UVa President Teresa Sullivan and Penn State climate scientist Michael Mann

Guest Post — June 18, 2013

Note from Dan: Bob Geraci is an associate professor in the Corcoran Department of History at the University of Virginia.

By Bob Geraci

I liked your June 1 column on Ken Cuccinelli.

It still boggles my mind that no journalist has looked further into the strong possibility that Cuccinelli intervened last spring in an attempt at the University of Virginia to re-hire Michael Mann.

Most people in Virginia don’t even know that Mann had been under close consideration in the spring of 2012 to fill a new endowed chair in environmental change. Mann was selected by the Dept. of Environmental Sciences but was vetoed with no explanation by the dean and the provost.  I wrote about this last November.  The basics are absolutely factual and easily verifiable.

The most likely reason why this hasn’t been widely reported?  Probably because that position was endowed by the vice-rector of the U.Va. board, Mark Kington, and in all likelihood (more likely than any other explanation for what happened last year) this was the main issue (at least one of the main issues) behind the firing of Pres. Teresa Sullivan.

Though I don’t put it past the Board of Visitors to have bullied the dean and provost on their own (obviously with the inspiration of Cuccinelli’s witch-hunt), it’s very hard to believe that Cuccinelli (so stubborn that he’s still trying to reinstate Va.’s anti-sodomy laws in spite of a Supreme Court ruling) did not intervene personally when he found out that Mann might very well be hired back by U.Va. Either way, it’s utterly amazing that most of the world still doesn’t know about this final act in the witch-hunt against him in Virginia.

I have a lot more information on this that I’d be happy to share with you. The local press hasn’t done their job here — maybe you’d like to pursue it.  Mann himself (with whom I’ve been in close touch, and who was more than supportive of my article) hasn’t wanted to be the one to have to bring this story more publicity because he knows that his detractors will somehow use it to make him look bad — as if he’s just looking for sympathy (it’s not as if he doesn’t have a good job already). He’d rather have someone else do it.

Papers as distinguished as the Washington Post have pretended that they don’t even see my hypothesis as plausible enough to investigate, whereas it’s pretty clear that what worries them is that it is so plausible that even reporting the Michael Mann incident on its own will enable readers to see its likely relevance to the Sullivan ouster without any extra help. It’s ironic that the more important story (about Mann) has been held hostage to concerns about the less important one (Sullivan).

It would be great if you were to step up to the plate and bring this more publicity — if not investigate further as to whether Cuccinelli’s role was direct or indirect.  (I would have done it myself if my position as a U.Va. faculty member didn’t make it more or less impossible to get anyone there to talk to me about this).

It could make a difference in the gubernatorial race, and also would improve the chances of significant board reform at U.Va. by elucidating what happened last year.  And of course anything to further expose the global warming denial lobby is a great public service nationally and internationally.

Robertstown, Ga. | Wikimedia Commons

Your daily Letter to the Editor — June 18, 2013

Re: Roanoke County supervisors candidate Al Bedrosian’s comment in Dan Casey’s metro column (“Candidate explains his stance on religion”) on June 9:

Bedrosian, the Republican candidate for the Hollins District seat on the board of supervisors, stated, “A new library in Vinton is not necessary.” Bedrosian is misinformed. Pay a visit to the current Vinton Library. There is no space for the teens; the children’s area is too small; it is ill-lit; it is overcrowded and outdated.

The few tables and chairs are always filled with home-schooled children or literacy volunteers assisting people to learn to read or people studying for GEDs.

The Vinton library is a relic of the 1950s concept of a library. Vinton needs a library to accommodate the future. Vinton has one of the largest populations of seniors and teens, and the new library will take their needs into consideration. The new Vinton Library will be the only library in Roanoke County on a bus route, bringing access to more citizens.

The U.S. is lagging behind other countries in education. The library is a source for bringing the U.S. back to No. 1 in the world in educating its citizens — both young and old. It is available to all — rich, poor and in between.

The people of Vinton supported building the Green Ridge Recreation Center, the new South County Library and the new Glenvar Library. Is it not Vinton’s turn to receive a little bit of attention?

May I suggest to the candidate that he attend the next citizens’ meeting on the Vinton Library to learn of the support and excitement the people of Vinton have for their new library?

Please stand up and tell them they don’t need a new library.

Lorraine Bratton
VINTON

AP Photo | Altered by Dan

Your daily Letter to the Columnist — June 18, 2013

Hello—

Just came across your June 1 column on fraud.

It is a great piece of journalism and I am grateful for your straightforward writing.

Keep it up!

Best wishes,

Robert Brickhouse
CHARLOTTESVILLE

Shot, and slightly photoshopped, by Dan

“I was eating in a Chinese restaurant downtown. There was a dish called Mother and Child Reunion. It’s chicken and eggs. And I said, I gotta use that one.”
Paul Simon

Logo altered by Dan

A Guest Post — June 18, 2013

Note from Dan: This is a response to a June 7 guest post by Michael Bentley, in which he complained about non-responsiveness of WVTF’s Friends Council. The chief issue is the desire of some local activists to see the public broadcasting station carry Amy Goodman’s program Democracy Now! Bill Gray lives in Lynchburg.

By Bill Gray

I am writing with regard to the guest post on your blog by Mr. Michael Bentley. That forum allowed him to make allegations regarding the Friends Council established to support WVTF Public Radio. In addition, Mr. Bentley attacked two private citizens, namely my wife and myself. I find this a bit disconcerting and, further, I find it hard to believe that you allowed this under your byline and that you made no attempt to get the other side of this story.

I want to be clear that WVTF and the Friends Council are interested in and welcome public input and participation. The Friends Council meetings are publicized over the air and on the WVTF website to encourage such participation.

To the best of my recollection, Mr. Bentley or a representative of Plowshare Peace and Justice Center has been at every Friends Council meeting. Their sole purpose has been to promote a program called “Democracy Now” and to force this program onto WVTF or Radio IQ.

Time and time again, Mr. Bentley has been told that the Friends Council is not, and does not want to be, involved in programming decisions. Those of us on the Friends Council believe that programming decisions are best left to the staff at WVTF. Further, we do not want to see WVTF become a mouthpiece for either the strident left or the strident right that are so contaminating reasonable discourse in this country. We like the decision made at WVTF to try to keep its programming in the middle of the road and to encourage that rare commodity, respectful dialogue.

I have seen “Democracy Now” on DirecTv and I have reviewed the offerings on its website. Although I may personally agree with many of the things I find, I do not think it appropriate to place this programming on WVTF for the reason stated above. Further, it is quite informative to review the “Democracy Now” website. It is stated that “Democracy Now” is carried on 1,195 radio and TV stations around the world. I find it hard to believe in this day and age that access to “Democracy Now” is suffering because it is not carried on WVTF.

Mr. Bentley also claimed that the Friends Council got up and left before Plowshares had a chance to speak at one of our meetings. This is a falsehood. I will agree that we have had some Friends Council members leave near the end of our meetings, but my wife and I have stayed to the end of every meeting and listened to Mr. Bentley or other representatives. It should be recognized that all of us are volunteers, we all have busy lives, and we have other time commitments that may force us to leave before the conclusion of a meeting.

In addition, we have held meetings in Roanoke, Charlottesville, and Lynchburg which adds a travel commitment to the meeting commitment. Mr. Bentley and the other Plowshare members who have spoken at our meetings have always had only one topic of interest and that is that they want “Democracy Now” on WVTF. At each meeting they get the same answer: the Friends Council is not involved with programming decisions. Yet they continue to say the same thing at each meeting and get the same response. This is a futile exercise that is accomplishing nothing. Frankly, I think Mr. Bentley and the other Plowshares members could find something more constructive to do with their time, e.g., promoting all the existing outlets where the “Democracy Now” message can be found.

My wife and I are involved with WVTF through the Friends Council, but also with our annual donation and answering phones during fund drives. We are committed to trying to make our community a better place by working constructively with others on causes that are important to us.

Here is what we do: We are both involved with the Lynchburg Humane Society. My wife is President of the Board and I am on the Building Committee. Our community is in dire need of a new animal shelter so we are in the midst of a $4.8 million campaign to allow us to build a new shelter. Over the past several months we have raised about $3.6 million towards that goal and expect to break ground later this year.

We are both involved in the Lynchburg Road Runners Club. I am President and my wife is a Board member. During our three years on the Board, Lynchburg has been named a “Runner Friendly Community” by the Road Runners Club of America and was also named the #1 “Runner Friendly Community” for 2011. This was accomplished through our club. Our signature race, the Genworth Virginia 10 Miler will be an Eastern Region Championship race this year and was recently selected as the 2014 National Championship race. This race is also celebrating its 40th consecutive running in 2013 and we have planned many special events.

My wife was also Race Director for our 10K race on Memorial Day to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. We expect to clear about $11,000 for donation to JDRF. I am serving as an Assistant Coach on my grandson’s 13-15 year old baseball team this summer. My wife is also involved in the Lynchburg Police Foundation (Treasurer), and the United Way as a Program Evaluation Leader. She is also past President of the Lynchburg Historical Foundation.

I am not trying to toot our horns and I am not looking for any special recognition. I am making the point that we are involved and working hard to better our community. I will put our workload and our accomplishments up against Mr. Bentley’s any day of the week.

You and the general public have an opportunity to see for yourself. The next Friends Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 18 at 1:30 pm at the WVTF Radio Station in Roanoke. I’m sure that you will see Mr. Bentley in fine form, making his usual accusations, and getting upset with us. We will tell him that the Friends Council is not involved in programming decisions and does not wish to be.

Mr. Bentley will then complain and tell us that WVTF is not meeting its mandate and that the Friends Council is a sham. We will all be upset and then the meeting will end. We will, presumably, repeat this activity at every Friends Council meeting until the end of time. Mr. Bentley’s persistence is interesting, but it has become tiresome. He epitomizes the type of person that causes people who volunteer to look for something better to do with their time. If he needs something constructive to do I am sure I can find some volunteer opportunities for him.

Dsw4 | Wikimedia Commons

For a discussion about the sad state of voter turnout, one need look no farther than Roanoke County and Democratic primary last Tuesday. Could it have been any more embarrassing?

There are 67,189 voters in the county. How many turned out?  A grand total of 619. That’s not in any one precinct, mind you. That’s across 32 precincts. The final vote total was 646 because 27 people voted absentee. That’s a rate of .96 percent.

Nobody is more upset about this than my friend Ron Adkins, secretary of the three-member Roanoke County Electoral Board. He’s a former county Republican chairman.

Tuesday, Adkins made the rounds of most of Roanoke County’s 32 precincts. And what did he see? Empty polling place after empty polling place.

You have to feel a bit sorry for those election officials, three per precinct, who manned the polls at $145 per day each ($170 for the chief official). The county should supply Xboxes or something so they can play “Call of Duty” to fight the boredom.

“This is the first time I ever went to an election and nobody came,” Adkins said.

READ THE REST OF THIS COLUMN HERE.

AP Photo | Altered by Dan

Your daily Letter to the Editor — June 17, 2013

In a June 7 letter (“Talk about McAuliffe contributors, too”), William Daly chided The Roanoke Times for not reporting on out-of-state contributions to Democrat Terry McAuliffe’s gubernatorial campaign. Daly referred to two columns that contained unfavorable information about Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s contributors, which Daly did not dispute.

I don’t have those articles and cannot comment on them, but I do recall reports in the past of troubling and, in one case, allegedly criminal activity by some Cuccinelli supporters. But Daly is correct; we do need information about both candidates’ contributors.

So what about the McAuliffe contributors? Are any of them attempting to do any of the following:

* Prevent the EPA from protecting our air and water.

* Disprove global warming.

* Solicit money from Virginians for a phony charity.

* Avoid paying taxes.

Unfortunately, Cuccinelli has job performance problems as troubling as the motives of some of his contributors. He has wasted time and money on frivolous and politically motivated lawsuits that he lost. Shouldn’t he have to pay the state for that?

I hope we will not reward his poor judgment with the highest office in our state. That would place our judgment in question.

Bobbie Jackson
DALEVILLE

Gov. Bob McDonnell

Interesting story from the Washington Post on Sunday: Did you know, Virginia taxpayers, that you’ve been paying for Gov. Bob’s deoderant? And “sleep inducing elixirs?’ And ‘detox cleanses?’ (I wonder if he bought the latter from my old blue-blooded Virginian roommate, Moonman, who now sells those from his mountain-top lair in New Mexico).

What with all the personal errands they’ve been having state employees run for them, it sounds like the McDonnell’s are going to have a rough transition back into the real world, come January. Golly, they might have to pick up their own drying cleaning!

From the Washington Post:

The McDonnells have billed the state for body wash, sunscreen, dog vitamins and a digestive system “detox cleanse,” the records show. They also have used state employees to run personal errands for their adult children. In the middle of a workday, for example, a staffer retrieved Rachel McDonnell’s newly hemmed pants at a tailoring shop nine miles from the governor’s mansion. Another time, a state worker was dispatched to a dry cleaner 20 miles away to pick up a storage box for Cailin McDonnell’s wedding dress.

About six months into the governor’s term, the official who oversees mansion spending told the McDonnells that they should not have charged taxpayers for a number of expenses, including deodorant, shoe repairs and dry-cleaning their children’s clothing. The official asked the McDonnells to pay the state back more than $300, which they did, and also gave them a refresher on what the state will and won’t provide for occupants of the governor’s mansion.

But since that time, state records show that the McDonnells have continued to let taxpayers pick up the tab for numerous personal items, including vitamins, nasal spray and sleep-inducing elixirs.

I reckon among the many nice things you can say about Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, is that he’s hasn’t been ordering diarrhea potions, either on or off the taxpayers tab.

Shot by Dan in Salem

“In most communities it is illegal to cry ‘fire’ in a crowded assembly. Should it not be considered serious international misconduct to manufacture a general war scare in an effort to achieve local political aims?”
Dwight D. Eisenhower

DanielHolth | Wikimedia Commons

If you’re taking Amtrak on its Montreal-to-New York run, via Albany, you’ll climb aboard the Adirondack. When you leave New York and are headed to Miami, you’ll be riding either the Silver Meteor or the Silver Star. And if you’re riding the rails from Chicago to San Francisco, it’ll be on the California Zephyr.

Such romantic passenger train names are worth considering here in Starville. Because in four short years, maybe fewer, Amtrak will make a triumphant return to Roanoke.

That train will connect Roanoke to Boston and will make stops in Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Providence and other places. Right now the southern terminus is Libertytown – er, Lynchburg – and we must suffer the indignity of a 5:45 a.m. shuttle bus ride to catch it.

Unfortunately, that train currently has a depressingly utilitarian name, the Northeast Regional. Informally, it’s known as the “Lynchburg Train.” Problem is, both monikers have as much creativity and romance as you’d find in Soviet-era bus to suburban Chernobyl.

We can do better. So today, I’m launching the great Name That Train Game. Email your suggestions to me, explaining your idea, and I’ll use the best ones in a future column.

This contest was sparked by “Train Man” Dan Peacock of Manassas, the Old Dominion’s unofficial No. 1 passenger railfan . Before we get to his ideas, here’s a bit of background.

READ THE REST OF THIS COLUMN HERE.