“[T]he line between news and spin is vanishing.”

Now that Spain will probably desert the Iraqi “coalition,” President Bush is calling on the few partners left there to stand firm. Although the Netherlands is officially part of that coalition, a Dutch reporter reminded the President of the level of opposition among Dutch citizens.

“I would remind the Dutch citizens that al-Qaida has an interest in Iraq for a reason,” Bush said, “and that interest is they realize this is a front in the war on terror and they fear the spread of freedom and democracy in places like the greater Middle East.”

Yes, Dubya, and you gave them that reason. Iraq wasn’t “a front” before you attacked, so if anyone can be blamed for opening new fronts to terrorists, it’s you.

I’ve criticized The Post for often playing suicide bombings in the Middle East on the front page, while the murder of Palestinians by Israeli forces is relegated to the inside pages. To be fair, yesterday The Post did not put the latest Palestinian bombings on A1, but it did have a picture there to refer readers to the story inside.

Let’s see how The Post plays the Israeli cabinet’s decision today to increase targeted killings in retaliation. Already, there are reports that Israeli helicopters destroyed an apartment building in the Gaza City.

Impact on Property Taxes
The Senate has analyzed the impacts the House and Senate budget plans could have on local property taxes. The analysis is here.

Budget Blah, Blah, Blahs
We’ll know soon whether we have a budget or a deadlock. There’s a $3.5 billion gap between the House and Senate versions. But the Senate complains about the House budget, “What we can’t identify … is where the money has come from,” said Sen. John Chichester (R-Stafford) and lead Senate negotiator, who said the House budget is out of balance. For public education, compromises were tiny: The House offered an additional $33 million. The Senate reduced its offer by about $84 million.

Meanwhile, they play games. Del. Vince Callahan whined about the Senate conferees’ punctuality. “They never show up on time. They’re always late, or don’t show up at all. It’s classic.”

But here’s the rub:

“We are back without pay,” noted Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle County, who cancelled a scheduled vacation this week to drive back to Richmond only to sit and wait for budget conferees to act. The legislators are not receiving their $115 per diem pay during the three-day extended session that ends tonight at midnight.
The Lynchburg Republican said it might be time for the General Assembly to adjourn tonight, then call itself back into special session and allow most legislators to go home “to get called back when there is white smoke” of the type used to signify either election of a new pope or agreement on a state budget.

The Hampton Roads Daily Press thinks we’re smarter: “But even with all this, there’s room for joy. Virginians are more informed as a result of the current mess. Bit by bit, they are beginning to understand the tradeoffs, the consequences, the outcomes of actions and inactions.”

Do you think that’s true?

Another Daily Press editorial outlines school benefits of the Senate budget.

A fair criticism coming from the conservative press is that most politicians, especially progressives, avoid serious discussions about taxes and priorities during their election campaigns.

An observation: Newspapers around the state – the Daily Press, Virginian Pilot, Roanoke Times, Richmond Times-Dispatch, among them – do a much better job of editorializing on state budget priorities than does The Washington Post. The Northern Virginia Journal is better at it, but it’s hard to get a copy delivered to your home.

Here, Here…
… to the Winchester Star for pointing out hypocrisy on this side and that side of the tax debate.

Is This Anyway to Run a Railroad?
Michael Hardy And Jeff E. Schapiro again have an insightful piece on the budget debate, suggesting as we did earlier, that Del. Bill Howell’s job as Speaker may be in jeopardy. The reporters postulate that the Dems will gain business support as a result of the GOP’s failure of leadership. I’m not convinced but stranger things are happening in Richmond.

The Dept. of Homeland Security (has kind of a Ruskie ring to it, doesn’t it?) is Johnny on the spot. It issued a terrorist alert today, in light of the bombing in Spain yesterday. Wonder how many of those exempt-from-union-rules geniuses it took to figure we needed that warning?

On that Bush nominated “czar” who was to find ways to save manufacturing jobs (like the ones the czar sent overseas when his company opened a plant there), Dubya says, never mind.

Guess the leak machine worked.

Cartoonist Pat Oliphant’s Catholic readers were not amused with his latest cartoon. Wimpy ombudsman piled on.

Ah, but I remember Sister Joseph Maria very well.

The New York Times also doesn’t have much of sense of humor, certainly not parody. Check it out.

The Fellow Behind the Tree: Round 1
I was recently reminded of the observation of Senator Russell Long who said, “Don’t tax you, don’t tax me, tax that fellow behind the tree!” Well, the Va. House proposed just that.

Senate budget conferees agreed yesterday to a House proposal to impose a sales tax on some services, an idea that many hoped would be in somebody’s budget before now but wasn’t. Yesterday, the House suggested a sales tax on cable television, newspaper and magazine subscriptions, natural gas and water consumption, cellular and land-line telephone calls, lawn care and janitorial work.

Lawn care and janitorial work? Why not legal services and other professional services? Your guess is as good as mine – and probably as cynical. Lawmakers surmised that the fellow behind the tree probably doesn’t vote.

The Fellow Behind the Tree: Round 2
Why is Del. Vince Callahan so opposed to increased income taxes?:

During a conversation over a proposal to raise income tax rates for the wealthiest Virginians, Del. Vincent F. Callahan Jr., R-Fairfax, leaned over to Chichester and confided: “They’re all in my district.”
Virginian-Pilot

No, You First – Again
House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) is trying to lead the anti-tax forces with some strained logic. From the Richmond Times Dispatch this morning:

Griffith also accused Warner of contributing to the gridlock by remaining on the sidelines in a deliberate effort to depict Republicans as irresponsible fiscal stewards.

He recommended Warner send down another budget, free of higher taxes, that the assembly could immediately adopt to signal to rating agencies considering cutting the state’s highest-possible credit rating that Virginia is serious about its finances.

Debate taxes later?

Good question. Griffith is spending all his time trying to blame the Governor for not coming up with a compromise. First, the GOP accuses Warner of waiting until after the elections to present his tax proposal, ignoring the fact that the House waited much longer than that before introducing theirs. Now Griffith wants Warner to broker a compromise between the House’s inadequate budget and the Senate’s aggressive one. Warner could say, “The compromise is my budget.” (Though it isn’t enough in my book.)

Now They Tell Us
The media has been reporting what businesses have said about impact on the elimination of the sales tax exemption for businesses, but finally someone has written a detailed article about its impact on one industry – shipping.

Budget Cuts Cause Sheriff Shortage
From the Lynchburg News & Advance:

…the starting salary for sheriff’s deputies in counties surrounding Lynchburg is around $24,000. Private employers, like BWXT, entice experienced police officers with a starting salary of $37,500.

With Enemies Like This, Who Needs Friends?

WHY IS POLITICS SO EXTREME IN VIRGINIA RIGHT NOW?
Edwin C. King
Letter to the Free Lance – Star (Edited)

The recent rash of rantings and railings against state Sen. John Chichester is appalling and an indication of the depth to which some will descend.

I disagree with most of the policies and beliefs of the senator, a Republican who represents Stafford. For these reasons I ran against him in the early 1990s. My opposition was then, and still is, based on issues that I thought to be important. But not once did I find fault with his character or integrity. Quite the contrary, and my problem in trying to campaign against him was that I found him to be honorable and above reproach.

Not so with those who have recently blasted him. Nothing seems beyond their criticism and mean-spirited rantings.

I find it sad and very ironic that the good senator and my friend Jack Rollison from Prince William, a Republican who served that county and his state so very well in the House of Delegates, now becomes the target of vile, hateful, and unmerited attacks from radical right-wing extremists who seem to desire to destroy all in their way.

John Chichester and Jack Rollison were and are honorable men who have served their districts honorably and with moral strength. While I disagree with both concerning their policies and priorities, they stand as giants against those who now rant and rave against them.

It seems to me, as one on the outside looking in, that the new radical, ridiculous right of this new Publican Party is out to slay their bettors. As a staunch Democrat, I could admire and respect both John and Jack. Not so with this new breed.

What a shame. Where did the common sense and decency go?

Edwin C. King
Ormond Beach, Fla.