Sic Semper Tyrannis

Part III of a Blogger Roundtable with Bob McDonnell

Tucker Martin explained what they hoped to accomplish in a small roundtable type conference call, “…might get away from “question answer” and open things up and make it more open and free flowing” He also went on to say that the AG, “wanted to try something new.” And it would help us, “get a chance to know the AG.” I have to agree with him, the call helped display that the AG is very personable.

First off, Bob made it very clear he takes the blogosphere seriously,

“I try to engage the blogosphere as much as possible, doing one event or
podcast a month.”

He also had this to say about our Blogosphere,

“it is an Important new media” and a “great expression of new media”

When asked about his recent opinion on a case dealing with gym membership at UVA, he had this to say,

“those opinions are on our website…”

he jokingly said,

“if you read those articles you didn’t read what my opinion was,
especially if you read the Washington post. My opinions are a legal
opinion, not my personal opinion, I looked at the law. As long as they are in the same residence, regardless if they are your best friend, grandmother, navy buddy, or someone of the same sex…I feel very strongly, that whatever opinions I give, have to be a correct statement of the law.”

When asked if this in any way was a great victory for gay rights he responded it was,

“only a small issue dealing with gym passes at UVA.”

This discussion spawned a question of what he would be most proud of on july 1st

“safety for kids and internet safety…this year we had major reforms on
internet safety…a statewide program to educate parents and kids alike, to warn them about dangers of the internet…a lot of these new bills go into effect in a week, we will really start to improve safety on the internet, and keep working to protect kids on the internet.”

Bob was also asked about whether there would be challenges to the recent vote to increase traffic fines for DUI offenders.

“I don’t doubt there will be legal challenges, we are one of a few
states that have a bill like this. I can only say that I’m expecting legal
questions, my job is to of course, to defend the generally assembly, and the statues are presumed constitutional…anytime you get a new bill passed you get questions about its constitutionality…I assume there will be litigation coming, and I will defend the general assembly.”

When asked if he would have supported the bill, he replied,

“yeah, I think I would have supported it, now is this the best way?…I might have some other ways to do it…I think conceptually, people who have truly bad driving records, should have to shoulder the burden.”

Our AG handled himself very well, was prepaired for anything thrown at him. This Conference call was just a small step for one blogger, but a giant leap for all bloggers in the blogosphere. The blogosphere will continue to grow with elected representives willing to discuss policy, issues, and politics with us.