Stuck In The Tubes

Those Abuser Fees--Yeah, We Never Saw Them Coming

2007-07-19T09:35:00.001-07:00

Kenton just made my day.

Dave Albo and the SALT Candidate Survey...

2007-07-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

Came across this today at http://www.s-a-l-t.org/albo.html:

Candidate Survey - 2007 Election

Your Name:David Albo

District:42

John:

Thanks for the survey, but in it's Q & A format, it would take me hours to fill out. I am having a problem in keeping my regular job, raising my baby, and doing my job as a Delegate. So I have decided not to fill out the 50+ questionaires we get and rely on my 42,000 votes over 14 years to allow you to evaluate me on your issues.

Thanks for all you do to help those who can't help themselves.

Dave

Yeah, 2007 is quite a busy campaign year for Albo. What....unopposed?

This shows two things to me: That Albo is way too comfortable this year (anyone want to be a write in candidate?) and not campaigning, and also that he is very rude. It is one thing to choose not to answer a questionnaire--but to still ask for the group's evaluation seems overconfident, to say the least.

All Night Session!

2007-07-17T19:17:00.000-07:00

I've only watched 40 minutes and can't stand any more. I saw Landrieu and Lieberman, which provided a great contrast.

I'll recap tomorrow when I read the transcripts.

Edit: too jaded to recap.

Iraqi Government Takes Month of August off

2007-07-17T04:55:00.001-07:00

It's one thing to attack staff for going to a baseball game.....
But I mean, the month of August in Iraq? =P
And we thought VA was getting hot!

Write In Candidate Against Dave Albo?

2007-07-13T16:55:00.000-07:00

Though I'm not optimistic that a write in candidate would get many votes against Albo, I feel like someone from the Democratic side should step up at this point. I have several reasons for suggesting this:

Dave Albo has been doing egregious things for years, however, people have finally noticed--and they don't want to wait two more years. Dave is sitting on his money, and his ass, not campaigning--let's put up a fight and make him work a bit. It makes me sick that he can sit around and be guaranteed his seat for 2 more years.

This would also help other Democratic candidates--with Herrity looking to turn out a huge vote, it would benefit Mike McClanihan as well as Janet Oleszek and everyone down to our school board candidates.

Anyone have any ideas? We need to take a stand and fix our legislature, and at least let Delegate Albo know that he won't be able to get away with this for much longer. Plus, if we have a legitimate candidate I would no longer have to resort to writing in some inane inanimate object.

Ron isn't Ken's only friend...

2007-07-11T05:08:00.001-07:00

Ken Cucccinelli has an amusing website. You can go there and read about how to get a "bumper strip" or become a Cuccinelli Cardinal.
What I found particularly awkward was this endorsement by Bob McDonnell in which Ken stands next to him the entire time, looking awkwardly at both the AG and the camera, while McDonnell discusses things such as Northern VA being the "internet capital of America."

Abuser fees, abuser fees, abuser fees.

2007-07-07T09:44:00.001-07:00

It's interesting to see how many people are all of a sudden realizing just how bad of a delegate Dave Albo is. As you can find out from the people at Albo Must Go, Dave Albo has been at the business of doing what is good for him rather than what is good for his constituents for quite a while. You could probably also ask Greg Werkheiser about it if you'd like to find out more.

Yes, the same delegate who wanted ABC stores to give out free samples has successfully added the abuser fees bill to his long list of legislation that benefits him. Come on, guys, we're talking about a guy who supports partisan redistricting to cut democratic voters out of his district--and beyond that, attempted to lower penalties for sex offenders. I'm pretty sure after this, Dave Albo won't get many votes anywhere (why in the world did the Democrats not put up anybody!?).

Something needs to be done about Del. Dave Albo, but I'm not sure what we can do short of be stuck with him for another 2 years. I feel as though a write in campaign would be unsuccessful, but it may be the only shot we have. However, that still requires someone willing to run. Our energy would probably be better spent turning the VA Senate blue this year to correct some of the mischief of the House of Delegates.

Anyway. Before I began my rant about my already deep dislike for Del. Albo, I was going to talk about the abuser fees/traffic laws that have been frustrating me. (Note: I have never gotten a ticket in VA or anywhere else for that matter--so for those of you who will say that only criminals dislike this law, you should stand corrected).

Looking at the fines under the Abuser Fees law, I see many interesting things. Info from the Alexandria Times, comments are mine:

Felony DWI: $3,000

Vehicular manslaughter: $3,000

Felony failure to signal: $3,000

Felony speeding above 80 MPH: $3,000

Ah, the $3000 tier of traffic violations. Somehow I get the feeling that if you get the vehicular manslaughter one you have far greater problems than the $3000 fee. However, I have not been able to determine what differentiates felony failure to signal from misdemeanor failure to signal, both of which I feel are ridiculous. Speeding above 80 MPH??? Well at least it isnt 70 MPH.

Misdemeanor DWI: $2,250

Misdemeanor failure to signal: $1,050

Attemping to elude police: $900

Driving without insurance: $900

Driving with a suspended license: $750

Driving without insurance is something that we have to deal with but at the same time I don't think raising fines will help. Sounds like more people in jail to me...further reinforcing my suspicion that Dave Albo's goal is to put everyone in jail that he can't make a profit off of.

Introductions?

2007-07-05T17:29:00.000-07:00

I realized I failed to introduce myself--which I still will not do fully at this time.

Basically all you are going to learn about me right now is that I'm a college student who's very interested in politics on all levels--though on this blog I'll probably be focusing mainly on Virginia politics, and even more so on Northern Virginia politics.

If someone does something stupid or hillarious, hopefully I'll catch it in time to make a post.

Hope you enjoy!

Kenton Ngo, Johnny Camacho, interview Shirley Phelps-Roper from WBC

2007-07-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

Well, the madness actually happened. Shirley Phelps-Roper (from Westboro Baptist Church) was on Kenton and Johnny's Radio Show. (Though Kenton wasn't there and Johnny had to bear the brunt of the craziness).

I suggest you all take a listen. I've always known that people involved with WBC are more agitators than people who actually want to change things (or maybe they just haven't figured out how to change things effectively?) but didn't realize that Shirley would be as rude as she is. I realized that she would probably not answer questions asked of her, but didn't realize she would put words in the mouths of the hosts to the point where they were reduced to telling her "I love you." This was actually a fairly successful tactic, as it made Phelps-Roper act even crazier.

Very enjoyable. Kenton, I don't know how you got this interview, but keep up the good work.

Here's Kenton's blog (in case you didn't know about it already, though most people reading this will), 750 Volts.