Lowell's List Of Lies

Well, one of the children at Ranting Kids, ... er, Raising Dough, ... er, "Raising Kaine, ... er, "RK," ... er, whatever, is at it again. That is, repeating the lies of the moonbat far Left. Since whomever is running that site has decided that dissent is not to be tolerated and banned me from posting (having pointed out a few uncomfortable truths), I guess I'll just have to respond here. Here are Lowell's lies, with rebuttal:

*Politicizing science --- No specifics, but I presume he refers to those who don't buy into the myth of human-caused global warming. Or is that just "climate change," in light in the slight changes in recent weather patterns giving the United States --- save for the mid-Atlantic --- one of the most severe winters in recent memory? No apology owed.

*Running his super-secret, "Kenny Boy" and ExxonMobil-dominated energy task force --- "Super-secret"? Worst-kept "secret" in Washington. And who does Lowell think should be involved with an "energy task force"? Luddite environmentalist wackos? No apology owed.

*Iraq, including the case for war citing an alleged relationship between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda, etc. --- Propagating again perhaps the single greatest lie of the far Left, and coupling it with misrepresentation of the main reasons cited as the casus belli. Lowell apparently doesn't understand the purpose of "pre-emption," which is, of course, to prevent the development of a smaller problem into a larger one, i.e., the potential coupling of Iraq's WMDs with radical Islamicist terrorist organizations. No apology owed.

*Abu Ghraib --- What? Cheney was personally in this prison and engaged in the misdeeds? Of course not. The criminals were prosecuted, by this Administration. Bold words from a man who didn't even hold Clinton responsible for his personal misdeeds. No apology owed.

*Extraordinary rendition, secret prisons in Eastern Europe --- And? No apology owed. Were it that Lowell had a history of problems with the "secret prisons in Eastern Europe" run by the late Communist regimes governing them, or the current ones in China. No apology owed.

*Waterboarding and other torture --- What "other torture"? And, of course, the premise is incorrect. Creating apprehension of grievous bodily harm is not "torture." Of course, lest we not forget, these are the same types of people who think the "health" of a pregnant woman is put at risk by any pregnancy, because the poor dears might suffer some offense to their mental health by carrying the child to term (as any parent knows, this is an exception big enough to drive a truck through). No apology owed.

*Gitmo --- And? What would Lowell do with illegal enemy combatants? Free them? The fruits of such foolishness were recently seen in southern Iraq, where a former Gitmo detainee became a suicide bomber. No apology owed.

*Enormous budget deficits --- Yes. These are all Cheney's personal fault. Congress and the socialist welfare state enacted by Democrat Presidents and a Congress dominated by Democrats for forty years had nothing to do with it. No apology owed.

*Continued addiction on Saudi oil --- Sure. It was Dick Cheney who prevented drilling off the coast of the United States and in ANWR. Such a criticism is silly, too, when one considers the criticism over the "super-secret energy task force." No apology owed.

*Outing covert CIA agent Valerie Plame --- Multiple lies in just a few words. Plame wasn't a covert agent when "outed," and hadn't been for the period covered by the relevant statute. The special prosecutor investigating the matter couldn't even prosecute anyone for doing so, and knew it quite early. And it was Richard Armitage who "outed" Valerie Plame's long-past activities, apparently inadvertently. No apology owed.

*War profiteering and sleazy no-bid contracts, including his former company Halliburton --- Again, maddeningly nonspecific, save for the reference to Halliburton, whose history of "sleazy no-big contracts" goes back to --- you guessed it! --- the Clinton Administration. No apology owed.

*Shooting a friend of his and then trying to cover it up --- A hunting accident? First, I believe that Cheney did apologize to his friend. Second, the notion that there was some kind of "cover ... up" is among the rankest lies I have ever seen on Ranting Kids, ... er, Raising Dough, ... er, "Raising Kaine, ... er, "RK," ... er, whatever. It became public knowledge more quickly than, say, Teddy Kennedy's involvement in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne at Chappaquiddick. No apology owed.

*Claiming he "does not have to comply with an executive order on safeguarding classified information because his office is part of the Legislature." --- Uh, Lowell, the VP has a dual role, both executive and legislative. Might want to brush up on your Constitution. No apology owed.

*Gross negligence leading up to Hurricane Katrina and also in its aftermath --- As compared to whom? The New Orleans Mayor who left 250 school buses to be inundated? A governor of Louisiana who couldn't find her a** with both hands? The local board in charge of New Orleans levees which failed in its duties. Plenty of blame to go around, but it's Cheney who owes an apology? No apology owed.

*Snidely dismissing energy conservation as "a sign of personal virtue" --- Well, maybe he should apologize for this. "Personal virtue"? Or "moral exhibitionism"? No apology owed.

*Authoring unconstitutional and outrageous "signing statements" which "declare the president's intent to disregard provisions of bills he has signed into law that he proclaims are unconstitutional." --- You mean, like Democrat President Andrew Jackson's declarations of unconstitutionality? And when has Cheney ever "authored" any of these? Another fantasy. However, I would agree that the better course is to simply veto bills like McCain-Feingold. No apology owed.

*Engineering "the National Security Agency's warrantless domestic surveillance program targeting American citizens on American soil in contravention of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978." --- A bald-faced lie. The NSA has not and does not "target[] American citizens." However, when American citizens receive international calls from suspect foreign nationals, it's another matter entirely, and rightly so. No apology owed.

Perhaps Cheney's West Virginia joke was in poor taste. Most humor is. But the notion that the Vice President owes an apology to anyone for even those activities in the above list for which he is responsible is just an example of the extremism of the moonbats setting the agenda for the modern Democrat Party. Apology implies responsibility. And for most of Lowell's complaints, even those which identify real --- as opposed to imagined --- wrongs, Vice President Cheney is not responsible, or not even remotely and partially responsible.

This Is A Mistake

I say this as someone who voted for Bob Marshall at the Convention, and has known both men for nearly twenty years: this is a mistake. Bob Marshall is apparently trying to extract concessions from Jim Gilmore, and one he doesn't even need to extract:

Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) said today he ... probably will not be endorsing GOP Senate nominee James S. Gilmore III....

In an interview, Marshall said he remains upset about mailers Gilmore sent out during the final days of their race for the nomination. Gilmore, a former governor, defeated Marshall by less than 1 percent at the state GOP convention on Saturday.

A few days before the convention, Gilmore sent out a mailing that questioned Marshall's conservative credentials. The Gilmore campaign said it was responding to three negative mail pieces that Marshall had sent out.

"Why would Jim want my endorsement?" Marshall asked. "He says I am dishonest, so why would an honorable man like Jim Gilmore want an endorsement from someone he says is dishonest?"

But Marshall, who based his campaign on his staunch opposition to abortion and tax increases, added he will throw his support behind Gilmore if the former governor comes out in favor of banning all abortions.

C'mon, Bob! I'm pro-life, too, but this guy is running for the United States Senate, not the Virginia Senate. His primary ability to advance the pro-life cause is to confirm judges and Justices of the United States Supreme Court who will reverse Roe v. Wade for the constitutional monstrosity that it is, and return the issue of when or if to allow abortion back to the States, where it belongs.

The only Federal role would be on federal funding of abortions, and I presume that Jim Gilmore supports the Hyde Amendment.

What Bob wants, Bob is not entitled to get. It would be a meaningless gesture, in the sense that the United States Senate has no legislative role on this issue. And if Jim Gilmore were to agree to Bob's conditions, the only thing he would achieve would be to gain a reputation as a flip-flopper. It would be unpersuasive to his enemies, and offensive to his friends.

Bob Marshall needs to get behind the nominee, as his supporters are. Failure to do so only gives aid and comfort to the scumbags who are tearing the GOP apart from the Left, and justify their own bad behavior upon their caricatures of Conservatives.

This is one of those few occasions where we should not respond in kind, and should set the better example. It not only is a costless activity; it is the honorable course on the State Party Plan.

Bob Marshall should immediately and unqualifiedly endorse Jim Gilmore now. If a filibuter-proof Senate is elected with a President Obama, the cause of Life could be set back for fifty years.

Would You Like Some Cheese With That Whine?

The Convention's over; Jim Gilmore is our nominee; and those who supported Bob Marshall are lining up behind the GOP nominee.

Yet some --- most too cowardly to reveal their identities --- are still pining away over the fact that we had a convention to choose our nominee, and Tom Davis didn't even bother to run.

The iron fact of Republican politics is this: When Conservatives don't get their way, they support the GOP nominee; when "moderates" don't get their way, they continue to complain.

The funny thing is that the Tom Davis I have know for nearly twenty years isn't like this. The Tom Davis I know has always understood that loyalty is a two-way street, and delivers for those whom some of his supporters find to be "too Conservative."

It's really too bad that those who purport to support him don't follow his example.

Important Question Resolved

In a post late last night, I expressed concerns about the outcome of the GOP nomination for United States Senate. And the Republican State Convention yesterday, a number of delegate votes (approximately 22 or 23) were reported for Bob Berry, who had not qualified for nomination.

Under Robert's Rules of Order, which govern such questions in the State GOP under the Party Plan, those votes shouldn't have been counted at all, and certainly not reported, and the delegate votes split among Jim Gilmore and Bob Marshall in proportion to the other votes in the unit.

My questions arose because: (a) we didn't know which unit they came from; and (b) because Jim Gilmore's margin of victory was so narrow that I feared it might have changed the outcome when properly calculated. Such a happenstance could be used by unsavory people (this links to my discussion of him, not to his site, as I will not link to racist sites) to hobble our nominee, in the same way that unscrupulous people did so with regard to last year's 51st House of Delegates District race.

Fortunately, the Chairman of the unit in question, the Salem Republican Committee (don't know his name), saw my post, and offered this helpful clarification of the issue:

FWIW, the Berry issue was actually resolved correctly. The 6th District, and specifically Salem and Roanoke City, were where the Berry votes came from (I know because I counted the Salem ballots). While they were initially reported, they came back to us and told us to remove those Berry votes (our 5 votes cast for 44 delegates became 4 votes cast for 44 delegates). We then recalculated and the official numbers were based on these recalculated numbers (done according to Roberts Rules).

I was sufficiently concerned that I raised my concerns at the Convention with Eleventh District GOP Chairman Becky Stoeckel, and to Kathy Marshall (a long-time friend). I have no problem with Jim Gilmore as our nominee; I simply voted for Bob for reasons stated elsewhere, and didn't want him harmed by any hint of impropriety.

In any case, I am happy that the issue was resolved correctly. My concerns have been laid to rest.

Unqualified congratulations to the Republican nominee, and the next junior Senator from Virginia, Jim Gilmore!

Serving Yourself, Not Truth Or Your Candidate

So Greg doesn't understand how conventions operate, apparently doesn't like the result (I, too, cast my ballot for Bob Marshall, but Jim Gilmore is certainly an acceptable candidate, perhaps superior), and he decides that it's sinister.

At least, that's what one discovers on a series of posts on his tackily-named website.

Greg started with a complaint about the way seating was arranged:

Of note, the Prince William Delegation was provided with only three rows of seating in the back of the floor, which is about the same amount of seating reserved for Colonial Heights. I wonder if Prince William had not been the source of today’s challengers whether adequate seating would have been provided.

Now, I agree with the lack of planning that left a delegation with more than four hundred elected delegates with about fifty seats. That's incompetence, particularly when you do nothing to solve the problem and leave those delegates to fend for themselves, or split the delegation when enough people complain. And I actually tried to do something about it.

But then Greg suggested something untoward in the seating arrangements:

I thought it was rather bizarre to arbitrarily assign counties that are split between CD’s into one of them. I live in the 10th District, but my vote was tallied in the 11th. Were this not a party convention, I’d think I’d have a Fourteenth Amendment case, but the party can do what it wants under the law.

I jumped in again, providing a detailed explanation that nothing was unusual about this practice:

It’s not “arbitrary,” Greg. It’s the difference between knowing how things operate at a State Convention and under the Party Plan, and how you think they might operate.

Voting strength is calculated by unit (i.e., counties and cities) as a function of the total Republican voting strength in the preceding presidential and gubernatorial elections, and therefore varies from unit to unit (and Convention to Convention). Delegates serve a representative function, as representatives of Republican voters in their units. You’ll remember that you were elected as a delegate to the State Convention from Prince William County, NOT at the Tenth District Convention. Congressional District don’t send delegates to the State Convention; individual units do.

Moreover, each unit must vote all of its votes (the “whole-vote” rule). Therefore, each individual’s vote within the unit is calculated as a function of those who show up. For instance, if a county has 100 delegate votes, and ten people from the unit show up (it doesn’t matter how many are elected to go), each person’s vote is worth 10 delegate votes. On the other hand, if 50 people from the unit attend, each person’s vote is worth only 2 delegate votes (it can be subdivided to a maximum of 1/5 of a vote per person). Thus, while about PWC had 408 delegate votes (if memory serves), approximately 300 people showing up and voting on a ballot means that each person’s was worth about 1.33 delegate votes . Now, a county like Caroline County (I think it’s in western Virginia) [I may be wrong about the name of the county; I'm working from memory] had about 50-60 delegate votes, but I was told that only two people from that unit attended; hence, each person’s vote was worth about 25-30 delegate votes.

Additionally, the value of each person’s vote can change from ballot to ballot. For instance, if fewer people voted on the second ballot (for RPV Chairman) — and I suppose that fewer did, as you and perhaps others left — then the value of each individual’s vote in the unit increased. I don’t know what the difference in the number of delegates voting was, but interestingly, Jeff won one more delegate vote than Bob did in Prince William County (11th District Chairman Becky Stoeckel showed me her tally sheet, but I was only interesting in the delegate votes (the only number that matters in the tally), not the raw number voting).

Someone speculated to me that Hager’s fear of Bob’s strength may have been the reason why two separate ballots were conducted, rather than one, as efficiency would suggestion. The theory apparently was that he hoped that those primarily interesting in Marshall’s candidacy, and presumed to be Frederick supporters, as well, would leave after the ballot for the Republican nomination for Senate. Don’t know if it’s true, but it seems plausible.

In short, that one or those two people from Caroline County had enormous power to alter the outcome, because of weighted voting and the “whole-vote” rule. I’m told that both people voted for Gilmore; a shift of even one would have made the margin razor-thin, and may well have altered the outcome. Bob may well be kicking himself over that one, if he didn’t campaign there.

Now, as for where units are seated on the floor, it’s fairly arbitrary, but doesn’t alter the outcome. Past practice — followed today — is to seat units among two or more Congressional Districts (like Fairfax and PWC) with the Congressional District in which a majority of the unit lies, and have the District Chairmen (who almost always attend, unlike some unit Chairmen) report the weighted votes. In the case of both PWC and Fairfax, that is the Eleventh Congressional District. That is why we were seated with the Eleventh District.

The alternative is to have each unit report their votes individually, which would make the process even more unwieldy and lengthy than it already is.

Now, though, Greg is making wild, baseless accusations:

Apparently as a matter of convenience, while balloting today was by locality, votes were tabulated by Congressional District, which I understand is a somewhat unusual practice.

Really, how is that unusual? Greg doesn't explain. It's quite usual in Virginia. It's been done that way at every State Convention I've attended since 1992, inclusive.

He then asserts that "the distortions this would inevitably cause had an impact on the outcome of the close election for the nomination for the United States Senate." However, there is no "distortion," as I outlined in my comment (which Greg alludes to, but does not credit to me), and he offers no evidence of one.

Of course, the problem is that Greg doesn't understand how the process works. Instead, he asserts that "what happened is that delegates registered and voted by locality, and that total was aggregated into Congressional Districts which were then weighted."

No, Greg, the weighting is a simple formula applying the percentage of ballots cast for each candidate within the unit to the total delegate votes for each unit. Congressional district chairman receive both raw vote totals and the weighted totals, and double check the math.

Greg then offers this helpful suggestion:

So I’d think that if it’s useful to report results and weight votes by Congressional District, it would make sense to have delegates actually register and vote within the Congressional District in which they reside. Apples to apples, so to speak.

Think some more, Greg. Under your proposal, a unit like Prince William or Fairfax --- units split among three districts each --- would have to have their delegates caucus and vote separately in each district. Votes would then have to be tallied and weighted separately in each district. In short, without any demonstration of "distortions," you would create a situation providing more opportunities for errors.

Doesn't sound like a very good idea to me.

Now Greg tries to sound authoritative, but fails miserably. "I am lead to understand that this is pretty rare; so rare its never been done before." Really? By whom? It's certainly usual in Virginia.

Then Greg says "At the last convention, delegates registered, voted, and were tabulated by locality." What "convention" was that? A congressional district convention, with far fewer units? Greg doesn't say.

But it's then that the really wild theories start: "with anything political I have to imagine someone had a vested interest in this procedure and stood to benefit by this." Who? It's a method of calculation. There are no "political implications of that change, and no one pushes for the unusual without trying to obtain an advantage from it." And it's not unusual. Greg staunchly maintains otherwise, but offers nothing more than his ruminations to support the notion that Virginia's standard procedure is "unusual."

He is correct about one thing: "neither Jim Gilmore, nor Bob Marshall’s campaign had anything to do with this." Of course not. As I explained in detail, it's standard practice at State Conventions.

Another wild theory is the claim that "This could also simply be an effort by some committee to obtain an efficiency without realizing that shifting votes around like this could help or hurt someone," but he never bothers to demonstrate how anyone is "help[ed] or hurt." Indeed, as far as I can tell, it is only Greg who is claiming that "something unusual happened, and that the difference is made was somewhere between terribly insignificant and absolutely conclusive." Glib. Well-written. And utterly unsustained by any proof.

Nevertheless, I would have no problem with one of Greg's suggestions, and one which will no doubt occupy the new tenure of Chairman Jeff Frederick:

If we had the results for the Senate nomination vote by locality, ... and tabulate them by locality comparing that outcome to the official results, we’d be able to figure out pretty quickly whether there was an appreciable difference in the outcome.

I have little doubt that Jim Gilmore would like such assurances. But Greg is so full of himself that he seems to operate under the presumption that his wild fantasies are reality, and that well-established and validated practice should yield to his "insights" into propriety.

One nearly needs to read the irresponsible comments of those he is apparently listening to in order to understand the folly of that course. My suspicion is that his complaints and refusal to listen to reason and facts is rooted more in his resentment that he is not among "a few insiders" who have been managing with integrity the process for decades or more than in any legitimate concern over the integrity of the process.

Convention Observations --- Rank Incompetence

Perhaps the most incompetently run State Republican Convention I have ever witnessed.

Yeah, that about sums it up.

I didn't attend the session on Friday, as I reported previously. However, I suspect that some bloggers will relate that day's festivities, or already have.

Nevertheless, the level of incompetence demonstrated at this weekend's GOP gathering in Richmond was sufficient to cause me to reconsider and change my vote for State Chairman. There are aspects that were simply unforgivable on a wholly technical level.

The day started out well. Woke the wife and kids, performed our morning ablutions, and went downstairs at the Marriott for a very nice buffet breakfast, included in the price of our room. Then provided for late checkout (not as late as necessary, as it turned out), and went over to registration. Registration was fairly prompt, though the individual handling the end of the alphabet nearly gave me credentials for someone named "William" whose last name started with a "Z." Cleared that up, and made our way to the convention hall.

The immediate problem was getting in. People were checking credentials, and the entrance was the same door as the exit. Sooooo, people were coming out as many more were attempting to gain entry. Traffic jam ensued, aggravated by the usual suspects handing out lapel labels. Nice planning.

However, when the Youngs entered the hall, and sought out our delegation from Prince William County, we immediately noticed that only three rows --- perhaps fifty seats in all --- had been allotted for our delegates. Hmmmm. Had spoken to Tony Guiffre and his lovely fiance, who informed me that 427 PWC delegates had been elected to cast our ballots. If even half showed up (one can never tell about these things, but that's probably a minimal estimate), fully three-quarters of our people hadn't been planned for.

Well, someone needed to do something, so I sought out a staff member. Worthless, save to point me to the help desk on the other end of the Convention Center. Great. Now I would be one of those people fighting against the tide to exit the hall. Soooo, I left the boys with the wife, and sought to get more seating for Prince William's delegates. Waited in line (a lot of people needed help, including Congressman Frank Wolf and his wife), and finally corraled someone at the help desk. He informed me that the unit Chairman (Lyle Beefelt) would have to request more seats. "Let me make sure I understand this: there's a problem, and you're telling me I have to get him out here to make the request?" "That's right." "No, that's ridiculous."

It was an annoying and crowded walk back to the hall, but I resolved on the way that this --- a staffer completely unresponsive to an easily-solved problem --- was a serious enough problem that it had to be illustrative of larger problems.

In any case, I went back into the hall, and looked for Lyle. Nowhere to be found, but it was a big crowd. Instead, I sought out the central control area, and Charlie Judd, RPV's Executive Director. Now, I've never met Charlie, though I've of course heard his name.

He, too, was unresponsive.

Saw Jeff Frederick and Amy on the way back, and told him that I had reconsidered. While I believe that many of his criticisms of John Hager --- a man I've known and liked for nearly 20 years --- were unfair, this was inexcusable incompetence, and that I would wear his sticker and vote for him.

Now, I voted for Jeff, more times than I remember. Supported him against Jack Rollison when he ran his successful primary challenge to take his seat. Like him.

But I've known John Hager for nearly twenty years. Haven't always agreed with him, but have always been cordial. He finished his race for Lieutenant Governor in 1997 --- the same year I ran for School Board for a second and final time --- at the polls at Henderson Precinct in Montclair, my home precinct. We were side by side for the last two hours at the polls. Four years later, when he ran for the GOP nomination for Governor, he visited the offices of National Right to Work. Visited my office, and personally asked for my support, which I happily gave to him.

But this was no longer about personal loyalty. This was about the functionality and continued health of the State GOP. And today, in a very basic, well-rehearsed function, it wasn't working.

Sadly, the lack of adequate seating and the non-responsive staff was not the only display of incompetence in what was to be a fairly long day.

Sat next to Bob and Debbie FitzSimmonds. Kibbutzed. Listened to the speeches. Lyle asked Bob and me to aid with the balloting. Happy to help.

Turns out that Bob Berry had failed to appear at the Nominations Committee --- I was told later that no one informed him that he had to --- and therefore, his name was not placed in nomination.

And then we met to plan the balloting for PWC. And the ballots for Senate still had Bob Berry's name on them.

What, the copiers at RPV were down? No one could make a run to Kinko's? It's not like the ballots were on special paper. They were simple copier paper.

Now, Bob's disqualification was announced from the podium. But nevertheless, this was a simple problem easily fixed. And nobody bothered to do it!

Maybe not a big deal. 'Cept, when the votes were tallied, two or three districts reported votes for Bob Berry.

Huh?

Under Robert's Rules, under which the State GOP and the Convention operates, ballots for an unqualified candidate are nullities. They don't count against the total vote, and should not be reported.

Nobody bothered to tell the ballot counters this.

Sooooo, as the votes are being reported, and it's a very close contest, those votes --- about 22 or 23 delegate votes in all --- might make a difference. Perhaps a huge difference.

Nevertheless, when all the votes were counted, it was clear that it was a very tight race. Only about sixty-five delegate votes separated Jim Gilmore from Bob Marshall, with the former prevailing.

As it happened, the Youngs voted for Marshall. Again, it was a tough decision. Both men are friends, of nearly twenty years. We supported Bob in his first race for House of Delegates, and ever since. Met Jim Gilmore at the Leadership Institute's Independence Day Conservative Soiree, back when he was Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney. Were at his home, at a reception for convention-goers on the day Ronald Reagan died.

We were ticked off at both of them for putting us in this position: having to choose between two well-qualified candidates who were friends. We would be happy for either. In the end, our decision was made on the fact that Bob would simply be more fun in the Senate.

And now, I have questions as to whether the winner is, in fact, the winner. Because of RPV's incompetence/laziness. This simply shouldn't have happened.

Now, perhaps counting Bob Berry's votes didn't make a difference. It probably didn't. But don't Virginia Republicans deserve better? Don't Jim Gilmore and Bob Marshall deserve better? This isn't rocket science. We've attended more than half a dozen State Conventions over the last sixteen years, and I've served on both Rules and Credentials Committees in the past. This has never been a problem.

In any case, it made our decision for Chairman a little easier.

Turns out, the race for that office wasn't even that close. In the end, Jeff Frederick's lead was so commanding that John Hager --- very graciously and magnanimously --- moved to make the election one by acclamation. Class act.

But I hope that he realizes that the negative result was, at least in part, a function of the fact that these happenstances caused him to bleed votes with each additional failure.

In the end, John deserved better, too, from the people at RPV. And he didn't get it.

John Chichester Drops All Pretense...

and appears in an upcoming ad (run the video to view) for the Boyish Governor.

Aside from the Winchester Billygoat AKA former state Senator Russ "Chamber" Potts, Chichester did more than anyone to destroy the value of the GOP name brand in the last decade.

It's a refreshing change that he's dropping the pretense of actually being a Republican.

Perfidy, thy name is "John."

State GOP Convention Observations --- The Preliminaries

Just returned from Richmond, and after a few hours of recovery, I'm organizing my thoughts on this weekend's gathering. Because I was able to get a last-minute reservation at the Marriott, we went down on Friday afternoon. Arrived too late for registration, or the first-day activities, but was given the rundown by Josh Suarez, on the Marshall staff.

Didn't attend the Gala on Friday night. The family opted for dinner at the Tobacco Company, in Shockoe Slip. Interesting night. I first went there about 24 years ago, with my college girlfriend. The scary part was when, in talking to my oldest, I found that our waitress was 22. Yep. Wasn't even born the first time I went there.

Nevertheless, had a great meal. Ran into John Stirrup and talked for a time with him, and returned to the hotel for the hospitality suites.

Since it was two doors down from our room, hit Bob Marshall's first. Wine and deserts mainly, and a good group of people, but rather quiet. It was early, and after my youngest managed to loudly pop a balloon on a candle, we went to search out other venues.

Ran down to the lower level, and went into Jeff Frederick's ice cream social. A dry hospitality suite!?!?!?! Well, the boys liked it, and we had desert. But there were almost more hotel staff there than guests, and after an ice cream bar, we left.

Turns out most of the suites --- and the best ones --- were at the Convention Center. Stopped by Bob McDonnell's/Bill Bolling's. Ah, beer! Had a good conversation with State Central Committee Member David F.C. Ray, saw a few other old friends, and went next door to John Hager's suite. More good food, fewer people I knew well, but they had chocolate and strawberries, and Patrick was in hog heaven. Saw John on the way out, and told him that I would be supporting him. And that, while I believed some of Jeff's criticisms to be unfair, he would be well advised to adopt some of his suggestions for Party improvement.

At this point, Brenda thought it best to get the boys back to our room and into bed. Couldn't blame her, given the hour she rises for her commute.

Then went around the north corner, and found Governor Gilmore's, National Committeeman Morton Blackwell's, and the Jeffersoniad's suites. Morton had the best food, by far. Crab cakes; shrimp; chicken fingers. But Jim Gilmore had the best bar (perhaps explaining his victory). Full, open bar. Crown Royal; good bourgon; Chivas! Would come back to this one.

Saw many old friends: John Tate; Kevin Allen; Corey Stewart; John Stirrup. Had a great conversation with Boyd Marcus, for whom I have recently had a new respect, as he had the wit to send his son Randy, Bill Bolling's Chief of Staff, to Hampden-Sydney. Got to know Christopher Younce. Talked to John Stirrup's brother, as well as getting to know Jim Fotis (really, for the first time) and his lovely wife, Kim.

Had a great conversation with Jim Bowden, whom I have admired for a long time. Wonderful fellow. Saw Shaun Kenney for the first time in years. And Jim Hoeft, whose Bearing Drift is Tidewater's premier blog. Rick Sincere (who got great footage of the maroons protesting Vice President Cheney's visit) and Alton Foley were also in attendance. The Jeffersoniad Suite was a blogger's hotbed, for obvious reasons.

Jim Hoeft made one of the better suggestions of the night, and suggested that we all head to Tucker Watkin's suite. Tucker is the Fifth District GOP Chairman, and I'd never had the pleasure.

Well, it turns out that Tucker's suites are legendary. Great bar, and I capped off the night with an incredible burboun recommended by him. We then had a wonderful conversation about Fifth District politics. The alma mater lies in the Fifth, and it seems that Tucker and I have quite a few mutual friends.

Turned in for the night after two --- the party was still going strong --- and prepared for the events of the 'morrow....

What A Republican!

Say what you will about John McCain --- I have, and probably will --- but anyone who would even consider voting for a raging Socialist like Barack Obama can't be seriously considered to have ever been a Republican, or a Conservative.

And he's lecturing us on what's wrong with Washington?!?!?

What's most wrong with Washington is people who seek political power by auctioning their political "principles" to the highest bidder.

Poor Ed King --- So Bitter; So Irrelevant

Just came across this rather interesting comment, in response to a recent Gary Jacobson column in the Daily Fishwrap ... er, "Potomac News":

I think Gary’s thoughts are correct and expressed very well. What a contrast with those columns written by the not-great James Young who could call anyone any dispicable name he desired but was protected by the editor of the “PotNews” from the any criticism by letter writers.The editor MUST publish the critics. A truly free press demands it.

Wow! I'm so flattered. I wrote a little weekly piece for that journal for about seven years, and was unceremoniously canned nearly four years ago --- no notice to me or the readers, just discontinued, with the editor lying about how many complaints she received over it --- and Ed King (a former County Supervisor, prior to 1992) is still fixated on me. I suspect that most people, even in the district he represented, would be hard-pressed to identify his name, and I don't write letters for free to a journal which used to pay me for my work.

Now, I suppose I could ask Ed what he's talking about, since he provides no examples of me "call[ing] anyone any dispicable [sic] name [I] desired," and never mind that Gary Jacobsen's work is notable for the fact that it persuades --- contrary to its intent --- people to vote Republican, but why bother? Democrats rarely let the truth interfere with their childish accusations.

But I can't imagine a more ringing endorsement of my influence as a columnist. Just ask Lt. Governor Sean Connaughton.

BTW, Ed, it's "despicable."

The Green Tree Has Red Roots

Apparently, the Czech President is causing quite a stir by publicizing something else that the so-called "mainstream" media has chosen to ignore: that environmenalism and calls for government action to combat "climate change" are simply the same old far-Left prescription for the elimination of freedom dressed up in new clothes.

The Europeans recognized this fact decades ago, with the rise of the "Greens," with the recognition that "the Green tree has Red roots."

I would not recommend that the Czech President hold his breath waiting for Al Gore to appear for an honest intellectual exchange.

H/T to Drudge

Impending Conference

Driving to Central Pennsylvania to visit the family over the Memorial Day weekend, saw a billboard advertising an impending convention of "Muslims for Peace," set to occur in the unlikely location of the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

It's certainly a refreshing change for a religious whose most prominent adherents these days seem to be making war on America. It's also evidence which encourages those who respect the faithful of all faiths, and question why so few Muslim leaders denounce radical violence.

Ranting Kids Are Upset

Now that Governor Timmy! has endorse Gerry Connolly for the Democrat nomination in the 11th Congressional District, it seems that the boys and girls at Ranting Kids ... er, Raising Dough ... er, "The Blog Formerly Known As 'Raising Kaine'" have case his name down the proverbial Memory Hole, and scrubbed his name from their masthead. Now it's just "RK."

Now, some of us have always thought that "RK" stood for Ranting Kids. Works as well as anything else.

Remember that old show "When Animals Attack"?

Perhaps we should call this "When Moonbats Attack."

Interesting Time Of Year

I'm always fascinated by springtime in D.C.

I vividly remember leaving here one April morning, and when I arrived in Anchorage, Alaska, it was warmer there than it was when I left.

It's not much different today.

More Observations On PWC GOP Committee Meeting

Another observation on last night's first meeting of the newly-reconstituted Prince William County Republican Committee:

Where was everyone?

We heard for months on end from those who breathlessly trashed Tom Kopko for "destroying" the County Committee, or provided a forum for it. But not even Greg Letiecq was there.

Now, to be sure, most did so behind the cowardly cloak of anonymity/pseudonymity, but nevertheless, they managed to follow mindlessly the meme that Kopko was evil, and that his decisions harmed the GOP. Never mind that those who have been around for awhile --- actually participating, not just casting brickbats while GOP candidates enjoyed unprecedented success County-wide --- observed the same cyclical trends which have been virtually unbreakable since the founding of the Committee in 1991. The Internet just provides so many opportunities for smears.

And to be sure, Kopko overpromised when elected. Those who have been around for some time knew it was unrealistic to dream of --- let alone promise --- a "600-member County Republican Committee." Might be nice, but aside from the fact that it would increase the costs and difficulties in finding an adequate venue for County Committee meetings exponentially, experience teaches that it's just not realistic. The GOP is any venue is more that those elected to the leadership position of County Committee Membership, as I have observed elsewhere.

But now, Lyle Beefelt is the Chairman. Nice guy. Have been friends for a long time, notwithstanding some disagreements, and even including a cheap, foolish shot or two from him (yes, Lyle, Julie Lucas is a lightweight, intellectually, from all that I have observed; your list of her "accomplishments" says little about substance, particularly regarding matters to come before the House of Delegates, and your criticisms of her winning opponent seem misplaced from someone who has just been elected to a position from which his primary goal should be to grow the GOP). Trustworthy, honest, and fairly non-confrontational. Even endorsed by those who agree on little else. As Citizen Tom observed, he "tends to occupy the middle ground between the party’s different factions, he still manages to be on speaking terms with everyone. That actually is no mean trick."

So where were all the disgruntled people who had been so alienated by Tom Kopko? Wasn't he the problem, according to some? Wouldn't all those people come rushing back to the GOP Committee once he was out the door (actually, he still sits on the County Committee's Executive Board, by virtue of being immediate past Chairman)?

To be fair, I recognize that one meeting does not a trend make, but last night's rather anemic attendance does not bode well for the Committee resurgence implicit in the arguments of those demonizing Kopko.

Now I suppose, were I of a mind to demonize Lyle (i.e., were I a damn fool), I would blame him for that anemic attendance. I might declare in hushed conspiratorial tones that he is masterminding the destruction of the County GOP, or that he is engaged in some sort of campaign to deliver the Committee to those who wish ill to PWC, Virginia, the United States, and all that is good and pure in life.

But I won't. As noted above, it is merely the same cyclical trends which have been virtually unbreakable since the founding of the Committee in 1991.

Not that those who engaged in it won't find an excuse to blame someone else when their over-promises are revealed as such.

New PWC GOP Committee Meeting

Just returned from the first meeting of the newly-reconstituted Prince William County Republican Committee.

Interesting.

All three newly-elected members of the State Central Committee elected from the 11th Congressional District at Saturday's Convention --- David Ray; Patsy Drain; and Keith Damon (who I had not previously met, but came highly recommended by Fairfax Senator Ken Cuccinelli) --- were in attendance, and expressed their appreciationfor their support from Prince William.

And give new County GOP Chairman Lyle Beefelt credit: he knows how to stick to a schedule. We were scheduled to adjourn by 8:45, and by God, we adjourned by 8:45.

It might have been earlier but for some controversies which might well have been resolved more easily with a little more planning and/or better execution of the County Convention.

What is perhaps most interesting is the fact that the good planning and/or little missteps which would have provoked charges of conspiracy and perhaps even high treason probably will be ignored by those who hated former Chairman Tom Kopko for ideological reasons. One has to wonder why?

The only big controversy was over elections of inferior officers. Not because there was a surplus of candidates; none of the races was contested. And a question was raised over only one of them.

What provoked the controversy was the question of Treasurer. It seems that the individual interested in the job, a woman I don't know by the name of Fotis (Kim?), had erroneously failed to mark the box for Committee membership at the County Convention. Hence, she was not technically qualified for election prior to a vote on new Members, as the Party Plan requires election by the County Committee from "among their number." As an aside, this was a conscious choice by the committee which drafted the Party Plan --- I was its Chairman --- to insure continuity of leadership, among other reasons.

It seems that a number of people (initially just former Secretary Karen Ulrich) objected to moving the election of Treasurer --- required to occur at this meeting by virtue of the Party Plan --- to after the election of new members. The change was suggested by me, among others. The practice of the Committee has long been to hold that election until the end of the meeting.

However, this problem was averted when the prior Treasurer, Kathy Royse, consented to election, and promised to resign in favor of the new Treasurer upon her election. While I have no reason to distrust Kathy, the problem with this course lies in the fact that Kathy was technically elected to a two-year term, and there is nothing which would compel her to resign, should she choose not to.

Now, there are good and sufficient reasons for the practice of electing new Members at the end of the meeting. Primarily, it insures the orderly conduct of County Committee meetings, and insures that no one can "pack" a Committee meeting and engage in activities which would embarass the GOP and its nominees.

And there were good and sufficient reasons to vary from this practice on this occasion, the primary one being that there was no great controversy over this single election, and it appears that the single candidate was not technically qualified at that point in the meeting simply due to an oversight.

Of course, the County Committee is charged with the continuing corporate existence of the GOP in Prince William County. It is, though some seem not to understand this, or ignore it, the leadership of the Republican Party in the County. It is decidely not the rank-and-file of the Party, which --- by virtue of the County Party Plan --- is made up of:

All legal and qualified voters of Prince William County under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, regardless of race, religion, national origin or sex, who are in accord with the principles of the Republican Party and who, if requested, express in open meeting either orally or in writing as may be required, their intent to support all of its nominees for public office in the ensuing election....

Because of this fact, it is sound policy to provide some level of control on those who vote in a County Committee meeting. The same reason justifies the rules limiting Membership to a certain number of Precinct Members (never approached, so far as I know) based upon a proportion of GOP votes in preceding elections, and a limited number of At-Large Members (again, never invoked, so far as I can recall). Aside from this fact, Members of the County Committee are require to be registered voters. And indeed, that desire for "control" is precisely why we vote new Members in to the Committee. Objections can be raised, for good reasons and bad, but certainly among them, over the concern that adherents to principles other than those of the GOP might attempt to take over the local Republican leadership.

Allowing anyone who appears at a County Committee meeing, signs an application, and writes a check for $50 (dues for a two-year membership) to vote immediately prevents the important process of verification that the applicant is, in fact, a registered voter (a process followed by the Credentials Committee at the County Convention and/or Mass Meetings). This is an important process required by both the State and County Party Plans as a qualification for Membership.

As it turns out, the only item of "New Business" discussed at tonight's County Committee meeting was when the Old Whithered Wench, AKA Anke W. Cheney, appeared at the meeting to declare that, perhaps, this policy should be reconsidered. She made no motion, but provoked some discussion.

Now that the Old Whithered Wench thinks it's a good idea is sufficient reason to question it. After all, she has absented herself from most participation in the deliberations of the Committee since it was founded in 1991. Perhaps not coincidentally, this is when the GOP in Prince William County has come to dominate County politics.

And, of course, she has engaged in the sleazy practice of attempting to use the criminal justice system against political enemies, chronicled here. Moreover, she has previously renounced the GOP when she didn't like the results of a contested nomination.

Ah, were it that it were so.

But the policy --- and it is only a practice, apparently not written into the Party Plan --- is a sound one, and one which has proven useful in the past. The Old Whithered Wench suggested at the meeting that the alternative of voting in new Members at the beginning of a meeting would promote Party growth. She asserted that such individuals stay in the GOP.

I have my doubts. After all, the only occasion when it was meaningfully invoked involved the efforts of former Chairman Sean Connaughton to take revenge on the GOP for the embarassing loss he suffered in a straw poll conducted at the 2004 County Convention regarding the impending race for Lieutenant Governor, for which he was a candidate for the GOP nomination. Having failed to support the local GOP, he didn't encourage his supporters to attend. They stayed away, in droves. Probably as a result, his main competitor --- future nominee and Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling --- walked away with a victory, and 70% of the vote.

At the next meeting of the County Committee, the organizational meeting, Chairman Sean attempted to "pack" the Committee with new "Members," all paying the then $30 dues on the spot and demanding a vote for new officers. Chairman Sean's campaign flack, Hector Quintana, was in attendance to oversee the operation, and it was reported to me at the time that he was on the phone with a very-agitated Chairman Sean when his attempted coup failed miserably, upon invocation of the existing practice by then-Chairman Brian Murphy, much to his credit.

The group brought in was widely described as a "mob" by those in attendance. And apparently, Chairman Sean didn't have too many standards in his quest for higher office: many were also Democrats. At least one of those attending was an individual with whom I attend church. Now, she's a very nice lady. But she's also a Democrat. Indeed, just a few months later, I saw her car with a "Kaine for Governor" sticker prominently displayed.

Few, if any, of the others have ever darkened the door of the GOP in the years since.

And even if it were true, is it the kind of "growth" to be desired by a political party with public responsibilities? Should local GOP leadership in the form of its Committee become subject to the control of a well-funded group which sufficiently organizes itself for a single meeting?

I think not. And while the goals of those who separated the County GOP from the combined Manassas/Prince William County Committee in 1990/91 were explicitly to deliver control of the County Party to the grass roots, as always, it was important to strike a balance between grass-roots control and surrendering control of the GOP to whatever mob happens temporarily to assemble.

It's a lesson as old as the American Founding, in which the Framers conscientiously and intentionally bequeathed to us a republic, not a democracy. And one that those who would consider any proposed change to this long-standing practice to consider carefully before doing so.

Methinks They Doth Protesteth Too Much

With some in the far Left moonbatosphere in high dudgeon over the President's speech yesterday in front of the Israeli Knesset, at least one popular denizen of the left-of-center portion of the Virginia blogosphere has been strangely silent on the subject.

Maybe there's a conscience or two there after all.

Nevertheless, it must be that President Bush has struck a nerve. Apparently, the President was out of line, according to Democrat leaders, as detailed by Doug Mataconis. Interestingly, he didn't associate any names --- or any political party --- with those remarks.

Oh dear.

These are the same people who frequently accuse and/or tolerate accusations that the President is a terrorist and/or a murderer and/or a liar and/or a nasty bastard who's simply trying to enrich his buddies in the oil and gas industry.

One might take them more seriously if they weren't advancing the notion and/or accepting support from the "Bush Lied; People Died" contingent.

Not A Chance

Just received this in today's junk mail folder:

Friends,

John McCain doesn't know me from Adam... but neither did George W. Bush in 2004 when I rallied over 80,000 Vets4Bush plus their friends and families. I did this "on my own nickel" and I'm doing it again for John McCain. I'm doing it because McCain is an honorable man and he is head and shoulders above the Democrat candidates. He is the ONLY candidate fit to be Commander in Chief. I don't agree with him on all issues, and it's likely that you don't either.

I know you all agree with me that we REALLY NEED to elect another Republican President this year - that's why you're attending this Convention. I would like to represent you - the grassroots Republican Activists - at the RNC National Convention in Minneapolis, MN on Sept 1. I would greatly appreciate your vote.

I hope to meet you at the 11th District Convention tomorrow. Registration opens at 9:00 a.m. and the convention is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m.

Suggestion: You might consider bringing snacks, because I've been told there will be no food for sale in the School.

O. P. Ditch
Candidate for RNC National Convention Delegate

I suppose I could dissect this chapter and verse, starting with the mistaken salutation "Friends."

But what would be the point? Suffice it to say that Ditch was part of Julie Lucas' charitably-named "Brain Trust" in last year's 51st District Delegate race for the GOP nomination, and when he didn't get his way at the Convention, either opted out entirely or, more probably, gave aid and comfort to Democrat Paul Nichols in his narrow victory in the General Election.

My response was more succinct than usual:

It seems to me that we need a National Delegate who works for all Republican nominees.

Not a prayer.

They Can't Be Serious

With the Democrat nomination all but won by Sen. Barack Hussein Obama, attention has started to turn to his choice of running mate. Of course, with Hillary Clinton still in the race, notwithstanding the virtual numerical impossibility of winning, many in the media are asking "What does she want?" They speculate that she would accept the VP slot.

Sorry, but I have to ask: If you were Barack Hussein Obama, would you really risk choosing such a nakedly ambitious person --- with all of the suspicious activities swirling around her --- as the person who would succeed you to the highest office in the land upon your untimely demise?

One hopes that an American President would be somewhat more risk averse.

Whether It's True Or Not....

that's just offensive.

Apparently, a Georgia bar owner is selling "Obama in '08" t-shirts, with a picture of Curious George above the slogan.

He justifies it by saying there's a resemblance between the cartoon character and the Democrat frontrunner.

One needn't be a race hustler to be offended by this.

Lowell Feld: Far-Left, and a Liar, Too

Yeah, yeah, I know: big surprise, coming from the far Left.

Nevertheless, it's more than a little surprising when those on the far Left, who make pretensions to commitment to free speech (especially when it's there's) so nakedly avoid uncomfortable little facts which reveal their irrationality.

Now, I don't often comment on Ranting Kids, ... er, Raising Dough, ...er, "Raising Kaine." Don't do so much at all. After all, it's little more than an echo-chamber for the far Left.

However, when I noticed a post on the Great Annandale Earthquake of Ought-Eight, I realized what had happened, and given that I felt it at my office (a mile from the epicenter), I offered that fact. First one in more than a year.

Then yesterday, I noticed that Lowell Feld, the Kid-in-Chief, offered a few "thoughts" on Governor Timmy's! tax increase plan... er, "transportation plan." I prefaced my comments with the attempted witticism that "thought" would be a nice idea, but implied that it wasn't reflected in the post.

Didn't record the comment elsewhere myself, but it was something to the effect that the typical far-Left pap about "the exorbitant profits of oil companies like ExxonMobil" --- you know, the 8-9 cents they make (on average) per gallon --- was more than a little nonsensical, since their increased profits are a function of increased volume of sales, and since both the Federal and Virginia governments tax gasoline at a rate about double that amount, thus "profiting" much more than those eeeeevil oil companies from the sale of gasoline. I also pointed out the basis for my authority on the issue, since my father was, for more than four decades, an owner of a single, small service station, and laughed at the uninformed premises underlying Lowell's "thoughts."

I also pointed out that, if you wanted to talk about altering the tax structure, "A reasonable, sensible case can be made for altering the calculation of the gas tax, changing it from a flat rate (17.5 cents per gallon) to a percentage of price, to adjust for inflation concerns. You don't make it, and Tim Kaine didn't have the guts to. What leaders!"

My comment generated a number of thoughtful responses, even an endorsement from someone with the handle "Bubby." Since I don't pay too much attention to Ranting Kids, ... er, Raising Dough, ...er, "Raising Kaine," I don't know much about "Bubby," or where he's generally coming from.

Lowell's response? He deleted my comment. Not the responses, mind you. Just the comment. When "Bubby" complained, Lowell declared:

"Skeptical Observor" is more than deserving of being "troll rated." And no, we're not going to have an "honest discussion" with someone who believes every Democrat is a left-wing "extremist," a "socialist," a "nihilist," a "communist," or any of the other things he's called us over the years.

Now, I can't look at my comment, since Lowell deleted it, and I have to work from memory. But I remember having said virtually none of those things in my comment. And certainly said nothing more insulting that one regularly sees on the pages of Lowell's blog about Conservatives.

But then Lowell said this:

This blog isn't the government (0.00 / 0) so the "free speech" issue is not applicable. People who come on this blog choose to play by our rules, just as people who go into any other blog -- right, left, center, whatever -- choose to play by their rules.

Anyway, if you read our posting guidelines, they are very clear:

* Users who unnecessarily bash or attack, including ad hominem attacks, any users on the site are subject to immediate banning. Our actions will be dictated by the specific circumstances.

* Users that post comments that do nothing but name-call, denigrate other users, or make inflammatory remarks will be warned first and banned if warnings are not heeded. Extreme violations will be banned outright.

Now, if asserting that someone has made an uninformed comment without thought is "ad hominem," and offering actual facts (about oil companies, for example) as opposed to anti-corporate propaganda is "nothing but name-call, denigrate other users, or make inflammatory remarks," then....

Well, the simple fact of the matter, it's not. And while I can't remember chapter and verse about what I said, it certainly wasn't fairly categorized as any of that. And I said so, giving Lowell a chance to restore my comment. He didn't.

And certainly, I was never "warned first." No e-mail from Lowell. Nothing. Just deletion of my comment. Which, of course, denies any other reader the opportunity actually to read the comment and see if it is fairly categorized as such.

Which is, of course, the point. The far Left --- and yes, that's precisely where Lowell resides --- can't take honest debate. It especially can't stand facts which disprove it's rhetoric. So Lowell deleted my comment.

Perhaps the most revealing fact is that, in responses which complain about ad hominem attack and imply name-calling, Lowell calls me a "troll."

That just about says it all about the merits of his position. And while I have no illusions about whose position on this will be more widely read --- not nearly as many people read this blog as read Ranting Kids, ... er, Raising Dough, ...er, "Raising Kaine" --- the hypocrisy and dishonesty of the leading "light" of that blog must be recorded somewhere.

Even if little, childish Lowell can't face the criticism himself.

Welcome Home

You know you're getting old when kids you watched grow up put away childish things and start their lives as adults.

One young man, a boy named Thomas, is someone I've watched grow up in my church over the last nearly-19 years. I watched him as a child, play softball with his dad, and watched him as he became an Eagle Scout. A few years back, he went off to Virginia Tech, graduating last year. He was not involved in last year's tragic shooting.

I was quite surprised to learn, a few months ago, that he had received his commission in the Army and had gone to Afghanistan.

Thankfully, he just returned from Afghanistan --- safely, thank God --- and was joyfully welcomed at today's church service.

Welcome home, Thomas. And thank you for your service.

Another Milestone for H-SC's Class of '86

I was pleased to learn today that a classmate and long-time friend has been named as the Publisher of the Virginian-Pilot.

Maurice A. Jones, H-SC '86, a Rhodes Scholar and former Commissioner of Social Services in Gov. Mark Warner's administration, assumed his duties on 14 April. It makes the Virginian-Pilot the nation's largest daily newspaper with a black publisher. Nevertheless, Maurice commented on the significance of that fact about as I would have expected:

"I hope that in whatever period of time I have to do this job, I won't be remembered as just the first black publisher," Jones said. "I hope people will say, 'This guy made a positive contribution to this place.' "

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Maurice graduated at the very top of our class, and was therefore our Valedictorian. He's just about one of the hardest-working guys I know. The Virginian-Pilot could have done a lot worse and, to my mind, couldn't have done much better.

Congrats, Maurice!

Another First (And Perhaps Last)

For the first time in history, the winner of a major Indy-car race is also appearing in Sports Illustrated's famous (or infamous) swimsuit edition.

Not that there's anything wrong with that!

Absenting Myself Briefly

As my friends know, I've had other pressing professional matters commanding my attention of late, and precluding my avocation here.

However, a few random comments:

On Obama's Attribution of Bitterness to Small-Town Pennsylvanians --- I'm from a small town in Pennsylvania, and maybe it's because I "escaped," but I am pro-gun, religious, and not bitter. No, Senator Barack Hussein Obama, I'm not. In fact, speaking for myself, and probably a goodly number of my fellow small-town Pennsylvanians, I can honestly say that we "cling" to our religion and our guns through good times and bad, the former, because it has stood the test of time, and it is not a mere faith of convenience, and the latter, because unlike you, we --- like the Founders who walked the streets of a then-small Pennsylvania town over two centuries ago --- don't put our faith in government. And we dislike you for what you represent, and what you believe. It has utterly nothing to do with your skin color.

Most of the time, it has to do with your Typical. Liberal. Arrogance.

On the Other Hand --- Obama's smear did give us the spectacle of Hitlary! Champion of the Faithful and of Gun-Owners!

Anybody who actually believes that is actually stupid enough to vote Democrat.

And Yet Another Reason to Dislike Hitlary --- Was actually in Philadelphia for most of last week, in trial in Federal court. Walked through the bar on Thursday night, and noticed a few guys with ear pieces standing between the bar and the restaurant. Sure enough, caught a rear view of a fat-a**ed bottle blond. Yep. Hitlary! was there. Not quite within spittin' distance.

Next morning, tried to get off my 18th floor room, and had to wait 15 minutes for an elevator, finally being relegated to a freight elevator.

So thanks, Hitlary. Now I have reason to personally dislike you.

Happy Earth Day!

Join the celebration.

I plan to set the appropriate tone by enjoying a fine, imported, hand-rolled tobacco product while driving home in my gas-guzzling SUV.

Far-Left Idiotic Whining, Vol. 4357

It seems that "Howling Latina" has discovered that Presidents no longer receive lifetime Secret Service protection, courtesy of --- according to her --- "Republicans [who] ran Congress [when] President Bill Clinton was president."

The implication seems to be --- she describes it as "skimpy security thanks to Republicans" --- that Republicans wanted to deny protection to Bill Clinton.

Oh, those wascally Wepublicans.

Of course, Clinton still receives lifetime protection, as the law only applies to "presidents elected to office after January 1, 1997 will receive Secret Service protection for 10 years."

And Clinton signed the bill. Well, OK. I couldn't find a reference for that. But it doesn't appear on a list of his vetoes.

And oh, by the way, it was introduced by Maryland Democrat Steny Hoyer.

Perhaps this is yet another "problem" that the Dems who now control Congress can "fix."

Unless, of course, it's only a "problem" if the concern is "skimpy security" for Democrats.

Then again, I guess there's no more basis for that accusation than for the silly whining of Howling Latina.

NOTE: I would have left a comment on HL's website pointing out these inconvenient facts, but HL is one of those far-Lefty blogs which shrinks from truth like a vampire shrinks from sunlight, and does not allow comments from other than registered users.

Charlton Heston, RIP

I first became aware of Charlton Heston when I was probably about 10 or 12, and the CBS Friday late movie would frequently be something like Soylent Green, The Omega Man, or Planet of the Apes. I liked his science fiction work in the late 60s and early 70s, and became something of a fan.

During a brief flirtation with high school theatre, I even had the privilege of attending a workshop with his wizened acting teacher, held at Bloomsburg State College (now Bloomsburg University). My recollection is fairly fuzzy, but I do remember the impression that this credential was pretty impressive among the teachers accompanying our group.

It wasn't until somewhat later that I learned that he had played Moses in Cecil B. DeMille's remake of his silent classic, The Ten Commandments, and much later that I finally saw Ben Hur. What a great actor.

In the early Nineties, I had occasion to meet the elderly actor from Hollywood's late Golden Age, when he came to Washington to aid in the Right to Work cause at a press conference near the Supreme Court. I met him briefly, and was impressed by his accessibility and friendly touch. He was the first "celebrity" I had ever met, and I found that I liked him. I remember telling him that I enjoyed his work, and he seemed pleased to hear it.

A few years later --- and before he became President of the National Rifle Association --- he lent his name to an award given by the National Right to Work Foundation to one of my clients, Terry Orr, who I had the privilege to represent in his successful effort to vindicate his Right to Work when the NFL Players' Association was attempting to force him and a number of his teammates on the Washington Redskins to pay union dues.

Once again, I was impressed. Since I was Terry's attorney, I got to speak with him at a little more length. I thanked him for his efforts on behalf of the Right to Work movement, mentioning that I had just returned from Alaska, where I had another case. As I recall, we spent the rest of our time together commiserating about jet lag. I suspect he was more acquainted with it than I.

I confess: I had become a fan. I bought three of the books he subsequently authored (two about his career; one devoted to lessons he wished to impart to his young grandson), and learned much about him. A devoted family man, Heston was clearly a Renaissance Man in many, many ways. Yet he was also a product of America's Heartland, hailing from Michigan, and never lost touch with his roots. Perhaps that explains his popularity among the movie-going public, why so many --- during the Clinton Interregnum --- put bumper stickers on their cars declaring "Charlton Heston is MY President."

I saw more of his older movies, and was impressed by his range and depth as an actor. I particularly remember one passage about his brief role in True Lies, Arnold Schwarzenneger's spy picture: he had apparently been picked for the role as one of the few men who could credibly intimidate Ah-nold, playing his grizzled boss.

Yeah, that worked, and worked well.

In one of his last roles, Heston recreated the role that won Paul Scofield an Oscar: that of Sir Thomas More, in a cable remake of A Man for All Seasons. Yet another role which Heston, among few, could credibly play.

So when I read last week that he was in the last stages of Alzheimer's disease, I was deeply saddened that a great voice, a sharp mind, was in decline. And when I turned on the television this morning, and learned that he had passed away, I was deeply saddened.

Of course, the deepest sadness is for his beloved wife of more than sixty years, and his children and grandchildren. Hopefully they can take some solace in the fact that their mourning is shared by legions of fans of all ages, and among those whose life he touched in so many positive ways.

RIP.

GWB's War: Safer Than A Democrat CinC

Don't believe me. The numbers tell the story:

1980 .......... 2,392 (Carter Year)
1981 .......... 2,380 (Reagan Year)
1984 .......... 1,999 (Reagan Year)
1988 .......... 1,819 (Reagan Year)
1989 .......... 1,636 (George HW Year)
1990 ......... 1,508 (George HW Year)
1991 .......... 1,787 (George HW Year)
1992 .......... 1,293 (George HW Year)
1993 .......... 1,213 (Clinton Year)
1994 .......... 1,075 (Clinton Year)
1995 .......... 2,465 (Clinton Year)
1996 .......... 2,318 (Clinton Year) Clinton years (1993-2000): 14,000 deaths
1997 ............. 817 (Clinton Year)
1998 .......... 2,252 (Clinton Year)
1999 .......... 1,984 (Clinton Year)
2000 .......... 1,983 (Clinton Year)
2001 ............ 890 (George W Year)
2002 .......... 1,007 (George W Year)
2003 .......... 1,410 (George W Year)
2004 .......... 1,887 (George W Year) George W years (2001-2006): 7,033 deaths
2005 ............. 919 (George W Year)
2006.............. 920 (George W Year)

The numbers are from a report by the Congressional Research Service.

Now, since the number of dead members of America's armed services aren't and can't really be the basis for the far Left complaints --- clearly, fewer Americans are dying in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq than died on base in the United States, or on the Clinton Administration's "peacekeeping" operations --- what can it be that bothers them so?

Might it be a military which is actually pursuing American interests abroad?

H/T to RightsideVA. RightsideVA has it right, too: Don't expect these facts to be reported in the so-called "mainstream" media.

Mass Slaying Justifies Strong Legislative Response

Apparently, there has been another mass killing, this one in Alaska. Four people are dead, allegedly murdered by a recently-released, 18-year-old domestic assault suspect.

This is the straw that breaks the camel's back for me.

There is simply no justification for allowing these instruments of death in the hands of young adults. Government control is absolutely called for. If only these weapons had been secured, four lives might not have been tragically ended in a spree of mass killing.

The Second Amendment be damned; it's time for gun contr....

Oops! Wait a minute! Turns out that the killer used a knife.

Never mind.

None Of Our "Business"!?!?

Former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton, campaigning as a surrogate on behalf of her mother in Indianapolis, was apparently asked yesterday whether her mother's "credibility" was hurt by her behavior in the Monica Lewinsky imbroglio. Her response?

"... I don't think that's any of your business."

Huh!?!?! A potential President's credibility none of our business?!??!

Among the many idiocies in the so-called "main-stream" media's coverage of the Clinton's, this one is certainly notable. This is a 27-year-old woman working for her mother. This is no longer a teenager being protected from a voracious media in the fishbowl which is the White House. For God's sake, this woman is old enough to run for Congress!

Yet the so-called "main-stream" media is applauding her!

But there's no media bias. Never mind. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Paul Nichols --- Your Union-Label Delegate

Just managed to notice this: the RINO's favorite candidate, Delegate Paul Nichols (D-51st) voted in favor of Delegate Adam Ebbin's (D-Lavender) bill to repeal Virginia's ban on public employee monopoly bargaining. Ironically, it would have repealed a law sponsored by former Delegate David Brickley (D-51st), Nichols' predecessor in the district. Though Brickley is a Democrat, and was at one time a union lawyer (for the PWEA, the National Education Association's County affiliate), even he was not enough of a moonbat to hold that government employees should be given privileged status in the allocation of scarce public resources.

Interesting. Even the obvious costs of creating a special agency to manage resulting contracts predicted that the bill would put a $7 million hole in the budget through 2014. And that's to say nothing of the possibility that government would grow, cost more, and the possibility of government-employee strikes (whether legal or not, they happen under such regimes). Very sensible in a time of tight budgets and transportation-spending deficiencies.

The Virginia GOP Caucus blog identifies it as the single worst bill for business in the Commonwealth. I wouldn't dispute that characterization.

You can thank the spoiled brats who didn't get their way in nominating Julie Lucas as the GOP nominee in the district, and/or the Gill-haters --- i.e., those who opposed the GOP victor, Faisal Gill --- for this lunacy. Apparently, for these children, smears are more important that policy.

And Nichols certainly can't plead ignorance about the effects of this bill. I had a detailed discussion with him about it well before the election.

I suppose Nichols can be credited with dancing with the ones who brung him. Or more likely, for hearing his master's voice.

Absurdity of the Day

From PeterFeddo.com:

"The Clinton's [sic] are very forgiving and gracious people...."

BA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Yeah. Ask Linda Tripp. Or Kathleen Willey. Or Juanita Broadderick. Etc.

Note: As one might expect, Feddo does not allow comments from other than those who register. I know I moderate, but I have yet to reject a comment since beginning that practice. It seems many of our moonbat friends fear confrontation with the facts.

Hilarious

Sent to me by one of my in-laws. Don't know if it's true, but it's hilarious, nonetheless:

The following is the 2007 winning entry from an annual contest at Texas A&M University calling for the most appropriate definition of a contemporary term.

This year's term: Political Correctness.

Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

RFLMAO.

Arthur C. Clarke, RIP

My wife returned home from work today and informed me that she had heard that Arthur C. Clarke, one of our favorite authors, had died at age 90. His New York Times obituary is here. There are multiple copies of some of his books around our house, as we are both fans.

Though I never met the man --- having never traveled to Sri Lanka, where he had lived since before I was born --- I feel as though I have lost an old and trusted friend.

The word "visionary" is probably overused. It seems an understatement when applied to Clarke. He was a good writer with incredible foresight, two requirements for a great science fiction writer. It is a combination too rare in the genre. He conceptualized communications satellites in geosynchronous orbit in a 1945 paper, but failed to patent the idea.

Nevertheless, it is a measure of the esteem in which he was held that some of the things he imagined (a space elevator, for instance) are staples in other writers' works. It is difficult to believe --- as the NYT obituary stated --- that his worldwide sales were only around $25 million. His contributions to science, culture, and the intersection of science and culture may well be several orders of magnitude greater than that number.

Indeed, though his name has, for some time, been associated with giants like Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, it may well be that he will be remembered as the greatest among these giants. No small feat when one considers that Isaac Asimov was a contemporary.

RIP.

Marching Idiots

From the home area, word of a "protest" informed by idiocy.

"Bush lied"? About what? These are the morons who confuse error (about WMDs, a world-wide intelligence consensus, BTW), with prevarication. 'Course, they're probably the same people who were defending Clinton's serial prevarications. These people would have been right at home with the John Birchers, who insisted on confusing policy differences with perfidy and conspiracy.

Then there's "War is Not an Answer." Funny, but it was a really good answer to slavery, fascism, genocide, and totalitarianism.

But never mind historical facts.

UPDATE: Another thought occurs to me: Those who drive around with a "War is Not the Answer" bumpersticker on their vehicles demonstrate conclusively that they don't even know what the question is.

Interesting Priorities

I wonder how many health insurance policies for poor children could have been voluntarily paid for in lieu of this display of conspicuous consumption?

I love it when Dems demonstrate their hypocrisy.

Aren't these the same people who complaing about so-called "chickenhawks"?

Brought To You By A Democrat Congress

So the Democrats have controlled Congress for more than a year, and what have they accomplished?

• A barrel of oil? Price almost doubled
• Job growth? Cut in half
  
• Home ownership? Dropped for the first time in years (it grew for 6 years under unified Republican rule)
• Average family grocery bill? Increased about $70 per month
• Stock market? Lost about 10% of its value
• Home values? Fallen roughly 8%
• Inflation? Up, now to over 4%
• Consumer confidence? In the tank
• Most people think we are heading into a recession

Will the so-called "mainstream" media blame the Democrats?

Of course not. It's all George W. Bush's fault.

H/T to Charles at TwoConservatives.

Interesting Day

Completely by chance, had occasion today to enjoy fine, imported, hand-rolled tobacco products with the former Mayor of New York City. An intimate little group, it included this Conservative Republican, a couple of moderate Republicans, and even a Democrat or two. It was one of those happenstances that was completely unplanned, and therefore, was very casual and interesting. Just a bunch of guys sitting around a coffee table, enjoying espressos, smoking cigars, and chewing the fat. It's almost impossible to exchange cross words over cigars, and this little tete-a-tete was no exception.

Nice, accessible guy. Our disagreements on some issues to the contrary notwithstanding, I find myself sincerely hoping that his service to the Nation is not yet complete.

Ferraro Quits Clinton Campaign

Former Democrat nominee for Vice President Geraldine Ferraro has quit the Clinton campaign.

It appears that she's caused quite a furor with her remark about Democrat front-runner Barack Obama:

If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.

Wow. Quite an indictment. Let's get back in the Wayback Machine, set it for 1984, and play with the first sentence of that quotation a little:

If [Ferraro] was a white man, [s]he would not be in this position.

After all, she was tapped as Walter Mondale's running mate after only three terms in Congress.

I guess Ms. Ferraro knows from whence she speaks when she talks about the elevation of unqualified candidates by Democrats to play at affirmative-action, identity politics.

Of course, if either Hitlary Clinton or Barack Obama were a white man, neither one would be in the position they're in. Seven years in the Senate, and before that, the wife of a powerful politician? Three years in the Senate?

On an objective basis, neither one of them is qualified to be President of the United States (in facd, the only Democrat who ran who was objectively qualified was Bill Richardson; his campaign never got off the ground).

Senator Chuck Colgan: PLINO?

That's "Pro-Life in Name Only."

You'll recall that state Senator Chuck Colgan has been conning the Conservative voters of his district ... well, for literally decades. He prevailed over Dave Mabie in 2003, and over a very strong challenge by Bob FitzSimmonds in 2007. You see, 'round about election time, Chuck has successfully beat back Republican challenges by claiming to his constituency that he is pro-life.

Of course, to an ever-increasingly moonbat Democrat constituency, this is apostacy. State Democrats even went so far in the last election to send out the typical Democrat scare literature, directed at women, suggesting that Senator Chuck's vote was necessary to preserve a woman's "right" to choose to kill her unborn child.

Recognizing that this might strip away the last vestige of respectability on this issue that he possessed --- by voting with Democrats in the organizational vote, Colgan actually voted to insure that no meaningful pro-life legislative initiative could move forward --- Colgan immediately and publicly disavowed the Democrat Party mailer. Thereafter, he squeaked by a very strong challenge from Republican Bob FitzSimmonds.

I guess we shall see. His Republican opponent, Bob FitzSimmonds, just sent me this e-mail:

Working with the Republican caucus, Senator Ken Cuccinelli was able to get the Senate to vote to ban Planned Parenthood funding from the state budget. While this is fairly normal language for the House version of the budget, the Senate conferees have always stripped it out of the final state budget. This is the first time the Senate has ever voted this way, so we have a historic opportunity to stop funding this organization at state expense.

I was privileged to work with Ken as his Legislative Director during session and it was an amazing experience to see the Democrats come undone over this amendment. Nearly a whole day was devoted to Democrat attempts to side step Ken’s amendment. Ultimately they failed and the proposal passed with the support of one Democrat, Chuck Colgan. Amazingly, the biggest impediment to final passage of this language is now this same Democrat, Chuck Colgan. While Senator Colgan is pro-life this stipulation has never seemed to be a priority for him and in spite of his presence on the budget conference committees, this language has been stripped out year after year.

Immediately after voting for the ban, Senator Colgan appointed another pro-choice legislator to the conference committee. The only explanation for this is to bolster liberals on the conference committee. The outcome will almost certainly be that this restriction will die, while Senator Colgan can continue to claim that he voted right. Senator Colgan, as the chairman of the powerful Senate Finance committee, has tremendous influence in this process and can insist that this language stay in the budget.

It is really important Senator Colgan hear from folks about this. The vote on the budget may take place as early as Thursday. So please call Senator Colgan’s office at 703-368-0300 or email his office at district29@sov.state.va.us and ask him to vote against funding Planned Parenthood.

So, is Democrat Chuck Colgan really pro-life, or is it merely campaign rhetoric by which he cons the voters of his district? Is he now working against the very pro-life legislation for which --- to his pro-life voters --- he will attempt to claim credit?

We shall see.

Eliot Spitzer And The Politics Of Sin

With the deliciously-scandalous news of New York's Freudian (i.e., everybody does everything to get more sex) Governor, comes word that the randy chief executive is attempting to negotiate a plea deal. Apparently, he doesn't want to resign his office unless guaranteed that he won't be prosecuted for his crimes.

Hmmmm. Perhaps. But if the interests of justice are truly to be served, one might be inclined to demand a gubernatorial pardon for each and every madam, prostitute, and john prosecuted by Spitzer during his tenure in his various offices.

Anyone sitting in prison or with a criminal record because of Spitzer's actions seems to me to be entitled to demand it as a matter of simple justice.

What A Little Strange Will Get You....

It seems that New York's Democrat Governor Eliot Spitzer is in trouble for paying for a little strange.

You would think that someone in his position would be somewhat more discrete.

Wow!

Shocking

In the wake of news that the top ten administrators in the Prince William County government schools are in line for a cumulative raise of nearly $100,000 comes complaints from Occoquan District School Board member Grant Lattin that more than $10,000 in per pupil expenditures is not enough. It was an Op-Ed in today's Potomac News, but a link on line is not available at this writing.

Aside from the fact that per pupil expenditures in this County have now exceeded the cost for tuition, room, and board at my pricey private college during my years of attendance there (1982-86), it is worth noting that this cost exceeds the cost of my sons' private Christian school for both of them, and could pay for about 75% of the tuition for another student.

Explain to me again why vouchers don't make both economic and educational sense?

A Few Centuries Late

As a Christian in the Lutheran tradition, this is certainly an interesting development.

It's nice, however, to see that our Catholic brother and sisters have finally come around.

H/T to Reason and Revelation.

He Gets A Pass On This One

Driving in today, I heard on WMAL that Governor Timmy! vetoed two bills which would have expanded Virginia's death penalty to include those who plan premeditated murders.

I support these bills. I support (with appropriate procedural protections) the death penalty generally, and its expansion particularly. I would expand it to include those who serially molest children, among the vilest of crimes, and serial, violent rapists.

However, I can't bring myself to criticize the eminently critiquable Governor Timmy! on this one. He's a devout Catholic, and has long opposed the death penalty. It was an issue in his campaign for Governor. Virginians knew what they would get when they unwisely chose to elect him. And while I expect him, as Governor, to carry out the death penalty when it is imposed --- my recollection is that he has --- he is certainly within whatever "mandate" he has to exercise his authority as Governor to oppose its expansion.

So you won't read a word of criticism here over his decision to veto bills like this.

It remains to be seen whether the Virginia legislature will override his veto.

yippee

Fox News calls the GOP nomination race for John McCain.

Outrageous

Today's Pot. News carries a page-one, above-the-fold story on how the top ten administrators in the Prince William County government schools can look forward to an across-the-board pay raise of 6%.

For a limited payroll which already tops $1.6 million dollars, this translates into a cost to taxpayers of nearly $100,000.

Huh?

Let's see. Assessments are dropping, and with it, County income in tax revenue at the current tax rate. County Executive Craig Gerhart has proposed a budget which would raise the tax rate to over $1 per $100 of assessed value, and would result in a tax increase to the average homeowner an additional $258 per year in County property tax payments. By some measures --- I don't necessarily buy into these predictions --- the economy is slowing.

Yet County Superintendent Steven L. Walts is going to get a pay raise of more than $14,000? And his top deputies are in for pay raises of nearly $10,000 apiece? Oh, and by the way, government-schools administrators are getting nice, shiny new offices (to the tune of nearly $40 million), slated to open in September.

Enough is enough.

What is really disturbing is the fact that people like Gainesville School Board member Don Richardson, who ran with the GOP endorsement, is making excuses for these exorbitant salary increases. How many County taxpayers got a 6% pay raise this year? What percentage have seen their net worth drop with declining home values?

Government employment should reflect the economy, and County revenues, as a whole. The notion that the County's top government-schools administrators are asking for, and may well get, such huge increases in times like these should outrage everyone who foots the bill.

That would be every taxpayer in Prince William County.

Changing The Subject

I guess Dems who like Barack Obama would prefer to talk about this than talk about his endorsement by notorious anti-Semite "Calypso Louie," aka Louis Farrakhan.