On the Western Banks of the Shenandoah

Details have been released for the 61st outing of the Shad Planking, a benefit put together by the Wakefield Ruritan Club. During the Byrd Days the gathering was an exclusively white Democratic affair that was essentially used to anoint the next Governor. However, over the years the event has evolved in to a day of binge drinking and political theater as campaigns on both sides put themselves through a rigorous organizational test, mostly in the form of epic sign wars on the road leading to the Planking grounds. This year the main event will be the speeches by McDonnell, Moran, McAullife, and Deeds, the contenders for Governor. 

I’ve never been, but this might be my year. Tickets are $20. 

There are countless personal recollections and photos circulating around that capture the massive nature of Tuesday’s historic events. However, those responsible with cleaning things up are finding history in the most unlikely of places. From the WaPo:

Washington trash trucks hauled away at least 130 tons of garbage after the inauguration ofPresident Obama, with more to go. National Park Serviceworkers picked up almost 100 tons on the Mall and near the White House.

Because most trash cans had been removed for security reasons and a record-breaking crowd gathered downtown, the mountain of rubbish left behind was of historic proportions.

“More than any Fourth of July, more than any event we’ve seen,” Park Service spokesman William Line said.

The detritus included handwarmer packets, bottles, food, newspapers, blankets, gloves, coolers and a table or two, in addition to items bought from street vendors.

“They left behind Obama hats, Obama bags, Obama socks,” said Mafara Hobson, spokeswoman forMayor Adrian M. Fenty (D). “People left behind a lot of trash. A lot of it was the vendors along the parade route, too.”

It’s time again for Stump the Craiger! Leave your history or political trivia questions in the comment section below, email me at craig.ornddorff AT gmail.com, IM me at FRMscavp or join our chat on the show page. Remember, I’ll answer the first three questions I get on air, so get them in for your chance at my box o’ buttons. Also remember: Tonight’s show starts at 10 and goes for the whole hour.

The Right Wing Liberal, one my favorites, has put in his two cents on the early history already being written about the Bush Administration. First, he points out Bush’s resoluteness on tax policy:

As a reminder, this makes George W. Bush the first President since Jack Kennedy never to propose or enact a tax increase (Ford proposed a tax increase, but it was never enacted; even Ronald Reagan proposed tax increases in 1982, and agreed to them in later years).

George W. Bush will be criticized heavily for excess spending - and rightly so - but as bad as things are, they would have been much worse with a tax increase.  Bush refused to do that, and we all owe him a debt of gratitude.

Meanwhile, he gives his thoughts on Presidential evaluations throughout history. 

We tend to forget how much perceptions of presidents can change with time.  Andrew Jackson was largely beloved when he left office in 1837; today the verdict on his two terms is mixed at best.  In 1849, James Knox Polk would leave office having accomplished each of his major objectives in one term, yet he is largely remembered more for helping destroy the country (by forcing a discussion of slavery in the Mexican conquest) than by enlarging it (just about everything west of the Rockies was acquired during his presidency).  Calvin Coolidge went from formidable to forgotten.  Even FDR, for years untouchable among historians, is coming under harsher review from those with some economic training for New Deal policies that are increasingly looking useless and even counterproductive.

Other presidents have seen their stature rise over time.  John Adams has been on a two-century long rehabilitation; his son regained is hallowed reputation while he was still alive (albeit for actions after his Administration).  Harry Truman’s reputation grew with every year after he left office.  His successor (Eisenhower) saw his reputation rise until his death in 1969, after which it began a glide downward.

Check out the rest of the post for D.J’s early thoughts on how history will judge Former President Bush.

Regardless of your political affiliation, you cannot deny the historical gravity of today’s events. Very few places on earth have seen a non-violent transfer of power throughout its entire history (whether the secession of the southern states was a direct repudiation of Abraham Lincoln’s election or the formation of a new nation formed upon opposition to it), and inauguration day, regardless of the winner of the election, should be viewed with awe and respect. But let us remember that this is indeed a transfer of power, not a taking of it, so respect is due to both players.

Thank you, Former President Bush, for your eight years of service. I voted for you in 2004, and while I certainly have some major qualms about your presidency and fear that it will forever be tainted by some of your decisions, I thank you for your service and amazing sacrifice and for keeping our nation free of domestic threats. 

Congratulations to you, President Obama. Although I did not support you during the election and continue to have major disagreements with your proposed policies, this is your day. You are my commander-in-chief, and I pledge to discuss and oppose, and when warranted, support, your policies with respect for you and the high office which you hold. 

LISTEN HERE!

For those of you interested in reading more about topics discussed on the show but don’t have time to go to your local public library. A great first show; a little stumbling and I didn’t get to cover everything as well as I wanted, but still we had eight, count em, EIGHT listeners, and four people joined us in the chat room. So here is a recap, segment by segment:

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