What in the Tarnation?…

Following the lead of Jim Hoeft, I sought confirmation of my ideological preferences.  First the GOP test:

You Are 20% Republican

If you have anything in common with the Republican party, it’s by sheer chance. You’re a staunch liberal, and nothing is going to change that!

How Republican Are You?

As you can imagine, this t’aint what I forsaw.

But then I took the Democrats test, and…

You Are 20% Democrat

If you have anything in common with the Democrat party, it’s by sheer chance. You’re a staunch conservative, and nothing is going to change that!

How Democrat Are You?

I hesitate to speculate on what the other 60% is, but I have to think these results serve as proof positive that whomever programmed this thing was absolutely trashed at the time.

The Sabbatical ends…

…on February 1.

It’s official

Having been tested, it can now be said that of me that..

You Are a Pundit Blogger!

Your blog is smart, insightful, and always a quality read. Truly appreciated by many, surpassed by only a few

What Kind of Blogger Are You?

I guess we all suspected…

SUN Microsystem and the Steelers…

Russ Grimm is headed to Phoenix to join the Whiz, and it is my sincere hope that after next year he gets the head coaching job he deserves.  As he has a position and has not been left high and dry by the Steelers ungrateful and completely dishonest actions, this will be my last last vent on the situation.

 The Pittsburgh actions in this matter reminds me of SUN Microsystems…talk a really good act, but in fact are as vicious and perhaps worse than the competition.

You see, in my day job I do a lot of technical purchasing…I am one of the folks who found a new line of work via the IT boom.  Ten years ago was that Microsoft were a bunch of buccanners, vicious profit maximizers who wanted to rule the world and used their desktop dominance to send out bad software and make the actual users serve as Beta testers.  On the other hand, Sun Microsystems was this IT god who put our hardware that worked, had a robust OS, and were just the polor opposites of Microsoft in attitude and approach.

Then I went to work at a shop where I actually had to work with SUN, and I discovered that SUN was just as bad as Microsoft, and in many ways worse.  They would sell systems, and not make it clear that things like floppy drives (circa 2001) were not standard.  If you purchased a system with minimum memory configuration to take advantage of better pricing from third party merchants, SUN shipped the system with memory spread over all available memory slots, essentially making you buy memory from them that  you would never use.  All the while they engaged in this petty gamesmanship with reliable customers so they could grab a few more dollars, Scott McNeally, the SUN CEO, acted as if SUN never did anything wrong and was in fact the protector of IT users.

I came to realize that SUN was just as bad as Microsoft, except Microsoft made no bones about what they were doing.  SUN has a self righteousness to it that-along with a failure to adapt to the marketplace and the explosion of Linux-has been driving customers away for years.

The Russ Grimm episode shows me the Steelers have a lot in common with SUN Microsystems.  The Steelers put out this great “family” vibe, and the Rooney’s are such great folks, etc. etc. etc.  But the bottom line is they have no loyalty.  They are as bad as the Cowboys, except the Cowboys don’t try to camouflage their intentions.  They want to win, and will sacrifice those they need to .  Jerry Jones would not have kept a Russ Grimm hanging, even if only because it adds to his image of decisveness.

I may not be a smart man, but I know imposters when I see them…and that is what the Steelers and the Rooney’s are.

Russ Grimm-good luck in Phoenix.  And when the Steelers come to visit next season, I hope you and the Whiz and the Cards whack the bejeezus out of them.

Here Comes the Judge!

Thanks to the glory of Richmond Sunlight, we have access to HR53 and SR44, which passed the respective houses of the General Assembly, and names as a new District Court Judge for the 30th District one Chadwick S. Dotson, Esquire, of Wise, VA.

This makes Chad, former proprieter of Commonwealth Conservative, the first blogger turned judge that I know of but also provides judicial notice that he is a Wise judge ( )…and lord knows that is something we need more of!

Congratulations, Chad!

The Cowboys have Company…

As noted in a previous post, the Pittsburgh Steelers were on the cusp of being my new favorite or new hated team.  For those tuning in late, they had a chance to hire from within and pick Russ Grimm, their offensive line coach and Assistant head Coach.  The other internal front runner chose to head off to Arizona, afraid that if he waited for the Steelers to choose they might not pick him, and he might not get a head coach position at all.

 Grimm stayed loyal, wanting to be coach of the Steelers, on his home turf, where he grew up, where he was a college star before heading off to a three super bowl ring, nominated for the hall of fame career with the Washington Redskins.

Instead, the Steelers chose to dump on Russ Grimm, so they now join the Dallas Cowboys in the tenth ring of hell, just below the level reserved for traitors. 

 Truth be told, if they had just cut Russ early so he would have chance at other positions being the softie I am I would have let bygones be bygones.  But they didn’t.  They kept him and held on while they interviewed other folks…people who I have not doubt are qualified.

It now seems the Steelers had no plans of breaking their tradition. No, no, not the one about hiring caucasian coaches…I mean the one about hiring as a new head coach someone in their mid 30’s, defensive coordinator, and from anothe team.

 Yep, it now seems that Grimsie never had a chance…and that they kept him around as an insurance policy…and now that they have a new head coach they no doubt will kick him to the curb.  I just hope he got severance, as he still had time to run on his contract.

I’d love to see him come back to the Redskins, but I don’t think Joe Bugel is going anywhere.

 Yep, all’s well that ends well…Chan Gailey-interviewed-goes back to Georgia tech.  Whisenhunt goes to a new gig in Phoenix, Rivera loses the shot but he is coaching in the superbowl…and put a superbowl ring on that finger and maybe Jerry Jones will come calling to get a replacement for the Tuna…and of course Mike Tomlin gets a the big gig with Pittsburgh.

And Russ Grimm gets to go home and sit and try to find a new job.

This really stinks.

Well, at least the Cowboys have company…

Oooops, They Did It Again…

“I may not be a smart man, but I know what bad politics are.”

Yep, I do occasionally refer to the Tao of Gump for wisdom.  Unfortunately, the GOP folks in Richmond have chosen not to.

I must take issue with how the GOP is approaching transportation, because they are writing themselves a ticket back to the minority…and all because they refuse to listen to me.

Six weeks ago I bemoaned the fact that the Virginia GOP is not offering a vision of where they want to lead the state. I urged the leadership to find, define, and offer that goal or vision so it could serve as a framework for defining legislative action (or inaction).

They have chosen not to do so, and instead have come up with a patchwork transportation finance plan that tries to be all things to all people, and in doing so will make no one happy. Oh, sorry-it will thrill the democrats, because it plays right into their campaign plans for November.

I will not dive into the minutiae of the budget at this time…if only because it is still rumored. However, no matter how you cut it the GOP has dropped the ball.  They are driving the car and they have no idea where they are going.

The Commonwealth of Virginia faces massive transporation problems, problems that will not be solved simply by building more and wider roads. It is, as Jim Bacon once said, an “access and mobility” problem, not a road problem. What is needed is a comprehensive, one shot across the board plan that attempts to touch all the bases from road administration to land use to funding. The longer this matter stays on the table without resolution, the longer the party in the majority in the legislature takes it in the chops.

Despite the various transportation problems, the much of the GOP says we do not need a tax increase. Fine, but explain why so that people who spend hours in their cars will understand. Saying, as Bob Marshall did, that the state has a billion dollar surplus so there is no need for a tax increase, is not enough. Show us how we have enough in the state coffers to meet the state needs. Explain where the economies of scale can be found. If you think there is fraud, waste, mismanagement in VDOT, and money can be saved, tell us. Treat us like sentient creatures and not mushrooms. If that is the case, maybe there is a cauldron of money that can be better used.

But if not, and if in fact VDOT is being run well, and you cannot show that existing funds are adequate, then you need to demonstrate  how more funds will not solve the transportation problem…which you currently cannot do as you have no comprehensive plan to offer and no vision of where we need to go.

Finally, if it cannot be shown that more funds are not required, and if more money needs to come in, come to an agreement on a plan that creates a dedicated source through sales tax or gas tax or something, but do it all in one shot and get it over with.   The longer the wound bleeds, the worse things will get.  By drafting a plan that allows for all these fee increases the GOP is tacitly saying more money is needed, but it remains to be seen if the plan will produce enough revenue to meet state needs…and each year the issue is not resolved, or perceived as being resolved, the more blame the party in the majority catches.

Failure to get a handle on the matter perpetuates the idea that the GOP has no real idea what it wants to do. It also denies the GOP the chance to say we are the party “that did x”, and create a strong public perception. The GOP can be the party that “kept taxes low”-except that everyone needs be on board. The GOP can be the party that “had the courage to attack the transporation issue”-except that everyone needs to be on board. If the GOP does not hang together, they will most assuredly hang separately, and house and senate candidates will be picked off in the fall.

Had the GOP attempted to offer that unified vision of where they want to lead the state, then they would have the framework to better push their funding plan. If the GOP attempted to offer a unified vision, then folks could look at the plan, see where it fit the big picture, and would likely be more supportive than they are because they could see how it fits the big picture.

But the GOP has not done so. Instead they seem to think legislating is like a box of chocolates-and they would be correct, because the public never seems to know what it is going to get…and the Democrats seem to always get the good candy,

You see, it is not enough to simply stand for something…you have to able to communicate it the public. Hence the double problem-the Va GOP is unable to communicate to the public what they stand for because they do not seem to know what they stand for.

And that is bad politics no matter what movie you steal lines from.

The Truth on Road Funding seeps out…

I have long suspected that Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly don’t really want to reach a road solution this session, but would prefer another deadlock on the matter so they have an issue for the fall elections.

 Two recent items seem to cofirm that view.

My delegate, David Marsden-apparently taking time off from his job as a music critic-published an article in theJanuary 11, 2007 issue of the Burke Connection offering his views on transportation. In this article he claims:

House Republicans have prolonged the necessary decision to invest by putting forth ill-conceived and poorly thought out legislation…We just need to have the House Republicans, especially those on the Finance Committee, join us in completing the blueprint for our future by adding sustainable transportation funding to the great work we have done in education, public safety, and the environment, and that we have started to do in health care.

I felt something was missing. I reread this campaign piece masquerading as an “objective” opinion piece, I recognized something startling: Delegate Marsden doesn’t say where he sees the sustainable funding coming from. He attacks his house colleagues ideas, he demands they agree with the Democratic plan, but doesn’t do his constituents the courtesy of telling us how he would create this sustainable source of funding...I imagine he thinks we know.

Moreover, he doesn’t even mention the need for land use reform, zoning reform, or anything other of the myriad facets that must be addressed to fully get a handle on the state transportation needs…nope, David Marsden apparently thinks the only thing that has to be done to take care of transportation is to raise taxes.

This is hardly the mindset of someone who is looking for common ground…Brother Marsden apparently just wants his tax increase now or we wants a campaign issue in the fall.

This AM the WaPo suggests a GOP road funding solution is near. Naturally, this could diminish transportation as a fall election issue…and Senate Democratic Leader Richard Saslaw will have none of that.

The article notes that Senator Saslaw:

said he hopes Kaine will not abandon his long-standing opposition to the use of “general fund” money for transportation. That would amount to a politically damaging flip-flop, the veteran senator warned. “It would certainly be a complete reversal of what he has been saying,” Saslaw said.

First, one would think Saslaw would resist reacting to rumors as opposed to using fact to support a public statement. 

Second, I find humor in his comment.  NOW Saslaw is worried about Governor Kaine flip-flopping?  Perhaps he forgets that Kaine campaigned for governor swearing he was completely opposed to tax increases- and the moment he got elected did not even wait until he was sworn in to start talking about the need to raise taxes for road funding.  Perhaps he forgets that Kaine campaigned for governor by lauding enhanced land use legislation as a way to better manage growth, which then would move toward dealing with transportation issues-but has seen fit as governor to not go to close to that particular idea.

Governor Tim Kaine flip flop?  Senator Saslaw hasn’t minded Governor Kaine’s trampoline governance before…but only-and this based on a rumor-when might it undermine a fall campaign issue.

It appears that the Democrats want campaign issues, and they are going to do all they can to get them…deadlock the GA, try to DOA GOP transportation plans, because this session is not about governing now-it is about winning in the autumn.

The New Team I Love or Hate

I am a Redskins fan by nature and by nurture, so it is no surprise I really do not like the Dallas Cowboys.  I respect and even like individual players, but the mention of Clint Longley makes me ralph on command. The Cowboys have been the sole resident in the 19th ring of hell.

However, I have hunch they may soon have company.

The team: The Pittsburgh Steelers.  The reason: a potential Russ Grimm diss.

I am a Russ Grimm fan.  He was a member of the Hogs, and throughout his career he played with intensity, intelligence, and integrity.  I was happy when he started his coaching career with the ‘Skins, was sorry to see him leave, and was thrilled to see him named as a front runner for the Pittsburgh Steeler job (he is currently the Steelers assistant head coach and line coach)…so much so that I told my neighbor who is a long time Steeler fan that if Grimm got the head coaching job in Pittsburgh I would start rooting for the Steelers as my #2 (and AFC) team.

Plus, it seemed like a sure deal.  All early reports had the choice between Ken Whisenhut (a/k/a “The Whiz) and Grimm.  When I read that The Whiz was off to Phoenix, I thought it would be a done deal, with an announcement of a Grimm hire by this past weekend.

Now, it seems something else is afoot.  Reports from Steel City indicate that Mike Tomlin (Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator) and Ron Rivera (Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator) are in the mix.

There has arisen a strong suspicion that the Steelers want Rivera, but since the Bears are still in the running he cannot interview until after the Bears season is over, and that is the reason the Rooney’s have not moved. Perhaps more to the point is that if they wanted Grimm, why not just hire him now?

I understand why this happens…the Steelers are hedging their bets, Grimm is too much like Cowher and they want something new etc. With the Bear’s success, Rivera is the flavor of the month. Nonetheless, I hate to see this being done to as good a guy as Russ Grimm, who is not only highly qualified but is a Pittsburgh guy by birth, a college star at Pitt, high school multi sport star in high school.

So the venerated Rooney family has courteously created two clear paths for me…pick Grimm, and I am off to pick up a Steelers cap. Pick someone else, and the for the first time the Cowboys will have company in the Bwana family Hall of Trashy Teams.

Yet Again Dave Albo Perplexes Me.

In a speech to the voters of Bristol on November 3, 1774, England, Edmund Burke said:

“Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.”

In the centuries since then a more delicate balance has evolved between the desires of the electorate and the desires of an elected representative. Modern officials know they had best keep close tabs on the needs and wants of their constituency if they expect to keep their office.

It is this evolution that in part perplexes me about Delegate Dave Albo.

I was previously perplexed because despite all that has happened in the last two years Delegate Albo thinks blogs have little impact on undecided voters.  I went on to to  suggest Delegate Albo might find that his opinions about the impact of bloggers may be correct without being accurate. A WaPo column yesterday leaves me wondering if Mr. Albo is clueless about the balance between the elected and the electors, or if he is simply blindingly candid in what he says, or was he misquoted.

 Well, he has done done it to me again…

Yesterday’s WaPo Marc Fisher addressed the subject of the Virginia GOP and the use of means other than road spending to combat transportation matters. He wrote:

Del. Dave Albo, a Republican from Fairfax County, is startled to find himself proposing things he once opposed: “Fifteen years ago, it was the Republicans who were pro-development, and the Democrats were the land-use guys. But there comes a point where I don’t care how big a supporter a group like the home builders is. At a certain point, you have to listen to the voters. The home builders just expect too much of us.”

I added the emphasis.

At a certain point, you have to listen to the voters because the special interests I am beholden to have asked too much? Did he really mean that?

 There must have been something left out…because this comment suggests that Mr. Albo’s primary concern is not for the people who vote for him, but for certain interests that lobby him.

This comment starts me down the road to the old misfeasance/malfeasance conundrum, but I will save that for another post.  In the meantime, I think it would be a great idea for Delegate Albo to hire a communications director and save him from himself.