Virginia Politics: Undecided in Sixth?

Chris Graham

Column by Chris Graham [email protected] In the absence of hard numbers in the form of updated polling data to break down, it’s hard to get a handle on the Sixth District congressional race beyond the rendering now six weeks old that has Republican incumbent Bob Goodlatte comfortably ahead. Which makes our completely unscientific and unverifiable…

Business and Politics: Fiddling while Wall Street is burning

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] A funny thing happened on the way to John McCain riding in on his white horse to solve the Wall Street crisis – the horse was late, and by the time McCain got involved, they’d had the crisis solved without him. And then a funnier thing happened – when McCain…

Jim Webb: Bailout should include strengthened regulatory structure, cap on executive compensation

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] U.S. Sen. Jim Webb is urging that the $700 billion bailout of the U.S. mortgage industry being contemplated by Congress include a strengthened regulatory structure to prevent future market instability and a cap on executive compensation in companies being rescued by taxpayers. “It is inarguable that the regulatory structure now…

Harrisonburg: Seminary alum examines intersection of politics, faith

AFP

Story by Laura Lehman Amstutz With the presidential race on many peoples’ minds these days, one Eastern Mennonite Seminary alumna is always thinking about the intersection of politics and Christian faith. Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach, a 2006 graduate, is director of Mennonite Central Committee U.S.’s Washington Office. “The work of MCC’s Washington Office largely grows out…

David Cox: Highway to the low road

David Cox

Column by David Cox Among other things, I teach ethics at Dabney. That is why I’m all the more uncomfortable with the direction of this year’s political campaign. Ever since both presidential candidates promised, each in his way, a new form of politics, my discomfort, like the campaign, is growing worse. Yes, Barack Obama took…

Shepherd Bliss: Slow Food Nation attracts 50,000 … beneath the surface

AFP

Column by Shepherd Bliss “Come to the table,” Slow Food Nation invited. And come to San Francisco over Labor Day weekend they did — around 50,000 people attending perhaps the largest food celebration in American history. Tables and straw bales appeared in the heart of the city’s Civic Center around a victory garden on about…

Rick Gray: All in the timing

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Op-ed by Rick Gray Timing is everything. Four years ago, on Christmas night, I flew to Manchester, N.H., to spend a week of my precious winter holiday knocking on doors for Howard Dean. This year, I’ve slapped a McCain sticker on my bumper and agreed to write this piece. Let me explain. I’m a liberal,…

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…

Winners and Losers: Gilmore, Warner, Frederick, Hillary, McCain

Chris Graham

Compiled by Chris Graham [email protected] TELL US MORE ABOUT YOU, JIMMY: More trash from Gilmore Got another note from the Jim Gilmore campaign with more trash on how Mark Warner is a bad guy. Today it’s something he said to the Virginia AFL-CIO about his support of legislation that would put Virginia’s right-to-work status in…

Shepherd Bliss: Slow Food Nation to release healthy food and agriculture declaration

AFP

Column by Shepherd Bliss “We, the undersigned, believe that a healthy food system is necessary to meet the urgent challenges of our time,” begins the final draft of the Declaration for Healthy Food and Agriculture. Initiated by Roots of Change and half a year in the drafting, it will be released Friday at Slow Food…