Just when Thomas Jefferson’s University thought it could get a respite from a spate of bad news, the Cooch comes back.
Yes, irrepressible Atty. Gen. Kenneth Cuccinelli is back with a new civil investigative demand for emails and other materials of former University of Virginia professor Michael Mann, an expert on global warming.
The Cooch has his legs kicked out from under him in August when five of his CIDs were tossed out by an Albemarle County judge who couldn’t figure out why Cuccinelli was bothering to probe research into global warming, but did leave the door open for a new CID.
Cuccinelli complied with a new version that probes one research contract involving only state money. He made his play Oct. 4, in good time for the November midterm elections where Republicans are pushing the idea that goofy and dishonest profs ginned up the global warming hoax (one guesses they missed the pictures of melting glaciers).
U.Va. shelled out $352,874.76 from alumni and other donors to shield itself from Cooch’s fishing trip. One wonders how much more they will have to pay.
Doesn’t matter to the Cooch. He’s on a media roll. And to the hard right wing, he looks a lot more together than fellow Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell who wonders if he has enough votes to make privatizing ABC stores worth taking to the General Assembly or a special session. Imagine if all that work comes to naught.
Charging ahead also positions Cuccinelli to take on Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling when McDonnell’s term ends in 2013.
But you have to wonder about the Republicans. Cooch doesn’t care how much he spends to skewer a professor who left the state five years ago when that professor runs afoul of Cuccinelli’s scientific theories. One thought the GOP would be more cost conscious.
As for McDonnell, he’s come up with a plan that benefits big box stores who thirst for liquor sales while little guys will suffer. He’ll come up $47 million a year short of what state ABC stores now do annually. And he’s messed around with a bunch of new taxes or charges masquerading as taxes to get privatizing ABC less anemic than it otherwise wouldbe. ONe thought Republicans were against new taxes.
Whatever. The Gong Show continues in Richmond.
Peter Galuszka
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