Some random notes from Virginia (the state)

[Parisle]

--- Virginia is shaping up to be a crucial and pivotal state in the political future. We've sure been in the news a lot, lately....

--- Virginia is arguably the best-situated state in the US. First off, we literally "house" the federal government. And the military? We've got NASA-Langley and the massive naval base at the world's best natural harbor of Hampton Roads. And the Newport News Drydock shipbuilding facility,.. one of the two largest in the US.

--- If those do not add up to a solid state economy, throw in the ample tourism afforded by Revolutionary War and Civil War historical sites,.. the beaches AND ski resorts. Big on agriculture,.. the Chesapeake Bay seafood industry,.. a little coal-mining,. and significant manufacturing. Hell,... all we lack is oil.

--- But now we have politics. Best-managed state under rising democratic star Gov. Mark Warner. Last-minute Bush campaigning unable to salvage a GOP gubernatorial candidate's chances,.. Second consecutive democratic governor in Tim Kaine. The "macaca" fiasco with George Allen. And Senator-elect Jim Webb may be arguably the most interesting political figure to hit Washington in a LONG time, eh? John Warner set to retire,.... so maybe we'll have another democratic senator, too. I suspect so. It's a great time to be a Virginian,... 13 electoral votes and all.

--- And now a GOP congressman from VA's 5th district has issued a small gaffe about muslims (although what Goode said probably mirrors the sentiments of his district) This one is likely a non-starter for the democrats, PR-wise,.... but here's something to think about. If you guys just did your homework,... if you looked more closely into the 5th district congressman's activities,... you would have elected a democrat in the 5th district in 2006. Can you do it by 2008?

[theHandpuppet]

1. "It's a great time to be a Virginian"

Unless you happen to be gay, of course.

[Virginia Dare]

3. Mary Cheney doesn't seem to have any worries...

:sarcasm:

[Virginia Dare]

2. Warner indicating at this point he will run...

but it sounds as if he may be anticipating a tough race. I suspect it will be another very close one next time, regardless of who wins. There is definitely a dichotomy between northern virginia and the rest of the state, at least politically.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/20/AR2006122001762.html

[Parisle]

4. Tell me about it,.....

---- I'm from the 5th District,.... "Last Capital of the Confederacy," they like to call it,..... Dichotomy is a mild word,.... but Virginia is nevertheless finally entering the modern era,... and becoming a democratic state. And John Warner would be re-elected if he runs again, I think,... unless he is opposed by another "Warner."

[demnan]

5. The problem with our dear state

is that we have a blue blob in the northeast corner, a blue dot at Richmond, some blue around the Norfolk area but red in most other places. Virginia also has some surprisingly backwards areas - heck you leave Richmond and it almost seems like the central south part of Virginia is empty. Driving through you have to wait to get across the North Carolina border to find a decent place to use the bathroom. This surprises me relative to the small towns dotting the entire North Carolina Pedmont.

We need some more industry to revitalize this state. But I live in the blue blog in the northeast corner, so what do I know.

[nitpicker]

7. Topography matters

A lot of I-95 (and I-85) south of Richmond appears to have been set somewhat away from towns (to cut down on land acquisition expense?) In Southern Virginia, this meant that the roads tended to drive through marshes (and not near the towns where the original gas stations were), and now you can't see the nearby towns for all the trees being grown/chopped down/etc. In NC, you start to rise above the marshes and can see some of the towns because the surrounding land is being used for farming.

But I agree that even with modern improvements away from the interstates (such as Rt. 58), much of Southside VA is still much more sparsely populated by people than the DC suburbs are (or even the Shenandoah Valley, which has its natural attractions plus proximity to the DC tourist market). Pigs and peanuts (and the local agricultural clubs)are some of the most obvious features of life there. And if it works for them, why would they want to change it? Why should they pay any attention to a bunch of (well, I don't know what they would call the typical blue people)?

[demnan]

9. Thanks for the info

and welcome to DU :hi:

[newyawker99]

10. Hi nitpicker!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Eurobabe]

13. Demnan, you left out the growing blue blob in Charlottesville!!

CVL is strongly Democratic. And the demographics are moving west, some areas of Albemarle that were solid red are now more purple turning Blue. Bush did NOT win Albemarle in my district by a very large margin, and everyone was astounded. I was the Dem observer as they certified the votes. The Repube observer damn near had a stroke! I took it as a sign that pResident Fuckface would be defeated.

But then the CONS pulled the shenanigans in Warren Co. OHIO and elsewhere in OH, and we all know what happened from there.

Blech!

[Clark2008]

25. You realize that's true in nearly every state, don't you?

Most larger cities are blue, while their rural friends are red.

Same in Tennessee, same in California, same in Montana, same in New York.

[The River]

6. We've Been Trying to Get Rid Of

that no-good Goode for several election cycles now
but most of the people who vote for him are rural
Repub-Bots who don't really know whats behind his
aww-shucks-good-ole-boy persona.
Maybe 08 will bring a change.

[Parisle]

8. That's what I was trying to tell you, River,....

--- The means are there, but you have to look closely for them. Sorry to be cryptic about it,.... but that's all I can say.

[Sapphocrat]

11. What is this wonderful "Virginia" of which you speak?

Surely, you cannot mean the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States of America, Planet Earth...?

Sign me,

I Am A Homosexual

P.S. Mark Warner is no friend to queers, you know.

[theHandpuppet]

14. Silly Sapphocrat!

Why it's a sunshiny day in the sunshiny state of Virginny!

So what if we are not allowed, as gay individuals, to enter into private contracts with each other? Such laws, which could not have passed the Virginia legislature without democratic votes, interfere with wills, medical directives, powers of attorney, child custody and property arrangements, and in some cases even joint bank accounts. Little wonder Mary Cheney went the turkey baster route: in Virginia, we are not allowed to adopt children. Should a gay couple have children and one partner die, we have to expect those children could be ripped from us by straight relatives and the surviving partner - denied the option of adoption - can even be denied visitation rights

Oh, and Virginia is the only state to forbid even private companies, unless self-insured, from extending health insurance benefits to unmarried couples. I ought to know. My long-time partner and I lost our joint health benefits when Virginia passed these laws. This was especially appreciated in our household, as I suffer from MS and cannot get any insurer to offer me private coverage that wouldn't cost a lottery's fortune.

Virginia's modern-day Jim Crow laws disenfranchise gay people as individuals, the 400,00 to 750,000 gay men and women who live in the Commonwealth. For us it's a matter of life and death. We are its subcitizens, not even afforded the basic human rights any decent society would expect.

A great day to be a Virginian? Hate and bigotry is alive and thriving in Virginia, and without a good portion of democratic support and votes the hatred would starve. Sic semper tyrannis.

[Sapphocrat]

27. Then I was right...

The OP couldn't possibly be talking about the same Virginia! That scary place where you live -- that's the one I was thinking of!

Seriously, my condolences, tHp. If there were anything I thought I could do about Virginia (other than never spend another dime there), I would, but I haven't even overcome my shock at the depth and breadth of the bigotry.

(I can't WAIT until the Cheneyette is born! We'll see how long Heather the Other Mommy is willing to stay put.)

[theHandpuppet]

33. Actually, I live in WV

But because my partner commutes to VA for her job, we lost our joint health benefits. This happened just after the draconian laws in VA were passed, and even though her company was based in PA and the company was more than happy to have accomodated us, by law they were forced to terminate our benefits.

Yes, good ol' Virginia. We lived in VA for years; I'll always remember that in one Blue Ridge community where we lived, the KKK visited our home during the night and left a letter of "welcome" on our doorstep within the first week we were there. We have since moved to WV and have wonderful neighbors in a blue collar community in another small town.

[Eurobabe]

12. I am so proud to be returning to the 5th district

why can't we field a candidate that can take down Goodie-2-shoes, like Macacawitz? Something major needs to be spun out of this. It's time for Virgil to end his vigil in Congress. I despise this turncoat.

[LostinVA]

15. Defending Virgil Goode in ANY way is appalling

That man has a history of rather extreme RW attitudes and actions. "Small gaffe"??? Whatever.

And no, what Goode says doesn't demonstrated the thoughts of close to half his district. Learn what compromises his district before making such announcements. THE most liberal and progressive area in all of Virginia is in his district, and it is also a very diverse, vibrant community.

[Parisle]

17. In a way, this is kind of cool,....

--- .....finding out who my fellow Virginians are on this board. But let me say this very carefully. You do not have to apprise me of any of Mr. Goode's history or attitudes, Ok? Get off your goddamned sanctimonious preachiness and look back at what I have been trying to tell you. Then go talk to Weed.

[LostinVA]

31. I'm not the one who's sanctimonious n/t

[Parisle]

35. Then accept my apology,..

---- I did not mean to give the wrong impression. Forgive me, as well, if I appeared to like Virginia "too much," but I have lived in Boston MA, Aspen CO and Hilton Head SC,.. as well as all over Virginia. No place else compares to the Chesapeake Bay OR the Blue Ridge Mts. But maybe that's just me.

---- Neither was I commenting one way or the other on any anti-gay mindset present in Virginia and reflected in Rep. Goode. That was not my purpose. I merely indicated that Goode was vulnerable, and could have been defeated in 2006.

---- And LOST, I've been around a bit (not to be sanctimonious, mind you) in Virginia poliics and journalism since 1969. I've been a city newspaper editor, as well as a writer-acct. executive for a major political marketing agency (under whose auspices I have worked for some of the other villians mentioned elsewhere in this thread, ie. the Revs. Falwell & Robertson) I've also worked for the Democrats and the '92 Perot campaign. Obviously there have been times when I had to divide my personal and professional sensibilities,... but not in the past 25 years, ok?

---- And whether by route of further apology or not, let me just say that, in starting this thread, I only wished to pique the curiosity of the DU crowd a bit, concerning the political vulnerability of a much-disliked congressman,... and that's all. Let the bloggers hash it out, eh? Have a good one.

[Midlodemocrat]

18. That was no 'small gaffe'. He's a bigoted asshole.

[LostinVA]

21. You're preaching to the choir

Goode is a creep.

[Catchawave]

16. We need to give Tim Kaine a Dem Assembly...

this fall ! That would be helpful too :D

Also, did you hear about O'Reilly's War on the Roanoke Times:

http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2006/12/roanoke-times-oreilly/

And "lack of oil"...heh, heh, heh...my rep in the fighting 2nd, Thelma Drake, supports offshore oil exploration/drilling/thank you oil company campaign contributions! Same gal who helped get Pat Robertson his private 10 million dollar exit on I-64, not a bad investment on his $6,000 donation!

Yes, Republican mentality still rules the Beach :banghead:

[ileus]

19. 1/4/07 I'll finally own a piece of Va

[underpants]

20. AND we have Virgil Goode!!!

We are just so proud

:sarcasm:

[depakid]

24. You also have Jerry Falwell

and a sizable contingent of fundies. Parts of Virginia are as creepy as anywhere in the deep South.

[Clark2008]

26. There's some creepy places all over.

No wonder Democrats can't get a foothold in the South and the Great Plains states with people like you dissin' 'em left and right.

You DO realize there's bigotry and stupidity in Massachusetts and Illinois, too.

:eyes:

[depakid]

28. Just sayin'

My whole family is from the South-and if people think for one minute that pandering to the Falwell types is going to win Democrats votes, then they're nuts. And yes, I'll keep dissing fundies and crackers (wherever I find 'em). There just happens to be a MUCH greater prevalence in the south (except perhaps in Northern Idaho).

[Clark2008]

32. Yes - there are more Fundie types in parts of the South BUT

there are more white militia types in the mid-West. And there are more racists in parts of the North (nearly everyone I know from the North agrees with that statement, including my husband).

As I said, there are creepy places all over.

[depakid]

34. "there are more racists in parts of the North...?"

Indiana maybe- but no where else that I've been especially on the Eastern Seaboard or the West Coast....

I was just in North Carolina last September, and (as always) I heard things that made my jaw drop.

:wow:

I'm all for Howard Dean's strategy, but as I said, pandering to fundies -or to racism- is a losing proposition.

[spooky3]

22. whaddaya mean, "if YOU GUYS just did your homework..."?

[williesgirl]

23. The point is - we are finally changing. We need to elect folks who will support

gay rights and get rid of the good ole boys from the south and central parts of the Commonwealth.

[NMMNG]

29. Good old Virginia

Shaping up to be the most virulently anti-gay state in America.

Other than that it's a fine place to live I'm sure.

[Greeby]

30. I couldn't understand how he got re-elected

When his Democratic opponent's surname was Weed. I mean, with "Weed" on the ballot, how could you lose? :rofl: