The day before the Virginia primaries, there was a Rally for Mike Huckabee at the Holiday Inn-Executive Center on Greenwich Road. The room was filled even for a Noon on Monday. Following are my observations.
I arrive about 10:55. There is already a line formed to get into the room. I talk with the two people ahead of me; one wants to know about my blog. Volunteers pass out signs to us; they're to be returned afterwards to be used at the next Rally. Crawford Millen comes down the hall and greets me; we were both Nick Rerras volunteers.
They start letting us in the room at 11:10. At 11:20 I get the first glimpse of the Secret Service; the big surprise of the day is how little security there was. (Don't they remember George Wallace and Bobby Kennedy?) Around 11:25 the camera crews start setting up in the rear. The discussion in my part of the room focuses on Mitt Romney and Code Pink.
At Noon we start with a few chants, then do The Wave with our signs. Mike Ferris starts things off at 12:08, followed by Duncan Hunter at 12:11.
At 12:15 the man we've been waiting for comes through the curtains. Mike Huckabee gave a 35 minute speech without notes. Some of the highlights:
On staying in the race - party leaders may have tried to declare it over last week, but it's not over until someone gets 1,191 delegates.
On growing up - his Mother grew up in a house with dirt floors, no electricity, and no running water. His Father worked as a fireman during the week and a mechanic on the weekend. Given the dirty work, Lava soap was the only soap in the house. Mike was in college before he learned a shower wasn't supposed to hurt.
On the war on terrorism - if al-Qaida, the Taliban, et al want to give us trouble, "we'll send them to see the 72 virgins."
On national defense - wants to raise defense spending from the current 3.8% of GDP to the Reagan level 6%. With China building three subs for every one we do, we have a problem.
On energy independence - the U.S. would achieve it within 10 years. We can't be beholden to the Saudi royal family, Hugo Chavez, and Vladimir Putin.
On the Fair Tax - will abolish the current tax code and replace it with a national sales tax. For emphasis, he tore up a 1040 form and tossed the pieces.
On expierience - he's the only candidate who has been a government chief executive (Governor of Arkansas).
On illegal immigration - refered to his nine-point plan. Will have a border fence with Mexico built within 18 months of taking office.
The clincher for me: Paul Weyrich called earlier this morning and is endorsing him. The same Weyrich I referenced in my previous post.
The bottom line: Mike Huckabee is a good man and the only real hope of stopping John McCain from getting the nomination. Please vote Mike Huckabee in tomorrow's Virginia Republican primary.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
James Toscano and the Deaniacs
The top speaker at this morning's Virginia Beach Republican Breakfast was James Toscano, Hampton Roads Transit's (HRT) Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications. Toscano was the last Legislative Aide for then-Delegate (now Attorney General) Bob McDonnell. James gave a Presentation on HRT's existing transit services, did a brief overview of Norfolk light rail, then took questions.
Two questions came from Deaniacs: Tidewater Libertarian Party Chairman and Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance board member Wally Erb, and Maximum Leader Robert Dean himself.
1. Erb - wondered why rail and transit aren't privitized. He then claimed New York City's system ran better prior to becoming a government service.
With Virginia Beach urbanizing, I've read a biography of Fiorello LaGuardia to see what I could learn from it. Uh...the reason the LaGuardia Administration took over transit services is that two of the private companies were in financial trouble, on the verge of defaulting on bond payments. Hardly such a rosy picture.
2. Dean - challenged Toscano on the financial numbers for Norfolk's light rail line, refering back to the 1999 Norfolk/Virginia Beach numbers. Toscano passed on it, repeating that entering light rail was a decision for the Virginia Beach City Council.
After the 1999 absurdity (which I campaigned and voted against), HRT goes back to the table and puts together a fiscally sound proposal...and Dean wants to complain about it? Oh, any claim that light rail can be done rationally must be some kind of conspiracy! What Dean doesn't get is that if this is to become a regional system, the earlier phases have to be done in a fiscally prudent manner or support will dry up both from the Federal Transit Administration and locally politically.
James Toscano had available for attendees a booklet, Twelve Anti-Transit Myths: A Conservative Critique by Paul Weyrich and William Lind. Weyrich was cofounder of the Heritage Foundation and the one who named the Moral Majority. It is available online and can be downloaded at http://www.apta.com/research/info/online/documents/weyrich3.pdf
Two questions came from Deaniacs: Tidewater Libertarian Party Chairman and Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance board member Wally Erb, and Maximum Leader Robert Dean himself.
1. Erb - wondered why rail and transit aren't privitized. He then claimed New York City's system ran better prior to becoming a government service.
With Virginia Beach urbanizing, I've read a biography of Fiorello LaGuardia to see what I could learn from it. Uh...the reason the LaGuardia Administration took over transit services is that two of the private companies were in financial trouble, on the verge of defaulting on bond payments. Hardly such a rosy picture.
2. Dean - challenged Toscano on the financial numbers for Norfolk's light rail line, refering back to the 1999 Norfolk/Virginia Beach numbers. Toscano passed on it, repeating that entering light rail was a decision for the Virginia Beach City Council.
After the 1999 absurdity (which I campaigned and voted against), HRT goes back to the table and puts together a fiscally sound proposal...and Dean wants to complain about it? Oh, any claim that light rail can be done rationally must be some kind of conspiracy! What Dean doesn't get is that if this is to become a regional system, the earlier phases have to be done in a fiscally prudent manner or support will dry up both from the Federal Transit Administration and locally politically.
James Toscano had available for attendees a booklet, Twelve Anti-Transit Myths: A Conservative Critique by Paul Weyrich and William Lind. Weyrich was cofounder of the Heritage Foundation and the one who named the Moral Majority. It is available online and can be downloaded at http://www.apta.com/research/info/online/documents/weyrich3.pdf
Friday, February 8, 2008
Redoing The Route Map
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is in the process of redoing it's master bus route map. Riders have been invited in to go over the current map, suggesting landmarks that should be removed or added. Attention should be paid as to their utility to the bus riding population.
It was my turn this afternoon. I went to the Norfolk office and had some fun with it:
1. The glaring ommission: neither Old Dominion University nor Norfolk State University was on there.
When I pointed that out, HRT's Customer Service Manager was embarassed. ODU has a special bus pass that it's students can buy.
2. Two closed hospitals were on there: Norfolk Community and TPI.
3. It had Chesapeake's Municipal Center, but not Virginia Beach's.
4. Social Security offices weren't on there, even though they're a well-used stop.
In all I went 2 1/2 pages of legal paper, double-spaced. I look forward to seeing the new map.
It was my turn this afternoon. I went to the Norfolk office and had some fun with it:
1. The glaring ommission: neither Old Dominion University nor Norfolk State University was on there.
When I pointed that out, HRT's Customer Service Manager was embarassed. ODU has a special bus pass that it's students can buy.
2. Two closed hospitals were on there: Norfolk Community and TPI.
3. It had Chesapeake's Municipal Center, but not Virginia Beach's.
4. Social Security offices weren't on there, even though they're a well-used stop.
In all I went 2 1/2 pages of legal paper, double-spaced. I look forward to seeing the new map.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
RAC February 7, 2008
This afternoon Virginia Beach's Resort Advisory Commission (RAC) met. From that meeting:
1. With the Virginia Beach Development Authority (VBDA) meeting Friday morning with 2 of the 3 finalists for Dome site redevelopment, the RAC unanimously voted out a letter to the VBDA emphasizing the importance of Dome site redevelopment and some baseline criteria for it.
Under discussion, concerns were raised as to how much input the RAC will have in the plan for the Dome site.
2. The priorities voted on at last month's RAC Strategic Planning meeting were reviewed. Four of the top five were fleshed out. (The fifth was defered for lack of time.)
RAC Chairman Ken Taylor now wants the RAC's committees to review the priorities, potentially overturning the full RAC's earlier vote. (Say what?!?)
3. About 25 minutes were spent trying to wordsmith the priority on Dome site redevelopment. Everyone was joking about it before things were over.
4. Former RAC Chairman Billy Almond continued to push for a Resort Development Office. It would be a "one stop shop" for developers looking to redevelop the Resort Area under the pending Resort Area Strategic Action Plan. Norfolk (for downtown) and Hampton (for Town Center) have similar offices.
5. CCO RAC representative Henry Ryto cautioned the RAC on interim use of Rudee Loop. The city owns most of the property, and some Resort interests are pushing for an interim use until the city redevelops it. As parking is already scarce at times, Dome site redevelopment would eliminate the surface lots there, and Rudee Loop has some parking, Ryto is concerned that parking may not be available for residents who want to enjoy the Resort Area.
A survey by Continental Research found that nearly half of Virginia Beach's residents would visit the Resort Area more often in-season if only parking was easier.
6. You want me to take a potshot at Bob O'Connor, don't you? During introductions, he refered to himself as "Bob O'Connor, taxpayer." If you listen to the Deaniacs, you would believe only the fringe right pays taxes.
1. With the Virginia Beach Development Authority (VBDA) meeting Friday morning with 2 of the 3 finalists for Dome site redevelopment, the RAC unanimously voted out a letter to the VBDA emphasizing the importance of Dome site redevelopment and some baseline criteria for it.
Under discussion, concerns were raised as to how much input the RAC will have in the plan for the Dome site.
2. The priorities voted on at last month's RAC Strategic Planning meeting were reviewed. Four of the top five were fleshed out. (The fifth was defered for lack of time.)
RAC Chairman Ken Taylor now wants the RAC's committees to review the priorities, potentially overturning the full RAC's earlier vote. (Say what?!?)
3. About 25 minutes were spent trying to wordsmith the priority on Dome site redevelopment. Everyone was joking about it before things were over.
4. Former RAC Chairman Billy Almond continued to push for a Resort Development Office. It would be a "one stop shop" for developers looking to redevelop the Resort Area under the pending Resort Area Strategic Action Plan. Norfolk (for downtown) and Hampton (for Town Center) have similar offices.
5. CCO RAC representative Henry Ryto cautioned the RAC on interim use of Rudee Loop. The city owns most of the property, and some Resort interests are pushing for an interim use until the city redevelops it. As parking is already scarce at times, Dome site redevelopment would eliminate the surface lots there, and Rudee Loop has some parking, Ryto is concerned that parking may not be available for residents who want to enjoy the Resort Area.
A survey by Continental Research found that nearly half of Virginia Beach's residents would visit the Resort Area more often in-season if only parking was easier.
6. You want me to take a potshot at Bob O'Connor, don't you? During introductions, he refered to himself as "Bob O'Connor, taxpayer." If you listen to the Deaniacs, you would believe only the fringe right pays taxes.
Monday, February 4, 2008
New Hit Counter
I just mounted a new hit counter on this blog. I had been using a remote service...which was repeatedly telling me I was getting four hits each and every day. I don't think so.
We'll see if this one does better.
We'll see if this one does better.
The V-P, The Mayor's Race, and "The Little People"
Today The Virginian-Pravda ran an editorial on the Virginia Beach Mayor's race http://hamptonroads.com/2008/02/raise-new-debate-beach-mayor It's the usual pro-Sessoms line that has been previously pushed in Inside Business.
The huge hole in the argument is that to get a Mayor who is pro-services, we need to elect a shameless elitist (Will Sessoms) as Mayor. As Vice Mayor, Sessoms regularly showed his contempt for "the little people". Do we actually want a Mayor with such disdain for the residents?
With Virginia Beach urbanizing, I believe we have to go to an urban services model. That will mean greater resources for some areas (i.e. transit, housing, etc.) than has been devoted in the past. However, it's ludicrous to think we can go to developmental urbanization without political urbanization. Yet Sessoms and his buddies are adamant about going to urbanization while maintaining an archaic political system.
We need a Mayor who is both a champion of an urban services model and the little people. None of the four declared candidates so far (Sessoms, Oberndorf, Weeks, and Moss) is. That's why we need a fifth Mayoral candidate who is and who can appeal to those who have been traditionally politically marginalized in Virginia Beach.
The huge hole in the argument is that to get a Mayor who is pro-services, we need to elect a shameless elitist (Will Sessoms) as Mayor. As Vice Mayor, Sessoms regularly showed his contempt for "the little people". Do we actually want a Mayor with such disdain for the residents?
With Virginia Beach urbanizing, I believe we have to go to an urban services model. That will mean greater resources for some areas (i.e. transit, housing, etc.) than has been devoted in the past. However, it's ludicrous to think we can go to developmental urbanization without political urbanization. Yet Sessoms and his buddies are adamant about going to urbanization while maintaining an archaic political system.
We need a Mayor who is both a champion of an urban services model and the little people. None of the four declared candidates so far (Sessoms, Oberndorf, Weeks, and Moss) is. That's why we need a fifth Mayoral candidate who is and who can appeal to those who have been traditionally politically marginalized in Virginia Beach.
Bob Marshall for U.S. Senate
I'm formally endorsing Bob Marshall for United States Senate, the seat now held by the retiring John Warner. Bob would make not only a better Senator, but a much better matchup against Democrat Mark Warner in November.
Over the past few years, Bob Marshall has been leading the House of Delegates on legislation covering moral issues. Most notable is his patronage of the Marraige Amendment, which prohibits gay marraige and civil unions in Virginia. Jim Gilmore has been absent on such issues.
Jim Gilmore is too easy for the Democrats to beat in November:
1. Mark Warner's big legacy as Governor is the largest tax increase in Virginia history. As one blog commenter pointed out, Warner can deflect Gilmore's attacks on it with "You made me raise them." Game over.
2. As for Gilmore's legacy, all Warner would have to do is roll footage of "No Car Tax" from 1997. Then cut to a Car Tax bill, with "You're still paying it, aren't you?" Ouch!
If you're a Republican who wants to win in November, you need to back Bob Marshall. I hope to make it to the state convention as a Marshall delegate.
Over the past few years, Bob Marshall has been leading the House of Delegates on legislation covering moral issues. Most notable is his patronage of the Marraige Amendment, which prohibits gay marraige and civil unions in Virginia. Jim Gilmore has been absent on such issues.
Jim Gilmore is too easy for the Democrats to beat in November:
1. Mark Warner's big legacy as Governor is the largest tax increase in Virginia history. As one blog commenter pointed out, Warner can deflect Gilmore's attacks on it with "You made me raise them." Game over.
2. As for Gilmore's legacy, all Warner would have to do is roll footage of "No Car Tax" from 1997. Then cut to a Car Tax bill, with "You're still paying it, aren't you?" Ouch!
If you're a Republican who wants to win in November, you need to back Bob Marshall. I hope to make it to the state convention as a Marshall delegate.
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