tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287147033560336418.post5941144636828061503..comments2024-03-18T17:04:51.721-07:00Comments on The Dixie Pig: It's Time to Move On Governor McDonnell Scott A. Surovellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899160531211393625noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287147033560336418.post-14583618753667270022013-07-23T13:39:01.997-07:002013-07-23T13:39:01.997-07:00So, what is going to be done about this? I'll...So, what is going to be done about this? I'll bet you a dollar that nothing will be done. Here is a very clear example of blatant graft, but nothing will come of it. If you have politicians in charge of a politician,... Knowing that the legislature cannot be called back to session early (except by the Governor--see, what did I just say) it's a great political opportunity (with zero risk because you can't be held accountable to provide some action) for you, Scott Surovell. Don't think we aren't onto you and your cheap exploitation of opportunity. Well done--like a Dixie Pig on the smoker!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287147033560336418.post-934736829384683042013-07-15T05:48:55.897-07:002013-07-15T05:48:55.897-07:00I hope Democrats are as quick to investigate and q...I hope Democrats are as quick to investigate and question Terry McAuliffe and the money changing hands for this investment and McAuliffe's story telling about how long he was an owner and founded Green Tech Automotive. Let's be fair and not play politics.<br />http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/07/14/McAuliffe-Founded-Company-Long-After-It-ExistedMandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03199079275370612726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287147033560336418.post-17346718446673266072013-07-14T16:08:56.340-07:002013-07-14T16:08:56.340-07:00First of all I admit that I did not vote for Gov M...First of all I admit that I did not vote for Gov McDonnell but I still have a right to expect that my governor is an ethical individual. However, it appears to me that the governor, his wife and daughter were wrong to accept all of this money from a supporter. If you lack the money to pay for a big wedding for your daughter, then have a smaller wedding. Not enough money to buy a Rolex, then by a Timex. Not enough money or credit to buy a house, then buy a smaller house or rent an apartment. If you need additional funds, either borrow from a bank with the standard loan charges or from a member of your family. If you borrow from a supporter and even if you are able to prove that the supporter did not receive anything in exchange for the gifts, it still appears that the supporter must have received something in exchange for his gifts. Who gives this much money to a politician without getting something in return. Gov McDonnell's record of past accomplishments has no bearing on this issue. He needs to try and explain his actions or resign.Editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10833237510094432039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287147033560336418.post-62027847074300628882013-07-14T12:23:03.857-07:002013-07-14T12:23:03.857-07:00$270,000 is a lot of money. In some cases, there i...$270,000 is a lot of money. In some cases, there is no disclosure of substantial gifts. Are Virginia's laws so lax that one can make an argument not to disclose to the public when receiving large sums from a company? It is sad that a gentleman could have disclosed all, but chose not to. If Virginia needs to have laws so that elected officials are required to disclose all donations received from entities , the law should be clarified that all gifts received while in office to one's family must be disclosed. It is unfortunate that commonsense seems to be lacking with the current govenor.cmvoorheeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16199582528752599309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287147033560336418.post-22291843079336219662013-07-14T12:16:42.019-07:002013-07-14T12:16:42.019-07:00I believe Scott was very clear that regardless of ...I believe Scott was very clear that regardless of technical legality, the actions of Governor McDonnell and his family show a lack of integrity Virginians deserve in their elected officials. His decisions over time to file misleading financial disclosures, at the very least, should give us pause in our trust of his decision making process. In fact, the scope of both the amounts and number of the gifts from one wealthy donor certainly points to expectations on the donor’s part, but even giving the benefit of the doubt on that front, the governor had to realize that both he and his family were personally benefiting from the public office we, his constituents, entrusted to him. His actions were intentional and therefore corrupt or he is incredibly naïve or his ethics are, at best, doubtful. In any of these cases, his ability to make good decisions on the part of Virginia voters is questionable and he should resign. KLShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15925482505639058157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287147033560336418.post-83457044118244648662013-07-14T12:08:35.708-07:002013-07-14T12:08:35.708-07:00There is the letter of the law and the spirit of t...There is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. If one is conducting oneself in such a way that a team of lawyers is needed to determine if the letter of the law has been violated, then clearly the spirit of the law has been violated. For me, that equates to perceived corruption regardless of whether the Governor and his legal team can weasel him out of his problems on legal technicalities.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05338500478016249617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287147033560336418.post-67105044157471088552013-07-14T10:45:54.261-07:002013-07-14T10:45:54.261-07:00I am surprise that you would ask for Gov McDonnell...I am surprise that you would ask for Gov McDonnell's resignation before he is proven guilty. This from the Virginia Politics on demand: "From the Post’s reporting, there is a key section that must be taken into consideration when writing/blogging/commenting about this investigation:<br /><br /> “Virginia law allows elected officials to accept gifts of any size, including money, provided they annually disclose those worth at least $50. The law does not require the disclosure of gifts given to members of an elected official’s immediate family, nor gifts provided by relatives or “personal friends.”..... <br /> <br />However, is what McDonnell did illegal – or unethical enough – to warrant imminent resignation?<br /><br />By what has been reported thus far, it does not appear that McDonnell has done anything that technically violates Virginia law.......<br /><br />Therefore, the only way resignation is even a possibility is if the federal prosecutor is certain that he will get an indictment from the grand jury and proposes to the administration that the governor resign and pay a fine.<br /><br />So, why the rumors of resignation? Is that wishful thinking? Is there a vendetta against McDonnell?<br /><br />Certainly.<br /><br />McDonnell is unpopular with a number of conservative factions for his role in former Del. Jeff Fredericks ouster as RPV chair and being a key lynchpin in passing the latest transportation initiative. And, he is unpopular with liberals for how he dismantled Sen. Creigh Deeds in 2009 to become governor and their desire to drive up GOP negatives and drive down McDonnell’s approval in advance of the November general election.<br /><br />While McDonnell may be unpopular with elements of the political chattering class, though, two wrongs don’t make a right.<br /><br /><br /><br />I caution my friends and colleagues to ask questions. FOIA papers. Conduct interviews. Cite your sources – even if they are on background, such as “a former federal prosectutor.” But, by all means, don’t toss caution to the wind and post things in hope of generating controversy or driving up the hit count.<br /><br />You’re better than that – and your readers, colleagues, and, frankly, McDonnell and his administration, deserve better. They gave us the benefit of the doubt at one time. We rightfully should return the favor."<br /><br />http://vapolitics.us/2013/07/mcdonnell-resignation-not-forthcoming-expect-him-to-finish-term/<br /><br />And even the BlueVirginia site offers to give Gov McDonnell the benefit of the doubt.<br />http://www.bluevirginia.us/diary/9705/what-if-governor-mcdonnell-is-innocent<br /><br />And these good facts from Gov McDonnell's record:<br /> "Virginia closed Fiscal Year 2013 with a preliminary revenue surplus of $261.9 million. That brings our revenue surplus total over the last four years to $930 million.<br /><br />We've gotten this done by making tough decisions, cutting back where we needed to, and investing in the core functions of government that best spur private sector job-creation.<br /><br />Today’s great news is further proof that Virginia’s economy is getting stronger. Since we took office over 170,000 net new jobs have been created in the Commonwealth, and our unemployment rate has fallen from 7.3 percent to 5.3 percent; nearly Virginia’s lowest unemployment rate in over four and a half years.<br /><br />Here’s what the AP said about it -<br /><br />“The administration credited strong growth in taxes paid largely by the self-employed or on dividends, lower refunds and robust growth in a tax that reflects a resurgent real estate market. Four years of unspent balances is something Virginia last achieved about 20 years ago under former Gov. George Allen.”<br /><br />For fourth year in a row, Virginia ends its fiscal year with a surplus, assuring state raises – Associated Press"<br /><br />Let's not play politics without giving a person a chance to prove guilt or innocence before demanding resignation. It appears that some may fear Gov McDonnell as a future Presidential candidate and trying to remove that concern now.Mandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03199079275370612726noreply@blogger.com