Sunday’s column: Gov. Bob’s nickel campaign for VP
Amateurish photoshop job by Dan
If you ever doubted that Gov. Bob McDonnell is seeking the GOP nomination for vice president in 2012, consider his budget-trimming action Tuesday.
He cut $424,000 from the already slashed state appropriation for public broadcasting, through his line-item veto power, which the legislature can’t override.
That translates into $60,000 in educational video and online programming Blue Ridge Public Broadcasting provides to 3,000 teachers in 42 school divisions that serve 200,000 public, private and home-schooled students, through a contract with the state Department of Education.
Although its budget hasn’t been finalized yet, “it’s now questionable whether we can provide educational services that we have been providing,” said James Baum, president and CEO of Blue Ridge Public Broadcasting.
Now, this cut was entirely unnecessary to balance the books. How do we know that?
Because there is no shortfall to cover. The governor already has bragged about the surplus we’ll have at the end of this year. And the legislature already has squared up revenues with expenditures for next year.
McDonnell claimed he did it because public broadcasting is not a “core” function of government, and that he was “eliminating spending on programs and services that should be left to the private sector.”
Sounds good, but he undercut his own argument the very next day when he announced $4.6 million in taxpayer subsidies to a Steven Speilberg movie that will be shot partly in Richmond and Petersburg later this year.
All this cut means is that come June 30, 2012 (the end of the fiscal year in question), the surplus will be $424,000 larger than would otherwise have been. And there will be a surplus, because the economy is improving.
But from a political perspective McDonnell’s action was a genius play. That’s because Republicans on the national level have been trying to financially rape public broadcasting for years.
This year, things heated up when James O’Keefe, a right-wing lawbreaker and self-styled documentary maker, used a hidden camera and some unethical editing to phony up a gotcha video on some National Public Radio executives in Washinton, D.C.
He seemingly trapped them into considering accepting a big donation from representatives of a purported Islamic fundamentalist group (read: terrorists). Actually, they were actors O’Keefe hired.
Of course, the unedited tape showed that O’Keefe’s story line was a total lie. But those executives lost their jobs, and it launched conservatives on Capitol Hill into a frenzied campaign to cut all federal funding from National Public Radio.
They howled like starving wolves who smell fresh meat. It was a disgrace. They should feel ashamed.
And now comes McDonnell, and his $424,000 cut. He’s screeching about it like a peacock who has just spread 424,000 new feathers on his mating-season tail.
Let’s translate that screech: “Look at me! I cut public broadcasting even more than our conservative Virginia General Assembly did. Pick me!”
This what passes for political machismo in national GOP politics these days. It’s a ploy to get McDonnell maximum notice during the presidential primary season that begins in earnest later this year.
You can almost hear the fawning by the party minions. “He took it to public broadcasting! Wow! He’s our man!”
Now perhaps you’re thinking $424,000 is nothing to sneeze at. That’s true. It’s a lot of money, and every little bit helps.
It would pay off my mortgage, cover the college tuition for my kids, eliminate a car loan, stock my gun locker and buy some gold and diamonds for my wife.
It’s a princely sum, that is, until you divide it up by Virginia’s .88 million residents, all of whom are taxpayers in one way or another. Then it translates to 5.3 cents per person.
A nickel a head, so that the 2012 surplus will be unnecessarily larger, and so that the state can curtail educational programming to Virginia school children.
Viewed that way, his action is wrong. It shortchanges everybody and rewards nobody.
Except McDonnell — it could buy him a slot on the Republican presidential ticket.
I’d rather have my nickel spent for another purpose.
May 8, 2011 - 6:00 AM
The governor also cut $500K from the VA budget for oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay. That cut cost the Virginia Marine Resources Commission $2 million in federal funding. The money supports research on how to restore the oyster population in the Bay. It doesn’t support watermen who commercially grow oysters and clams in the Bay. Once the VMRC conducts its research it shares that with the watermen who can change practices in growing oysters if they choose.
The governor and his compatriot Bob Goodlatte also made sure that Bay Restoration funds were cut from the federal budget. Those of you who live in the Roanoke Valley and in all of Western Virginia may not think that what you put on your lawns and what goes down your storm sewers has any impact on the Bay. If you think that you would be incorrect. You live in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The dead zones, in which no aquatic live can live, are getting larger each year.
Governor Bob doesn’t want to take any of that federal money to clean up the Bay or restore its ability to produce more oysters. But he whiles when FEMA denies funding to those in Pulaski and eastern Virginia who lost homes, businesses and loved ones to tornados. What’s wrong with that picture?
Sorry that should be “But he whines…”
Lets raise the meals tax!!!!! 3% this time please.
Bobby Mac is an embarrassment to our state. Period. What a fraud.
Or maybe broadcasting **should** be left to or funded by the private sector? PBS and its ilk have been untouchable sacred cows for years and I’m glad someone is finally stepping up to question the status quo.
Killing Big Bird and the Chesapeake Bay will definitely give McDonnell street cred with the far right wingers who control the GOP today.
A Bachmann/McDonnell ticket! Every Democrats wet dream! Then we could be rid of both of them!
Imagine that – a politician feathering his nest in hopes for advancement! McDonnell for Vice President? Now that’s an interesting notion, and it would be consistent with the GOP’s behavior in recent years. I think who gets the VP nod will depend largely on who gets the nomination for the top of the ticket.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t be caught cheerleading for Gov. McDonnell, indeed the “surplus” he boasts incessantly about is a book-cooking myth. But…
“McDonnell claimed he did it because public broadcasting is not a “core” function of government, and that he was “eliminating spending on programs and services that should be left to the private sector.”
Though we may agree on what his motives are, I’m quite certain many of my fellow posters will heatedly disagree with this; I simply can’t find fault in either of those two statements.
Happy Mother’s Day to any mother Gonzos. My own Mom is out of town today.
#5 So you would agree that making movies should be left to the private sector, Ed?
BTW, we have plenty of other broadcasting run by the government, mostly aimed at countries and populations we hope to influence. And then there’s stuff like armed forces radio. Fact is, the government in involved in a LOT more broadcasting than PBS. And they control that broadcasting, which is more disturbing to me.
Then it translates to 5.3 cents per person.
Really? I never realized taxpayers all pay the same amount. Amazing how tax cuts are never analyzed on a per-person basis.
That translates into $60,000 in educational video and online programming Blue Ridge Public Broadcasting provides to 3,000 teachers in 42 school divisions that serve 200,000 public, private and home-schooled students, through a contract with the state Department of Education.
Ah, that sacrosanct catch-all “education”. Same ruse that got Roanoke City a big fat tax increase. With any luck, they’ll do away with Terri Gross’ partisan hate program.
This year, things heated up when James O’Keefe, a right-wing lawbreaker
Hmmm. I must have missed O’Keefe’s trial and conviction.
and self-styled documentary maker, used a hidden camera and some unethical editing to phony up a gotcha video on some National Public Radio executives in Washinton, D.C. Of course, the unedited tape showed that O’Keefe’s story line was a total lie. But those executives lost their jobs
Right. Schiller never really said the Tea Party was racist or that NPR would be better off without federal funding. The ACORN people–in several cities– never gave advice on to set up a pimp and prostitute service and skirt law enforcement. We should ignore our lying eyes and believe what liberal Dan says. And the NPR and ACORN execs resigned because they never said that stuff. Of course.
Sounds good, but he undercut his own argument the very next day when he announced $4.6 million in taxpayer subsidies to a Steven Speilberg movie that will be shot partly in Richmond and Petersburg later this year.
Sounds like a shrewd investment to me. The “John Adams” miniseries filled in Richmond received $1.25 million in grants and netted $81 million for the area when it was filmed in 2007. That’s a hell of a return in my book. The Spielberg film promises to be a blockbuster and bring even more attention and money to Virginia. We are very lucky to have financially savvy governor.
http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2011/05/05/spielberg-to-shoot-next-film-in-richmond/
It’s clear Dan Casey has taken up the slack for lies, partisan hatred, and sheer lunacy that Radmacher’s departure created. This stuff started with the crazy hateful letter to that Massachusetts kid, and has steadily gone downhill since.
“Then it translates to 5.3 cents per person.”
Really? I never realized taxpayers all pay the same amount. Amazing how tax cuts are never analyzed on a per-person basis.”
Don’t look now, but I believe the phrase “per person” was used in the original post. Unless “per person” isn’t clear enough.
I read it which means you’ll probably get some type of credit. The least I can do is balance that with the effort of leaving a negative comment. I think your logic is stupid.
It should have read tax increases are never measured on a per-person basis by liberals. I guess it wouldn’t help their socialist cause to note that only 5% of the people will cover a whopping 60% of any income tax increase.
I noticed neither Dan nor anyone has much to say about my slicing and dicing of the OP. That’s when you know you’ve hit a grand-slam home run.
Suzie Q,
You must have missed this bit of news on Mr. O’Keefe.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20006067-503544.html
Ron 14,
Still waiting to read about the crimes O’Keefe was tried for in relation to his busting of ACORN and NPR. You know the Democrat witch hunt crew have to be in full swing. Yet…nothing.
“Hmmm. I must have missed O’Keefe’s trial and conviction”
Comment by Suzie — May 8, 2011 @ 12:24 pm
“O’Keefe pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years of probation, a fine of $1,500 and 100 hours of community service, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
“I take full responsibility for our decision to visit Sen. Landrieu’s office,” O’Keefe reportedly said in court. “I should have used other means” to investigate Landrieu, he added.
O’Keefe’s accomplices, Stan Dai, Joseph Basel and Robert Flanagan, also pleaded guilty and were reportedly sentenced to two years of probation, a fine of $1,500 and 75 hours of community service during their first year of probation.”
Suzie Q,
The quotes above show clearly that Mr. O’Keefe and his cohorts in crime plead guilty to federal crimes. You said that you missed his trial and conviction. I wanted to make sure you had the factual information you needed to guide your future comments.
As an aside, it’s too bad Mr. O’Keefe and his cohorts didn’t get some jail time. I’m sure they could have used the time “inside” to complete a great documentary.
“Still waiting to read about the crimes O’Keefe was tried for in relation to his busting of ACORN and NPR. You know the Democrat witch hunt crew have to be in full swing. Yet…nothing.”
Cute.
Earlier, Suzie wrote: “Hmmm. I must have missed O’Keefe’s trial and conviction.”
Fact: There was no trial, but there was an arrest and a conviction for James O’Keefe. That is because on May 25, 2010, he pled GUILTY to a charge of entering federal property under false purposes.
Suzie, just fyi, when you plead GUILTY, you give up your right to a trial. That was O’Keefe’s decision, nobody else’s. And he’s still on probation, btw.
He was found guilty, sentenced to three years probation, 100 hour community service and a $1,500 fine. There truly is no question as to whether he’s a lawbreaker. He admitted it in federal court. And that is what I called him: a right-wing lawbreaker. Nothing more.
Here is an account of the arrest, from RWer Andrew Breitbart’s web site, Big Government:
“A conservative activist who posed as a pimp to target the community-organizing group ACORN and the son of a federal prosecutor were among four people arrested by the FBI and accused of trying to interfere with phones at Sen. Mary Landrieu’s office.
Activist James O’Keefe, 25, was already in Landrieu’s New Orleans office Monday when Robert Flanagan and Joseph Basel, both 24, showed up claiming to be telephone repairmen, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten’s office said Tuesday. Letten says O’Keefe recorded the two with his cell phone.
Flanagan, the son of acting U.S. Attorney Bill Flanagan in Shreveport, and Basel asked for access to a phone at the reception desk. Then they asked for access to a phone closet so they could work on the phone system. The men were directed to another office in the building, where they again said they were telephone repairmen.
They were arrested later by the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Details of the arrest were not available. A fourth man, Stan Dai, 24, was also arrested, but Letten’s office said only that he assisted the others in planning, coordinating and preparing the operation.
Federal officials did not say why the men wanted to interfere with Landrieu’s phones or whether they were successful. Landrieu, a moderate Democrat, declined comment Tuesday. She has been in the news recently because she negotiated an increase in Medicaid funds for her state before announcing her support for Senate health care legislation.
Bill Flanagan’s office confirmed his son was among those arrested, but declined further comment.
An FBI criminal complaint charging the men was unsealed Tuesday, and a magistrate set bond at $10,000 each after they made their initial court appearances wearing red prison jumpsuits.”
There is no question that O’Keefe was convicted of lawbreaking, because he plead GUILTY to it. Apparently Suzie was unaware of this when she wrote: “Hmmm. I must have missed O’Keefe’s trial and conviction.”
After that, she apparently looked it up and realized he HAD been convicted, and so, ipso post facto, tried to add the qualification, “Still waiting to read about the crimes O’Keefe was tried for in relation to his busting of ACORN and NPR.”
From the start, nobody claimed his lawbreaking was related to anything he did in relation to ACORN or NPR. To pretend otherwise is simply a lie. She was just making that stuff up.
Busted … for the 4,081st time.
Of course, O’Keefe is a lawbreaker. He has admitted it. Everybody know that, except Suzie, apparently.
Dan
So we can’t educate our children unless the Virginia Govt gives NPR a half million dollars? Are you serious?
If NPR was a conservative outfit and Mcdonnell was a democrat you would be thrilled. This is about politics,Dan,and you support govt funding of NPR because they are liberal. It isn’t any more complicated than that.
terps: “This is about politics, Dan. . .”
You are a genius, terps! That was my exact point. Thank you for re-emphasizing it for me.
This is about the politics of getting on the national ticket, nothing more.
Virginians are the victims of that; Bob McDonnell is the beneficiary.
There is hope for terps yet!
Re: 14
Yup, normal Scuzzy’s failure.
That’s number what?
The subject at hand is the busting of NPR. Dan implied O’Keefe did something illegal in getting those execs to admit their bigoted hatred and admit they don’t need government money. I want to know what he was charged with, when the trial was, and what his sentence was. All Dan, Ron, et al. want to talk about is some unrelated misdemeanor.
Well. Given the rediculous GOP potential candidates, Bobby McDonnell needs to forget the VP and go for President. This country needs another Catholic president. I say McDonnell for President and Nikki R. Haley for VP.
He does have a Camelot aura about him. It’s the Royal Holton connections I think. And that Nikki has experience in crowd control. “She was elected chairman of the freshman caucus in 2005 and elected as majority whip in the South Carolina General Assembly She was the only freshman legislator named to a whip spot.” Quite an accomplished young woman to have been name governor at the age of 39.
Surely her real name Nimrata Nikki Randhawa will have no negative impact on her polling numbers. “Her parents, Dr. Ajit and Raj Randhawa, are Sikh immigrants from Amritsar, India.” I’m certain their immigration was legal anmd above reroach.
Call the campaign the rebirth of Southern Pride, the Richmond/Columbia Express to take back america for americans. Never mind that McDonnell was born in Philidelphia and is a damn yankee, He is our adopted son of Virginia.
Has just as good a chance as anthing else I’ve read’heard/watched.
Sarcasm font now off.
In other words, Obama wins in 2012.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikki_Haley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_McDonnell
Interesting that NPR execs think they’d be better off without government funding, but Dan somehow has knowledge they don’t.
I say if NPR is so great they should be able to survive in the free open market…..like Rush Limbaugh has to. Let’s see if advertisers will voluntarily pay to hear NPR’s hateful partisan garbage enough to keep them afloat.
“All Dan, Ron, et al. want to talk about is some unrelated misdemeanor.”
It was a factual footnote in the column, and now Suzie has admitted O’Keefe is a lawbreaker.
We’re making progress. . .
“This country needs another Catholic president. I say McDonnell for President and Nikki R. Haley for VP.”
Comment by Cold n P — May 8, 2011 @ 10:21 pm
He’s also a graduate of that great “southern” Catholic university in South Bend, IN
Just Kidding folks.
It was a factual footnote in the column, and now Suzie has admitted O’Keefe is a lawbreaker.
His misdemeanor is on the same level as a speeding ticket. I guess nearly all of us are technically lawbreakers, then. Again, Dan lied with his implication that this misdemeanor had something to with O’Keefe’s brilliant takedown of NPR or ACORN, which was a great public service to Americans!
#27 So, troll, you would consider it nothing worse than a traffic ticket if somebody attempted without your knowledge or permission to alter or maybe even tap your phone. That would be pretty much OK with you?
Sure it would.
$4.6 million in taxpayer subsidies to a Steven Spielberg movie that will be shot partly in Richmond and Petersburg later this year.
Hmmm , more photo ops, but no Federal money for people without housing in Pulaski County due to a tornado.
This is the same Dan Casey that opined that Morgan Griffith was running against Boucher to determine how much support he would have before redistricting to see if he could actually viably oppose Boucher as a resident of the 9th in 2012, is it not?
Yeah boy, Dano was right on the money on that one! Well, actually NOT! Griffith was running against Boucher to defeat him in 2010 and the 9th district was so desperate to get rid of Boucher that they elected him overwhelmingly even though he was not a 9th resident.
Yet now Dan wants to say that he knows of Governor McDonald’s VP aspirations?
Leave the op-eds for the RTEB Dan. And try a metro column every now and then…..
Suzie Q,
A misdemeanor conviction in a federal court is not quite the same as a speeding offense heard in General District Court. But then I really don’t expect you to understand that.
NPR is public radio, but so are all the other radio stations on the AM & FM dials. Companies buy advertising on ALL radio stations, so why is any level of government subsidizing NPR? If a station like K92, WROV or WYYD lose enough advertisers AND listeners, what happens? The station loses it’s “right” to broadcast. Why should public radio be exempt from the same standards that all the other radio stations follow? If the public really, REALLY wants Public radio, why not visit the advertisers and support the community that the “Public” radio supposedly serves? Why are we, the public, not supporting “public” radio instead of the government?
Hmmm , more photo ops, but no Federal money for people without housing in Pulaski County due to a tornado./em>
Well, once again it’s time to clear up the leftwing lie that “taxpayer subsidies” are quite often nothing more than the government not charging as much in taxxes as they would normally charge. It’s not like Virginia will be writing a $4.6 million check to Spielberg.
It would be SO nice if leftwingers would stop lying in their terminology? Why not just be straight in telling what something is: The studio will not have to pay as much in taxes as is the usual practice. (providing that’s even true). Say it that way. Don’t lie about it
I was suffering from a bit of withdrawal because BobH hasn’t leveled the “metro column” criticism in awhile.
There … I feel better again.
Thank you for reading, BobH.
So Laura, are you saying you’re against the federal ban on PBS accepting advertising? Because that is banned by law, you know. And the GOP could move to lift that whenever they want.
They have not done that.
You presume too much Dan. I did not read the column, just the headline. I could tell by the Blog comments what the content was.
And you are the same Dan Casey who did that opining about Morgan Griffith are you not? February of last year I think it was?
And just how accurate were you on that?
hy should anyone attach any credibility that you are any more accurate on this hypothetical scenario?
Why not answer a question asked for a change?
“stock my gun locker”
You’re such a funny guy.
BobH,
I was correct about Morgan Griffith back when I wrote it. Back then, even he didn’t fully anticipate the anti-incumbent groundswell that would ultimately carry him into federal office.
Obviously you weren’t listening the election night conference calls with GOP analysts. They were actually surprised that he won.
His 2010 campaign was a tune up for 2012; it’s just that he ended up elected. That’s all.
Hmmm , more photo ops, but no Federal money for people without housing in Pulaski County due to a tornado.
How about NO TAXES for a year for those people who lost their homes in Halifax, Pulaski County and Washington Co., VA then?
Oh, now you were correct when you made the statement.
You were wrong as could be.
Is that like Kerry voting before the war before he was against it?
Even when you are dead wrong you think you are right.
Done.
BobH – Dan is also the genius who last year when I asked why Boucher wouldn’t show and debate Griffith, Dan replied “because he doesn’t need to” LOL. How’s that crystal ball working for ya, Dan?
We don’t want to assume BobH actually reads the stuff he comments on…that would be a gross presumption on our part.
Right, BobH.
I was correct when I wrote it.
Thank you for reading the column, and this blog, and for your participation on it.
Re:Dan @ #35–if there is a ban, then how is that Turkey Hill, ADM & others “support” PBS & NPR? Is corporate sponsorship not the same as advertising? It’s still a way to get a name for people to see/hear and visit and it’s still advertising, just phrased differently. But whether the GOP or Democrats make the change doesn’t matter. What matters is that if the government is financially supporting one segment of the media, then all media “needs” to be government supported or absolutely none of it. Picking and choosing to support one group/idea/item at the exclusion of others cannot bring financial stability to anything (government, personal life, etc.)
Laura,
The question is not “if” there is a ban on commercial advertising on PBS. That is a fact, whether you like it or not. They are allowed to accept corporate sponsorships, within certain guidelines that are quite stringent compared to commercial stations. The PBS exec I spoke to last week is not necessarily at all against lifting the ban. The GOP won’t do it though because then it would deny them one of their favorite whipping boys. The commercial stations are the ones against lifting the ban.
Thanks for the clarification Dan. I’ll make sure I remember that the next time I’m in the car or at home with my iPod or CD player cranked up to my mix of heavy metal and classical music. BTW, I do appreciate how consistent you are in sticking by your stances and definitions. It makes your column one of the more, uh, worthwhile to read.
“His misdemeanor is on the same level as a speeding ticket.”
Can someone please show me speeding ticket that will hit someone with three years probation, 100 hours of community service and a $1,500 fine.
Honest question for anybody to answer.
Then again, I don’t really expect an answer. It was a stupid comparison by someone who on a daily basis is proved wrong yet refuses to acknowledge any wrong doing.
Although with the sentence that follows the quote I started with, I feel like Suzie hinted towards the fact that she has been on the receiving end of a speeding ticket.
Laura apparently missed the on the “PBS not NPR” explanation. Unless she can explain how her car radio being “cranked up” bears any relation to PBS at all.
What if PBS had to do a required amount of public service type announcements? The FCC has the commerical broadcast stations do a certain amount of public service announcements, why not have PBS do those, but in greater amounts to keep receiving funds?
That sounds like a win – win to me, but win – win ideas don’t get advanced now that everything is partisan, and one side has to win.
So sorry Kristen. Heaven forbid anyone misread anything on Dan’s column. And the car/home CD player/iPod being on has many relations to bobbleheads on both NPR and right wing radio–it means I’m not listening to the blather from either side. It means I’m listening to the music I pick, not what the right nor left are screaming about at the moment.
“Heaven forbid anyone misread anything on Dan’s column.”
Indeed!
@ gdad – Yes, I agree. I’m trying to imagine a circumstance in which government, at any level, should subsidize entertainment. Additionally, I would have major concerns with the same government exerting usurped authority on any form of media, particularly with regard to content. Gov. McDonnell should absolutely be called on that two-faced travesty.
Bearing in mind, the above statement is coming from someone who spent some time in the entertainment business.
On a personal note, I’ve been meaning to ask… is “gdad” a musical reference? g-d-a-d is a blues tuning for mandolin.
“It was a stupid comparison by someone who on a daily basis is proved wrong yet refuses to acknowledge any wrong doing.”
Dan,
Didn’t you feel just the least bit hypocritical as you typed that statement?
Re: #52
How about the New Deal’s Federal Cultural Programs of the 1930′s?
http://tinyurl.com/3ebr3ez
#52 Nope, not a musical reference. It’s a reference to one of my children.
BM,
Dan didn’t write that statement… I did.
@ DaveH – I love music. Like most musicians, to a degree that at times, has bordered on fanaticism. As enticing as the notion of having the Federal Government pay me to do what I love, I cannot be shaken from the knowledge that is not among the things should be doing. Hence my agreement with Gov. McDonnell’s statement “…not a core function of government”
It always weighed in my mind – if Uncle Sam is salting the tip jar, don’t I have some responsibility to play what he want to hear? No… Instead, I’ll play what I want to hear, and hope that the private sector likes it, and pays me to do it.
Re: #57
Edward of Huncote,
I agree, under nearly all circumstances.
I particularly agree with the “if Uncle Sam is salting the tip jar, don’t I have some responsibility to play what he want to hear?” — which was a documented problem in the ’30s.
However, I was responding to your “I’m trying to imagine a circumstance….”
Years ago, I knew a fine ex-Big-Band clarinetist who was credited the program with saving his life.
AS always, YMMV.
WOW and all my life I thought that NPR existed so doctors would have something to torture people with. Wish I had known it was a government plot, I might actually think more highly of doctors.
#40 Bob H Oh, now you were correct when you made the statement.
You were wrong as could be.
Is that like Kerry voting before the war before he was against it?
Even when you are dead wrong you think you are right.
Done.
Talking about wrong, was it not Bob H who a while back insisted that Roanoke City had its own car sales tax? Or is that someone else, or a dead horse?
Can someone please show me speeding ticket that will hit someone with three years probation, 100 hours of community service and a $1,500 fine.
Honest question for anybody to answer.
Then again, I don’t really expect an answer. It was a stupid comparison by someone who on a daily basis is proved wrong yet refuses to acknowledge any wrong doing.
No matter how much you want O’Keefe’s misdemeanor to be something worse, Aaron, it’s still just a misdemeanor. Same as a traffic ticket.
Do you really want to get technical Suzie?
Let’s take, for example, the state of Virginia.
If you get charged with a misdemeanor and I get a ticket for going 74 in a 55, you have a misdemeanor and I committed a traffic infraction that will mostly likely result in a $114 fine.
Speeding in Virginia isn’t a misdemeanor. It’s a traffic infraction. Misdemeanors start at reckless driving.
And just so I can say I backed up my claim:
Virginia Code
§ 46.2-100. Definitions.
“‘Traffic infraction’ means a violation of law punishable as provided in § 46.2-113, which is neither a felony nor a misdemeanor.”
§ 46.2-878.3. Prepayment of fines for violations of speed limits.
“Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Traffic Infractions and Uniform Fine Schedule adopted by the Supreme Court for prepayment of fines shall, in all instances where prepayment of a fine is permitted, include a fine of $6 per mile-per-hour in excess of posted speed limits provided for in this article. However, such Traffic Infractions and Uniform Fine Schedule shall include a fine of $7 per mile-per-hour in excess of posted speed limits for a violation of §§ 46.2-873 and 46.2-878.1 and $8 per mile-per-hour in excess of posted speed limits for a violation of § 46.2-878.2.“
Suzie Q,
It’s a misdemeanor. However, should Mr. O’keefe fail to fulfill any part of the terms of his probation, he won’t be in front of a General District Court Judge. Instead he will be in front of a Federal District Court and can plan on doing some jail time. Not quite the same.
Oh… and if you really want me to dig it up and point to the exact state code, I will (I’m willing to do homework for lazy conservatives.)
But in Louisiana where O’Keefe was arrested, charged, and plead guilty to a misdemeanor, simple speeding tickets are not misdemeanors.
#61 No surprise that suzie doesn’t know what constitutes a misdemeanor.
Speeding 11 mph or more over the limit is a class 1 misdemeanor. Who here hasn’t gone 11 mph over the speed limit? Everyone has.
Cite it!
Oh wait, you can’t… because:
§ 46.2-868. Reckless driving; penalties.
A. Every person convicted of reckless driving under the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
§ 46.2-862. Exceeding speed limit.
A person shall be guilty of reckless driving who drives a motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth (i) at a speed of twenty miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit or (ii) in excess of eighty miles per hour regardless of the applicable maximum speed limit.
You’re really struggling with this legal stuff aren’t you Suzie.