The Top Story: Democrats taking up mantle of fiscal responsibility

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Democrats have been doing well in Virginia in recent years, and it’s no secret why. They’ve been balancing budgets and building the economy. And while national Democrats are using a “more of the same” theme to link GOP presidential nominee John McCain to the failed presidency of George…

Special Commentary: Palin-haters?

Chris Graham

Special Commentary by Chris Graham [email protected] “Sarah Palin represents everything they hate,” conservative radio host Laura Ingraham told an audience at the Republican National Convention this week. Which piqued my interest, because I’m guessing that I’m one of those they that she was referring to – a Democrat, a member of the news media. Come…

’08 Senate: Gilmore goes on attack against Warner

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Jim Gilmore standing at the podium in Glen Maury Park in Buena Vista at the foot of the Blue Ridge pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. A burly, hirsute man wearing a form-fitting Gilmore T-shirt handed the news reporter standing next to me a similarly-sized paper…

Virginia Politics: ’08 fall campaign gets into gear in Buena Vista

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] I had a hard time transcribing the recordings of my interviews, it was so loud. I’ve been to the past 12 Buena Vista Labor Day events, and this was by far the most energetic one I’ve ever been a part of. “In my life, I’ve never seen anything like this…

Looking back: AFP publisher visits Gulf Coast after Katrina

Crystal Graham

Three years ago, I visited Long Beach, Miss., to learn more about what Valley volunteers were doing to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. A local group, The Valley Responds, was regularly sending volunteers to rebuild the region. I will never forget what I saw, both in terms of the devastation and the will…

College Football: USC dominates Virginia, 52-7

AFP

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Third-ranked Southern Cal scored on its first four possessions and was never really challenged in a 52-7 win at Virginia this evening in Charlottesville. Quarterback Mark Sanchez had a career day, completing 26 of his 35 pass attempts for 338 yards and three touchdowns three weeks after injuring his left kneecap…

The Top Story: Seriously … Sarah Palin?

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham [email protected] She has executive experience, but let’s put Sarah Palin’s Alaska in perspective. It has a population of 670,000 and a state budget of $6.6 billion. Which, essentially, makes it Fairfax County (population 1 million, operating budget of $3.3 billion), only colder. So maybe we can dispense with the…

Virginia ’09: McAuliffe for governor?

Chris Graham

Analysis by Chris Graham [email protected] Terry McAuliffe for governor, huh? In Virginia? Really? “I was a kid who grew up in Syracuse,” said McAuliffe, a former Democratic National Committee chair and key advisor to the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton, after speaking to the Virginia delegation at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday. “I started…