Now Here's Some Things That Might Warrant Meaningful Apologies

Was thumbing through Pravda on the Potom..., er, The Washington Post this morning, and read Colbert I. King's column on Monday's comments from Delegate Frank Hargrove. As many know, in an interview published Tuesday in Charlottesville's Daily Progress, Hargrove said slavery ended nearly 140 years ago with the Civil War and added that ''our black citizens should get over it.'' He was also quoted as asking whether "we are going to force the Jews to apologize for killing Christ?"

Of course, Hargrove was immediately savaged in the far Left blogosphere and among the race hustlers. After all, group guilt is the other side of the group victimhood coin upon which so many of them rely for their fodder. Never mind that there were a couple of good points there. First, that asking modern Virginians to "apologize" for slavery, as though they were responsible for it, is every bit as ridiculous as suggesting that modern Jews are responsible for Christ's death (at least, any more responsible than anybody else, since Christ died on the cross for the sins of all of us). Or that modern Virginia blacks are in no place to ask for or receive an apology. Both points stem from the same fundamental point: there is not a single living Virginian --- or living person anywhere else --- who is either responsible for or a victim of slavery. Indeed, one economist/columnist --- I don't recall whether it was Walter Williams or Thomas Sowell --- who has noted that modern Black Americans should be thankful that their ancestors were kidnapped from Africa and carried into bondage into America since, as a result, the lives of modern Black Americans are infinitely superior to those of the descendants of those who did not suffer so.

That's not to say that Hargrove's comments were useful, or artfully or effectively rendered. As one blogger has noted:

But even for Blacks, like me, who could care less about an apology and are not holding our breaths for an apology for our ancestors, admonishing Blacks to "get over slavery" is counterproductive to improving race relations and mean-spirited.

In fact, Hargrove's comments are as silly as seeking or offering an apology. No Black citizen of Virginia has anything to "get over" with regard to slavery, since no Black citizen of Virginia alive today was ever a slave (at least, in Virginia, and by virtue of Virginia law). Unfortunately, that same blogger went on to gratuitously claim that "if Hargrove and people of his ilk had their way, African Captivity would still be very much an institution in America," a silly suggestion by any measure. Whatever Hargrove's faults, I am not aware of even the slightest hint that he supports reinstating slavery or Jim Crow. Apparently, this commenter is confusing advocacy of such policies with Hargrove's failure to be sufficiently self-flagellating about historical events for which he was not responsible, and in which he did not participate.

King's column had a point, though probably not the one that he thought it did, or the one that at least one blogosphere denizen identified. After all, King starts by listing his "bona fides," such as they are: "There's nothing quite like going to a county office building down in Culpeper County, Va., and finding evidence of your family's enslavement. I did that several years ago."

Now, I'm all for looking into your family history, since it's important to know where you came from. But it strikes me as singularly ridiculous to suggest that I should spend my time --- or anybody else's --- worrying about and/or becoming resentful of the wrongs perpetrated against my ancestors. Should I resent a hospital in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, because in 1929 by great-grandfather died there of a ruptured appendix? Or a treating doctor of my great-grandmother, who died during the great Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918/19? More pointedly, should I hold responsible the descendants of those responsible?

Frankly, I've got better things to worry about. Or, to paraphrase one editorial noting the need for a bigger couch on "The Apology Circuit" akin to the format we've become accustomed to seeing them in since the days of the late Johnny Carson and Jack Paar of the Tonight Show (host at the trademark desk, with coffee cup and microphone, guests arrayed on a sofa to the host's right), I'm gonna need a lot more time to track down and demand apologies from the descendants responsible for all of the wrongs done to all of my ancestors.

The real point? That there are plenty of racial wrongs for which there are living perpetrators and victims. King is kind enough to list them, but doesn't bother to identify the institutions responsible for them. He does note that Hargrove:

and many white Virginians alive today were present when the spirit of Jim Crow reigned supreme in the Old Dominion.

Wow! That's a pretty damning indictment. Likewise, there are many Germans alive today who were present when the spirit of Naziism reigned supreme in Germany. Many Russians, too, alive today who were present when the spirit of Vladimir Lenin reigned Supreme in the old Soviet Union. Lots of Iraqis alive today who were present when the spirit of Saddam Hussein reigned supreme in Iraq.... Well, you get the point. He goes on to note that:

the Virginia legislature passed a law requiring separate white and black waiting rooms at airports.

Sen. Harry Byrd declared massive resistance to the Supreme Court's 1954 Brown decision desegregating public schools.

the General Assembly passed a series of laws to prevent school desegregation, including a measure forbidding state funds to be spent on integrated schools? That was a memorable year. And the next year, Prince Edward County went to an extreme to protect lily-white education. It closed the school system rather than integrate.

On Feb. 20, 1960, students from the historically black Virginia Union University entered Woolworth's department store on Broad Street in Richmond, sat at the lunch counter and patiently waited to be served. Instead, the management closed the store.

On June 9, 1960, an integrated group of youths sat at a Peoples Drug store lunch counter in Arlington. Waitresses served the whites, then walked away. A few minutes later, the lunch counter was closed.

In 1963, protesters gathered in front of the College Shoppe Restaurant on Main Street in Farmville. Management refused to serve blacks. Sheriff's deputies, in keeping with Virginia's Jim Crow laws, forcibly removed them.

Now, there is a common thread here. It's not just that white Virginians were responsible for these actions, though they assuredly were. After all, there's a fairly good chance that a majority of white Virginians today had nothing to do with it, weren't even Virginians at the time (if, indeed, they were alive), and are repulsed by such behavior.

No, the common thread is in the fact that the state policies identified by King, and of which he rightly complains, were perpetrated by the politicians of the time. And what, to a man (almost exclusively) did they have in common?

They were Democrats, and segregation and racial discrimination were the proud and public policies of the Virginia Democrat Party.

If King and his fellow race hustlers want an apology from live perpetrators for behavior creating live victims, he needs to look elsewhere. King and his fellow race hustlers need to look to the Democrat Party.

And it's more than passing strange that King and his fellow race hustlers are using this issue as a club with which to savage the GOP and its elected office holders, since it was the Republican Party which produced the leaders who ended slavery, and who --- to a degree far greater than Democrats --- supported efforts to end Jim Crow and racial segregation.

Supreme Court Hears Foundation Case

Spent yesterday at the Supreme Court, for oral argument in Davenport v. Washington Education Association, a case being handled by one of my Foundation colleagues.

I won't comment on the merits here, in keeping with my policy. However, I did want to note that the Clerk of the Court, Maj. Gen. William Suter (USA, ret.) has to be one of the nicest people you can meet in Washington. Entirely helpful and friendly, and very approachable, he is simply a great guy. We arrived quite early to be sure of getting a seat, ending up as the first in the lawyers' line, and had an opportunity to greet him. He came over, chatted jovially, and did his best to make sure that we felt welcome. Others to whom I have mentioned this have confirmed this impression.

As to the coverage of the case, you can make your own judgments.

Emory '89L classmate Howard Bashman runs down some of the coverage here, here, and here.

WorkplaceProfBlog offers a prediction --- confirming most of my impressions --- here.

And in perhaps the best title and end line, Dahlia Litwick discusses the case on Slate.com. Her title, "Just Say No Twice," is priceless, but her last line, which questions the union position that nonmembers should be required to object to paying for politics after they've already refused to become union members, may be the single best commentary on the union's argument in the case:

[I]t's certainly not illogical to assume that if that cute freshman from your Russian-lit class already told you she didn't want to go on a date with you, it's a pretty safe bet she doesn't want to have sex with you, either.

Faisal Gill's Response

Jim Riley managed to get these up before I did, since we've been busily preparing for a Supreme Court argument in my office over the last few days, regarding questions raised by Greg Letiecq on his website. While I think some genuine electability issues are raised regarding these issues, it seems to me to be patently unfair for a Republican --- and one who is being sued by an individual represented by Gill's law firm --- to engage in what may well be guilty-by-association smears and innuendo against a man who wore his country's uniform, served honorably, and later was exonerated on these very same charges by officials charged with maintaining the nation's security.

I know that both Faisal and the other potential GOP candidate, Julie Lucas, can and probably will conduct the nomination contest on a much higher level. Sadly, Greg's efforts --- which are doubtless motivated at least in part by his on-going legal troubles --- will be supported by the dour and despicable individuals for whom no depth are low enough in their efforts to smear anyone with the temerity to demand that Republican and conservative candidates act like Republicans.

Fundraiser for Autistic Children

A long-time (she'd shoot me if I'd said "old") childhood friend of mine is running a fundraiser on Friday for an organization that she started for autistic children. The Youngs will be attending, and the information is below. Any contribution that you might make would be greatly appreciated.

FUNDRAISER

All cover charges and donations will go to support:

BRET’S ADVENTURE, INC.

A nonprofit organization committed to supporting people with autism in

Pursuing their passions, manifesting their destinies, and promoting their healing,

As they emerge into everything God created them to be!

WHEN: Friday - JANUARY 12, 2007

TIME: 7pm to 10pm

WHERE: FRONT STREET STATION, NORTHUMBERLAND, PA.

ENTERTAINMENT: LIVE MUSIC WITH

TIMOTHY’S BURDEN

Contact: Kathleen Dunkelberger, 570-286-4332 for more information.

$5.00 cover charge per person!

A great price for a great time AND a great cause!

(Cash bar and buffet meal will be available at extra yet reasonable costs!)

Additional donations are appreciated.

Mail to: Bret’s Adventure, Inc., RR#1 Box 594, Paxinos, Pa. 17860
Special thanks to The Front Street Station and Timothy’s Burden

for their generous contributions to make this event possible!

(Donations, contributions and all money raised will be utilized for costs that may or may not be allowable expenses under the waiver program and that should be covered but are not covered by the county or state government for programming needs such as, but not limited to: habilitative equipment, communication equipment, start up expenses, operating expenses, therapies, travel expenses, staff appreciation and training, supplements, recreation and socialization, alternative and complimentary medical care, other supplies and any other expenses that are determined by the Board and Management.)

Understanding Bush Derangement Syndrome

Hilarious, yet accurate:

I think, what it is, is he took a bad guy down. We’ve had Presidents do that before, too…but President Bush did it in the modern age, when good & evil are supposed to be matters open to individual interpretation. In an age where evil is supposed to be a subjective viewpoint…he targeted someone. He’s an unwelcome paradigm shift, and the shift is in an direction that makes a lot of people uncomfortable. Once you go down the road of insisting there is no such thing as “absolute” evil, you can stay there as long as you choose to…until someone else comes along, defines evil as being really evil, and does something about it. This makes the nihilist/anarchist crowd look bad.

It hurts their P.R. You stand there “helplessly” watching a house burn, you look okay. Someone else grabs a hose while you sit there on your ass watching…now, you’re embarrassed. If the other guy didn’t happen along, the house would have burned to the ground. But you’d look good. Nothing else really counts, right?

It’s like the guy watching a woman being mugged and raped, making a calculated, brazen decision to allow the attack to commence uninterrupted because it’s “not my concern.” Inaction resulting from purely pacifist interests. He looks all right…until someone else gets involved. And then the pacifist looks bad. And silly. And cowardly. And impotent. And then the pacifist begins to harbor some decidedly un-pacifist feelings, toward the other fellow who made a decision to help out.

Come to think of it, the anger these leftists have toward President Bush, is not at all unlike the anger felt toward a masculine, self-assertive, virile interloper, from a cuckold, whose lonely and bored wife has finally been reminded what a real man can do. It’s not unlike that kind of anger at all.

One exception, though. In our society, we do not value the idea of strong, effective men stealing women from weaker men. We do not raise our sons to sleep with other mens’ wives. We do raise our boys to stand up for what’s right; to get involved, to lend assistance if evil is sure to triumph for lack of that assistance. That is what President Bush did. I’m glad it was done, and history will be glad for it too.

To those who insist on hating him and continuing to build that reasons-for-hate catalog, I say, go ahead. Hate him if you want; hate him all you want. I think it would be good for your own mental well-being to identify, in your own mind, WHY it is you hate him. If you come up with the reason, and are too ashamed to admit to anybody else what it really is, you’re still better off than the guy who hates President Bush but won’t put the effort in to figuring out why.

H/T to Dogwood Pundit. I wish I'd said it first.

Still No Word From Dion

Well, another Sunday, another service attended by myself and Democrat nominee for Occoquan Supervisor Jeff Dion at the church we attend (his daughter and my son are both in the Youth Choir, and sang at the early service today), and still no effort to answer the questions raised here and here, even in a personal aside.

Is Dion hiding an obfuscation? Sure, candidates don't have an obligation to respond to every allegation made in the blogosphere --- they could waste a great deal of time doing so, particularly with regard to wild allegations --- but this seems like such a simple one to answer. Plus, I don't have a record of wild, outrageous, libelous, and/or slanderous allegations.

I simply raise simple questions: Are Dion's bio and media reports which state that "He lives in Lake Ridge with his children," which leave the impression that he has custody of his minor children, even though he is divorced and sharing living arrangements with a homosexual paramour, mean that he has custody of those children? Does he "live in Lake Ridge with his children" in the same way that I live in Montclair with Maureen Caddigan, i.e., we live in the same community, in homes separated by a mile or more?

Were it demonstrated to me that my information were incorrect, I would happily publicize it here.

It is so easy to clear up this confusion. Yet Dion has not done so. One can only assume that his failure to do so means that the answer does not aid his cause. After all, if Dion is misrepresenting by artful evasion his custody status, answering the question would not aid his cause. A candidate's choices are a relevant inquiry for public consumption; hence, the fact that Dion "switched teams," in the Seinfeld parlance, is something of interest to voters.

Likewise, a prospective public official's frankness in his or her public pronouncements, particularly in something as elemental as his biography, is important to voters. And if Dion is misrepresenting himself and his custody status by artful obfuscation, voters are entitled to know that, as well. If voters and constituents are presented with a candidate whose every statement must be parsed for alternate and perhaps contradictory meanings (see, i.e., the Great Prevaricator AKA Bill Clinton), then they should know that before entering the voting booth. If Dion can't even tell the truth about his custody status and is publicizing false impressions, how can voters hope to assess his qualifications and policy prescriptions as a predicate to making an informed choice? In short, what else is Jeff Dion lying about?

It has been reported to me, as recently as this evening, that Dion does not have custody of his children from his previous marriage. Yet the bio remains unchanged. And seems specifically and intentionally designed to leave the false impression that he does.

Pot. News Gets New Publisher

Well, it appears that Mark Laskowski has been kicked upstairs, and the Potomac News has a new publisher.

No word on whether he will halt/reverse the leftward tilt of the paper. However, he hails from the People's Republic of Massachusetts.

The Macaca'ing Continues

Apparently unsatisfied with smearing candidates, Lowell Feld over at Raising Dough ... er, Raising Kaine, has decided to direct his smears at yours truly, offering this little gem:

"If only Allen had hired James Young (or Cliff Kincaid) as his anti-gay coordinator...."

I'm utterly perplexed as to why I would be equated with Cliff Kincaid. For one thing, I don't even know the guy. Certainly, I am not nearly as famous. Indeed, I had not even seen his column until I came across Lowell's little smear. And I probably wouldn't agree with his analysis. Indeed, given the political hackdom into which Lowell has descended --- I've met him, and he doesn't appear to be simply stupid --- one has to wonder whether this little assault isn't being launched because I dare to point out the dishonesty in Jeff Dion's campaign biography. Dion claims that he "lives in Lake Ridge with his two children," which may be true in the same sense that I "live in Montclair with Maureen Caddigan," when in fact, he lives in Lake Ridge, i.e., shares a home with, his homosexual paramour.

Lowell's smear is, of course, the same kind of smear that the race hustlers will use to libel those who oppose the recent resolution introduced to have Virginia "apologize" for slavery. I'm curious: to whom is such an apology to be issued? I once attended a Christmas party with an amazing woman. She was 113 years old, who was born in 1875. Her parents had been slaves in Kentucky, and she was the oldest human being I had ever laid eyes on. And she was still a decade removed from slavery at her birth. And, of course, it is an apology apparently to be issued by those who never owned a slave, who don't support slavery in any form, who had no responsibility for the "peculiar institution," whose ancestors may not even have been in the United States when slavery existed, and who themselves weren't even born until decades after slavery was abolished by passage of the Thirteenth Amendment.

I can imagine little more meaningless than an "apology" issued to no one, offered by those not responsible for the evil for which they are "apologizing."

Of course, most of those slandering opponents of such a meaningless "apology" are enthusiastic supporters of the servitude created by the welfare state.

And isn't it ironic? The authors of this resolution are all, or almost all, Democrats. If the notion here is that Virginia somehow institutionally owes an "apology" for slavery, then one has to wonder whether Virginia's Democrat Party has offered such an "apology." Indeed, they have much more than mere slavery --- which preexisted the founding of the Democrat Party --- for which to apologize. After all, the Democrat Party was the primary defending of Jim Crow, an organized effort to frustrate the effect of the Civil War Amendments.

The General Assembly should flatly refuse to even consider the proposal for a slavery "apology" until Virginia's Democrat Party apologizes for its racist behavior.

And as to Lowell's smear, I've just got to ask: Awww, whatsa matter, Lowell? Still smarting from the refusal of Virginia voters to mainstream perversion? Too bad Lowell doesn't understand the difference between opposing the radical homosexual agenda and being "anti-gay," whatever that is.

Besides, not all of us offer our opinions in the blogosphere simply because we're Raising Dough ... er, Raising Kaine.

UPDATE: I asked the first individual to whom this "apology" is to be issued what she thought of it. Aside from the fact that she hadn't heard of the nonsensical "apology" for slavery, her first reaction was to roll her eyes in contempt. That's just about right.

Radicalization of Pot. News Continues

Well, after seeing Gene Lyons' (author of a book reasonably and objectively titled The Hunting of the President, about Clinton's impeachment for perjury, a follow-on to his apologia Fools for Scandal: How the Media Invented Whitewater, both available on the remainder pile) nationally-syndicated column for at least the second time in today's Potomac News, there can be little doubt that the radicalization of the Pot. News editorial page continues apace.

But, oh, I forgot: Executive Editor Susan Svhilik was a "Goldwater Girl."

Just like Hitlary.

Credit Where Credit Is Due Department

Alice Marshall may exhibit symptoms of insanity --- primarily Bush Derangement Syndrome --- but it is appropriate to note that she has never failed to approve one of my comments on her site, on which comment moderation is enabled.

Get Ready for the Apologias

With the recent revelation that Barack Obama, wunderkind of the Democrat Left, was a self-confessed "pothead" and "junkie," get ready for the scrupulous silence of those in the far Left blogosphere who regularly savage President Bush for his long-ago battles with the bottle.

More Democrat Obfuscation

Confuse criticisms about lying as fixation on sex, gotta confuse criticisms about lying as fixation on sex.

After all, it worked for the Great Prevaricator.

And isn't that special? Alice Marshall --- she of the insanity --- thinks it's about panties (perhaps she knows something about Dion that I don't), not lying. Yet oddly, she offers no answer to the question, which would promptly resolve the issue, and prompt a post noting that Dion was NOT lying. And still, no response from Dion to this. Sure, he has a blog... with posts extending for almost ten whole days.

UPDATE: Dion's apologists are trying to change the subject with the same old, same old.

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.