The Weekly Feed: Experimentation Edition
Morning Roundup: Change Edition
Former Blade Staffers Launch 'DC Agenda'
D.C. Insurance Dept. Denies Birth Control Coverage Meddling
Controversy Over Rhee Now to Include Sex, Congress
Good morning, Washington. Tonight's the night — the last debate between John McCain and Barack Obama. And although it's unlikely that the debate will reveal much that we don't already know, the fact that some polls show McCain trailing by double digits means that the stage is set for some desperate (and dirty) electioneering. Are you planning to watch, or have you had enough of this nonsense?
Va. Bans Political Clothing At Polls: A couple of weeks ago we warned you not to wear a t-shirt advertising your preferred candidate to the polls in D.C. Doing so is considered a political act, which is forbidden within 50 feet of the polls. Now Virginia has followed suit, according to WJLA. Explicit campaign apparel is expressly forbidden, while clothing with implicit political messages — e.g. t-shirts bearing jokes about aerial wolf-hunting — are subject to the discretion of local election boards. And if you're voting in Virginia, you may want to pay attention to your schedule as well as your outfit: via WTOP comes word of a study saying that the state may not be prepared for the high turnout expected on election day.
Fairfax Announces Budget Plan: Fairfax has become the latest local government forced to propose an employee furlough to avoid service cuts, as the Post reports. The proposal calls for just one day of unpaid leave, but it's symptomatic of the fiscal woes facing local governments across the region. County Executive Anthony Griffin also announced freezes on capital improvements and vehicle replacements, and said that further budget reductions will be made across the county government.
Briefly Noted: D.C. home improvement permit process gets simpler... Roommate of Capitol Hill stabbing victim speaks to media... Suspect arrested for threats made against immigrant rights group... Condition of Md. Medevac helicoptr crash survivor improving... Defacement of campaign signs picking up in Virginia... Army Corps of Engineers punts on Asian Oyster question, leaves it up to states... ANC commissioner arrested for allegedly interfering with police action in Adams Morgan while "observing" it...
This Day In DCist: One year ago we pondered the sartorial plight of female Republican staffers on the Hill.
Image posted to DCist Photos by Flickr user blueiris2006
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why the quotes around "observing", tom?
and damn, i want to wear a shirt about wolf hunting, just to see how fun an argument regarding said shirt and my first amendment expression rights would be...
If I don't get to wear my 'Bob Barr 4 Pres' lamé tanktop on November 4th, everyone loses. And is the Virginia State Board of Elections going to refund the drycleaning bill for the stirrup pants? Are they?
I'm voting naked.
"the fact that some polls show McCain trailing by double digits means that the stage is set for some desperate (and dirty) electioneering"
crap
Only two more weeks left until the inevitable Cock-tober Surprise. Hoping it's that Cindy Mccain is a post-op transsexual, or maybe compromising photos exposing Obama's interspecies Asian oyster hentai fetish. That would go a long way towards explaining his position on the Japanese whaling moritoreum. Maybe!
If you want to avoid the lines and high turnout on election day, Virginia will allow you to vote absentee for practically any reason.
One of the valid excuses is "Absent for personal business". Arlington County's election officials confirmed for me that the duration is not important. A valid excuse could be "I will be getting a Starbucks across the border in Falls Church". You do not have to state what your personal business is or how long it will take, as long as you will be leaving your home county or city.
Absentee ballots are counted. In Arlington, once the polls close, they are usually the first "precinct" to report results.
The deadline for an absentee ballot application (PDF) to be received by the election office is Tuesday, October 28th (one week prior to election day).
Fill out and fax or mail your form today to save yourself the hassle of going to the polls and reduce the lines for others!
Does being a DC resident count as a reason to vote absentee in Arlington?
As an Obama supoprter, I'm worried about many of his more enthusiastic supporters being turned away at the polls nationwide, because they're wearing Obama tee shirts. Never before have I seen so many shirts of varying styles supporting a presidential candidate, and I fear that this will be an excuse for blocking predominantly African-American voters from voting.
The dirty tricks have already begun! I keep getting emails saying that Obama has fathered a couple of black children.
If you live in Arlington County, I would strongly recommend early voting.
I waited in line for 2 hours to vote in the February primary – It took me about five minutes to do early voting.
The early voting location (2100 Clarendon Blvd., 1st floor lobby) is steps from the Courthouse Metro and they have some extended and weekend hours between now and Election Day.
http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/VoterRegistration/VoterRegistrationAbsenteeVoting.aspx
Why Election day isn't a whole week long or even just a holiday, I will never fathom...
Also the shirt thing shouldn't be too worrying, as men and women with undergarments can just turn it inside out on the spot...Women without undergarments, well, you get to be discriminated against based on your gender because if you flash your nipple, you're arrested...
My biggest problem with Obama is that he considers his high-school-era use of marijuana as "a moral failure." It's only a moral failure if bogart the joint or break a glass bong.
I've also heard a rumor that his wife dabbled in thespianism.
I voted for Quisp not Quake.
deep: what about king vitaman?
@IMGoph -
The Post story quotes the ANC Commissioner as saying she was "observing the situation" prior to her arrest. Maybe Tom was just referencing the quote.
cactus jack is correct. It wasn't my intention to cast suspicion on the commissioner, but rather just to point out that her actions were somewhat more obtrusive than just watching -- and to do this while remaining succinct. I certainly have no idea whether her behavior merited arrest or not. Given the folks who speak on her behalf in the article, I think it's probably safe to say that she's looking at a slap on the wrist, at most.
I think a cool thing to would be for the Obama campaign to organize some sort of a drive to be outside the polls with oversize garments of some sort for people to wear over their Obama T-shirts, if people show up with such clothing:
- mumu dresses
- old high school graduation gowns
- choir robes
It would satisfy the law, but it would be funny, and people would figure out what was going on.
Dudes in mumu's would be hilarious.
Meh. I'm gonna wear my "Bong hits for Jesus" shirt on election day.
i'll vote in the "modified trash bag," please.
Monkey re: the thespianism, I hear it was only once and it was more of a sorority prank than anything else.
I think the most damning fact about Obama is that he has actually traveled abroad and enjoyed his time outside the country. A sad, sad fact.
tom: cool. didn't mean to sound accusatory.
A police report said she 1) impeded an investigation, 2) took pictures within a crime scene and 3) failed to leave when told. It also said she 4) opened a police vehicle to photograph a suspect who was a juvenile.
Willing to bet right now that when all is said and done 1) and 4) will be proven to be lies while 2) and 3) already ARE bullshit.
I'm a big guy and I wear baggy clothes. This morning
I saw a rather portly sized ghetto zod wearing a size 6 when she shoulda been wearing a 1X. That's where I draw the line. Vote or no voting. This muffin top fad is getting outta hand!