http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary 2008-11-08T23:23:34Z http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1684-postelection_musing#c1587 2008-11-08T23:23:34Z <p>I think somebody would have noticed me going through the voting line more than once, at least where I voted. Well, okay maybe only after the third or fourth time. :)</p> Tom http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1684-postelection_musing#c1585 2008-11-07T00:40:04Z <p>Not one mention of the super flawed voting process? I mean hell, I can print hundreds of those cardboard paper cards and continue to go through the voting line, over and over. No one is watching it closely at all.</p> Sean http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1682-a_minor_reflection_upon_the_election#c1584 2008-11-05T15:56:04Z <p>Extremely well said, sir.</p> Jeremy http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1670-whos_going_to_bail_out_the_bailout#c1581 2008-10-07T10:46:18Z <p>doh, okay comments working again thanks to Red. :)</p> Tom http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1670-whos_going_to_bail_out_the_bailout#c1580 2008-10-07T10:46:02Z <p>test</p> Tom http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1649-palin_as_vp#c1573 2008-09-02T17:02:20Z <p>all politics is calculated. that McCain's VP choice is is not unusual in the slightest.</p> vince http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1641-obamas_vp#c1570 2008-08-19T14:41:37Z <p>I think it's Kaine. </p> Vivian J. Paige http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1637-omgwtfbbq_dontgo#c1567 2008-08-07T12:31:52Z <p>Well said, Thomas! I got into a twitter tit-for-tat with a #dontgo tweeter yesterday. You see, for Republicans, politics is just business, so entrepreneurialism is to be encouraged.</p> Jeremy http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1615-paid_bloggers#c1564 2008-07-03T11:48:47Z <p>Blogging hasn't been co-opted so much as marketing has been democratized. Now, anybody can brand with a free blogger acct. But it's still a matter of finding the brands that people come back to, and finding a way to inject your message into it. </p><p>That said, I think most bloggers do well to never think of their blog as a revenue source. It's better for their writing, and if you don't care about your writing, then why should anybody read you, let alone pay you?</p> Jeremy http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1612-eric_cantor_for_vp#c1563 2008-07-03T11:26:59Z <p>Eric Cantor is one of the biggest embarrassments in Congress. His lack of basic understanding of simple legal principles in the U.S. Constitution (see <a href="http://westofshockoe.blogspot.com/2007/02/video-and-trancsript-now-available.html">this</a>) and watching him give a Nuremburg rally style address at the GOP 7th district convention are enough to make me hope and pray that somebody like him isn't a heart attack away from the presidency.</p> Jeremy http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1613-robert_yarbrough#c1562 2008-06-27T05:54:33Z <p>I did it!</p> Not Larry Sabato http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1611-budgets_of_glimore_vs_warner#c1561 2008-06-25T12:45:40Z <p>Huh, I didn't even know that I was having an exchange with ol' Wesley. My traffic package only informs me that somebody's linked to me once somebody clicks on that link (unless the blog supports trackbacks), and I guess nobody clicked on any of his links. That's a little sad, I suppose.</p><p>Sadder still is the content of the posting. I made clear what I'm looking for with my very first post: just a single contemporary account (from 2001-2) from a Virginia media outlet that says Gilmore left the state in good financial shape. (The reason I'm looking for something from the media is precisely for the reason that you found: the state budget is simply indecipherable to you and me, and no meaningful discussion can take place with that as the sole resource.) Wesley can't produce a single article in response, only that sputtering foolishness and a Photoshop job that looks like it was done by a toddler.</p> Waldo Jaquith http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1602-no_primaries_for_me#c1560 2008-06-11T19:04:21Z <p>Greetings,</p><p>I just wanted to stop in and say that we've encountered a number of instances were candidates have what appear to be dormant Web sites. When that happens, we check with other sources (like <a href="http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G08/VA.phtml">The Green Papers</a>) to check for additional information. </p><p>In this instance, they have the same Web site listed, so for now we'll just have to see if we can find some media confirmation of Griffith's run.</p><p>Cheers,</p><p>Avelino Maestas Congresspedia Assistant Editor</p> Avelino Maestas http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1600-evaluating_the_100day_plan#c1559 2008-06-09T01:35:10Z <p>They are not mere buzz words if you really do what you say, and Jeff is already following through on his promises.</p><p>Rather than try to smear this honest man who is doing all that he can to restore integrity and popularity to the GOP here in Virginia, you could offer some constructive ideas.</p><p>For example, we could return to the Primary system, but as a way to control costs, limit the campaign season to thirty days in regional races and ninety days for statewide races.</p><p>Some of us like the idea of improving outreach to the minority community. We are tired of the xenophobia of the "old guard" Republicans. The GOP has very promising opportunities amongst the Asian and Latino communities. The previous RPVA team did nothing to cultivate Asian and Latino voters and Jeff has proven that he can excel with these groups, and he has a great track record of shoring-up support with our traditional base groups, too.</p><p>As an alternative to Party registration, the Primary participation rating is an idea that deserves thoughtful debate. I prefer Virginia's open primary system, since it makes our GOP candidates have to get out of their comfort zone and learn about the average citizens. It also helps us select candidates who have a more broad appeal. </p> J. Tyler Ballance http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1600-evaluating_the_100day_plan#c1558 2008-06-09T01:33:55Z <p>They are not mere buzz words if you really do what you say, and Jeff is already following through on his promises.</p><p>Rather than try to smear this honest man who is doing all that he can to restore integrity and popularity to the GOP here in Virginia, you could offer some constructive ideas.</p><p>For example, we could return to the Primary system, but as a way to control costs, limit the campaign season to thirty days in regional races and ninety days for statewide races.</p><p>Some of us like the idea of improving outreach to the minority community. We are tired of the xenophobia of the "old guard" Republicans. The GOP has very promising opportunities amongst the Asian and Latino communities. The previous RPVA team did nothing to cultivate Asian and Latino voters and Jeff has proved that he can excel with these groups, and he has a great track record of shoring-up support with our traditional base groups, too.</p><p>As an alternative to Party registration, the Primary participation rating is an idea that deserves thoughtful debate. I prefer Virginia's open primary system, since it makes our GOP candidates have to get out of their comfort zone and learn about the average citizens. It also helps us select candidates who have a more broad appeal.</p><p>Take your own advice: "Try not to be a dork."</p><p></p> J. Tyler Ballance http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1598-kurts_future#c1557 2008-06-05T00:13:49Z <p>And it goes on, and on, and on...</p><p>Do you really think he wants it to end?</p><p>see more: www.141majority.blogspot.com</p> 141 Majority http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1597-offshore_drilling#c1556 2008-06-03T23:07:29Z <p>Good points. I suppose my argument for inaction on drilling boils down taking money and manpower away from developing other energy sources. You're right that any solution will take time though. Part of it is personal preference, too - I just think new technology is cool. :)</p> Tom http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1597-offshore_drilling#c1555 2008-06-03T02:55:52Z <p>I do support your stand on nuclear power. Its terrible that we cannot develop it. Besides, if its good enough for the Navy, its good enough for the rest of the country. As to alternative fuels and energy sources, outstanding. We need to think outside the box. But neither nuclear power nor alternatives are a short term fix. Both take years to develop, also. Thanks for coming by UCV. </p> cargosquid http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1597-offshore_drilling#c1554 2008-06-03T02:53:42Z <p>Sorry about the double post. I was trying to add to my comments and hit enter by mistake. Please delete one of them.</p> cargosquid http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1597-offshore_drilling#c1552 2008-06-03T02:44:17Z <p>More exploration and drilling, of course, will not lower prices in the short term. You are correct. I think, though, that the anger felt by many is the result of inaction by Congress, using the same excuses every time petroleum is mentioned. No energy development is allowed. NO drilling, no oil, no natural gas, no coal, coal to gas, shale oil, etc. And then they want to add taxes? And then add cap and trade to that? Insane. Developing an oil field does take time. That's why we need to start now. ANWR would be putting out 1-2 million barrels a day right now. The very existence of additional accessible reserves will lower the price. Simple law of supply and demand. And if OPEC lowers its supply, to keep the price high, all is well and good. That would mean more money would be heading to domestic companies and not foreign gov'ts. While Concretebob is aggressive, putting a few destroyers on patrol near Chinese occupied platforms 50 miles off of our coast is common sense. Nat'l gas heating is expensive right now. The green movement promoted it as the "perfect" energy source. Now we can't get more even thought demand is high. Its not just gasoline. Everything we use is touched by petroleum. And if we don't take it out of the ground, someone else, without our laws or care of the environment, will. Should we just watch while Mexico, Cuba, India, and China develop those fields and drain them over the years? Instead of an argument to support drilling and development, I await an argument that supports this inaction. What are ITS benefits?</p> cargosquid http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1577-the_postsurge_plan#c1551 2008-04-10T17:03:12Z <p>I have no idea what a good way to get out of Iraq is. I wonder if anyone does.</p> vince http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1577-the_postsurge_plan#c1550 2008-04-10T02:39:42Z <p>I think that would be the Wild East...</p> Cynthia http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1570-on_obamas_pastor#c1549 2008-03-20T17:00:22Z <p>Then you have my sympathy</p> vince http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1570-on_obamas_pastor#c1548 2008-03-19T02:12:28Z <p>I can only speak for myself, but I generally don't value sermons much, because most of the pastors I've known seemed like used car salesmen. I'm not sure I would put a pastor and a spiritual advisor in the same category either. Maybe it's just my experience, but I can't imagine going to any of the pastors I've known for spiritual advice.</p> Tom http://thomaskrehbiel.com/commentary/1570-on_obamas_pastor#c1547 2008-03-18T16:55:35Z <p>When a person picks someone else to be their spiritual advisor, aren't they effectivly saying that they view the advisor as a person worthy of emulating?</p> vince