Political quandary
A View from the Right column by Mike Hodge
I have an important question to pose to you, but first an observation. You’ve heard all the hoopla about Tim Kaine being Barack Obama’s VP. I wanted to tell you why this is a good thing for Valley Republicans.
Bill Bolling running for governor and Bob McDonnell running for attorney general means there is an open slot, lieutenant governor. Who better to fill that slot then our own state senator, Emmett Hanger? The senator has already expressed interest in running for LG. He had been ready to run next year if Bolling had not annouced he was running for re-election. He’s made no secret that he has ambitions for a statewide office. Read more
Once again, the best state for business
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
And the blowhards are trying to say that Virginia would be better off without Tim Kaine …
Forbes.com has once again named Virginia as its “Best State for Business.” It was the third consecutive annual recognition for the Commonwealth by the folks at Forbes, all three on the watch of Kaine, who was inaugurated as governor in January 2006. Read more
Message on speculation starting to sink in
Analysis by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
We were getting it even before we heard that Exxon-Mobil was reporting a record second-quarter profit.
Recent polling done by Rasmussen Reports and AAA Mid-Atlantic shows that Americans think that we should focus our efforts on excessive futures-market speculation as we approach solutions to high prices at the pump. Forty-seven percent of respondents to the AAA poll listed commodity speculators as the answer to the question, “Who’s to blame for high gas prices?” Respondents to the AAA poll were able to provide up to three answers. Congress preventing more domestic drilling was the second most-popular answer at 40 percent. Read more
Friday night at Stone Soup
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Mary Binda and Gary Randal are playing the Friday-night gig at Stone Soup Books and Cafe in Downtown Waynesboro this week.
The show starts at 6 p.m.
There is no cover charge. Space is limited, so it is recommended that you call for seating availability.
For more information, call 540.943.0084 or go online at www.stonesoupbooks.net.
Blues in the Bowl at Lime Kiln
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Washington and Lee grad Scott Ainslie and The Buddy Parker Band, featuring drummer and Lexington chiropractor Randy Short, will be playing Blues in the Bowl at the Theater at Lime Kiln in Lexington on Saturday night.
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for students.
For more information, call 540.463.7088 or go online at www.theateratlimekiln.com.
Winners and Losers: July 31, 2008
Compiled by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
‘CELEB’ DEATHMATCH: John McCain takes yet another shot at Barack Obama
OK, I’ll bite. Who at the McCain HQ thinks Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are still international celebrities? What, are we running for president in 2004 now?
Seriously, the message in the latest McCain backwater offering, “Celeb,” is not only out of date, but it’s misleading in what it has to offer in the way of criticism of the Obama platform.
Considering that McCain himself has suggested that tax increases are very much on the table, it’s probably disingenuous for him to go on the attack against Obama for saying that he would support a rollback of the Bush tax cuts on the superwealthy.
And then considering that McCain himself has conspicuously sidestepped the issue of closing loopholes that are being exploited by speculators to artificially raise the price of oil on futures markets, well, his riff on offshore drilling that won’t have an impact on prices for 10 or 20 or 30 years rings hollow.
One has to start wondering at this point what McCain himself stands for. Is it tax increases, or not? Is it doing something about high fuel costs, or not? All we know right now is that John McCain doesn’t like Barack Obama, and that he’s not exactly partial to telling the truth.
Planning Commission to kick off zoning-ordinance review
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The Waynesboro Planning Commission is hosting a meeting Thursday night to kick off the review of the city zoning ordinance.
The review will be the first comprehensive look at the zoning ordinance since it was updated in 1964. The first zoning ordinance in Waynesboro was adopted in 1934.
The review is being done in the wake of the adoption of a citywide land-use plan by Waynesboro City Council earlier this year.
The city has contracted the planning firm of Jim Duncan and Associates to assist in the review. The firm is being paid $160,000 for the 12- to 14-month project.
The Planning Commission kickoff meeting will be held at the Kate Collins Middle School auditorium and will begin at 7 p.m.
