WhatFinger


Michael R. Shannon

Michael R. Shannon (The Whole Shebang (mostly)) is a Virginia-based public relations and media consultant with MANDATE: Message, Media & Public Relations who has worked in over 75 elections on three continents and a handful of islands.

Most Recent Articles by Michael R. Shannon:

Oh, Say Can You See?

I don’t know how the festivities played out at your community fireworks display on the Fourth of July, but in Montclair, VA we set fire to the dam.
- Saturday, July 10, 2010

On the Lookout for Trouble Brewing

The authorities securing the G–20 meeting in Toronto appear to have been caught off guard when peaceful social activists, community organizers and assorted leftists set fire to police cruisers, smashed windows and attacked the hotel where the meeting was held.
- Friday, July 2, 2010

On the Lookout for Trouble Brewing

The authorities securing the G–20 meeting in Toronto appear to have been caught off guard when peaceful social activists, community organizers and assorted leftists set fire to police cruisers, smashed windows and attacked the hotel where the meeting was held.
- Friday, July 2, 2010

Beware Analysts Worried About the GOP

Why do Virginia Republicans insist on snatching defeat from the jaws of victory? Here in the 11th Congressional District primary they had a chance to choose that nice Pat Herrity — who got along so well with the Democrats on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors — as the candidate to challenge Democrat Gerry Connolly this fall.
- Sunday, June 27, 2010

Is Mandatory Soccer Watching Child Abuse?

It’s World Cup Week in the middle school that my son attends. Where previously the last week or so of “instructional time” was devoted to the WALL–E Film Festival, this year students are dozing while they watch soccer.
- Saturday, June 19, 2010

Frank Perdue Can Rest Easy

Normally I don’t revisit column topics until a decent interval has passed, but there have been so many feathers flying in poultry news that I’m forced to return to the subject of chickens in Prince William County, VA where I live.
- Saturday, June 12, 2010

Oil Fails to Soothe Troubled Waters

In spite of all of Hollywood’s assurances, I’m losing faith in our ability to intercept a rampaging asteroid, millions of miles away in outer space, before it smashes into planet Earth.
- Saturday, June 5, 2010

Here a Chick, There a Chick, Everywhere a Chick, Chick

Tuesday was a time of feverish activity for the Economic Development Authority in Fairfax County, just North of where I live. As soon as the leadership saw the front page of the newspaper featuring a drive to bring chickens back to Prince William County, the fax machines in the Government Center were put on full alert.
- Saturday, May 22, 2010

It’s Tough Being Enlightened

We haven’t been swapping senior living tips lately, but something tells me Prince William County, VA Jefe de la Policía Charlie Deane won’t be moving to Arizona when he retires. I doubt he’ll even consider a vacation there, considering what’s been happening on the illegal immigration front.
- Saturday, May 15, 2010

Up Close and Personal

In the old terminal ‘A’ at Washington’s National Airport the Underwear Police (TSA) installed the latest, greatest detecting machinery a few years ago. This Sherlock Holmes of the snooping was the “puffer.” (I’m assuming it was installed in DC instead of LA because out there people would have assumed a “puffer” was either blowing marijuana or spray paint fumes in your face.)
- Sunday, May 9, 2010

Walter Mitty Bang, Bang

Wouldn’t you know it? Turn a bunch of Republicans loose in the Virginia legislature and governor’s office and before you can say “Socialized Medicine” they are exposing school kids to guns. Why can’t we get back to normal where Democrats expose school children to safe products, like condoms?
- Saturday, May 1, 2010

A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On

There is a story told about Vince Lombardi when he was still coaching the Green Bay Packers. During a game he sends in a rookie running back that scores a touchdown and then performs some forgettable end zone “celebration.”
- Monday, April 26, 2010

Welcome to the House of Tofu

As if we needed more evidence of how little reason there is to trust the Democrats, the Obama administration has cruelly betrayed the illegal alien community by passing Obamacare.
- Sunday, April 11, 2010

The Dandelion’s Revenge

As I sneezed, snorted, hacked, blew and dripped my way through the sermon last Sunday, I pondered — as I fumbled for more tissue — where exactly does pollen fit into God's plan?
- Friday, April 2, 2010

A Black Sabbath for Liberty

In the wake of last Sunday’s vote by Democrats to begin the socialization of medicine in the United States, Republicans are reduced to throwing things at the wall in the hope that something sticks.
- Saturday, March 27, 2010

A ‘No’ Vote a Day, Keeps Obama Away

Congratulations are in order for Delegate Bob Marshall (R–Prince William) who single–handedly led the fight to exempt Virginians from the baleful effects of Obamacare.
- Friday, March 19, 2010

Limit One Per Customer

Formerly Virginia was for lovers, but now it’s the “limit one–per–month, per customer” Commonwealth for guns and teeth.
- Monday, March 15, 2010

Virginia Decommissions the “Arts”

The Lord God Almighty grants eternal life in the hereafter, but on earth it’s politicians who control immortality. So when the Virginia House of Delegates passes a budget that executes the Commission for the Arts, it’s big news.
- Saturday, March 6, 2010

“Choose Electrolux” Plate Available Soon

Last year Virginia’s liberal “progressives” — whose commitment to the free marketplace of ideas endures only so long as it exclusively supports their views — were outraged over the advent of the “Choose Life” personalized license plate.
- Saturday, February 20, 2010

The Weather Outside Is Frightful

Remember when the weather was just fine, before Al Gore started griping about it? Blizzards were formerly a one–per–customer situation in the DC area where I live. Now it’s come to a pretty pass when we can't keep track of our snow events. By my count we are on climate event number four, so it seems premature to commit to the Blizzard of 2010 before the winter is truly over.
- Saturday, February 13, 2010

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