Marky Mark Bows Out

And I guess the Funky Bunch will have to move on to the next socialist weasel. Actually, maybe it's a good time to revive my appellation for him: the Boyish Governor. I'm told he was aware of it, and didn't like it. Actually, I confess that I attribute it to him with not a little bit of jealousy.

In any case, while the salutation is inaccurate, here is the Boyish Governor's letter to his e-mail list, bowing out of the 2008 race for the Democrat Presidential nomination:

Dear Friend,

Nine months ago, I left the office of Governor in Virginia. I was immensely proud of what we had accomplished. We faced historic challenges and got real results.

Upon leaving office, I committed all my time and energy to Forward Together because we need a new direction in America.

Everywhere I’ve traveled, I found hope that we could turn this country around. That Americans are looking for leaders who at this moment of enormous challenge for our country can actually bring us together and get things done.

I’ve heard that regardless of the depth of dismay at the direction President Bush has taken our country, rank and file Democrats are energized, and want ours to be a party of hope, not of anger.

I am especially proud of the work we’ve done in supporting those kinds of candidates throughout America.

We got a lot done.

Forward Together has contributed more money this year to Democratic candidates and party organizations than any other federal leadership PAC. Our effort raised over $9 million.

I headlined 86 events in 25 states to help raise or directly donate $7.3 million to Democrats this cycle.

And our work is not done—especially at home in Virginia, where I continue to work to help Jim Webb win.

But this has also been another kind of journey—one that would lead to a decision as to whether I would seek the Democratic nomination for President.

Late last year, I said to Lisa and my girls, “Let’s go down this path and make a decision around Election Day.”

But there were hiring decisions and people who’ve put their lives on hold waiting to join this effort.

So about a month ago, I told my family and people who know me best that I would make a final decision after Columbus Day weekend, which I was spending with my family. After 67 trips to 28 states and five foreign countries, I have made that decision.

I have decided not to run for President.

This past weekend, my family and I went to Connecticut to celebrate my Dad’s 81st birthday, and then we took my oldest daughter Madison to start looking at colleges.

I know these moments are never going to come again. This weekend made clear what I’d been thinking about for many weeks—that while politically this appears to be the right time for me to take the plunge—at this point, I want to have a real life.

And while the chance may never come again, I shouldn’t move forward unless I’m willing to put everything else in my life on the back burner.

This has been a difficult decision, but for me, it’s the right decision.

It’s not a decision I have easily reached. I made it after a lot of discussion with my family and a few close friends, and ultimately a lot of reflection, prayer, and soul-searching.

Let me also tell you what were not the reasons for my decision.

This is not a choice that was made based on whether I would win or lose. I can say with complete conviction that—15 months out from the first nomination contests—I feel we would have had as good a shot to be successful as any potential candidate in the field.

As for my family, Lisa and our three girls have always had a healthy amount of skepticism, but would have been willing to buckle down and support the effort. I love them all and appreciate their faith in me.

So what’s next?

First, I know that many friends, staff and supporters who have been so generous with time, ideas, energy, and financial support will be disappointed.

My decision does not in any way diminish my desire to be active in getting our country fixed. It doesn’t mean that I won’t run for public office again.

I want to serve, whether in elective office or in some other way. I’m still excited about the possibilities for the future.

In the short-term, I am going to do everything I can do make sure Democrats win in 2006. It’s an exciting year to be a Democrat. I leave shortly to go to Iowa to support folks running for state and congressional office. Hope they are still excited to see me.

I want to thank the thousands of Americans who have donated to Forward Together, hosted me in their homes, shared their ideas, and given me encouragement.

I also want to thank all of the staff and key advisors at Forward Together who have created a great organization. If we had chosen to go forward, I know they had the skills, talent, and dedication to take us all the way.

And finally, as I have traveled the country, I have been amazed at what pent-up positive energy for change exists.

In my speeches, I always acknowledge that what disappoints me most about this administration in Washington is that with all the challenges we face . . . and the tragedies we have experienced, from 9-11 to Katrina . . . that the President has never rallied the American people to come together, to step up, to ask Americans to be part of the solution.

I think a number of our party’s potential candidates understand that. I think, in fact, we have a strong field. A field of good people. I think they’re all hearing what I heard: that Americans are ready to do their part to get our country fixed. I wish them all well.

And I want to say thanks to all who’ve been part of this effort.

Mark Warner

Contary to what some are suggesting, much said here would make it difficult for Warner to accept the Democrat nod for Vice President.

'Course, he lied about taxes ....

Shacking Up?

Steve Minor reminds us that living in sin is still illegal in the Commonwealth of Virginia. No word on whether just visiting is also illegal.

Steve also laughs at those who worry about the Marriage Amendment affecting their rights. Not sure if it's for the same reason that I do. After all, there's still that pesky Fourth Amendment protecting perverts from the prying eyes of the State.

That is, of course, if they keep their private perversions private.

McCain Calls For Independent Investigation

Apparently, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has called for an independent investigation into the Foley/House Page scandal. I heard on the radio on the way home that he has suggested that it be conducted by retired House Members.

I hear Gerry Studds and Dan Crane are available to serve as co-chairmen, or co-chairs, or whatever.

Someone Should Be Fired Over This

While I've been unable to yet find a link, an item in today's Potomac News caught my eye. It was a letter to the editor, with a headline which flatly stated that Democrat Senate candidate Jim Webb had been Reagan's Navy Secretary for four years.

Now, as anyone knows, authors of letters and op-eds are not responsible for headlines; editors are. And to be sure, the letter's author stated the facts accurately: that Webb served for four years in the Reagan Administration, but only for ten months as Navy Secretary.

So the question arises: Why would a Potomac News editor inaccurately state Webb's credentials? I can think of many reasons, but it is highly doubtful that "it was just a mistake" is the most likely, even if the possibility will probably be enough to allow the individual in question to keep his or her job.

If, indeed, the publisher of the Potomac News even cares.

Sun Rises! Film at Eleven

Well, this little news item is right up there with this morning's sunrise as a newsworthy event. Teachers unions endorse a Democrat. What next? Talk about phoney news.

In a related story, the New York Times expresses surprise that keeping criminals in jail lowers the crime rate.

Mark Warner --- Out of the Liberal Closet

Well, advocates for the radical homosexual agenda report that former Governor Marky Mark is supporting their efforts with his filthy lucre, a $25,000 donation to the "Commonwealth Coalition." No word on the activities of his funky bunch.

With this donation, Warner demonstrates either that he supports queer "marriage," or is too stupid to recognize the specious nature of the "unintended consequences" nonsense.

And this guy thinks he's presidential material?!?!

North Korea Claims To Have Conducted Nuclear Test

Kim Jong "Mentally" Il, Maximum Leader of Communist North Korea, claims to have conducted an undergound nuclear test, officially making that country a member of the nuclear "club."

Thank you, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

UPDATE: The United States Geological Service reports a 4.2 magnitude tremor resulting from the test.

A Little Family History From Alaska

My Aunt Nancy was just contacted by this young man, working on an Eagle Scout project of particular interest to my family. Here's the Anchorage Daily News story:

Scout's effort honors bomber crewman

HERO: Plaque placed on wreckage explaining how man saved others.

By JOSEPH DITZLER
Anchorage Daily News

Published: August 9, 2006
Last Modified: August 9, 2006 at 03:34 AM

WASILLA -- Nearly 50 years on, Staff Sgt. Calvin K. Campbell still looks like a hero.

A flight mechanic, Campbell, 34 at the time, of San Antonio, Texas, was awarded the Soldier's Medal for his deeds on Nov. 15, 1957. A TB-29 Superfortress in which he was a crewman crashed in the Talkeetna Mountains 15 miles north of Wasilla that night. The plane had lost its way while southbound over the Susitna Valley and plowed into the mountains in bad weather.

Six of 10 aboard died outright. Campbell, the only crewmen unhurt, pulled the three other survivors to safety, and then wrapped them, some seriously injured, in sleeping bags and parachutes to keep them warm until rescued the following day.

Campbell's crewmen credited his quick response with saving their lives. In the process, Campbell incurred a shoulder sprain and frostbite.

"If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be here," Tech. Sgt. Manuel Garza told the Anchorage Times shortly after the crash.

The aircraft wreckage still rests on what since then has been known as Bomber Glacier. A tough four- or five-hour hike to reach, it gets little casual tourist traffic.

But since July 22, anyone who visits the site will know the story behind the wreckage, and how Campbell became a hero to his surviving crewmates.

An Anchorage Boy Scout working on his Eagle rank service project erected a bronze plaque on the bomber itself. The plaque, placed by Tyler Adams, 17, also lists the names of the bomber crew and backers who made the project possible.

Adams, encouraged by his father, Steven Adams, an accountant with NANA Development Corp., over the past year planned, researched and, with the help of four friends and numerous backers, hauled the 24-by-18-inch, 47-pound plaque to the site. J&T Foundry and Design of North Pole made the plaque, Tyler said.

He plans to deliver a copy of the plaque to the Alaska Veterans Memorial at Byers Lake, 28 miles north of Talkeetna. That way, more people will read the crash story and appreciate Campbell's story, he said.

Adams, who graduates in 2007 from Bartlett High School, said he got the idea for the memorial plaque during a hiking trip to the site, situated on a glacier at 6,600 feet above sea level and just over the northeast ridge above the Reed Creek drainage.

"I was just hiking around ... and thinking of an Eagle Scout project," he said. "It is a really amazing story."

Inspiration proved the easy part, he said.

He set about researching the crash, first on Google, the Internet search engine; then in the archives of the Anchorage Daily News; and in the office of historian at Elmendorf Air Force Base, where the plane was based.

Adams said he learned the surviving crewmen had all died in the intervening years. He still hopes to locate members of their families in time for a service dedicating the second plaque.

Adams and four fellow Scouts from Troop 25, sponsored by the Chugach Foothill Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, rode with the plaque to the bomber, courtesy of a helicopter flight supplied by Security Aviation.

The plaque, said Steven Adams, troop scoutmaster at the time, was "designed so a couple kids could hump it in and take care of business. But by the time everybody got their words in, we were sure glad there was a helicopter."

The Scouts -- Adams, Jordan and Jared Bisby, Dan Novakovich and Nick Bilak -- also hoisted 10 American flags at the site, flags that U.S. Rep. Don Young of Alaska provided. The flags had all flown over the Capitol in Washington, D.C., and Adams would like to present them to the families of the crewmen.

"We're hoping to get word out to the families of these folks," his father said.

The more immediate search, door-to-door and phone-call-by-phone-call, was for backers to underwrite the cost of the plaques, about $2,000.

"That was the hardest and longest part of this project," Adams said.

Success came bit by bit, either in the form of money or services rendered. Everyone he approached, "from a car maintenance shop to Alaska Airlines," gave something.

He said he learned something about the art of persuasion through this project, as well as presentation. "I was learning a whole new degree of professionalism," Adams said.

I spoke with Tyler this evening, and gave him a little relevant family history. My uncle and namesake, 1st Lieutenant William James Schreffler (also an Eagle Scout), was one of the pilots on the flight, but did not survive the crash. A Life magazine story about the crash appeared at the time, because the hero of the affair was a black airman who helped save his fellow crewman, a newsworthy happenstance in 1957.

What a fine young man. God bless the Boy Scouts.

So Far Gone It Makes Me Optimistic

Never mind that she's too stupid to know the difference between a cannon (a weapon) and a canon (a set of ideas): Howling Latina demonstrates that she's really too ignorant to be taken seriously about ... well, much of anything. Too ignorant to understand the link between socialism and communism; too ignorant to understand that Mao and Lenin flow inexorably from Marx and Engels. Just, well, too ignorant.

It's pathetic, but juxtaposes with a refreshing honesty from Greg Bouchillon.

UPDATE: Poor Howling Latina doesn't like criticism. 'Course, when you misspell something once, it's a mistake. When you do it twice, it's ignorance.

Perhaps she should change her name to "Howling Idiot."

Asinine WaPo Comment of the Day

From Eugene Robinson's caricature-fest, "GOP Bigotry That Backfired":

The Republican Party has gone to such lengths to demonize homosexuality that it must pain the leadership to reveal that such a thing as a gay Republican congressman could even exist.

Does the Washington Post even require its writers to have taken a history course? It's not "the Republican Party" that has "demonize[d] homosexuality"; it's 5000 years of civilized society that has condemned it. Of course, that millenia of human experience condemns homosexuality stands as a rather strong counterpoint to the radical homosexual agenda is a fact that tends to militate against adoption of that agenda.

And never mind that the open secret that was Congressman Mark Foley's perversion never seems to have harmed his standing among his GOP peers until he there was evidence that he apparently started preying on underage Pages.

Another fine example of a far Lefty trying to have it both ways. And that the radical homosexual agenda isn't about tolerance; it's about legislating acceptance and validation. And while intolerance might be categorized as "bigotry," refusing to validate homosexual behavior assuredly is not.

Democrats Don't Win? Must Be A Stolen Election!

More insanity from Alice Marshall and her far Left moonbats.

Boldly Stacking The Deck

It seems that Alice Marshall has a link to a site which boldly proclaims its intention to stack the deck for people seeking information about Joe Lieberman on the Internet, "with a little concerted effort."

Far Left Moonbats: Orwellian to the core.

Translating Liberal-Speak

Well, it seems that KathyinBlacksburg has offered Shawn O'Donnel's "12 Core Values of a Democrat." However, since so many Democrats couch their Socialist agenda in obscure or even dishonest language, or meaningless buzzwords, it is important to understand what they really mean. Therefore, I offer O'Donnel's list (with spelling errors), and a translation guide:

Belief in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as a Living Document of inclusion not exclsuion
Since our Socialist agenda is contrary to the Constitution and the desires of a still-freedom-loving electorate, and we lack the courage to actually try to amend the document (like getting rid of that pesky Second Amendment), we need unelected judges to re-write the fundamental law to achieve our unpopular goals.

Life, Liberty and the Persuit of Happiness for All
... except for the unborn, and those who actually achieve, who are cows to milk to fund our Socialist agenda.

Fairness and Equal Opportunity for All
Of course, "fairness" means whatever we want it to mean, and whatever happens to be expedient on any particular day. Substitute "outcome" for "opportunity."

Protection of the Environment
Remember that part about the Constitution? Well, forget about it as far as your property is concerned. It's particularly important that we have judges who treat it as a "living" document, since we need to read all of its protections of property out of it.

Quality Public Education
Of course, by "quality" we mean "mediocre." And by "public," we mean "government" and "teachers-union" controlled.

Economic Justice for All
Except for those nasties who build a better mousetrap and make obscene profits, who are cows to milk to fund our Socialist agenda. And if you believe "economic justice" means "each getting his dues,i.e., getting paid what he is worth in a free-market economy," then you just haven't been paying attention.

Living Wage Jobs
Read: government-mandated (but not -funded) welfare for people too stupid and/or lazy to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities available in a free-market economy. Of course, we want to get rid of the free market.

Social Security
Read: government-dependency for old people, who vote. Remember, because this is important: He who robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.

Fiscal Responsibility
Read: Higher taxes.

Workers' Representation and Collective Bargaining
Read: forcing elitist union bosses on workers who are too stupid to know that they need a union, and making them pay for the privilege. And after all, if we can't have union bosses extracting forced dues for politics under the guise of worker "representation," how else are we going to fund our unpopular politicians?

Affordable Health Care, Housing, Utilities and Food
Read: Ridiculously higher taxes.

Homeland Security and Strong National Defense
Always last on our agenda. And, of course, secondary to virtually every preceding item. And every problem in the world can be traced to America. It's our fault. Blame America first. We have so much for which to atone.

Just to make sure that you understand 'em.

At Least He Recognizes The Irony

Greg has some comments about blogosphere trashings of Susan Allen.

I can't say I disagree with him --- I've known the Allens for years, and believe that George is wise to recognize her as his greatest political asset --- but this line pretty much sums up Greg's credibility to speak to the issue:

When I have to step up and clean up the trash in the blogosphere, something is seriously wrong.

Sanctimony is always unattractive. Particularly when it's unsupported --- or, indeed, is contradicted (particularly funny on a blog started pseudonymously was the complaint about someone "who lacked the courage to confront me") --- by a record.

Precious Moments

I guess for some, the GOP is not sufficiently suspicious of homosexuals.

Actually (H/T to Jerry), the Wall Street Journal has it just about right:

[I]n today's politically correct culture, it's easy to understand how senior Republicans might well have decided they had no grounds to doubt Mr. Foley merely because he was gay and a little too friendly in emails. Some of those liberals now shouting the loudest for Mr. Hastert's head are the same voices who tell us that the larger society must be tolerant of private lifestyle choices, and certainly must never leap to conclusions about gay men and young boys. Are these Democratic critics of Mr. Hastert saying that they now have more sympathy for the Boy Scouts' decision to ban gay scoutmasters? Where's Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on that one?

Of course, in Foley's case, we're talking about perverse fantasies, not actual practice. It's appropriate to remember how Democrats reacted to actual perversion:

This is harsher treatment than was meted out in the past to some Members of Congress who crossed another line and actually had sexual relations with underage pages. Democrat Gerry Studds of Massachusetts was censured in 1983 for seducing a male teenage page, but remained in the House for another 13 years and retired, according to the Boston Globe, with a rich pension.

Jerry has written another good post about the whole imbroglio, as well, noting the utter confusion of the far Left, in whose circles homosexual behavior is supposed to be acceptable.

Thankfully, we have the New York Times to makes these fine distinctions between acceptably perverse behavior, and unacceptably perverse behavior.

Congratulations to Delegate Frederick and Wife Amy

Just opened my e-mail to receive this good news:

It's a girl! ... well, you may have already known that, but I'm very pleased to let you know that Grace Amira Frederick has finally arrived!

Gracie was born at 12:06am on Friday, September 29th. She was an even 8 pounds, and 20 inches long. Praise God, baby and mom are doing great -- happy, healthy, grateful, and incredibly blessed.

Amy and Gracie checked out of the hospital Saturday afternoon with a clean bill of health (but lots of recovery for Amy) and came home to a great welcome surrounded by family.

Thanks to so many of you for all of your prayers, love, support, friendship, and well wishes. We look forward to seeing you soon and introducing you our beautiful gift from God.

-JMF.

Heartfelt congratulations to Jeff, Amy, and little Grace.

Time To Renew An Old Joke

With the resignation of Florida Congressman Mark Foley, it's time to renew an old joke, from the last congressional page scanda, one from the Eighties (that one bipartisan, involving Massachusetts Democrat Gerry Studds and a male page, and Illinois Republican Dan Crane, and a female page):

You know that Congressman don't use book marks? They just bend the Page.

'Course, the difference between Republicans and Democrats is that Dan Crane was defeated in the next election, while Gerry Studds went on to serve several more terms in Congress.

And, of course, if Republicans acted like Democrats, we could expect that, in twenty years, the GOP would adopt an agenda which would seek to legitimate Foley's and Crane's behavior.

State Senate Blocks Action on Transportation

Indulging his fetish for increased taxes, Senator John Chichester has demonstrated once more why it is long past the time that we retired this chucklehead.

As much as two billion dollars in surplus tax revenue, and he wouldn't vote for anything that didn't include higher taxes.

Not that the House of Delegates covered itself in glory. A $1.5 billion bond package that would have sent only $375 million to Northern Virginia over five years --- 25% of the total --- is just a continuation of the same old problems of raping Northern Virginia to subsidize projects in other parts of the Commonwealth. I can't see a single good reason for Northern Virginians to vote for it. But at least it was something.

It was certainly more than Governor Timmy! and his Democrat/Repubmocrat allies offered.

BREAKING NEWS --- James Webb Terrorized Black Americans

WELL! Isn't this a revelation? It seems that the Washington Post's Michael Shear is reporting that Virginia Democrat nominee James Webb organized his ROTC unit to terrorize Black citizens in the Watts section of Los Angeles. Whether he was in uniform when doing so is a question apparently not asked, nor answered.

Webb's comments to the Times-Dispatch prompted Allen campaign officials to direct a reporter to Dan Cragg, a former acquaintance of Webb's, who said Webb used the word while describing his own behavior during his freshman year at the University of Southern California in the early 1960s. Webb later transferred to the U.S. Naval Academy.

Cragg, 67, who lives in Fairfax County, said on Wednesday that Webb described taking drives through the black neighborhood of Watts, where he and members of his ROTC unit used racial epithets and pointed fake guns at blacks to scare them.

"They would hop into their cars, and would go down to Watts with these buddies of his," Cragg said Webb told him. "They would take the rifles down there. They would call then [epithets], point the rifles at them, pull the triggers and then drive off laughing. One night, some guys caught them and beat . . . them. And that was the end of that."

Cragg said Webb told him the Watts story during a 1983 interview for a Vietnam veterans magazine. Cragg, who described himself as a Republican who would vote for Allen, did not include the story in his article.

Interesting, isn't it, that Shear felt it necessary to point out that "Allen campaign officials" were responsible for directing a reporter to Cragg. The reporter writing the Salon story evaded that question and refused to divulge his sources on an interview I heard on Chris Core's WMAL radio show the other day.

This apparently rates only four flipping toupees from Ben Tribbett. I wonder why? Oh, no I don't.

UPDATE: Well, I've seen today's WaPo. This story appears on page B1, front page of the Metro Section. That George Allen's purported racism rated repeated page one coverage and Jim Webb's purported serial hate crimes appeared buried in the second section of the paper tells you all you need to know about the editorial biases of Pravda on the Potomac. It certainly confirms Marxist I.F. Stone's observation that "What makes the Washington Post a great newspaper is the fact that you never know on what page the Page One story will appear."

Do Lefties Even READ The Constitution?

Apparently not, if you pay attention to how up in arms some on the far Left are over an apparent proposal to suspend the writ of habeas corpus in the Military Commissions Act of 2006 currently being considered by Congress.

The Constitution specifically empowers Congress to suspend the writ, as follows:

"The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it."

I suppose one can argue over whether it is appropriate in this case --- I might even agree with them --- but let's not pretend that even suggesting it is unconstitutional. Or that its scope is broader than it is. One incredibly foolish group is even suggesting that it "could allow the government to detain the attorneys themselves as 'enemy combatants.'"

One frequently wonders what color the sky is on the planet of these lunatics. Apparently, too, they speak another language. Clearly, they don't understand English.

Ya Gotta Believe!

There's so much tripe attributable to Democrats, but the recent hate campaign against George Allen is a new low for those that, many believe, couldn't sink any lower. But it's worth considering what you have to believe in order to support Jim Webb for the Senate

Ya gotta believe that George Allen used the word "nigger" thirty years ago, but that Jim Webb didn't use the word "gook" while a Marine in Vietnam.

Alternatively, ya gotta blieve that George Allen's use of the word "nigger" thirty years ago was unacceptable, but that Jim Webb's use of the word "gook" while a Marine in Vietnam was acceptable.

Ya gotta believe that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq when Bill Clinton, Teddy Kennedy, and other Liberals said their were, and that they magically disappeared when George W. Bush became President.

Ya gotta believe that George Allen's racist character thirty-five years ago is more relevant than was Bill Clinton's character when he was President of the United States.

Ya gotta believe that a man who quit Ronald Reagan's Administration over foreign and military policy differences knows better than a man who remains a member of Reagan's political party.

Ya gotta believe that young Mr. Siddarth was gravely offended by being called "Macaca" ... but sat down and broke bread with the people who thought it was funny, and drove for hours back to Northern Virginia without telling anyone that he had the goods on "Felix."

Ya gotta believe that "Macaca" is a term that resonates with racist voters in Breaks, Virginia.

Ya gotta believe that Jim Webb doesn't know that he's paying his nutroots supporters who are banging the racism drum.

Ya gotta believe that people who were willing to tolerate a racist as Virginia's Governer in 1993 and as Virginia's junior Senator in 2000 have seen the light.

Ya gotta believe that the GOP is a racist party, and that many people knew about George Allen's racism, and just didn't tell anybody.

Ya gotta believe that...

War is Peace

Freedom is Slavery

Ignorance is Strength

What A Great Idea

As implied in a post below, I am not of the mind that we should fear or flinch from actually uttering the racial slur that is the subject of the far Left's and media's hate campaign against George Allen, so long as it is not being used to refer to individuals or a group of individuals. Referring to it has "the n-word" strikes me as every bit as peurile as most of Jim Webb's nutroots contingent.

On the other hand, referring to it as "the Byrd word" certainly has its attractions. And is far more accurate and revelatory.

Weasels for Webb

Another self-identified yet anonymous "Republican" who claims to be voting for Webb.

Is anybody stupid enough to be persuaded by this? Put your name on it, and have a record as a Republican, and then I'll be impressed. Disgusted, too, but at least I won't think you're just a liar.

Ken Shelton's Inspiration?

Courtesty of Alton, we learn of one possible source for the myths --- if myths they are, and I believe that they are --- about George Allen. He provides four links:

Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4

Shelton is from North Carolina, isn't he?

I suppose some people might believe the George Allen story, just on the theory that you couldn't make this stuff up.

Well, maybe you can't. But you can sure change the factual context for political advantage.

Lefties Attack Susan Allen

In the continuing rush to the bottom which is the far Left (yes, VC, I said "far Left") of the Virginia blogosphere, Virginia Centrist --- so-called --- has reached a new low, and now attacks Senator Allen's marriage.

That's something I've only come to expect from some commenters at Sean Connaughton's Cult of Personality ... er, "Too Conservative."

And they're bold words from someone supporting a candidate who has three times as many ex-wives as George Allen.

Hitlary Says Condi Is Lying

This is priceless: a video in which Hitlary declares someone else to be a liar.

Aside from her consummate skills in this regard, isn't this the same woman who couldn't tell when her own husband was lying about "having sex with that woman; Ms. Lewinsky"?!?!?!

It's amazing what you can do when you're shameless.

Coming Soon to the Washington Post

Given its complicity in the hate campaign against Senator Allen, one wonders whether this isn't an upcoming page one headline in the Washington Post:

Monday, 2 October 2006
George Allen Announces Support For Pogroms!!!!
Racist Senator Offers Genocidal Vision for Virginians

(Alexandria, Va.) To a cheering crowd of racist Republicans, embattled Virginia Senator George Allen today announced his support for a new round of pogroms to combat poverty. "It is only through these pogroms that we can effectively work to rid Virginia of the blight of poverty," said Allen.

Independent Internet pundits Lowell Feld and Ben Tribbett were quick to discern the true significance of the Allen statement, saying that it was the latest in Allen's racist, anti-Semitic behavior and policies. "Pogroms were the standard modus operandi of eastern European anti-Semites in the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries," said Feld. "There can be little doubt that George Allen will soon offer a 'final solution' for the victims of poverty that includes concentration camps to starve them, and gas chambers to murder them." When asked if he expected such facilities to be located on Craney Island, Feld said he didn't know what or where that is.

University of Virginia political pundit Larry Sabato had this comment: "Well, while I wasn't there, this is clearly an effort by George Allen to appeal to his redneck, racist, 'Bubba' base. I'm not surprised. He'll almost certainly win over a majority of Virginia's redneck, racist, 'Bubba' voters with such a program. This race is over."

****

Of course, such a story will be accompanied by a primary editorial, roundly condemning Allen and the neanderthal, far-Right Virginia Republican Party.

Expect a correction, two days later, on page A24, bottom right-hand corner (actual size):

Wednesday, 4 October 2006
Correction
On Monday, the Washington Post inaccurately reported on a speech given by Senator George Allen. In Sunday's speech, Senator Allen announced his support for new programs to combat poverty, not "pogroms."
The Post regrets the error.

Guilty

There are not too many public controversies that don't have a Mel Brooks moment. That is, a moment when one has to harken back to some hilarious scene from one of his many hilarious movies.

After the last week of despicable charges from the Webb campaign and/or his nutroots contingent, one even has a choice. Personally, I'm torn between two musical numbers. Personally, I feel like Madeline Kahn must have felt during her musical number, "I'm Tired," in Blazing Saddles. But one guesses that Senator George Allen and his staffers are mindful of the great production number from History of the World, Part I: "The Inquisition" ("Hey, Torquemada, what do ya say? 'I just got back from the auto-de-fe...."), particularly Jackie Mason's role in a ping-pong game.

Of course, among the funniest moments of the former movie --- ones that don't translate well into this unfortunate PC age, where cable TV stations expurgate the word --- are those dealing with Cleavon Little as the Sheriff. A black sheriff?!?! Well, the townspeople don't see it that way; the word "nigger" is used liberally.

And yes, I'm going to actually use the word. Gee, I guess my political opponents can now accuse me of using it. Oh, foresooth! In that context, of course, Mel Brooks was using it to make fun of the ignorance of racism. That was the point, after all. And I'm merely quoting him. Does that mean I've used what various White Liberals are calling "the n-word"? Oh, my!

And I'll use it again. After all, there are plenty of books around which use it. Heavens to betsy, I even read two books in high school (no, not George Lincoln Rockwell High) with the word in the title: Nigger, and Up from Nigger, autobiographies by comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory. I had heard him speak at Bloomsburg State College (now, Bloomsburg University), and was impressed. Pretty good books, too.

I have no idea whether George Allen used the word in college. My God, perhaps he took an English course on Joseph Conrad, and read The Nigger of the Narcissus! Maybe he even saw Blazing Saddles in a theatre, and dared to laugh at it. Frankly, I don't much care at this point. What I care about are the policies he advocates. Are they racist? Only in the fertile imaginations of the race hustlers.

Democrats are running a despicable, race-baiting campaign against Senator Allen, and it's abundantly clear that they are doing so to conceal the fact that their candidate is so utterly lacking in substance. It's long past time when they should be called out on it and condemned for it.

For it's not just George Allen they're hurting. It's Virginia, and the nation.

Of course, that's a natural consequence of a Liberal's election.

Allen Rebuttal to Webb ... er, Web Smear

Here it is, complete and unexpurgated. However, Jon Henke gets one thing wrong. "Swiftboating" is telling the truth about a Democrat and forcing a Liberal media to pay attention. There's a simpler word for what Salon and the paid Webb bloggers have done: lying.

Webb’s Dirty Tricksters: Salon

Sadly, the Webb campaign is continuing their attempt to make this Virginia Senate race about lies and rumor-mongering, rather than about issues. In Salon today, an anti-tobacco and environmental activist claims Senator Allen “used “N-word” in college“.

Let’s be clear: as with the previous rumors and lies pushed by the Webb campaign, this is categorically false. Rather than talking about the issues relevant to voters, the Webb campaign is pushing rumors and lies about Senator Allen and his family.

In the proximate case, we’ve got a story in which one named person claims three main things.

1. “He used the N-word on a regular basis back then.”
2. “Shelton also told Salon that the future senator gave him the nickname “Wizard,” because he shared a last name with [KKK imperial wizard] Robert Shelton…”
3. “Allen said he came to Virginia because he wanted to play football in a place where ‘blacks knew their place,’” said Dr. Ken Shelton, a white radiologist in North Carolina

Fortunately, we have quite a lot of evidence that his story is categorically false — that this Salon story is evidence of the Democratic Party growing comfortable with the “Swiftboating” tactics they’d previously decried.

Aside from Salon’s own admission that 16 of the 19 people contacted did not remember any evidence of racism from George Allen — in fact, the seven people who knew Allen well during that time period specifically said that “did not believe he held racist views” — we’ve got statements from a great many former peers of Allen that specifically debunk these charges. Most relevantly:

Shelton lied about the origin of the name “Wizard”:

Joe Gieck, 35-year UVA trainer: “I seem to recall that Ken Shelton got the ‘Wizard’ nickname for his pass catching ability and before George Allen came to the University of Virginia.”

George Korte, UVA linebacker ‘70-’73: “Ken Shelton received his nickname because of his ability as a tight end to magically get open and catch the football not because he shared someone’s last name.”

Charlie Hale, UVA center ‘70-’73: I have always known him by the nickname, ‘Wizard’. I have always thought the name came from his ability to catch passes … or his ability to somehow get open in the field. Personally I believe that he was a true ‘Wizard’ because he always had the ability to sneak out after curfew and never get caught.”

Shelton lied about Allen using the “n-word”:

Doug Jones, UVA defensive back ‘71-’74 and roomate of Ken Shelton: “I was on the University of Virginia football team with George Allen for the 1972 and 1973 seasons. During that time I never heard George Allen use any racially disparaging word nor did I ever witness or hear about him acting in a racially insensitive manner.”

George Korte, UVA linebacker ‘70-’73: “Contrary to Ken Shelton, I have kept up with George Allen the past thirty-five years. During this time, I have never known or heard him use racial epithets to describe blacks either in public or private. … George Allen did not use racial epithets or demonstrate racist attitudes towards blacks in the early 1970s.

Charlie Hale, UVA center ‘70-’73: ““During the 34 years I have known George Allen I have never heard him use racial slurs or derogatory language to describe a person or group of persons.”

Shelton lied about Allen’s reasons for coming to UVA:

George Korte, UVA linebacker ‘70-’73: “George came to University of Virginia because his father became the head coach of the Washington Redskins.”

Charlie Hale, UVA center ‘70-’73: “The reason that Senator Allen came to Virginia to play football from UCLA was the fact that he was very close to his father, loved professional football and wanted to be near his family who would be living in Leesburg, Virginia.”

Had the Webb campaign or Salon been interested in actual journalism, as opposed to merely repeating a Webb campaign lie, they could have discovered these facts for themselves. Instead, they are doing the dirty tricks of the Webb campaign.

[this story will be updated as more news comes in]

Complete statements are below the fold:

Statement from Joe Gieck, trainer for the University of Virginia football team for over 35-years:

“I seem to recall that Ken Shelton got the ‘Wizard’ nickname for his pass catching ability and before George Allen came to the University of Virginia.”

____________________________________________

Statement from Doug Jones, defensive back on the University of Virginia football team 1971 thru 1974 and roomed with Ken Shelton in his second year:

“I was on the University of Virginia football team with George Allen for the 1972 and 1973 seasons. During that time I never heard George Allen use any racially disparaging word nor did I ever witness or hear about him acting in a racially insensitive manner.

“He was a scholar-athlete and a leader. I was proud to be his teammate.”

____________________________________________

Statement from George Korte, linebacker on the University of Virginia football team from 1970 through 1973:

“Contrary to Ken Shelton, I have kept up with George Allen the past thirty-five years. During this time, I have never known or heard him use racial epithets to describe blacks either in public or private.

“Specific items in the article that are not true are as follows:
1. As stated above, George Allen did not use racial epithets or demonstrate racist attitudes towards blacks in the early 1970s.

2. George came to University of Virginia because his father became the head coach of the Washington Redskins. Instead of continuing his undergraduate education at UCLA, he transferred to be closer to his family. He came to University of Virginia to attend one of the top public Universities in the nation not as the article states “because he wanted to play football in a place where ‘blacks knew their place’.

3. Many of the nicknames used to describe the players were not given by George. Mine was Tez. I received this nickname because a coach mispronounced my name as Cortez. This resulted in my nickname given to me from another linebacker. Ken Shelton received his nickname because of his ability as a tight end to magically get open and catch the football not because he shared someone’s last name.

“It appears to me that Kenny Shelton has some deep rooted problems with his self identity and a rather hyper active imagination.”

____________________________________________

Statement from Charlie Hale, center on the University of Virginia football team from 1970 through 1973:

“My name is Charles M. Hale, Jr. and I am writing this to state my personal knowledge of Senator George Allen.

“I received an athletic scholarship and attended the University of Virginia from 1972 till 1977. I was a member of the football team and met George Allen in 1972. During my first year the position I played was center and Senator Allen was a quarterback. Neither Senator Allen nor I were on the starting team and our job was to run the opposition offense for our starting defense to prepare for upcoming games. It was during this time we became close personal friends.

“When I was being recruited by UVA, the head coach Don Lawrence, informed me and my family that we would have a new quarterback, it was the son of Coach George Allen who was going to be taking over as head coach of the Washington Redskins. The reason that Senator Allen came to Virginia to play football from UCLA was the fact that he was very close to his father, loved professional football and wanted to be near his family who would be living in Leesburg, Virginia.

“Senator Allen and I were team mates for a period of two years 1972 and 1973 when he finished undergraduate school and then he attended law school also at UVA. We have maintained a close friendship now for 34 years. In the summer of 1976 we spent 6 weeks together driving and camping across the United States to visit his home and family in California. After graduation from law school at UVA the Senator worked in Abingdon, Virginia as a law clerk, and I lived in Grundy, Virginia we continued to see each other and go hunting.

“In 1988 I returned to UVA for a celebration marking 100 years of football at the school. I had been living in the western US since 1978 and we renewed our friendship. He took me home with him that night where I was to meet his wife Susan. Since that time we have remained close personal friends.

“During the 34 years I have known George Allen I have never heard him use racial slurs or derogatory language to describe a person or group of persons.

“Ken Shelton is a close personal friend of mine for the same period of time I have known Senator Allen. Ken was and still remains an amazing athlete, he is one who contained the ‘complete package’ height, speed, toughness, coupled with an uncanny ability to block, run and catch the football. I lived in the same apartment with him for two years (1973 and 1974) and got to know him very well. I have always known him by the nickname, ‘Wizard’. I have always thought the name came from his ability to catch passes (like the day against the Naval Academy when he caught 3 for touchdowns) or his ability to somehow get open in the field. Personally I believe that he was a true ‘Wizard’ because he always had the ability to sneak out after curfew and never get caught.

Jim Webb's and the Democrats' desperation is showing .... again.

Count Me In

While not agreeing entirely with the tone and profanity (though I have cussed in my heart), I certainly find myself in agreement with both Not Buck Turgidson and Mason Conservative: I am thoroughly sick of the race-baiting occurring in the Virginia Senate campaign.

Racism is the nuclear bomb of political debate: if you're hit with it, there's little you can do to respond. The race hustlers have so successfully overtaken reality that they have been able to make even the most innocent phrase potentially explosive. Or at least, exploitable.

However, I am not going to engage in moral equivalency, for it is quite clear from the outset that Jim Webb's nutroots supporters have gone from Bush Derangement Syndrome to psychotic, and that this entire series of events can and should be laid directly at their feet. And it is truly disappointing that someone I like and respect --- even though we are political opposites --- as much as Ben Tribbett has joined on the nutroots bandwagon. In Ben's case, I wish it could be attributed solely to youthful exuberance, but he has so frequently demonstrated an insight and maturity beyond his years that I find myself hoping that he has been rolled.

There is a method to oppose the Bush Administration, American policy in Iraq, and any number of policies of the Bush Administration. Instead of constructive opposition, however, Virginia's Democrat nutroots are offering nothing more than hate.

Thus, it's not sufficient to say that invading Iraq and removing Saddam Hussein was unnecessary, ill-advised, and/or counter-productive, a colorable argument, even if ones with which I disagree. No, Democrats are claiming that: it was done for base personal economic profit; or that "Bush lied and people died," and never mind the worldwide intelligence consensus that Saddam possessed weapons of mass destruction.

I don't know if this hate campaign will alienate voters sufficient to keep them away from the polls; I tend to discount such concerns.

What I really wonder is whether this Democrat campaign of race-baiting isn't based upon concerns (perhaps discerned from polling data) that the Democrat hammerlock on minority voters in Virginia (and nationwide) is slipping away, as Republican policies spread prosperity to demographic groups previously not enjoying it, or rather, conditioned by Democrat politicians to expect government handouts.

But isn't it deliciously ironic that Jim Webb and his nutroots supporters are savaging George Allen, while they want Webb to join a Democrat Senate Caucus that included former KKK leader Robert Byrd (D-WV)?

Your Desperation Is Showing

Poor Jim Webb. It's really sad when someone previously considered fairly honorable diminishes his entire record out of naked political ambition.

Yellow stars? Lightning bolts might equal Nazis?

If Jim Webb had any decency, he'd salvage what's left of his honor and denounce those campaign-financed mouthpieces in the blogosphere who are attacking George Allen, and in the process, setting back race relations in Virginia forty years or more. He might even come up with an idea more original than cut and run in Iraq.

Their hate campaign is desperate, and despicable. That Jim Webb is financing it makes him equally guilty, and utterly unworthy of public office anywhere, at any time.

The Song Remains the Same

I'm certainly glad that someone has the time to do this research. Once again, that illegitimate Conservative tactic of using a Liberal's own words against him/her is used to provide a great history lesson from the folks advocating passage of Virginia's Marriage Amendment:

Virginians have seen the ‘Unintended Consequences’ argument before. Can you tell when the following statements were made?

1. “As an unintended consequence of the legislature’s reckless action, even contracts by heterosexual members of the same sex – mothers and daughters, grandfathers and grandsons, sisters and brothers – may be called into question.” Tracy Thorne, vice-chair of Equality Virginia.

2. “The unnecessarily antagonistic language goes well beyond prohibiting gay marriage. There may be other ramifications involving wills, medical directives, insurance policies and home ownership agreements.”

3. “But the law’s language has some concerned that it could effectively prohibit a variety of private contracts between two people of the same sex, regardless of their relationship. Others worry that the bill threatens similar contracts between people who are not gay partners but are simply both of the same sex.”

4. “The bill’s broad language would preclude contracts to share assets or provide for medical powers of attorney, and though its sponsors deny they intend to do so, it would seem to ban even certain contractual business relationships undertaken by people who happen to be of the same gender.”

5. “Both gay rights activists and independent legal scholars agreed the nation’s now most strongly worded anti-[gay]marriage statute could have considerable impact on the ability of same sex couples to enter into legal agreements with each other. The new law will abolish the rights of same-sex couples to execute a will, sign medical directives or craft custodial agreements, according to Dyana Mason of Equality Virginia. Equality Virginia, located next door to the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Union, is expected to announce a lawsuit by early summer.”

6. “Critics say the law...could negate powers of attorney, wills, leases, child-custody arrangements, joint back accounts and health insurance granted by companies that recognize domestic partnerships.”

7. “But some legal experts say the law is so vague and ill-defined that it could interfere with legal contracts such as powers of attorney, wills, medical directives, child custody and property arrangements and joint bank accounts.”

8. “Concerns are being raised that a new Virginia law affirming the state’s prohibition against same-sex marriage could have widespread impact on contract law in the state. Some worry that the law could undermine contracts between unmarried people of the same sex that govern both personal and business arrangements, such as real estate holdings, prenuptial agreements and business partnerships.”

9. “The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia announced yesterday that it will challenge a new state law that bans civil unions. The ACLU said it is seeking same-sex couples to come forward and serve as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Specifically, the group is looking for homosexual couples who have contracts or other agreements that have been invalidated by the law.”

10. “I see a whole lot of potential plaintiffs.” Kent Willis, executive director of the Virginia ACLU,

11. “Equality Virginia, a statewide gay rights group, will join the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund in looking for people harmed by the law to become plaintiffs in a lawsuit that will seek to have it overturned.”

12. “This is a law that is so broad and sweeping, I don’t think there will be any shortage of potential plaintiffs.” Daniel Ortiz, UVA law professor.

13. “Mark Usry, a local representative for Equality Virginia, previously known as Virginians for Justice, said the group will sponsor a lawsuit challenging the bill and asked attendees to donate money.”

Are these quotes from today? Are they about the Marriage Amendment?

No. They were used by Marriage Amendment opponents to question the Marriage Affirmation Act, HB 751, when passed by the General Assembly in 2004. Opponents of Virginia's state constitutional amendment defining marriage are using the same tired arguments they used two years ago when Virginia passed into law the Marriage Affirmation Act.

"Opponents to the the amendment are as wrong today as they were then," said Victoria Cobb, Executive Director of the Family Foundation. “Virginians need to be reminded that these same groups warned of “unintended consequences” in 2004 and even promised lawsuits. We are still waiting for the first lawsuit. I suspect we’ll be waiting long after the Constitutional amendment passes because opponents are simply wrong.”

Sources: Roanoke Times, May 7, 2004; Virginian Pilot editorial, June 2, 2004; Free Lance Star, May 18, 2004; Washington Post, May 9, 2004; Washington Blade, May 7, 2004; LA Times, June 20, 2004; Associated Press, May 24, 2004; ABA Journal Report, July 16, 2004; Washington Times, July 2, 2004; RTD, July 1, 2004; Roanoke Times, July 1, 2004; Roanoke Times, July 1, 2004; Daily Progress, May 5, 2004

What is it about the far Left that gives them such trouble with facts?

More Childishness from Greg Letiecq

So Greg Letiecq, he of the sterling defense of freedom of speech, has decided to start editing my self-defensive posts at his little website.

Some pseudonymous commenter noted that:

James, I hardly ever agree with you, but your last post is dead on. It’s okay to promote social justice as long as it’s voluntary. Rishell is trying to get the government to promote it. If she’s elected, which I find it hard to believe she would be, none of us would be able to afford to live in Virginia anymore. With all of the programs she wants to impliment we’ll pay so much in taxes are kids will go hungry.

I responded as follows:

Read what I say, rather than what others with a self-serving agenda and/or hidden personal vendettas have to say about me, and you’ll probably discover that you agree with me far more often than not, “Had to Say.”

Now, I wasn't specific in mentioning anyone, but perhaps a guilty conscience (presuming the existence of one) provoked the OWW aka AWCheney to jump in with one of her self-serving cheap shots:

If what you say didn’t come served with a large helping of vitriol James, I’m sure that could be said of many people, myself included.

I responded as follows:

My “vitriol,” AWCheney, is limited to those "with a self-serving agenda and/or hidden personal vendettas."

Like you, AWCheney.

Greg decided that he should edit my post, declaring factual statements about Harry Parrish's primary campaign manager in 2005, a woman who aided in bringing since unprosecuted charges against opponent Steve Chapman but tried to deny her involvement (i.e., "those 'with a self-serving agenda and/or hidden personal vendettas. Like you, AWCheney.") as "offensive content." Offensive to AWCheney, probably, but not to those interested in facts regarding her sleazy tactics.

Apparently, though, "offensive content" is identifying the sleazy tactics of Greg's friends, but not belittling comments like this:

AWCheney said on 24 Sep 2006 at 5:57 pm
Actually no, Jimmy, you spread your vitriol indiscriminately…which is why you are so popular.

I responded with this:

Once again, the OWW can’t respond to facts, so she responds with belittling name-calling. To make it clear again, “Jimmy” is my ten-year-old son. He does not post here.

Get back on your meds, OWW.

Apparently, for Greg, that last line was "offensive content." Here's my last post on that thread:

James Young said on 24 Sep 2006 at 9:18 pm:

It's really amazing what you consider "offensive content," Greg. Noting the sleazy behavior and cheap shots of your friends? I note that AWCheney's belitting comments survived unscathed.

You're quite a selective champion of free speech.

Not to worry, though. I've posted the comments over at my site to demonstrate your selectively self-serving commitment to free and open debate.

And your hypocrisy.

We'll see how long my comment survives.

One really has to wonder about the relationship between Greg, the missing and as-yet unidentified "BVBL," and AWCheney. The posts which caused Steve Chapman to sue Greg and BVBL had all of the hallmarks of a well-funded opposition research operation.

Coincidence? Maybe a jury will decide. Were I representing Chapman, I would certainly be taking AWCheney's deposition.

These guys are priceless! Perhaps they're angling for a job in the Webb campaign of hate, distortion, and race-baiting. They'd fit right in.

UPDATE: Greg has made some comments that I commend to your attention, and also has removed some of the offending posts.

However, he now has a post up (one of his usually humorous photos, with appropriate captioning for the hearing impaired) which says very nearly one of the same things that I did. Hmmmm.

UPDATE II: I also managed to misspell Greg's name, which he was kind enough to overlook. It was unintentional, and I have corrected the error.

George Will on Michigan Civil Rights Initiative

George Will has an excellent column in today's Washington Post on the sleazy tactics of advocates of racial spoils systems to oppose a citizen's initiative to makes explicit in Michigan's state constitution the color-blindness spoken of so eloquently in dissent by the first Justice Harlan in Plessy v. Ferguson.

Observers of those opposing Virginia's Marshall-Newman Amendment to protect marriage will recognize the scare tactics being employed by nihilistic proponents of the radical homosexual agenda.

Democrat Chairman Candidate's Website Appears

Nine years ago, I ran (for the second and last time) for public office, the Dumfries District seat on the Prince William County School Board. It was in the early days of the Internet, and I certainly had no real appreciation for the Internet's power in campaigns. Nevertheless, a very pleasant young man from Woodbridge was kind enough to volunteer to put up a website for me. I don't know how much traffic it got, but I remember looking at it and thinking it quite good.

Whatever it looked like, it was certainly better than this.

One would think that a Democrat nominee for public office in a county of a third of a million people could do better than this. Sharon Pandak has managed to put up a site with even less substance than your average Democrat candidate.

"Experience Integrity Leadership"? What "Experience"? "Integrity" compared to whom? "Leadership" to where?!?!?

Previously, I was doubtful that Corey Stewart could match Chairman Sean's 70% in 2003. After all, Chairman Sean pulled a lot of Democrat votes because of his tax-and-spend policies.

But if this is the level of professionalism and substance we can expect from the Pandak campaign, Corey might even exceed 70%.

H/T to Greg.

Despicable Democrat Smears

Like most people (even Jim Webb is making pretensions, though I don't believe him), I'm getting a little sick of the race-baiting campaign against George Allen.

Perhaps the most despicable element of it, though, is that, in order to believe the smears, which started with a comment in August, you have to believe that Mrs. Allen --- George's mother, not Susan --- is a racist, and that it was at her knee where young George learned to badly mispronounce the racial smear "macaque."

Personally, I don't believe it. Any more than I believe that Jim Webb didn't refer to Southeast Asians as "gooks" during his tour in Vietnam. Don't expect a series of front-page Washington Post stories exploring that reality.

Jim Webb and his paid bloggers should be ashamed of themselves, but they probably aren't. Hell, Jim Webb won't even own up to financing this hate campaign against George Allen.

And after all, smearing a frail 83-year-old woman is a small price to pay in order to obtain political power.

It's Official: Ben Tribbett Is "In The Bag" Mode

While this may endanger my "Gold" rating in his blogroll, with this post about the race for Prince William County Chairman, Ben Tribbett goes from "frequently sensible --- if Liberal --- political analyst," to "in-the-bag adjunct to Democrat campaigns." "Toss-up"? "Slight-lean GOP"? The last race had the GOP nominee getting 70% of the vote. The "brand name" alone makes this race presumptively "Solid GOP."

Ben is a better and more reliable read for those nine or ten months a year when he's not trying to get Dems elected. Though his site remains useful on a "Know Thine Enemy" theory.

And it's still a damn sight better than Raising Dough... er, "Raising Kaine."

Webb the Dodger

It's a little pathetic when a man who served his country (apparently honorably) in Vietnam can't own up to his responsibility for a blatantly race-baiting strategy. Watch Jim Webb the Dodger.

You Dems must be so proud.

Andrew Hurst: Con Artist

Oh, it's so much fun to watch the sanctimony of the far Left in high dudgeon.

According to the paid mouthpiec... er, boys over at Raising Dough ... er, "Raising Kaine," Democrat Andrew Hurst said at last night's debate that, as a Congressman, he wouldn’t accept millions of dollars from PACS. In fact, according to RK, Andy has refused to take any money from PACS during this election. The poster also opined that his unwillingness to accept money from lobbyists is the simple reason of why he would be productive while serving in Congress. "Hurst would be held accountable to the people instead of the lobbyists."

Oh really?

It's kinda funny that he should mention that, because the FEC would probably beg to differ. It lists $450 in PAC money, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, hardly known as an apologist for Conservatives and/or Republicans. I suppose that's not "millions of dollars from PACs," so one might not be able to call Hurst a bald-faced liar, but he has accepted PAC money.

And a further look at his top contributors, at least as of his last report, indicates which "people" to whom he would be held accountable. And it would only take a couple of guesses from the informed political observer to guess which ones. Labor unions? George Soros? Trial lawyers? Survey says: trial lawyers!

Once again, if one goes to Open Secrets, one easily finds a chart showing the source of Hurst's funds. The chart is explained like this:

This chart lists the top donors to each candidate so far in the current election cycle. The organizations themselves did not donate, rather the money came from the organization's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families. Organization totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.

And what does Andy Hurst's chart show? His top five donors are law and lobbying related. ReedSmith LLP, a Washington law firm for whom Hurst works, donate $24,500; Jack H. Olender & Associates, $2,500; the Law Office of C. Bardis LLC, $2000; the Law Offices of Robet Stahl, $2000, and Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, $1,300. Further review shows that seven of his top ten sources of donations were law-related. Hurst's single biggest donor group, as of his last report? You guessed it! Lawyers and lobbyists. The FEC reports show a similar bent. You can't swing a dead cat around Hurst's contributors without hitting a lawyer.

Self-righteousness is a singularly repugnant characteristic. Particularly when one has nothing to be righteous about. The post at Raising Dough ... er, "Raising Kaine," simply demonstrates how far in the bag they are for anyone on the far Left.

UPDATE: Gee, better divert attention from Hurst's hypocrisy. At the risk if unduly increasing his traffic (more than twice as many people visit here per day), you might want to go to Hurst's official campaign blog to learn how Democrats respond when their hypocrisy is exposed: ignore it, and go on the attack.

Impressive Reticence To Take Unjustified Credit

Remember all those Democrat claims that high gas prices were the fault of the Bush Administration?

Well, of course, gas prices have been falling substantially for weeks, but no one is giving credit to the Administration.

Except in a very few, limited circumstances, it is abundantly clear that no Administration can have much influence on gas prices, so Democrat attacks were --- as usual --- demogoguery.

I'm fairly impressed, though, that no Republican of whom I am aware has attempted to take credit for the recent good news on the issue. To do so would be bad economics, even if it were arguably good politics.

I guess it's the difference between those who understand markets, and those who don't

Senator Allen's Response To The Pseudo-Controversey

From Jon Henke:

Statement from Senator George Allen

ARLINGTON, VA – U.S. Senator George Allen released the following statement this afternoon:

“Yesterday, I found it especially reprehensible that a reporter would impugn the attitudes of my mother, as Ms. Peggy Fox did in her first question at the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce Senate debate. My mother and father both taught me to abhor bigotry, and Ms. Fox’s suggestion to the contrary was deeply offensive.

“The notion peddled by the Webb campaign that I am somehow embarrassed by my heritage is equally offensive, and also absurd.

“I was raised as a Christian and my mother was raised as a Christian. And I embrace and take great pride in every aspect of my diverse heritage, including my Lumbroso family line’s Jewish heritage, which I learned about from a recent magazine article and my mother confirmed.

“On several occasions through the years, I have mentioned publicly that my mother's father was incarcerated by the Nazis. I have never known whether he was persecuted by the Nazis because of his nationality, his religious faith, his role as a community leader, or his part in the anti-Nazi resistance.

“What I do know is that my grandfather’s imprisonment by the Nazis had a profound impact on my mother. It was a subject she found painful to discuss and so we almost never discussed it.

“Some may find it odd that I have not probed deeply into the details of my family history, but it’s a fact. We in the Allen household were simply taught that what matters is a person’s character, integrity, effort, and performance – not race, gender, ethnicity or religion. And so whenever we would ask my mother through the years about our family background on her side, the answer always was, ‘Who cares about that?’

“My mother has lived a long and full life, and I hope and pray she will enjoy many more years. She deserves respect and she also deserves privacy, especially where painful memories are concerned. I sincerely hope that simple decency will be respected.”

Good statement. Though I still think he should have taken my suggestion when responding to the original question.

Allen's Heritage

The latest imbroglio over the Senate campaign in Virginia demonstrates better than ever how empty the suit on the Democrat's side is, but I've got to confess a guilty pleasure:

It's given rise to perhaps the best pseudonym I've ever seen:

John Podhoretz as Felix Macacawitz.

Too bad only about a dozen Virginia bloggers get the joke.

Great Jim Webb Video

Great, that is, if you're a fisherman and enjoy landing a big one and seeing it flop back and forth in its death throes.

If it weren't so pathetic, it'd be funny. I particularly like the juxtaposition of Webb's comment about the Poodle AKA John Kerry and the picture of Kerry with his arm around Webb. It's amazing what some people will do to acquire power.

H/T to f mcdonald at UCV.

Farther Out On The Far Left

Now, according to one wag, it's "ultra-conservative" to take the position that marriage, as defined by millenia of civilization, is a relationship between a man and a woman (or women, if polygamy counts).

I suppose that, when you're a raging socialist with a nihilistic agenda, everything which is not nihilistic seems "ultra-conservative."

What If Senator Allen Had Said This?

Melissa, one of the Ditzy Democrats at Monstrosity, suggests a better response (though I've changed one word) to the idiocy of one of the reporterettes at yesterday's Virginia Senate debate:

YES, damnit, I'm a Jew! What, are you [a Nazi] or something? Do you want me to make a little STAR out of my notecards, color it with a yellow highlighter and TAPE it to myself so that everyone will know for sure? You want a swastika, bitch?

Obviously, I support Senator Allen, and am voting for him.

But if he had actually said this, a notoriously cheap lawyer such as myself might even have sent him money.

Having just seen portions of Patton on AMC this weekend, I've got to wonder whether Senator Allen --- should he see this --- would be mindful of a line near the end of the movie: "No, I never said that. I never said any such thing. But I wish I had."

George Allen's Jewish Roots?

Apparently, some reporterette at the Allen/Webb debate before the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce asked George Allen whether one of his forebears was a member of the Jewish faith. Senator Allen responded admirably.

I'm really trying to figure out why anybody would care. 'Cept for the Jew-baiters who raised Harris Miller's faith and heritage in the Democrat Senate primary, that is.

Who Do They Think They're Kidding?

Fox News in D.C. covered a rally today against the Marshall-Newman Amendment to protect marriage. Speakers echoed the Chicken Littles who suggest that its passage would impair the right of contract.

One question which wasn's asked of the speakers was whether they support the notion that marriage should be re-defined to include homosexual relationships.

It would doubtless be revealing to learn that most of those who theorize that this amendment would interfere with the right of contract are, in reality, supporters of the radical homosexual agenda. Their opposition to the amendment clearly has less to do with concerns about unintended consequences than it does to do with the intended consequences: putting Virginia squarely in opposition to the radical homosexual agenda.

The Excuses Are Starting Early

Apparently, some of our friends on the Left side of the Virginia blogosphere are starting their excuses for their impending loss early.

Yeah, it can't be the fact that you've embraced the looniest of the Looney Left. It has to be those wascally Wepublicans and their dirty tricks.

Pathetic

Contrary to popular opinion, there's evidence that the Washington Post sometimes recognizes the idiocy of the far Left.

Nevertheless, the far Left is still trying to get mileage out of Plame-gate.

And that includes the Fairfax County Democratic Commttee.

Pathetic doesn't even even begin to cover it.

Apropos of Nothing

Found a link to a site to create a map of states visited, and came up with this result:



create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.


create your own visited states map.

Five short. Have to get working on that. 'Cept D.C. isn't (and shouldn't be) a "state."

Republican for Webb? Sure!

Well, the boys in the bag for Jim Webb over at "Raising Dough" ... er, "Raising Kaine," have a post up from someone who claims to be a "Republican for Webb." While I have no doubt that this person is for Webb, he or she refuses to identify him/herself by anything more than a pseudonym.

And once more, we have an elaborate claim of a credential (i.e., being a Republican) from someone who prevents verification.

I have no doubt that there are a few, misguided "Republicans" out there who are supporting Jim Webb. But those stupid enough to credit a post by a pseudonymous coward who claims to be a "Republican" are .... well, doubtless a part of the core constituency of the Democrat Party.

Bart Hinkle Jumps the Shark?

It seems that Richmond Times-Dispatch colunist Bart Hinkle has started his own blog.

Today, he writes to criticize Attorney General Bob McDonnell, saying this:

Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell has issued an opinion that the proposed marriage amendment to the Virginia Constitution “will not affect current legal rights and obligations of unmarried persons involving contracts, wills, advance medical directives,” and so on. He’s said as much before. But as I’ve pointed out before (in the May 16 column, “Could a Judge Misinterpret the Marriage Amendment?"), the advocates of the amendment seem to have painted themselves into a logical corner.

If the threat to traditional marriage from activist judges is so dire that existing statutory language banning gay marriage is not sufficient, then what is to prevent those same (unidentified) activist judges from misinterpreting the marriage amendment and invalidating existing statutory language on other topics? Judges elsewhere have ruled that state marriage amendments invalidate the protections of spousal-abuse laws for unmarried persons, for instance.

The emphasis is added. As I understand it, Hinkle is suggesting that the same activist judges who would disregard the law and 5000 years of civilization to create some "right" for homosexual "marriage" might also cite this amendment to "invalidat[e] existing statutory language on other topics" to the detriment of homosexuals.

Yeah. Right.

Let me explain it to you, Bart. The potential problem isn't "activist judges" who rule absurdly to illustrate what they [presumably] believe to be an absurd amendment. The potential problem is "activist judges" who pervert the law to achieve their personal political preferences, e.g., homosexual "marriage." Thus, an "activist judge" inclined to rewrite the definition of the word "marriage" to allow a couple --- or group --- of perverts to call their activities "marriage" is not going to be inclined to extend the reach of the marriage amendment to deny them the equal protection of laws against domestic violence, search and seizure, etc.

It is a measure of the desperation of perversion's proponents that they are left to suggest that their own allies on the bench might use the marriage amendment to harm them. Like most of the sturm und drang of the far Left, it is nonsense.

Only in the WaPo

Only the Washington Post could run a headline like this with a straight face.

"GOP Moderate Chafee Wins R. I. Primary."

Only the Washington Post could call Lincoln Chafee a "moderate."

Another One Bites The Dust

As anticipated here, the "board of imbeciles trustees" (as someone here, put it) of Randolph-Macon Women's College voted to go co-ed in the fall of 2007. Women have one less educational option, and Hampden-Sydney men have one less option for ... well, whatever. I have a lot of fond memories of R-MWC girls, none of which I am going to relate in a place where my wife might read them.

Now administrators will have to come up with a new name. Benedict Arnold College has been suggested and right now, I can't think of a more apt name. Were I an alumnae (my sister is, class of '89), my dollars would be going elsewhere.

This is terribly sad. Stories noting this infamy are here:

Washington Post
Roanoke Times
Richmond Times-Dispatch
ASSOCIATED PRESS
News & Advance

Better they had closed the doors than diminished the educational firmament. Better dead than co-ed.

RIP.

Special Election on 7 November?

Craig Vitter, who is apparently more in touch with hourly goings-on in PWC than I, posted this comment to this post:

James, FYI, the judge issued the writ and the election will be on Nov 7th. The announcement is supposed to happen at 3:00 PM today.

I truly hope that Craig is correct. If he is, kudos to the judge. whomever he is, who didn't allow the taxpayers to be soaked with another unnecessry bill from Chairman Sean. However, it still does not excuse Chairman Sean's brinksmanship, detailed here, and here.

It would be interesting if the Board of Elections could provide information on how much Chairman Sean's temporizing will cost the taxpayers of Prince William, if anything.

Truly Frightening

Just returned home after two days of trials in Pennsylvania, and checked the mail. This frightening image and thought greeted me:

I think the neighbors heard me scream.

But then there was this notation:

"Mitt Romney, the governor of Massachusetts and a GOP presidential hopeful, has a history of polygamy in his family, the Salt Lake Tribune has reported. Romney’s great-grandfather had five wives, and two great-great-grandfathers had ten each. But the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to which Romney belongs, disavowed polygamy in 1890. As the Tribune article acknowledges, the governor “is a confirmed monogamist of nearly four decades.” Should Mitt Romney join a 2008 race that includes John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich, and George Allen, the only candidate in the GOP field with just one wife would be the Mormon."

Heh.

Despicably Self-Serving

A few months back, I attended a Federalist Society luncheon downtown. As is the norm at these events, one sits with many one may not know, or know well, but the family-style Chinese at Tony Cheng's promotes discussion. On this occasion, I sat down at a table with, among others, an older gentleman, and we eventually exchanged names, and idle chat.

Our discussion became more focused when we talked about where we live. When I mentioned where I live, he immediately asked "What do you think of Sean Connaughton?"

I was somewhat apprehensive. While not shy about giving my opinions about Chairman Sean, this was a pleasant, informal luncheon setting, and I didn't want to gratuitously give offense, particularly since my experience is that people feel strongly about Chairman Sean: either they love him, or they hold him in contempt.

So I measured my words, saying something to the effect that "Well, my opinions of Sean are pretty well known. As a taxpayer, I'm a little sick of paying for his spending spree. And it strikes me that his ambition exceeds his ability."

My luncheon companion told me "It was a trick question. I don't think much of him, either."

What was even more fascinating was what he said next, offering that he had once written a recommendation letter for Chairman Sean, about which he now was dubious.

Given that he was a Virginia voter, my response was this: "Well, here's the $64 question: did you vote for him for Lieutenant Governor?"

The answer: "Well, I voted for him. But I didn't send him money."

Interesting. Particularly in light of Chairman Sean's now-apparent machinations over his resignation as Chairman of the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors. It seems that, while Chairman Sean was long ago confirmed by the Senate to his presidential appointment, and dated his resignation letter on 5 or 6 September, but that its effective date was not until today, Tuesday, 12 September. Jim Riley credibly reports that he would have had to have done so before he would have been sworn into his Federal office, on Wednesday, 6 September.

So, the question remains: why did Chairman Sean time his resignation so as to make it apparently impossible to conduct the special election to choose his successor on the same date as the general election on 7 November?

No answers have been forthcoming from Chairman Sean. Frankly, I find it difficult to believe that it was simply so he could preside over remembrances on 11 September.

Whatever the reason, the facts are these:

Chairman Sean could have resigned so as to allow a special election to be conducted contemporaneously with the general election in November.

Chairman Sean could have long ago announced an effective date for his resignation.

Chairman Sean's resignation letter was apparently dated 5 or 6 September, giving an effective date for his resignation of 12 September, but was not transmitted to the appropriate authorities. No explanation given.

It could have been written weeks earlier.

Chairman Sean has offered nothing but vague, platitudinous BS to explain his delay.

Turnout at a special election held other than in November will all but certainly be lower than during a November general election.

Prince William taxpayers will be stuck with a large bill ($40 to 45 thousand, or more) to pay for a special election.

Having offered no good, or even bad, reason for his behavior, speculation is running rampant as to the reason why Chairman Sean has behaved in this way, some of it here. Perhaps there is one thing that all can agree upon:

Chairman Sean has behaved despicably.