Well the battle is over and he won.

“RICHMOND, Va. —  A 90-year-old Medal of Honor recipient can keep his 21-foot flagpole in his front yard after a homeowner’s association dropped its request to remove it, a spokesman for Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said Tuesday.”

“The Sussex Square homeowners’ association likewise has agreed to drop threats to take legal action against retired Army Col. Van T. Barfoot, Warner spokesman Kevin Hall said.”

“The association had threatened to take Barfoot to court if he failed to remove the pole from his suburban Richmond home by Friday. It had said the pole violated the neighborhood’s aesthetic guidelines.”

It’s great news that this honored veteran won but it still seems like a battle he never should have been forced to fight.

“90 year-old Colonel Van Barfoot has until Friday to remove the flagpole from his yard.”

“Since this saga began, it’s been played out on the radio from Washington D.C. to Boston, but many believe what is happening to this true American hero is tarnishing the image of Richmond.”

“Barfoot lives in the Sussex Square community in western Henrico County. He moved there in July, and was ordered to remove the flagpole from his front lawn when he flew the flag on Labor Day, and again on Veterans Day.”

“The homeowner’s association doesn’t explicitly forbid flagpoles but they must be “aesthetically appropriate”. Short flags are allowed on porches, but Barfoot says that’s not the way he was raised to respect the flag.”

“First of all, it’s not dignified, and it shows you got it in the half mast position… you can walk around here and I’ll bet you the American flag is hanging out in the rain, nobody ever checks it”, says Barfoot.”

“Family members say he’s the most decorated American combat veteran alive. Barfoot has been awared more than 20 medals, including the Medal of Honor, The Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, The Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts.”

“Wounded in combat three times, Barfoot fought in World War II and in Vietnam.”

You would think someone at the neighborhood association would remind everyone that the guy served America in two wars. Let the man fly the flag he spent his life defending in any way he sees fit.

FOX News just called it!

8:00 pm EST

Politico reports Republicans swept Virginia.

“Republicans swept Virginia’s statewide elections Tuesday, with former state Attorney General Bob McDonnell leading his party’s ticket to victory up and down the ballot and scoring an early win for the national GOP.”

“McDonnell’s decisive victory over Democratic state Sen. Creigh Deeds brings an end to eight years of Democratic control of the governor’s office in Richmond and breaks a series of disappointing elections for the Virginia GOP, which saw their state flip to the Democratic column for the first time in 44 years in last year’s presidential election. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Republican attorney general candidate Ken Cuccinelli were elected easily over their Democratic opponents.”

Hey, Washington Post!

“Republican Robert F. McDonnell has taken a commanding lead over R. Creigh Deeds in the race for governor of Virginia, as momentum the Democrat had built with an attack on his opponent’s conservative social views has dissipated, according to a new Washington Post poll.”

“McDonnell leads 53 to 44 percent among likely voters, expanding on the four-point lead he held in mid-September. Deeds’s advantage with female voters has all but disappeared and McDonnell has grown his already wide margin among independents.”

I wonder if McDonnell’s lead has anything to do with his awesome campaign ads….

“President Barack Obama is throwing his weight around Virginia, but it may not be helping. Obama campaigned for Democrat gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds last week in McLean.”

“When asked if Obama’s campaigning for Deeds for governor would help or hurt, only 14 percent of likely voters said it would make them more likely to vote for Deeds. Thirty-seven percent said it would make them less likely, a negative swing of 23 percent. Forty-nine percent were unsure.”

“Other the other hand, when asked if former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin campaigning for Republican Bob McDonnell would help or hurt, 26 percent said it would make them more likely to vote for McDonnell and 35 percent said it would make them less likely. This is a negative swing of 9 percent, which is considerably less than Obama’s. Thirty-nine percent were unsure.”

Poll PDF

The key piece of info here is the one Team O probably finds most disturbing. Obama has been campaigning actively for Deeds. Palin hasn’t been in Virginia and hasn’t breathed a word about McDonnell.

Oh, and one more thing that’s sure to twist a knot in the undies of the left…

According to another PP Poll, McDonnell currently leads Deeds 51-37.