Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell picked up the drum sticks to jam, for lack of a better word, with former party presidential contender Mike Huckabee in Bristol Monday night. And people made fun of Bill Clinton when he played the sax.
For Wednesday we will urge Roanoke City Council to find an additional $3 million to close the school's budget gap. City officials last week indicated that the schools could adjust their budget in a less conservative fashion to account for the money. That's budget trickery that could quickly turn to disaster.
Hard times are here, now, for growing numbers of Virginians who are out of work because of the recession. In an unscheduled editorial, we'll urge state lawmakers to support Gov. Tim Kaine's efforts to expand and extend unemployment benefits as far as federal stimulus dollars allow. The hue and cry from business interests worried about picking up a higher tab when federal dollars run out has a hollow sound.
Former Attorney General Bob McDonnell officially launched his gubernatorial campaign, stressing that he wants to be "the energy governor" and make Viriginia "the energy capital" of America.
If he thinks that goal is achievable with his emphasis on fossil fuels - offshore drilling and coal get most of his attention - McDonnell needs to think again, we'll argue in an upcoming editorial.
By necessity, fossil fuels will remain as the base source of energy for the forseeable future. But if Virginia wants to become the "energy capital of America," the commonwealth must look to the future of renewable energy. The state simply doesn't have huge reserves of fossil fuels.
Take coal, for example. The National Mining Association estimates that Virginia has about 770 million tons of recoverable coal. Compare that to the 17.6 billion tons in West Virginia, or the 75 billion tons in Wyoming.
Oil is perhaps worse. In this chart of proven reserves, Virginia doesn't even merit an entry. Even if the best estimates of offshore reserves prove accurate, Virginia would be a minor player.
We're writing an editorial for Wednesday about Gov. Tim Kaine's decision to sign a bill allowing "Choose Life" vanity license plates in Virginia. We think he made the right decision given the state's liberal license plate system. We also agree with him that if some pro-choice group comes forward seeking "Choice!" plates or something like that, lawmakers would be compelled to grant it.
The real problem here is not one political view or another but that the state is far to cavalier with its plates. A small number should suffice to indicate licensing and aid law enforcement. If drivers want to share a political or social message, they can do so with bumper stickers and magnets.
This plate, pitched in 2001, didn't go very far.
By increasing troop levels in Afghanistan, President Obama is taking a risky but realistic approach to the continuing threat presented by a resurgent Taliban and by al-Qaida, still enjoying a safe haven just across the border in western Pakistan. You remember al-Qaida. The architects of 9/11. Intelligence sources say its leaders continue to plot attacks on the U.S. from the forbidding mountainous tribal region straddling the two countries, safely out of the way of Afghan and U.S. forces.
Read more.
A debate over the Boy Scouts of America's jamboree boils down to two numbers.
22,000 -- The population of Rockbridge County, where the Boy Scouts want to hold its gatherings after 2010.
240,000 -- The number of Scouts and support personnel who might attend.
John Hansen
Hansen is a small business owner and a business and leadership consultant. He lives in Moneta.
In 2003, President Bush sought an authorization to attack Iraq. The arguments to justify this were numerous, and they were frightening. The country was reeling from 9/11 and was fearful of more attacks. The president's experts laid out the case that Iraq President Saddam Hussein was a danger to America. The evidence was well presented and drove fears of future terrorist attacks. It culminated in fear of a potential WMD attack. It was clear Saddam had done terrible things and was likely to do more. He had to be stopped before he brought his evil ambitions to American soil.
Read more.
Read Tuesday's letters to the editor.
"My father is no different than any other powerful man - any man who's responsible for other people, like a senator or president
"You know how naive you sound . . . senators and presidents don't have men killed."
"Oh, who's being naive, Kay?"
What do you want to be naive about today?
Plans are afoot to build a memorial to William Preston in Botetourt County at an estimated cost of $250,000. The Sons of the American Revolution hope to raise some of the money, and the county will chip in some more plus land. Two questions:
1) Where does the county plan to get this money? Even if the economy rebounds in the next few years, does it plan to be flush with cash?
2) Will Ted 'Theodore' Logan also get a statue?
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| Bill S. Preston, Esq. (left) and Ted "Theodore" Logan. |
(I hope Col. Preston's descendants can take a little joke.)
Gov. Tim Kaine today signed legislation that will allow Virginians to purchase a "Choose Life" license plate.
A similar plate was ruled unconstitutional in South Carolina because its legislature refused to approve a competing plate by Planned Parenthood. Kaine said Virginia can get around this by giving PP or a similar group a plate, if it asks.
I'm still a bit perplexed by Virginia's many plate choices and why anyone would wear his politics on his unattended car.
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