- Driving around Winchester/Frederick County before work and on my lunch break, I've stopped at a few polling places to talk to those working the polls for both Tate and Vogel in the 27th Senate district. The gist of what I'm getting from talking to these people is that voter turnout is low in this area, but hopes are high for both sides that this could play into their favor.
- According to The New Dominion, voter turnout is apparently higher than expected in the 24th Senate district
- Someone named "Outside Observer" noted at Not Larry Sabato that in the 9th Senate district, he has seen at least one person on a bike covered in Benny Lambert signs blasting LL Cool J out of a boombox. Kudos to the bike rider for good taste in music...
Updates as they come...
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
*ahem* We Have a Tie
That's right, folks. The "Fred"eral Express has chugged along...all the way to the top of the polls.
According to the latest Rasmussen Reports poll, Fred Thompson and Rudy Guiliani are now tied at the top of the GOP field at 24% each. The report details describe Thompson's rise to the top as "meteoric". Thompson is up a whopping 7 points since last week's poll.
Mitt Romney and John McCain are tied for 2nd...at 11% each, less than half of Thompson and Guiliani's numbers. Romney lost 4 points from last week's Rasmussen poll, McCain continues his downward slide, losing 3 points.
As of right now, this is slowly becoming a two-horse race...and that may be what the GOP needs right now, a thinning of the herd at the top.
On an even more glorious note, Harry Reid's approval ratings have sunk to 19%! In comparison, Dick Cheney has an approval rating of 38%, which is DOUBLE Reid's approval rating.
It's been a good morning, so far...
According to the latest Rasmussen Reports poll, Fred Thompson and Rudy Guiliani are now tied at the top of the GOP field at 24% each. The report details describe Thompson's rise to the top as "meteoric". Thompson is up a whopping 7 points since last week's poll.
Mitt Romney and John McCain are tied for 2nd...at 11% each, less than half of Thompson and Guiliani's numbers. Romney lost 4 points from last week's Rasmussen poll, McCain continues his downward slide, losing 3 points.
As of right now, this is slowly becoming a two-horse race...and that may be what the GOP needs right now, a thinning of the herd at the top.
On an even more glorious note, Harry Reid's approval ratings have sunk to 19%! In comparison, Dick Cheney has an approval rating of 38%, which is DOUBLE Reid's approval rating.
It's been a good morning, so far...
Monday, June 11, 2007
Mudcat in the Swampland
(h/t Sic Semper Tyrannis)
Current "rural liaison" for John Edwards (because Edwards can't bother to mess with rural areas himself) and former advisor to Jim Webb's campaign last fall, Dave "Mudcat" Saunders, has become a new contributor to TIME.com's "Swampland" blog. He posted his first blog today, and had some interesting things to say. For instance...
"I have bitched and moaned for years about the lack of tolerance in the elitist wing of the Democratic Party, or what I refer to as the "Metropolitan Opera Wing". These are the people who talk of tolerance but the only true tolerance they ever exhibit is for their own pseudo-intellectual arrogance."
...he is not a fan of how the "Metropolitan Opera Wing" views rural citizens, either...
"I am certain I will get personally attacked for this next statement, but in all honesty, I don't care what the "Metropolitan Wing" of my party thinks. I don't like them. The damage the pseudo-intellectuals have done to my party by abandoning tolerance, combined with their erroneous stereotyping of my people and culture, is something that brings out my incivility...I must add that this same intellectual arrogance and intolerance overtook the party years ago, and for that very reason, my people in rural America left the tent."
...finally, he goes after a certain group of liberal bloggers...
"So to those bloggers who believe in a straight-forward dialogue and exchange of ideas, God bless you and thank you. Together, you're coming up with a lot of good stuff, and frankly, much of it has been helpful to me. At the same time, those Democratic bloggers, who have appointed themselves as intellectually superior and believe the only way to win an argument is to shot the loudest with personal attacks, you can go to Hell."
...I imagine some of the DailyKos crowd, and a few Virginia bloggers, are in the crosshairs of these comments.
Needless to say, if you read the comments below Saunders's post, there are a lot of angry Dems. Many of which sneer at "Mudcat" for being an "ignorant hillbilly", which goes back to what he was saying about the stereotypes the "Metropolitan Opera Wing" holds about people from rural areas.
It's an interesting read, to say the least.
Current "rural liaison" for John Edwards (because Edwards can't bother to mess with rural areas himself) and former advisor to Jim Webb's campaign last fall, Dave "Mudcat" Saunders, has become a new contributor to TIME.com's "Swampland" blog. He posted his first blog today, and had some interesting things to say. For instance...
"I have bitched and moaned for years about the lack of tolerance in the elitist wing of the Democratic Party, or what I refer to as the "Metropolitan Opera Wing". These are the people who talk of tolerance but the only true tolerance they ever exhibit is for their own pseudo-intellectual arrogance."
...he is not a fan of how the "Metropolitan Opera Wing" views rural citizens, either...
"I am certain I will get personally attacked for this next statement, but in all honesty, I don't care what the "Metropolitan Wing" of my party thinks. I don't like them. The damage the pseudo-intellectuals have done to my party by abandoning tolerance, combined with their erroneous stereotyping of my people and culture, is something that brings out my incivility...I must add that this same intellectual arrogance and intolerance overtook the party years ago, and for that very reason, my people in rural America left the tent."
...finally, he goes after a certain group of liberal bloggers...
"So to those bloggers who believe in a straight-forward dialogue and exchange of ideas, God bless you and thank you. Together, you're coming up with a lot of good stuff, and frankly, much of it has been helpful to me. At the same time, those Democratic bloggers, who have appointed themselves as intellectually superior and believe the only way to win an argument is to shot the loudest with personal attacks, you can go to Hell."
...I imagine some of the DailyKos crowd, and a few Virginia bloggers, are in the crosshairs of these comments.
Needless to say, if you read the comments below Saunders's post, there are a lot of angry Dems. Many of which sneer at "Mudcat" for being an "ignorant hillbilly", which goes back to what he was saying about the stereotypes the "Metropolitan Opera Wing" holds about people from rural areas.
It's an interesting read, to say the least.
Chuck Norris Outlines his Presidential Campaign Promises
I kid you not, read this.
Ok, ok...so it is a farce. However, the fact that Norris wrote this himself further enhances his "baddest man on the planet" status. Just so you know, Norris is a solid conservative, and a pretty funny guy. Here are a few of Norris's campaign promises:
- Cut spending by dismissing the Secret Service, at least for my eight years in office (why would I need them?).
- Give a presidential pardon to … no one, ever. Baretta was right in the '70s, "Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time. Don't do it!"
-Turn the Rose Garden into a new fighting ring for the World Combat League, in which liberals and conservatives will fight for legislative leadership and priority. (For fun, Saturday night fights will feature a recurring bout between Hannity and Colmes). "American Idol" already told me they will provide the entertainment.
- Increase jobs in America by sending ninja teams to sabotage and steal them back from other countries.
- Convey my plan for world peace to the United Nations: taking the governor of California with me on our "kick butt and ask questions later" USO world tour.
- Bring on Donald Trump as my apprentice. When my presidential term is complete and he has obtained his black belt, or whichever comes first, he can buy the White House and of course rename it (to, what else, "The Trump House").
However, Norris has two promises he places above all...
- Personally smoke out bin Laden by myself and round-house kick him all the way back to America, where my United Fighting Arts Federation will handle the justice issues.
- Make all Chuck Norris facts come true (well, not quite all of them – I'm a happily, married man!)
Awesome. Totally Awesome.
Ok, ok...so it is a farce. However, the fact that Norris wrote this himself further enhances his "baddest man on the planet" status. Just so you know, Norris is a solid conservative, and a pretty funny guy. Here are a few of Norris's campaign promises:
- Cut spending by dismissing the Secret Service, at least for my eight years in office (why would I need them?).
- Give a presidential pardon to … no one, ever. Baretta was right in the '70s, "Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time. Don't do it!"
-Turn the Rose Garden into a new fighting ring for the World Combat League, in which liberals and conservatives will fight for legislative leadership and priority. (For fun, Saturday night fights will feature a recurring bout between Hannity and Colmes). "American Idol" already told me they will provide the entertainment.
- Increase jobs in America by sending ninja teams to sabotage and steal them back from other countries.
- Convey my plan for world peace to the United Nations: taking the governor of California with me on our "kick butt and ask questions later" USO world tour.
- Bring on Donald Trump as my apprentice. When my presidential term is complete and he has obtained his black belt, or whichever comes first, he can buy the White House and of course rename it (to, what else, "The Trump House").
However, Norris has two promises he places above all...
- Personally smoke out bin Laden by myself and round-house kick him all the way back to America, where my United Fighting Arts Federation will handle the justice issues.
- Make all Chuck Norris facts come true (well, not quite all of them – I'm a happily, married man!)
Awesome. Totally Awesome.
Presidential Poll and 24th State Senate Poll
Being that the 24th State Senate GOP primary is tomorrow, The New Dominion has a poll up on it's website. Click your pick, Emmett Hanger or Scott Sayre.
Also, I am part of the PajamasMedia network, and I have a straw poll on the right hand side of my blog if you haven't seen it yet.
Also, I am part of the PajamasMedia network, and I have a straw poll on the right hand side of my blog if you haven't seen it yet.
Weekly Podium: "Political Chop Suey"
(Cross-posted at The New Dominion)
With primary season in Virginia coming to a climax on Tuesday, the immigration bill currently on the shelf, and the first flurry of debates over…what is there to talk about? Well, there is plenty of “chop suey” (literal translation: “odds and ends”) in the political realm, both local and national.
For instance, the news that Barack Obama has sought the advice of former Secretary of State Colin Powell on foreign policy issues has caught the eyes of many who are closely following the presidential primaries. Powell previously served in both Bush administrations, and has always been associated with the Republican Party.
When asked about advising Obama, who is a Democrat, Powell said, “I've been around this town a long time and I know everybody who is running for office. And I make myself available to talk about foreign policy matters and military matters with whoever wishes to chat with me." Powell has ruled out running for any kind of an elected office, but also did not rule out a return to a post within a presidential administration.
For Obama, this is a great move on many levels. He is shoring up his foreign policy stances with advice from an excellent source of foreign policy advice. He is also working with a notable and popular conservative figure, which shows a willingness to work across party lines. Obama also will appeal to conservatives because Powell is a standout military figure, which also helps to distance him from the stereotype of liberals being weak on national security and military matters.
On a different note from the Democratic side of the presidential primaries, Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean stated that the “one way to truly ensure we end this war” was to elect a Democrat in November of 2008. The interesting aspect of that statement is the fact that it was carried by most major news sources as if it were a somewhat groundbreaking and unexpected statement.
Had Howard Dean actually said “vote for a Republican, it’s the best choice for America”, that would be groundbreaking and unexpected. It must be summer during a presidential primary season when statements from a national party chairman that support the candidates of his own party are considered relevant.
Joe Lieberman, who once-upon-a-time was Al Gore’s running mate, says that the United States needs to consider eventually conducting air strikes against Iran. Some are taking this as Lieberman endorsing war with Iran, while others believe it is simply Lieberman attempting to protect Israel due to his Jewish heritage. I personally believe that Lieberman was stating that we cannot completely dismiss the possibility of eventually striking Iran, as it is believed they are actively pursuing nuclear weapons.
Many Democrats have turned themselves off to Lieberman, as his foreign policy beliefs are more in line with the GOP than with the Democratic Party. I am inclined to believe that Lieberman is being sensible, and stating that we have to leave all options on the table…at least for the time being.
A recent Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll stated that 58 percent of Americans believe that to stop illegal immigration, the United States needs to enforce current immigration laws. These percentages include 65 percent of Republicans, 62 percent of Independents, and 50 percent of Democrats. Only 34 percent of those polled believed the entire system requires an overhaul.
As I have espoused in the past, I do believe that the previous attempt at reform was a form of amnesty. I believe that, at least for the time being, we do need to enforce current immigration laws until we can create a better bill for updating the laws. A combination of stronger, smarter border security and more efficient methods for legal immigration into America are the way to go, in my opinion.
Some other interesting numbers from this survey include that 84 percent of those polled believe that Mexico should not shown preference in the number of immigrants allowed into America, and should be treated as any other nation. Also, 55 percent of Americans support the government raids on big businesses that employ large numbers of illegal immigrants, compared to only 34 that object to these raids.
Shrinking the scope down to the state level, the majority of the June primaries is upon us. One thing that is very notable about this year’s primaries is the fact that many moderate incumbents are facing serious challenges by more partisan candidates.
For instance, in the 24th State Senate GOP primary, you have Emmett Hanger being challenged by Scott Sayre. Sayre is positioning himself as the more conservative candidate, noting Hanger’s votes for tax increases and apparent support for in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. In the Democratic primary for the 9th State Senate seat, incumbent Benjamin Lambert is being challenged by Don McEachin. Lambert has drawn criticism for his endorsement of George Allen over Jim Webb in last year’s Senate race. McEachin has promoted himself to Democratic voters as “a Democrat you can trust”, putting him to the left of Lambert.
Another good example of this is in the Democratic primary in the 79th House of Delegates district. The current incumbent, Johnny Joannou is fighting for his party’s nomination against Henry Light, who has aligned himself as a “Warner/Kaine Democrat”. Joannou has also faced criticism from fellow Democrats for his alignment with House Republicans on many issues. This criticism has helped Light, who currently has raised nearly $200,000 more in campaign funds than Joannou.
With the exception of the 27th State Senate GOP primary between Jill Holtzman Vogel and Mark Tate, the June 12th primaries seem to be based around perceived moderates being attacked from either the left or the right, depending on the party primary that is in question. It makes me think of the campaigns of George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000. I remember that, in the pre-9/11 climate that we lived in at the time, many people thought that the two candidates were interchangeable. They were seen as the type of candidates both parties would put up in the future; a moderate who only slightly leaned towards their party’s ideology.
Here we are, 7 years later, and it seems that both parties are attempting to move away from the center. While this is starting to show in the presidential debates we’ve seen on TV, it seems to be actively happening right here in the state of Virginia.
Finally, I want to talk about the primary in the 24th State Senate district that has caused so much controversy and political noisemaking. Some believe that the Republican Party in the Valley may suffer a long-term fracture due to this primary. With many of the local party chairs and bloggers rallying behind Scott Sayre, and Emmett Hanger collecting the support of many elected officials and a growing number of op-ed writers, it could very well seem like the party is heading for a split.
However, I know that at least few of the local party chairs have stated that they will support and work hard for the Republican candidate, no matter who wins. I believe that this is the start of reconciliation between the supporters of both Emmett Hanger and Scott Sayre. For the sake of the GOP in Virginia, this is a good start towards healing some of the fractures that are taking place. If the Republicans want to continue their majority in both the State Senate and the House of Delegates, they need to start mending these broken fences on June 13th.
Or else, they may find themselves in a position similar to their counterparts in Congress.
With primary season in Virginia coming to a climax on Tuesday, the immigration bill currently on the shelf, and the first flurry of debates over…what is there to talk about? Well, there is plenty of “chop suey” (literal translation: “odds and ends”) in the political realm, both local and national.
For instance, the news that Barack Obama has sought the advice of former Secretary of State Colin Powell on foreign policy issues has caught the eyes of many who are closely following the presidential primaries. Powell previously served in both Bush administrations, and has always been associated with the Republican Party.
When asked about advising Obama, who is a Democrat, Powell said, “I've been around this town a long time and I know everybody who is running for office. And I make myself available to talk about foreign policy matters and military matters with whoever wishes to chat with me." Powell has ruled out running for any kind of an elected office, but also did not rule out a return to a post within a presidential administration.
For Obama, this is a great move on many levels. He is shoring up his foreign policy stances with advice from an excellent source of foreign policy advice. He is also working with a notable and popular conservative figure, which shows a willingness to work across party lines. Obama also will appeal to conservatives because Powell is a standout military figure, which also helps to distance him from the stereotype of liberals being weak on national security and military matters.
On a different note from the Democratic side of the presidential primaries, Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean stated that the “one way to truly ensure we end this war” was to elect a Democrat in November of 2008. The interesting aspect of that statement is the fact that it was carried by most major news sources as if it were a somewhat groundbreaking and unexpected statement.
Had Howard Dean actually said “vote for a Republican, it’s the best choice for America”, that would be groundbreaking and unexpected. It must be summer during a presidential primary season when statements from a national party chairman that support the candidates of his own party are considered relevant.
Joe Lieberman, who once-upon-a-time was Al Gore’s running mate, says that the United States needs to consider eventually conducting air strikes against Iran. Some are taking this as Lieberman endorsing war with Iran, while others believe it is simply Lieberman attempting to protect Israel due to his Jewish heritage. I personally believe that Lieberman was stating that we cannot completely dismiss the possibility of eventually striking Iran, as it is believed they are actively pursuing nuclear weapons.
Many Democrats have turned themselves off to Lieberman, as his foreign policy beliefs are more in line with the GOP than with the Democratic Party. I am inclined to believe that Lieberman is being sensible, and stating that we have to leave all options on the table…at least for the time being.
A recent Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll stated that 58 percent of Americans believe that to stop illegal immigration, the United States needs to enforce current immigration laws. These percentages include 65 percent of Republicans, 62 percent of Independents, and 50 percent of Democrats. Only 34 percent of those polled believed the entire system requires an overhaul.
As I have espoused in the past, I do believe that the previous attempt at reform was a form of amnesty. I believe that, at least for the time being, we do need to enforce current immigration laws until we can create a better bill for updating the laws. A combination of stronger, smarter border security and more efficient methods for legal immigration into America are the way to go, in my opinion.
Some other interesting numbers from this survey include that 84 percent of those polled believe that Mexico should not shown preference in the number of immigrants allowed into America, and should be treated as any other nation. Also, 55 percent of Americans support the government raids on big businesses that employ large numbers of illegal immigrants, compared to only 34 that object to these raids.
Shrinking the scope down to the state level, the majority of the June primaries is upon us. One thing that is very notable about this year’s primaries is the fact that many moderate incumbents are facing serious challenges by more partisan candidates.
For instance, in the 24th State Senate GOP primary, you have Emmett Hanger being challenged by Scott Sayre. Sayre is positioning himself as the more conservative candidate, noting Hanger’s votes for tax increases and apparent support for in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. In the Democratic primary for the 9th State Senate seat, incumbent Benjamin Lambert is being challenged by Don McEachin. Lambert has drawn criticism for his endorsement of George Allen over Jim Webb in last year’s Senate race. McEachin has promoted himself to Democratic voters as “a Democrat you can trust”, putting him to the left of Lambert.
Another good example of this is in the Democratic primary in the 79th House of Delegates district. The current incumbent, Johnny Joannou is fighting for his party’s nomination against Henry Light, who has aligned himself as a “Warner/Kaine Democrat”. Joannou has also faced criticism from fellow Democrats for his alignment with House Republicans on many issues. This criticism has helped Light, who currently has raised nearly $200,000 more in campaign funds than Joannou.
With the exception of the 27th State Senate GOP primary between Jill Holtzman Vogel and Mark Tate, the June 12th primaries seem to be based around perceived moderates being attacked from either the left or the right, depending on the party primary that is in question. It makes me think of the campaigns of George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000. I remember that, in the pre-9/11 climate that we lived in at the time, many people thought that the two candidates were interchangeable. They were seen as the type of candidates both parties would put up in the future; a moderate who only slightly leaned towards their party’s ideology.
Here we are, 7 years later, and it seems that both parties are attempting to move away from the center. While this is starting to show in the presidential debates we’ve seen on TV, it seems to be actively happening right here in the state of Virginia.
Finally, I want to talk about the primary in the 24th State Senate district that has caused so much controversy and political noisemaking. Some believe that the Republican Party in the Valley may suffer a long-term fracture due to this primary. With many of the local party chairs and bloggers rallying behind Scott Sayre, and Emmett Hanger collecting the support of many elected officials and a growing number of op-ed writers, it could very well seem like the party is heading for a split.
However, I know that at least few of the local party chairs have stated that they will support and work hard for the Republican candidate, no matter who wins. I believe that this is the start of reconciliation between the supporters of both Emmett Hanger and Scott Sayre. For the sake of the GOP in Virginia, this is a good start towards healing some of the fractures that are taking place. If the Republicans want to continue their majority in both the State Senate and the House of Delegates, they need to start mending these broken fences on June 13th.
Or else, they may find themselves in a position similar to their counterparts in Congress.
Excellent Piece on Fred Thompson Candidacy
Today, JB Williams wrote an excellent column on the Fred Thompson campaign, what it all means, and why he's already taking shots from both sides of the aisle.
To quote Williams on a few key statements...
- "Keep in mind that Dick Cheney had spent almost thirty years as the most bi-partisan respected man in Washington DC before becoming Vice President Dick Cheney, the most partisan hated and targeted man in Washington DC, all in a matter of a few politically charged moments.
The ink wasn't even dry on Fred Thompson's exploratory committee filing before shots were fired across his bow from both sides of the political aisle. Fear is a terribly ugly emotion… but ain't it fun."
- "Lefties hate him for being too right and Righties hate him for being, well, too right…as opposed to their recent record of being all wrong."
This is the key quote of the entire column...
"What has Thompson ever done to make so many so worried? That's easy to answer… Unlike every other contender, he is being drafted by the people, the same people who have rejected all others.
Rejection hurts, even if you're a politician. How must it feel to be the nation's "war hero" John McCain or the nation's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, both of which have been looked at for years and drawn somewhere between a collective yawn and a "hell no" from the conservative base of their party, now certain what "compassionate conservative" means."
While I don't necessarily agree about Giuliani, I think he makes an interesting point.
Go give it a read.
(h/t to fellow Fred-head Paul Cave for the link)
To quote Williams on a few key statements...
- "Keep in mind that Dick Cheney had spent almost thirty years as the most bi-partisan respected man in Washington DC before becoming Vice President Dick Cheney, the most partisan hated and targeted man in Washington DC, all in a matter of a few politically charged moments.
The ink wasn't even dry on Fred Thompson's exploratory committee filing before shots were fired across his bow from both sides of the political aisle. Fear is a terribly ugly emotion… but ain't it fun."
- "Lefties hate him for being too right and Righties hate him for being, well, too right…as opposed to their recent record of being all wrong."
This is the key quote of the entire column...
"What has Thompson ever done to make so many so worried? That's easy to answer… Unlike every other contender, he is being drafted by the people, the same people who have rejected all others.
Rejection hurts, even if you're a politician. How must it feel to be the nation's "war hero" John McCain or the nation's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, both of which have been looked at for years and drawn somewhere between a collective yawn and a "hell no" from the conservative base of their party, now certain what "compassionate conservative" means."
While I don't necessarily agree about Giuliani, I think he makes an interesting point.
Go give it a read.
(h/t to fellow Fred-head Paul Cave for the link)
Sunday, June 10, 2007
A Memorable Experience
On Friday, I took part in the taping for the upcoming episode of "Virginia Viewpoints." I was honored to have spent both the taping time, as well as a good chunk of time afterwards, discussing and debating the topic at hand.
Just so you know, we were discussing immigration. This was a topic that I believe we probably could have done about 100 hours worth of tapings on. I believe our panel was intelligent, our discussion was civil, and I would like to think that I contributed to the conversation.
The panel was as follows:
- Chris Graham - Host of "Virginia Viewpoints", he is also the editor of The New Dominion.
- Phil Chroniger - Author of this blog, of course, and columnist for The New Dominion.
- Linda Jones - A regular on "Virginia Viewpoints", formerly of the USAF.
- Rick Castaneda - Works in the ESL program for Harrisonburg City Schools and also a member of the Hispanic Council of Harrisonburg.
- Andrew Clem - He runs a well-known conservative blog and a Professor of Foreign Studies at JMU.
I won't give away too much, but the round table was pretty well split into a more conservative contingent (myself/Clem) and a more liberal contingent (Jones/Castaneda). However, it managed to provide a good wealth of varying opinions, and it was a productive 25 minutes...I just wish it could have gone longer! Hopefully, we'll get to revisit this topic in the near future. All of the panelists were a pleasure to work with, even if we have different views.
While at the studios, I got to meet finnegan of hburgnews, another Shenandoah Valley area blog that I frequent often. Another class act. In fact, all of the people involved were class acts.
Andrew Clem also commented upon his experience on "Virginia Viewpoints".
Remember, "Virginia Viewpoints" will air on Tuesday, June 12th at 7:30 and 10:30 pm on WVPT.
Just so you know, we were discussing immigration. This was a topic that I believe we probably could have done about 100 hours worth of tapings on. I believe our panel was intelligent, our discussion was civil, and I would like to think that I contributed to the conversation.
The panel was as follows:
- Chris Graham - Host of "Virginia Viewpoints", he is also the editor of The New Dominion.
- Phil Chroniger - Author of this blog, of course, and columnist for The New Dominion.
- Linda Jones - A regular on "Virginia Viewpoints", formerly of the USAF.
- Rick Castaneda - Works in the ESL program for Harrisonburg City Schools and also a member of the Hispanic Council of Harrisonburg.
- Andrew Clem - He runs a well-known conservative blog and a Professor of Foreign Studies at JMU.
I won't give away too much, but the round table was pretty well split into a more conservative contingent (myself/Clem) and a more liberal contingent (Jones/Castaneda). However, it managed to provide a good wealth of varying opinions, and it was a productive 25 minutes...I just wish it could have gone longer! Hopefully, we'll get to revisit this topic in the near future. All of the panelists were a pleasure to work with, even if we have different views.
While at the studios, I got to meet finnegan of hburgnews, another Shenandoah Valley area blog that I frequent often. Another class act. In fact, all of the people involved were class acts.
Andrew Clem also commented upon his experience on "Virginia Viewpoints".
Remember, "Virginia Viewpoints" will air on Tuesday, June 12th at 7:30 and 10:30 pm on WVPT.
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