Republican serving in Kaine’s cabinet endorses Valentine (Lynchburg News & Advance)

The Washington Post poll on the statewide races is out this afternoon, showing the three Republican candidates with rather commanding leads just a few weeks before election day. I’ll leave the chest pumping and panicked spinning to the campaigns.

But as someone who is fascinated by the media and rather enjoys the give-and-take we have with some of our friends in the capitol press corps, the Post article really fascinates me.

There is not a single line in the entire article about why Bob McDonnell is winning. The entire article is about why Democrat Creigh Deeds is losing . . . amazing. It’s like they are stunned and just can’t write from the perspective of a Republican leading. The article goes so far as to include yet another quote from somebody who won’t vote for McDonnell because of “the thesis.” It’s as if they think if they yell it a little louder people will care. Let it go. 

Anyway, I’m not one to bash the media in Virginia who follow the campaigns and the General Assembly. Honestly, I think most of them are very good journalists who have a very challenging job. Cynical, some are no doubt. Bias? Probably, at times. But overall, compared to the national media types I’ve dealt with, they’re a good group. 

It really is too bad about the Post, though. Their reporters are incredibly smart and they do good journalism at times. But when Terry McAuliffe is calling them out for carrying water for Creigh Deeds, it’s more than just sour grapes.

It’s the truth.

Going through my voluminous official convention bloggers notebook (i.e., a bunch of disparate pieces of scrap paper and the back of a grassroots training guide), I came across a couple of Quotes of the Day I wanted to post.

Friday QOD:

From former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie, chairman of Bob McDonnell’s gubernatorial campaign, on Friday afternoon at a VIP briefing, talking about the liberal Congress and President Obama’s desire to stick Americans with suffocating higher taxes:

“You know taxes are going to go up and if you don’t pay them, President Obama is going to put you in one of two places: In jail — or in his cabinet.”

On a serious note, during the briefing Gillespie said internal polling is good by name (McDonnell vs. any of the three Democrats). However, polling by party shows a close race. In other words, once the Democrat nominee emerges Tuesday night, it’s likely he will be able to parlay that party brand into better numbers across the electorate.

By the way, it’s amazing this lil’ ol’ Commonwealth is home to four recent or current national party chairmen, all of whom bring that experience to Virginia politics: Republicans Jim Gilmore and Gillespie and Democrats Terry McAuliffe and Governor Tim Kaine.

As you can imagine, on Saturday, with so many good speakers and speeches, there were some great quotes. I blogged this one live, from attorney general candidate Dave Foster:

Saturday’s QOD:

“Growing up my parents told me anyone can grow up to become president of the United States. Last year, we proved that.”

However, the blogger that I am, Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins stole my heart with this, as I blogged live:

“I’d rather read conservative bloggers than the Washington Post!” 

Twice he mentioned Bloggers Row in his speech — the second time in recent months I’ve been in a recognized bloggers bunch. The first was while in the Senate gallery during Veto Session as part of Lt. Governor Bill Bolling’sAnnual Bloggers Day at the Capitol. Lt. Governor Bolling asked Senator — and now GOP attorney general nominee —Ken Cuccinelli (R-37, Fairfax) to make the morning hour introduction of us. (At the time I whispered to my colleagues if the LG was sending a signal as to his AG preference.) But whether you’re in a high-tech convention setting or a stately capitol, it’s always nice to take a bow.

Now that Brian Moran has launched his first television advertising attack on Terry McAuliffe, on the issue of McAuliffe’s role in the bankruptcy of Global Crossing and his subsequent profiting of it by the millions of dollars (see Washington Post via Staunton News Leader), will the Democrat gubernatorial candidate follow-up with an attack ad on T-Mac’s equally suspicious role in a sleazy Teamsters union money laundering scandal?

It’s a truly sordid affair, resulting in the conviction of the Teamsters president and other union officials. The cynic might say it was in keeping with Teamsters tradition, but it resulted in a “do-over” election that led to current Teamsters boss James P. Hoffa, son of the mysteriously done-in, and presumably late, former Teamsters boss of Giants Stadium lore.

It’s a tale that amazingly has been largely laid quiet by Moran and the other Democrat in the primary field, Senator Creigh Deeds (although we’ve mentioned it prominently before). As someone who, at the time, worked for a company targeted by the Teamsters, this is where I first heard the name Terry McAuliffe. Suffice it to say, he was implicated in a fundraising scheme where the Teamsters doled out cash to organizations in return for individual contributions back to then-Teamsters President, Ron Carey, for whom McAuliffe was a rainmaker. While the union officials were sent packing, McAuliffe was never charged with anything, although, again, the cynic may cite that it was Bill Clinton’s Justice Department doing the investigating. McAuliffe was then, and remains today, a Clinton confidante (see Forbes).

However, the memories of T-Mac’s high-flying days of the good ol’ ’90s came sweeping back to at least one media member: Rosalind Helderman, of the Post’s Virginia Politics Blog, writes that T-Mac rekindled the fire himself with a recent fundraiser with another player from the episode. He brought it up. Will Moran, or Deeds (who today garnered the Post’s coveted N.Va./liberal endorsement), follow through?

Leading off the news, again, is us. The Daily News-Record reports on the Valley Family Forum’s 8th Annual Shenandoah Valley “Salute to the Family” dinner, where nationally broadcast radio talk show host Janet Parshall will be the featured speaker.

But the statewide headlines are buzzing with the increasingly venomous Democrat gubernatorial primary campaign. They are questioning each other’s character (thought that didn’t matter), credibility, Democrat loyalty and ability. Former Delegate Brian Moran even found it necessary to slam Terry McAuliffe over a perceived “not sufficiently supportive of Barack Obama” attack radio ad — airing in urban media markets only, of course. Finally! It’s getting fun — and there’s three more weeks of this stuff to go.

News:

*Radio Host To Keynote ‘Salute To The Family’ (Harrisonburg Daily News-Record)

Moran ad blasts McAuliffe over anti-Obama TV spot (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

In debate, Democrats question rivals’ character, capability (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Va. Candidates Clash In Final Debate of Democratic Primary (Washington Post)

Democratic candidates hold last debate (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

Gubernatorial hopefuls fine-tune their messages (Roanoke Times)

Legislators look into how Va. laws cover ‘sexting’ (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Keepsake season carries area team to Homeschool series (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

The News Stand isn’t the only one returning today: Looks like the missing Musketeer, Senator Creigh Deeds of Bath has finally poked his nose out in the Democrat gubernatorial primary campaign. He garners two headlines around the state today and prominent mentions elsewhere. Perhaps he’s been there all along and we just didn’t know it, as the Washington Post and Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star attest to the lackluster campaign thus far. But maybe Terry McAuliffe’s comment on a Richmond radio station will perk things up. Dems also tell The Post they think dreariness and fatigue are what led to some Republican wins in their NoVa bastion as of late.

In national news, the current governor’s boss, the president, appears poised to take a page from Tim Kaine’s policy book and eliminate abstinence education funding. Then there are the tales of two states and approaches to education: A California Senate committee passed what’s being called “Gay Day” legislation for schools’ curriculum where parents, according to one report, can’t opt out their children. By contrast, Texas officials chose a prominent historian to restore basic and traditional lessons, that have slowly evaporated over the years, to its public school curriculum.  

News:

After GOP Wins, Democrats Are Worried About Fatigue (Washington Post)

Delegates urged to attend meeting (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

In the Race for Governor, a Drizzle of Ads Portends a Deluge (Washington Post)

Dems’ primary appears lackluster (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

Ousted GOP chairman takes aim at ‘insiders’ (The Daily Press) 

Deeds: Education, technology key (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

Facing uphill battle in governor’s race, Deeds still presses ahead (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

McAuliffe touts green energy (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

Democrat to challenge incumbent in 6th District (Roanoke Times)

National News:

Obama would ax abstinence-only funding (OneNewsNow.com)

History scholar hopes to revamp Texas curriculum (OneNewsNow.com)

‘Gay Day’ Bill Passes California Senate Committee (CNSNews.com)

This morning on Richmond’s Morning News With Jimmy Barrett (WRVA-AM in Richmond), Democrat gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe made a comment that may have slipped through the cracks to most, but here’s my take on it:

He slammed the two men whom he hopes to succeed — fellow Democrats Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. That can’t go over too well with Democrat primary voters.

Here’s what happened: Barrett asked T-Mac about charges he’s carpetbagging. As usual for a rookie candidate, he went on too long. He listed a line of successful Virginia politicians who were not born here. Instead of stopping there, couldn’t contain himself and continued:

“I think you want the next governor . . . who hasn’t been part of these partisan battles down in Richmond. If you’re happy with the way things have gone I’m probably not your guy.” (Hear it for yourself by clicking here for a interview menu page or here for the podcast download.)

What’s immediately hysterical is that this comes from Bill Clinton’s DNC chairman, where McAuliffe was one of the most partisan figures in recent American history. So he’s going to be the one to end partisanship? (Wasn’t Barack Obama supposed to have ended that by now, anyway?)

But here’s where T-Mac slams Virginia’s latter day Democrat icons: They’ve been running the show the last eight years! Partisan and not getting things done? Warner, another self-proclaimed non-partisan, can’t be happy with that. Is T-Mac blowing his cover? Is he criticizing Kaine, the new DNC chairman (by definition, the Democrat partisan-in-chief), for trying to do both jobs at once? 

Maybe he has a point. He’s either brutally honest and candid or he’s slamming them for his short-term political gain. Either way, Virginia’s two most prominent Democrats, as well as the rank-and-file, won’t like that, whether true statements or not, whether he meant them like that or not. 

He may backtrack, but at the least, he’s admitted it takes two to tango — a governor and a legislature. But media, pundits and liberal interest groups have told the public the last eight years that the roadblock to Nirvana in Virginia has been House Republicans. So, however he spins it, Terry McAuliffe has laid at least some blame on the last two governors. Not quite what we’re used to hearing, is it? 

We are back with the News Stand sooner than we thought, here at the close of business for April, where we learn, from the Wall Street Journal, that despite hundreds of billions of tax dollars spent since 1971, high school test scores have barely budged! How does that make you feel? Yet, the Commonwealth and the VEA seek more of your hard-earned money.

In other news, one has to wonder that if the gubernatorial campaign is like this now, what will it be like come September? October? We’ve seen the Dem candidates try to out-pander themselves to the teachers union and to homosexual activists. Now, according the Washington Post, it’s really getting nasty. On another burgeoning campaign issue, House Speaker Bill Howell and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell have whacked the ball back in Governor Kaine’s court, requesting the governor’s boss take the federal strings off before we accept it.

Meanwhile, the Democrat infighting is all to McDonnell’s early advantage, as a news SurveyUSA poll has him leading all three Dems. However, looking at the survey’s universe, it doesn’t look to be the best indicator. Contrary to some other polling, it has Terry McAuliffe way out in front in the Democrat primary. Still, it confirms what the more reputable Rasmussen poll a few weeks ago suggests: That McDonnell is making inroads among the general electorate.

Finally, in a commentary, Bobby Eberle documents a disturbing aspect of the Obama administration, something of which we’ve commented upon: Namely, his disdain for anyone — politicians, media or now, what with the Tea Parties, common folk — who disagree with him. More than disdain, it’s demonization . . . or worse. Now that the “hate crimes” bill has passed the House, we’re one step closer to being arrested for expressing our opinions.

News:

McDonnell, Howell say Congress should remove strings from stimulus money (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Democrats vying for governor debate over gun issues, energy (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Tone Toughens in Race for Governor (Washington Post)

New poll puts McDonnell ahead of 3 Democratic candidates for governor (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Teachers Offer Lessons in Race for Governor (Washington Post)

Surrogates Sling Mud in Va. Race (Washington Post)

Democrat seeking Bedford House seat (Lynchburg News & Advance) 

Virginia seeks education funding (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

National News:

House bill offers gays greater protection (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Few Gains Are Seen in High School Test (Wall Street Journal)

Commentary:

Obama Marks 100 Days in Office . . . By Mocking Concerned Americans!(Bobby Eberle/GOPUSA.com)