Needed in the boardroom: A little reason

by: Epluribusunum

Sat Sep 04, 2010 at 01:13:01 AM EDT

The folks who insist that the First Amendment allows them to display "traditional" religious symbols on the courthouse lawn are planning a repeat of the heated public input session of last holiday season.  So, I suppose, are the equally insistent anti-display advocates, who have already snapped up at least three of the ten currently permitted display sites.  

I think the inclination among progressive people is to not give too much attention to stunts and manufactured controversies like this. It doesn't seem like something that should be taken seriously. There comes a point, though, at which our silence is perceived as consent. A situation in which book burnings and violence occur has reached that point, and our local controversy is developing in the context of such a national climate. A local blogger has been maintaining an online petition demanding that our government exclusively "Keep Christmas in Leesburg," and here are a couple of the more disturbing comments that accompany the signatures:

I do not like the smell of curry therefor if we are unable to have a Christmas Tree and a Nativity Scene then get rid of your curry!

Freedom of religion is a right of every citizen this is not the middle east. If a nativity scene or christmas tree offends you, go home.

Notice how the facts don't matter, as if people of other faiths and cultures are the ones responsible for the issue being on the agenda. This is a poisonous atmosphere, and it's being encouraged by those politicians who do better at the polls when their constituencies are motivated by fear and loathing of the "other."

Judges Offer Opinion

by: Daverunner

Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 14:23:28 PM EDT

Loudoun County's highest ranking judicial officials have asked supervisors to ban public displays from the courthouse grounds, saying the current policy could impede on the daily functions of the courtrooms.  

In an Aug. 31 letter to the board, judges from all of Loudoun's courts asked supervisors to find a more suitable place for the displays to continue.

"We appreciate the Board's interest in fashioning a policy that permits diverse individuals and groups to erect displays celebrating their beliefs, history, and traditions in a publicly owned place, and hope and believe they can be accommodated in an appropriate location within the County ownership. But we believe the courthouse grounds should be a symbol of the rule of law and a testament to the beauty and history of the County and its people," the letter reads.

A sound, rational opinion.  

Keep the Traffic Moving (Part II)

by: Daverunner

Fri Sep 03, 2010 at 07:49:42 AM EDT

Imagine my surprise yesterday afternoon as I was driving from Leesburg to my son's school in Sterling and found, to my delight, that the aforementioned traffic signal at Richfield Drive/George Washington Blvd. had been completely removed and the crossover blocked.  So now, except for 3 remaining traffic signals, at Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn Village Blvd., and Lexington Drive, there is practically a free-flow of traffic from Battlefield Parkway in Leesburg to Route 28 in Ashburn.

The intersections at Belmont Ridge and Ashburn Village will probably be there for some time, as they are slated to be converted into interchanges with no traffic light, but there is no funding currently in place to do so.  But the light at Lexington is vexing. It would be impossible to make it an interchange, with its' proximity to Ashburn Village Blvd., but you also just can't block it off. Blue Mount Nursery is served with that interchange, and one would think that it would hurt their business if that light were removed.

Or would it?

LCDC meeting tonight

by: Doorbellqueen

Thu Sep 02, 2010 at 10:41:08 AM EDT

Special guest: Tony Howard of the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce. He'll give a talk and then take questions!

Stevens and other members of the BOS will talk about the Chesapeake Bay Protection act and will take questions. By the way, did you know that the LCRC is against the CBPA? Resolutions against things that will help the environment that start out with

WHEREAS, the Loudoun County Republican Committee strongly supports clean air and clean water,

Someone from Jeff Barnett's campaign will be there to give us an update, but Jeff himself will be at Herndon's Town Hall Meeting.

As always, LCDC meetings are open to the public, with published agendas and minutes and whatnot.

I will not be in attendance tonight, as it is Back to School Night at my son's school! But if you can attend, I'm sure you'll be in for an interesting and dynamic meeting.

Pop and Politics

by: Doorbellqueen

Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 21:51:29 PM EDT

NOM's been playing Peter, Paul, & Mary's version of "This Land is Your Land" at their gatherings.

Peter Yarrow has written a letter asking them to stop. I've signed the letter thanking Peter, Paul & Mary at that link.

Read more about it here

Jeff Barnett's schedule

by: Doorbellqueen

Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 19:02:23 PM EDT

Monday, August 30th

Town Hall Meeting, 7:00 - 8:30 PM (Press Availability)
Public Safety Building, 1080 Coverstone Drive, Winchester, VA 22602

Tuesday, August 31st

Shenandoah University Political Mixer, 6:15 - 7:30 PM
Clement Dining Room, Shenandoah University, Winchester

Wednesday, September 1st

Town Hall Meeting, 7:00 - 8:30 PM (Press Availability)
Warrenton-Fauquier Visitor Center, 33 N. Calhoun St., Warrenton, VA

Thursday, September 2nd

Town Hall Meeting: 7:00 - 8:30 PM (Press Availability)
Herndon Fortnightly Library, 768 Center St., Herndon, VA

Friday, September 3rd
Jeff Barnett's 10th District Walking Tour, Day 1: Gore to Winchester

Telephone Press Conference, 9:00 AM (Call Patrick Dorsey for Information)

Winchester Campaign Office Grand Opening: 5:45 PM (Press Availability)
Corner of Braddock and Wolfe Streets, Winchester, VA

Meet-and-Greet Reception, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Eugene B. Smith Gallery, 25 N. Loudoun St., Winchester, VA

Saturday, September 4th
Jeff Barnett's 10th District Walking Tour, Day 2: Winchester to Berryville

Dinner Meet-and-Greet, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Camino Real Restaurant, 16 Crow St., Berryville, VA

I hope to see you at one or more of these events!

The Tide May Be Turning

by: Daverunner

Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 12:33:04 PM EDT

An Albemarle County Circuit Court judge has set aside a subpoena issued by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) to the University of Virginia seeking documents related to the work of climate scientist and former university professor Michael Mann.

Judge Paul M. Peatross Jr. ruled that Cuccinelli can investigate whether fraud has occured in university grants, as the attorney general had contended, but ruled that Cuccinelli's subpoena failed to state a "reason to believe" that Mann had committed fraud.

Finally, there's hope that maybe we can finally start seeing the end of these harassments being undertaken by the office of the Attorney General.

Of course, we can most likely expect the lunatic fringe to criticize this prudent ruling as an act of "judicial activism".

"The Court has read with care those pages and understands the controversy regarding Dr. Mann's work on the issue of global warming. However, it is not clear what he did was misleading, false or fraudulent in obtaining funds from the Commonwealth of Virginia," Peatross wrote.

End of story. We hope.

He's Baaaack!!!

by: Daverunner

Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 10:14:54 AM EDT

http://officialdickblack.com/

Loudoun voters repudiated (not "refutiated", thank you) Mr. "Baby Pesticides"  5 years ago - rest assured we're not about to go back to the dark ages again.

EDIT: I did not realize that there was a post on another website with the same title as mine. My apologies.

http://blackout2011.com/

That great site lists ALL of the reasons leading to Mr. "Plastic Fetuses" being defeated.