Southwest Virginia Blogs

I cannot remember who it was that first turned me on to Mother Jones, but for the last few years I have enjoyed reading and considered it one of the better sources of progressive news.

This article, though, entitled “Operation: Take Back Virginia” is one of the most disparaging and condescending articles I have ever read.

The author, JoAnn Wypijewski, accompanied Jim Webb (and apparently George Allen too) to several of his stops in Southwest Virginia this past weekend.

I am sure Ms. Wypijewski is generally good at what she does, however, it appears she really blew it on this article. Not only did she get several of the facts incorrect, but one can only assume that she was more interested in taking cracks at our beautiful area – Southwest Virginia – and its citizenry than writing about Jim Webb’s excellent chance to “take back Virginia.”

For example, here is how she described the enthusiastic crowd that gathered in Clintwood to see Virginia’s next U.S. Senator.

Webb ended the weekend at another potluck, this one in the mining town of Clintwood. The fare at the table, baked beans and cheese sandwiches, cucumbers in oil and vinegar and egg salad sandwiches, told something about how the people of Dickenson County are faring. This is hard coal country, and the low stools at the Clintwood elementary school cafeteria were filled, a crowd of about 200, the men in worn jackets and baseball caps with foamy fronts and webbed plastic sides. There were coal widows with diamonds but more women with bad teeth and dull hair.

Certainly she would realize how offensive statements like that are to folks in Clintwood. I guess it is possible she thinks that the lowly-citizens of Dickenson County are too illiterate to read Mother Jones.

I personally invite Ms. Wypijewski to visit Clintwood and Southwest Virginia again. She will be pleased to know that most of the ladies who live here do not have “bad teeth and dull hair.” It appears to me she has painted a very poor picture of the fiercely-independent residents of this great region.

The results will be up here for Virginia.

I visited most of the precincts in Dickenson County today. We had a good turnout and most people said it was a strong Democratic turnout. Webb should win Dickenson by record margins.

Candidates traditionally spend the last weekend before Election Day racing across the Ninth District. This year is no different.

Click here for the full schedule of events.

Oh, and don’t forget to do something to GOTV. This race is tied, and we do not want to spend the next two weeks in Recount mode.

The Clinch Valley News suggests that Southwest Virginia should stay the course and re-elect Congressman Rick Boucher.

They cite, among other reasons, that Congressman Boucher’s leadership in building a technology infrastructure has been valuable to the Ninth District.

Rick Boucher also has shown commitment to Southwest Virginia values in a practical and productive way. Last week’s groundbreaking for the Northrop Grumman state data facilities in Russell County was an example of his work over more than a decade in helping fund and build a modern data infrastructure across much of the Ninth District.

That infrastructure has led in steps from electronic classrooms across the region’s public schools to telemedicine linking area clinics and hospitals with world-class specialists and on to high-speed broadband trunk lines and wireless Internet facilities that now are attracting businesses once thought to be unattainable in our region.

I have mentioned this before. Absent the Congressman’s committment and work to lay the groundwork, Southwest Virginia would not be able to attract employers that rely on technology.

The Clinch Valley News is correct, Southwest Virginia should “stay the course” to keep Congressman Boucher representing us.

I see Congressman Rick Boucher has posted another new television ad on his website, the third in recent weeks.

This is great stuff from the Congressman, including old pictures.

The Dilbert Blog has an interesting thought on the possibility that electronic voting machines can get hacked.

I believe those worries are totally misplaced. Now don’t get me wrong – there’s a 100% chance that the voting machines will get hacked and all future elections will be rigged. But that doesn’t mean we’ll get a worse government. It probably means that the choice of the next American president will be taken out of the hands of deep-pocket, autofellating, corporate shitbags and put it into the hands of some teenager in Finland. How is that not an improvement?

I’ve given that idea some thought, and I’ve realized that in an odd sort of way, I find it reassuring. Weird I know, but he’s right. It isn’t going to be some corporate schmuck that hacks it successfully, but some geek. We could do worse.

These things - and the ups and downs - are going to drive me crazy before this election is over.

The good news is, though, the polls are now showing Webb ahead. Real Clear Politics has Webb up in its RCP Average, after factoring in today’s Rasmussen poll which has Allen dropping seven points.

The bad news is, however, that just means this race is winnable, not that Webb is it wrapped up.

Today, for example, I received two “get out the vote” calls from Republicans. They are working hard to try and protect Sen. Allen’s seat in the senate.

When Jim Webb wins next week, it will not be because the Republicans did not do everything possible to save Allen’s seat - it will be because Democrats worked even harder to elect Jim Webb.

Here is the latest television ad from Congressman Rick Boucher:

Included in this ad are a couple of Veterans from right here in Dickenson County!