Virginia Pundit Watch

Will Vehrs



Old Stand-Bys Fall Flat

 

As 2003 came to a close, several Virginia pundits were unable to resist the lure of hackneyed year-end column ideas. The results were predictable.

 

Best of the lot was Hugh Lessig and Terry Scanlon’s search for “high points” of the political year. The Daily

Press duo was unable to find any, so they went with a top list of “Lowlights.” The “trial” of Newport News judge Verbena Askew in the General Assembly and GOP candidate Paul Jost’s declaration that Sen. Ken Stolle of Virginia Beach was a “Nazi” made the list. Did we have to be reminded, though?

 

Jeff Schapiro of the Richmond Times-Dispatch handled the traditional “Christmas Gifts” column. He bestowed mostly snide and snarky presents for state “movers and shakers,” including an “accomplishment” for Gov. Mark R. Warner, an “idea or issue” for Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, and a “remedial course in legal ethics” for Attorney General Jerry Kilgore. A few of his gifts seemed to be tokens of affection for his best sources, such as a “low-maintenance” boss for Ellen Qualls, the governor’s press secretary, and “smile lessons” for Shawn Smith from Laura Bland. Smith is spokesperson for the Republicans; Bland for the Democratic Party.

 

Don’t expect A. Barton Hinkle of the Times-Dispatch to be named Poet Laureate of Virginia anytime soon.  Hinkle attempted to capture the essence of 2003 in verse, at least gaining points for degree of difficulty.

 

Reginald Shareef of the Roanoke Times reviewed his own 2003 columns. Not surprisingly, Shareef found only unerring good judgment — not a second thought to be had. Someone who should have had second thoughts before he filed his “New Year’s resolutions” column was James Young of the Potomac News.  Young continued his annoying practice of describing Mark Warner as “Virginia’s Boyish Governor.” 

 

A Virginia Pundit Watch resolution for all commentators: no end-of-year columns in 2004.

 

Space Fight

 

Controversy over an issue with real-world implications for thousands of Virginia families simmered under the radar screen during the holidays. Virginia’s Child Day Care Council recommended a number of regulatory changes, but it was an increase in the amount of “activity space” that drew the most fire. Within five years, each child must have 35 square feet of space.  The current requirement is 25 feet. In a Roanoke Times op-ed, Maurice Jones and Gail Johnson, explained and defended the changes. Jones is Commissioner of Social Services and Johnson is chair of the Child Care Council.

 

Warning to the Tax Man

 

Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, writing in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, may not support Gov. Warner’s plan to raise the sales tax, but he carefully couched his opinion: “I have taken no position on these matters, as I have not been privy to those discussions. But I have expressed concern about the raising of taxes to reduce taxes.”

 

The Power of Prerogatives

 

Del. Preston Bryant, R-Lynchburg, Roanoke Times columnist, offered useful insight into the different processes used by the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate to collect and spend tax dollars. The house splits revenue and appropriation; the senate considers them together. Gov. Warner’s budget takes the senate approach, leading the House to balk, feeling its prerogatives are being challenged.

 

Going Their Own Way

 

Virginia Tech President Charles Steger described what he termed the “slow erosion of the capacity of our colleges and universities” in Roanoke Times op-ed. This piece appears to be the opening of a campaign to allow some Virginia universities more autonomy. Bob Gibson of the Progress described initial talks between state legislators and Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, and William and Mary regarding “charter” bills that would allow the schools “increased authority to operate independently in the areas of procurement, personnel, health insurance and retirement.” That authority might also include tuition hikes, since increased funding from the General Assembly seems unlikely. Melanie Scarborough of the Washington Post would likely sign on to the charter plan. She asked, “Is it really necessary to take more money from struggling Virginians so that college presidents can expand their empires?”

 

What Bowl Games Have They Played In?

 

Steger’s lament about the ravages of decreased funding for Virginia universities reminded him of the fate suffered by — get this -- Oxford and Cambridge in Britain. Those two “powerhouses” saw a decline in the number of Nobel Prize winners over the course of a funding drought. And Oxford and Cambridge didn’t expend any effort to get into the Atlantic Coast Conference, either. 

 

A Pundit’s Life

 

Bob Gibson of the Daily Progress caught up with Virginia’s most celebrated pundit, University of Virginia Professor Larry Sabato, and described his adjustment to living on the celebrated UVA lawn for the first time since he was an undergraduate 30 years ago.  One of the “perks” of lawn living that Sabato enjoys are student streakers, dependably appearing three nights a week.

 

-- January 5, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Will Vehrs grew up in Prince William County. He has a degree in American history from the College of William and Mary and an MBA from Chapman University. Will's experience includes a stint with a Fortune 500 company and economic development work in state government. His "Punditwatch" column appears on FoxNews.com and Jewish World Review, as well as on his own Punditwatch website. He also writes for the Quasipundit political site.