http://hamptonroads.com/2010/04/cucc...est-state-sealAttorney General Ken Cuccinelli apparently isn’t fond of wardrobe malfunctions, even when Virginia’s state seal is involved.
The seal depicts the Roman goddess Virtus, or virtue, wearing a blue tunic draped over one shoulder, her left breast exposed. But on the new lapel pins Cuccinelli recently handed out to his staff, Virtus’ bosom is covered by an armored breastplate.
When the new design came up at a staff meeting, workers in attendance said Cuccinelli joked that it converts a risqué image into a PG one.
The joke might be on him, said University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato.
“When you ask to be ridiculed, it usually happens. And it will happen here, nationally,” he said. “This is classical art, for goodness’ sake.”
It wouldn’t be the first time that Cuccinelli has found himself in a punch line since taking office. The conservative Republican made Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” in March after he advised state colleges and universities they lack the legal authority to protect gay employees from discrimination.
“You can’t be gay in college?” host Jon Stewart asked in mock disbelief. “That’s the whole point of going to college!”
If the jokes start to fly, Cuccinelli can’t say he didn’t see it coming, Sabato said – not after what happened in 2002, when U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft ordered drapes installed to cover partially nude statues at the Justice Department. “Ashcroft had one excuse: it hadn’t been done before and he wasn’t prepared for the critical onslaught that he faced,” Sabato said. “Cuccinelli has no excuse at all. He knows what’s coming because of what happened to Ashcroft. You can only conclude that he enjoys being the center of pointless controversy.”
Efforts to reach Cuccinelli on Friday were unsuccessful.
On top of that, the Cooch's new office pin is the 28th Virginia infantry Confederate battle flag (netstate.com/states/symb/flags/va_flag.htm). Maybe he can play it off as a swap for Confederate history month! You know, the one where slaves don't really matter.
As much as Republicans talk about Democrats who pretend to be moderate and then go super-liberal once elected, the only times I actually see it are for pretend Republican moderates. Jobs governor my ass.
I can't tell you how many people I've talked to who are disappointed with McDonnell and crew. He almost deserved to win because of the crap campaign Deeds was running, but the guy was a huge wolf in sheep's clothing. His close connection to Robertson should have been enough of a warning flare.
It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone how conservative this state government is. Hell, McDonnell went to graduate school at Regent University. His thesis is a real piece of work.
He's now investigating UVa climate scientist Michael Mann for fraud, because promoting the idea of global warming is so clearly fraudulent.
Unfortunately, sometimes we get what we deserve. I've never seen a political campaign as poorly run as Creigh Deeds' complete and utter shitfest.Originally Posted by Mitya
You weren't in Massachusetts to witness Coakley vs Brown this year.
Can't wait for oil drilling to start! Woot! What could go wrong?
McDonnell isn't pleasing everyone on the right by any means.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...l?hpid=artslot
So basically, he's less of a nutcase than the people even crazier than him would like. Oh, the horror.
As the article describes, McDonnell strikes me as a pure opportunist. He's no Manchurian candidate. He's a glad-handing used car salesman trying to win salesman of the month. People with no convictions can manipulate the theocrats pretty easily and turn on a dime when it suits them as well. Just because he comes from Pat Robertsonland doesn't mean he actually believes that stuff. He just knows how to carry the tune.
It's Cuccinelli that's the real deal. He's really turned the AG's office upside down. They're spending so much time on political nonsense trying to excite the right wing base that, one's hearing, routine AG work is starting to suffer. The quality and timeliness of some filings aren't what they used to be. That's just rumor but probably might be smart for someone to actually investigate it.
I think McDonnell is definitely a true conservative -- but he also wants to be re-elected. I mean, hell, anyone who can go to Regent U for his Master's degree has definitely had a strong swig or two of the kool aid. Also, it's worth noting that he's getting blasted by conservatives for only doing most of what they want (e.g. cutting the vast majority of state funds that go to Planned Parenthood, but not all state funds). I think this is an example of conservative over-reach. It's like being pissed at Obama that we're not all holding hands and singing kumbaya -- it may be what some folks wanted, but it ain't all that likely to ever happen.
Agreed. Cuccinelli isn't just swigging the kool aid, he's brewing it in vats.It's Cuccinelli that's the real deal. He's really turned the AG's office upside down. They're spending so much time on political nonsense trying to excite the right wing base that, one's hearing, routine AG work is starting to suffer. The quality and timeliness of some filings aren't what they used to be. That's just rumor but probably might be smart for someone to actually investigate it.
You realize that Cucci isn't the governor? He ran as a fundie right wing AG and was elected as a right wing AG. He didn't try to be moderate at all.
McConnell has made some mistakes but he's center right as of now. And he's not running for re-election as VA governor's can't stand for re-election. His future is either Prez or taking on Webb/Warner as Senator.
The scary thing is that Cooch could win the R nomination for governor in a few years.
Here's the used car McDonnell's pushing now.
Aaah, I keep getting Cucci/McConnell mixed up. Ooops!
Clarification: VA is the only state where governors can't run for consecutive terms, but they can run again in later elections. According to Wiki, the last VA governor to do so was Mills Edwin Godwin, Jr., who was governor from 1966 to `70 and `74 to `78; interestingly, he also switched parties in between, from (conservative) Democrat to Republican.
That said, I agree that McDonnell is probably eying either a Senate run or maybe even a spot on the `12 prez ticket. What politician would just sit around waiting 4 years for another shot at the governor's chair?
I think the silver lining here is Cooch is way too conservative for Northern VA - McDonnell did a much better job of playing moderate without alienating conservatives which is why he won, IMHO (well, that and the fact Deeds has all the charm of cranky plankton, AFAICT) - and without at least some support from NoVA, I don't think anyone can win the governor's race. So if he was nominated, he'd probably lose (knock on wood).The scary thing is that Cooch could win the R nomination for governor in a few years.
I gotta say, I'm in very much in favor of the unofficial move toward hanging "The Cooch" moniker around his neck.
http://www.styleweekly.com/ME2/Audie...E7F37C8AF3D905
A weekly rating of the city zeitgeist.
Special Edition: Cooch Cracks Down!
-5 Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli hands out lapel pins to his staff featuring a modified version of Virginia’s state seal — one that uses a breastplate to cover up the exposed bosom of Roman goddess Virtus. But he doesn’t stop there. …
+1 Cox Media Group turns alt-rock radio station Y101 into the R&B-leaning, hit-playing Hot 100.9. The Cooch orders that songs must pass through his office for editing. Nelly now sings: “It’s getting lukewarm in herrre. So put on some more clothes.”
+3 espite a previous opinion issued by the attorney general, Virginia Commonwealth University reaffirms its nondiscrimination clause, which covers sexual orientation. The Cooch acquiesces, saying he too will protect homosexual employees in his office — at least the “straight-acting” ones.
-4 Also in VCU news, officials announce they’ll increase tuition by 24 percent. The Cooch orders 10 percent of the raise to be tithed. To his political action committee. To fight Obama and Satan.
+6 Over the weekend, VMFA stays open late into the night to show off its renovation and expansion to the public. Please — someone, anyone —keep the Cooch away from all those pictures of naked horses.
http://www.slate.com/id/2250591There is, of course, a long and inglorious history involving investigations and inquisitions of scientists in an attempt to silence those whose research does not sit comfortably with those in power. Despite those earlier efforts, the Earth still does revolve around the sun. There are 100 vital ways for Ken Cuccinelli to spend his time and the commonwealth's taxpayer dollars. Litigating science isn't one of them.
This is amazing.
http://www.bluevirginia.us/diary/581...torney-general
Our Governor is just, awesome.
Now the question is whether Cuccinelli really thinks he is supporting the First Amendment, or if he doesn't want to support anything that might have to do with gay rights with a 10 foot pole. It's not like he hasn't had run-ins with gay rights before.
Huh.
I'm kind of with the opposition here. As odious as Phelps and the WBC is, the idea of being able to sue protesters for being obnoxious is equally odious.
He is free to do so. You want to limit freedom?
At a funeral? Shouldn't people have the freedom to send their loved ones away without having to worry about protestors violating the ceremony?
Last edited by Scrax; 06-06-2010 at 01:14 PM.
The first amendment would say that they dont. Its disgusting and I hate the people that do crap like that, but in this country they have the right to do so.
First Amendment rights are not infinite in scope.
No they arent, but protests like this I do believe fall within the scope of the 1st Amendment.
That's the obvious objection. The problem is that when you look into the actual facts of the case, no disruption of the ceremony occurred. WBC was farther away than the law requires, they liaised with the police to ensure they were far enough away and that, in fact, the Plaintiff (the father) wasn't even aware there was a protest until he saw it on the news.
http://www.morelaw.com/verdicts/case...6&s=MD&d=41419It was undisputed at trial that Defendants complied with local ordinances and police directions with respect to being a certain distance from the church. Furthermore, it was established at trial that Snyder did not actually see the signs until he saw a television program later that day with footage of the Phelps family at his son’s funeral.
Like I said, their protests are gross, but I really don't like the idea that protesters can comply with the law and still be able to be sued for millions because their speech is overwhelmingly unpopular.
I'd actually like to see the amicus briefs the other AGs filed before making up my mind. My guess is they thought there was some legal ground for this and Cuccinelli is nuts. So, while a broken clock can be right once a day it's not something I'm going to buy into very easily.
Twice a day. A broken clock is right twice a day unless it's one of these:
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