Posts by Mike Signer

I've been dismayed by how fecklessly President Obama's enemies are trotting out the old playbook of attacking a Democrat as weak on national security. Even taking for granted our current fact-free politics, these assaults are particularly egregious, ignoring the confident, precise, intensely patriotic nature of the President's foreign policy and national security. I have an op-ed out in today's Richmond Times-Dispatch drawing on some of my experience in national security as well as some of the facts about the President's proposed new Pentagon budget to argue that it's critics like Mitt Romney who really ought to be playing defense on defense. Here are a few grafs from the article -- you can check out the full version here.

Now we're turning our focus to fresh ideas on public education. As a Virginia public school and UVA Law graduate, a small businessman, and an educator at Virginia Tech, I firmly believe in the power of public education to build Virginia's future -- and give progressives an edge at the kitchen table. Here's what we're delivering in the coming weeks...

As a veteran of seven Virginia Democratic election protection programs and founder of the New Electoral Reform Alliance of Virginia, I'm familiar with the provisional ballot system we have. I fear the intentional chaos that will be unleashed under this new system. I've counseled many frustrated voters through the process of casting provisional ballots and have advised them on how to ensure they get counted -- usually, by taking a day off work to show up to the registrar's office the next day. (Virginia's system is already unusual in that the "canvass" of votes starts the day after voting -- in some states, the canvass starts a few days later, giving more time to a voter to arrange to travel).

Tomorrow, the Democratic Party of Virginia and the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus are sponsoring a "Protect Our Vote Rally" at the Bell Tower on the grounds of the Virginia Capitol in Richmond. The event features a special guest, the civil rights hero Dr. Benjamin Chavis. You can also take a minute to sign a petition opposing these anti-voter bills.

Yesterday, I drove to Richmond to attend the annual luncheon by Virginia FREE--a remarkable group that everyone should know more about. Virginia FREE, capably directed by Clayton Roberts--a former journalist--is a bipartisan coalition of business and civic leaders that advocates for bipartisan solutions to grow Virginia's economy. The organization also provides members with factual information about the progress of relevant legislation in Virginia's General Assembly -- cutting through a lot of clutter to let people know what is actually happening.

You're entitled to have your opinions, but you're not entitled to have your facts. And you're certainly not entitled to take out ideological crusades on the most vulnerable members of society -- particularly if they'll have dangerous consequences for all of society. That's why it's so unsettling that Sen.-elect Bill Carrico (R-Independence) chose today -- the day before Thanksgiving! -- to attack early ed programs in Virginia. Here's what he said: “I’m all supportive of the K-12 program, but I have a problem with pre-K.... I think it’s time that parents who want to have children raise those children and the government don’t stand and create a babysitting operation for a 4-year-old to get a pre-K program."

It goes without saying for NDP’s readers, but please make sure to vote today, and please make sure to remind, urge, cajole, and convince your neighbors, friends, family, peers, and Facebook friends to do the same.  With the Democrats’ 22-seat majority in the State Senate in the balance, this is one of the most important [...]

With elections a week away, it's no surprise that the political "crazy season" is shifting into high gear. Still, it came as a shock to see the Loudoun County GOP's cartoon of President Obama and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi drawn as zombies -- with the president with a bullet in his head. With things like this, the intent (twisted satire, malicious cartooning, whatever) is less relevant than the effect this kind of visual rhetoric can have in the twisted minds of increasingly frenzied extremists.

Autumn should remind any political activist of one of the best ways to spend time outdoors in Virginia, aside from apple-picking and hay rides: knocking on doors. I took advantage of the beautiful weather on Saturday to ride my motorcycle down to Springfield to door-knock for Democratic Senator George Barker. George is newly embattled due to redistricting and an aggressive targeting plan by Republicans to re-take the State Senate, where Democrats currently have a one seat majority.

A very troubling report was just released by the Brennan Center for Justice titled "Voting Law Changes in 2012." The report focuses on conservative legislation passed in states across the country in the first quarters of 2011--including 19 new laws and two new executive actions, with at least 42 bills still pending--that will make it harder for millions of people to vote. But not in Virginia -- yet -- thanks to the State Senate.