Politics. On Point.

Bob McDonnell, former governor of Virginia, has been found guilty  on 11 of 13 counts on conspiracy to commit wire fraud, illegally obtaining property, making false statements, and other actions unbecoming of a state governor. Former VA governor Bob McDonnell and former first lady Maureen McDonnell found guilty of corruption. The McDonnell trial lasted for more than three weeks when former chef, Todd Schneider , dropped a dime on the McDonnells after Schneider was accused of stealing food from the executive pantry of the governor's mansion for his side catering jobs.  Schneider maintained his innocence saying the food was payment for services rendered. After the firing, Schneider informed law enforcement that the McDonnells had taken money from wealthy Star Scientific businessman Johnny Williams .  Williams allegedly gave the McDonnells gifts to include a Rolex watch, paid for the wedding of the McDonnells' daughter, and for designer clothing for former first lady...

Friends of Rick Perry are "standing by their man." Emails from Representatives Ted Cruz and Bobby Jindal show their support for embattled Texas governor, Rick Perry, who was indicted this week on felony charges alleging abuse of power. Perry tried to force District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg to resign after she was charged with a DUI , and threatened to hold district funds if she did not.  (See also Lehmberg called 'unfit'  to serve). Travis County police mug shot of Texas governor Rick Perry. While both Cruz and Jindal state their belief that the indictment is the action of "liberal politicians", both also expressed their individual opinions. Writes Cruz in an email to constituents, " Unfortunately, there has been a sad history of the Travis County District Attorney's Office engaging in politically-motivated prosecutions, and this latest indictment of the governor is extremely questionable.  Rick Perry is a friend, he's a man of in...

Politicians have been known to buy lavish gifts with tax payer dollars.   That isn’t news. But when they claim they don’t know what constitutes gifting and what doesn’t, well that is just a bit concerning. Virginia governor Bob McDonnell isn’t sure of the definition either. According to reports, McConnell’s wife was given a gift of a pricey Rolex watch, about $6500, from a campaign donor, which she in turn ‘gifted’ to her husband. Isn’t that re-gifting*, the tackiest form of gift giving?    Even JerrySeinfeld knows that.   And why would a woman accept a watch if it was meant for a man, unless she planned to give it to a man in the first place? McDonnell doesn’t know, and he had a time trying to explain it on a Richmond radio show earlier this week, conceding to the age old defense, “I simply can’t comment on it right now while it’s being investigated.” The governor of Virginia is being investigated? “Never in my 22 years of public service...has anyone...

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and Redskin Lorenzo Alexander at NFL Play60 event at Fred Lynn Middle School in Woodbridge, VA.  Photo/ Courtesy Redskins. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and First Lady Maureen McDonnell, along with Tanya Snyder, wife of Redskins team owner Daniel M. Snyder, Washington Redskins General Manager Bruce Allen, Redskins Linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, debuted a Redskins Youth Fitness Zone last Thursday at Fred Lynn Middle School in Woodbridge, Virginia. The Redskins Youth Fitness Zone is part of the Redskins’ and GlaxoSmithKline’s commitment to Play 60 which encourages youth to be active for 60 minutes every day as a way to combat childhood obesity. According to the Prince William Health Partnership: · 28.2% of children and adolescents in the greater Prince William area are overweight or at risk for becoming overweight, · 54% of middle school students did not meet the federal recommendations for physical activity for a seven day period, ...

After much uproar surrounding Governor McDonnell's Confederate Month declaration , it's nice to see a declaration that actually has real merit. President Obama declared April 8th as Drug Abuse Resistance Education ( D.A.R.E ) day. D.A.R.E. is the national organization dedicated to drug prevention and education. Through there servides, in conjunction with law enforcement personnel, they contribute their expertise to help teach America's youth to resist peer pressure, and to abstain from drugs, gangs, and violence. "Every day, young Americans face pressures to engage in violent activities, drug use, and other harmful behavior. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to empowering our children to resist violence and substance abuse. Drug dependence affects individuals from all backgrounds, and its debilitating effects often go unaddressed. Too many of our families are afflicted by addiction, and too many lives are ruined by its harmful impact. Drug abuse is not an isol...

Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell Not even 6 months into his newly appointed office, Virginia governor Bob McDonnell is apologizing. No, he isn't embroiled in a sex scandal (at least not yet).  No he didn't misappropriate campaign funds (at least none that we know of).  What he did (or rather didn't do) was not mention slavery as he issued a proclamation designating the month of April as Confederate History Month. This is how Conferderate History Month is described, according to Wikipedia . " Confederate History Month  is a month annually designated by several state governments in the Southern United States for the purpose of recognizing and honoring the history of the Confederate States of America. The month is especially designed to celebrate what Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens famously described as a "new government . . . founded upon exactly the opposite idea [from that of the United States in 1776]; its foundations are laid, ...