Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, August 7, the morning after: a) the Republican freak show cum "debate;" b) the end of an era with Jon Stewart's signoff.*In first debate, Republicans continue to alienate voters ("Trump himself may have diagnosed the party's problem best: 'We don't have time for tone.'")
*Fox News's aggressively idiotic questions ("This is an abrogation of responsibility. If you're going to have such critical control over the process - determining who gets Primetime Placement and who is consigned to the children's table - at least ask actual questions.")
*Trump roils first debate among GOP contenders
*Here's What the Presidential Candidates Had to Say About Reproductive Rights in the First GOP Debate
*The 5 Unmissable Moments From the Big GOP Showdown ("Trump vs. Kelly, Rand vs. Christie, and Ben Carson on waterboarding.")
*One year in, Virginia lawmakers question lack of debate, authorization for war against ISIS
*Fox News tries to expel Donald Trump - but last night's debate didn't finish him("Megyn Kelly did Trump's rivals' work for them. The front-running bully sometimes looked rattled but didn't explod")
*Bland talking points, missed opportunities, and Donald Trump: What we learned from the first GOP debate
*The GOP debate: 7 takeaways ("The first Republican debate of 2016 turned out to be an empty-calorie joy ride.")
*Paul Krugman: From Trump on Down, the Republicans Can't Be Serious ("For while it's true that Mr. Trump is, fundamentally, an absurd figure, so are his rivals. If you pay attention to what any one of them is actually saying, as opposed to how he says it, you discover incoherence and extremism every bit as bad as anything Mr. Trump has to offer. And that's not an accident: Talking nonsense is what you have to do to get anywhere in today's Republican Party.")
*Democratic Candidates (Sort of) React to GOP Debate ("Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders had something to say. The others? Not so much.")
*Gov. Terry McAuliffe Anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act.
*Scott Walker taps Obenshain to lead presidential campaign in Virginia (Extremist picks extremist, shocker.)
*Gov. McAuliffe restores voting rights to 3 in Newport News
*As Voting Rights Act turns 50, it's enthusiasm versus apathy (No excuse for apathy.)
*Virginia officials say they will recall license plates with Confederate logo (Good riddance.)
*Mega-site, mega potential in Chesapeake
*Fairfax wants attorney documents in John Geer case kept under seal
*Bedrosian, citing Planned Parenthood link, seeks end of Roanoke County United Way drive
*Nationals power past the Diamondbacks in series finale; Joe Ross keeps rotation spot
*D.C. area forecast: Showers today give way to a sunnier weekend ahead |