In Fairfax, it’s Election Day All Over Again

Voters in Fairfax County are headed to the polls on Feb. 3 to elect a new chairman of the County Board of Supervisors. The special election is pitting Democrat Sharon Bulova against Republican Pat Herrity. The chairmanship became vacant when Chairman Gerry Connolly resigned to assume the congressional seat he won in November. The county is the home to one in seven Virginians.

The Washington Post reported that Gov. Tim Kaine is concerned about low voter turnout.

“Special elections bring lower turnout,” Kaine said. “People aren’t naturally conditioned to vote in a chairman’s race in February, so that requires some special attention.”

Bill Clinton to Speak at Virginia’s Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner

The Washington Post is reporting that Bill Clinton is headlining the Feb. 7 Jefferson-Jackson Day fundraising dinner in Richmond for the Democratic Party of Virginia. No doubt the former president and spouse of our newly minted Secretary of State will rake in the bucks for the state party, but it makes me wonder how this will play with Terry McAuliffe running for governor. After all, the Macker was Clinton’s money man. No doubt it will be some interesting theatrics on stage that night, although the Post says that Clinton has been asked not to speak about the governor’s race.

Uh huh.

This is Just Plain Cool

Newspapers around the world covered this week’s inauguration of President Obama. Check out this mosaic of their headlines. How does this technology work exactly?

Maybe Nancy Has Hope

I don’t know if my muse, Nancy Pfotenhauer has hope. I don’t know her inauguration plans either. Perhaps she went to Josh Bolten and Andy Card’s party at Glen Echo Park, MD  last night. Or maybe she fled town, too depressed over what what all the Fake Virginians and Fake Americans did on November 4.

Or maybe, just maybe, she’s part of the group of McCain supporters who have come around to support President-Elect Obama and his efforts to unite our country.

I hope that even Nancy has hope.

For Senate: Sully Sullenberger

In New York City today, U.S. Airways Captain C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger successfully made an emergency crash landing into the Hudson River after Flight 1549′s engines failed following a freakish collison with a flock of Canadian geese. Amazingly, all 155 passengers and crew survived.

Do you think Capt. Sullenberger could manage to help President-Elect Obama give our economy a successful crash landing, avoiding castrophe? If so, maybe New York Governor David Paterson should appoint Capt. Sullenberger to Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat.

I mean, I don’t think Caroline Kennedy or Andrew Cuomo could save 155 lives.

Now, of course Capt. Sullenberger is currently a resident of California, but that shouldn’t be an obstacle. Remember, Sen. Clinton was an Arkansas resident before she decided she was a New Yorker.

So I say, Sullenberger for Senate!

Franken and Burris: What’s Next

Today members of the 111th Congress are taking the oath of office. Al Franken and Roland Burris will not be among them and that is appropriate. Here’s why and here’s what should happen next.

Caroline Kennedy: The More You Know

You know, I imagine that, um, the parents of teenagers across America, you know, will use this video to help shame their kids, um, into being more precise in speaking. You know? 

Gov. Kaine to Run DNC

The Politico is reporting tonight that Gov. Tim Kaine has agreed to chair the Democratic National Committee. Initially, the governor indicated he was not interested in the job, but accepted it after President-elect Barack Obama personally intervened.

The story is also being reported by the Virginian-Pilot, the Richmond Times Dispatch, the Associated Press, The Washington Post and The New York Times.

There is no better choice than Governor Kaine.

On Vacant Senate Seats: Let the Voters Decide

Really, you can’t make this stuff up.

First, America elects a one term senator their president. That Senator happens to be an African-American and he also happens to have flipped N.C., Ind., Fla., Va., Ohio, N.M. and Nev. from red to blue.

Then the senator, now President-elect, picks several fellow senators to join his administration, creating several vacancies. In the Senate, unlike the House where the states hold special elections, the vacancies are filled by Governors. (This is a relic of the time when state legislatures picked Senators. It’s a compromise which was established as part of the creation of the 17th amendment in 1913.)

So here’s where we stand with the various Senate vacancies:

Fake Virginia’s Real New Year’s Resolutions

As we begin a new year together, I offer you these resolutions for 2009. This year, I resolve:

1. To not take any reporter seriously who tries to convince the rest of America that Virginia’s 2009 election is a harbinger for the 2010 midterms. Virginia has a long history of voting on one way in state races and another way in national races. When the two coincide, it’s helpful to remember that correlation does not equal causation.
2. To hold Barack Obama accountable for what he promised us in the 2008 campaign. It will be easier said than done, but I’m going to do my part.
3. To do what I can to ensure that the GOP remains the opposition party, but a loyal one. All of those Republicans who lectured me about George W. Bush being “our” president, better get ready. And those idiots who called Barack Obama a socialist who palled around with terrorists, I’ve not forgotten about you.
4. To point out the hypocrisy of politicians regardless of party. This should be easy to keep, no?
5. To bring attention to innovative ideas in government. (I know that’s boring to some, but isn’t that the point of politics? To win elections so you can govern?)
6. And finally, to do what ever I can to point out why Terry McAuliffe would be a horrible Governor of Virginia. He can run for state party chair, because Lord knows he’s a great fundraiser, but I don’t want that hack as my governor.