BPOL discussion shows rowdy and disrespectful GOPers

I just watched the vote on the BPOL fee for Stafford County that was placed on a Republican Blog spot and I was mad. But not the way the Republicans may have wanted. While the three Democrats and one Independent showed respect and listened to the what people had to say, it seems that the GOPers on the board (except for Mr. Sterling) showed a total disrespect for parliamentary procedure, constantly interrupting their fellow board members without being recognized and yelling, not letting the complete arguements be heard. I don't remember a scene like it before. I hope the GOPers learn some manners.

Another time.

As the pundits discuss Obama's electability in November because of his supposed inability to attract blue-color workers, I would like to quote from "The Crises of the Old Order" by Arthur M. Schlesinger, concerning another candidate, in another time of economic distress, "Roosevelt was still in the lead, so far as delegates were concerned, but within a fortnight his bandwagon momentum had been stopped. Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and California, wrote Walter Lippman, were the only real tests: and in all of these Roosevelt had made a poor showing. "When one remembers that he has been in the sight of the nomination for months, that he alone among the candidates has a nation-wide organization, that his name is Roosevelt, that he has sought to identify himself with the discontent of the people, his failure to show popular strength is remarkable." The professionals, Lippman added, had come to realize that if Roosevelt were nominated his weaknesses would develop so rapidly during the campaign that he would surely be defeated. "The truth is that he has not a good enough grasp of the issues nor the power of quick and firm decision to withstand the withering fire which the Republicans would subject him to." (p.293-294)

'Nuff said.

Re-establish the Transportation Commission

It is important that the Stafford Transportation Commission be re-established as soon as possible in order for necessary local traffic improvements can move forward quickly and efficiently. While the Planning Commission should be cognizant of and responsible for regional transportation planning, it is foolish and counterproductive to burden them with additional, purely local district questions like placement of a stop sign, or speed limits for local roads. A Supervisor who sees something come before the Transportation Commission that has regional or land use issues can elevate its discussion to the Planning Commission or Supervisor level. These instances will be rare and exceptional.

The Transportation Commission performed a critical and necessary function for the safety and quality of life of our residents. They did a superb job with a difficult and time intensive task, especially since the integration of the Youth Driver Task Force and its study into its organization and processes.

The Transportation Commission should be re-established with its former organizational structure in place. I agree with Byron Hinton, the former (now) chairman of the Transportation Commission, who opposed the idea of adding two Supervisors to the Commission. Supervisors can presently attend meetings to support their constituents, but not as voting members. That feature allowed the Commission political independence and prevented strong-arming and micromanagement by Supervisors.

Supervisors, do your constituents a favor by staying responsive to their community transportation needs. Bring back the Transportation Commission.

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to all the Progressives and Populists in Virginia and especially in the Fredericksburg Area!
We had an exciting time last year with a record number of quality candidates running for local, state, and federal office. We learned a few things: while we are competitive and able to win elections on the local level where our candidates are able to get out and meet their prospective constituents, the conservative predisposition of the Virginia First Congressional District is hard to overcome even if large amounts of money can be expended to get the message out. A question will remain as to whether an independent progressive candidate can make any headway against the tides of conservatism in the area without a dooming Democratic label.
The good nes is that the Stafford Board of Supervisors flipped to the Democratic/Independent viewpoint and has a chance to undo stupid policies placed into effect over the last 2 years and to block any stupid policies contemplated by Paul "Swampland" Milde and Mark "Its Not My Fault" Dudenheffer. George Schwartz, Joe Brito, Bob Woodson, and Harry Crisp have the intelligence, knowledge, and leadership to do great things for Stafford and I thank them for their efforts.

Virginia First Congressional District

The Special Virginia First Congressional District election is over and once again the number of Republicans who vote in National elections are greater by 2:1 over Democratic Voters. Some are complaining that the DCCC did not spend the money that they promised, but I think it was a good decision. Save the money where you have a chance for it to do some good.
Now a plan must be developed to take into account facts and not wishful thinking, after all, WE are members of a fact-based system.
We have proven ourselves able to elect Democrats on the local level. We should therefore concentrate on putting our money and our candidates into seeking local office. We should not abandon runs for congress, but they should be the 1st District Committee Chair person or someone selected to speak out at the debates and explain our positions to the people of the 1st district. Our purpose is not to win the battle, but to win the local battles where we show that Democrats govern fairly and effectively, and try to build a following in the communities. The congressional candidate should work to earn money for the local committees for party building and canvassing, to build our database, so we can better mobilize the grassroots. This puts us in a good position in case the district is redistricted and allows us to gauge natural Democratic support in the district.

Comment on FOIA

This speech was given during the public comment portion of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors.

Mr. Chairman and the Board of Supervisors,

I am representing Virginia Progress.

I was looking at your published legislative agenda, that is, what will be provided to our General Assembly representatives for consideration for submission as legislation next November. Most of the proposals are reasonable, and many have been submitted in various forms over the previous few years to meet tha challenges of rapid growth in the county. Usually three or four proposals are submitted for our General Assembly representatives to concentrate on and a few subsidiary proposals of less importance or less possibility of being achieved are included.

I was appalled to see listed as the Number One proposal, Proposed Amendments to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). I was surprised to see it at all, but thought it was audacious and arrogant to be presented in such a position of prominence.

I do know why it was included though; recently there was a lawsuit that used FOIA to discover that illegal meetings were held by some members of the School Board, and this sims to prevent more embarrassment, or more lawsuits of the same nature.

It is as if someone had gotten in trouble for robbing banks and then called there supervisor to complain that it was inconvenient to have a stringent law on robbing namks, and he promised to make the laws more friendly.

I use the analogy of robbing, because that is just what these amendments are designed for, to steal the ability of their citizens to watch over and control their government.

The great Republican and American, Abraham Lincoln, encapsulated the spirity of Democracy by describing it as "Government of, by, and for the people." FOIA is a tool designed to prevent government from becoming of, by and for the politicians. It is to make sure the citizens are being represented fairly and honestly.

FOIA insures our government is open and information is assessible. It makes sure that the people's representatives are advocating actions to advance the people's goals, not the politicians private agenda; that they are fulfilling their campaign promises and not participating in skulguggery and chicanery to hide activities and distort truth.


In the United States, Virginia, and Stafford, ours has been a constant struggle for open government. These resolutions seek to close the door that we must peer through to see the workings of our government and to insure that backroom deals are not being made that mortgage our future. It is unworthy of Stafford and Virginia.

I would like to thank those on this Board, Republicans, Independents and Democrats, who have campaigned for a more open government, or have worked to be open and assessibleon this Board.

Mr Gibbons, Mr. Cavalier, Mr. Brito, Mr. Schwartz, and Mr. Fields, I thank you for your efforts. You can see now that the battle is a constant one. Restore the needs of our citizens to the top of your proposal list, Remove NUmber One, FOIA ammendments, which only serves the selfish interests of politicians.

General Assembly Transportation Talks?

Now that a budget is passed (albeit without additional needed road funding), we will have to wait and see if the Delegates come back for a full dicussion of transportation needs, or if they will give the State Senate the silent treatment. Nero may have fiddled while Rome burned, but at least he was doing something.