Va Bar Association gubernatorial debate -- photos 2

Photos courtesy of Rick Sincere.
Virginia Politics On Demand

Virginia Bar Association gubernatorial debate at The Homestead - 1st photos

Ken Cuccinelli, Terry McAuliffe, Judy Woodruff

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
July 20, 2013

Monday: Bill Bolling to be on John Fredericks radio show

Tune in Monday at 8:15 a.m. to hear radio host John Fredericks as he talks with Virginia Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling....

Supporters establish legal defense fund for Bob McDonnell

Friends and supporters of Governor Bob McDonnell have set up a legal defense fund to help with legal expenses and defend his record in office against attack.

The nonprofit 527(e)(1) Restoration Fund's board consists of Virginia Beach attorney Stanley Baldwin, Hampton roads businessman and entrepreneur Tom Knox, and Virginia beach attorney Jason Miyares.

Board chairman Baldwin commented:

"We believe that Bob McDonnell has complied with the laws of Virginia as they relate to financial disclosures. For a decades-long public servant like Governor McDonnell, the legal fees being incurred by the investigations spurred by the case against the former mansion chef could be ruinous. The Governor's friends want to ensure that he can wage a vigorous defense and clear his good name. Bob McDonnell's over four decades of public service to Virginia and the nation, in the U.S. Army, as a prosecutor, Delegate, Attorney General and as Governor has always been one of leadership and conviction.”

The fund will not accept contributions from any Virginia state employees, administration officials, board or commission appointees, or anyone who personally has or is a major shareholder, director, or executive of any entity with business before the Commonwealth.

Donations to the fund are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes, and persons that contribute more than $200 will be disclosed to the IRS and made public on a regular basis.

Augusta Library Board elects new president

Craigsville branch of the Augusta County Library.

A seasoned member of the Augusta County Library Board has been elected as president to lead the organization through the 2013-14 year.

Mr. Terry Sumey, who represents the South River District and has 22 years of experience on the board, was elected president at the bi-monthly meeting held Thursday night at Pasture District's Craigsville branch. Frank Deckert, Riverheads representative, was re-elected vice president.

Board members welcomed a new colleague, Betsy Curry, appointed by Supervisor Marshall Pattie to replace Marsha Elliott, who moved out of the county, as representative of the North River District.

Craigsville's library branch is an example of how the community comes together to help with projects that have seen cuts to budgets the past few years. Wood for shelves was donated by Blue Ridge Lumber in Fishersville, and the craftsmanship was by Frank Jolly at the nearby Augusta Correctional Center.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
July 18, 2013

U.S. House schedule for Friday, July 19, 2013

From Majority Leader Eric Cantor....

FRIDAY, JULY 19TH
On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.
First and last votes expected: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

One Minute Speeches

Complete Consideration of H.R. 5 - Student Success Act, Rules Committee Print (Structured Rule)
(Sponsored by Rep. John Kline / Education and the Workforce Committee)

The Rule provides for no further general debate and makes in order the following remaining amendments:

Rep. John Culberson Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Fitzpatrick / Meehan Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Amendment #24 (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Cantor / Bishop Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. George Miller Substitute Amendment (20 minutes of debate)

Special Order Speeches

COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE DAY
Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation hearing on “Public Lands and Environmental Regulations Legislation” (Friday, July 19th, at 9:00 a.m.)

Printable PDF

Frank Wolf: Benghazi survivors forced to sign non-disclosure agreements

Stunning news was delivered today on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives by Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf (R-10th District) who had questioned earlier this week why no survivors of the Benghazi, Libya, terrorist attack had testified publicly before Congress.

The September 11, 2012, attack on the American Embassy resulted in the deaths of four Americans including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, U.S. Foreign Service Information Officer Sean Smith, and two embassy security officers who were former U.S. Navy Seals, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. Questions have been raised with some allegations the White House tried to cover up what happened that night.

The Weekly Standard reported Wolf's remarks from the floor of the House as he revealed the answer to his question:

"According to trusted sources that have contacted my office, many if not all of the survivors of the Benghazi attacks along with others at the Department of Defense, the CIA have been asked or directed to sign additional non-disclosure agreements about their involvement in the Benghazi attacks. Some of these new NDAs, as they call them, I have been told were signed as recently as this summer."

He went on to say:

"If these reports are accurate, this would be a stunning revelation to any member of Congress, any member of Congress that finds this out and also more importantly to the American people. It also raises serious concerns about the priority of the administration's efforts to silence those with knowledge of the Benghazi attack in response."

Wolf said he supported a Select Committee, along with 159 of his colleagues, to learn what happened the night of September 11, 2012, in Benghazi.

NJ polls: Christie dominates governor's race

Governor Chris Christie continues to dominate in the polls for New Jersey's 2013 gubernatorial race. Real Clear Politics took six polls -- Quinnipiac, Fairleigh Dickinson, Rasmussen Reports, Richard Stockton College, Monmouth University, Rutgers-Eagleton -- and averaged them to show Christie leading 60 percent to 28 percent against Democratic opponent state Senator Barbara Buono.

Christie, seeking reelection for a second term, is a well-liked Republican governor in a blue state who has been praised for his leadership in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and his willingness to reach out to President Barack Obama in his search for help.

Saunders Brothers fresh summer produce in Piney River

Saturday was our second stop in three days at Saunders Brothers produce market on Rt. 56 in Nelson County. The locally grown sweet corn is fantastic -- large plump ears perfect for grilling or boiling. Several varieties of locally grown peaches were in stock and, if you're not sure what variety you'd like, they have plenty for tasting. Talked with Mr. Paul Saunders who said they had cantaloupes that morning but had sold out in thirty minutes. Other local produce included green beans, yellow squash, zucchini, pickling cucumbers, and egg plant.

Perennials and annuals were marked half price with sales also on rose bushes and hydrangeas as well as hanging baskets.

The King of Pops, a business in Richmond that sells premiere popsicles and summer time employer of SWAC Niece, purchases his peaches for the peach pops from Saunders Brothers.There's also jellies, jams, locally-made cheese, meat, ice cream, home baked goodies, and lots of other items.

Check them out on Facebook where they have regular updates as fruits and vegetables come in. On Thursday, July 18, they posted: "We've got a cornucopia of tomatoes, watermelons, corn, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, green beans, peaches, donut peaches, nectarines and summer cooking apples. There's something for everyone!"

It's a pretty drive along the mountains from Staunton to Saunders Brothers. Take Rt. 250 east from top of Afton Mountain to Rt. 6 on right. Follow Rt. 6 to intersection with Rt. 151; turn right onto Rt. 151 and follow to Rt. 56 East. Saunders Brothers is a mile or two down the road on the left.  2717 Tye Brook Hwy, Piney River, Virginia 22964 for your GPS.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
July 13, 2013

U.S. House schedule for Thursday, July 18, 2013

From Majority Leader Eric Cantor's office....

THURSDAY, JULY 18TH
On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. First votes expected: 1:45 - 2:30 p.m. Last votes expected: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

One Minute Speeches

Begin Consideration of H.R. 5 - Student Success Act, Rules Committee Print (Structured Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. John Kline / Education and the Workforce Committee)

The rule provides for one hour of general debate and makes in order the following amendments:

Rep. Kline / Rokita Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Young (AK) / Gabbard / Hanabusa / McCollum Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Tony Cardenas Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee Amendment #5 (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Kerry Bentivolio Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Reed / McKinley / Owens Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Dan Benishek Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Joe Heck Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Schock / Meehan Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Scalise / Bishop Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Moore / Wilson (FL) Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Rob Bishop Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Paul Tonko Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Brooks / Polis Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Polis / Petri Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Nydia Velazquez Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Markwayne Mullin Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Scott Garrett Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Paul Broun Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. John Culberson Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Fitzpatrick / Meehan Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee Amendment #24 (10 minutes of debate)
Reps. Cantor / Bishop Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. George Miller Amendment (10 minutes of debate)

Special Order Speeches

COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE DAY
Oversight & Government Reform Committee hearing on “The IRS’ Systematic Delay and Scrutiny of Tea Party Applications” (Thursday, July 18th, at 11:00 a.m.)

Printable PDF

Tye River rocks at Crabtree Falls

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
July 11, 2013

Unpaved Blue Ridge Parkway

Paving is underway on the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Afton.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
July 11, 2013

Quinnipiac: 61% of Virginians want Governor to stay in office

The just-released Quinnipiac University poll shows the overwhelming majority of Virginians are not clamoring for the Governor to resign, with 61 percent saying no, he should not, and 24 percent undecided. Quinnipiac also noted, "Among voters who say they voted for McDonnell in 2009, 84 percent say they would vote for him again...."

Also, a new Roanoke College poll shows that most Virginians are not paying attention to the story involving Star Scientific, Jonnie Williams, and Governor Bob McDonnell:

... more than half (60%) of registered voters said they have not been following it closely at all. Only 9 percent said they have been following closely, and 25 percent said they have been following it somewhat closely.

Radio host John Fredericks recently weighed in on the issue: "Gov. McDonnell gifts: Get over it. Governor Bob McDonnell broke no laws and didn't do anything we can find that is legally unethical or in conflict with Virginia's very liberal gift laws. If you don't like it, change the laws. But don't impugne the Governor. Did he exercise poor judgment? That is speculative. Did he break any laws? From what we have seen so far: no, he did not. So right now, this amounts to a hill of beans, although we acknowledge the depth of different gifts is reaching critical mass. Should he resign? That is his personal decision, but certainly not over this nonsense."

Cades Cove

Peaceful and quiet ... Cades Cove in the magnificent Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
May 2013

U.S. House schedule for Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced the U.S. House legislative agenda today, which includes the  Authority for Mandate Delay Act that proposes to delay the application of the employer health insurance mandate from December 31, 2013, to December 31, 2014, and the Fairness for American Families Act, a house cleaning item to delay the application of the individual health insurance mandate.

The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health will have a hearing on “Delay of the Employer Mandate Penalties and Reporting Requirements” at 10:00 a.m. with a focus on the Obama Administration's decision to delay the penalties for the employer mandate and the employer information reporting requirements under the Affordable Care Act.

During the day, the official photograph will be taken of the 113th Congress. Find the complete agenda at the Majority Leader's website.

U.S. House schedule for Tuesday, July 16, 2013

From Majority Leader Eric Cantor....

TUESDAY, JULY 16TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

One Minute Speeches

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 2576 - To amend title 49, United States Code, to modify requirements relating to the availability of pipeline safety regulatory documents, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Denham / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
2) H.R. 1848 - Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Mike Pompeo / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
3) H.R. 2611 - To designate the headquarters building of the Coast Guard on the campus located at 2701 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue Southeast in the District of Columbia as the “Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building”, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

Special Order Speeches

COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE DAY
Rules Committee meeting on “H.R. 2667, Authority for Mandate Delay and H.R. 2668, Fairness for American Families Act” (Tuesday, July 16th, at 5:00 p.m.)

Printable PDF

Va Dems circle wagons ... Va Republicans join in circular firing squad

Attacking Republicans seems to be the sport of the day, not only by Democrats, but also within the Republican Party. Recently, Marco Rubio and Chris Christie were attacked by the right wing of the GOP for not being conservative enough on their policies about immigration and other issues. Now add Bob McDonnell to that list.

Conservative bloggers like Willie Deutsch at Bearing Drift have joined with Democratic bloggers in the mindless act of becoming participants in attacking the Virginia Republican Governor. What should be more disconcerting is the effect this circular firing squad will have on GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli who has also been caught up in the controversy with his own issue of unreported gifts from Star Scientific and Jonnie Williams. When the far right is done with Bob McDonnell, will they then turn their guns on Cuccinelli?

In the words of Richmond Times-Dispatch political writer Jeff Schapiro, "... all Democrats have to do is watch a great Republican tradition: cannibalism."

The hemorrhaging needs to stop.

Interestingly enough, in the shadows away from this controversy stands Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling. The far right had its fair share of attacking him earlier this year by calling him a RINO and questioning his conservative credentials. In hindsight, perhaps Bolling did the wisest thing by stepping aside in this toxic environment. Meanwhile, as Jim Hoeft  reported, it's business as usual in the LG's office as he goes about the job of working for the people of Virginia.

The LG is also on the minds of the editorial board at Charlottesville's Daily Progress, wondering what if concerning Bolling's aborted campaign for Governor. Noting the issues surrounding the Governor, the Daily Progress wrote:

“Much of this has occurred on center stage during a summer that was supposed to have belonged to Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a better man who stands in the shadows, cast there by a party that failed him and failed Virginia.

Undercut by state GOP leaders whose political IQ’s can only be measured in minuses, Bolling was thrown to the side by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a man with more baggage than Samsonite.

Rather than hold a primary to allow voters to select the next Republican candidate for governor, party string-pullers conducted the rough equivalent of a meeting in a smoke-filled room, holding a convention to hand Cuccinelli the nomination.

Bolling could have taken his shot in 2009 — surely, he wishes now that he had — but he agreed to stand aside to unify the party, paving the path to McDonnell’s sweeping victory. The idea was that Bolling would wait his turn until 2013.

Then along came Cuccinelli. One wonders how strongly the capital’s most powerful Republican stood for the friend who helped him win election. There are apparent prices to be paid for McDonnell’s friendship. Williams is Exhibit A, evidently.

That has stirred rumblings about McDonnell’s possible early departure from Richmond. A conservative blogger claimed over the weekend that two sources told him the governor was preparing to resign in a plea deal to avoid ethics charges. McDonnell’s staff quickly denied the rumor.

It’s a sign of how deep the governor is in his own mess. Were he to be forced out, moving Bolling into the mansion, Virginia would be served in the interim by a leader superior to the alternatives being offered up for the fall. Perhaps Bolling might gain fuel enough for a write-in run.

That might be a dream, but it is far pleasanter than the nightmare now being lived out in the state’s highest office.

What the far right's circular firing squad is doing is driving people like Laura Lennox of Richmond to consider a write-in vote for Bill Bolling while others have taken to Facebook.

The loser in all this is the Republican Party, both statewide and nationally. Maybe we all need to reconsider the 11th commandment often quoted by Ronald Reagan: Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.

UVa summer Young Writers Camp ... exploring the 3200-acre Sweet Briar College campus

After spending three weeks last summer immersed in the French language and culture when Washington & Lee University hosted the Governor's School French Academy, SWAC Niece is enjoying a three-week Young Writers Summer Camp this summer sponsored by the University of Virginia but held on the campus of nearby Sweet Briar College. This rising high school senior is a writer in all forms of the word, and has been since she was a little girl.

Sweet Briar's campus consists of 3,200 rolling acres spread out over the Virginia countryside with room to roam for active young people. From the meandering front wooded drive to the historic brick buildings that are listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic District, it offers nooks and crannies to explore or put pen to paper -- or fingers to keyboard -- to describe the scenery, recall experiences, or record memories.

Part of the African American heritage of Sweet Briar.

This imposing yellow structure is Sweet Briar House. Sweet Briar College was founded in 1901, the legacy of Indiana Fletcher Williams, who left her entire estate to found an institution in memory of her only daughter, Daisy, who died at the age of 16 in 1884. At the time of Mrs. Williams' death in 1900, her estate consisted of more than a million dollars, and over 8,000 acres of land, including the Sweet Briar Plantation.

Sweet Briar House has been home to the presidents of the College since its founding in 1901. The former estate residence has been on the Virginia Landmarks Register since the 1970s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The original house was built in the late 18th century by Joseph Crews. Originally known as Locust Ridge, the structure was a two-story, six-room farmhouse of red brick. In 1830 Elijah Fletcher bought the house and 1,000 acres for $7,000 from Penn family relatives of his wife, Maria Antoinette Crawford. Fletcher, a schoolteacher from Vermont who had come to nearby New Glasgow (now Clifton) to teach at an academy there, rose to prominence in the local community and in Lynchburg following his marriage in 1813.

Called "Sweetbrier" for the abundance of wild roses on the property, it became the summer home for the Fletchers and their four children, Indiana, Elizabeth, Sidney, and Lucien. In 1841 the family made it their permanent residence, and in 1851-1852 the original T-shaped farmhouse was enlarged with the addition of the tower wings, showing the daughters' attraction to Italianate architecture they had seen during a grand tour of Europe.

The house was furnished with pieces bought in New York and Philadelphia. In 1858, upon Elijah's death, his daughter Indiana inherited Sweetbrier, renaming it "Sweet Briar." In 1865 Indiana married a New York clergyman, James Henry Williams, and though the couple traveled back and forth between New York and Sweet Briar, they considered this to be their home.

Sweet Briar College's first president, Mary K. Benedict, used Sweet Briar House as her residence. For the first years of the College it also housed faculty members, the post office, and the infirmary. The first floor also served as the administration building for the College until 1926. A 1927 fire damaged the central part of the house and led to the rebuilding and modernization of the central part and east wing of the house.

Sweet Briar House is surrounded by gardens restored by The Garden Club of Virginia, and is filled with many of the furnishings original to the Fletcher and Williams families.

The campus includes hiking trails, an equestrian center, boat house with two lakes, and an abundance of outdoor activities taking advantage of the surrounding national forests and ski areas.

The Young Writers Workshop of the University of Virginia, established in 1982 as the nation’s flagship program for young writers, enters its third decade of bringing together a community of young people from across the country and beyond with a common purpose: to create a supportive, non-competitive environment where teenage writers can live and work together as artists. The faculty of authors and residential staff bring professional experience to the development of new talent.  In partnership with Sweet Briar College and its idyllic setting, the Young Writers Workshop has achieved a long-desired goal to welcome its participants to a retreat space where writers can commune with each other, immerse themselves in creative activity, and fuel their imaginations through an innovative arts program.

Participants learn the dynamic principles of play, invention, response, revision, performance, and publication as well as strategies to invent, develop, and revise material using the writer’s most essential tools—language, imagination, craft, sight, and insight. They conference with instructors and peer writers. They examine contemporary artists’ work. They become more discerning readers. Five workshops are offered.

Fiction: From the real to the surreal, fiction writers learn how evocative fiction works: the power of provocative story hooks, resonant settings, and plot lines that weave together the lives of complex characters. This workshop also focuses on developing a repertoire of voices, styles, and narrative techniques to intrigue readers and leave them wanting more.

Screen and playwriting: F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "Writers aren’t exactly people … they’re a whole bunch of people trying to be one person." Script writers learn the skills needed to unleash their cast of characters onto screen or stage. Dramatic writing is the perfect genre for those whose inspiration exceeds the limits of the page! 

Creative nonfiction: Creative nonfiction writers deploy the devices of great fiction—riveting description, charged dialogue, strong narrative structure—for telling true stories. They take these literary skills into field assignments to practice the real moves of the nonfiction writer, through humor, memoir, editorial, review, and many others bringing truth to the page with the force of fiction.

Poetry: Poets make the ordinary extraordinary. They experiment with craft and form. They embody whole worlds of experience in just one line or image, distill where they have been and what they know, and give shape to personal truth in luminous detail. This workshop helps young poets discover the ways to tempt the muse to the page and forge what follows into a full blaze.

Song writing: SWAC Niece may enjoy this since she's an accomplished guitar player. Artists in this workshop write songs that give rise to unequivocal statement. They concentrate on lyrics, music, or both. Through improvisation, they enter the kinship of poetry through jazz-poetry fusion. They perform live, go solo, or collaborate with other singer-songwriters. Either way, they create in that unparalleled space where sound and words explode.

Those who wished to attend had to compete for a slot by writing an autobiographical sketch including details reasons for wanting to attend the Workshop and capturing the applicant’s interests and influences as a writer, as well as a recommendation.

Applicants also had to submit one one-page writing sample in their first choice of genres, one one-page sample in their second choice of genres, a selective writing portfolio (3-5 page document) in their first choice of genres, and a 2-3 page writing sample in their second choice of genres.

It's a tremendous opportunity with the chance to work side-by-side with young writers from around the world as well as across the nation. 

What inspiration will be found on this sprawling campus? We will know at the end of this session.

The equestrian center.

The boat house.

From the beginning, Sweet Briar recognized that students who will become "useful members of society" must, as liberally educated women, be well equipped to move into professional life, a goal that continues into the 21st century.

In Staunton, City Councilwoman Andrea Oakes carries on that tradition of being a "useful member of society" as she serves on Staunton City Council and for various organizations while working a full-time job.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
July 11, 2013

Euro Market in Harrisonburg

Found a new, interesting place in Harrisonburg ... the Euro Market. Lot of goodies from Russia and some from France.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
July 12, 2013

Lunch at Lake Shenandoah

 In the shadow of Massanutten Mountain is Lake Shenandoah complete with fishing and a birding trail. On Friday my sister and I found ourselves roaming around Rockingham County so stopped here for a tailgate lunch while watching the fishermen.

Massanutten looms in the distance on an overcast day with fog on the mountain ridges.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
July 12, 2013