Fred2Blue is thrilled to have Stafford County’s own Laurie Williams - an acclaimed canine behavior expert, owner of Pup’n'Iron Canine Fitness & Learning Center and co-finalist (with her Maltese Andrew) of CBS TV’s The Greatest American Dog - join us today to help answer a very pressing question of national importance:  What kind of dog should the Obamas add to their family?

Dan:  We’ve heard that once the election is over, Michelle and Barack Obama might be bringing a dog into the home. What is more, we’ve heard that - because their kids have pet-dander allergies - the Obamas might be thinking about getting a Poodle.  In your esteemed opinion, what are the upsides and downsides to this breed?

Laurie:  Poodles are indeed a very trainable breed! In Stanley Coren’s book, The Intelligence of Dogs, Poodles are ranked #2 (out of 110 breeds) in intelligence according to data gathered from over 200 dog-obedience judges.  They were second to none other than Border Collies. Not too shabby!

I consider the Poodle a breed that can be trained to do almost anything from basic obedience to agility, tracking and even water retrieving. A lot of people don’t realize that Poodles were originally bred to be hunting dogs. And one of the best things about Poodles is they come in 3 different sizes (toy, miniature and standard) to fit a family’s specific needs.

However, one thing to consider is that Poodles do require regular grooming to maintain their curly coat and prevent it from growing too long.

Since the Obama family is young and certainly on the go, out of the three sizes I would recommend a Standard Poodle, the largest out of the three.

Dan: Are there other non-shedding breeds they should consider?

Laurie: There are actually quite a few breeds that are considered “hypoallergenic.” Among them is the Maltese, and of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention them! In addition to Andrew, I have two other Maltese and find them to make wonderful family pets. And as Andrew demonstrates they are very trainable, obedient and loyal. Maltese have hair, like humans, rather than fur, so people with allergies do very well with them. They are a toy breed and normally range in size from 4 to 8lbs.  Maltese also require regular grooming to maintain their long, luxurious coat. Many opt to get them cut short in a “puppy cut.” Greatest American Dog  Judge Wendy Diamond’s dog Lucky is shown in this shorter clip.  At first glance you’d never even know that Lucky and Andrew are the same breed!

Dan: What advice would you give them regarding timing?  Bringing a doggie into the family, especially if Sen. Obama becomes President and the family moves into The White House, would be a big challenge. Should they wait and if so how long?

Laurie: I would definitely advise the Obamas to wait until they are settled into their new digs before adding a dog to the family. But this will give them adequate time to research the various different hypoallergenic breeds and determine which might best fit in their family. It will also give them an opportunity to visit various breeders should they decide to start out with a puppy. But I do hope they will also consider a shelter dog or rescue. People would be surprised how many purebred dogs are given up each year. Most national breed clubs have rescue divisions all over the country, and many rescues are listed on petfinder.com. How symbolic would it be for the President of Hope who will lead this country into a brand new day to also give hope and a second chance to a rescue or shelter dog by giving him a forever home?

Dan:  Thanks, Laurie!

Aside from Andrew, Laurie’s family includes Moet, a Standard Poodle.

By the way, the finale of CBS’s The Greatest American Dog airs next Wednesday Sept. 10 on CBS Television (in the D.C. area on WUSA TV Channel 9 and in Richmond on WTVR Channel 6).

Go Laurie and Andrew!

We are pleased to welcome a fresh new voice to Fred2Blue, John LeFebre from Spotsylvania County.

John is a great “get” who will bring a much-needed Spotsy perspective to this blog.  But his contributions won’t end there; John will light a blue flame under the FL-S and post on important local, statewide and national stories, as well.

We could not be more pleased.

Read John’s introductory F2B post here.

Welcome, John!

The Free Lance-Star (FLS) editorial of August 31 achieved a new low in its ongoing effort to disparage the Obama campaign.  It made the usual lame comparison to religious fervor, using phrases like “viewed by many as a messianic figure”, “his true believers”, “Obama’s disciples”, and “God is not mocked. Nor is His Chosen One”.  That theme is a popular crutch used by many conservatives to belittle the campaign’s appeal and enthusiasm.  But the new low was achieved at the end when the writer closed with:

Hebrews 11:16 blesses those who “desire a better country, that is, a Heavenly one.”  However, the “country” the verse references lies beyond this mortal veil.  While Jesus left that place mostly to the imagination, one biblical entity [Matthew 4:8-9] enticingly showcased the palpable promises of this world.  “The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’”

Obama the Savior?  Obama the Tempter?  Don’t take this for a normal presidential election.

Is it me, or did the FLS just compare Obama’s appeal to that of the devil?  We’ve grown accustomed to the occasional comparison to Nazi appeasers and even Nazis directly, but Lucifer?  How desperate, how nutty is this going to get?

Our enthusiasm for Obama has to do with his personal ability and our disgust with eight years of a bone-headed, incompetent administration.  The one the FLS endorsed twice.

Regarding the New Yorker cover, objections had to do with the fact that according to a Pew Research survey back in March, 10% of the public believes Obama is a Muslim and a third don’t know what his religious beliefs are.  To the extent the FLS seeks to inform people, was that an embarrassment?

Obama has been every bit as detailed as McCain, if not more so, in presenting his policy details.  If the FLS is skeptical of Obama’s accounting, what do they think of McCain’s arithmetic?  After all the Bush economic failures and record setting deficits, McCain promises more of the same.  A willingness to label eight years of cash advances against the Federal debt as “tax cuts” is symptomatic.  McCain is for their continuation after he was against them.  A lynchpin of his plan to balance the budget is to eliminate earmarks.  Has the FLS once pointed out that McCain has said he will balance the budget by 2013 in part by fixing Social Security (”a disgrace”)?  Aren’t they at least curious as to how “fixing” a program that is projected to run a surplus until 2017 will help him balance the budget by 2013?

The FLS calls a vote for Obama a roll of the “dice on a desperate chance for something new and nourishing”.  And yet they appear poised to endorse McCain and his VP intern from Alaska for four more years of the same economic failure and bellicose foreign policy.  McCain advisor Charlie Black said, “[Palin] is going to learn national security at the foot of the master for the next four years.”  Ready to govern, indeed.  McCain met Palin once, talked to her on the phone once, then offered her the VP spot.  Governor Tim Kaine says that tells us a lot about McCain and how he makes decisions.  Does any of that give the editor pause?

If an FLS endorsement of McCain is to have any credibility, they’ll have to do more than perpetuate the myth he’s a moderate.  They need to address his numerous flip flops, his endorsement of so many Bush failures and mistakes, the infestation of his campaign with so many lobbyists, his anemic efforts to promote alternative energy solutions, his opposition to enforcement of equal pay for equal work, and his opposition to protecting women’s rights.  Just for starters.

In this case, repeating falsehoods that have been thoroughly debunked years ago.

Not that the Free Lance-Star will print a retraction in my lifetime or anything, but former PA Gov. Bob Casey was not denied a role at the 1992 Democratic National Convention because he was pro-life. The reason he wasn’t asked to attend is because he did not endorse the Clinton-Gore ticket. It’s just one of many lies that the right-wing made up years ago to paint the Democrats as a far-left fringe group.

Media Matters:

A slew of pro-life Democrats, including Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley Jr., Senators John Breaux and Howell Heflin, and five governors, did address the delegates in 1992.

Saxophonist LeRoi Moore of the Dave Matthews Band died yesterday from complications caused by an all terrain vehicle accident suffered weeks earlier.  He was 46 years old.

On June 30, Moore crashed his ATV on his farm outside of Charlottesville, but was discharged from hospital and returned to his Los Angeles home to begin physical therapy. Complications forced him back to the hospital on July 17, the band said.

The band played a regularly-scheduled show last night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where lead singer Dave Matthews dedicated the entire show to Moore.

Charlottesville’s Daily Progress has the full story here.

Bill Day for Congress

Jody Wagner has joined Jon Bowerbank in the race for the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor. DPV Chair Dick Cranwell is also rumored to be weighing a run himself. The winner will face Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who’s running for re-election next year.

Wagner’s website has an Obama-esque quality to it, with the sunrise incorporated into the logo and varying shades of light blue. I was also struck by the number of locals (from Stafford and Caroline) who have already signed up on the grassroots endorsements section. Intriguing…

www.jodyforva.com

Paul Milde should look long and hard at his fellow Republican Cord Sterling. I don’t agree with Sterling on most issues, and I’ll probably never cast a vote for him. The difference is that Paul Milde thinks you’re an idiot. One of these two men has a future in politics, the other does not.

A few days ago somebody posted a video on YouTube on the BPOL debate at a Stafford Co. BOS meeting. It was designed to make Chairman George Schwartz, Vice-Chairman Joe Brito, Bob Woodson, and Harry Crisp look like beligerent idiots by compressing an 8 hour-long meeting into 11 minutes.

The Free Lance-Star of course is comparing it to the George Allen “macaca” footage, which is asinine because that video was shown in real time. They didn’t have to edit it to make George Allen sound stupider than he already is, unlike the genius who cut and spliced the hell out of this new anti-BPOL video. Even fellow Republican Cord Sterling, and to a lesser extent Mark Dudenhefer, understands this:

“It’s not comprehensive of the entire board meeting. However, you can’t argue that the events that are portrayed in there didn’t take place,” Sterling said.

Milde, who owns a small business in Stafford, was less diplomatic.

“Sometimes the truth hurts,” he said. “That is the truth, what happened that night.”
…………
“In this day and age with YouTube and Facebook, it’s just a matter of time before somebody did something like this,” said Republican Supervisor Mark Dudenhefer. “It did give me some thought on what I should or should not say in a board meeting.”

Milde points to the benefits. YouTube videos and other such Web postings help ensure government transparency and could inspire more resident involvement in local politics, he said.

“I think it’s great because the level of trust in politicians in the United States is at an all-time low,” Milde said. “At least with a clip on YouTube, you are seeing what really happened. No one can doctor or misconstrue what has been said.”

Be careful what you wish for Mr. Supervisor.

Also, nice “fair and balanced” headline from the Free Lance-Star: Stafford BPOL flap hits YouTube. What “flap?” Just because Republicans hate the outcome and made a goofy video out of it, that doesn’t mean the event was a “flap.”

The Free Lance-Stars eventual endorsement of Rob Wittman for reelection is a foregone conclusion. But would it kill them to at least act like a real newspaper once in a blue moon? Why on earth would Wittman bother printing campaign literature when he gets “articles” like this for free?

………
HE SUPPORTS DRILLING FOR OIL OFFSHORE, ALASKA

Like most candidates this year, Wittman is also hearing a lot of complaints about the price of gas and concerns about the nation’s energy policy.

He favors drilling for oil and gas offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

He also wants to devote tax incentives to development of alternative, renewable energy resources.

Wittman proposes taking the taxes, fees and royalties the federal government gets from fossil fuels like oil and putting those toward such incentives for alternative energy.

HE WANTS MILITARY TO ADD MORE THAN 30 SHIPS

Not surprisingly in a district with a large military presence, Wittman makes a point of his support for a strong military and for veterans.

He wants the military’s ship fleet bumped up to 313 ships–he said it has 280 now–and says the government must continue investing in the military even as it eventually phases out of the Iraq conflict.

Wittman said he supported the final version of Sen. Jim Webb’s GI Bill, which expands educational benefits for military members, because it would be transferrable, meaning a career military person could use the educational benefit to pay for a child’s college education.

HEALTH CARE REFORM WILL REQUIRE VARIED APPROACH

Wittman says the government needs to use a variety of tools to help reform health care and access to insurance–like encouraging a wider range of coverage options and shifting the system’s focus from the payers (insurance companies) making decisions to the patients and doctors making decisions.

He also favors a greater focus on preventive care.

“The U.S. is a great place to get sick, but it’s a terrible place to stay well,” he said.

Wittman does not support universal health care.
…………

Now I’m sure that Chelyen Davis will publish the same exact style talking points interview with Bill Day in a matter of weeks, if not days. After all, we only have 12 weeks left before we vote for Rob Wittman choose our next Congressman.

The father of Not Larry Sabato was attacked by a dog in Fredericksburg yesterday. Fortunately, it looks like he’s gonna be alright after he spends a few days in the hospital.

Ben twittered that “the owner of the dog saw it attack- and just said sorry and left him there bleeding.”

Amazing. We need more dog owners like Laurie Williams, and less criminally negligent homicidal maniacs like this jerk.