Virginia Republicans’ bald-faced power grab IN A SNEAK ATTACK notable more for its deviousness than its strategic acuity, Virginia Republicans engineered a bald-faced power grab Monday that would radically redraw the state’s electoral map without so much as a “yea,” “nay” or “maybe” from anything so trivial as a voter. Taking advantage of the absence of a single Democratic state senator, GOP lawmakers in Richmond rammed through a radically gerrymandered map designed to hand them control of the 40-member state Senate, which is now split evenly between the two parties. They were able to do so, on a vote of 20 to 19, because one Democratic senator was in Washington to attend President Obama’s inauguration. Touche, Republicans! Count that as a new low for hyper-partisanship, dirty tricks and the unaccountable arrogance of power. The Republican move was executed in the style of a putsch, arising from a conspiracy and with no warning, public input or debate. Pressing their momentary numerical superiority, GOP lawmakers amended a routine House bill by tacking on a new map, devised in secret. Although this is one of the most partisan redistricting plans in Virginia’s history, the Republicans then cut off debate after 30 minutes. Fortunately, Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, a Republican who counts as a grown-up amid the sneaky schoolboys who dominate his party in Richmond, correctly saw the ruse as an invitation to political Armageddon — and a threat to his own legislative agenda. “I certainly don’t think that’s a good way to do business,” said the governor. Mr. McDonnell should immediately announce his intention to veto the map. If the redistricting is allowed to stand, it would radically reshape politics in Richmond. Unlike the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, the Senate has been in Democratic hands or closely divided since 2007. Read more
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Virginia Republicans’ bald-faced power grab

IN A SNEAK ATTACK notable more for its deviousness than its strategic acuity, Virginia Republicans engineered a bald-faced power grab Monday that would radically redraw the state’s electoral map without so much as a “yea,” “nay” or “maybe” from anything so trivial as a voter.

Taking advantage of the absence of a single Democratic state senator, GOP lawmakers in Richmond rammed through a radically gerrymandered map designed to hand them control of the 40-member state Senate, which is now split evenly between the two parties.

They were able to do so, on a vote of 20 to 19, because one Democratic senator was in Washington to attend President Obama’s inauguration. Touche, Republicans! Count that as a new low for hyper-partisanship, dirty tricks and the unaccountable arrogance of power.

The Republican move was executed in the style of a putsch, arising from a conspiracy and with no warning, public input or debate. Pressing their momentary numerical superiority, GOP lawmakers amended a routine House bill by tacking on a new map, devised in secret. Although this is one of the most partisan redistricting plans in Virginia’s history, the Republicans then cut off debate after 30 minutes.

Fortunately, Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, a Republican who counts as a grown-up amid the sneaky schoolboys who dominate his party in Richmond, correctly saw the ruse as an invitation to political Armageddon — and a threat to his own legislative agenda. “I certainly don’t think that’s a good way to do business,” said the governor.

Mr. McDonnell should immediately announce his intention to veto the map. If the redistricting is allowed to stand, it would radically reshape politics in Richmond. Unlike the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, the Senate has been in Democratic hands or closely divided since 2007.

Read more

Source: Washington Post

Head Start “When Virginians choose their next governor in just 312 days, a lot will be decided about the country’s next three years. If Virginia chooses a Democratic governor in 2013, I know we’ll see increased support for important issues like healthcare and education – issues that will move our country forward. But if the Republicans’ prime pick – Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli – takes the reins, I can guarantee that he will not only block health care implementation, but will also energize backwards Republican policies nationwide. We already know this will be a close race — President Obama won Virginia by just three percent! Now is our moment to make a difference – we can’t delay. Help us raise $50,000 by the December 31 FEC deadline at midnight, so we can start going all out in January to win this important race. We need to get started, and we’ve only got 86 hours left. Rush a donation of $20 or more to help the DGA defeat a right-wing extremist in Virginia and win this critical governors race. This November, we won tough states for Democrats: Montana, New Hampshire and Missouri. We know how to win these tough, swing-state races. Virginia matters because the whole nation will be watching. We’ll win by out-hustling, out-organizing and out-working the other side. It starts with being on the ground early. We need to be there now, but to do it, we need your support now. The only way we can start building a winning organization in January is if we meet our $50,000 FEC goal by the time the ball drops on December 31. Will you help? Hurry $20 or more to the DGA, so we can beat our FEC deadline and do the work we need to do now to win Virginia. We can’t get there without you. I wish you and your family a great holiday season. Thanks for everything, Mark GiangrecoDeputy Communications DirectorDemocratic Governors Association”
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Head Start

“When Virginians choose their next governor in just 312 days, a lot will be decided about the country’s next three years.

If Virginia chooses a Democratic governor in 2013, I know we’ll see increased support for important issues like healthcare and education – issues that will move our country forward.

But if the Republicans’ prime pick – Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli – takes the reins, I can guarantee that he will not only block health care implementation, but will also energize backwards Republican policies nationwide.

We already know this will be a close race — President Obama won Virginia by just three percent! Now is our moment to make a difference – we can’t delay.

Help us raise $50,000 by the December 31 FEC deadline at midnight, so we can start going all out in January to win this important race. We need to get started, and we’ve only got 86 hours left.

Rush a donation of $20 or more to help the DGA defeat a right-wing extremist in Virginia and win this critical governors race.

This November, we won tough states for Democrats: Montana, New Hampshire and Missouri.

We know how to win these tough, swing-state races. Virginia matters because the whole nation will be watching. We’ll win by out-hustling, out-organizing and out-working the other side.

It starts with being on the ground early. We need to be there now, but to do it, we need your support now.

The only way we can start building a winning organization in January is if we meet our $50,000 FEC goal by the time the ball drops on December 31.

Will you help?

Hurry $20 or more to the DGA, so we can beat our FEC deadline and do the work we need to do now to win Virginia. We can’t get there without you.

I wish you and your family a great holiday season.

Thanks for everything,

Mark Giangreco
Deputy Communications Director
Democratic Governors Association”

Terry McAuliffe to Run for Governor of Virginia McAuliffe — a veteran political adviser and former chair of the Democratic National Committee — has long been mulling a run for governor, but said he would only enter the race if Senator Mark Warner decided not to run. McAuliffe’s decision, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that Warner won’t run. If fact, since Election Day, rumors have only heightened about Warner — a former Virginia governor and current U.S. senator — entering the race.
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Terry McAuliffe to Run for Governor of Virginia

McAuliffe — a veteran political adviser and former chair of the Democratic National Committee — has long been mulling a run for governor, but said he would only enter the race if Senator Mark Warner decided not to run.

McAuliffe’s decision, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that Warner won’t run. If fact, since Election Day, rumors have only heightened about Warner — a former Virginia governor and current U.S. senator — entering the race.

Tyre, U.S. Naval Veteran: “President Obama is the first Democratic president that I will vote for.”

Tyre Nelson grew up on a farm in Nebraska in a very conservative family and served 20 years in the Navy. Up until very recently Tyre considered himself a Republican, but now Tyre stands with President Obama because the president is taking care of our veterans and military families. 

As Tyre shares: “I believe that the Republican Party does not any longer represent who I want myself or my kids to be.”

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News Leader Endorsement: Four more years for President Obama “In Gov. Mitt Romney’s America, the poor and middle class would give so the wealthy could grow their bank accounts. The poor, if they became ill, would simply clog emergency rooms. Loving couples who don’t fit a traditional definition could be discriminated against. That’s a narrow, mean place, a world ruled by elites and ultra conservatives. That’s not the America we are promised, one in which we have a fair chance of making a life for ourselves and our families and seeking our individual dreams. The America we envisioned four years ago hasn’t yet been fulfilled. The president had to spend too much time winning old wars, righting old wrongs, battling nasty personal politics of destruction and then struggling to reinvigorate the economy. In all, we’re better off for having Barack Obama as our president. We endorse him for re-election.” Commit to vote | Make a Plan to vote | Contribute | Volunteer
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News Leader Endorsement: Four more years for President Obama

“In Gov. Mitt Romney’s America, the poor and middle class would give so the wealthy could grow their bank accounts. The poor, if they became ill, would simply clog emergency rooms. Loving couples who don’t fit a traditional definition could be discriminated against.

That’s a narrow, mean place, a world ruled by elites and ultra conservatives. That’s not the America we are promised, one in which we have a fair chance of making a life for ourselves and our families and seeking our individual dreams.

The America we envisioned four years ago hasn’t yet been fulfilled. The president had to spend too much time winning old wars, righting old wrongs, battling nasty personal politics of destruction and then struggling to reinvigorate the economy.

In all, we’re better off for having Barack Obama as our president. We endorse him for re-election.”

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GOP voter reg scandal grows: RNC employee arrested and charged with destroying voter reg applications in Virginia A man who was being paid to register voters by the Republican Party of Virginia was arrested Thursday after he was seen dumping eight registration forms into a dumpster. Colin Small, 31, was working as a supervisor as part of a registration operation in eight swing states financed by the Republican National Committee. Small, of Phoenixville, Pa., was first hired by Strategic Allied Consulting, a firm that was fired by the party after suspect voter forms surfaced in Florida and other states.
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GOP voter reg scandal grows: RNC employee arrested and charged with destroying voter reg applications in Virginia

A man who was being paid to register voters by the Republican Party of Virginia was arrested Thursday after he was seen dumping eight registration forms into a dumpster.

Colin Small, 31, was working as a supervisor as part of a registration operation in eight swing states financed by the Republican National Committee. Small, of Phoenixville, Pa., was first hired by Strategic Allied Consulting, a firm that was fired by the party after suspect voter forms surfaced in Florida and other states.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Virginia

“President Romney’s first 100 Days…creating thousands of new jobs for Virginians.” But would he?

The Washington Post has just revealed that Romney’s companies were pioneers in shipping US jobs overseas.Investing in firms that ‘specialized in relocating jobs done by American workers to new facilities in low-wage countries like China and India.’

Does Virginia really want an Outsourcer-In-Chief in the White House?

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