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Cuccinelli declares state seal NSFW, issues G-rated one from Civil War instead

The original, with Virtus mighty and Tyranny in his place.

The original, with Virtus mighty and Tyranny in his place.The seal Commonwealth of Virginia depicts the Roman goddess Virtus standing in a whole lot of her glory with her foot on Tyranny and the motto "Sic Semper Tyrannis," or Thus Always to Tyrants.Or it does except in Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's world. Cuccinelli had his political action committee print up new ones, with Virtus' virtues covered fully by armor and Tyranny propped up on one elbow as though waking up from a nap and wondering what just happened here. Because really, how could you allow a wanton display of flesh and a woman winning? This one's better for the country, right?

(From HamptonRoads.com)

The Virginia Regimental Flag, captured by the Union Army's 53rd Pennsylvania InfantryUPDATE: @thaddwilliams says the new version looks a lot like one from the Civil War era, and we all know which side Virginia was on in that one. (And another.)2ND UPDATE: Cuccinelli pulls the pin he chose for its historical significance.


Cuccinelli handed them out on lapel pins for his staff. The AG's asking for it with this one, says Virginia politic scientist Larry Sabato. He compares it to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft covering the nude statues in the Justice Department. From HamptonRoads.com:

“Ashcroft had one excuse: it hadn’t been done before and he wasn’t prepared for the critical onslaught that he faced,” Sabato said. “Cuccinelli has no excuse at all. He knows what’s coming because of what happened to Ashcroft. You can only conclude that he enjoys being the center of pointless controversy.”

(H/T Not Larry Sabato)