Recently spotted

A friend recently spotted this billboard on Rt. 11 just inside the northern Staunton city limits. It is visible while driving south. The disclaimer says the Augusta and Staunton Dems paid for it.

In spite of some GOP bloggers saying the local Democratic committees aren't engaged in this race, things like this shout otherwise.

According to one political insider who has seen some polling, the rumblings of discontent about a congressman staying in Congress so long, when he said he wouldn't, is gaining some traction among Valley voters. In fact, she said it is resonating even louder in the wake of the past week's economic and political meltdowns. All long time incumbents seem to have some risk - they've been there for many terms, they got us into this mess, and they seem impotent to fix it.

Chicken Feed: Candidate Fundraising

The Daily News-Record reports that donations to John McCain and Barack Obama are running pretty close in zip codes beginning with 228 - Harrisonburg, much of Rockingham, a little of Augusta, and parts of Shenandoah and Page. According to the article, McCain raised $39,520 and Obama $36,166 through August from donors in those zips. To put it another way, that is about 52% for McCain and 48% for Obama.

Seems to me this is great news for the Democrats in general and Obama specifically. The area covered by those zips is bright red Republican. Some of the reddest in the Commonwealth. At least in past national elections when GOP candidates could count on 60% to 70% of the donations. Or more. Could all that be changing?

Now, I know that dollars don't vote, but dollars give campaigns the ability to influence the vote. Dollars open campaign headquarters and pay for phone banks. Dollars indicate a level of enthusiasm. A donor talks to friends and family. A donor wins other votes.

It was interesting that a doctor who donated to McCain only did so because he is infatuated with Palin and her anti-choice stand (Gobble... didn't she say she made the "choice" to have this last child? A choice she'd quickly deny other women.). Wonder what he'll do if McCain dumps her from the ticket, as many conservatives are now urging? He didn't seem too enthused about McCain - will he want his $2,300 back?

Valley Republicans have to be concerned about recent trends. They've been squabbling among themselves with bitter divides between the conservative and flat earth groups. The fundraising advantage that they once enjoyed is shrinking. The rapidly disappearing big edge they had in volunteers and enthusiasm. The fact that Democrats don't seem to be intimidated any longer by Republican taunts, bullying, and theft of campaign signs. Yeah, they still have the local newspapers, especially the News-Record, to sound the call for them. But, there is increasing parity between the parties in the Valley - a good ingredient for a robust democracy.

It is amazing what 8 years of incompetence does to a political party. Simply amazing.

Federal candidates have limits on contributions and many other rules they must follow. In Virginia there are few limits other than disclosure. If you want to check federal or state campaign contributions in your area, or contributions from specific industries or interest groups, you might check these sources:

• Federal Election Commission
• Open Secrets
• Virginia Public Access Project

What's your coop like?

So, which presidential candidate is most like Shenandoah Valley voters. Me, myself, and I.... let's see: three vehicles for two people (splurge), but only one house (nice but less than half the value of McCain's cheapest). Does a paper plane count? It is fuel efficient!

It is always interesting listening to Republicans charging that Democrats are elite. It certainly isn't true here in the Valley. Actually the opposite is true. It isn't true of the 2008 presidential candidates either. While the GOP went bonkers over a recent big Hollywood fundraiser for Barack Obama, John McCain is no stranger to Hollywood and raises plenty of money there, too. According to an interview I heard with former (he can't stand the lies and Palin) McCain friend and supporter, Andrew Sullivan, there is no bigger D.C. celebrity hound than John McCain. If there is a party with a sports, or TV, or movie celebrity, John and Cindy McCain will be among the first panting at the door. 

Barack and Michelle Obama have a very nice home and one car. They share space in my paper plane.

Ya know, although Obama is black (well, half black and half white), he and I have far more in common than do John McCain and I. We were both raised in modest circumstances and had to work our way up (he climbed way higher than me). Actually, he probably had a tougher start - at least I had two parents raising me. We've each been married to the same woman (well different women for each of us) for many years. We both live in middle (me) or upper middle (him) class circumstances and share those middle American hopes, dreams, and values.

On the other hand, John McCain is what, in the top 1 to 2% of wealth in the country? Owns more cars and homes than all but the privileged few. Married into to the big money (I am jealous of that) after kind of dumping on his first wife. John McCain and I have little in common. He has almost nothing in common with most folks in the Shenandoah Valley. Not money. Not lifestyle. Not values.

So, how come so many think John McCain is just like them? It is all a carefully crafted image that is a big fat lie. It is all chicken sh*t. Maybe someday voters will look beyond the hype. Maybe?

Blue Birds

Back in August the Augusta, Staunton, and Waynesboro Democrats hosted Paint the Valley Blue at the Frontier Culture Museum. The event was one of the largest Democratic events in the central valley in recent years.

Now the Lexington/Rockbridge Co. Democratic Committee has planned a Go Blue Virginia rally on Tuesday, October 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at W & L's Evans Dining Hall. Music will be provided by Robin and Linda Williams. Short speeches. Dinner. Contact Joe Skovira at 540.348.1093 or jskovira@embarqmail.com for more info.

Ugly ducklings in our midst

The ugly fact of racism has been raising its hate filled head in the Valley recently. A Barack Obama sign defaced by thugs in Rockingham County. Numerous reports of stolen and vandalized Obama signs in just about every locality up and down the I-81 corridor. Shots fired at an Obama sign in Augusta County. Because other signs of candidates from both parties are left standing and not vandalized, it seems pretty apparent that this goes beyond the normal theft of signs. It is the blind politics of race hate - pure and simple.

Now comes more news about prejudice, workplace intimidation, indeed, racial terrorism in the central Valley. On several occasions in 2007, Doug Mason, a black man, showed up at his job at Massanutten to be "greeted" by a noose. According to an EEOC lawsuit, L.A. Pipeline Construction Co. violated the law by subjecting a black employee to openly displayed nooses and racial slurs at an Elkton worksite. The company was aware of the problems but took no action to prevent it. The Daily News-Record has the stories here and here.

Now comes the story that many area legislators will consider amending Virginia's hate crime law so hanging of a noose is prosecuted in the same way as burning a cross. A burning cross, the most infamous symbol of the KKK, was used to intimidate blacks who spoke out, registered to vote, or in any way tried to assert their rights during the terrible Jim Crow years. A hanging noose was similarly intimidating in an era where the U.S. southern states experienced about a lynching a week. Both are well established symbols of racial hatred designed to threaten or incite violence against a fellow human being simply because of skin color.

Delegate Todd Gilbert says the noose is on par with cross burning.

Delegate Matt Lohr and Senator Mark Obenshain say they will consider amending the law to make penalties for hanging a noose similar to burning a cross. 

Senator Emmett Hanger sees no use for additional laws on this issue, believing there are sufficient remedies available.

I won't post their comments, rationale, and occasional back stepping - you can read it online at the DNR website.

Racism is a problem that begs for more than a legislative solution. In addition to changing Virginia's hate crime laws, this is an issue for the greater society - churches, schools, civic clubs, neighbor to neighbor - we all must act with conscience and conviction. Don't listen to racial jokes. Better yet, correct the "comedian" and tell him or her you find it offensive. If you hear racial slurs, tell the speaker you don't accept such language in your presence. Teach your children that racism is a great moral wrong. Teach them it is an evil to be exorcised from American life.

Teach your children well.

Counting Eggs

Saying the complexity and loopholes of our current tax system have made it unfair and have created a huge and oppressive bureaucracy, Sam Rasoul has proposed replacing it with a graduated flat tax. Rasoul says his proposal would be revenue neutral, much simpler for taxpayers, reduce taxes for most households earning less than $50,000, close loopholes that have upper income taxpayers dodging their fair share. Check out the details of Rasoul's plan.

The concept of a flat tax is a often pushed by conservatives and libertarians. If you Google "flat tax" you'll find about 1.1 million hits, many from groups like the Heritage Foundation and Hoover Institution. A primer on the flat tax is on Wikipedia, but as on all online (and other) sources, read with a jaundiced eye. It is important to note that Rasoul's plan is actually a graduated flat tax which has some aspects of a flat tax while retaining several progressively higher tax rates as incomes increase. This compromise is probably more politically palatable than a pure flat tax.

While I'm not ready to endorse a flat tax, or even a graduated flat tax (simplification yes!), I applaud Rasoul for creative thinking and putting tough issues like this one on the table. That alone puts him head and shoulders above his opponent. This should be a topic in their upcoming debate and in future debates that we all hope the incumbent will agree to.

Jeff's Soapbox

A new blog, Jeff's Soapbox, has emerged in the Shenandoah Valley and piedmont. The creation of Jeff Price, Jeff's Soapbox promises to discuss rural issues in Amherst, Augusta, Buena Vista, Lexington, and Rockbridge.

CCC first mentioned Jeff Price in an August post, New Bird in the 24th, when there were many reliable rumors that Price would run for the House of Delegates. As he began visiting local Democratic committees, CCC again noted his commitment to party activists that he would indeed be running. Price has now visited all the local committees and held discussions with local leaders about his plans to run. He's also been in contact with candidate recruitment folks at DPVA.

Now, there's Jeff's Soapbox. A way to listen, to communicate, to get the pulse of voters. Well Jeff, welcome to blog world and welcome to politics in the Valley. May your blog get lots of hits and may your campaign be a great success and liberate the 24th from being held hostage.