The Valley Blue Dog: Notes from the dirty campaign trail

Steven Sisson

Column by Steven Sisson Our presidential campaign has sunk lower than the Wall Street stock index. Down, down, down … Republican operatives have historically gone negative in losing campaigns to drive down voter participation and denigrate their Democratic opposition. Guess what? Dinosaur-like GOP president nominee John McCain is losing to a first-term senator. The Blue…

The Valley Blue Dog: Do as I say, not as I do?

Steven Sisson

Column by Steven Sisson It’s becoming clear as mud after last night’s debate that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is worst running mate since Thomas Eagleton in 1972. McCain’s political strategy ensuring women will vote for the Republican ticket because Palin’s sexuality is condescending to say the least. To quote Charlie Chan, the “mud of bewilderment…

David Reynolds: Strong Mayors=Strong Cities

David Reynolds

Column by David Reynolds Last night, if you were able break away from the distant static of the presidential campaign, there was an opportunity to participate in another campaign, this one up close and civil. There was a forum held in Lexington to have the candidates for mayor and city council (all elected at large)…

The Top Story: Obama, McCain visiting Va.

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Barack Obama is not welcome in Southwest Virginia. That was the rather curious, to me, anyway, message today from the presidential campaign that has said that it will tone down the partisan rhetoric and even reach out across the aisle to welcome Democrats into its reform-minded administration if…

Joey’s roots

David Reynolds

Column by David Reynolds We all have roots. Some have local ones. They’re RB&B folks, Rockbridge Born & Bred. Others, like myself, have roots that were planted elsewhere. Last week lightning struck a man whose roots I proudly share. You may have caught this man’s name in the news over the past few days. I…

EMU celebrates commencement

Jim Bishop

Story by Jim Bishop Partly-cloudy skies and pleasant temperatures provided a near-ideal backdrop Sunday for Eastern Mennonite University’s annual commencement exercises. More than 3,500 family members and friends filled the front lawn of campus to celebrate the achievements of the 411 members of the EMU class of 2008. President Loren Swartzendruber awarded 291 undergraduate, 89…

Views from Life

AFP

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Film offers a glimpse into life and ideas and culture. And a chance to spread understanding and a sense of community. The organizers of the upcoming Staunton Jewish Film Festival hope the April 11-17 event can create a bridge between a local Jewish congregation and the Staunton and Central Shenandoah…

The school crosswalks of Madison County

Carl Larsen

Carly at the Movies column by Carl Larsen You must have seen the surprisingly good movie “The Bridges of Madison County” back in 1995, the one based on the surprisingly sappy novel by Robert James Waller. Well, I’ve just seen the Young Persons version of the same simple tale, ablaze with unrequited love and melancholy…