Virginia // Current

Artist: Chris Bishop

This Current Gallery profiles the work of Alexandria, Virginia Artist: Chris Bishop http://www.chrisbishop.com

HenryG
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US Government studies offshore drilling in mid-Atlantic

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The federal government has taken the first step in 25 years toward offshore drilling in the mid-Atlantic,... more

bansheewail
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Circuit City Files for Bankruptcy

Circuit City Stores has filed for bankruptcy about a week after it said it would close 20 percent of its stores.

ebindelglass
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Virginia, typically a red state, turns blue ... giving a lead to Barack Obama!

Topic: Virginia Voters show up in large numbers on November 4, 2008 for the opportunity to vote for the next U.S. President. A... more

TectonicProductions
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Obama first Democrat to win Virginia in 44 years

Virginia, the seat of the old Confederacy, yes, but also the state that elected the nation's first black governor two decades... more

Future_America
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Where's Obama?

[Click image to enlarge. *Double-click if you like / are Sarah Palin] Where's Obama? (for kids of all ages & every... more

wiredbirds
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GREY 'OBAMCCAIN'

Fired UP! Ready to GO! ♥ Fired UP! Ready to GO! ♥ Fired UP! Ready to GO! ♥ Fired UP! Ready to GO!... more

wiredbirds
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Phony fliers tell Virginia Democrats to Vote on November 5th

In a rather sneaky, and underhanded, move, a man in Virginia passed out fliers instructing people that Republicans vote on... more

mario_a
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Virginia Voting: Broken Machines, No Paper Ballots

Well theres a surprise, guess thats Virginia to McCain then.

WhichWayIsUp
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You will regret your vote

How can anyone that knows how to read be on the same page as these people? If you vote for John McCain, you will regret it. ... more

ikeula75
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Maya Angelou: It's time to lift America's spirit - CNN.com

At 80, Maya Angelou says her "knees are not all that swift and my lungs need some extra help but other than that, my desire... more

jkw077
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Division Tactics Go Back to Slavery

The current elections discussions, now focusing on race, men, and women, and age, and who is voting for who, have taken a very interesting turn. It cannot be denied that the media has an influence over the outcome of any election due to its size, power, and reach, and especially its ownership structure. It can be argued that the division tactics being used by the Republican party can be traced back to the division tactics from the times of slavery in the Americas: dividing the old from the young, the men from women (as in polls suggesting that white women favor Obama, white men favor McCain), and of course dividing each race from another.

The following is a speech allegedly delivered by Willie Lynch on the bank of the James River in the colony of Virginia in 1712. Lynch was a British slave owner in the West Indies. He was invited to the colony of Virginia in 1712 to teach his methods to slave owners there. The term “lynching” is derived from his last name.

(I am obligated to also say that this speech is reported to not have happened by some researchers, but is still widely used and quoted by many who discuss the past and current divisions among citizens of all races in the United States and around the world. While this speech may not be authentic, it is hard to deny the message rings true, even today)

Excerpt from Speech:
Gentlemen, you know what your problems are; I do not need to elaborate. I am not here to enumerate your problems, I am here to introduce you to a method of solving them. In my bag here, I HAVE A FULL PROOF METHOD FOR CONTROLLING YOUR BLACK SLAVES. I guarantee every one of you that, if installed correctly, IT WILL CONTROL THE SLAVES FOR AT LEAST 300 HUNDREDS YEARS. My method is simple. Any member of your family or your overseer can use it. I HAVE OUTLINED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENCES AMONG THE SLAVES; AND I TAKE THESE DIFFERENCES AND MAKE THEM BIGGER. I USE FEAR, DISTRUST AND ENVY FOR CONTROL PURPOSES. These methods have worked on my modest plantation in the West Indies and it will work throughout the South. Take this simple little list of differences and think about them. On top of my list is “AGE,” but it’s there only because it starts with an “a.” The second is “COLOR” or shade. There is INTELLIGENCE, SIZE, SEX, SIZES OF PLANTATIONS, STATUS on plantations, ATTITUDE of owners, whether the slaves live in the valley, on a hill, East, West, North, South, have fine hair, course hair, or is tall or short. Now that you have a list of differences, I shall give you an outline of action, but before that, I shall assure you that DISTRUST IS STRONGER THAN TRUST AND ENVY STRONGER THAN ADULATION, RESPECT OR ADMIRATION. The Black slaves after receiving this indoctrination shall carry on and will become self-refueling and self-generating for HUNDREDS of years, maybe THOUSANDS. Don’t forget, you must pitch the OLD black male vs. the YOUNG black male, and the YOUNG black male against the OLD black male. You must use the DARK skin slaves vs. the LIGHT skin slaves, and the LIGHT skin slaves vs. the DARK skin slaves. You must use the FEMALE vs. the MALE, and the MALE vs. the FEMALE. You must also have white servants and overseers [who] distrust all Blacks. But it is NECESSARY THAT YOUR SLAVES TRUST AND DEPEND ON US. THEY MUST LOVE, RESPECT AND TRUST ONLY US. Gentlemen, these kits are your keys to control. Use them. Have your wives and children use them, never miss an opportunity. IF USED INTENSELY FOR ONE YEAR, THE SLAVES THEMSELVES WILL REMAIN PERPETUALLY DISTRUSTFUL. Thank you gentlemen.”

Rest of Speech found at linkThe current elections discussions, now focusing on race, men, and women, and age, and who is voting for who, have taken a very... more

jkw077
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18 responses

19 days ago

Obama takes the lead in Colorado

Barack Obama is viewed as the candidate of change, allowing the Democratic candidate for president to regain his lead among likely voters in Colorado, according to the latest poll by Quinnipiac University of Hamden, Conn.

After falling behind Sen. John McCain in July and August, the Illinois senator moved ahead 49 percent to 45 percent, according to the poll, conducted in partnership with The Wall Street Journal and Washingtonpost.com. Quinnipiac surveyed 1,418 likely Colorado voters from Sept. 14-21, and the poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percent.

In the race for the state's open Senate seat, Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Udall leads Republican Bob Schaffer 48 percent to 40 percent, compared with a 44-44 percent tie in July.

Obama probably benefited from the Democratic National Convention, held in Denver from Aug. 25-28.

"Two years ago, when the Democrats picked Denver for their convention, one of the main reasons was the hope it would help them win Colorado, which is shaping up as a key state in the Electoral College," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Sen. Obama has come from behind to take the lead there, and it is a reasonable assumption that the convention has something to do with this."

In addition to polling Colorado, Quinnipiac also surveyed the battleground states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. In Michigan, Obama leads McCain by 48 percent to 44 percent, compared with 46-42 percent in July; in Minnesota, site of the Republican National Convention, he leads McCain by 47-45 percent, compared with 46-44 in July; and in Wisconsin, Obama leads McCain by 49-42 percent, compared with 50-39 in July.

"Sen. Obama, who leads in all four states, has made himself the candidate of change with a dual-track strategy: joining Sen. McCain at the hip with President George Bush, who symbolizes the status quo, while sharply defining himself and his policies as the antithesis of the president. The Wall Street meltdown while these polls were in the field probably fed the public desire for change and seemed to benefit Sen. Obama."

In Colorado, 46 percent of likely voters say Obama will bring change, compared with 22 percent for McCain and 26 percent who say neither will bring change.

Obama leads 55-40 percent among likely Colorado female voters, while men back McCain 49-42 percent. White voters back McCain 51-44 percent as Latino voters go with Obama 68-26 percent. Obama and McCain are tied 48-48 percent with voters 18 to 34 years old, while voters 35 to 54 back Obama 52-42 percent. Voters over 55 go 47 percent with McCain and 46 percent with Obama.

Colorado's likely voters believe that McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a running mate is a good choice by 55 percent to 38 percent. They also believe that Obama's choice of Sen. Joe Biden is a good choice by 52 percent to 32 percent.

The economy is the most important issue in the election, 51 percent of Colorado voters say. Obama better understands the economy, voters say 47-41 percent, while McCain better understands foreign policy, voters say 63-29 percent. Barack Obama is viewed as the candidate of change, allowing the Democratic candidate for president to regain his lead among likely... more

Moopak
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18 responses

1 month ago

Obama holds lead over John McCain in final hours of race - Telegraph

The epic battle to become the 44th president of the United States has entered its final hours with polls showing Senator Barack... more

jkw077
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0 responses

15 days ago

BBC NEWS | Special Reports | 629 | 629 | US Election polltracker

Page last updated at 09:42 GMT, Friday, 5 September 2008 10:42 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version US Election... more

BuddyP
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0 responses

2 months ago

Republicans for Obama

Why Republicans are voting for Obama. "I cannot support a candidate who is taking someone who is not qualified and putting... more

wholefreespirit
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54 responses

2 months ago

Obama's electoral college win - Decision '08- msnbc.com

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama has pulled ahead in enough states to win the 270 electoral votes he needs to gain the White House... more

jkw077
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6 responses

16 days ago

Obama, McCain Head into Final Weekend

Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain head into the final weekend of the presidential campaign focused tightly on the... more

ebindelglass
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4 responses

18 days ago

After 148 Years, a Democrat Returns to Harrisonburg

Tell us why this is interestingBarack Obama is making such an aggressive play to win Virginia that it is easy to forget how unusual it is for a Democrat to be campaigning for president in the commonwealth at all..

But Obama himself put it in perspective during a visit to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, the heart of the conservative Shenandoah Valley.

"I just discovered that the last presidential candidate to be here was Stephen Douglas," Obama told thousands of supporters in a boisterous field house. "That's the guy who ran against Abraham Lincoln, if you haven't been following your history."

It's a bit unclear how many candidates have come to the city, but it appears Douglas, in the election of 1860, was at least the last Democratic candidate to visit during a general election. According to the local newspaper, the Daily News-Record, Lincoln was not even on the ballot in the slave-owning state.

"It is a testimony to the path our country has traveled, that the last time a Democrat was here was Stephen Douglas and now the next presidential candidate is Barack Obama," Obama said. "That's a long distance to travel. That's a testimony to Virginia and a testimony to this country."

Obama played to packed houses in Harrisonburg and here, where more than 20,000 waited for a chilly, evening rally in Harbor Park, the city's minor-league ballpark. In both places, enthusiastic supporters stood throughout his roughly half-hour stump speech.

Obama was joined in Harrisonburg by Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine and Kaine's predecessor, U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner. Kaine flew with Obama here for the second rally.

"Right now, things are looking pretty good in Virginia, but we have not gone for a Democratic candidate for president since 1964," Kaine said. "We have to assume we are the underdog."

Polls have shown Obama ahead in the commonwealth, and Democrats enthused by their success in the 2006 U.S. Senate contest and the last two gubernatorial elections are bullish on their chances for a breakthrough.

But whether Obama is determined or worried, the candidate is scheduled to return at least once more before Election Day, on Thursday to Virginia Beach. That would be his 10th visit to Virginia since securing the Democratic nomination.

Tell us why this is interestingBarack Obama is making such an aggressive play to win Virginia that it is easy to forget how... more