‘Freedom Caucus’ includes Virginians Brat and Morgan Griffith; here’s the list of 36

By Lynn R. Mitchell

With the turmoil on the Republican side of the aisle in the U.S. House of Representatives, questions have been asked about the 36 who are members of the “Freedom Caucus,” the tea party-inspired group that has stonewalled GOP leadership and demanded government shut-downs . Who are they?

Wikipedia has what is reported to be an accurate list of the 36 members that includes Dave Brat — no surprise there — but it also includes a name that I was not expecting to see: Morgan Griffith in the 9th Congressional District (see list here). I checked last week with his district representative for confirmation but did not receive a response.

Toffee Bars for Christmas

By Lynn R. Mitchell

 Toffee Cookie Bars

This morning another tray of Christmas yumminess went into the oven, a new recipe that came from the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s resident baker Clare Osdene Schapiro (whose husband happens to be the RTD’s political writer Jeff Schapiro).

Schapiro’s wordsmithing skills on display from abroad

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Earlier this week I sat snugged in my sweater at mid-day with the cool Shenandoah Valley breezes wafting through the open door, reading Richmond Times-Dispatch political reporter Jeff Schapiro’s latest column about his trip to Italy with wife Clare. Clare, by the way, is an accomplished cook and their vacation was for a week-long culinary class. Last year I wrote about her wonderfully delicious Christmas cookies that we added to our annual holiday baking list (see Holiday season brings new cookie recipes and Toffee bars for Christmas).

About halfway through Schapiro’s column (see Flying high above the McDonnell aftershocks), I realized his wordsmithing skills were on full-blown display when I read this sentence describing the journey toward their European destination: “Our hotel in Lecce, opposite a soaring basilica adorned with comic and confounding gargoyles, was a cushy oasis with intermittent Internet service.”

Holy moly.

ICYMI: Photos from ‘Burgers with Bill’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

For 20 years, Bill Bolling — former Virginia Lieutenant Governor, state Senator, and Hanover County supervisor — has gathered with friends and supporters in June near the date of his birthday on the 15th for Burgers with Bill, a casual cookout fundraiser. This year was the 20th anniversary of that event and it was an invitation-only evening in Richmond, compliments of Bolling’s Mainstream Virginia Project. With temperatures soaring into the 90s, it was literally the hottest ticket in town with hundreds in attendance.

Photos #4 – Burgers with Bill: Jeff Schapiro photobombs Governor McDonnell and Mike Thomas

Too funny! Jeff Schapiro, political reporter with the Richmond Times-Dispatch, popped into the photo at just the right moment as I zeroed in on Governor Bob McDonnell talking with Mike Thomas, First Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
June 17, 2014

Photos #2 – Burgers with Bill … faces in the crowd

Two friends … Bob and Bill. The crowd sang “Happy Birthday” for these two whose birthdays were June 15. (In the background are Davis Rennolds, Charlie Judd, and others.) More photos after the fold….

#2: Media & bloggers from RPV State Convention 2014

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Justin Higgins (JHPolitics) with the LynnRMitchell.com crew (Alex Davis, Kurt Michael).