This is a bit of a detour from our usual focus, but I found the story interesting nevertheless.
International Speedway Corporation, which runs 13 NASCAR tracks, has decided to bar candidates from campaigning in or around tracks during this year’s racing season.
Voters should not expect to see either John McCain or Barack Obama making appearances at NASCAR events in Daytona Beach Florida, or a dozen other speedways across the country before Election Day. According to officials from the International Speedway Corporation (ISC), which owns the Daytona International Speedway, as well as major facilities in both candidates’ home states of Arizona and Illinois, the company is implementing a firm policy that prohibits political candidates from campaigning in any capacity at their racing events.
Politics was informed of the policy after a credentialing request had been denied to cover an unofficial appearance in Daytona by Libertarian Party presidential nominee, Bob Barr. ISC officials explained that credentialing a political reporter would, in their view, constitute the facilitation of a campaign event, in sharp violation of their policy.
Filed under: POTUS
I didn’t really think that the left could sink any lower in the respect department, given their behavior at last week’s naturalization ceremony at Monticello.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California group submitted a proposal Monday to rename a sewage treatment plant after President Bush, calling the initiative a fitting tribute to the outgoing chief executive and the “mess” he’ll leave behind.
The Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco wants to switch the name of the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant to the George W. Bush Sewage Plant.
Supporters hoping to put the issue on the November ballot turned in more than 10,000 signatures to San Francisco election officials, organizer Brian McConnell said. The measure needs just over 7,000 valid names to qualify and McConnell expects to find out later this month whether they made it.
Unbelievable.
Roanoke Valley Republicans, another new committee blog, has up an excellent post reviewing last week’s conference call with Bob Goodlatte regarding the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The first McCain ad of the campaign is out in Virginia, and it’s one of the best “re-introduction” ads I’ve ever seen. (And has a nice little counter-punch at Obama in there for good measure)
Meanwhile, the Washington Post has news that Obama has added staffers in Virginia, while McCain will be opening up regional headquarters in Fairfax and Richmond.
Game on, folks. Do your part by joining us tomorrow night at United Country Real Estate in Mount Jackson to make id calls. Call Craig Orndorff at (540) 436-3530 for more information.
Filed under: Election 2008
I tried everything to upload this ad, sponsored by Veterans for Freedom, a group co-founded by Shenandoah County native Wade Zirkle.
I’ll let the ad speak for itself, but it says pretty much everything there is to say about why we must stay the course in Iraq and the War on Terror.
Four stories you should know about:
-Plenty of coverage of Governor Gilmore’s visit- The Star and Daily have coverage of the Winchester stop; the DNR was at Harrisonburg; and the Staunton News Leader and the Waynesboro News-Virginian let us in on the Waynesboro stop.
-The NVD reports that work in front of the courthouse is going full steam ahead. No word on the continued controversy over the placement of a new statue of Peter Muhlenberg. Perhaps under the new conservative leadership the town council will decide that the best way to enhance business in the town is to keep dollars in the hands of taxpayers.
-D.J. McGuire over at the Right-Wing Liberal (check it out and don’t let the name fool you) tells us that the McCain campaign has released a list of 300 economists who are endorsing his economic plan. It’s not everyday that you get 300 members of academia to support the Republican position. Check it out. Included on the list: Kenneth Elzinga of the University of Virginia (who I studied under, albeit not very well) and Douglas Patterson of Virginia Tech (I learned long ago to practice equal time when it comes to UVA and Tech).
-Finally, the Washington Times gives us a preview of tomorrow’s re-convening of the General Assembly’s special session.
