According to the Roanoke Times and WDBJ-TV Roanoke, 26 year old Fred Hutchins Jr. was found at the shoulder of a local road in Botetourt County.

Authorities in Botetourt County this morning discovered the body of a well-known Democratic operative and U.S. Senate aide along U.S. 220, dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

   The body of Frederick W. Hutchins Jr., 26, of Roanoke was found shortly after 7 a.m. along southbound U.S. 220 by a Botetourt County deputy who had stopped to check on a vehicle parked on the highway’s shoulder, according to the sheriff’s office.

[UPDATE: 1841EDT Thanks to Masked Cat, who caught the part of the article I missed. Fred Hutchins was found with a gun under his body, according to the link for the Roanoke Times.]

In my diary of Wednesday, May 14, 2008, I stated the premise that the McGuire VA Hospital was accepting socks for soldiers that would otherwise not have them. I also said that the government could not afford socks.

I am aware now that this isn't the case. I have been in contact with someone from the hospital, and they have set me straight as to what the real needs are. I was wrong, and I apologize for ever giving the impression that these 'facts' I presented were true.

At a great blog called "That's My Congress", there is a story about Georgia Republican Paul Broun and his 'Sanctity of Human Life Act' (HR-4157) that is right on the money. Let's find out about the bill itself, shall we?

H.R. 4157, which Representative Broun refers to as the Sanctity of Human Life Act, might more accurately be entitled the Zygote Political Enfranchisement Act or the Anti-Fertility Act. The legislation has been written by Congressman Broun in order to define a human egg created in the United States from the moment of fertilization, through its development into a fetus ready to be born, as a complete person with full legal rights and constitutional protections equal to that of any other American citizen.

Under Broun's proposed law, this award of full legal protections to all fertilized eggs, even one created just one minute ago, would be given regardless of the ability of the fertilized egg to implant in a womb and grow to become a baby. H.R. 4157 states this very directly:

UPDATE: See follow up diary Here

I was reading the local paper last week, and a letter to the editor sprang up at me. In it, a volunteer for the VFW chapter in Farmville, VA wrote that the Veteran's Hospital in Richmond does not have enough socks for their patients, many of them long-term care patients.

The injured soldiers' feet get cold due to the limited activity most of them can stand. Their feet get cold, hence the socks.

 I don't begrudge supporters of the other candidate usually. But this was too good to pass up. I know it has been live for some time now, but what do we really know about "Goode Bless America"? (or as they call it, "Ain't Nothing But A Republican"

Well, finally they have defined themselves. Go and see and write something to Virgil Goode. There is even a little button to submit called 'I Believe in America". Imagine that...

Anyway, I am sure it is all in good fun (or 'Goode fun'?) I personally have many questions for the Congressman. I plan on asking in emails about certain issues and the absolutely fluffy-like-marshmallow-creme "Goode News".

[update 11:46EDT - See new figures just while this diary has been posted! An increase of $245 and 7 supporters!]

My candidate this year, Tom Perriello, has been pushing for a total of $500,000 raised so far in the campaign.

Right now, on ActBlue, Tom's total is up to $235,216 $235,461 and 871 878 supporters. (in an hour!) He is a great guy, and there was a great diary today by populista that had a great overview of Tom's experience and his ideas for the future. He is a very dynamic candidate, and has an interesting background.

So, if you would, consider donating to Tom Perriello at the ActBlue link above. We will be getting rid of Virgil Goode this way, and we will all thank you here in the 5th Congressional District.

The House of Representatives has acted unwisely, in my opinion, by voting to pass legislation that mandates that group health plans provide the same benefits for mental and physical illness in all companies with at least 51 employees that provide group health insurance.  This covers substance abuse and mandates coverage for disorders such as incest, jet lag, gender identity disorder, necrophilia (erotic desire for dead bodies), transvestite fetishes (someone who adopts the dress or manner or sexual role of the opposite sex), and pedophilia (sexual desire in an adult for a child).  This bill passed 268-to-148.  I voted "No."

Josh Marshall, on Talking Points Memo, has published a very astute and insightful article on the media angle in the McCain/Lobbyist story tonight. In it he wonders if the story isn't toned down for some reason, citing the begging that McCain did in December 2007. He begged the Times not to publish information about a relationship with a lobbyist that represents telecoms.

Here's Josh with some more:

Right now, I am watching the CNBC European feed and they just said that the Asian Equity Market is having its worst losses since September 2001.

European Markets are also down...

I am ripping and reading as we speak.

By Louise Heavens

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Stocks extended their drop on Monday, with Tokyo shedding just under 4 percent after a proposed U.S. stimulus package did little to soothe fears the U.S. economy will tip into recession, prompting a flight to less risky government bonds.

Worries about the world's top economy kept the dollar within striking distance of a near three-year low against the yen as investors unwound risky currency carry trades, while the euro and sterling also fell.

European stock markets are expected to open lower, with financial bookmakers in London forecasting Britain's FTSE 100, Germany's Dax and France's Cac-40 forecast to open 0.5-1 percent lower.

Reuters Link

BBC News is reporting that Massoud Barzani, the head of Iraq's Kurdish regional government, has refused to meet the US Secretary of State because of the US position on Turkish cross-border raids.

Speaking to reporters in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, the prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Nechirvan Barzani, said its president had refused to meet Ms Rice because of Washington's tolerance of the recent Turkish raids.

"It is unacceptable that the United States, in charge of monitoring our airspace, authorised Turkey to bomb our villages."
Nechirvan Barzani
PM, Kurdish Regional Government

"It was decided that Massoud Barzani would go to Baghdad to take part in a meeting with Condoleezza Rice and other officials, but he will not go now as a sign of protest against the American position on the bombings by Turkey," he said.

"It is unacceptable that the United States, in charge of monitoring our airspace, authorised Turkey to bomb our villages," he added.

A veteran reporter for the Washington Post was shot in the forehead at close range in Iraq today.

Salih Saif Aldin, 32, was reporting on the violence that has plagued Baghdad's Sadiyah neighborhood Sunday afternoon when he was shot in the forehead. According to residents of the neighborhood and the Iraqi military officers at the scene, he was taking photographs on a street where several houses had been burned when he was killed. His wounds appeared to indicate he was shot at close range.

"Courageous beyond imagination, Salih was determined to unveil the truth," said Sudarsan Raghavan, The Post's Baghdad bureau chief. "He was instrumental to The Post's coverage of Iraq. He will be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues."   Washington Post link

When I was getting photos ready for tonight's diary, I was struck at how many of my photos in the last three years are of political events, politicians, and the sort.

I am posting tonight not from home, but from Williamsburg, Virginia. I came down for the weekend, and to get away sort of, from political events and pressure in this Virginia election season (we have no other seasons evidently).

Join me over the fold for some of my travel pictures going back about three years.

From the AP by way of AM New York:

Hurricane Center Chief Reassigned

MIAMI (AP) -- The director of the National Hurricane Center was reassigned Monday, four days after many of the center's employees called for his removal because of his comments about an aging weather satellite. More than 20 of Bill Proenza's nearly 50 staff members signed a statement last week urging federal officials to dismiss him. They said Proenza had undermined the public's confidence in the center by exaggerating the forecasting problems scientists would face if the satellite failed.

I am going to go out on a limb here.

I know that unsubstantive diaries are frowned upon, but there is a diary that desperately needs a recommendation, because of the subject matter.

Freedom of religion is a nice phrase that Republicans use when they want to give something or get something from their evangelical base. Democrats everywhere should applaud the move to allow our fallen soldiers the religious symbol of their choice on the headstone that marks their graves.

Go see and read "VA  finally Approves Wiccan Pentacle for Soldiers". You'll be glad you did. Tell Sunfell I sent you.

Also see my daughter's post on my blog in February about this very same subject. Symbols of Faith.

Thanks.

Mark

There is some news to report about Virgil Goode (R-MZM).

In a letter to the Editor of the Farmville Herald, (not online) a reader wrote a letter that not only contained wonderful points to refute the whole issue of Goode vs Ellison, but also mentioned something I have not seen before.

Mr. David Lewis of Farmville spoke about the reasons why Congressman Goode might have done what he did; write a letter to select constituents about how upset he was that Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota would be using a Qur'an to swear on in a private ceremony after the swearing-in on the floor of the House. I am sure everybody remembers what Congressman Goode said, so I won't bore you here.

Mr. Lewis used the word 'peculiar' quite a bit in this letter, in everything from a comment on politics itself, to the nature of the letter Goode sent to those few constituents.

He also comments:

According to several sources, Brent Wilkes and Kyle 'Dusty' Foggo, are about to be indicted for conspiracy and honest services (mail/wire) fraud.

This could prove interesting because more and more pigeons are squawking. Cunningham, Wade and probably these 4 people are all giving testimony in this case(s). Wilkes has already defaulted on his homes and had sold the corporate office of his now-defunct company.

One can only wonder at the developments coming down the Justice Parkway. I wish that Virgil Goode, my rotten congressman, was in this crowd, but I guess he and us will have to wait another month or two (or three). As long as it comes sometime before June of 2008. More on that subject soon, as I interview (by email) a prospective candidate for the seat Virgil has. (5th CD)

Anyone have any favorite Foggo limousine and hooker stories you would like to relate again here for us?

I liked the part where the #3 or 4 at the CIA was drunk on his ass, and riding around in the back of a limousine, picking up congressmen (and only men) ready for a good time with some hookers, all on our dime.

Seeing SusanG's diary made me realize we in the Virginia blogosphere have been all over this story for a while now. The Virginia Democratic Party, under their Communications Director, have been publishing videos of Delegates in committee and subcommittee, ostensibly to record votes that would not otherwise be counted.

Read up on SusanG's diary, and make sure and watch the video, which can be found on the flip.

Also, I will have a few links to help you follow this story in the VA Blogosphere. I will let the video speak for itself. (It's a scream!!)

Virgil Goode (R-Rocky Mount) has proven once and for all time that he is a xenophobe and a racist. A letter which was sent to hundreds of constituents surfaced in the Charlottesville media,  (C'ville Weekly) and it is without a doubt both the worst written letter, and the most misguided and foolish letter that I have ever read.

Many stories have been written today about this incident. Waldo has a story, stated with incredulity. There were also entries on national blogs, and a Republican blog in Virginia, to name a few.  There is a sense of  "oh my god, did he really say that?" quality to them all. I have seen universal condemnation of this letter.

What makes this letter so bad, you ask? Read for yourself and determine your own own conclusions: