Lefty Dems mourn Hussein's death

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Jerry over at From On High has a post on the Lefty Democrats mourning the death of Saddam Hussein. Even Howling Latina "wept" at Saddam's death.

So let me get this straight.

The Republican Party that went after and captured Saddam Hussein has been voted out of office.

The Democrat Party, some of whose members are protesting Hussein's hanging and blaming President Bush and big oil companies, is now in charge.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Bob Goodlatte's perfect voting record

6th District Representative - Shenandoah Valley

Congressman Bob Goodlatte has a perfect voting record. Out of 1,214 votes recorded over the past two years, he missed exactly -- none.

That on top of visiting the 6th District on a regular basis to hold townhall meetings, attend events, meet with constituents ... he has truly represented us well.

Thank you, Congressman Goodlatte. Congratulations on your re-election. And best wishes for 2007 from the Valley!


H/T to Kilo

Live by the sword ... die by the sword

Hussein dead?

Unofficial word over news outlets is Saddam Hussein was executed tonight at approximately 10 p.m. EST. Justice in the Middle East is swift....

The cost of illegal immigratation?

Delegate Chris Saxman over at VA Cost Cutting Caucus asks the question: What is the cost of illegal immigration?

What is the cost to the taxpayers of Virginia? Chris says he's heard numbers of $600 million annually but that may be outdated. If you have any figures on it you can let him know - saxman@vacostcutting.com.

Christmas 2006 in Iraq

Surprise Christmas phone call received from Nate

What a wonderful Christmas present for the Salatin family this year!

Nate's parents received a special Christmas gift when he was able to phone home on Friday, Dec. 22, and again on Saturday, Dec. 23, to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. It was a complete surprise because his Unit had been out of touch for weeks, and they weren't expecting to hear from him until after the holidays. He was able to talk with his parents and siblings and, though hopeful of being on base through Christmas Day, his Unit received orders they were heading out again on Dec. 24. He was somewhere in the desert of Iraq on Christmas Day.

We in America enjoyed a peaceful Christmas safe in our homes because of our troops in Iraq and around the world ... men like Nate ... who were far from home fighting the war on terrorism there so we don't have to face it here.

Because they are on patrol they don't have regular access to telephones or computers or mail service so communication has been sketchy. It's winter now and extremely cold. For the past several weeks Nate and his Unit lived in their vehicles as they kept watch over the area between Syria and Baghdad which sees the heaviest traffic from foreign terrorists slipping into Iraq. As I've described before, Nate's Unit sweeps for mines and IEDs on the roadways and, while they've thankfully not had any fatalities, a bomb exploded recently under a vehicle that caused injuries.

Nate's family sent a Christmas package to him that included some Christmas ornaments so he decorated the inside of his military vehicle with those! Knowing Nate is to know optimism in the face of adversity.

Nate's parents relayed the following to their network of family and friends:

Thank you again for upholding Nate in prayer, and supporting him in so many other ways. He sounded good on the phone. Thank you, also, for remembering our family in prayer. Both the burden of concern for Nate, and the support of so many caring friends are very real to us. Nate is now just over half way through his twelve months of active duty.

No matter how you feel about the war in Iraq please support our troops. They need to know America is behind them in their efforts to keep us free.

Be safe, Nate. God bless....
---------------------------
Lance Cpl. Nate Salatin, 21, from Augusta County, VA, is currently serving with the United States Marine Corps in Iraq. Past posts about him include Merry Christmas Nate ... Semper Fi, Christmas, Nate, Happy Thanksgiving, Nate, Nate, 9/11 ... a Nation Remembers.

MSM's numbers game....

United Conservatives noted this morning's MSM headlines trumpeting that the number of American troops killed has now surpassed the number of victims on 9/11/01.

Is that the arbitrary number the MSM has decided we can't go beyond? I, as much as the next person, don't want to see anymore of our troops killed ... but we are at war.

What if we had used that same benchmark during World War II? Do you think we'd be living in a free world?

Did Muslim vote in Virginia swing Senate control?

There is an interesting read over at Red State where California Yankee writes that the Detroit Free Press reported Muslims were key to the November elections -- especially the election in Virginia.

Muslim taxi drivers in Northern Virginia are said to have taken the day off so they could drive fellow Muslims to the polls, and Muslim volunteers made Get Out The Vote calls to other Muslims.

Reportedly 50,000 Muslims voted ... and 47,000 voted for Jim Webb and not George Allen. The statistics say 96% of them will vote Democrat. That's staggering.

Do those statistics make us think that perhaps we should pay attention to the possible political influence of this segement of our population? Perhaps some elected officials know more about this situation than they're given credit for?

Christmas 2006....

Christmas 2006 is almost over. It's been fun and busy the past few days as we entertained friends, family, and neighbors.

Friday night we had 40 Republican activists over for food, drink, and lively conversation. These are the grassroots, the ones who work the hardest, the ones who give their time because they believe in the cause. Friday offered a tiny way to bring them all together and say "thank you" and let them know how much I care about each and every one of them. They uplifted me just by their friendship and presence in my home.

Saturday night our house was rocking with teens and twenty-somethings as our kids had friends over to eat and celebrate Christmas. They played board games, video games, danced, and just enjoyed being together. I love it when they are in our home because they are a great bunch of kids from various colleges and backgrounds. And not one drop of alcohol was consumed by any of them. Good kids....

Sunday night was Christmas Eve and we had a special young GOP activist who spent the evening with my family. Christmas Eve is family time for us ... the buffet is set out on the table for grazing throughout the evening, and we play board games, watch Christmas movies, and sing Christmas carols. This year I played the piano while our young friend played the guitar and we sang and laughed until we almost fell off the piano bench. Then I played the guitar, introducing him to some John Denver music, and he played and introduced me to 1800s folk music.

And then today -- Christmas Day. We opened gifts, admired and oohed, ate a pancake breakfast, sat around the woodstove and opened our stocking gifts, and had some peaceful time together before heading to dinner with my parents and my sister's family.

At my parents' home, once we all get together the volume escalates as we get rowdier and rowdier -- these middle-aged "kids" truly become children again as we tease and chase each other around the house after this package or that gift. Special somethings had been picked out for some ... others received sentimental gifts with special meaning ... and two in our crew received iPods this year -- the "pod" club, they are now calling themselves. The 11-year-old niece received a karaoke machine, thanks to Aunt SWAC Girl, so we have been having fun with that all evening!

In the dark of the evening the neighors' houses have twinkling white lights and candles in the windows ... it's beautiful and magical. And around the dining room table we prayed in thanks for our country, for the safety of Nate and our troops overseas, and for the gift of Christ.

Christmas 2006. May yours be filled with love.

Merry Christmas, Nate ... Semper Fi

Remember our troops at Christmas

In Honor of Lance Cpl.
Nate Salatin, USMC
and all Military Personnel from
Augusta County, Staunton, and Waynesboro
Currently Serving In
Iraq, Worldwide & on the Homefront
Our American Heroes
Thank You For Your Service

Merry Christmas!
Lance Corporal Nate Salatin, age 21
United States Marine Corps
From Augusta County, Virginia
Currently serving in Iraq

My dad, who passed away in 1975, was a Navy veteran from World War II. When I was growing up he was a Sunday School teacher for the 12-year-old boys' class in our Baptist church.

Dad's favorite Christmas hymn was "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day" ... the words had touched him because of his service during war. I've missed him terribly the past 31 years and think of him every Christmas when I hear this song.

This Christmas Nate is away at war. I'm thinking of him as I remember my dad and all the other military men and women who are currently deployed or who have served to protect our freedoms and to keep us safe.

This is for Dad ... and for Nate.

I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Merry Christmas, Nate.
We miss you. We love you. Be safe.
Thank you for keeping us safe. God bless.

Semper Fi.

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
~ Luke 2: 8-11

Open letter to conservative bloggers

It is quite apparent that the Lefty bloggers are communicating and working in tandem in order to destroy Republicans. I point to the blog site Raising Kaine. In a post entitled Don't Let the GOP Stay Silent on Virgil's Comments, they are quoted as saying:

“I pushed this project yesterday. The team at TPM had the same idea:
Since news of anti-Muslim comments by Rep. Virgil Goode and this was the strategy. Call 'em (or e-mail 'em) and find out. Congressmen, state leaders, senators, delegates - any of them. If you want to look up your own reps, use the useful tool on the left hand side of the Project Vote Smart website."

The latest combined effort of the lefty bloggers is to circle their wagons and protect Waldo. Once again they are communicating, organizing, and pulling together.

Like "macaca," the Virgil Goode attack was executed very well by the lefty bloggers. I give them credit for a well-run smear campaign. So what are their tactics and what have we learned?

1. Redefine words: For example, they defined "macaca" as a racial slur. "Marriage" was redefined as same sex. "Pornography" is now a picture of a terrorist act. This is easily stopped if the right would hold the left accountable when they try to redefine words. The right's failure to do so will be our demise.

2. Character assassination: The left uses words like bigot, racist, homophobe. This is in their playbook. They will gang up and smear whoever is a threat to them. They use these words to intimidate us and others. Whenever we see this happening, we must call them on the carpet. Failure to do so will result in an unpleasant experience.

3. Trial balloons: The left will make an accusation and see how the right replies. They will then analyze the message, refine it, and then send it off to the mainstream press. Remember ... the press is lazy and will let the left write the story. Many conservative bloggers unknowingly interact with the lefty bloggers, allowing them to craft their message. At that point, the message is ripe for the mainstream press to publish. We should be careful how we interact with the left and avoid letting them gain control.

4. Real estate: The right does not own real estate. Look at who owns the aggregators. The left does and the right, like lambs to the slaughter, participate on the left's terms. When the left cannot control the message, they attack and, if unsuccessful, de-blog the poster such as just happened to conservative blogger General Grievous' Dog. I would encourage a person with time on their hands to start an aggregator and let the left come to us.

5. They are not your friend: The lefty bloggers may turn on you in a heartbeat if you do not play their game.

6. They are paid: They are paid to construct the message. Even the best of us do not have the time to compete against this. RPV may want to consider getting a paid staffer on board to do what Raising Kaine does.

Sun Tzu said know your enemy and you will win every battle. At this point, it would be useful to analyze the tactics used by the left and compile a list so that we can avoid being blindsided in the future. It would be good to hear your input. We on the right must pull together.

I hope I am not too forward in offering these observations. It would be nice to get together with other conservative bloggers in 2007 to discuss strategy and tactics.

With best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy 2007,

SWAC Girl

Deafening silence from the left....

It's Christmas and most of us are busy. But there's one thing....

Al Qaeda is not taking a holiday break. They are waiting to strike. News out of Britain is there may be terrorist strikes during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Al Qaeda sent a message to the democrats:

"... you aren't the ones who won the midterm elections, nor are the Republicans the ones who lost. Rather, ... the Muslim Ummah's vanguard in Afghanistan and Iraq -- are the ones who won...."

Al Qaeda's No. 2 man, Ayman al Zawahri, went on to tell the democrats they need to negotiate with him and Osama bin Laden, and that America needs to stop backing Israel.

Wow. That's pretty powerful, scary stuff.

From the left ... the sound of silence. Where is the outrage? Where are the lefty bloggers in meltdown mode protesting such a message?

The truth is the left would rather blame Americans, specifically Republicans, who call attention to the terrorists and their evil act of beheading Paul Johnson, an American working in Iraq. They would rather censor conservative bloggers who try to remind them of the reason we are at war, of the evil of terrorism, of the awfulness of those photos. Blame the blogger ... give the terrorists a pass.

Meanwhile, the terrorists are calling the dems out ... trying to work with them ... wanting to make a deal to freeze out the Israelis.

They are telling the democrats they -- the terrorists -- caused the change in leadership in America in November ... and now they're cashing in their chips.

What? Did I hear the lefty bloggers howling about this?

Oh. No, it was the "right-wing" conservatives I heard calling attention to this message from Al Qaeda.

Al Qaeda ... the group that is headed up by Osama bin Laden. The group that Muslim men belonged to before they flew airplanes into buildings in America on 9/11/01. The ones who killed 3,000 innocent people on that beautiful September day.

Silence. Where are the protests from the Left? I'm waiting....

Did you hear the one about Al Qaeda being happy the Democrats won the November elections?

You libs were saying what about Virgil Goode?

Shaun Kenney reports about Al Qaeda's bragging rights for causing the Democrats to win the November elections.

Al Qaeda Sends a Message to Democrats
December 22, 2006
Brian Ross and Hoda Osman Report:

Al Qaeda has sent a message to leaders of the Democratic party that credit for the defeat of congressional Republicans belongs to the terrorists.

In a portion of the tape from al Qaeda No. 2 man, Ayman al Zawahri, made available only today, Zawahri says he has two messages for American Democrats.

"The first is that you aren't the ones who won the midterm elections, nor are the Republicans the ones who lost. Rather, the Mujahideen -- the Muslim Ummah's vanguard in Afghanistan and Iraq -- are the ones who won, and the American forces and their Crusader allies are the ones who lost," Zawahri said, according to a full transcript obtained by ABC News.

Zawahri calls on the Democrats to negotiate with him and Osama bin Laden, not others in the Islamic world who Zawahri says cannot help.

"And if you don't refrain from the foolish American policy of backing Israel, occupying the lands of Islam and stealing the treasures of the Muslims, then await the same fate," he said.

This is scary stuff. Negotiate with Al Qaeda? Drop our support of Israel?

Tell me again ... why are the liberals going after Virgil Goode? Because he dared to introduce dialogue about the possible Muslim problem in this country? Because he dared to introduce dialogue about illegal immigration in this country? Because he dared to introduce dialogue about the safety of this country?

This communication proves Congressman Goode is correct in his concerns. The libs are all about character assassination. They just want to silence Republicans ... it's not about the safety of our country.

Jim Webb called Middle Easterners TOWEL-HEADS. Where is the liberal outrage?

I'm still waiting....

Liberal hypocrisy

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch
December 8, 2006

In Brief
Departing New York Times editorial page editor Gail Collins tells Editor and Publisher magazine that her greatest regret is her failure to question more rigorously the existence of WMDs in Iraq: "If I had to do it over again, I would have paid a lot more attention to the people on the [editorial] board who had doubts. I thought there were weapons of mass destruction and most of the board members did. Frankly, we did not spend enough time debating the issue." Oh, sure, that's fine for her -- but for precisely the same failure, President Bush deserves impeachment, if not the electric chair. [my emphasis added]

Afton Mountain to receive facelift

Good news about Afton! They are going to clean it up.

Those of us who live in the Augusta/Albemarle/Nelson County areas are well aware of Afton Mountain where I-64 and Rt. 250 cross from the Shenandoah Valley over to the Rockfish Valley, Charlottesville, and points east.

When I was young this area had a Holiday Inn, a Howard Johnson's restaurant, and a gift shop along with the current gas station. The Holiday Inn has been gone for a number of years and is now known as the Afton Inn which has seen better days. The Howard Johnson's and gift shop are both closed, and another building was burned by arsonists two years ago.

The area looks seedy and unsightly. The problem is it is point where the Skyline Drive ends and the Blue Ridge Parkway begins, both of which intersect with I-64 and Rt. 250. It could be a crown jewel in the Blue Ridge crown, a beautiful gateway into the Valley.

But it's ugly, plain and simple.

The visitor center receives approximately 50,000 visitors year. What a shame their first impression is ... that.

Now the good news. Augusta County and Waynesboro plan to work together by contributing funds to the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission to study what to do with the area.

The Thursday Staunton News Leader has this article about what is being done. Whatever is decided has to be an improvement on what is there now.

I would like to see a quality restaurant on Afton so patrons could enjoy the views ... somewhere to go for special dinners. A nice hotel would be nice, too. The potential is endless.

Many will be watching to see what is happens.

The magic of Christmas....

"There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas." -- Charles Dickens

Lots of Christmas happenings at SWAC Girl's home today ... we're entertaining tomorrow night so the kitchen is a bee hive of activity as I work on last-minute food prep for 40 guests.

Happy happy and merry merry!

"Twas the Month Before Christmas"

A politically correct Christmas poem ... sent by a friend

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas -- no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About shepherds and wise men and angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say --
December 25th is just a "holiday."
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit,
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X Box, and I-Pod,
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanza
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word "Christmas" was nowhere to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penney's and Sears,
You won't hear the word "Christmas" -- it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, now Darden, now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen,
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith,
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded,
The Reason for the Season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate "winter break" under your "dream tree,"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say,
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ... not Happy Holiday!

-- Anonymous Author

H/T to bt

Bolling on "Fox & Friends" this morning

Will appear live at 8:20 a.m.

Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling will appear live on "Fox & Friends" on the FOX News Channel at 8:20 a.m. TODAY, Wednesday, December 20.

Lt. Governor Bolling will be discussing issues facing Virginia for a new segment on “FOX & Friends” called “State of the States”, which profiles a different state each week. Virginia is the first state in the series.

Students support troops ... with "World's Largest, Now Greatest, Scrapbook"

To be presented at Armed Forces Bowl Game on Dec. 23

There are so many military-related stories that would make America feel proud ... if only they were reported by the mainstream press.

One such story that should be reported by every major network is about a huge scrapbook titled "World's Largest, Now Greatest, Scrapbook," that students nationwide, including Virginia, are compiling to show their admiration and support for our troops. It is sponsored by "America Supports You," a website dedicated to the American military.

Each student makes a page to be added to the 24,000 pages that have already been crafted. The scrapbook will then be presented to the military during halftime at the Armed Forces Bowl football game in Fort Worth, Texas, this Saturday, December 23, 2006.

Virginia fifth grade students at White Oak Elementary School in Burke contributed to the scrapbook, working to come up with pictures and letters to express their appreciation of our troops. For some, it helped them better understand that we cannot take our freedoms for granted. For others, that lesson was already clear.

One 10-year-old wrote, “You must be very brave to be in Iraq. People in America are very proud of you and that (servicemembers) should never really forget that.”

The scrapbook had special meaning to some in this particular classroom. An 11-year-old's brother, fighting in Iraq, was killed last year. He father is currently in the military. His scrapbook page was poignant as he wrote:

“We are all so proud of you. Only the bravest of our country would fight for freedom and peace, and all of you are heroes. What you do is wonderful. My brother went to Iraq and was killed doing his job, and I know you are willing to make that sacrifice, and that is brave. Being brave leads you to victory, and I know you’ll become victorious.”

One of the fifth-grade teachers has a son in Iraq, another son at Fort Benning, Ga, and is married to a retired military member. The project helps her feel connected to her sons and others in the military.

Organizers of the scrapbook say this project is important because America needs to keep saying "thank you" ... and our troops need to keep hearing it.

Marine Major Matt Morgan, who visited the classroom in Burke, VA, assured students that these are the things that uplift the military. He said:

“I think any servicemember that’s been overseas can tell you that you don’t think too much about it. But then that one day when you’re at rock bottom. … You come back in the squad tent or walk in the chow hall and you see one of these things hanging on the wall, it can mean the world for you. It can just turn your whole day around.”

In Iowa, school students also contributed to the scrapbook as part of a Christmas project ... including a five-year-old kindergartner who has been blind since birth. Using his Brailer, his message was powerful in its simplicity:

"Thank you for protecting us. I like you guys."

Is something like this appreciated by the military? You bet it is! Army Master Sgt. Steven Haigh said:

"It's just very encouraging to know that people are behind you and behind what you're doing."

Be sure to watch the Armed Forces Bowl football game Saturday to see the "World's Largest, Now Greatest, Scrapbook" as it is presented to the American military.

Now ... if only we could get the press to cover these uplifting stories....

Status quo?

Public education system needs updating

"The fact is, our education system looks a lot like the U.S. auto industry in the 1970s -- stuck in a flabby, inefficient, outdated production model driven by the needs of employees rather than consumers... We can continue to invest enormous sums of money in this failing system -- and remain like Detroit in the 1970s, slipping further and further behind our international competitors. Or, we can put our famous American ingenuity to work and build a better system -- and become like Silicon Valley today, which is leading the world in innovation and technology"

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Wall Street Journal
December 19, 2006

Christmas under attack?

As the denials escalate in the war on Christmas -- liberals proclaim over and over there is no such thing and it's all in the minds of those dastardly conservatives -- the examples proving there is a war on Christmas continue to pile up.

Salon.com says conservatives are crying that the sky is falling. Others on the left join in the chorus. The ACLU continues its march toward secularism.

Meanwhile, all it takes is a morning read of the newspaper ... or click on the evening news ... and you will hear about yet another case of Christmas being attacked.

Just look at the past week with the Sasha Cohen episode when a school choir was shushed in the middle of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" to avoid offending the Jewish skater. The only problem was Sasha neither requested they be stopped nor was she offended, as her mother later explained. Sasha is half Christian and celebrates Christmas and Hanukkah.

Read fellow blogger VDARE's archives dating back to 2000 and you will see dozens of examples of everyday people who have encountered their own "War on Christmas." His latest post, If There's No War on Christmas, How Come They Deployed An Army, tells how he has also noticed the libs are marching in lockstep in their denial of anything anti-Christmas.

Jerry Falwell reports on cases that Liberty Counsel represented in keeping Christmas:

-- McNair Middle School in Fayetteville, Arkansas, removed a teacher's nativity scene and Star of David from a larger display that also included secur secular holiday decorations. After Liberty Counsel sent a legal memorandum showing that the display was constitutional, school officials reversed the ban."

-- In Ohio, a public school teacher was told not to say "Merry Christmas" in class. Again, Liberty Counsel sent a legal memo to the district superintendent and an administrator has now advised teachers that they may say "Merry Christmas."

-- In Wisconsin, a public school employee was told by the principal that a musical program scheduled to take place in a church was going to be moved to a different location. Liberty Counsel sent a legal memo about Christmas to the school. After receiving the memo, the principal decided to keep the event at the church.

-- In Orlando, Fla., seniors in a retirement home received a directive to strip the common areas of any religious symbols or words in Christmas displays. At the management's direction, an employee actually cut the wings off the angel on the Christmas tree. Liberty Counsel is at work in this case.

Mathew Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel and dean of the Liberty University School of Law, said:

"There is a war on Christmas in this country. Every victory goes a long way toward winning the battle, but we must not take Christmas or our religious freedom for granted. Celebrating Christmas is the classic example of religious accommodation mandated by the First Amendment. If Christmas is silenced or censored, we all lose a piece of our religious freedom."

During Christmas 2005 John Gibson and Bill O'Reilly of Fox News both reported on case after case of Christians' religious rights being infringed upon during the holidays. John Gibson documented them in his book, "The War on Christmas," and both he and O'Reilly were attacked by those on the left for even having the gall to suggest there was such a battle going on.

Meanwhile, the war continues.....

Send a holiday thanks to the troops

LetsSayThanks.com

Brighten a Marine or soldier's day.

Check out Let's Say Thanks where you can choose a thank you card and Xerox will print it and send to a soldier who is currently serving in Iraq. You can't decide who will receive it but it will go to a member of the armed services.

This has been going around the internet for a while but Christmas is an especially important time to let our military know we are thinking of them ... and thanking them. It is FREE and it only takes a second. Wouldn't it be wonderful if our soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them...

H/T to Chris Saxman

"Internet Republicans of Virginia"

Senator Ken Cuccinelli (37th District) is proposing the organization of the Internet Republicans of Virginia (IRV) ... proving that more and more Republicans, including electeds, are coming on board as we discover how effective the internet is as a political tool of communication.

Senator Cuccinelli wrote:

Here's an idea that I had back in the late 1990s that I'm going to dust off here and propose to all of you for consideration. I think that the GOP should have already done something like this, but it hasn't happened yet anywhere in the U.S. that I'm aware of, so let's get the ball rolling here in Virginia.

My general idea is that the Republican Party of Virginia institutionalize Internet/World Wide Web party participatation as a way to grow the party in new directions and recruit Republicans that can help our campaigns get our message out and fight the political war going on every day in the virtual world.

I suggest that the Virginia GOP officially establish a new group within the formal structure of the GOP, namely, the Internet Republicans of Virginia (name doesn’t matter). It would have elements of the CRs, YRs and the VFRW, and some elements of local units like the Fairfax County Republican Committee (FCRC).

Senator Cuccinelli goes on to outline how this could be set up in the Party Plan and then says:

I think there are some very basic and very good reasons to develop such a new arm of the Party.

First, this opens a totally new way to expand the GOP and to do so in a way that goes after some tough but valuable recruits: young people and tech saavy people, a good proportion of whom are likely to be minorities. Many, many of these folks will not be traditional party participants. So the IRV offers us an opportunity to bring people in that would not participate in the party any other way.

Second, by bringing in new, tech-saavy folks, we expand the likelihood that there will be more GOP-focused blogs and bloggers, and as we Republicans know, that will lead to competition among the GOP bloggers to perform better and more effectively. Thus, we are likely to get more quantity and quality from those carrying on the political battle on our behalf on the net.

Third, the IRV members would be new resources to help all of our GOP campaigns at every level communicate in the virtual world, both aggressively carrying our message on the Internet and defensively responding to the other side as the need arises. IRV members are going to know more about how to use all aspects of the Internet, email, databases, computers, etc. to help a campaign than 98% of the rest of our activists. This is a fast-changing environment where our campaigns need more people that can help them in this arena. Let’s give them a formal place to go and grow within the party.

Fourth, the IRV would be a hotbed for political innovation. I would hope that they could very quickly hold Virginia’s first Internet convention. I would expect their meetings to be over the net, probably using conference calling capabilities that already exist (e.g., using www.FreeConferenceCall.com) with web elements in tandem (e.g., powerpoint presentation on the web with an audio discussion by conference call). And I would sure as heck hope that their meetings would not resemble the content of unit committee meetings, which actually chase many possible party members away.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this, but you should also tell your local SCC representatives (assuming you know who they are), Congressional District Committee reps, unit chairman or RPV if you think this is a good idea. After all, they need to implement it if it’s going to go forward.

Republicans may contact Senator Cuccinelli with thoughts and ideas(Ken4Sen@Cuccinelli.com).

At the local level talk with your Unit Chairman, District Chairman, and State Central Committee member if you are interested in seeing this move forward.

The "War on Christmas" continues

Interesting read over at VDARE about the continuation of the War on Christmas ... the one that some on the left say doesn't exist.

In "No War on Christmas? Ask Sasha Cohen," VDARE lets us know about this latest episode in political correctness. An article in the Telegraph.co.uk says:

The Rubidoux High School Madrigals in Riverside, California, broke off in the middle of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman at a rink where Sasha Cohen, a US Olympic medal winner, was performing in front of fans.

Staci Della-Rocco, the director of the choir, said she complied with the request by a city council employee and police officer to silence the children because "I didn't want to have a big old huge scene in front of my kids".

The article went on to say:

Cohen, 22, however, was "stunned" to learn the choir had been ordered to stop singing on her account, her mother said.

The 2006 Olympic silver medallist is half-Christian and "celebrates everything" at this time of year, said Galina Cohen. "Sasha was stunned. We both thought the voices were just lovely, they were doing such a wonderful job. Christmas carols are part of celebrating the holiday season."

Because of this post, I also found VDARE's archives which were fascinating because they listed cases of politically-correct attacks on Christmas dating back to 2000. This website is serious in its efforts to document how the left has tried to subvert Christmas in America. I've got some reading to do to catch up with all he's written....

Todd Culbertson to be next Richmond Times-Dispatch editor

He will step up when Ross Mackenzie retires

My newspaper hero Ross Mackenzie is retiring next month as Editorial Page Editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, a position he has held since 1969 ... and there have been whispers about who would replace him.

It's no secret the Times-Dispatch has undergone some, um, interesting changes the past few years ... and the liberal contingent in the city would like to make it lean more left even though most large-city newspapers nationwide already are liberal. It's nice to have a somewhat conservative newspaper in a conservative state.

Today's Times-Dispatch announced Todd Culbertson, 56, Deputy Editor, will move up.

Todd Culbertson. A super choice. He's probably not as conservative as Mr. Mackenzie ... but he is an excellent choice to take the helm. And he's a long-timer ... been with the paper since 1976 and has worked alongside Mr. Mackenzie for years in the editorial department.

I had the pleasure of meeting Todd in 2000 on the train from Richmond to Philadelphia where he was going to cover the Republican National Convention. I was also on my way to the convention, along with my mom and sister, as guests of my Texas sister who worked for Governor George W. Bush. We said hello which was followed by some small talk about attending the convention. I didn't see him again until we were in the Philly train station waiting to return to Richmond ... we talked briefly about the convention and his editorial pieces in the newspaper ... and I didn't see him again until the spring of 2006 at the Correspondent of the Day luncheon in Richmond.

Moving into Todd's place as Deputy Editor is another comforting choice -- A. Barton Hinkle, also a long-time T-D employee -- who has been at the newspaper since 1990.

I grew up reading the Times-Dispatch and, even today, it is delivered daily to my door in the Shenandoah Valley.

Congratulations to these two gentlemen. It's nice to know that the major change of losing Ross Mackenzie as editor will be made a little easier with T-D veterans like Todd Culbertson and A. Barton Hinkle.

Wreaths at Arlington Cemetery to honor and remember....

Arlington National Cemetery
"Remember the fallen ... honor those who serve.
Teach our children the value of freedom."

It's happened again....

For the sixteenth year in a row, Worcester Wreath Company out of Maine donated thousands of wreaths for Arlington Cemetery where over 500 volunteers helped place them on head stones today.

Karen and Worrill Worcester, owners of the wreath company that supplies all evergreen products for L.L. Bean, never sought notoriety but word through the blogging community, and circulation of the above photo around the internet, got the word out. They consider it their way of showing honor for our fallen heroes.

The Wreaths Across America story began 16 years ago when Worcester Wreath Company (a for-profit commercial business from Harrington, Maine) began a tradition of placing wreaths on the headstones of our Nation's fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery.

Over that period of time, Worcester Wreath has donated 75,000 wreaths which were placed by volunteers in a wreath-laying ceremony each December. This year, Worcester Wreath Company will do even more to show its respect and appreciation for those who serve, by doing the following:

* Doubling its annual donation to 10,000 wreaths destined for Arlington National Cemetery.

* In addition to the Arlington Wreath Project, Worcester Wreath donated 2,500 wreaths to the Maine Veterans Cemetery at Togus, and over 1,800 ceremonial wreaths, representing all branches of the armed forces, will be sent to over 200 other state and national veterans cemeteries across the Country.

* For the first time in 2007, ceremonial wreaths will also be donated to 24 veterans cemeteries on foreign soil, and aboard U.S. ships sailing in all seven seas.

We honor our heroes who have fallen ... we honor their families ... we honor our veterans ... we honor those who serve stateside and around the world.

Freedom is not free.

Help for military needed at Brooke Army Medical Center, TX

Thanks for the generosity!

After putting the word out about items needed for our wounded American troops at Walter Reed Hospital, the hospital is now overflowing with donations and they are grateful for everyone's kind-heartedness. Since they are out of storage space for all the donated goods, let's cease and desist!

Instead ... there's another facility that needs our help.

Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas takes care of our burned soldiers as well as amputees ... and they need and want items.

Many of these soldiers and their families live in the facility for months as they recover. Requested items are needed year round so this doesn't need to be just a Christmas project.

Requested items:
1) Wal-mart gift cards (these are especially sought after because the local Wal-Mart sells gas and offers one-stop shopping)
2) Pre-paid calling cards
3) Postage Stamps
4) DVDs (even for kids since families are there)
5) Microwave popcorn
6) Hats
7) Gloves
8) Socks
9) Underwear (all sizes)
10) Tennis shoes w/velcro
11) Winter coats/jackets
12) Weightlifting gloves for wheelchair patients
13) Trousers w/snaps, zips along the legs
14) Razors (please purchase a decent disposable because the cheap ones are awful on their face and skin - not their request but ours)
15) Basic toiletry items (shaving creme, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotions, shampoo)

All items should be new, sealed, fresh, and clean. No used items please. Many families literally pack up and re-locate to be with their loved ones and basically start a new life so Brooke does what they can to help the families make the transition.

Send donated items to:

Family Assistance Center
ATTN: Judith Markelz
2013 Stanley Rd., Suite 95
Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234

Thanks to Mew. She and I hooked up two years ago when coordinating help for our troops on both sides of Afton Mountain. She has dedicated her life to this and, though handicapped, she works hard to get what is needed for our men and women stationed overseas. My hat is off to her and thanks for keeping us informed about what is needed.

Mew's definition of a hero:

1. A person noted for feats of courage or nobility purpose; especially one who has made risks or sacrifice.
2. An object of extreme admiration and devotion.
3. An American Soldier.

I would add Mew as the example of a hero.

Big Brother Jimmy is watching?

Shaun Kenney posted about the possiblity of the Jim Webb campaign gathering personal information about Virginia bloggers during the just-completed campaign...

... and as I read the blogs I was amazed at the number of lefty bloggers who were condoning this behavior and bashing Shaun Kenney.

Question # 1: Would they take the same stand if the story said the Allen campaign had compiled files on the blogger community?

Question # 2: The bloggers who are defending the Webb campaign if, indeed, this really occurred ... did they protest the Patriot Act?

Question # 3: Some have proposed that, because we blog our opinions, we are fair game to being investigated. Would they support that same reasoning for mainstream media reporters? If a journalist wrote something negative about a campaign, would it be okay for the campaign to retaliate by revealing personal information about that journalist?

I was just wondering....

It's "1984"

Big Brother Jimmy is watching....

This was eye-opening. Shaun Kenney reported the Webb campaign compiled and kept files on bloggers -- especially conservative bloggers -- during the Allen campaign.

It seems as if the Webb campaign made a strategic decision to unleash this opposition research if something damaging came out against their candidate, simply to personally slander the blogger making the claim.

Read the entire post here including names of bloggers on the list, and check back for updates ... apparently it's still developing.

Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) suffers stroke?

Fox News, CNN, and others are reporting Senator Tim Johnson, D-South Dakota, has suffered a stroke in his D.C. office and was taken to George Washington University Hospital about 11:30 this morning.

Senator Johnson served as Congressman from 1986-1996. In 1996 he was elected to the Senate.

If he is unable to finish his term, his replacement would be decided by Republican Governor Mike Rounds ... and the balance of power may shift in the Senate.

Our prayers are with the Johnson family at this time. Before the accusations begin ... no, the Republicans are not circling ... Senator Johnson may be fine and recuperate completely from this -- he is, after all, a young man of 60 -- but the situation has been put out there by all the news services for consideration.

First On Race Day

I got a chuckle reading Norm at OMT as he responded to something Shaun Kenney had posted:

It will take me a couple of days to sort through all of his arguments. But one thing stands out as just dead wrong:

I choose to drive a Ford truck because Chevy trucks break down.

My dear Shaun....remember that Ford stands for "Fix Or Repair Daily."

Norm, you brought back a pleasant memory.

My dad, God rest his soul, worked for Ford. One day during my high school years, I told him that someone had said FORD stood for "Fix Or Repair Daily."

He smiled in his low-key way and said:

"Nope, they got it wrong. It stands for First On Race Day."

The past 30 years I've owned Volvos, Nissans, and Dodge vehicles but I now proudly drive ... a Ford.

Saxman's Cost Cutting Caucus ready for 2007 Session

From Delegate Chris Saxman
Chairman, Cost Cutting Caucus

While in many ways, politics appears to be turning more negative, with year after year of negative campaign advertising, name calling and blind partisanship, I am happy to report that there are many of us here in Virginia working to change that culture by working together for the good of our Commonwealth. While our efforts may not receive as many headlines or get as much coverage, we are doing the hard work of changing the way Virginia government operates so that we can better serve the taxpayers of Virginia in more efficient and cost-effective ways.

I am chairman of a group in the legislature called the Cost Cutting Caucus. For the past year, I have been working with Bill Leighty, Chief-of-Staff to former Governor Warner and current Governor Kaine, to create working groups on reducing costs in 10 key areas of state government operations.

I am pleased to report this week we are announcing these working groups, with about three people in each area. The groups will consist of one House member, one Senator and one representative of the private sector. Mr. Leighty will be assigning several staff members to assist us in our efforts as well. Speaker Bill Howell and Senate Majority Leader Walter Stosch have given their support to this important effort.

We will be looking at these ten areas:

1) Energy
2) Communications
3) Water Usage
4) Travel
5) Solid Waste
6) Real Estate
7) Central Mail
8) Printing
9) Fleet Management
10) Return to Work

As we seek to manage down the operating cost of state government, we must also keep in mind that we should be trying to bring about better services at the same time. In the private sector, we have to do that every day just to survive. Bringing that mentality to state government has been an interesting journey to say the least, but with people who "get it," we are well on our way.

An example of the size of the task - the energy bills to the Commonwealth are about $500,000,000 every biennium and increasing at a substantial rate. If we can slow the growth and even reduce the baseline, we can save millions of dollars. That money can be better spent elsewhere or even returned to the taxpayer.

Moving forward on these working groups, it is important that we continue to receive input from you - the taxpayers who foot the bills and the customers who utilize these services.

I am pleased to be participating in a Town Hall meeting hosted by Americans for Prosperity-Virginia, with my Co-chairman of the Cost Cutting Caucus, Senator Ryan McDougle, on Monday December 18th, to share our efforts with Virginians and hear their thoughts on how we can improve the way our government operates.

For more information, please visit www.afpva.org.

My door is always open, and I welcome your input and suggestions. You can reach me anytime at saxman@intelos.net. I look forward to continuing to work with you to make Virginia a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Military meets, exceeds recruitment goals

From the AP comes news that the military -- all branches -- is meeting or exceeding recruiting goals even in the face of growing dissatisfaction and continued negative reports from the mainstream media about the war.

Reports said the Army did the best, achieving 105% of its goal, followed by the Marines at 104%, and the Navy and Air Force both filled 100% of their recruiting goals.

People who believe in America? Go figure....

Donald Rumsfeld says goodbye to the troops

I like Donald Rumsfeld, probably for all the reasons the libs don't. He's forceful, he says what he's thinking, and he doesn't get bogged down in political double-speak ... all the reasons I also liked John Bolton in the U.N. It's comforting to have the "John Wayne"-types in charge of our country.

On last night's Hannity and Colmes, Sean Hannity showed more of his weekend trip to Iraq with outgoing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld ... and he showed an American military that believes in its mission.

In an exclusive interview (transcript here, video here), Secretary Rumsfeld talked about this last trip to say "thanks" to the troops, and about his role in the war. In an excerpt he said:

This is the first war of the 21st century. It's new. It's strange. It doesn't have the benefit of major armies, and navies, and air forces clashing one with another, and an outcome that's clear.

There's only so much the military can do. The military can do the military tasks, but ultimately it will take a political solution.

But the danger to our country is real, it's present, it's lethal, and it's growing. That is a hard thing for people to understand, because we've been so successful in not having an attack in this country for five years.

And this president is almost a victim of the success he has had in preventing another attack in our country, because people have allowed the nature of the threat to diminish in their minds. And I think that we ought not to.

We ought to understand — what was it that Winston Churchill said — "the gathering storm." It wasn't clear. It was ambiguous, and there were various signals. But, by golly, we're in a period where there is a gathering storm. And the threats of chemical and biological and radiation and nuclear weapons are real. The seriousness of these people is unambiguous, and we need to be vigilant.

The Secretary received standing ovations from the troops when he spoke. During townhall meetings, there was only one somewhat negative question from a soldier who asked if the U.S. should have been more patient before going into Iraq. Rumsfeld responded that we had been patient while the U.N. passed 17 resolutions demanding Iraq give up their chemical weapons and allow inspectors ... and Hussein did not comply. A thousand soldiers jumped to their feet and applauded the response.

The military men and women stationed in Iraq are enthusiastic about their jobs and want America to know that, when Americans at home say we're losing the war, our troops feel America has no faith in them and the job they are doing.

Sean's impromptu discussion with troops in Mosul showed men who loved America, first and foremost -- enough to leave their families behind to fight so that you and I could continue to enjoy the freedoms we have. You must watch this video whether you are for or against the war.

Our troops are operating with their hands tied in a politically correct world. If let loose, they could finish this war and be done with it. The people who complain the most about the war are the very ones who are causing the politically correct problems.

Thank you, Donald Rumsfeld, for your leadership ... and for your courage in standing with the President since 9/11 to keep terrorist attacks away from our country the past five years.

Help our wounded troops at Walter Reed

Stars and Stripes reports that donations are needed for wounded troops who are patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. This is a great project at Christmas (and year round) and is very much appreciated by the military men and women and their families.

The hospital's Family Assistance Center is seeking ...

-- shoes
-- gloves and winter jackets
-- postage stamps
-- prepaid phone cards
-- weightlifting gloves (for wheelchair patients)
-- trousers with snaps or zips along the legs
-- razors
-- prepaid gas or grocery cards

The Center requests that no cash or used items be donated.

Donations can be sent to:

Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Medical Family Assistance Center
Bldg. 2, 3rd Floor, Room 3E01
6900 Georgia Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001


H/T to mew

Hannity's trip to Iraq ... hear from the troops

Hannity and Colmes last night featured Sean Hannity as he discussed his weekend trip to Iraq with outgoing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and his impression of our military men and women serving in that part of the world. Sean was the only news person who accompanied Secretary Rumsfeld on this farewell trip to see the troops.

Watch as Sean talks with the troops. If you are against this war, you will be amazed to hear how much they support our mission in Iraq. This is a must-see video by everyone on both sides of the Operation Iraqi Freedom fence.

Tonight (Tuesday, December 12) on Hannity and Colmes: Donald Rumsfeld's final tour - As the outgoing Secretary of Defense makes one last trip to Iraq on a farewell tour, only one show has total access! Don't miss PART 2 of Sean Hannity's EXCLUSIVE interview with Donald Rumsfeld tonight!

I'm a tree!

You Are a Tree

You love every part of the holidays, down to the candy canes and stockings. And you’re goofy enough to put a Christmas tree ornament on your tree!

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

I read that on Ward's post so visited the website to see what kind of Christmas ornament I was. I took the test and came up the same as Ward -- I'm a tree because I love every part of the holidays. And that is absolutely true.

As a kid, this was a magical time of year for me. We would go to church and hear about the birth of Jesus and sing Christmas hymns and pray and rejoice. Yet, my youthful mind believed -- believed -- in Santa Claus and all that surrounded him. I continued to believe way longer than others my age ... I didn't want to let go of that part of my childhood. Even after I knew, I played it up for my younger sisters for as long as that lasted.

When I had children of my own I made sure they knew the Reason for the Season and the wonder of Christ's birth ... but we also loved the magic of Santa and Toyland and all the fantasies of little kids. I'm sure my children played along longer than they really believed ... because they didn't want to disappoint Mom! (In the "Polar Express" I honestly think I can hear that bell ring!)

If there's snow in the mix ... that makes it even better! Living in the Shenandoah Valley increases the chances of a White Christmas -- or at least the chance of snow at some point during the Christmas vacation. That's when we pull out the sleds, light up the bonfire, crank up the chili pot, heat up the hot chocolate, turn on the "snow lights," and head outdoors to enjoy.

Cookie baking is a tradition with my sisters and and our children ... we set aside a weekend every December and bake dozens of different types of cookies for gift-giving and entertaining. What fun as the flour flies and a dozen choices of sprinkles scatter on the counter ... but more than the cookies, it's the time we spend together as moms with our children ... and sisters with each other. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything in the world.

My mom and her sisters used to make fruit cakes every year. I'm not much into fruit cake ... unless it is Mom's. Her sisters -- my aunts -- have passed on and Mom is the only sibling left ... but she carries on the tradition. Each fall we buy the candied fruit and nuts she needs for her ingredients, we cut out paper patterns to line the pans, and the mixing begins. Mom doesn't make just two or three fruit cakes. She makes enough to share with friends and family, and some to freeze so we're eating fruit cake until the next fruit cake season rolls around.

Caroling is another family favorite. I have a cousin who has a voice that would make the angels want to sing ... so she leads us as we sing at the piano everytime we all get together ... and we used to visit aunts' and uncles' homes to sing to them.

And what is Christmas if not shared with family and friends? I love to entertain. I love my little "shoebox" -- our home is cozy -- but when friends are here the walls "widen out" for everyone to fit in. I've always entertained because it's fun to cook and bake for everyone and to have the time to spend together laughing and enjoying the company of those who are meaningful in our lives.

I've had a few bah-humbug friends throughout the years who couldn't understand my love of this time of the year ... but they endured it, and I love them for it. I cranked it down a notch or two when around them ... and I'm sure they cranked it up a notch or two for me.

Christmas Eve is my favorite. There is a service at church which we sometimes attend and sometimes don't. Some years we have guests at our home; other years we enjoy just our own little family being together. The Christmas lights stay on all night at our house (perhaps to light the way for Santa? or maybe to entice to snow to come our way), and everything is rolled into one ... the love of family, the wonder of reading the Christmas story in the Bible, romance (when young and single I used to love Christmas Eve dates because it was such a romantic time), and the comfort of being together.

Merry CHRISTmas as we remember the Reason for the Season and the gift of family and friends....

"Hannity & Colmes" tonight -- Sean's trip to Iraq

Don't miss it tonight!

"Hannity & Colmes" - Fox News Channel (FNC)
Tonight -- 9:00 p.m.
Video of Sean's weekend trip to Iraq with Donald Rumsfeld

Sean Hannity in Iraq with Rummy last weekend....

"Long weekend" spent with the troops

I'm listening to Sean Hannity's radio show this afternoon ... and he is talking about his trip to Iraq over the weekend with Donald Rumsfeld and Ollie North, something that was kept strictly under wraps. The story for Sean's absence from the show on Friday was that he had the flu ... but he was actually on his way to the Middle East.

His trip was incredibly uplifting for him as he talked with American military members who are distressed the positive message of Iraq still is not getting out through the mainstream media in this country. He asked them if we're losing the war as reported by democrats and media in America ... they rejected it downright and said we are winning. They believe in what they are doing ... and they want to win this war ... not cut and run as is being advocated by the democrats.

The show has only been on for 30 minutes ... transcript will be available later on Sean's website.

Allen campaign's fault? Wait a second....

When I read Raising Kaine's recent post faulting the Allen campaign for not focusing on issues, I was dismayed that they were still beating that dead horse. I know that from late summer through Election Day Allen's campaign as well as conservative bloggers tried to get Jim Webb and the mainstream media to concentrate on issues.

Thank goodness Jon Henke over at Q and O has responded in a far better way than I could. Jon said:

It's simply incorrect to say that the Allen campaign didn't focus on "on anything that remotely mattered to anyone". In fact, the campaign constantly talked about energy issues, taxes, education and George Allen's record. But most voters didn't hear what the campaign said about those issues, did they? Why not?

Well, there's the rub.

He went on to say:

If you want to complain about insufficient focus on real issues, don't criticize the campaign: criticize the media.

Go here to read Jon's entire post. All I can say is, "Ditto." And ... "thanks."

School choice -- "Ask the customers"

Delegate Chris Saxman knows "one size does not fit all"

In 2001 Delegate Chris Saxman (R-20th House) was elected to represent Staunton, western Augusta County, Highland County, and part of Rockingham County.

An issue that was debated with his democrat opponent was school choice. As a home school educator and leader in the local support group, school choice was an issue I was particularly interested in ... and something Delegate Saxman and I discussed during his campaign. When he arrived in Richmond for the first General Assembly session in January/February 2002, he called with more details about the matter, explained the difference in "vouchers" and "tax credits," and asked my opinion. Against opposition and misunderstandings, he is still dedicated to working on this issue five years later.

Sunday's Richmond Times-Dispatch had a kind of "point-counterpoint" on the front of the Commentary Section (page E1) titled "The Quest for Success" with discussion between Delegate Saxman ("Listen To Customers: To Improve Failing Schools, Utilize Free-Market Principles") and State School Superintendent Billy Cannaday ("No Takeovers: Virginia Has Plan to Get Petersburg Schools on Track"). They concentrated on the Petersburg school system because it has had only one school to achieve accreditation ... showing that something clearly needs to be done.

No bureaucrat, Chris Saxman is a former teacher and is currently general manager of his family's Shenandoah Valley Water Company. He looks at government with a businessman's eye. Over the years he has gone to the customers when there was a problem to discover what change was needed, and he takes that same approach with the Petersburg schools. He does not advocate abandoning the public school system but, rather, discovering a better way to educate Virginia's children ... beginning with asking for parents' input.

Although my youngest graduated high school in June 2006 ... so school choice will no longer apply to me ... I applaud Delegate Saxman's continuing work to find a better way for parents and children who are still in the system.

Listen To Customers: To Improve Failing Schools, Utilize Free-Market Principles
By Delegate Chris Saxman
Richmond Times-Dispatch (12/10/06)

One of the things that I have learned in my time in business is that if you think there is a problem with your products or services, do one very important thing: Ask your customers what the problem is. They will let you know everything you need to change.

Recently, the Virginia Department of Education dispatched another administrator to Peters- burg to try to solve the problems of the Petersburg school system. Personally, I think the entire department ought to be relocated to Petersburg and have all its employees send their children to the public schools there. Then they might just get a handle on what the problem is and what they should to do solve it. Until then, one more bureaucrat from Richmond will serve only as a symbolic gesture that something needs to be done.

Too often in government, managers and leaders assume they know what the problem is and, therefore, know what the answer is. Since most core government services are virtual or actual monopolies, there really is no incentive to make the kinds of changes that are necessary because, after all, most customers of those services have no choice as to who is providing the services. Do you really think that cell phones and BlackBerry-type devices would be as prolific today were it not for the deregulation of AT&T (Ma Bell)? The answer is obviously no.

As a former teacher who has visited school systems not just in Virginia but also in suburban Chicago and inner-city Milwaukee, I can honestly tell you that there is no one way to educate every child. No matter how many individualized educational programs (IEPs) one has, sometimes even the best and brightest kids need a different environment in order to learn.

Citizens Want a Choice

But instead of presuming that I know best for Petersburg, I decided to ask the people of Petersburg. After all, they are the ones closest to the situation. They are, in effect, the customers. From a telephone survey, I learned that 85 percent of 1,600-plus respondents to the survey support parents being able to choose which school best educates their children. Sixty-three percent support a tuition tax-credit program to help parents afford the school of their choice. Seventy-six percent want to see at least 65 percent of money in K-12 reach the classroom.

If the Commonwealth really wanted to show that it truly cared about the children and the parents of Petersburg (the customers), it would offer them the freedom to choose which school best educates each child. Go to your local convenience or grocery store and count the number of different sodas that are available. Ask people to give up all the television channels, airline options, and automobile choices, or tell them that they have only one bank -- and imagine the response. But first imagine the quality of the product and service of each with just one choice.

Accountability Is With Parents

How can one support a quality product by inhibiting a competitive free market? Ninety-two percent of K-12 school-age children attend Virginia's public schools. Many do so because their parents are satisfied that their child is getting a quality education. Virginia has invested billions of dollars and implemented accountability in K-12 education, but ask yourself, Where does ultimate accountability truly rest? It rests with the customer.

Back in our segregationist past, some politicians fought against allowing African-American students to attend public schools. Today, some politicians will not help parents afford a school of their own choice. That's not freedom, and that's not right. Only when parents have the ability to choose which school they prefer will our educational system dramatically improve in order to compete with our foreign counterparts.

The 8 percent of the K-12-eligible students who do not attend public schools save Virginia taxpayers more than $1 billion per year, or twice what the Virginia Lottery produces -- not including construction costs. Virginia can increase pay for our hardworking public schoolteachers with vibrant free-market alternatives that save taxpayers money by accessing underutilized private-sector assets.

We cannot and should not give up on our public schools -- but there is a better way.

Chris Saxman represents the 20th District (Staunton and Highland, and parts of Augusta and Rockingham) in the Virginia House of Delegates. He is the general manager of the Shenandoah Valley Water Company, which bottles and distributes spring water.

Good news, indeed

Franklin Graham to be in Tidewater, VA

Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, will be at Norfolk State University May 18-20. This is, indeed, good news.

I like Franklin Graham. He's down-to-earth like his dad. He's got a testimony that many can identify with ... he wasn't always the angel-son of a well-known evangelist. His headquarters in Boone, NC, was just minutes from my home when I lived in that part of the world ... and I love his "shoebox ministry" with Samaritan's Purse each Christmas, something my kids have enjoyed being a part of.

For Christians, Billy Graham has a great legacy ... and his son is continuing it.

This is who the Dems want to make peace with?

The Taliban is murdering teachers.

That's teachers ... those who educate children.

The AP is reporting out of Kabul, Afghanistan, that the Taliban has murdered 20 teachers so far this year and burned down 200 schools.

Why?

For breaking the "rules" set forth by the Taliban who forbid anyone to teach "under the current puppet regime, because this strengthens the system of the infidels." Teachers are issued a warning to stop; if they continue they receive a beating; if they still continue they are murdered ... all because of the act of educating children.

You remember the Taliban. They are the ones who were in control of Afghanistan when the U.S. invaded in 2001 because they harbored Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida.

The Taliban declared a war on women in the 1990s by prohibiting them from attending school or working outside the home, and ruled they were not allowed in public without being escorted by a male family member. Women were required to cover themselves from head-to-toe with burqas, and were stoned to death for showing their faces in public or other perceived infractions.

Now the Taliban is murdering teachers and burning schools. And this is the mindset of who the Dems want to make peace with?

God help us all.

Media bias against conservatives ... from one of them

ABC's political director Mark Halperin:

"If I were a conservative, I understand why I would feel suspicious that I was not going to get a fair break [in the press].... The mindset at ABC ... is just too focused on being more favorable to Nancy Pelosi, say, than Newt Gingrich.... You're seeing here a [CBS] '60 Minutes' piece about Nancy Pelosi. I don't remember Newt Gingrich getting a piece that favorable in 1994."

-- From my newspaper hero Ross Mackenzie's Op-Ed column, Richmond Times-Dispatch, 12/10/06

The Bottom Line

The Bottom Line - Richmond Times-Dispatch

"Wal-Mart has done more to help the poor than welfare ever did."

LTE: "I already regret voting for Jim Webb"

Hmm.... Wonder how many others feel the same way?

There's a Letter to the Editor in today's Richmond Times-Dispatch that cuts to the chase. In the days after the election when I talked with citizens who had voted for Jim Webb, I asked what it was about him they liked. Not a single one said it was anything about Webb they voted for but, rather, they voted for change. My response was: To the unknown?

I wonder how many of them now wish they had voted for the Virginia gentleman they already had representing them?

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I already regret voting for Jim Webb. Perhaps he could transfer his services to the Mexican National Congress, which seems to share his standards of civility and legislative behavior.

Margaret Henry
Powhatan

School Choice -- "Ask the customers"

Delegate Chris Saxman knows "one size does not fit all"

In 2001 Delegate Chris Saxman (R-20th House) was elected to represent Staunton, western Augusta County, Highland County, and part of Rockingham County.

An issue that was debated with his democrat opponent was school choice. As a home school educator and leader in the local support group, school choice was an issue I was particularly interested in ... and something Delegate Saxman and I discussed during his campaign. When he arrived in Richmond for the first General Assembly session in January/February 2002, he called with more details about the matter, explained the difference in "vouchers" and "tax credits," and asked my opinion. Against opposition and misunderstandings, he is still dedicated to working on this issue five years later.

Today's Richmond Times-Dispatch has a kind of "point-counterpoint" on the front of the Commentary Section (page E1) titled "The Quest for Success" with discussion between Delegate Saxman ("Listen To Customers: To Improve Failing Schools, Utilize Free-Market Principles") and State School Superintendent Billy Cannaday ("No Takeovers: Virginia Has Plan to Get Petersburg Schools on Track"). They concentrate on the Petersburg school system because it has had only one school to achieve accreditation ... showing that something clearly needs to be done.

No bureaucrat, Chris Saxman is a former teacher and is currently general manager of his family's Shenandoah Valley Water Company. He looks at government with a businessman's eye. Over the years he has gone to the customers when there was a problem to discover what change was needed, and he takes that same approach with the Petersburg schools. He does not advocate abandoning the public school system but, rather, discovering a better way to educate Virginia's children ... beginning with asking for parents' input.

Although my youngest graduated from high school in June 2006 ... so school choice will no longer apply to me ... I applaud Delegate Saxman's continuing work to find a better way for parents and children who are still in the system.

Listen To Customers: To Improve Failing Schools, Utilize Free-Market Principles
By Delegate Chris Saxman
Richmond Times-Dispatch (12/10/06)

One of the things that I have learned in my time in business is that if you think there is a problem with your products or services, do one very important thing: Ask your customers what the problem is. They will let you know everything you need to change.

Recently, the Virginia Department of Education dispatched another administrator to Peters- burg to try to solve the problems of the Petersburg school system. Personally, I think the entire department ought to be relocated to Petersburg and have all its employees send their children to the public schools there. Then they might just get a handle on what the problem is and what they should to do solve it. Until then, one more bureaucrat from Richmond will serve only as a symbolic gesture that something needs to be done.

Too often in government, managers and leaders assume they know what the problem is and, therefore, know what the answer is. Since most core government services are virtual or actual monopolies, there really is no incentive to make the kinds of changes that are necessary because, after all, most customers of those services have no choice as to who is providing the services. Do you really think that cell phones and BlackBerry-type devices would be as prolific today were it not for the deregulation of AT&T (Ma Bell)? The answer is obviously no.
As a former teacher who has visited school systems not just in Virginia but also in suburban Chicago and inner-city Milwaukee, I can honestly tell you that there is no one way to educate every child. No matter how many individualized educational programs (IEPs) one has, sometimes even the best and brightest kids need a different environment in order to learn.

Citizens Want a Choice
But instead of presuming that I know best for Petersburg, I decided to ask the people of Petersburg. After all, they are the ones closest to the situation. They are, in effect, the customers. From a telephone survey, I learned that 85 percent of 1,600-plus respondents to the survey support parents being able to choose which school best educates their children. Sixty-three percent support a tuition tax-credit program to help parents afford the school of their choice. Seventy-six percent want to see at least 65 percent of money in K-12 reach the classroom.

If the Commonwealth really wanted to show that it truly cared about the children and the parents of Petersburg (the customers), it would offer them the freedom to choose which school best educates each child. Go to your local convenience or grocery store and count the number of different sodas that are available. Ask people to give up all the television channels, airline options, and automobile choices, or tell them that they have only one bank -- and imagine the response. But first imagine the quality of the product and service of each with just one choice.

Accountability Is With Parents
How can one support a quality product by inhibiting a competitive free market? Ninety-two percent of K-12 school-age children attend Virginia's public schools. Many do so because their parents are satisfied that their child is getting a quality education. Virginia has invested billions of dollars and implemented accountability in K-12 education, but ask yourself, Where does ultimate accountability truly rest? It rests with the customer.

Back in our segregationist past, some politicians fought against allowing African-American students to attend public schools. Today, some politicians will not help parents afford a school of their own choice. That's not freedom, and that's not right. Only when parents have the ability to choose which school they prefer will our educational system dramatically improve in order to compete with our foreign counterparts.

The 8 percent of the K-12-eligible students who do not attend public schools save Virginia taxpayers more than $1 billion per year, or twice what the Virginia Lottery produces -- not including construction costs. Virginia can increase pay for our hardworking public schoolteachers with vibrant free-market alternatives that save taxpayers money by accessing underutilized private-sector assets.

We cannot and should not give up on our public schools -- but there is a better way.

Chris Saxman represents the 20th District (Staunton and Highland, and parts of Augusta and Rockingham) in the Virginia House of Delegates. He is the general manager of the Shenandoah Valley Water Company, which bottles and distributes spring water.

"We support the troops" ... Oh, really?

While watching John Gibson's "Big Story" on Fox News Channel (FNC) Friday afternoon, I heard a story -- for the first time -- about an anti-war protester allegedly spitting in the face of a military member in an airport in Syracuse, NY. Mr. Gibson reported:

"A Syracuse woman is accused of spitting in a Fort Drum soldier's face at Hancock Airport. Lauren Maggi, 35, was charged with second-degree harassment after the Nov. 22 incident, according to a police report.

So it is Vietnam all over again, now that the Democrats have won. Now we have anti-war protesters living again the darkest days of the Vietnam War, when American soldiers got off the plane and anti-war types spit on them."

Mr. Gibson went on to say:

Did this soldier get spit on because he or she fought in the war, or because re-enlistment rates are running at record levels, or because somebody who is against the war is so frustrated with Bush and Cheney and Rummy that everybody in uniform is the same as the commander in chief? Who knows.

This is wrong, it is out of line, it is shameful, it is borderline psychotic. I can hardly wait to hear what the defense is when the spitter turns up in court. According to the report, she walked up to two soldiers who were out of uniform, asked them if they were in the military, and when they said yes she spit in their face.

It is the opening of a terrible episode in the Iraq war, a moment when the blame for the war is misplaced onto the shoulders of the men and women who are doing their duty and fighting a war whatever their personal feelings about the war are.

Where is this story in the Staunton News Leader?

Where is this story in the Waynesboro News-Virginian?

Where is this story in the New York Times?

Where is this story in the Washington Post?

Where is this story on the NBC, ABC, CBS evening newscasts?

Where is this story on CNN?

My point is that anything that goes against the liberal agenda is either not reported or downplayed in the mainstream media ... and that is the root of complaints by conservatives ... but the lib-types retort conservatives do get a fair shake.

No, they don't.

Win the home front by constantly pounding with anti-war stories ... and you will defeat the war effort. Didn't we learn anything from Vietnam? Apparently the libs did because they are using the Vietnam handbook on how to defeat the resolve of a nation in a time of war.

This is the time for Americans in this country to stand up and condemn this type of behavior toward our troops.

John Gibson said it much better than I ... go read his comments in their entirety here.

How true....

"The men the American public admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth."

-- H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) - prominent newspaperman, book reviewer, & political commentator

Snow flurries in Shenandoah Valley!

Snow flurries make it feel Christmasy!

SWAC Girl's daughter catches the first snowflakes of the season

While putting finishing Christmas touches at our house ... and with the little white lights twinkling outside in the evening dusk ... the snow started coming down making it feel very seasonal! Already the deck is covered.

The mountains of West Virginia (visible from SWAC Girl's house) are expecting 6 inches of the white stuff tonight. The forecast for our area is for only a dusting or perhaps a tad more.

But ... oh the excitement of the first heavy snow flurries of the season!

And ... oh the excitement of SWAC Girl's snowboarding kids who are waiting for the slopes to open!

(Photo by SWAC Girl)

Update: Wind advisory in mountains. Temperature in the teens here; high Friday of 35 degrees.

Pearl Harbor and 9/11 ... have we forgotten?

Today is December 7 ... Pearl Harbor Day.

December 7, 1941 ... 65 years ago America suffered the worst attack ever on our soil at the hands of the Japanese who conducted a sneak attack on our Naval base in Hawaii.

It was, in the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, "a date which will live in infamy."

Or so we thought.

Sixty years later, on September 11, 2001, America came under an even larger attack on our soil ... and it wasn't on an island in the South Pacific.

It was right here on the mainland.

It was in New York City ... and Pennsylvania ... and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. More people died that day than died in 1941.

And the big difference was ... they were civilians.

Have Americans forgotten Pearl Harbor? Most who are alive to remember are now in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. Many of the survivors have passed away ... the rest are becoming increasingly in frail health.

How on God's green earth do we expect people to remember Pearl Harbor, an event that happened 65 years ago ...

... when many have already forgotten the terror from 9/11 that occurred just a short five years ago?

Have Americans lost their resolve? Their will? Their courage? Their honor? Their willingness to stand up for the home front?

Have we forgotten how to pull together in the face of adversity ... in the face of the rest of the world? Have we allowed the worldview, politically correct elitists to so tie our hands that we aren't even willing to stand up for what we believe in anymore?

In the 12/6/06 issue of the Richmond Times Dispatch on the Op-Ed page were two articles that made me contemplate the connection between the two events.

Roy Martin, President of the Navy League/Richmond Chapter, wrote "Pearl Harbor Remembered: Attack Pulled the U.S. Into WW II".

Eliza Manningham-Buller, head of the British internal security agency M15, wrote Threat Is Serious, Growing, & Will Be With Us for a Generation."

Mr. Martin provides an historical background to the Pearl Harbor attack and comments:

"Sadly, too many Americans today don't recognize, much less remember, what happened, nor how it changed our lives, our country, and the world forever."

I believe that statement can also be applied to 9/11.

Ms. Manningham-Buller stressed the continuous increase of the terrorist threat worldwide, warning that it began well before 9/11/01 and continues today. She stated:

"We now know that the first al-Qaida-related plot against the U.K. was the one we discovered and disrupted in November 2000 in Birmingham. A British citizen is currently serving a long prison sentence for plotting to detonate a large bomb...."

She said M15 knows of 200 terrorist networks consisting of over 1,600 identified individuals who are actively engaged in terrorism worldwide.

She continues:

"In the years after 9/11, with atrocities taking place in Madrid, Casablanca, Bali, Istanbul, and elsewhere, terrorists plotted to mount a string of attacks in the U.K., but were disrupted. This run of domestic success was interrupted tragically in London in July 2005. Since then, the combined efforts of [British intelligence agencies] have thwarted a further five major conspiracies in the U.K., saving many hundreds (possibly even thousands) of lives...."

But in the U.S. we continue to hear the cynics and doubters who beat the constant negative drum against the war in Iraq, against President George W. Bush, against surveillance of suspected terrorists, against our military, and against America.

There are core Americans who do support the President, the war, our military ... but they are the Silent Majority ... the ones without a public voice.

They do not have the mainstream media shouting their message of support from the front pages of newspapers and evening newscasts. They don't have that particular megaphone that is available to the anti-everything crowd who count on the MSM to amplify their message loudly ... and often.

My parents are the World War II generation. They have told me stories of how America pulled together at that time to work as a united front against our enemies. I have studied history from that time period ... heard about the sacrifices, the connection to neighbors, the willingness to sacrifice, the humanity of sharing with others.

The mainstream media at that time was pro-America ... and printed stories of hope, of success during the war, and human stories that made Americans feel proud of their country.

Movie stars in Hollywood signed up for the military. Entertainers supported the war by entertaining the troops, and by making public service announcements encouraging the public to buy government bonds, join the service, and make the best of using rations.

America ... worked as a team.

America ... was united as one.

How wonderful it would be if we heard that same message today.

How wonderful if all Americans joined together to make us feel good about our country, good about being Americans, good about being the most generous country in the world.

Pearl Harbor and 9/11 ... have we forgotten?

Merry Christmas, Nate ... Semper Fi

Nate Salatin - June 2006

It's that time of year when our service men and women are away from home protecting the freedoms we hold dear ... and keeping us safe from terrorism while we celebrate the holidays.

Lance Cpl. Nate Salatin, 21, USMC, from Augusta County, is currently deployed to Iraq. This is for him....

A Different Christmas Poem
By LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A long figure stood -- his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack; brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts...
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light.
Then he sighed and he said, "It's really all right.
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramp died at 'Pearl on a day in December."
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam,
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures; he's sure got her smile."
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue ... and American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can sleep at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother ...
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.
So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all to little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Be safe, Nate. We miss you ... we love you.
May God bless and protect you just as you protect us.