David Cox: ‘No’ on a worthy sentiment, bad law

David Cox

When I come to the second of three amendments to the Virginia constitution on next Tuesday’s ballot, I hope I don’t punch a hole in the machine when I vote “No.” This proposal aims to help disabled veterans by exempting them from property tax. How could anyone oppose so worthy, so charitable a goal for…

Bradley Rees: A time for choosing

Letters

“A political battle is merely a skirmish fought with muskets. A philosophical battle is a nuclear war.” These words were written by Ayn Rand way back in 1964. This sentiment was, at one time, shared by the Tea Party groups that inhabit central Virginia. They understood that the time for fixing those metaphorical rusty bayonets…

Sarah van Gelder: Families can’t afford to stay home on Election Day

AFP

If you’re like me, this election doesn’t feel anything like 2008. The excitement and hope of that historic election have been replaced by worry and disappointment. The 2008 campaigns at least occasionally addressed our country’s serious problems. This year it’s all noise, attacks, and accusations. Little actual policy makes it through. Meanwhile, billionaires, big oil,…

Analyst: ‘Who will actually show up to vote?’

Chris Graham

We’re nearing the final week of the 2010 midterm elections, and one of the marquee races on the national stage next Tuesday night is right here in our backyard. Democrat Tom Perriello is trailing in the polls to Republican challenger Robert Hurt, a state senator from Southside who has run in many ways the perfect…

Sexting charges dropped against Virginia teen who received nude photos

Chris Graham

The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia announced today that all charges have been dropped against a boy charged with possession of child pornography after he received nude photos on his cell phone from a girl who attended school with him. The boy, who was 14 years old when the incident occurred, had not shown…

Poll: Hurt-Perriello basically a dead heat

Chris Graham

A new poll commissioned by The Hill has Fifth District Congressman Tom Perriello trailing Republican challenger Robert Hurt by a single point as their race heads into the stretch drive. Hurt had a 45 percent-44 percent lead over the Democrat in The Hill/ANGA poll, results of which were released on Wednesday by the newspaper. The…

Vanke defends release of push poll

Chris Graham

Independent candidate Jeff Vanke is defending his campaign’s release of a two-question push poll that was touted in e-mail as showing him within four points of incumbent Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte. “My campaign is not ’tilting at windmills,’ as one journalist asked me about,” Vanke wrote in an e-mail to members of the media…

Don’t ask, don’t tell, DREAM Act fall victim to filibuster

Chris Graham

An effort to get a vote on legislation repealing the don’t ask, don’t tell policy that is used to keep gays and lesbians from serving in the United States military and a vote on a bill that would open educational opportunities and a path to citizenship for undocumented Americans who are long-time U.S. residents failed…

Gallup: Momentum shifting in generic ballot?

AFP

For the second time in three weeks the Gallup survey of voter preferences on a generic congressional ballot has Democrats and Republicans essentially in a dead heat. The most recent numbers, released on Monday, have Democrats with a narrow 46 percent-to-45 percent lead over Republicans. The report from Gallup notes a continued significant advantage for…