Barnie Day was a Democratic delegate from Patrick County from his election in 1997 through the 2001 session. A former county administrator and business owner, he is now a banker.

"Curiouser and curiouser!" cried Alice.

You can say that again. It seemed that rabbit hole had no bottom to it. Same with the current free-fall Republicans find themselves in here in Virginia. They must wonder when things are going to bottom out. And they're not by themselves on that one. On the fall, either. The Dems are stumbling here and there, too.

Good grief! Where to start?

Forget the budget disaster. This is two years in a row for the Republicans. Sure, they're trying to balance the budget on the backs of college students, the poor, the elderly, school teachers, law officers, DMV employees -- while giving millionaires tax breaks -- but that's not what's got them in a sweat at the moment.

Matricardi's been indicted and faces up to 25 years in the big house and a million dollar fine if convicted on all counts. The former Speaker's aid, Claudia Tucker, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor on the listening charge. There will be arraignment. Trial. Witnesses. The whole deal. God knows who else will be dragged in before it's over.

Of course, Vance was back in town this week. Federal grand juries send out such irresistible invitations. My friend Vance. While Morgan Griffith was leading the charge this week to spend tax dollars to have Vance's portrait painted, the former Speaker was across town testifying.

Who would have guessed some of the low tier folks were going to swing?

And this coming just on the heels of that terrible spectacle that was the Askew hearings.

Figuratively speaking, it was a lynching. And some of it surreal beyond that.

House Courts Chairman Bob McDonnell couldn't remember if he'd ever engaged in sodomy.

Dick Black got all wet lipped wondering how close the judge and her accuser were sitting.

Drunk driving ticket honoree Tommy Norment insisted that the good judge's ditching was performance based.

And Senate Courts Chairman Ken Stolle made the leap that the judge must have been guilty of something, otherwise why the $64,000 payment by the city of Hampton?

(Hey, Stolle, using that logic, what's it mean when your Republican colleague Frank Wagner pays a few hundred thou to settle a government fraud case?)

But it gets even stranger. Listen to this one. What's the new Republican version of state's rights? None.

What with Iraq and the economy, with France and Germany kicking the trace chains, with that fool in North Korea, you'd think the president and his sidekick, Karl Rove, would have their hands full. Well, not quite. Word is they still have time to meddle in Virginia legislative affairs. Seems they don't like the date suggested for a Democratic primary in Virginia. Wanted it pushed back a couple of weeks. Maybe afraid John Edwards would get some early toe-hold here. More to come on this one, too. Here's a hint, though: the national networks are already poking about on this one.

Think that's odd? It gets better. Or worse, for the Democrats.

Let's call it 'Dumb and Dumber.'

Tim Kaine, desperate to shed the liberal label that for the moment defines him, came out for so-called 'covenant' marriages, a lame-brain idea of the fanatic, holier-than-thou religious right.

You don't know about 'covenant' marriages? You'd have to get counseling before you could marry or divorce, the idea being, somehow, that you'd have to promise harder. Sorta like this:

In a regular marriage you say, "I do." In a 'covenant' marriage you'd say, in a manner of speaking, "I do. For real. No fooling."

Whew! Don't I feel better now!

How could I have been worried about transportation, education, mental health, law enforcement and those thousand other things I somehow thought our leaders should be addressing?

That was in the running for the D&D prize until Saslaw and Howell came along and voted with Stolle and company at the Askew lynching. Howell even played the sob-sister act.

Saslaw's vote on this one could cost him his Democratic leadership post in the Senate. And it should. The whole affair was outrageous, start to finish.

Did I read somewhere that the judiciary is a co-equal branch of government? How long would we put up with an inquisition like that directed at the legislative or executive branches?

Thank God we had the governor's office to fall back on with that one. Let's go to the tape.

Here's what the governor's office had to say about the shameful affair:

Didn't catch that? Want me to repeat it? Sure. No problem.

Here's what the governor's office had to say about the shameful affair:

Speaking of cold, the weather got brittle in Richmond this week. Folks had to cover up.

Say, getting back to that cover-up …

Republicans on the Senate Courts of Justice Committee don't have to go far to stay abreast of the on-going eavesdropping investigation.

Now that Matricardi's been indicted, Senate Courts might have to look for another lawyer. Their lawyer, Steve Benjamin, is also Matricardi's lawyer.

Don't you love it?

Alice has got nothing on this General Assembly.

And, hey! It ain't over yet! Hold on to your seats, folks! This show is just getting started!