On Tuesday, Virginians will go to the polls to choose the next Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Both the Democratic and Republican parties have chosen flawed candidates. The Republican candidate, Ken Cuccinelli, is a right-wing zealot who very strongly opposes any progress in our beloved Commonwealth, whether it be with regard to equal rights or healthcare for Virginians. The Republican party, nationally and statewide, has become more radical over the years. You would think this would be good news for the Democrats. But as a Democrat, I must say in all honesty, our party here in Virginia has become less progressive in the last several years. The party leaders have tended to pick nominees at the local, state, and national levels that are more moderate-to-conservative than the progressive tradition from which I come, the party of Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy. The Democratic candidate for Governor this year is not a candidate who will bring decisive progressive change to Virginia. In fact, Mr. McAuliffe has been endorsed by numerous Republican businessmen who know that he will favor the status quo. He will not do what needs to be done, I believe, in terms of providing quality education for all of our children, and to safeguard our environment. As a Democrat it is very difficult for me to say this, but I will not be voting for Mr. McAuliffe come Tuesday. I will not be voting for Mr. Cuccinelli either. I will write my name in for Governor of Virginia. I hope that all of you will vote on Tuesday, and I hope that each one of you will follow your conscience and vote for the candidate you feel is best for our beloved Commonwealth. I will continue the blog and to raise issues that I think are important to our Commonwealth and nation in the next several years.
Matt the Democrat
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
NSA Scandal
Like most Americans, I was disheartened to discover that the American people are still being spied on by the government. During his initial run for the Presidency in 2008, President Barack Obama promised to end the unconstitutional wholesale spying on the American people that had occurred under the Bush Administration. This campaign promise was one of the principle reasons I voted for President Obama in 2008. To say the least, I was very saddened to learn through the leaks provided by Edward Snowden that the government is still spying on the American people in large numbers without probable cause.
The recent press conference that President Obama held about two weeks ago did not satisfy me in terms of believing that the American people were not being spied on in a wholesale manner. The safeguards that the President talked about are not adequate and just recently the Chief Judge of the FISA Court that is responsible for approving wiretaps has stated that the Court does not have proper safeguards to ensure that innocent Americans are not spied upon.
Mr. President, the buck stops here with you. You are responsible for ensuring that there are significant safeguards to prevent unnecessary spying upon the American people in violation of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution. You, sir, as a constitutional professor of law, should have been monitoring this program more closely, and should have made sure that it was being run correctly. It is no excuse, Mr. President, that you have other things to do. Protecting the Constitutional Rights of the American people is one of your chief responsibilities. I am highly disappointed in you sir. And, if you were a knowing participant in illegal spying on the American people you should be impeached.
I stated in my run for Congress in 2008 that if a President of the United States violated the Constitution of the United States, whether they be Republican or Democrat, they should be impeached and removed from office. Let me be clear. There is no evidence that the President knowingly violated the Constitution that would lead to his impeachment and removal at this time. However, if such evidence did come to the surface, then certainly President Obama would have to be impeached and removed in my opinion. That would break my heart because I have supported this President with all my being, and I still support the President on many of his programs, but no President, regardless of party, must be allowed to violate the Constitution of the United States and remain in office.
The recent press conference that President Obama held about two weeks ago did not satisfy me in terms of believing that the American people were not being spied on in a wholesale manner. The safeguards that the President talked about are not adequate and just recently the Chief Judge of the FISA Court that is responsible for approving wiretaps has stated that the Court does not have proper safeguards to ensure that innocent Americans are not spied upon.
Mr. President, the buck stops here with you. You are responsible for ensuring that there are significant safeguards to prevent unnecessary spying upon the American people in violation of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution. You, sir, as a constitutional professor of law, should have been monitoring this program more closely, and should have made sure that it was being run correctly. It is no excuse, Mr. President, that you have other things to do. Protecting the Constitutional Rights of the American people is one of your chief responsibilities. I am highly disappointed in you sir. And, if you were a knowing participant in illegal spying on the American people you should be impeached.
I stated in my run for Congress in 2008 that if a President of the United States violated the Constitution of the United States, whether they be Republican or Democrat, they should be impeached and removed from office. Let me be clear. There is no evidence that the President knowingly violated the Constitution that would lead to his impeachment and removal at this time. However, if such evidence did come to the surface, then certainly President Obama would have to be impeached and removed in my opinion. That would break my heart because I have supported this President with all my being, and I still support the President on many of his programs, but no President, regardless of party, must be allowed to violate the Constitution of the United States and remain in office.
Named one of the "Top Lawyers in Washington DC" in 2013
I have recently been honored to have been named one of the Top Lawyers in Washington DC in 2013 by the Legal Network. This honor does not belong to me alone. It belongs also to my superb office staff that I have assembled over the last few years. During my legal career I have fought for the common person in dealing with their everyday struggles in the workplace, and in society in general, to attempt to make our society a more fair and open place. I will continue to do so over the coming years but I cannot do so alone, and I could not have achieved this honor without the superb staff that I have assembled. Thank you to my staff!
New e-Book Published: Special Education: What Every Parent and Lawyer Needs to Know
I wanted to let you know that I recently published an eBook on Special Education. Education was also a critical component in my campaign for Governor. I will endeavor to continue to fight for quality education for all children regardless of their station in life. Hopefully this book will help those children with disabilities obtain the quality education they deserve.
You can find the book on Smashwords by following this link:
Special Education: What Every Parent and Lawyer Needs to Know
Solar Paneling
I wanted to share that my wife, Michelle and I had solar paneling installed on our house in Falls Church Virginia this summer. As you are aware, providing green jobs and a greener environment in the Commonwealth was a mainstay of my campaign for Governor of the Commonwealth last year. I sincerely believe that every one of us can make a difference in helping combat global warming, no matter how small or large that individual effort might be. Simple things make a difference, like walking to the store, riding a bike, using metro instead of using a car all the time to go where we need to. I certainly would encourage those who can afford to do so to place solar paneling on their homes and businesses. I would encourage people to look into different tax credits to defray some of the initial costs of putting solar paneling on a home or business. I firmly believe that these tax incentives both at the state and federal level should be expanded so more and more individuals and businesses can put in solar paneling. And I deeply believe that our leaders at both the state and national levels should set examples for the rest of us. I call on President Obama to put as much solar paneling in his remaining term as possible on Federal Buildings. And I call on the next Governor of the Commonwealth to place solar paneling on the Governor's mansion, regardless of who becomes the next Governor.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Suspension of Campaign
Tonight I am announcing that I am suspending my campaign for the Governorship of the Commonwealth of Virginia. I want to thank all those who have been supportive of my campaign, especially those Virginians I have met since I announced my candidacy. You have been a source of strength and encouragement to me to fight for the ideals that I feel so strongly about.
The issue that will confront us -- the issue of our generation -- is, I believe, climate change. We must end our dependency on fossil fuels. We must end our addiction to these fuels or they will destroy us. There is technology that exists today -- solar, wind, and biofuels -- that are cleaner and healthier for our planet. I was encouraged today when President Obama tackled the issue of climate change in his inaugural speech. I hope that he will follow through on helping to start a massive program for the use of green energy at the federal level.
I hope and pray that whoever is elected to be the next Governor of the Commonwealth will have a sincere commitment to combating climate change on a state level. There is so much that can be done through the technology that we have in our midst, and so much that can be done to incentivize the use of solar, wind and biofuels through the tax code, that it would be a moral travesty not to utilize these great resources.
The Commonwealth of Virginia has always been a leader among other states in our nation. From its very beginning, the Commonwealth produced great leaders and leadership for our country, from Washington to Jefferson to Monroe. Virginia can be and should be a leader and example to the rest of the nation and to the federal government in bringing about a green economy and combating climate change.
I leave this campaign with no bitterness toward any of my political opponents, and there is a strong likelihood that I will seek political office again in the not too distant future. I will ensure that next time I set out to seek statewide office that I have the infrastructure to do so in terms of money and organization, something that I realized I do not have in sufficient quantity at this time. I will continue to try to make a difference in the lives of others through my law practice, and I will carry the values that my mother instilled in me: that it may not be possible to change the whole world but you can change the little corner of the world that you touch.
God Bless,
Matt Famiglietti
The issue that will confront us -- the issue of our generation -- is, I believe, climate change. We must end our dependency on fossil fuels. We must end our addiction to these fuels or they will destroy us. There is technology that exists today -- solar, wind, and biofuels -- that are cleaner and healthier for our planet. I was encouraged today when President Obama tackled the issue of climate change in his inaugural speech. I hope that he will follow through on helping to start a massive program for the use of green energy at the federal level.
I hope and pray that whoever is elected to be the next Governor of the Commonwealth will have a sincere commitment to combating climate change on a state level. There is so much that can be done through the technology that we have in our midst, and so much that can be done to incentivize the use of solar, wind and biofuels through the tax code, that it would be a moral travesty not to utilize these great resources.
The Commonwealth of Virginia has always been a leader among other states in our nation. From its very beginning, the Commonwealth produced great leaders and leadership for our country, from Washington to Jefferson to Monroe. Virginia can be and should be a leader and example to the rest of the nation and to the federal government in bringing about a green economy and combating climate change.
I leave this campaign with no bitterness toward any of my political opponents, and there is a strong likelihood that I will seek political office again in the not too distant future. I will ensure that next time I set out to seek statewide office that I have the infrastructure to do so in terms of money and organization, something that I realized I do not have in sufficient quantity at this time. I will continue to try to make a difference in the lives of others through my law practice, and I will carry the values that my mother instilled in me: that it may not be possible to change the whole world but you can change the little corner of the world that you touch.
God Bless,
Matt Famiglietti
A Liberal Speech
I want to congratulate President Obama on a fine inaugural address today. The President was eloquent in describing the social safety net that has been in place in our country since the New Deal.
It is my hope and prayer that now that the President has won a second term he is freed politically to be the decent and compassionate man that he is, and that all Americans know him to be, but more importantly that he is freed to be a great President in the fashion of FDR and JFK, a President who will not be afraid to take on his political opponents to safeguard the majority of American people, especially those who are the most vulnerable in our society.
God Bless You Mr. President!
"The commitments we make to each other -- through Medicare , and Medicaid, and Social Security -- these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great." (President Obama, Inaugural Address, January 21, 2013)I could not agree more strongly with President Obama in these core beliefs. I see the need to uphold these programs every day in my law practice, and to care for those who cannot care for themselves. because when we care for those who cannot speak for themselves or take care of themselves we make our nation stronger. We are truly only as strong as our weakest link. I am very proud of the President today. I am very proud to say he is my President. And I want the President to know that if he takes a strong stand in safeguarding these programs which have opened the door of opportunity for so many Americans over the years I will continue to support him, to have his back, to take the slings and arrows that I need to to be supportive of my President. By the same token let me make clear that it is easy to speak words but it is much harder to follow through with actions, especially when your political opponents are constantly beating you up.
It is my hope and prayer that now that the President has won a second term he is freed politically to be the decent and compassionate man that he is, and that all Americans know him to be, but more importantly that he is freed to be a great President in the fashion of FDR and JFK, a President who will not be afraid to take on his political opponents to safeguard the majority of American people, especially those who are the most vulnerable in our society.
God Bless You Mr. President!
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