Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, October 20. First, congratulations to the Canadian Liberals and to Prime Minister-elect Justin Trudeau (and good riddance to the horrible Stephen Harper)! Also check out the video of Gov. McAuliffe speaking last Thursday prior to signing an executive order on guns in Virginia. According to Gov. McAuliffe, "gun crimes are not acts of god," and "we are not helpless to gun violence, that we can prevent it, and that we are willing to act here in the Commonwealth of Virginia." Standing with Gov. McAuliffe are Sen. Tim Kaine, AG Mark Herring, the parents of murdered Roanoke journalist Alison Parker, Virginia Tech mom Lori Haas, police officers, etc.
- Justin Trudeau elected as Canada’s next prime minister (G'oh Canada!)
- Neil deGrasse Tyson lets the science deniers have it: “The beginning of the end of an informed democracy”
- George W. Bush unleashes on Ted Cruz ("'I just don't like that guy," the former president tells donors." Dubya's right on that one, at least; Cruz is a psycho!)
- Hillary Clinton Widens Lead in Primary Race, WSJ Poll Shows (Clinton 49%-Sander 29%-Biden 15%)
- If money is speech, this is what $26 billion sounds like (Republican Sheldon Adelson is the corrupt, slimy face of Citizens United and a toally FUBAR campaign finance system in this country.)
- Crunch time for GOP on new speaker, debt ceiling
- Dems join Trump’s 9/11 bashing of Jeb Bush
- Jim Webb may be contemplating running as an independent instead of as a Democrat (Bye bye; don't let the door hit you on the way out! Also, can't wait to see your "campaign" getting on ballots in more than a few states. Whatever.)
- No Debate Bump: Jim Webb, Martin O’Malley Still Stuck Near Zero (Neither appears to be going anywhere.)
- Fiorina announces Virginia leadership team (Zzzzzz.)
- Fiorina announces no-name Virginia team as badge of honor for outsider bid (Did I mention zzzzzz? Oh yeah, I did. LOL)
- Benghazi is a Fox News farce: What the witch hunt reveals about the right’s most cherished lies ("The conservative movement loves a grand story. And it's not about to let the facts get in the way of this one")
- State ethics commission recommends pay raise for General Assembly members (Strongly agree, as part of a package which includes longer General Assembly terms, a complete ban on legislators receiving money from corporations or ANYONE with business before the state, a larger professional staff so that the influence of lobbyists and groups like ALEC is reduced, etc.)
- Va. woman uses online absentee ballot to vote
- For Virginia’s state Senate ("Sen. Dick Black’s antics in Richmond have embarrassed colleagues and constituents; the Republican is notorious for ranting against gay men and lesbians, dismissing spousal rape and, in a fight over abortion, distributing plastic fetuses to fellow lawmakers. He outdid himself last year by writing an obsequious letter to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad...")
- At statewide conference in Charlottesville, McAuliffe says increasing K-12 funding is a top priority
- Virginia ethics panel urges ban on using campaign funds for personal expenses
- Realtors up national spending on Virginia legislative races ("A number of in-kind donations have been popping up this year from the National Realtors Association, which is spending five-figures apiece on incumbents, largely for online ads and mailers.")
- River groups barred from entering uranium lawsuit
- Testing automated cars on Va. roads ("Virginia Sen. Mark Warner was among the few who took a ride in an automated car that alerts drivers to emergency vehicles and can change lanes by itself")
- Teachers, parents to rally Tuesday in response to Al Bedrosian comments
- Battle over extending light rail to Virginia Beach heating up
- High, hidden costs at the Midtown ("That state officials got taken to the cleaners in the deal to add a tube to the Midtown Tunnel is very old news around here. As a reminder, the tale of regional woe goes like this: Then-Gov. Bob McDonnell and then-Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton were desperate to build roads.")
- U.S. Rep. Hurt: House speaker standoff needs to be settled this week (I doubt anyone cares what Robert Hurt thinks about anything, but regardless, it's not up to him whether the Speaker issue is settled or not.)
- Councilman Rosen receives support from Gov. McAuliffe following marijuana charges ("Gov. Terry McAuliffe will not remove a Roanoke City Councilman charged with marijuana possession from the Commonwealth Transportation Board")
- D.C. area forecast: Nicer days ahead with some cooling toward the weekend
