March 2012 SWAC Breakfast ... Andy Schmookler, Democratic 6th District congressional candidate

Andy Schmookler, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in the 6th District, was a guest speaker at the March SWAC Political Breakfast.

He addressed a diverse crowd of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, and shared his vision for the future of the 6th Congressional District.

Dr. Schmookler holds a degree from Harvard University and a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley, and is the author of several books.

Supporters wore Schmookler for Congress buttons.

SWAC Political Breakfast moderator Kurt Michael with Andy Schmookler.

After breakfast, April Schmookler talked with attendees.

Andy Schmookler was interviewed by WVIR NBC-29.

SWAC Political Breakfast coordinators Kurt Michael and Chris Graham discussed future guest speakers.

Other coverage of Schmookler's Saturday campaigning:
- NBC-29 report by Lindsey Lambert: Schmookler campaigns in Staunton
- Waynesboro News Virginian by Dustin Woolridge: Congressional candidate seeks the truth
- Staunton News Leader by Brad Zinn: Schmookler hopes to sway conservative Valley voters

Coming to the April 28 SWAC Political Breakfast: Guest speaker Congressman Bob Goodlatte

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
31 March 2012

Virginia: Waynesboro's Ridgeview Park on the South River

 Banners in downtown Waynesboro welcome visitors and residents to this city on the South River.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
30 March 2012

Saturday: SWAC Breakfast welcomes guest speaker Dr. Andy Schmookler

Dr. Andy Schmookler has accomplished many things in his 65 years including earning degrees from Harvard and the University of California at Berkeley, authoring seven books, teaching at the high school and college level, and sitting in as an infrequent commentator on NPR's "All Things Considered."

Now he has added another accomplishment: Running as the Democratic candidate for the 6th District Congressional seat.

On Saturday, SWAC (Staunton-Waynesboro-Augusta County) Breakfast will continue its Congressional series of hearing from each of the candidates running for the 6th District Congressional seat.  Last month, we heard from Republican challenger Dr. Karen Kwiatkowski, and next month Congressman Bob Goodlatte will address the group. This month we will hear from Dr. Schmookler.

Who is Andy Schmookler?

Andy Schmookler was born in the spring of 1946 to parents who had grown up in poverty.

During the depression, Andy’s mother, Pauline, had to drop out of school at the age of 15 to support her ill mother and her two younger sisters. Decades later, though she never graduated from high school, she got her college and two masters degrees and became a high school teacher of literature.

His father, Jacob was able to go to college thanks to his own mother’s working 14-hour days at a sewing machine to make it possible. After World War II, Andy’s father earned his doctorate in economics and began an academic career.

By the time Andy was 10, his family had a secure footing in the American middle class.

His parents raised him and his brother, Ed. They taught their sons to have passion for justice, a deep commitment to honesty and integrity, and they instilled the value of hard work. For Andy’s father, the honest pursuit of the truth was a paramount value. He taught the discipline of reasoned inquiry. And for his mother, a key value was that human worth does not lie in rank or wealth, but in beauty of soul, and that gems can be found in every group and at every stratum.

Andy graduated as the valedictorian in his high school class, earned a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley and Graduate Theological Union in a program specially created to accommodate his original theory to explain the way that human civilization has developed.

In 1992, Dr. Schmookler and his wife, April, moved to Mt. Jackson in Shenandoah County where they raised their three children. Married for 25 years, they continue to reside in the Shenandoah Valley.

Along the way, Dr. Schmookler has been involved in the communities around him:

Serving as an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. He helped with the analysis of possible future challenges for American policy-makers.

• Spearheading a project with the Public Agenda Foundation, in which he interviewed the best minds in the country, in various related fields, on how the United States might best achieve security in an age of weapons of mass destruction.
• Being hired, in the 1990s, by the United States Army to help with a project on the prevention of biological terrorism.
• Teaching at both the college level (Prescott College, Georgetown University) and at the high school level (Albuquerque Academy).
• Speaking at forums across the country such as the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, the Washington Ethical Society, and as Presidential lecturer at the University of Montana.
• Publishing his commentaries in newspapers across the country for the past thirty-five years, and broadcasting them on radio stations nationwide.
• Serving as a consultant to one of America’s premier corporations.

His doctoral work was published The Parable of the Tribes (University of California Press, 1984; second edition from SUNY Press, 1995), which was awarded the Erik H. Erikson prize by the International Society for Political Psychology.

This book led the way to a successful career as the author of many published books, most of them seeking to understand the forces that must be dealt with by our country, and by humankind generally, in order to create a good future for ourselves and for the generations to come. The books are entitled:

• Out of Weakness:  Healing the Wounds that Drive Us to War (Bantam Books, 1988),
• Sowings and Reapings:  The Cycling of Good and Evil in the Human System (Knowledge Systems, 1989).
• The Illusion of Choice:  How the Market Economy Shapes Our Destiny (SUNY Press, 1993, with translations published subsequently in Japan and Korea)
• Fool’s Gold:  The Fate of Values in a World of Goods (Harper Collins, 1993).
• Debating the Good Society:  A Quest to Bridge America’s Moral Divide (M.I.T. Press, 1999).

Saturday will offer an opportunity to hear Dr. Schmookler's thoughts about the future of the 6th Congressional District. Bring your questions and join us for this informative breakfast.

If you're going:

SWAC Breakfast

Speaker: Andy Schmookler

Date:  Saturday, March 31, 2012

Time:  8:30 a.m.

Place:  Shoney's Restaurant

Location: 30 Sangers Lane, Staunton, VA 24401
Dutch-treat: Buffet breakfast $7.99, plus $1.99 for coffee & juice

Virginia: Waynesboro's Constitution Park & Greenway Trail along the South River

At Waynesboro's Constitution Park, located along the banks of the South River, the apple trees were in full bloom today. Combined with the brilliant red buds in full bloom and the deep green grass, it was a beautiful sight. (I think these are apple trees. Anyone?)

Dominion's pavilion offers sheltered picnic tables for family picnics or a quick lunch time break.

Located in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, and the Blue Ridge Parkway, Waynesboro was recently designated an Appalachian Trail Community.

Thank you, Boy Scout Brad Moser. Your benches were used by walkers who took a moment to rest and take in the surrounding beauty of the mountains and the river.

The South River is a well-known fishing spot for many in this area and beyond. Waynesboro's annual Fly Fishing Festival is the largest in the country and will be held this year from April 21-22, 2012.

Aren't these blossoms beautiful? You should have seen them in person.  :)

The Greenway Trail, a paved, level pathway that runs along the South River, was a dream for years. The first eight-tenths of a mile phase finally opened in March 2012 as part of what will one day be a 5.6-mile trail.

Rollerskating ... now that's one way to walk the dogs!

There are plenty of benches along the river to stop and smell the roses or, in this case, the apple blossoms.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
30 March 2012

ICYMI: George Allen talks skyrocketing gas prices with Sean Hannity

Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen of Virginia appeared this week on Sean Hannity's Fox News show to talk about skyrocketing gas prices and their impact on American families. Video of the appearance shows Allen talking with Hannity:

George Allen: “If I am hired on by the people of Virginia to represent them and their voices in Washington, on day one I’m introducing a bill to allow Virginia to produce oil and gas off our coast and use the royalties for roads and transportation. They [Washington] are out of touch. The whole purpose of this www.toomuchatthepump.com is to realize that people are paying $25, $30, $35 more every time they fill up. And you think what would people do with that extra $30 – they might go to a restaurant, save it for their children’s college education, buy gifts, save it, pay down debt….”

George Allen: “…The point is we are number one in the world when it comes to energy resources. If we unleash our resources we would have more affordable fuel, more affordable food, more affordable electricity, we wouldn’t be so vulnerable to outside hostile forces.  We could have a rebirth in our industry, in our country and make our country much more competitive for investment and jobs. The federal government would get over a trillion dollars in revenues without raising taxes and keeping our money here in the United States of America…”

www.TooMuchAtThePump.com

'The Master's Plan' ... Jesus has risen

Palm Sunday is this weekend ... Easter is next week ... and one of the places to see the Easter story is at Richmond's West End Assembly of God as they present "The Master's Plan":

For 16 years, members of the West End Assembly of God have portrayed the story of Jesus using narration, music and dance. A cast of 190 members ranging in age from 6 to 94 will bring the story to life on the church's stage at 401 N. Parham Road today through Sunday.

Beginning in February when the cast started rehearsals, the play has been perfected by dedicated church members who have given their time and talent in not just this but other productions throughout the year.

Though I've not seen the Easter play, I've attended the Christmas production and it is an amazing thing to see. West End is professional in its presentations and it's easy to get lost in the wonderment of the extravaganza and the Bible stories that are told through this entertaining format. Angels fly ... Chris ascends through the ceiling.

As good as all that is, perhaps one of the high points is that a fellow blogger who lives in the Richmond area is part of this production as well as others put on by West End.

This video clip offers a glimpse of what to expect. If you go, performances are tonight through Sunday.

Eric Cantor endorses Paul Ryan budget in House remarks

Republican Congressman and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (VA-7)

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

Today in Washington, Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA 7th) addressed the House, emphasizing that Paul Ryan's Republican budget proposes real solutions to create a stronger economy and a more certain future for our country.

Congressman Cantor's floor remarks from Thursday, March 29, 2012:

"Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the House Republican Budget Resolution offered by my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Wisconsin, Chairman Paul Ryan.

"Mr. Chairman, people in this country are looking, they are desperate to see a strong signal from Washington that we are prepared to make the tough decisions necessary to address our nation’s fiscal crisis. Today we will pass our budget that proposes real, honest solutions to create a stronger economy and a more certain future for our country.

"Our budget takes bold steps that will get the fiscal house in order and will manage down the debt and deficit. It also strengthens the entitlement programs, which are the biggest drivers of our debt. It reforms the tax code, and prevents devastating defense cuts from taking place – all without raising taxes.

"Mr. Chairman, we are seizing the opportunity to address what even the Minority has admitted is “the most predictable economic crisis in our nation’s history.” Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, those on other side of the aisle seem to refuse to be able to deal with this crisis and actually propose a solution.

"The Democratic-controlled Senate has failed to pass a budget in over 1,000 days, shirking its responsibility to the American people. And the President has refused to put forth any serious solution to pay down the historic debt and deficit that he helped create. In fact, the President’s budget will actually aggravate the nation’s problems.

"President Obama’s budget saddles the American people with massive tax increases, puts more burdens on job creators, weakens our military and fails to provide a plan to save our entitlement programs. I believe these policies will fundamentally change our nation for the worse.

"In contrast, Mr. Chairman, our budget restores the system of free enterprise system that has made America the greatest nation in the world. We propose a simpler, fairer and more competitive tax code that will actually foster economic growth and job creation.

"Instead of picking winners and losers, our plan levels the playing field. Our budget lowers tax rates for all taxpayers, broadens the base, and gets rid of loopholes and preferences, so we can grow the economy and see more jobs created.

"Further, our budget seeks to save our entitlement programs. We actually produce a plan to solve the disproportionate cause of our deficits, the health care entitlements. This commitment to lead, this commitment to find solutions and to actually put a plan in place is what has been missing from the debate in this town.

"We ask our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join us in that commitment to actually adopt a plan, so that we can begin to make progress, so we can send a signal to the American people that we get it, that we are here to help solve the problem.

"Mr. Chairman, House Republicans are offering the American people a choice in terms of the direction this country will take. And I thank Chairman Ryan and the members of his Budget Committee for their hard work to produce this pro-growth, solutions-oriented budget.

"This document does begin to address the serious fiscal challenges we face and grow the economy so that our children have the same hope, opportunity and ability to achieve success that our parents gave to us and their parents to them."

Congressman Cantor, who represents the 7th Congressional District of Virginia, is the Republican Majority Leader in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Cross-posted at Bearing Drift

Former President George H.W. Bush endorses Mitt Romney for President

Family friends for years, it seems only natural that the Bush family continues to line up behind Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and, today, that endorsement officially comes from former President George H.W. Bush. His wife, former First Lady Barbara Bush, has shown her support with Get Out The Vote calls, and son Jeb, former governor of Florida, officially endorsed Romney last week.

In December, President Bush had unofficially thrown his support behind Governor Romney but today he will officially endorse.

Former President George W. Bush (# 43) has not publicly made it known if he supports Romney but my money would be that, even if an endorsement doesn't come, he feels the same as his family about this presidential choice.

The announcement will be made at 6:00 pm this evening in Houston.

McDonnell responds to federal announcement that seismic surveys will begin off Virginia coast

From Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA)....

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Tommy Beaudreau visited Norfolk today to announce that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)’s has issued a draft programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) for seismic surveys in the mid and south Atlantic.

This is a small step forward to advancing seismic research and geological work needed before oil and gas reserves off the Atlantic Coast could be developed to meet the nation’s growing energy needs. The move comes after the Obama Administration had previously cancelled a scheduled offshore lease sale for Virginia in 2011, delaying any possible development opportunities of offshore oil and gas resources until 2018 at the earliest. In response to today’s announcement, Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement:

“It is encouraging that Secretary Salazar visited Virginia today to announce a small step forward in the development of our offshore energy resources. Unfortunately this small step forward follows many previous steps back. Virginia was poised to become the first state on the east coast to produce oil and natural gas offshore.

"This breakthrough would have led to the creation of thousands of new jobs in our state, generated significant new revenues for state and local governments, and led to more domestic energy production. Instead, this Administration cancelled Virginia’s scheduled lease sale for 2011, and pushed any possible lease sales to 2018, at the very earliest. With gas hitting $4 a gallon that seven-year self-ordered delay is more noticeable than ever. We should be looking for every opportunity to safely produce more domestic energy. Our citizens need the jobs; our nation needs the energy. Instead, the Obama Administration declared a seven-year timeout. That was the wrong decision.

"There is broad bipartisan support in Virginia for developing our offshore energy resources and Virginians support this common sense policy. We will continue to aggressively seek the lifting of these federal limitations on offshore oil and gas development. These decisions are leaving private capital that could be invested in expanding our domestic energy resources on the sidelines at a time when private investment in business expansion and job creation is so urgently needed to heal our ailing economy.

"While we continue to be incredibly disappointed by last year’s decision, I do want to thank the Obama Administration for their announcement today. This is an opportunity to move forward from a bad decision. When it is finalized later this year, this environmental document will provide the foundation for BOEM to permit seismic surveys and other geological and geophysical activity to support development of offshore, oil, gas and renewable energy projects. With American families and businesses facing the prospect of paying $4 per gallon for gas and continuing to reel from our uncertain economy, it is imperative that the Obama administration move more aggressively to permit the responsible development of more of our domestic energy resources. Virginia stands ready to partner with the federal government to develop our oil and gas resource in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.”

Development of Virginia’s offshore oil and gas resource is part of the governor’s “all-of-the-above” energy plan initiated in January 2010. This plan promotes the development of all of Virginia’s on-shore and off-shore conventional and renewable energy resources with the goal of making Virginia the energy capitol of the East Coast.

According to a recent poll by the American Petroleum Institute, 80 percent of Virginia voters favor more development of U.S. oil and natural gas resources, and similar numbers believe more oil and natural gas development would provide major benefits to the nation, including more U.S. jobs.

Resource estimates of the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf are hindered by a lack of data, especially the newer seismic exploration technologies that industry has developed which could be used to explore the resources off Virginia’s coast once this environmental work is completed. Current estimates for undiscovered, technically recoverable resources off the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf include 3.8 billion barrels of oil and 36.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Leftists openly admit they wish Cheney would die ... sign the get well card

From MoveAmericaForward.org, the group who supports our military heroes and their missions in the war on terrorism....

LEFTISTS OPENLY ADMIT THEY WISHED CHENEY WOULD DIE AFTER HE RECEIVED NEW TICKER


In a disgusting display of vitriolic hate, thousands of far-left commentators and their supporters have been filling the airwaves and the internet with hate messages, openly hoping and praying for the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney, after his risky but successful heart transplant surgery.

We hate seeing rhetoric like this, it's ugly and beneath us, as Americans. We also wonder how much pain it must cause for Dick Cheney and his family. Someone who has done so much for our country doesn't deserve to be targeted this way.

We hope our GET WELL SOON CARD will remind Mr. Cheney that despite the hate coming from those on the left, most Americans actually support him, wish him health, and are praying for his speedy recovery. Please sign it!

SIGN THE "GET WELL SOON" CARD HERE!

In a very scary and cynical interview that sounded more like a "Death Panel" under Obamacare, NBC's Matt Lauer said "[Cheney's] case has re-opened debate on whether rules should be changed to favor younger patients"

NBC's medical editor Nancy Snyderman said Cheney's operation "...raised a lot of ethical questions, moral questions, about whether the Vice President, in fact, should have received his heart..."

Even more hateful were the comments posted on Democratic Underground, a website well-known for it's extreme left slant. The follow are all quotes from their website! > "I hope he dies a slow death" > "Cheney is a murderer" > "I hope dick is in pain and drowning in his own fluids" > "I'm not going to feel anything but intense gratitude... [when he dies]"

Is this kind of sick demented talk even worthy of our attention? The answer is yes.

Even though we are used to people hating our friend Dick Cheney, he's already trying to recover from a tough and invasive surgery. On top of that, knowing that there are people out there WISHING for you to not recover cannot be comforting to think of. That's why we have to show him that there are thousands of people supporting him!

Our "GET WELL" card reads "We thank you for your years of service and support for our troops, and we will all keep you in our hearts and prayers for regaining your health and happiness."

PLEASE SIGN IT NOW AND FORWARD IT TO OTHERS!  SIGN THE GET WELL SOON CARD HERE!

U.S. House schedule for Thursday, March 29, 2012

From Majority Leader Eric Cantor....

THURSDAY, MARCH 29TH
On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.
First votes expected: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Last votes expected: 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

One Minute Speeches (5 per side)

H.R. 4281 - Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012 (Closed Rule, One Hour of Debate) (Sponsored by Rep. John Mica / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee / Ways and Means Committee / Natural Resources Committee / Science, Space, and Technology Committee / Energy and Commerce Committee)

Complete Consideration of H.Con.Res. 112 - Establishing the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2013 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2014 through 2022 (Structured Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Paul Ryan / Budget Committee)

The rule makes in order only the following remaining amendments and provides for twenty minutes of final general debate time upon the conclusion of amendment consideration:

Reps. Garrett / Jordan / Mulvaney / McClintock / Huelskamp Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (30 minutes of debate)
Rep. Chris Van Hollen Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (30 minutes of debate)

Postponed Amendment Vote:

Reps. Honda / Ellison / Grijalva / Woolsey / Lee (CA) Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute

Postponed Vote on H.R. 4239 - Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012 (Suspension)
(Sponsored by Rep. John Mica / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee / Ways and Means Committee / Natural Resources Committee / Science, Space, and Technology Committee / Energy and Commerce Committee)

Special Order Speeches

COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE DAY
Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health Hearing on “The Individual and Employer Mandates in the Democrats’ Health Care Law” (Thursday, March 29, at 9:00 a.m.)

Printable PDF

McDonnells showcase Virginia wines in California

SAN FRANCISCO – Governor Bob McDonnell welcomed top wine and travel journalists and industry leaders at a special event March 27 in San Francisco to promote Virginia’s wine, tourism and film industries. The event showcased 12 wines which medaled in the newly revamped Virginia Governor’s Cup Competition along with several Virginia wines and foods which are distributed in the San Francisco Bay area.  The event marked the first time the Virginia Governor’s Cup winning wines were featured outside of Virginia. 
 

“We were honored to bring these award-winning wines to the West Coast as part of our administration’s efforts to grow the Virginia wine industry, promote tourism, and encourage film and production in Virginia,” said Governor McDonnell.  “The growth of these industries is key to keeping Virginia’s economy strong and providing good, quality jobs for Virginians.”

 

The Virginia wineries featured at the San Francisco event were: Barboursville Vineyards, Bluestone Vineyard, Delfosse Vineyards & Winery, Glen Manor Vineyards, Jefferson Vineyards, Keswick Vineyards, King Family Vineyards, Potomac Point Winery, Tarara Winery, Trump Winery, Veritas Vineyard & Winery and White Hall Vineyards.  The event also featured Virginia foods, several of which are distributed in California, including cheeses from Everona Dairy and Meadow Creek Dairy, Royal Oak Peanuts, Olli Salumeria, Chesapeake Bay Packaging scallops, Ayrshire Farm beef, and hams from S. Wallace Edwards & Sons.

 

Raising the profile of Virginia wines and wine tourism are key components of the governor's economic development and jobs creation initiatives. The governor has promoted Virginia wines at the Virginia Executive Mansion and throughout Virginia, on other domestic business recruitment visits, and on international trade and marketing missions to India, Israel, and countries in Europe and Asia. First Lady Maureen McDonnell has also incorporated wine and wine tourism promotions into her First Lady Initiative Team Effort or FLITE.

 

“I admire Governor McDonnell's continuing commitment to promoting Virginia wine by doing so on the doorstep of California wine country,” said Bartholomew Broadbent, proprietor of Broadbent Selections, Inc., a global wine importer/distributor with operations in Virginia and California. “San Francisco has always been a very accepting, cosmopolitan wine market where wines from around the world earn their place in American hierarchy.”

 

Virginia is home to more than 200 wineries statewide and is fifth in the nation for wine grape production.  A newly released economic impact study shows that Virginia's burgeoning wine industry contributes almost three-quarters of a billion dollars - or $747 million - annually to Virginia's economy.  Virginia wineries and vineyards support 4,800 jobs that provide $156 million total in wages.

 

“Last night’s event and related meetings in California are important steps in the governor’s strategic initiative to make Virginia the premiere East Coast destination for wine and wine tourism,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore. “In addition to work done already in key domestic markets such as Washington, DC, New York and Chicago, the time is right to look at San Francisco, one of the most influential wine centers in the United States, to expand the reach of the Virginia wine industry.”

 

Tourism is a key aspect of the Virginia wine industry, with more than 1.6 million visitors including a visit to a Virginia winery on a trip. Wine travel in Virginia has gained many recent accolades. Virginia was recently named one of the ten best wine travel destinations in the world for 2012 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.  Articles about wine travel in Virginia have also appeared recently in Southern Living, AAA World and USA Today.

 

Tourism is an instant revenue generator for Virginia.  In 2010 tourism generated $19 billion in revenue, supported 204,000 jobs and provided $1.2 billion in state and local taxes.  Virginia is eighth in the nation for domestic visitor spending.

 

The Virginia Film Office is part of the state’s tourism office and has had recent success luring major motion pictures to Virginia as a result investments by Governor McDonnell and the General Assembly for the Governor’s Motion Picture Opportunity Fund.  The production of Steven Spielberg’s biopic Lincoln, which was filmed 100 percent in Virginia, had an estimated $35 million economic impact for Virginia.  The direct and indirect impact of Virginia's motion picture and video production industry in 2009 was $346 million, representing 2,700 jobs for the state.

 

Visit www.Virginia.org to learn more about wine travel and other destinations across the state or call 1-800-VISITVA to request a free, Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.  Visit www.VirginiaWine.org to get more information on Virginia wines including wineries, varietals and special events statewide. 

Mr. Kenney goes to Washington

Congressman Robert Hurt (R-VA 5th) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA 7th) talked about current issues during a meeting Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

Congressman Hurt, Brian Schoeneman (Bearing Drift) and Rick Sincere (Bearing Drift).

The Supreme Court on Tuesday had many protesters for and against ObamaCare.

Scenes from the U.S. Capitol....

Photos by Jason Kenney
27 March 2012

George Allen responds to Obama announcement on seismic surveys off VA coast

U.S. Senate candidate George Allen released the following statement today in response to the Obama Administration’s announcement it will move towards seismic surveys for oil and gas off Virginia’s coast.

“My opponent, Tim Kaine, took steps to try to delay Virginia’s lease sale when he was Governor and it’s disappointing that President Obama is continuing that policy.  Today’s announcement is just more showmanship from an out-of-touch Administration that has repeatedly said ‘No’ to American jobs and affordable energy even as gas prices have skyrocketed to near record highs.  If President Obama and Tim Kaine wanted to help create jobs and reduce energy prices in the long-term, they would allow Virginians to access our oil and natural gas off our coast today – not six years from now.

“It’s disappointing that Washington seems to be more focused on political gimmicks that keep our resources off-limits, than coming together to take meaningful action to ease the burden on families, small business owners and farmers paying astronomical gasoline and diesel prices.  Allowing Virginia to explore and produce these resources would mean thousands of new jobs, more affordable energy and royalties that we could use for roads and transportation.  Yet Tim Kaine and President Obama have slowed, blocked and delayed access to those proven resources, pursuing counterproductive policies that do nothing to reduce prices at the pump.

“If I am hired on to represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate, on my first day I will introduce legislation to allow Virginia to produce oil and natural gas.”

9/12 March on DC ... America went to Washington to protest ObamaCare

Our view of the 9/12 Rally from where we stood.

From September 13, 2009, when the proposed ObamaCare law caused hundreds of thousands to march on Washington, DC....

Update March 27, 2012: Fishersville Mike has fun with a song parody for the tea party.... 

The 9/12 March on Washington was a huge success! The number of marchers overwhelmed the start-up location at Freedom Plaza Saturday morning, spilling out into the adjoining streets as thousands gathered to walk Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol. The parade, scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m., had to start early at 10:00 to clear out the congested area.

It was an honor to be with so many like-minded patriots ... and humbling ... and it made me proud to be an American. It was democracy in action from a group of people who normally go about their lives -- working, raising their children -- and do not spend time marching and protesting.

That changed Saturday as thousands upon thousands of conservative citizens took part in the mile-long march down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol. To see so many people was breath-taking, an emotional experience for many who thought they would never see that many conservatives in one place at one time. It was a sea of faces, flags, signs ... young, old, short, tall, all shapes and sizes, some on walkers or canes ... it was the face of America.

The Shenandoah Valley was represented by over 200 residents in the march. Fellow SWAC bloggers Bob from The Journey and David from Augusta Conservative also documented the event.

To march on Pennsylvania Avenue shoulder-to-shoulder with like-minded patriots was breath-taking. As far as I could see ahead of us was a sea of people carrying flags and signs ... behind us as far as I could see was a sea of people carrying flags and signs. Chants would go down the street like a vocal wave ... approaching as a low roar in the distance, catching up with us as we joined in, and washing over us to continue along the street to the thousands behind us.

As marchers arrived at the Capitol, they found places to stand or sit and listen to speakers who were addressing the thousands already in place. We found an excellent vantage point at the Grant statue with a direct view of the Capitol. Our group camped out there, rotating in and out as we explored the crowds, took photos, and talked with people who felt more like friends than strangers.

The crowd was extremely courteous. If taking a photo, people would duck below the camera, stop, or walk around. Everyone smiled and was friendly. It was not an angry mob ... it was a friendly group who was frustrated that they had not been heard and, after many of their Congressional representatives refused to hold townhall meetings in August to hear their concerns, they wanted their voices to be heard. Their frustration led them to Washington, DC.

Fellow SWACer Barb and I roamed the crowd with our cameras -- I took over 600 photos -- and for a while we stood in front of the Capitol watching the marchers continue walking by (this was an hour after we had gotten there and they were still marching). I will never forget one older gentleman who came walking along. He was slightly bent over and pushing a walker -- one of those on wheels with a seat in it -- as he kind of shuffled along ... shuffled ... with a determined look on his face. He was an inspiration.

SWAC Daughter and Alex, both 21, were eyewitnesses to this historic event and I am proud of them for wanting to be a part of it as well as the thousands of others their age. Barb and I stopped one young man from Florida to get a photo of his sign, and thanked him for traveling so far for the cause.

With so many people there, it was quite a coincidence to run into a couple of people we knew ... similar to finding a needle in a haystack. As we approached Pennsylvania Avenue, one of the home school graduates from Augusta County passed us on the sidewalk. We marveled that we had seen each other and I snapped her picture "as proof I saw you!"

Later, while sitting in front of the Capitol listening to speakers, SWAC Husband called my attention to a young man who had made his way onto the statue beside us to get an overhead photo of the huge crowd around the Capitol. It was my son's James Madison University friend from NJ, the friend he had visited a few weeks ago when they spent the weekend exploring New York City. We knew this friend was planning to attend the march ... we had no idea that, out of all those people, we would actually see him! He waved from his perch and I got his picture, then texted my son with the news. Absolutely amazing!

When not roaming the crowd, I had notebook on lap taking notes of speakers, the crowd's reactions, chants, and people around me. One lady who scooted in next to me was from Connecticut. Three ladies found a quiet spot in the ornamental bushes around the statue, still holding their signs but grabbing a bite to eat. They laughed when I mentioned their private alcove and took their photo.

The stories are many ... the two gentlemen holding a 10-foot-long yellow banner between two poles that said, "SILENT NO MORE" ... the hundreds of chartered buses making their way into DC with loads of passengers for the rally ... the Augusta County resident in a wheelchair who was deteremined to be there, and his friend who helped push him around ...

... the Staunton city business owner, an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, who closed his shop on Saturday, his busiest day of the week, so he and his employee could attend the march ... the man from Houston, Texas, who flew to Virginia to stay with his Augusta County friends so he could ride the bus to the March on Washington ... the gentleman from Holland who is in the process of becoming a naturalized citizen ...

... the dentist, doctor, and RN on our bus from the Shenandoah Valley who are concerned about nationalized health care ... the many, many military veterans ... the college students....

There is something going on in America. Yesterday we made history. Will conservatives continue the fight to stop nationalized health care, government bailouts of private industry, taxation out of control, and more?

One more thing: When those thousands of people left the Capitol at the end of the day, there was no trash! It was a topic on the bus ride home and the Park Service people have to have taken notice what a responsible crowd there was in Washington on Saturday.


I have more photos to post and notes to write up from speakers and links to fellow bloggers' posts....

Other posts:
- 9/12 March on DC ... HUGE success
- 9/12 Taxpayer Protest March on DC ... photos part 1
- 9/12 Taxpayer Protest March on DC ... photos part 2
- 9/12 Taxpayer Protest March on DC ... photos part 3
- 9/12 Taxpayer Protest March on DC ... photos part 4
- 9/12 March on DC ... America went to Washington
- SWAC bloggers have 9/12 March on DC coverage

- 09.12.09 - This land is your land ... this land is my land

Photo by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
09.12.09

Back in the homeschool classroom: Constitutional lessons & the Judicial branch of government

The liberty and freedom to educate our children at home made it possible to be sure they understood some issues that sometimes slipped through the cracks in public schools.

This week's historic Supreme Court hearings on what is commonly known as ObamaCare is an excellent teaching opportunity for Americans and, most especially, American students. How many classrooms will dedicate time to this vitally important issue that will have an affect on generations to come?

Is federal power unlimited? Those who believe in limited government absolutely disagree with that and, yet, there are many Americans who want government to be in charge of their health care. The Supreme Court must now decide.

The Wall Street Journal sounded the alarm in their editorial:

Few legal cases in the modern era are as consequential, or as defining, as the challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that the Supreme Court hears beginning Monday. The powers that the Obama Administration is claiming change the structure of the American government as it has existed for 225 years. Thus has the health-care law provoked an unprecedented and unnecessary constitutional showdown that endangers individual liberty.

Today presented an opportunity to tune into C-SPAN to hear caller opinions and to watch as Americans lined up in front of the Supreme Court building hoping to receive one of the 150 coveted tickets for a public seat to listen to the proceedings.

The Washington Examiner opined today on why the Supreme Court should rule on Obamacare. The Washington Post editorialized on why the individual mandate holds the key to health-care reform.

Does this law fundamentally change the relationship between the American people and the federal government? There's widespread agreement that health care in America needs to be reformed ... but is this the way to go about it?

In 2009, close to a million American citizens marched on Washington, DC, to express their objection with ObamaCare that was, at that time, being debated in Congress. It was eventually passed by a Democratically-controlled Senate and a Democratically-controlled House under the control of a Democratic White House. I posted about the 9/12 March on DC complete with photos of that historic day when the sleeping dragon was awakened and the American people came out of their decades-long slumber.

A decision from this week's Supreme Court hearings is expected by the end of June.

March 2012 SWAC Breakfast welcomes guest speaker Dr. Andy Schmookler

Dr. Andy Schmookler has accomplished many things in his 65 years including earning degrees from Harvard and the University of California at Berkeley, authoring seven books, teaching at the high school and college level, and sitting in as an infrequent commentator on NPR's "All Things Considered."

Now he has added another accomplishment: Running as the Democratic candidate for the 6th District Congressional seat.

On Saturday, SWAC (Staunton-Waynesboro-Augusta County) Breakfast will continue its Congressional series of hearing from each of the candidates running for the 6th District Congressional seat.  Last month, we heard from Republican challenger Dr. Karen Kwiatkowski, and next month Congressman Bob Goodlatte will address the group. This month we will hear from Dr. Schmookler.

Who is Andy Schmookler?

Andy Schmookler was born in the spring of 1946 to parents who had grown up in poverty.

During the depression, Andy’s mother, Pauline, had to drop out of school at the age of 15 to support her ill mother and her two younger sisters. Decades later, though she never graduated from high school, she got her college and two masters degrees and became a high school teacher of literature.

His father, Jacob was able to go to college thanks to his own mother’s working 14-hour days at a sewing machine to make it possible. After World War II, Andy’s father earned his doctorate in economics and began an academic career.

By the time Andy was 10, his family had a secure footing in the American middle class.

His parents raised him and his brother, Ed. They taught their sons to have passion for justice, a deep commitment to honesty and integrity, and they instilled the value of hard work. For Andy’s father, the honest pursuit of the truth was a paramount value. He taught the discipline of reasoned inquiry. And for his mother, a key value was that human worth does not lie in rank or wealth, but in beauty of soul, and that gems can be found in every group and at every stratum.

Andy graduated as the valedictorian in his high school class, earned a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley and Graduate Theological Union in a program specially created to accommodate his original theory to explain the way that human civilization has developed.

In 1992, Dr. Schmookler and his wife, April, moved to Mt. Jackson in Shenandoah County where they raised their three children. Married for 25 years, they continue to reside in the Shenandoah Valley.

Along the way, Dr. Schmookler has been involved in the communities around him:

Serving as an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. He helped with the analysis of possible future challenges for American policy-makers.

• Spearheading a project with the Public Agenda Foundation, in which he interviewed the best minds in the country, in various related fields, on how the United States might best achieve security in an age of weapons of mass destruction.
• Being hired, in the 1990s, by the United States Army to help with a project on the prevention of biological terrorism.
• Teaching at both the college level (Prescott College, Georgetown University) and at the high school level (Albuquerque Academy).
• Speaking at forums across the country such as the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, the Washington Ethical Society, and as Presidential lecturer at the University of Montana.
• Publishing his commentaries in newspapers across the country for the past thirty-five years, and broadcasting them on radio stations nationwide.
• Serving as a consultant to one of America’s premier corporations.

His doctoral work was published The Parable of the Tribes (University of California Press, 1984; second edition from SUNY Press, 1995), which was awarded the Erik H. Erikson prize by the International Society for Political Psychology.

This book led the way to a successful career as the author of many published books, most of them seeking to understand the forces that must be dealt with by our country, and by humankind generally, in order to create a good future for ourselves and for the generations to come. The books are entitled:

• Out of Weakness:  Healing the Wounds that Drive Us to War (Bantam Books, 1988),
• Sowings and Reapings:  The Cycling of Good and Evil in the Human System (Knowledge Systems, 1989).
• The Illusion of Choice:  How the Market Economy Shapes Our Destiny (SUNY Press, 1993, with translations published subsequently in Japan and Korea)
• Fool’s Gold:  The Fate of Values in a World of Goods (Harper Collins, 1993).
• Debating the Good Society:  A Quest to Bridge America’s Moral Divide (M.I.T. Press, 1999).

Saturday will offer an opportunity to hear Dr. Schmookler's thoughts about the future of the 6th Congressional District. Bring your questions and join us for this informative breakfast.

If you're going:

SWAC Breakfast

Speaker: Andy Schmookler

Date:  Saturday, March 31, 2012

Time:  8:30 a.m.

Place:  Shoney's Restaurant

Location: 30 Sangers Lane, Staunton, VA 24401
Dutch-treat: Buffet breakfast $7.99, plus $1.99 for coffee & juice

Freeze warning in Shenandoah Valley ... will my wisteria blooms survive? Update

 There's an heirloom wisteria vine that weaves its way completely across the front of our house, gracing us with its fragrant purple blossoms in a spectacular display that is almost breath-taking. The vine is loaded -- absolutely loaded -- with buds this year and some, as the one in the photo, are about to burst into bloom. The warm days have worked their magic on the wisteria just as they have with everything else in the yard that is already in full bloom.

 That makes tonight's freeze warning and forecast of temperatures in the 20s sad news because it could literally nip these blossoms in the bud, just as has happened the past few years. The apple trees in the back yard are also in full bloom and may also be damaged by tonight's cold.

With hundreds of wisteria buds on the vines at risk of freezing tonight, it would be a shame to lose them and the beauty they bring but that's the way of Mother Nature.

Update Tuesday morning: The low last night got down to 25 degrees with patchy frost at our house, not good news for the wisteria. Today the buds that got nipped may begin falling off the vine. Oh, well ... there's always next year!

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
26 March 2012

The moon, Venus, and Jupiter in Virginia's western sky

 The view tonight from our front porch was of the moon and Venus side-by-side in the western sky with Jupiter down below forming the triangle. This photo was by me.

SWAC Husband lined up the camera for this closer view of our evening entertainment. How beautiful in the cold, quiet, spring night air of western Virginia. Photo by SWAC Husband.

26 March 2012

A-Team wins ballot battle

Two weeks after Republican George Allen turned in petitions for the U.S. Senate primary, Tim Kaine's campaign has finally turned in its signatures. Though they will be the first to let you know they have 4,000 more signatures, there's more to it than that.

Because Allen had primary challengers, it was imperative that his campaign turn in signatures as soon as possible for good ballot positioning. Kaine didn't have to worry about that so was able to take the full amount of time to collect signatures.

What if the Allen campaign had the luxury of continuing to collect petitions right up through the deadline? If we do the math, it's in favor of George Allen's grassroots efforts:

1) All campaigns began collecting signatures on January 1, 2012.

2) George Allen turned in 26,869 on March 12th. Assuming they were collecting signatures up through the 11th, that's 71 days, an average of 378.4 signatures a day.

3) Tim Kaine is turning in 30,866 today. Assuming they were collecting signatures through the 25th, that's 85 days, an average of 363.1 signatures a day.

So if Allen had kept collecting at his rate, the campaign would have turned in 32,164 signatures today. But because of the primary challengers and ballot position, he didn't have the luxury of waiting another two weeks just to pad his numbers.

Bottom line: The A-Team hustled for 71 days to turn in way over the 10,000 required signatures to have George Allen's name placed on the ballot. With volunteers located throughout the Commonwealth, they would have collected more than the Kaine campaign if they had been able to continue gathering signatures.

Update: Fishersville Mike theorizes on yet another reason why the Democrats need to collect more signatures while over at Bearing Drift Shaun Kenney good-naturedly muses, "I wonder how much more Kaine paid his staffers and signature collectors (and how much of that was spent on the AFL-CIO) than Allen paid his grassroots volunteers in pizza?"

Lake Moomaw on a March afternoon

Lake Moomaw

March 2012