The chicken and the pot hole

Every newspaper and state blog is blasting the failure of the General Assembly to find a compromise to fix Virginia's roads. Governor Kaine said it best: "It was like a 'Seinfeld' episode; I mean a show about nothing. In the House, it was a road session about nothing."

Delegate Steve Landes (R-Augusta) said the House of Delegates were called "delegates" because they are supposed to do what the people want. I guess that means the people want nothing done - perhaps so.

Sometimes problems have to get worse before they get better. Such is obviously the case with Virginia's pot holes. By any measure this is a political loss for the governor as well as the state. Guess we'll have to see how it plays out in the '09 elections when all 100 members of the House of Delegates stand for accountability before the voters. My guess is that some GOP delegates, especially from NOVA and Hampton Roads, will have some explaining to do. That's when the chicken will cross the road.

The stalemate on appointments probably works out as win for the governor. The legislature failed to make appointments to the Virginia Supreme Court, several circuit courts, and the State Corporation Commission. Governor Kaine will now make recess appointments that next year's session will have to confirm. Time will tell if House Republicans will kick out a judge who has already been seated.

For now, our political leaders have dropped the basket and broken all the eggs. Cluck.