Another WaPo Hatchet Job

Straight from Governor Tim Kaine's talking points memo, or perhaps that of the Senate RINO caucus, comes today's primary Washington Post editorial.

Predictable in its contempt for majority Republican skepticism of tax increase proposals ("the grown-ups have seen fit to mediate in the spitting match that passes for fraternal relations within Virginia's Republican Party"), it is rather amazing in its crocodile-tears concern/prediction that "the party ... will be punished ... for its contemptible failure to address the state's transportation mess."

Wow! And I thought we had five years of Democrat Governors who had some power and responsibility under our Commonwealth's Constitution. To read the Post editorial, you might think that Democrat Governors and their manic commitment to higher taxes had nothing to do with the failure to address transportation within existing increased revenues. And lest any you have any doubt about the Post's answer, it immediately offers its solution: "Whatever the motive for the intervention, here's the only way the mess will be solved: with taxes."

Of course, the Post offers the usual Liberal panacea for any problem: "Billions in new revenue are needed to deal just with Northern Virginia's road mess and to ensure that maintenance costs do not deplete the state's entire road-building budget within the next few years." "Billions in new revenue"!?!? What does the Post think has been coming into the Commonwealth's coffers over the last decade or more?

Indeed, the Post, like other tax advocates, ignore the fact that "an adequate, stable, long-term source of revenue" has been provided for transportation, in the form of gas taxes. They grow with consumption, of course, since every gallon of gas is taxed, and it is beyond dispute that gas tax revenue has increased with increasing population and increased road usage. Were the tax advocates honest in their analysis, to the extent that any is offered, they should 'fess up to the fact that revenues for transportation have been increasing.

Now, I suppose that one could try to make the case that existing gas taxes --- a flat number of cents per gallon, not a percentage of the price of a gallon of gas, and therefore unreflective of inflation in gas prices --- are inadequate to meet inflation in the costs of transportation improvements and maintenance, but our friends on the Left and/or the tax advocates (frequently one in the same) are intellectually lazy. So steeped in the far Left mentality of ever-expanding and ever-more confiscatory government, and confident in their ability to roll the so-called "main-stream" media, they don't bother themselves to make their case.

This is, of course, reflective in the arrogant, condescending language of the Post's rhetoric (also reflected in some obscure corners of the Blogosphere) that those trying to persuade House Republicans to surrender on the tax issue are "grown ups," and that House Republicans are "hard-liners," "fundamentalists, whose anti-tax zealotry has blocked any reasonable funding plan." According to the Post, they offer only "short-term, small-potatoes, gimmicky fixes designed more to provide political cover than deal with a generational problem." Fortunately, we have the Post to help us "sort the good Republicans from the bad," i.e., "those who comprehend that new taxes are unavoidable and those whose allegiance is more to conservative Republican orthodoxy than to the everyday concerns of commuters. "

Of course, the uncomfortable subtextual truth is that it is the WaPo and Senate so-called "moderates" who are "fundamentalists, whose [pro]-tax zealotry has blocked any reasonable funding plan" which makes use of the massive increases in the Commonwealth's general-fund revenues in the last decade or more for transportation improvements. A good case can be made that general-fund revenues --- derived from the economic engines which are Northern Virginia and the Tidewater areas --- are certainly appropriately used to insure that transportation in those areas is not left in gridlock. Yet pro-tax fundamentalists in the state Senate zealously block any suggestion to tap that existing source of revenue for vital transportation needs. Or even an honest debate about the merits or demerits of the existing gas tax.

The question is, why? The uncomfortable answer may well be to protect their ability to use those funds to protect spending in other areas, and/or to avoid the uncomfortable necessity of justifying social welfare handouts to powerful constituencies, and questions as to whether transportation is a public need superior to those handouts. Instead, they insist that new taxes are unavoidable, demonstrating that their allegiance is more to profligate and ever-increasing government spending than to the everyday concerns of taxpayers.

Another answer may well be that Democrats, the WaPo, and Senate so-called "moderates" are well aware that voters would laugh in their faces (as they did when the Great Prevaricator and his cabal came up with a scheme for socialized medicine) if their answer to more welfare spending were to assert that "here's the only way the mess will be solved: with taxes." Imagine, if you will, that existing funding for health-care handouts, government schools, and environmental and welfare spending, were not treated as sacrosanct by Democrats, the WaPo, and Senate so-called "moderates." And then imagine a Post editorial asserting that "Billions in new revenue are needed to deal just with Northern Virginia's [health-care handouts, government schools, the environment, and welfare] mess and to ensure that ... costs [imposed by illegal immigrants] do not deplete the state's entire ... budget within the next few years."

One need not imagine the electoral response to such assertions. One need only look to the 1994 congressional election returns to predict voter response. The problem is not a lack of government resources. The problem is the allocation of existing government resources. The problem is priorities. And the sooner the Republicans in the House can frame a succinct message on this issue, the sooner that rhetoric like that appearing on today's WaPo editorial page will be eletorally recognized for the nonsense that it is.

Of course, one doesn't expect reason from the editors of The Washington Post; one merely marvels on those rare occasions when one finds it on their page. Neverthless, neither should one expect --- nor leave unrebutted --- the kind of hatchet job that appeared on today's page.

Beelzebub Has A New Lover ...

if you are familiar with South Park. Or perhaps he's found a new recipient for a daily pineapple, if you're a fan of the Adam Sandler ouevre. In either case, the world is without one more sadistic dictator.

Good riddance. Opus X-worthy, even.

This Is Getting Pretty Pathetic

Notwithstanding the imbroglio over his blog aggregator, I regularly call up Waldo's Virginia Political Blog Aggregator.

However, over the last few days, I've repeatedly come across, at or near the top, a post by Richmond Democrat, dated 27 December 2006 (two days ago, as I write) which beats up on an apparent teenager.

Anyway, anyone who posts knows (as I learned a few months ago) that a revision to a post causes it to re-post on the aggregator. However, with as many times as this has floated to the top, it appears that Richmond Democrat has been purposefully doing so in order to keep his little "scandal" claim at the top.

Congratulations, RD. You outed and beat up someone claiming to be a Conservative for claiming to have credentials he doesn't have. Big deal. To those of us with little regard for anonymous/pseudonymous bloggers, and who never defended the individual in question, you've accomplished very little, save for beating up on a teenager.

Now, if you spent as much time beating up on Democrats who posture as holding the line on taxes for electoral purposes, and then immediately try to raise taxes upon taking office, then I'd be really impressed....

Alaska's New Republican Governor Surrenders to Judicial Tyranny

The subject? Special rights for perverts, of course.

Is Jeff Dion Playing Word Games?

Much as been written in the blogosphere about Jeff Dion, and his poor choices. I have written some of it.

But something has been nagging at me, and I just don't know the answer. Charles Reichley has recently reminded us that Dion's bio and media reports state that "He lives in Lake Ridge with his children." One has to wonder if this isn't wordplay to downplay Dion's homosexuality.

I say this because I attend the same church as Dion and his ex-wife, and I was under the distinct impression that she has primary physical custody. In short, it may well be that Dion is playing word games to hide something, perhaps a number of things (perhaps his culpability in the divorce? I simply don't know), since it may well be that "He lives in Lake Ridge with his children" in the same way that I live in Montclair with Maureen Caddigan.

I expect this kind of sleazy wordplay from Democrats (remember Mark Warner's campaign promise that he wouldn't raise taxes?). But the media shouldn't let candidates --- any candidates --- get away with it. And among the primary purposes of Blogosphere is to call both candidates and the lazy "main stream" media to account for it.

UPDATE: Why no response? We know Jeff Dion and/or his campaign monitor the blogosphere, and have a presence (albeit pathetic; little more than self-servingly rehashed press releases) in it, and Dion has responded when he perceived it in his interest to do so. And while I have said elsewhere that candidates are hardly obliged to respond to every unsourced assertion appearing in the Blogosphere, this is clearly a different case. This is not an unsourced or scandalous allegation, but a serious question about a fact stated by Dion himself in his campaign biography, one which might be perceived to be part of an effort to misrepresent himself.

One may wish to conclude from his silence, therefore, that the answer to the question is not favorable to Dion. One may reasonably conclude that he is misrepresenting the custody status implied in his campaign biography.

Don't hold your breath waiting for the likes of the Potomac News to seek answers, or to reveal that Dion may be misrepresenting the facts.

Jaded JD Leaves The Anonymity Closet

It seems that, over the holidays, I initially missed the fact that the Jaded JD has left the anonymity/pseudonymity closet, and revealed himself (well, mainly) as Cory Chandler, now operating one of the more creatively-named (and perhaps honestly-named) blogs out there, Shrieks from the Booby Hatch.

While providing interesting and informed commentary on the lawsuit challenging Virginia's open primary practices in his former incarnation (he continues reporting on developments as the case is appealed), he also offered a series of ultimately meritless commentaries on the ethics (or lack thereof) of Steve Chapman's attorneys, all now lost to the blogosphere. That JD, or Chandler, or whoever, was so excited about the filing of bar charges --- anyone, even a stranger to the controversy (as in this case) can file a bar charge --- is one reason why I wasn't too excited about media reports that such charges were pending against the prosecutor in the Duke lacrosse case ... until I read the stories and it was reported that the North Carolina Bar is proceeding on them.

As to the latter, one hopes that a greater degree of circumspection will accompany his abandonment of his anonymity/pseudonymity.

If abandon it he has. One searches the Internet in vain to find web pages which seem to identify "Cory Chandler" and "attorney" in reference to him in other than the blogging context. Martindale.com has no reference, and Westlaw indicates no reported Federal or Virginia cases with his appearance noted. He has said in at least one place that "it is sobriquet for something else," but Martindale.com (which is not an exhaustive listing of attorneys by any means) lists only two "Chandlers" in the entire Commonwealth of Virginia.

Curiouser and curiouser.

Alton's Comment

Well, there is much wailing and gnashing of teeth over Alton's comment that he would "piss on" the Koran. At least by Ben Tribbett.

As for me, I think not. But then again, I have too much respect for books to piss on any of them. Even Mein Kampf, The Communist Manifesto, Chairman Mao's Little Red Book, Das Kapital, It Takes A Village, or My Life.

Indeed, unlike the others, I might even read the Koran without being assigned to.

On the other hand, I hardly think it's worth beating the guy up over his comment.

Shaun Kenney on Waldo-gate

Shaun Kenney has a wonderful post on the recent imbroglio over Waldo Jaquith's decision to remove from his Virginia Blog Aggregator a pseudonymous blog which reproduced a picture of an American beheaded by Islamo-fascist radicals in Iraq.

Shaun expands on some of the things I've already said on Waldo's blog. And while I agree with virtually all of Shaun's points, one won't find a "Bloggers for Waldo" logo here. First, I don't even put my own picture on my own blog; why should I put Waldo's (his aesthetic superiority to the contrary notwithstanding) on mine? Second, I'm just too damn lazy to figure out how to do so.

I had to laugh, though, when I saw the "Attaboy!" from F.T. Rea. Recall that F.T. has a record of rhetorically savaging the President, as well as deleting comments from those who dare to challenge his often hypocritical pretensions on his own website.

As to Shaun's comments about "tone," some might be surprised to learn that I agree, to a point. However, I am not going to simply turn the other cheek when, e.g., someone from the far Left asserts that I am "greedy" simply because I oppose far Left politicians from taking the money I earn and using it to buy the votes of the irresponsible, the unindustrious, or merely unlucky, or suggests that an eminently disputable but defensible foreign policy decision by a President of my party was solely to help his oil buddies. Or declares that I am "far Right" simply because I don't buy into an objectively crypto-Socialist agenda. It has recently been established that Conservatives and/or those in the "Red" states are more "caring" in their commitment to charity, insofar as they make contributions higher in proportion to their income than those made by Liberals and/or those in the "Blue" states. And, of course, enlisting the power of government to take money from one's neighbor to spend on one's preferred social welfare programs has no more to do with real "charity" than it has to do with Christianity.

I didn't believe in unilateral disarmament when our main enemy was the Soviet Union, and neither am I going to practice unilateral rhetorical disarmament in the face of far Left slanders. That kind of "dignity" is what relegated the GOP to virtually permanent minority status in the House of Representatives for forty years.

While Shaun makes many good and indisputable points about Waldo, one might read a portion of his post dangerously to approach advocacy of unilateral rhetorical disarmament.

To any such suggestion, I say "Never!"

Gerald Ford Dies

Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States, died late yesterday at age 93. He was the longest-lived President.

He was the only President I have thus far had the privilege of meeting. I attended a conference at his Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in late 1985, sponsored by the Center for the Study of the Presidency. After a dinner speech to assembled noteworthies, he held a private meeting with about a dozen Center Fellows, and was quite generous with his time and observations.

While not particularly fond of his brand of Republicanism, in retrospect, one cannot help but admire the fact that he was a true statesman, pardoning Richard Nixon to spare the nation the spectacle of a trial when it almost certainly resulted in his defeat in the 1976 presidential election.

A particularly upsetting time of year for his family to suffer such a loss. RIP.

Blogroll Update

A few weeks ago, I was considering an update to my blogroll. After all, there are a few worthies who should be there, some who may have even earned it, and some who should just be dropped. In particular, there was one reference that I thought was outdated.

Specifically, I considered removing my bon mot about "Sean Connaughton's Cult of Personality ... er, 'Too Conservative.'"

Then I came across this.

As Rush Limbaugh frequently observes about the Left, "Folks, I couldn't make this stuff up."

UPDATE: And this. Perhaps MC's comment says it all.

Huh?

Some call the period just prior to an election "the silly season." Delegate Mark Cole (R-Fredericksburg) has offered cause to describe the period just before the General Assembly session as such.

Delegate Cole's bill would do away with the Virginia Senate, in favor of a unicameral legislature of 140 members. Only one state in the union --- Nebraska --- currently has a unicameral legislature.

Wow! Now I can think of many good things such a proposal would achieve. After all (well, OK, happily), it would probably relegate Senator John Chichester (RINO-Northumberland) to the political oblivion he so richly deserves. However, probably unlike many, I've seen a unicameral legislature in action, and the bad would probably outweighs the good. Particularly when there are some very good ideas out there, like Delegate Scott Lingamfelter's idea to strip the Senate of the authority to originate tax increases, a change that would reflect the Federal scheme.

After all, instead of forty Senators and one hundred delegates, we'd probably end up with one hundred forty "Senators" (in Nebraska, the elected legislators are all "Senators"). Forty are more than enough, thank you. Moreover, we'd end up with a huge, unused room in the newly-renovated State Capitol. Given that we're spending $74 million or more on the project, it would be quite a waste.

All in all, a pretty bad idea that should die a rapid death. And it will. Can one imagine even a small minority of Senators voting to make themselves less special, and increasing those in Virginia who can be called "Senator" by 250%?

Let's just hope that the Republican who proposed it is merely attempting to provoke thoughtful discussion.

H/T to Jay Hughes at Virginia Virtucon and Kenton Ngo at 750 Volts.

Holiday Nonsense from F. T. Rea

The Great Prevaricator (aka Slick Willy or, to his sycophants, Bill Clinton) demonstrated that it's amazing what you can get away with when you have no shame. Sad to say, his example has become standard operating procedure for the far Left.

Witness the current Virginia blogosphere imbroglio over Waldo Jaquith's exercise of his editorial prerogatives over his indispensable blog aggregator. Waldo was offended by a posting by a pseudonymous blog which reproduced a picture of an American beheaded by Islamo-fascist radicals in Iraq, deleted the post, and de-listed the blog. Being one of the more thoughtful on the Left side of the blogosphere, Waldo opened a discussion on the issue. As I said there:

While there’s not a lot politically upon which you and I agree, Waldo, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: your aggregator is “indispensable.” And while I disagree with your decision to remove GDD, it is your privilege to do so. Personally, I would remove all blogs posted anonymously/pseudonymously, but that may well be a different discussion. I guess my questions are two: (1) would GDD have made such a post if his name were attached to it?; and (2) would you have delisted, say, Viv Paige or yours truly if either of us had made such a post?

Enter F. T. Rea, among the more pretentious of the far Left in the Virginia firmament. As is typical with his posts, F. T. makes broad accusations about those with whom he disagrees ("How many of the same ilk also claim that any questioning of the utterly failed war policy in Iraq has been tantamount to treason?" To answer that question, to the best of my knowledge, none), and offers an utter non sequitor ("how many of them yap out of the other side of their mouths that burning an American flag is not political speech?" If old F. T. doesn't know the difference between speech and behavior, it is far too late to try to explain it to him now) to attack his opponents.

F. T. does what all pretentious boobs do when they want to censor others: they posture as the mature voice of sweet reason. 'Problem is, F. T. himself hardly qualifies. He describes as an "utterly failed war policy in Iraq" which has liberated 25 million people and led to three successive and successful free elections. His own blog is a virtual cornucopia of Bush Derangement Syndrome, i.e., advocating mockery of the President, and accusing him of Orwellian behavior,

One expects peurile behavior from those who have to make up false charges to attack the eminently disputable foreign policy decisions of the Bush Administration (as are the foreign policy decisions of virtually every Administration), and to attack inconveniently factual and effective commenters with sophomoric rhetorical devices calling into question their easily verifiable credentials, , ultimately simply deleting their comments.

I don't agree with Waldo's decision to delete an offending post, and to de-list the offending blog, but I recognize that it's his privilege to do so. Neither do I agree with those who are highly critical of Waldo's decision and are engaged in a virtual jihad against him.

But defending Waldo's decision with the always-unjustifiable sanctimony which so frequently characterizes the far Left hardly supports a decision which, while subject to dispute, was certainly one which was Waldo's to make.

Perhaps This Explains A Lot....

Has anyone else seen the new Taco Bell commercials? The one's with the president of the company discussing their problems with food poisoning?

A restaurant chain with pseudo-Mexican food has as its president a guy with an Aussie accent, or perhaps Kiwi.

This explains a lot....

Lucy Beauchamp --- Partisan for the Radical Homosexual Agenda?

One of the more fulfilling duties/powers of the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Virginia is the privilege to perform marriages. One of the things that has made Dave Mabie a great Clerk is the fact that the only time of the year when he makes news is Valentine's Day, when he solemnizes quite a few marriages. No scandals; no malfeasance; just a Clerk whose duties include uniting a man and a woman on St. Valentine's Day.

Given that this is one of the powers of the office, one is entitled to take into account the Clerk's views on the radical homosexual agenda's effort to debase and redefine "marriage" to permit unions between two men, or two women, or whatever.

I don't know if it is true --- certainly, it is a question that could be answered here --- but I was told yesterday that Lucy Beauchamp, who is seeking the GOP nomination for Clerk of the Circuit Court in the upcoming election, opposed this year's Amendment No. 1, more popularly known as the Marshall-Newman Marriage Amendment. Of course, I note this with the caveat that this was not backed up by any evidence, and I saw none to indicate her views one way or the other during the campaign.

If this is the case, it should disqualify her as a serious candidate for the GOP nomination. Not that there's not enough already to do so: her reflexive support for higher taxes; the fact that she twice unsuccessfully sought the GOP endorsement for School Board Chairman (once, unopposed), and could not obtain it. Nevertheless, if her personal views on homosexual "marriage" mean that she might use her office to advance the radical homosexual agenda, then the GOP can obviously do better than to award her its nomination for the office.

I look forward to finding out if this is the case, though Michele McQuigg already has and will continue to have the support of the Youngs.

A Christmas Tradition

The Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra and Chorus present Handel’s “Messiah”

and Christmas Carol Sing-along in a new venue.

The Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra and Chorus will present two performances of Handel’s “Messiah” under the direction of Patricia Edmiston, in Occoquan Bible Church, a new venue fittingly located on Old Bridge Road. The chorus will include professional soloists and local vocalists from various choral groups and churches in the area. The featured soloists are sopranos Mindy Choi, and Sarah Mayo, Frances Mitchem, alto, Allan Chan, tenor, and John Dooley, baritone who have experience spanning from musical theatre to opera.

The program will close with a sing-along featuring well known carols.

Occoquan Bible Church is an excellent small concert hall. The intimacy will allow the enthusiasm of the orchestra, chorus and soloists to surround the audience in what has become a classical holiday tradition in Prince William County.

Performances will be Friday, December 15 at 8 PM, and Saturday, December 16 at 8 PM at Occoquan Bible Church, 3700 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge.

General admission tickets are $15, those 18 and under are free. Tickets are available in advance at www.obco.org, or at the door before each performance.

Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra

703-451-4510

www.obco.org

Put a Little Orchestra in Your Life!

Would You Like Some Karma With Your Egg Nog?

With the news of Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) and his illness, speculation is rampant about how control of the Senate hangs in the balance. If Johnson dies (a tragedy, as he's not yet 60 years old), it will fall to the Republican Governor of South Dakota to name a replacement to fill the seat until the next Federal election in 2008, which happens to be until the end of Johnson's term.

Already, partisan hacks of the far Left are saying that it behooves the GOP Governor to replace Johnson, if that becomes necessary, with another Democrat. WMAL's Chris Core even suggested a name this morning: George McGovern (no, he's not dead ... at least from the neck down).

I've said it elsewhere: I pray for Senator Johnson and his family. I hope he recovers fully. My wife was recently diagnosed with a tiny aneurysm, and while she is asymptomatic and it may well be something she has lived with since birth and will live with for a long time, it has put the fear of God into us. I wish such difficulties upon no one.

Nevertheless, the notion that the Republican Governor of South Dakota should, if the occasion arises, appoint a Democrat to complete the term is utter nonsense. Anyone stupid enough to believe that it is somehow "statesman-like" or proper to do so is probably too stupid to vote.

That Vermont voters had elected a Republican did not give Democrats pause when Jumpin' Jim Jeffords quit the GOP, caucused with the Democrats, and gave them control of the Senate in 2001. That Georgia voters had elected Paul Coverdell, a Republican, did not give the Democrat Governor of Georgia pause when Coverdell died in 2000; he appointed Democrat Zell Miller to fill the seat.

Of course, if Johnson dies or resigns --- the latter decision being one for him and his family, though it is a given that power-hungry Democrats will exert considerable pressure to have him remain without regard to whether he should --- the Republican Governor of South Dakota should appoint a Republican to complete the term. The objective standard is this: Governors are privileged to appoint members of their own party to fill unexpired Senate seats. Is anyone foolish enough to believe that, if the Senator lying stricken were John Warner (R-VA), that the children at Raising Dough ... er, Raising Kaine, would be calling upon Democrat Governor Tim Kaine to fulfill "the will of the people" and replace him with a Republican?

The popularity of the NBC sit-com My Name is Earl, which has the theme of karmic justice, causes one to wonder whether a giant dose of karma hasn't fallen squarely on Johnson's head. After all, his 524-vote margin over Jon Thune in 2002 was almost certainly the result of fraud. In 2001, Democrats virtually stole control of the Senate from Republicans when a perfidious Republican Senator broke faith with those who voted for him by leaving the GOP and caucusing with Democrats. As a counterpoint, when then-Congressman Phil Gramm switched parties in the 1980s to join the GOP, he had the integrity to resign his seat, and put it to the voters (he was elected handily).

Yet I don't recall a single Democrat commentator calling for Georgia's Governor to replace Paul Coverdell with a Republican. And Democrats were positively gleeful when Jumpin' Jim Jeffords left the GOP to hand over control to Democrats without an election. Let us not forget that the only reason that the balance in 2001 was already so close was because elected Republican Paul Coverdell had been replaced with an appointed Zell Miller.

Democrats' pious pretensions about "the will of the people" are as vacuous as most of their "agenda." The coin of the Democrat realm is power. And some are demonstrating it in spades by their desperate efforts to maintain power while their colleague lies stricken. Anyone suggesting that a Republican Governor should surrender his opportunity to render partisan aid, should the occasion to do so arise, is both ignorant of history and of political reality, and of the stakes.

Governor Timmy! Stiffs NoVA ... Again

Democrats are nothing if not predictable. Virginia has a surplus exceeding half a billion dollars and guess what Governor Timmy! wants to do with it? Well, at least a goodly portion of it.

Now, given the rhetoric and reality of the last ten years, you might expect him to propose spending it on transportation.

That's the objective reality. The political reality is that Democrats have to pay off the unions that sustain them. So Governor Timmy! wants to put $79.5 million of that money into --- you guessed it! --- teachers' salaries.

Nothing like paying off your most dependable constituency.

UPDATE: Looks like some of Northern Virginia's legislative delegation agrees.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 13, 2006

Contact: Mike Hardy 703-339-2366 mike@va52.com

Northern Virginia House Republicans call on Governor to dedicate 100% of new spending to transportation

Delegates call on Kaine to let actions speak louder than words

Prince William, Virginia (December 13, 2006) -- Several members of the House of Delegates from Northern Virginia called upon Governor Tim Kaine to dedicate all new state spending in 2007 to transportation. Kaine is scheduled to deliver to the General Assembly money committees this Friday his revisions to the state's current budget enacted earlier this year.

The delegates, Bob Marshall, Michele McQuigg, L. Scott Lingamfelter, Jeffrey Frederick, Jackson Miller, all of Prince William, as well as David Albo and Timothy Hugo of Fairfax, Mark Cole of Stafford, and Clifford Athey of Warren, noted that the two-year budget adopted in June by the General Assembly contained record-breaking spending levels for education, health care, environmental protection, and law enforcement, but left transportation largely unaddressed.

“Our commuters will know how serious Governor Kaine is about fixing transportation by how much of the new spending he wants to use for roads and mass transit,” said Marshall. “Let's put 100% of the expected billion-plus dollars we'll have available to spend towards transportation,” he added.

The group expressed a sentiment that Kaine seems to say one thing and do another. Athey, Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, said it is time for Kaine to show the commuters how much he really wants to help them, and what level of importance he places on transportation. “The Governor needs to back up his rhetoric with real action, and if transportation is really the voter's top priority, the Governor should make it his top budget priority,” he said.

Lingamfelter, Frederick, Cole, and Hugo are each members of the House Finance Committee and will be among those present on Friday in Richmond for Kaine's presentation of his spending priorities for 2007.

“Governor Kaine says transportation is Virginia's top and most urgent priority. We agree. Let's put our money where our mouth is and use every penny of new spending in 2007 exclusively for transportation,” Frederick said.

Lingamfelter said, “If the Governor really wants to help teachers, who are also commuters, he will use the budget surplus to build roads to them get to work on time.”

“Can the Governor honestly say that we need a tax increase to address Northern Virginia traffic problems, yet keep spending hundreds of millions, even billions of surplus dollars on things other than transportation. It's transportation’s turn to benefit from years of surplus revenues,” Hugo stated.

Albo said, “This points us in the right direction. It adds almost one-billion to the $4.6 billion 2007 transportation budget.”

The Delegates said they plan to continue to push for targeted spending on congestion choke points; reform of the Virginia Department of Transportation; and better linking land use to transportation planning. In addition to the one-billion they are proposing to budget in 2007 to transportation, they hope to use Virginia's AAA bond rating to build projects faster and less expensively. The state's bond rating allows for Virginia to borrow at below market rates.

###

*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*'
Jeffrey M. Frederick
House of Delegates | Fifty-Second District
Commonwealth of Virginia

http://va52.com | http://votejeff.com

Paid for and Authorized by Friends of Jeff Frederick.

Richmond Democrat Lies to Censor Political Opponents

Aww! Isn't that special?

It seems that portions of the Virginia far Left blogosphere can't handle the truth, so they silence their political opponents.

The "Richmond Democrat" has taken to describing State Senator Benny Lambert as "disgraced." What is his disgrace?, you might ask.

Apparently, for the far Left, a Democrat suffers "disgrace" when he endorses a Republican.

Now there are many words for such behavior. A few that I've used myself include "perfidy," "despicable," and "opportunist." I've used them in discussing "Republicans" who have, in the past, endorsed Democrats. I have commented not at all on Senator Lambert's endorsement, or of the imposition of Democrat discipline against him. What I did --- rather pointedly --- was demand that Democrats apply the same standard on those "Republicans" who endorse Democrats. As one might expect, from a political party which is institutionally situational in its notion of ethics, my invitation was declined.

But it seems to me that to call one "disgraced" simply because he or she endorses a candidate from the other party goes too far. But the poor Richmond Democrat, so confused (about many things, without a doubt) has chosen to censor a comment that I added to his thread, in which I suggest the type of behavior that most would consider "disgraceful." You know ... like being found in bed with another man. And then I point out that this is the type of "disgraceful" behavior which is rewarded among the far Left, as it has been in the Occoquan District in Prince William County, where Democrats have nominated a homosexual for County Supervisor.

The "Richmond Democrat" accuses me of submitting a post which is "laced with unprintable language and homophobic attacks on another blogger." Unfortunately, I didn't save my post myself, and I don't know what the Richmond Democrat considers "unprintable language." Certainly, it wasn't one of George Carlin's seven dirty words. Perhaps, to Richmond Democrat, what is "unprintable language" is any comment which demonstrates that his choice of words, in light of his other positions, is imbecilic.

Of course, what the far Left calls "homophobic" is almost always argument they can't answer, as well as opposition to the far Left agenda's adoption of a political agenda when not only endorses, but celebrates, perversion. It is a belittling charge, made to avoid the problem that the far Left's commitment to repealing five thousand years of societal standards regarding sexual perversion is merely based in "fear of" that perversion, a childish effort to attribute fear to their political opponents.

He also claims that it "violated [his] comment moderation policy." However, to the best of my recollection, nothing in that post was an "obvious falsehood," "profane," "defamatory," or anonymous," so it is difficult to understand his problem with it, save for the fact that it demonstrated the foolishness of his choice of words. Perhaps the Richmond Democrat should add "embarrases the host" to his list of justifications for silencing his opponents.

Of course, what the "Richmond Democrat" calls a "personal attack" is calling a pervert a "pervert."

Once again, a practical demonstration of the depth of the far Left's attachment to free speech and honest debate.

Dr. Jeane Kirkpatrick, R.I.P.

I had the privilege of meeting Ambassador Kirkpatrick while interning on the Hill during the summer of 1984, at a speech she gave for Hill interns. A great teacher, spokesman for the United States, and incisive analyst.

I mourn her loss, and am thankful for her statesmanship. Her "Dictatorships and Double Standards" was required reading in the final days of the Cold War.

R.I.P.

Jeff Dion Exposed

Well, it seems that Jeff Dion's little secret has been exposed by Mr. Letieqc. And unlike his (or his website's) comments about a former GOP candidate for the House of Delegate, there it little doubt that this expose is not actionable.

It seems that the Democrat nominee for Occoquan Supervisor is a homosexual, even though he's divorced and has two children (who says it's not a choice?). Among many, it's not news. However, what may be more important here is the political scandal.

When did Prince William Democrats know of their candidate's flaws, and why were they keeping them a secret from the voters of the Occoquan District?

I have been told that not all Democrats --- including those few elected Democrats left in Prince William public office --- are entirely happy with the perfidy of Democrat party leaders in PWC.

UPDATE: Suddenly, Ben Tribbett wants restraint.

Can anyone say "Macaca"?

There's Nothing Democratic About Democrats

Once again, the boys and girls over at Raising Dough ... er, Raising Kaine, demonstrate that Democrats are a bunch of phonies.

This time, they're advertising a rally for the absurdly misnomered "Employee Free Choice Act," which is actually legislation which would allow union bosses to avoid the inconvenience of a democratic election among workers to decide whether to unionize.

Now, it's not bad enough that Federal labor law allows a majority of those workers voting in an election to impose a union upon all workers in a bargaining unit (a little provision that required Congress to pass an exception to the anti-trust/anti-monopoly laws). Among the first despicable acts of what we can expect to be a despicable Democrat majority will be to pass a monstrosity of a law to allow union bosses to obtain monopoly representation power without a secret-ballot election.

And so, the anti-democratic ideology of modern Democrats is exposed for all to see. Of course, we all know of Democrats' behavior in Florida in 2000, some of which continues today. They didn't like the results of a free election, so they have done their best to delegitimize President Bush's victory. This effort simply re-confirms what any informed Americans know: Democrats don't like democracy, especially when it frustrates their Socialist agenda.

Of course, workers are subject to a great deal of pressure by union bosses. I have personally represented individuals who were told that signing a union card didn't obligate them (a lie), but merely was a vehicle for getting more information on the union. It was only when forced union dues was seized from their wages --- and they were told by the "representative" that they could not stop dues deductions for a year --- that they learned that this was a lie.

The misnomered "Employee Free Choice Act" is simply an invitation to fraud. Brought to you by those same "Democrats" who delegitimize elections they lose, brought you "Auto Fraudo" voter registration, and won't even require voters to display legitimate identification when they vote.

Nothing says more about the "Party of the People" than their continuing contempt for democratic processes.

For more information on this fraud-fraught attack on worker freedom, see here.

Who's the Bully?

It seems that the children at Raising Dough ... er, Raising Kaine demonstrate as much class in victory as they did in the campaign.

Occoquan Supervisor Race

Well, after a considerable break for professional and familial obligations (I spent a very depressing Election Night in possibly the worst place for a Conservative on a bad Republican night: Boston), I'm trying to get back into the blogging swing of things, and the first race I'll address is the one to replace Corey Stewart as Occoquan District Supervisor.

For the Republicans, of course, the race is between Stewart-endorsed Mike May and John Gray. May previously ran in the five-way GOP race in 2003, losing the GOP nomination to Corey Stewart. He is closely associated with Congressman Tom Davis.

Gray, of course, also ran in 2003, for the Democrat nomination, losing to Keith Scarborough, who went on to defeat in the General election. Gray reemerged in 2006, running for the GOP nomination for Chairman against Corey Stewart.

While I wasn't at the Convention, having a long-scheduled vacation to Canada, by all reports, Gray conducted himself with considerably more dignity than some of his supporters, took his loss well, and worked hard to elect Stewart as Chairman. Hence (perhaps), Stewart's enthusiasm for Gray's nomination as his successor.

It's been twelve years since the Youngs moved from Occoquan to Dumfries, and I don't pretend to know the dynamics of this race, or of the current Occoquan electorate. I've seen plenty of Gray signs on the way to church. But I don't sense much enthusiasm for either candidate among GOP regulars.

It seems that, on the other side of the aisle, the fix was in for Jeff Dion, a political neophyte. There was initially much speculation that Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta would run, but it appears that he's keeping his powder dry for the House seat to be vacated by long-time incumbent Michele McQuigg, who is by far the best candidate running to succeed Dave Mabie as Clerk of the Court.

This could get very interesting. I attend church (St. Matthew's Lutheran, in Lake Ridge) with Dion, along with his ex-wife and their two children. I've actually been to his home, for a "Tables of Eight" event with two other couples, Dion, and his "significant other." So I've "broken bread" with him in more than one sense.

The Democrats have made a huge mistake. Dion's nomination will, however, give proof to the worst beliefs that Republicans hold about the Democrat Party and its far-Left agenda.

CORRECTION: It has been reported to me that Corey Stewart has endorsed Mike May for his former seat. While I have not confirmed this with Corey, it should be noted that my statement above was apparently a misimpression.

A New Record

Well, for those critics who bemoan my rather small readership, I note that I received today a comment on a post written fifteen months ago! It's worth linking to, if for no other reason than to note that fact.

BTW, Karen, I'm sure you're just as smart as I am ... if nevertheless misguided. ;-)

Celebrity Death Trifecta

First Ed Bradley; now, Jack Palance.

Who's next in the Celebrity Death Trifecta?

Hope in a Recount?

I suppose I'll help if one is sought, and hope for the best.

But if Virginia's experience of last year is any indication, Republicans have little cause to be hopeful about the results of a recount. However, Virginians have substantial reason to be proud of the integrity of our electoral process.

Even when it produces results as sickening as a Jim Webb victory.

Democrat Voting Republican Tomorrow

Courtesy of Cathouse Chat, we learn that prominent SF writer Orson Scott Card, a Democrat, will be voting Republican tomorrow.

All I can say is that, if he is at all indicative that some still self-identified Democrats aren't yet brain dead, it will be sweet to listen to the moonbats howl after Tuesday.

Jim Webb --- Man of Courage

Interesting. Opened my Pot. News this morning to find an ad from the National Right to Work Committee, a sister organization to the one for which I work, about the impending Senate race.

It notes that Democrat candidate Jim Webb has refused to answer the Committee's survey on Right to Work issues.

Doubtless secure in the knowledge that answering the survey would: (a) if his answers demonstrate support for Virginia's working men and women, offend his far-Left moonbat supporters, and dry up all of that forced-dues money driving his campaign; or (b) if his answers demonstrate his contempt for Virginia law and for Virginia's working men and women, demonstrate that he has crawled into bed with his far-Left moonbat supporters, he has simply chosen to not answer it.

Oh, what a courageous man that Jim Webb is! Chalk this one up in the same vein of his association with John Kerry (whose hand he wouldn't shake for twenty years, until he thought that Kerry could help him achieve high elective office) and Bill Clinton (whom, Webb once correctly observed, had the most corrupt presidency in modern American history).

Aside from running the sleaziest campaign in Virginia history, Virginians should consider that a man who wants to tout his courage and independence has behaved like a wet noodle in the presence of those who lead the Democrat Party.

Should we really expect more if he is actually elected?

Extreme Makeover --- Campaign Edition

You've got to love the Jim Webb campaign.

After months of slinging mud and offering no content, he offers a weekend of tasteless pablum, apparently in the hopes that Virginians will forget that he has run perhaps the sleaziest campaign in Virginia history.

One can only hope that Virginians are not stupid enough to buy the makeover.

Another Bush Administration Failure

Saddam sentenced to die for crimes against humanity.

And the far Left blogosphere remains silent.

Useful Idiots Oppose Amendment 1

Rick Sincere reports that a virtual "usual suspects" list of "prominent" [read: "those with whom I agree on this issue"] Republicans are opposing Amendment 1, the Marshall-Newman marriage amendment.

That this type of "Republican," i.e., neither reliable nor much of a Republican, would parrot the far Left lies about the "dangers" of Amendment 1 is pathetic.

Even more's to pity if they actually believe them.

It's Amazing What You Can Get Away With When You're Shameless

Priceless!

Democrats uninterested in reports that the Clintons rearranged the White House furniture by launching items at one another's heads are now defending a scumbag who has raised questions about George Allen's relationship with his ex-wife.

Bold words from a supporter (the aforementioned scumbag) of a man with three ex-wives.

Why haven't Jim Webb and his paid Internet bloggers condemned this behavior? I've seen only one (tepid) statement of non-support, and it was, of course, coupled with a condemnation of Allen and his campaign.

If Jim Webb won't prevail upon his supporters to act in a civilized manner, he certainly doesn't deserve election to the United States Senate.

Then again, no substanceless boob deserves election to the United States Senate.

Another Fraud Against The Marriage Amendment

The continuing fraudulent campaign against the Marshall-Newman Marriage Amendment is sickening. Now another --- you guessed it! --- Democrat Delegate has come out against it.

The root of the argument against the Marriage Amendment is the notion that we could suffer unintended consequences because activist judges may apply it contrary to its intent.

In short, the far Left fears that judges will treat this provision in the same way that far Left judges have treated other statutory and constitutional provisions for the last 80-100 years.

While the irony is delicious, perhaps this fear will force the far Left into respect for and utilization of the democratic processes that they have chosen to ignore during that period. After all, to insure that these Chicken Little predictions don't come to pass, leftists will have to support the kind of judges who won't read their own values into statutory/constitutional provisions, and won't re-write the law to suit their own preferences. In short, judges who are unlike those championed by the far Left.

And once again, the far Left demonstrates their utter hypocrisy. "Judicial activism is OK, so long as it's our activists," the far Left is telling us. The possibility of conservative judicial activism is a reason to ignore the democratic will.

Despicable.

John Kerry: Intellectualoid

Among the more popular strategems of the Democrat Party is the notion that Conservatives and/or Republicans --- and Republican Presidents particularly --- aren't very smart. Ann Coulter quantifies this intellectualoid arrogance in her book Slander. And while one might have thought that our friends on the Left would have realized that this smug, self-satisfied attitude doesn't particularly resonate well with voters (certainly, it's not likely to persuade self-identified Conservatives or Republicans), they just keep it up. It's a vanity gone wild.

Witness the Poodle's (AKA John Kerry) most recent and prominent contribution to the public discourse:

“You know education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. And if you don’t you get stuck in Iraq.”

You can watch the video here.

Now, I have no doubt that the Poodle and/or his apologists will say that he wasn't attacking those who serve, save for President Bush. They will probably say that he was simply belittling the President for his well-known diminished intellectual ability and the fact that his dismal academic record is one reason why American troops are in Iraq. Of course, they will be conceding sub silentio the Poodle's imprecision in the use of the English language --- perhaps he would have been more precise in French --- but never mind that.

Lest we not forget, however, the Poodle's GPA at Yale was one point lower than the President's.

Memorably Horrible Ads

About a decade back, we were driving through Atlanta, to visit the wife's family, and spotted a billboard off of I-85, and I've always remembered it. I guess that ad agent earned his pay for that week.

It was for the Shallowford Vasectomy Center, advertising itself as "Not your usual clip joint."

Ouch!

Washington radio now has a comparable ad, one I heard while driving in this morning. WMAL was on the radio, and it had an ad that started out with "Has your ED medication --- Viagra, Cialis, etc. --- let you down in the past?...."

I don't know what they were advertising, but I couldn't help but remember that billboard in Atlanta....

Pro-Homo Employer Declares War On Normality And Its Advocates

H/T to James Atticus Bowden, who first reported on the firing of a Harrisonburg man fired for daring to express an opinion differing from his employer's:

Harrisonburg Man Fired for Supporting Marriage Amendment

RICHMOND – A Harrisonburg man was fired from his job last week apparently for displaying a sign in his personal vehicle that showed his support for Virginia’s Constitutional Amendment defining marriage.

“It appears that Mr. Padilla’s civil rights have been violated in an egregious act of viewpoint discrimination and violation of his right to free speech,” said Victoria Cobb, spokesperson for va4marriage.org. “It is abundantly clear that those who seek to impose same-sex marriage on society are not at all interested in tolerance of other viewpoints. And they are willing to go so far as to destroy a man’s family and take his livelihood to get their way. I believe that when they hear this story, the people of Virginia will be appalled.”

Luis Padilla, an employee of Cargill, a large employer in the Harrisonburg area, was fired from his job last week for displaying a sign on his personal vehicle. The sign read, “Please, vote for Marriage on Nov. 7."

Upon receiving an initial warning from his employer about the sign, Mr. Padilla removed the sign from his personal vehicle, replacing it only after driving his vehicle off company property. Mr. Padilla’s boss had led him to believe that this would be an acceptable course of action. When he returned to work the next day, Mr. Padilla was careful to park his vehicle outside the company parking lot so as to minimize the “offense” the sign allegedly caused to co-workers.

Despite these efforts to comply with his superiors’ demands, company officials terminated Mr. Padilla’s employment, citing concerns about harassment as the basis for their actions. Rita Dunaway, senior Legal Advisor for the Valley Family Forum, a local grassroots chapter of The Family Foundation of Virginia, sent a letter to Cargill urging his immediate reinstatement.

Yesterday, Cargill responded with a letter rejecting that plea. In their letter, Cargill stated, “Cargill is not required to allow Mr. Padilla to impose his beliefs on his co-workers.”

“It is appalling that a company like Cargill that claims to value diversity would terminate an employee for merely expressing an opinion about the Marriage Amendment,” said Mrs. Dunaway. “Companies that truly value diversity encourage, rather than punish, the benign, respectful type of private expression for which Mr. Padilla was fired. There is simply no way that this sign could have been considered harassment.”

“The action taken by Cargill against Mr. Padilla, the father of two young children, is a tragic example of political correctness run amuck,” according to Valley Family Forum Director Dean Welty. “This action exposes the hypocrisy of people who claim to stand for 'tolerance' but who instead do all they can to silence all opposing views. In this case, those who accuse Mr. Padilla of 'harassment' have themselves become the 'harassers'."

“va4marriage.org and The Family Foundation are currently talking with attorneys to determine what legal options are available to Mr. Padilla,” added Cobb. “We hope this action won’t be necessary and that Cargill will do the right thing by reinstating Mr. Padilla immediately and taking aggressive steps to ensure that this kind of employee harassment and intimidation does not occur again.”"

This is entirely consistent with the far Left's and radical homosexual lobby's war on normality, and demand not merely for tolerance, but for acceptance, detailed in places like David Limbaugh's book Persecution: How Liberals Are Waging War Against Christianity.

Another story appears in today's Daily News Record, and gives more of the company's viewpoint. It's abundantly clear, however, that the company's actions are political correctness gone mad.

Despicable.

Dems In Full Hypocrisy Mode

Well, I'm a day late, but Ben Tribbett has mentioned Jim Webb's "towel-head" comment.

According to his (majority Liberal) commenters, and Ben, Jim Webb's recently racist comment is merely "stupid," while George Allen's thiry-year-old racist comments --- assuming the verity of his accusers, which I don't --- are immediately relevant and disqualifying.

It's amazing what you can get away with when you have no shame.

OK. But What's Your Argument?

It seems that the Richmond Times-Dispatch's Bart Hinkle is at least giving aid and comfort to the Chicken Littles screaming about the use of military commissions to try enemy combatants, and the denial of the writ of habeas corpus. He writes:

Is conservatism

(a) Agreeing with anything President Bush says, or

(b) Upholding eternal verities and practices that have proven their worth over time?

Too many these days seem to think the answer is (a). It ain’t. And if the answer is (b), then the ACLU is not out of bounds to call itself in a recent ad “the most conservative organization in America” for opposing the Military Commissions Act of 2006.

That act, so eagerly sought by the Bush administration, weakens the constitutional guarantee of habeas corpus—a right whose recognition in common law goes back to before the Magna Carta of 1215. The ease with which some Republicans have been willing to cast aside almost eight centuries of legal tradition can be called many things, but it cannot be called “conservative.”

Hinkle asks a good first question (one might as vigorously questions the credentials of those who are "willing to cast aside ... centuries of legal tradition" about abortion and "substantive due process" as applied to economic rights, but I digress), but as I pointed out here, 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.'"

It is equally foolish to challenge the "conservative" credentials of those who believe it to be justified under the circumstances. Unjustified? Perhaps. But please don't merely cite "almost eight centuries of legal tradition" as though the power of that statement alone were sufficient to overcome the threat posed by an enemy unlike any our nation has ever faced, potentially armed with weapons more destructive than any we have ever faced.

Flip-Floppers

The fag lobby yells "Jump!" and they respond with "How high?"

Pathetic.

Another Lie from Dem Nutroots

Back home from Caleeforneeah, as the Governator would say, and was looking through Waldo's indispensible Virginia Political Blog Aggregator, when I came across this gem:

Ronald Reagan legalized border crossing in the early eighties to increase cheap labor and break American unions.

Now, this is nothing more than a flat lie. To what this nutroots idiot appears to refer is the Simpson-Mazzoli Immigration Control and Reform Act of 1986. As it happens, I was on the Hill (working for Congressman George Gekas) and in the House chamber the first time it passed the House in 1984. And as it happens, too, it was passed by a Democrat-controlled House, under the chief sponsorship of Congressman Romano Mazzoli, a Democrat from Kentucky.

'Course, the far Left never lets facts get in the way of a good quasi-Marxist rant.

Phoney "Diversity"; Situational Ethics

The paid nutroots contingent over at Raising Dough ... er, "Raising Kaine" has a post about diversity in the Congress, and complaining that the GOP gerrymandered its way into control of the House of Representatives.

Funny, but I don't remember hearing the far Left complaining about the harm to democracy when, in 1984, the reverse was true, and the GOP got a majority of congressional votes cast, but Democrats had a large majority of the House.

Congressional Child Molester Dies

Contrary to my post below, I really can't let this go by without comment.

Contrary to another post below, Gerry Studds is apparently not available.

Jerry says it all.

UPDATE: Here's what the moral conscience of the Democrat Party has to say about an actual Democrat child molester, as opposed to a mere aspiring Republican one.

Light Blogging

Professional obligations have taken me to Sacramento. Haven't seen the Governator yet. Nevertheless, those obligations will probably preclude many posts (though I may still drop a comment bomb here and there). Particularly here.

Another Homosexual Scandal?

So reports Jim Webb's nutroots contingent. That alone suggests taking it with a grain of salt.

Maybe if the dominant GOP would actually attack perversion, and live up to the far Left's stereotype, we wouldn't have to face reports of them practicing their perversion on children.

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.