Top 10 Virginia Newsmakers of 2007
By: Lowell
Published On: 12/20/2007 7:10:14 AM
1. Liviu Librescu -- Representing all the heroes of Virginia Tech (I will not even mention the shooter's name). Another hero was French teacher Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, who died trying to barricade the door. That terrible day will never be forgotten, nor will heroic Virginians like Liviu Librescu.
2. Tim Kaine -- Flies back from Japan to comfort the Virginia Tech community and the entire Commonwealth in the aftermath of one of the worst tragedies ever to befall Virginia. Helps Democrats take back the majority in the State Senate and gain seats in the House of Delegates. Amends and signs transportation deal into law.
3. Jim Webb -- Takes office, quickly becomes a U.S. Senate star (including Politico's "Rookie of the Year")
4. Chap Petersen -- In many ways the star of the 2007 campaign cycle, although there were plenty of others as well.
5. Brian Moran and Mary Margaret Whipple -- The dynamic duo that engineered the Democrats' pickups in the General Assembly this year.
6. Corey Stewart -- Definitely not on this list for any positive reason, but you can't deny that Stewart raised the "illegal immigration" loudly and persistently, albeit through the use of blatant, irresponsible demagoguery.
7. Bryan Ault -- Ault's busive driver fee petition gathers nearly 180,000 signatures, which almost certainly leads to the repeal of the hated fees in 2009.
8. The Devolites Davises -- The year from hell politically for the Davises should lead to lucrative private sector jobs for both of them in the near future.
9. Michael Vick -- Newsworthy for all the wrong reasons (including the fact that he's a celebrity). Dogfighting is a disgrace, as is any cruelty to animals. How anyone could treat dogs the way Michael Vick did is beyond me.
10. John Warner -- Announces his retirement after 30 years in the U.S. Senate. We'll see if Warner ends his career with a major piece of legislation on climate change, arguably the greatest problem facing humanity today.
Comments
Congress passes gun bill (PM - 12/20/2007 9:59:05 AM)
How appropriate of you to remind us of Librescu's and Couture-Nowak's heroism. The day will never be forgotten, but it almost was in Congress. Yesterday, however, Congress finally passed legislation to help keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200...
I listened to an interview with Librescu's son last year (dsvabeachdems - 12/20/2007 1:00:02 PM)
Liviu Librescu was an amazing figure throughout his life. His son casually discussed the events and was not at all surprised by his heroism. It was such an engaging discussion, I am determined that the next time I am in Israel, I will look his family up to pay my respects.
That he was spared death at such an early age to face a different premature death so late in life is a conundrum.
Good list. (afausser - 12/20/2007 10:37:20 PM)
Thanks Lowell :)
Just a few names missing... (Kindler - 12/22/2007 11:05:00 PM)
Great list, Lowell. I would only add a few names:
- Mark Warner: enters the Senate race and becomes the prohibitive favorite to become the state's second Democratic Senator while barely lifting a finger.
- Annabel Park and Eric Byler: A pair with the courage to take on the anti-immigrant mob and attract hundreds of thousands of viewers in the process. While they alone couldn't stop Corey (who sadly but correctly belongs on your list), they point the way to how the Dems can tackle the immigration issue effectively -- by actually listening to both sides and figuring out how to incorporate immigrants into our communities rather simply widening the gulf between them and us.