Baliles and Allen to head transportation panel?
By JR Hoeft | Monday, July 13th, 2009 | PolicyRep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) is asking Gov. Tim Kaine to appoint former Governors George Allen and Gerald Baliles as co-chairs of a “blue ribbon transportation panel”…a suggestion he first made in Dec. 2008, but which has been apparently been ignored. He also reiterated to the governor that closing 19 rest stops across the state, might not be such a good idea:
“I urge you to take action to start the process for the state to come to grips with its transportation needs so that the state does not have to resort to a band-aid approach to save $9 million that risks the safety of its residents and all those who drive Virginia’s highways,” Wolf said.
Wolf makes some great points – should Allen and Baliles agree to participate, it would send a strong bi-partisan message that Virginia is serious about coming to grips with our transportation needs and solutions. Additionally, closing rest-stops is not a solution, especially when the roads are full of travelers who are visiting the state for the first time. Not only is it a safety concern, but the rest-stop can be a place to inform the traveler about Virginia and other travel issues.
Unfortunately, the governor did not receive Wolf’s letters, sent back in December and last week, as he has not set-up his forwarding address yet.
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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23 Responses to "Baliles and Allen to head transportation panel?"
I think a bi-partisan panel to propose a statewide and individual regional solutions would be a good idea. I would want whatever recommendation that came from the panel to be subject to an up or down vote in the GA not subject to any amendments. I would want the process to have value not just generate more policy papers.
To George Allen, as a co-chair, I could think of no better person to represent Republican’s philosophy on this. Who better than the man who signed the Public-Private Transportation Act into law? Such an appointment would also help underscore McDonnell’s position that the solution to our transportation problem lies in selling off our infrastructure to private companies so that they can toll the roads. And by tolling, these companies could clear up traffic through innovative market mechanisms like congestion pricing.
As a member of the trucking industry, I first off find any proposal made by Rep Wolf suspect.
After reading why tx2vadem supports it I find an unholy alliance.
Believe it or not, truckers support efficient commerce. Tax them (truckers) but do not tax me, they say. But those who propose such taxes propose taxing the bloodstream of American commerce. Every tax or toll placed on the trucking industry ends up being paid by the consumer. Every adulterant that motivates less then the most efficient transportation of goods ends up costing the average citizen in the long run.
Truckers are motivated to increase commerce. Toll roads and even public-private partnerships impede the most efficient transportation of freight. Truckers are not trying to shoot themselves in the foot.
Oh, LittleDavid, that entire last paragraph was me being facetious. I think this is a losing issue for Republicans; I just wished they would trumpet this idea to the public more. I want McDonnell to speak about it at every campaign stop in NoVA and Hampton Roads. I want him to point out the PPTA projects he wants to model. I think it is an important debate that should be had. Virginians should know what they are getting in a transportation solution when they vote for a particular candidate.
Other than that, not many people know that George Allen was the governor who signed PPTA into law. So, when I get the opportunity to bring it up, I do.
So, of the 500 to 1000 unique visitors I get here at BD per day (depending on the season), how many of those hits actually belong to Tex and LD?
I’m glad you guys comment, but, good gracious, a little variety would be far more interesting…especially when you NEVER agree.
I’m glad BD and our hard work writing these posts can be a platform for each of you.
I almost fell out of my chair, Tex, when I read your first comment. I was pleasantly surprised; glad I could be reassured by your next comment though that it was mere fantasy.
J.R.
If the many other visitors to your site attempted to join in the debate, I would not object. I would not object just as long as they allowed room for a moderate, truck driving, retired Navy, voice to be included in the debate.
I do not understand why other participants in the debate would object to my inclusion.
No one is objecting to your inclusion, LD. I am just getting bored with the same two commenters over and over and over and over and over and over and over again on my web site.
My comments are sort of meant for you to maybe, just maybe, be a bit more discretionary with your comments, but it’s mainly as a plea for others who read the site to participate.
Believe it or not, I get a kick out of reading the comments…it would be nice, personally, to see what others think.
See…I do this for fun. Getting into an argument daily with you and tx2vadem is not exactly fun.
OK, you are politely asking me to avoid your site because you are seeking to appeal to the least common denominator then?
I think I can do that, but I ask you what was the price that enticed you to sell your soul?
I get great intellectual stimulus from your site. However, if you no longer want me to listen to what you have to say, well, I guess I can start stop listening to anything you have to say.
You missed the point. What else is new.
Well, I guess the salient point is do we increase readership or decrease it. If we are adversely affecting your business, then as a commercial interest you should ban us.
I don’t see why you wouldn’t enjoy arguing. Isn’t that what politics, government, philosophy are all about? How do you distill better points, better ideas, better solutions if you don’t debate them? How do you sharpen the strengths and address the weaknesses of your own argument if you to preach to people who agree with you all the time? That’s just my thought anyway. But to each, his own. And if you want to be left alone, I will honor that request.
But another salient point is whether J.R. is trying to improve the world, and further further improve the public debate about how we go about doing that or just appeal to the lowest common denominator.
Perhaps this is why the Republican Party has been having such problems recently? OK, with that last question I am exposing the problems for why I am a problem.
You’re twisting my words.
I merely said that it would be nice if more than two people engaged in the discussion.
I never said don’t comment. I never said you were banned. I never said I didn’t appreciate the debate.
What about, “a little variety would be far more interesting” is difficult to comprehend?
However, if you are reading this as “buzz off” and you will cease to comment or participate, I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.
After all, you, LD, do have your own blog. It would be interesting to see if you actually would post your ideas on it as opposed to here where you know there are readers.
Looks to me like JR was more calling out the folks who regularly read but don’t comment, not telling you guys to back off. I admit I’m bad about not leaving comments a whole lot (then again, I haven’t written a whole lot lately either).
It’s so entertaining reading two Democrats debate with each other what a Republican blog is saying.
It’s like, oh, almost EVERY freakin’ political media organization in the world.
And Brian gets the prize.
We have now evolved a simple post into a full-fledged bitch session.
Yea…I’m calling out our “silent” freekin’ majority.
It’s BS. If we were such a majority, we’d be in the majority!
The contributors here constantly try to demonstrate the conservative perspective while conservatives just sit on their hands as LD, Reid Greenmun, tx2vadem, Eileen (not so much anymore), and other liberals and libertarians et al. just use the comment section as their own personal platform.
Unfortunately, the contributors not only have to maintain the blog, come up with fresh story ideas, communicate with sources, write the articles, produce the podcasts, etc. Oh, and by the way, live our lives with family and work too, while the “silent majority” sits out there and provides no support whatsoever.
I can’t live in the comment section…I have way too much on my plate as it is….so it gets frustrating to see the debate go unanswered. When I get involved, it comes at the expense of other work on the blog.
OK, J.R., I thought by adding comments I was actually adding to something. I thought increased comments made your blog rating better. I am beginning to understand that my involvement in conversation discourages other’s involvement.
I’m beginning to understand that your targeted audience was the Rush Limbaugh crowd. Those who often do not even have high school diplomas.
OK, OK, perhaps that was unfair. But how am I to understand that my involvement in discussion is discouraged? Is it because the masses of the Republican Party electorate are so lacking? Come on, you have the likes of yourself and Brian Kirwin to speak up.
LD…
You are completely missing the point. Now I am beginning to understand why it’s been so frustrating to deal with you over the course of the year. You only read what you want to read and don’t actually understand the entire picture.
Let me spell this out in very clear terms for you…
1) You use the comment section as your personal platform
2) I am too busy to counter your specious arguments on a daily basis
3) No one else is chiming in to ensure your arguments are countered
4) It is troubling, to me, to see that the only people who ever attempt to counter arguments you and our other regulars make comes from the BD contributors
5) Seeing only the same commenters bores me…it would be nice to get some variety to the discussion…whether they agree or disagree
This is not about stifling debate….
However, it is a pet peeve and one of those things that does make me think about whether this is a worthwhile expenditure of my resources in time, treasure and talent.
What could I be doing otherwise, since it is evident that so few give a rip.
Besides, LD and tex, it’s not like you’re actually ever going to change your mind about anything. Y’all just like to spend all day here and get the last word in.
If debating you actually went anywhere, I’m sure JR would engage in it with you.
But hell, LD, I posted a story based on a press release and a published story and you accused me of lying. It’s pointless debating you two.
Reason #1208858 why BD rocks:
The owners and operators comment, respond and take a paddle to dat @$$!
Brian,
Sure Republicans (generally) and JR have changed my mind on occasion. I wasn’t always for a full removal of the moratorium on offshore drilling. Talking about the merits of the ACES bill (or as you affectionately refer to it: “Cap and Tax”) made me actually read a good deal of the bill in detail (afterwards anyway) and revise my opinion on the cap & trade portion of the bill as well as a number of other elements.
JR,
I don’t know if your third reply was directed at me. I just misunderstood what you meant by “discretionary” and “not exactly fun.” I have been enjoying myself. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t frequent your site. I made the offer because if my arguments are just nuisance, then I don’t want to ruin your enjoyment of your own site.
FWIW, I’m sorry that more people who frequent here don’t comment and that makes you feel under-appreciated. But, the fact that you are getting traffic says a lot. My impression is that the number of commenters is always much smaller than overall traffic. It’s like mall traffic and actual sales.
Granted, I take David on, occasionally Tex, and on rare occasions Joel, but I am just another crazy Libertarian that used to be a Republican. I’m not afraid to throw out a “RINO” in my posts, after all.
J.R., you did come off as calling people parasites for taking advantage of a well made platform. I could understand the twin Dems being a bit taken aback. You acknowledge that they really are not the problem and the lack of conservatives posting is. So, your approach was more contentious than needed. Maybe GOP party bosses are throwing heat at you.
Recruit conservatives to post. If you think most conservative readers are just too shy or too lazy to tangle with the prolific Dems, you could privately ask them to back off for a bit as a favor and explain your vision for the blog’s future and the business end of it.
In other blogs, people do get intimidated by regular fire brands. Heck, Henry Ryto is busy at the Pilot’s blog calling the VBTA racists and comparing them to the KKK. Who wants to deal with that? It makes you fearful to disagree. Mike Barrett is impossible to deal with, not even the shame of SPSA holds him back enough. I can understand that aspect.
There are other blogs we can go to. Vivian Paige has a decent one. For me, VB Dems isn’t user friendly. I should be writing on the Libertarian blog and backing up my friends at Virginia News Source and the Pilot that are being called racists anyway.
It isn’t in anyone’s interest to destroy a good platform. The loyal opposition should be happy to take a vacation and return later when all the “back slapping” becomes monotonous.
You have a good thing here. We admire what you created.
Britt,
I don’t think any “back slapping” is required; nor do I think those backroom meetings you allude to actually happen. If they do, I certainly have not been invited.
If some folks think I called them parasites…well, if the shoe fits.
Hey, I understand why a majority don’t comment…they have other better things to do than to get roped into a debate with folks who have time on their hands and are intent on getting the last word.
The mere fact that people keep coming back for the information we provide really is good enough for me.
Frankly, I was just getting tired of seeing LD’s avatar.
Oh…as for “recruiting conservatives to post”…our contributors of Brian, Jason, DCH, Amit, Jane, Chris, Georgie, and Steve, and Shaun on the podcast, would love to know you don’t find them to be conservative, I’m sure. Coming from a Libertarian, that means so much.
Ok J.R., you will see less of my avatar
I wish to explain that for reasons such as this is one reason at least some moderate voices started voting Demcoratic.
Hopefully by supporting Blue Dogs, I can get some of what I support in common with Republicans heard in Congress without going whole hog supporting Rush Limbaugh.
As I understand it, I am unwelcome. But at least I can state I was not banned. Perhaps I will continue to sometimes sample the opinions represented here, even if my own statements of opinion are no longer welcome.
J.R., you’re putting words in my mouth and taking what I said out of context.
You separated posters and contributors. When I suggested recruiting posters, in order to correct what you determined was a problem, I was not speaking of any of your contributors. There was a time before where you thought I questioned your conservatism when I wasn’t. I was blowing off steam and you took it as a shot at you since I pointed out the word “probably”. The frustration was really directed elsewhere. Stuff happens. I believe I apologized for not making the object of my frustration more clear.
I have disagreed with a few contributors, but I have never questioned their conservatism. Sure, I have labled a few politicians as “RINO” for wasting tax dollars or putting hurdles in front of businesses. I even lambasted other alleged Republicans for bashing Jeff Frederick or anyone else for expressing his disbelief of Charles Darwin’s theories. None of your contributors has done any of those three things. Even the contributors that wanted Frederick thrown out didn’t make fun of his beliefs or ridicule his faith. I respect them for it. Other issues were fair game.
I have yet to call any of them or you names. People seem to enjoy calling Brian Kirwin names. When have you seen me do it? You haven’t. I respect him and the rest of you.
You put in a lot of effort and made something worthwhile here. The fact that political outsiders prefer your blog to ones closer politically, and they come here for some of their news, goes to prove that.
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