Wednesday News: "Fact-Free" Trump Coming to VA Beach; GOP Wages War Against Women's Health

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, September 30. Also, check out Al Gore talking about how the United States has the dubious distinction of being the only nation with a major political party that actually DENIES climate science! Just think about that one, and ask yourself how anyone could possibly vote for such a party. *Bill Clinton: Donald Trump is 'fact-free' (Same with Fiorina, Carson, Cruz, Bush, etc.) *Jeb Bush's Energy Plan Doesn't Even Mention Renewables (Remember, this is supposed to be the relatively "moderate," "sane" Republican candidate in the field. Uh...no.) *Whatever you think of Planned Parenthood, this is a terrible and dishonest chart(Republicans blatantly lying? Who woulda thunk it? LOL) *GOP Chair Repeatedly Interrupts Planned Parenthood Head At Hearing (It's called "Republican mansplaining to women," and it's digusting.) *GOP field: Tax cuts for all, don't worry about consequences (So much for any pretense of Republicans caring about the deficit, debt, or fiscal discipline in general. Their tax plans would explode the deficit through the roof in order to give huge tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. Insane.) *The GOP still has nothing to show for its anti-Planned Parenthood campaign *Editorial: Obenshain pulls a Herring ("If it is wise, the Virginia GOP will do everything it can to avoid a repeat of the 2013 debacle. But that is a very big if.") *Schapiro: Young Gun Cantor's new role: wise man (You know things are bad when freakin' Eric Can'tor is the Republicans' "wise man!" LOL) *Absentee voting starting ("It's time! If you need to vote by absentee ballot in the Nov. 3 election, you can do so now.") *More Virginia pols line up behind Jeb Bush after Walker's exit ("Supporters commit to Bush as Trump plans Friday evening campaign rally in Virginia Beach.") *In Virginia's sham democracy, voters are robbed at the ballot box ("In fact, the essence of politics in a democracy is, or should be, genuine competition. By casting aside that fundamental truth, Virginia's legislature has come to resemble a Politburo.") *Trump rally set for Va. Beach; Kasich coming to Richmond *Virginia official launches impartial-policing initiative ("Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring on Tuesday launched a statewide training initiative to assist police in appropriately using force, de-escalating dangerous situations and recognizing potential biases they may bring to the job.") *Ed Gillespie to the rescue for Virginia GOP? (The ONLY reason I'm linking to the deplorable Jennifer Rubin is because of this interesting tidbit: "Obenshain was not pressured to sit out the race, nor did Gillespie attempt to push him out. By all accounts from those close to both men, Obenshain made the call after much soul-searching, and indeed Gillespie was ready to support him if Obenshain had decided to run.") *Democrats file complaint over lack of detail in Frank Wagner finance report (Wagner is a corrupt slimeball.) *Va. Black Caucus calls Frank Wagner comments divisive (Wagner really needs to go.) *The future of defense spending, and what it means for Hampton Roads *Serial killer Alfredo Prieto scheduled for execution in Virginia *Postpone Prieto's execution ("THE U.S. SUPREME Court is the last chance for a man with diminished mental capacity who is scheduled to die Thursday. Alfredo Prieto, 49, is not a sympathetic figure. He killed a Virginia college student and her boyfriend in 1988, then raped and killed a 15-year-old in California two years later. He should never, ever be released from prison.") *Man accused of stealing $5 in snacks died in jail as he waited for space at mental hospital ("Jamycheal Mitchell was among many inmates who wait weeks or months for treatment in psychiatric hospitals.") *Virginia Beach calls for hiring freeze as $33 million shortfall looms *Loudoun's Scott York cleared in campaign finance complaint ("Arlington County Commonwealth's Attorney Theo Stamos (D) has closed her investigation into Loudoun Chairman Scott York's (R) campaign finance reports") *Rescues, but no injuries as rain brings floods to Roanoke region *D.C. area forecast: Decent Wednesday, serious late week rain threat due to Joaquin Tim Kaine statement on Senate's 78-20 vote to fund government through Dec. 11 (0.00 / 0) [delete comment] KAINE STATEMENT ON VOTE TO AVERT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNWASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on his vote for a clean spending bill to fund the government through December 11 and avert a government shutdown. The continuing resolution passed the Senate 78-20: "While there's no substitute for regular budget order, passage of an interim spending bill to avert another needless government shutdown and allow negotiations to continue on a long-term budget solution is the right path forward.  It's my hope that in the coming days and weeks, partisan fights over unrelated issues can be put aside in favor of a bipartisan compromise to replace the arbitrary sequester cuts that threaten our national security and hurt Virginia's economy." Follow me on Twitter. Follow Blue Virginia on Facebook and Twitter. by: lowkell @ Wed Sep 30, 2015 at 10:42:35 AM EDT [ Reply ] Sen. Kaine: It's "alarming" that Russia's strikes were against Syrian non-ISIS opposition (0.00 / 0) [delete comment] KAINE STATEMENT ON RUSSIAN AIRSTRIKES IN SYRIAWASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, released the following statement on the commencement of Russian airstrikes on targets in Syria today: "Today, Russian military forces began conducting airstrikes on targets in Syria. Despite Russia's stated purpose of defending Syria against ISIL militants, it's alarming that the first set of strikes appear to have targeted the Syrian opposition fighting against the brutal dictatorship of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "While President Putin's actual intent under a rubberstamp of support from Russia's Federation Council is questionable, the fact that he sought and received authorization from his legislature to use military force in Syria - a process that has yet to occur in the U.S. Congress with respect to our mission against ISIL - is also extremely disconcerting.  Putin is claiming that the United States has violated international law for the actions we are undertaking in Syria. The fact that we have given a leader as morally compromised as Putin any opening at all to criticize the United States should galvanize my Congressional colleagues to take immediate action on an Authorization for the Use of Military Force against ISIL. "More than a year into this fight, the fact that Congress has not yet debated and voted on U.S. military action against ISIL, including the defense of U.S.-trained Syrian forces in the region, is appalling.  It's well past time for Congress to properly authorize this mission by passing a new AUMF."