Roanoke VA DFA Democrats evolved from the Howard Dean campaign for the Presidency. We are committed to grassroots politics to take back our government for the people. "Yes, we can!"

We Believe In:

• Fiscal responsibility 
• Health care for all
• A foreign policy worthy of America
• Investment in education
• Environmental protection
• Equal rights for ALL Americans
• Fair tax policies 
• Ending the "Imperial Presidency"
• Respect for workers and the right to organize 

Quote of the Day

"Al Gore never claimed that he invented the Internet. Howard Dean didn’t scream. Hillary Clinton didn’t say she was staying in the race because Barack Obama might be assassinated. And Wesley Clark didn’t impugn John McCain’s military service." - Paul Krugman, commenting on how "news reporters" invent stories.

McCain Changes Tune on Military Service

Unlike his own run for the White House, John McCain has on previous occasions said that military backgrounds play little role in preparing a person for the presidency. In February 2003, McCain said "Absolutely not," when asked whether "military service inherently makes somebody better equipped to be commander-in-chief."

"Harry Truman was in the artillery in World War I...," he continued. "Ronald Reagan did most of his [WW II] active duty in the studio lots in California. It might be a nice thing, but I absolutely don't believe that it's necessary."

A year later, McCain also cast his ballot for George W. Bush, a national guard member who refused active duty, over fellow Vietnam veteran John Kerry, who was highly decorated in combat.

McCain: Purim Equals Halloween!

Back in March when John McCain took a swing through the Middle East - the trip where he confused Sunni and Shia and had to be corrected by Joe Lieberman - he also made a gaffe in Israel, where he compared the Jewish holiday of Purim to Halloween.

"Nine hundred rocket attacks in less than three months, an average of one every one to two hours," McCain said, during a news conference with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on March 19, 2008. "Obviously this puts an enormous and hard to understand strain on the people here, especially the children. As they celebrate their version of Halloween here..."

Again, Joe rode to the rescue and covered for McCain, saying he had told McCain that Purim - the holiday that celebrates Queen Esther convincing the King of Persia to save the Jewish people - was sort of like Halloween.

Only 199 days left!

News from Virginia:

Protestors Interrupt Bush's July 4th Speech

(ABC) Protesters repeatedly interrupted President Bush's Fourth of July speech at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's residence in Charlottesville. No sooner had Bush started speaking at the naturalization ceremony welcoming new American citizens than protesters began shouting at him, calling him a "war criminal."

The President paused in his remarks and then responded, "To my fellow citizens, we believe in free speech in the United States of America."

One woman moved toward the stage before being stopped by security, but other protesters still made their voices heard. Only minutes later, another protester shouted expletives at the President, while still another called Bush "a fascist".

By the time Bush finished his 10-minute remarks, at least nine protesters had been escorted out of the event by law enforcement.

Virginia Trout Streams Degraded by Pollution

(Times-Dispatch) Of the 500 or so trout streams in Virginia, about one-third have been affected seriously enough by acid rain pollution that aquatic life has been harmed, according to researchers. In about 50 of those streams, water quality is so poor that they have little or no trout or much aquatic life.

The good news is that pollution that causes acid rain has abated significantly. The bad news is that the damage done in Virginia is long-term. "It can be fixed but not in our lifetime," said Rick Webb, a senior scientist at the University of Virginia who has been studying Virginia's trout streams for years.

The 1990 Clean Air Act amendments have reduced acid deposits on land and water by half as of now, Webb said, and further tightening of the standards will cut the deposits in half again by 2020. However, damage done in the past will take quite a long time to go away.

Acid rain - atmospheric acid deposition - has been a problem in Virginia since the 1970s, all from wind patterns that bring pollutants from coal-burning power plants in the Midwest.

Because of their higher elevation, the forested mountains catch most of the acid rain. Many of the state's trout streams have a limited capacity to neutralize the acid formed by nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

Meanwhile, cold-water streams face other threats: runoff from poultry farming, which can pollute water; timber-harvesting practices, which can lead to silt runoff; and such pests as the woolly adelgid, which kill hemlocks that provide a cool canopy for the streams.

Governor May Pick Judge

(Roanoke Times) Caught in the politics of a divided General Assembly, the search for a new Virginia Supreme Court justice may be ended by Gov. Tim Kaine. If the legislature is unable to make an appointment when it reconvenes July 9 for a special session on transportation, the job will fall to the governor.

If they act, legislators are likely to elevate someone from the Virginia Court of Appeals, the state's intermediate appellate court. That would open up a seat on the Court of Appeals to be filled at the same time. Also, there is a vacancy on the State Corporation Commission that needs to be filled.

National Guard Program for At-Risk Kids

(Times-Dispatch) Jacqueline Clayton said her three teenage sons have gone through a transformation in the past six months. Last year, twins Marcel and Marcellus, 18, and Dominique, 17, were skipping school in tthe Richmond area, roaming the streets and partying - and two of them got kicked off their school football team.

Today, Marcel has earned his General Educational Development certificate and has a job. Marcellus is one subject away from passing his GED and is looking for a job. Both are planning to go to John Tyler Community College to pursue business and criminal-justice degrees. Dominique is returning to high school with renewed energy to graduate.

The change for the three came through Commonwealth ChalleNGe, the Virginia component of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program for at-risk teenagers.

The 22-week quasi-military program focuses on academics, life-coping and work skills, citizenship, health education, physical fitness and community service. It's designed for high school dropouts and students at risk of dropping out.

The Clayton teens went to Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County for two weeks of basic training. Then the brothers were transferred to Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach to focus on academics. The program brought the three brothers closer. They encouraged each other to get through it. Five months later, they graduated.

(Sounds like a fine program that could be useful in every metropolitan area of Virginia that has a drop-out problem. Such as Roanoke, perhaps? This is one way to give kids that second chance that Sen. Jim Webb wrote so eloquently about in his new book, "A Time To Fight.")

Virginia Jobless Rate Climbs

(Times-Dispatch) Across Virginia the jobless rate rose 0.5 percentage points between April and May. The Virginia average was 3.8 percent, according to numbers released by the Virginia Employment Commission.

The average jobless rate nationwide is 5.2 percent, equal to 8.08 million people. The rate does not account for people who have become discouraged and stopped actively looking for work or people just working part-time who need full-time employment.

More news on "Virginia Politics" and "Virginia News Briefs."

On the Inside:

***Sen. Obama's speech, "Call To Renewal," is on "Obama: Call To Renewal."

***"McSame McCain" offers a running account of John McCain's flip-flops, sleazy pals, and Bush-like positions.

***An excerpt from the new book  by Lowell Feld and Nate Wilcox is on "Netroots Rising."

Work for Change!

The only way to change politics in this country is to do something! Join your local party committee, stay informed, volunteer in campaigns, and - above all - register and VOTE!