2008.05.31
Discuss Saturday's editorials
Short takes
Quick views on some of the week's news.
A forgettable governor
Has it really been 6½ years? It seems like yesterday that Jim Gilmore ended his term as governor. Well, to us anyway. Most Virginians barely remember the guy.
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I remember Mark Warner as a liar. He broke his campaign promise not to raise taxes.
I remember Jim Gilmore as keeping his campaign promise regarding reducing the car tax.
To date, no democrat has had the guts to run on repealing the car tax reduction.
Rest assured that a senator Warner if elected would vote to raise our taxes.
Comment by John — May 31, 2008 @ 2:29 pm
Was a single one of you on the RT staff even here when Gilmore was elected? So naturally you wouldn't remember how he won on a no car tax campaign. You call it a fiasco. I don't think most Virginians would agree saving money is a fiasco.
Blaming Gilmore for 9-11's temporary effect on the economy is absurd as crediting Warner's harmful and unnecessary tax hike, (always the quick fix of choice for Democrats). Yeah Warner served more recently and got fawning press, and you people were here for his administration, so maybe that's why you remember him better.
Comment by Josh — May 31, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
Gilmore was about as ineffectual and ineffective as was George Allen. Both of them took Virginia so far backwards in terms of fiscal responsibility that they actually should be prosecuted.
Gilmore's campaign to eliminate personal property tax on vehicles has virtually bankrupted the states transportation budget and made the road in Virginia among the worst maintained I've seen in 25 years.
He ran a one plank platform on taxes and did absolutely nothing to find other streams of revenue to make up the shortfall that he created.
Gilmore as a Senator...please no repeat of a "clown Allen"!
Comment by Will — May 31, 2008 @ 6:35 pm
Fortunately, the popular Mark Warner is going to mop the floor with the unpopular Jim Gilmore, who has become even more of a right-wing kook since leaving the governor's mansion, and this will be a moot discussion.
Comment by Dave — June 1, 2008 @ 7:31 am
If Warner tax increase was so "responsible", why are the editorial writers complaining about a lack of money?
Face it, the liberals hate tax cuts because they allow citizens to keep more of their own money. That's called "empowerment". They love tax increases because they show that a politician can "get r done".
Comment by Henry — June 1, 2008 @ 8:31 am
Lets get down to the point....Jim Gilmore dose not have a chance in hell winning the senate seat. In my opinion he was one of the most eneffective governors this state has ever had. No matter how you down Warner for the tax issue he was an effective governor and he cared about this region and it's people. He knew that there was more to VA than Richmond , Northern VA , and the Hampton Roads. We sotherwestern Virginians would be fools for even supporting Gilmore for the senate seat. We need change and we see change already with Webb in office so imagine if he had Warner by his side representing VA. I he will win the election hands down just wait
Comment by Lee — June 1, 2008 @ 9:58 am
I haven't seen too many private citizens going out and voluntarily spending money to repave roads, repair bridges, and expand highway systems.
If conservatives had their way, they would only cherry pick those things that line their own pockets and the rest of the world be damned.
Comment by Will — June 1, 2008 @ 10:11 am
What a shame he won the nomination. Marshall could have given Warner a run for his money but, not "happy" Gilmore.
He left the state of VA in such a mess that Warner even admitted that he wanted to give back the governorship when he learned how deep in debt we were.
My vote would have been for Marshall but, there is no way I will vote for Gilmore. Maybe Marshall should run as an independent.
Comment by ladyxx — June 1, 2008 @ 10:25 am
ladyxx I agree with you 100%. I'm sure with his soon to be mud slinging and his anti-tax mantra is going to appeal to the same old ignorant voting bloc, but this should be his last run for public office.
Comment by Gary — June 1, 2008 @ 11:09 am
Talk about essential state funding, Nikki Giovanni is a professor and black activist at Virginia Tech who draws a very nice salary at taxpayers' expense. Here is an example of her poetry; our tax dollars at work:
Ni**er
Can you kill
Can you kill
Can a ni**er kill
Can a ni**er kill a honkie
Can a ni**er kill the Man
Can you kill ni**er
Huh? Ni**er can you kill
Do you know how to draw blood
Can you poison
Can you stab-a-Jew
Can you kill huh? Ni**er
Can you kill
Can you run a protestant down with your
Comment by Josh — June 1, 2008 @ 11:10 am
Yes who could forget the " dark Gilmore days of VA " , I can not believe he won the nomination either you would think the Republicans would have picked a stronger candidate .
Comment by Lee — June 1, 2008 @ 11:32 am
Well, everyone here wants to talk about Gilmore. I moved here from Florida a year and a half ago - so I will talk about hurricane season.
Today begins what is forecasted as a very busy season. Living in Florida (where vacation happens every weekend) we believed hurricanes were an urban myth - until 2004. Still, no one worries about their safety until they can see the white of the hurricane's eye.
After all, taking a ride on Space Mountain could be considered much more dangerous.
So, now that we are living in Virginia, no where near the ocean, I have to say, "Hurricane supplies? We don't need no stinkin' hurricane supplies!"
Comment by Amy Hanek — June 1, 2008 @ 12:14 pm
Amy, you might be surprised about storms here. WHile they certainly don't have the ferocity of a direct hit in Florida (I've lived through several hurricanes in coastal areas myself), it's not uncommon for the remnants of a decent storm to do some damage in these parts. While window blow-outs and storm surge aren't really a problem, we can still get quite a good flood, lots of wind damage, loss of power, and other side effects when the storms come inland. So while you may not need those sheets of plywood, a generator, batteries, flashlights, radio, and water do come in handy. And besides, even if you don't use them for a hurricane, we always get ice storms. As for Gilmore, I'm not that enthused. It seems the GOP is dead-set in its ways to hand everything to the Democrats this year. Say hello to higher taxes, more government intrusion, and fewer personal freedoms. Three cheers for big brother.
Comment by Other John — June 1, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
Josh,
What the heck does that have to do with Gilmore's suitability for the senate seat? Go ahead... give us a few hundred words of your wisdom...
"Remember the above whenever you hear them whine about the need for raising taxes because we don't have the money to pay for transportation."
We liberals want to know. How does Ms. Giovanni's poem has the slightest bit of relevance to the question of transportation funding?
Comment by AJ — June 1, 2008 @ 1:56 pm
AJ,
Look at Comment #3 where Will complained about the car tax cut "virtually bankrupting the transportation department."
The point is liberals, by saying tax increases are the only solution to the transportation funding impasse, are effectively putting every program they WON'T cut ahead of transportation. This means the Democrats are essentially saying using tax dollars to pay the comfortable salary of radical hate-mongering racist-feminists like Giovanni is more essential than paying for roads.
Comment by Josh — June 1, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
Amy,
I have seen one hundred foot waves from Smith Mountain Lake crash down on Mill Mountain during hurricanes.
Do Not Skimp On Hurricane Supplies!
You can trust me... I recently became a Republican.
Comment by Blue John — June 1, 2008 @ 6:24 pm