Moonhowlings

Once again, the Virginia pro-life legislature has failed to deal with the danger of texting while driving.  It’s perfectly logical for all but the most obtuse fools to know that texting while driving is distracting and your eyes aren’t on the road.  Yet a driver can’t even be pulled over for that offense.  If pulled over for another reason, the driver can be be cited for an offense carrying a penalty of a fine of $20 dollars. 

WHAT???  Accidents are caused daily because some twit is behind the wheel of a car, texting away.  Why don’t they just read a book, the newspaper or watch a movie while driving?  Virginia must get serious and put some teeth into laws prohibiting the practice of texting while driving.  It is a matter of life and death.  Those the least experienced as drivers are the ones endangering everyone else.

According to the Richmond Times Dispatch:

A push to strengthen the state’s 3-year-old ban on texting and driving came to an abrupt halt Thursday morning in a House of Delegates subcommittee, but the bill’s patron says he’s encouraged by the result.

That’s because a measure that would have allowed a few more slaps on the wrist for the offense could be back next year — proposing jabs to the jaw instead.

A House Militia, Police and Public Safety subcommittee headed by Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge, softly spiked Senate Bill 219, sponsored by Sen. George L. Barker, D-Fairfax, which would have allowed police to stop drivers for texting.

Under current law, the practice is illegal — punishable by a $20 fine for a first offense and $50 for subsequent violations — but a motorist can be cited only if pulled over for another reason.

Good for Senator George Barker.  Is he the only person in the legislature with any sense?   Maybe the Virginia legislature dropped the bill because it simply wasn’t salacious enough.  Now if those teenagers were sexting you can bet that someone like MY legislators would have probably enacted laws sending them to prison for 10 years.  In Virginia, things have to have a little touch of naughty in them to get our legislators off their apathy. 

Save every ovum but don’t dare stop the 17 year  old ”ovum’ for endangering the lives of the rest of us.

Note:  In fairness, adults also text while driving.  All should be arrested for reckless driving if caught.

Richmond Times Dispatch:

From the Richmond Times Dispatch:

Get the week’s worth of political news from Richmond.  The Cucc-o-meter is included.

Give it a rest, Side-Show Bob.  Del. Marshall must think Virginia won the Civil War and that the Old Dominion is not part of the United States. 

It seems that Marshall wants gays banned from the Virginia National Guard.  He says history is on his side.  According to the News and Messenger:

Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, said he will introduce legislation in the 2011 General Assembly that would prevent gays from serving openly in the Virginia National Guard.

He said he has history on his side.

According to numerous Internet sources, Lt.  Gotthold Frederick Enslin was drummed out of the Continental Army on sodomy charges in 1778.

“The policy started with George Washington. This is not something that’s brand new, but the press has largely ignored it because they don’t read history,” Marshall said.

Policies restricting gays from serving in the military have been in place since Lt. Enslin was dismissed.

Marshall said the recent repeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy — put in place by President Bill Clinton — was simply President Barack Obama’s appeasement of the left wing of the Democratic party.

Perhaps Marshall would like to see what the Log Cabin Republicans have to say about all this?  Were they against repeal of DADT?  Marshall’s logic is flawed.  George Washington’s family owned slaves also.  Much has changed since Washington’s day.  Hell, they even let the little woman vote nowadays. 

Marshall droned on:

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