Obama in Space!

Get ready for a White House announcemenent tomorrow about revamping our human space exploration efforts. Obama will unveil his new plan to send astronauts to nearby asteroids, to Earth’s moon, Mars’ moons, and Mars itself.

As everyone knows, we’re really only “launching” into this because we’re in a space race with China. It’s the Age of Discovery all over again, with crusading explorers, sponsored by rival governments, rushing out to claim new territories. Except in this case we’re claiming space rocks in the name of Capitalism or Socialism, instead of Catholocism or Protestantism. So, I guess that’s progress. Watch out, heathen aliens, we come bearing credit card application forms for you to sign.

Virginia governor says plan will restore voting rights quickly

It’s easy for me to beat up on Bob McDonnell. He and the crazypants AG seem to get into all kinds of trouble in their pushback against the progressive agenda of Obama, including fighting against the EPA, the health care bill, homosexuality, etc.

But he may have gotten a bad rap on this one. He’s been working on a plan to overhaul the system for restoring certain rights to felons after their release from jail. The plan will, allegedly, include a requirement that the ex-con write a statement (some have called it an “essay” which sounds more punishing somehow), entailing their efforts to turn themselves around and reenter society as a productive citizen. In return, McDonnel promises to streamline the review of these applications to 90 days or less, instead of the “six months to a year or more” that it can currently take.

That’s all to the good, I suppose. But here’s the problem: Virginia is one of the few states that relieves convicted felons of their right to vote, among other rights including the right to serve on a jury, hold public office or own a gun. I’ll avoid the gun ownership issue and focus on voting. Seems to me that, even if you commit a crime, unless it’s attempting to overthrow the government, you are still a citizen of the U.S., and a fundamental tenet of citizenship is the right to vote. I’m not a constitutional lawyer, but it kind of shocks me that this law has passed a constitutional challenge. Virginia, and other states that take away this right, is out of line.

In other words, the problem is not that ex-cons will need to write pleasing letters to the governor to get their rights back–it’s that Virginia feels free to take them away to begin with. If McDonnell is serious about reforming this system, and about strictly interpreting the Constitution, as he has often proclaimed, then he ought to work on rewriting the laws that revoke the rights of felons, rather than asking people to come begging to get their rights back.

Schools chief takes responsibility for testing violations

Frankly, I’m tired of reading and commenting about this story. Please go ahead and read it yourself, if you still care.

Scientist to speak about right whales

The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Auditorium. Free parking will be available in Parking Garage E off 49th Street.

Center shines light on censorship

Did you know there’s an organization in Charlottesville called the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, and that this wonderful group gives out awards every year, “celebrating” offenses to free speech? I didn’t, but as of this morning, they are my newest Facebook friend (search for “Jefferson Muzzles”). They announced the 2010 winners on Tuesday, marking the April 13 birthday of Jefferson.

Read the article, or visit http://www.tjcenter.org for interesting facts about the winners.