For anyone who has followed E.J. this man can write. I am not saying I agree with everything he writes, but he is a very intelligent communicator. I just read the piece and his point about people like Bush/Allen/Davis trying to get Americans to forget about Iraq is right on target. Guess what Bush/Allen/Davis WE'RE NOT GOING TO FORGET the mess you have gotten us into. None of your pork candy coating will make us forget the graveyard spiral of death that you have gotten us into in Iraq--were going to shove Iraq down your whiney throats--sound familiar?

for clearing that up - about why Allen was so hot about an island almost no one in Virginia had heard of. 

Now I can't help but wonder how many votes $670 million will buy him.  Probably not that many in Craney Island vicinity, but no doubt the people who will be benefiting from $670 million in contracts will be making generous donations to his campaign efforts.

Senator Allen can go home at night and sleep in comfort after making this statement at the debate:

If the Senate didn't move at the pace of a wounded sea slug, I would.....

http://images.wildmadagascar.org/pictures/masoala/translucent_slug0168.jpg

Well we can fill in the blanks......!

to debate flag burning and gay marriage amendments and other measures formed to erode American liberties.

Now, let's turn this into LTE's and maybe a press release about how Allen's gotcha really acually got him instead.

I need to clear something up.  The Craney Island money is NOT AN EARMARK.  It is an AUTHORIZATION that Allen and Warner got.  Earmarks and Authorizations are 2 very different things.  In this case, the money still has to be appropriated.

When people talk about "pork," they are talking about earmarks.  This doesn't fall into that category.  In this case, the Allen folks can spin this because it isn't "pork" and they can claim it's not a random gotcha question because Allen and Warner had just gotten the authorization passed a couple days before.  Truth is, we need to stop joking about Craney Island because when it comes to fruition, it will be very important for Tidewater.

that it is an important project to Tidewater, and the vast majority of the funding will end up in local hands, and not just make one person/company rich, and the actual project (which I know nothing about) has real value, then you are right.  No point in busting George's balls over a reasonable action.

But it's still a low blow to bring it up during the debate and hopefully Allen won't get any credit for such a move.

everyone in Tidewater (and probably VA) will know what Craney Island is.  The significance of having a 4th accessible port that can be operated much cheaper than our competing states cannot be overstated.  The authorization v. earmark issue is also an important part of its value.

All that said, there's no question it was a political move to ask about it.  However, the RK and Webb response seems to deny that WEBB has put HIMSELF into the political process.  He is not a Senator.  He is a person running for the Senate.  He has thrown himself head first into the most political of processes and yelling "hey that was a political move" simply doesn't cut it.  It's time Webb realized he may not be a career politician but he is a POLITICIAN.  So let's get "political" and win this thing.

However, the benefit of a $670 million dollar public works project doesn't offset the pain of a two-fold increase in the national debt in a period of less than 6 years.  The essential point remains unchanged. 

If George Allen wants to make an issue about the great things he's done for the Virginia economy as a Senator or Virginia's middle class in particular he's going to take a beating.  His record on these issues stinks. 

An election year giveaway doesn't erase some of the more damaging policies that he's supported that have been downright hostile towards Virginia's middle class (from Bush's tax cuts for America's most privileged few to crackdowns on seniors buying prescription drugs from Canada to support for an immoral and Orwellianly titled "Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005"). 

George Allen is no friend of ordinary Virginians. 

someone tell me without Googling it what the Coalfields Expressway is.

I think holding round-table discussions around the commonwealth like the one today in Norfolk is a great way for Webb is better understand what different regions of Va want or are planning in terms of jobs, national security, wages, transportation, etc.

and I guarantee you Allen knows what it is too since he signed the legislation creating it.  Your question is a good example of the battle Webb has to face.  In very short order he needs to learn about these regional issues while still running a statewide campaign and trying to raise money...and he needs all of our help.  I agree, the regional roundtables are a great starting point.

The Daily Press wrote a great staff editorial response to the Craney Island mention and what the '06 election should be about
http://www.dailypres...

of Norfolk
http://www.dailypres...