http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/ Daily news about Virginia politics and politicians. en-US Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:29:38 -0500 http://www.typepad.com/ shad_plankhttp://feedburner.google.com http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/jd3ocVUThSI/federal-officials-search-capitol-for-evidence-on-hamiltons-odu-job.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/federal-officials-search-capitol-for-evidence-on-hamiltons-odu-job.html Del. Phil Hamilton’s resignation from the House of Delegates might have snuffed out a state ethics probe, but it appears that federal investigators continue to dig for information about the once influential lawmaker’s $40,000-a-year job at Old Dominion University. House Clerk Bruce Jamerson told the Washington Post that federal investigators came to the capitol in Richmond and served him with a subpoena searching for Hamilton’s detailed financial filings, travel vouchers and other documents related the Old Dominion educational center. Hamilton, a powerful Newport News Republican who lost his re-election bid to Democrat Robin Abbott, became embroiled in scandal last summer when e-mails showed that in 2007 Hamilton was negotiating a $40,000-a-year salary at the state-supported college even as he was carrying an amendment to secure... Kimball Payne Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:29:38 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/federal-officials-search-capitol-for-evidence-on-hamiltons-odu-job.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/0hdA6BuJEuE/president-obama-considering-not-running-for-reelection.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/president-obama-considering-not-running-for-reelection.html In an interview from China, President Barack Obama talked openly about the idea that he might not run for re-election in 2012. Obama, speaking with CNN on a wide range of topics - including Sarah Palin'snew book, said that he realizes he is already making difficult decisions about the future of the United States, and that could hurt his prospects in 2012. Here's the full quote for context: But when it comes to the 2012 race, Obama didn't discount the possibility he may sit out on a reelection bid. "You know, if - if I feel like I've made the very best decisions for the American people and three years from now I look at it and, you know, my poll numbers are in the... Kimball Payne Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:29:21 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/president-obama-considering-not-running-for-reelection.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/svuYeaxr4RU/michelle-obama-visits-virginia-elementary-school.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/michelle-obama-visits-virginia-elementary-school.html First Lady Michelle Obamatoured an Alexandria elementary school on Tuesday to meet with faculty and student and present the school with an award for a healthier school environment. The event was designed to promote a more active student body to help cut down on childhood obesity, and the school is getting the award in part for - GET THIS - lengthening recess. Here's the report from Hill Reporter Walter Alarkon, it's written in the choppy succinct style typical of pool reports, but you'll get the idea. And remember FLOTUS is one of the nicknames for Michelle Obama: Update: The visit comes as Rasmussen polling finds the Michelle Obama's approval rating at 62% The First Lady met with faculty members and students at Hollin Meadows Elementary... Kimball Payne Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:10:37 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/michelle-obama-visits-virginia-elementary-school.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/gH5lWAMUlo4/webb-and-warner-pen-note-to-fema.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/webb-and-warner-pen-note-to-fema.html Virginia Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner are pressing federal officials to release disaster aid in the wake of last week’s powerful nor’easter that rocked Hampton Roads. In the letter, dated Nov. 16, Webb and Warner urge the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to speed up the review the storm damage on the Peninsula and in south Hampton Roads and release money for victims. “These areas experienced significant damage due to the combination of severe rainfall, winds and flooding,” the senators wrote in the brief note to administrator W. Craig Fugate. “The situation has strained our local authorities.” Federal disaster teams began sifting through the wreckage of the storm today, in an effort to gauge the total cost of the damage. Along the... Kimball Payne Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:30:19 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/webb-and-warner-pen-note-to-fema.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/EyKfMQAoijU/organizing-for-america-says-thankyou-to-bobby-scott-for-healthcare-vote.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/organizing-for-america-says-thankyou-to-bobby-scott-for-healthcare-vote.html U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Newport News, and Organizing for America have scheduled a news conference for 6 p.m. today to give OFA a chance to publicly thank Scott for voting for the health care reform bill that passed last Saturday. Passing along the official gratitude will be Brandyn Keating, OFA's state director for Virginia. The event is at 6 p.m. at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, 2515 Marshall Ave., Newport News. Prediction: The weather today may affect the turnout. Dave Hendrickson Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:35:49 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/organizing-for-america-says-thankyou-to-bobby-scott-for-healthcare-vote.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/GbsFc_PQFZ0/going-to-blogs-united-conference-time-to-register.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/going-to-blogs-united-conference-time-to-register.html The Blogs United conference will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21, at Christopher Newport University's David Student Union. The conference runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the humble registration fee of 15 bucks covers breakfast and lunch. This year’s conference features Rep. Rob Wittman, political beat writers Anita Kumar, (the Shad Plank's own) Kimball Payne, Ryan Nobles, and Julian Walker, as well as Scott Hirons from the House Republican Campaign Committee. Rep. Glenn Nye, Greg Scanlon of the Democratic Party of Virginia, Sen. Jim Webb, and Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell have been invited. We’ll also review the election season, the latest legal issues facing the “new” media, and what’s new in technology. Here's a link to the registration page. Join us! Dave Hendrickson Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:43:52 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/going-to-blogs-united-conference-time-to-register.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/73wmkG_eI2k/news-from-the-hill-the-south-has-won.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/news-from-the-hill-the-south-has-won.html I never got a chance to read it yesterday, but The Hill's Bernie Quigley has an interesting and entertaining election analysis that mentions Texas in passing but focuses on Virginia, with discussion of George Allen, Mark Warner, Jim Webb and Mudcat Saunders. It's called "The South Has Won." Democrats will not find it encouraging. You'll find it here. Dave Hendrickson Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:03:12 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/news-from-the-hill-the-south-has-won.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/6N4BaiB4sEs/a-challenger-for-bobby-scott.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/a-challenger-for-bobby-scott.html First the news, or at least the possibility of news, because the attribution is going to take a while: Coby Dillard, who worked on Bob McDonnell's gubernatorial campaign as the outreach person for veterans and African-Americans, may decide to challenge U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Newport News, next year. Dillard has a blog, The Dillard Doctrine, where he says he's not going to say anything about whether he's going to run or not "until a later time." But ... (here comes the attribution) ... I read a tweet from Vivian Paige that sent me to her blog, where she mentions an item on the Virginian Pilot's political blog that cites an item on United Conservatives that says Dillard is "forming an exploratory committee." (I, of course,... Dave Hendrickson Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:18:26 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/a-challenger-for-bobby-scott.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/iAzEszIKeqU/breaking-down-the-local-results.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/breaking-down-the-local-results.html Taking a quick peek at the morning results from the Virgina Board of Elections Web site, the unofficial results paint a clear picture of where Bob McDonnell picked up the most votes in Upper Hampton Roads en route to his decisive win in yesterday's election. McDonnell killed Deeds in suburban and rural Hampton Roads, racking up big numbers in York, James City and Isle of Wight. The conservative stronghold of Poquoson also went firmly to the Virginia Beach Republican. The urban voters went largely to Deeds, though the Bath County Democrat won Newport News by a mere 228 votes. Here's a look at the unofficial results from the Board of Elections: Results for Governor in Newport News: Robert F. "Bob" McDonnell 18,417 49.63% Precincts Reporting:... Peter Frost Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:34:32 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/breaking-down-the-local-results.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/_YWncUbH8LU/kaine-reacts-to-deeds-loss.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/kaine-reacts-to-deeds-loss.html Gov. Timothy M. Kaine released a statement last night reacting to the GOP sweep in Virginia and incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine's loss in the New Jersey gubernatorial race. Kaine, the Democratic National Committee chair who will turn over the commonwealth's reins to Republican Bob McDonnell in January, immediately downplayed both Corzine's and Creigh Deeds' losses. "It would have been historic if not unprecedented to win one or both of these races given historical trends," Kaine said, noting that in Virginia, the party in power in the White House hasn't won the Gov's race since 1977. Further, the Governor called the Democratic win in a special election for Congress in New York the "most consequential race of the night'' after the Republican-endorsed candidate dropped out and... Peter Frost Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:21:58 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/kaine-reacts-to-deeds-loss.html