Photos ... SWAC area on Election Day 2008

Two political warriors meet again .. former Augusta County GOP Chair Kurt Michael talked with Waynesboro Democratic Chair Chris Graham at Waynesboro poll on Tuesday.

Democrat volunteer Alfred Berry and Republican Kurt Michael worked the poll together Tuesday afternoon at the Valley Vo-Tech Center in Wayne District. Dr. Michael is a teacher at the Governor's School.

Democrat Alfred Berry, Republicans Kurt Michael and Alex Davis.


Waynesboro GOP Vice Chairman Melissa with her kids working the Waynesboro Library poll.

Alex Davis puts up signs at Staunton polling place.

Even the "Chick" made it to the polls.

Scott Anchors works the Waynesboro Library poll.

Dark fell and the rains continued as volunteers worked the polls in Wayne District. (Left to right) Kurt Michael, Alex Davis, Wayne Magisterial District Chair Jason Bibeau (Augusta Water Cooler), and Phil Lynch (Yankee Phil).


Following the returns at the State Board of Elections website.

Watching the returns on Fox News Channel.

On a drizzly Election Day with temps in the 50s, Augusta County residents turned out early to vote with lines out the doors during the 6-8:00 morning rush. Voter traffic remained steady throughout the day with a slight pick-up during the 5-7 pm time frame.

Augusta County remained bright red with all 25 precincts going for John McCain. Overall voter turnout was 78.45% ... we carried John McCain at 69.35%, a little less than the 76% from the 2004 George W. Bush re-election campaign.

Precinct returns for John McCain in Augusta County --

Beverley Manor Magisterial District:
- Jolivue 64.16%
- Expo 64.32%
- Verona 66.55%

Middle River Magisterial District:
- Crimora 68.73%
- New Hope 72.16%
- Weyers Cave 69.94%

North River Magisterial District:
- Fort Defiance 69.46%
- North River 74.04%
- Mount Solon 78.92%
- Churchville Fire Station 75.4%

Pastures Magisterial District:
- Buffalo Gap 72.55%
- Churchville Library 72.82%
- Craigsville 68.17%
- Deerfield 74.07%
- Cedar Green 63.83%

Riverheads Magisterial District:
- Greenville 74.5%
- Middlebrook 71.17%
- Spottswood 69.11%
- White Hill 72.93%

South River Magisterial District:
- Sherando 70.44%
- Stuarts Draft 70.27%
- Lyndhurst 67.9%

Wayne Magisterial District:
- Dooms 72.52%
- Fishersville 68.45%
- Wilson 65.28%

Absentee Ballots: 62.53%

Photos by SWAC Girl

Eyewitness report from Sarah Palin rally in PA

A local home school mom sent this from her sister who lives in Pennsylvania. Her sister was excited to have attended a Sarah Palin rally....

What a day I've had!

After finding out last evening that Sarah Palin was going to be in New Paris at Boyer Orchards, Guy & I decided I really had to go. I was up at 3:00 thinking about making my sign and pulling out my red, white & blue jacket.

I was one of the first there--10:30 am! The only ones there ahead of me were a few security people. I drove around for a while and then chose a good parking space along the street. After waiting in the car for an hour I finally decided to go get a spot as people were beginning to show up. Guy's cousin came and stood with me.

Sarah Palin's entourage finally came ... right on time ... about 1:30.

Sandy & I were so excited we almost forgot to take her picture. She went into the building where she spoke to some small business owners. While she was attending the meeting, her daughters and baby came out to greet us.

Piper was dressed as a snow princess handing out candy from her pumpkin. Tom Ridge was traveling with them and I got some great pictures while he spoke to the crowd. Sarah finally came out and greeted us and I proudly held my sign - while getting scolded from people behind me. So I laid it in the empty seat in front of me (I was second row).

Sarah came by and shook my hand and I told her we are praying for them. She thanked me and said what a great country we live in. Then she noticed my sign & we spoke of our sons in the stryker units.

She was wearing her blue star pin and held it out to me & I said, "Yes, I know about your son and I am praying for all our military." She thanked me. Sandy said she has been praying Psalm 3 over them and she said, "Oh intersessory - thank you." After that her handsome husband came by and I also got to shake his hand and also told him we are praying for them.

What a day! What a priviledge to be able to tell them face to face we are praying for them. I am still smiling over such a great opportunity.

The crowd sang God Bless America as we watched the buses pulling in and then leaving again.

Sarah Palin is an inspiration to conservative Republicans.

Go McCain-Palin!

Photos ... Weyers Cave fly-in Monday with Fred Thompson

Del. Chris Saxman addresses the crowd while George Allen and Bob McDonnell listen.

Congressman Bob Goodlatte
Atty. General Bob McDonnell

Fred Thompson

Monday's fly-in at the Weyers Cave Airport promoted John McCain for President in the final hours of campaigning. Fred Thompson, Bob Goodlatte, Bob McDonnell, Chris Saxman, and George Allen were all there to rally the crowd to get out and vote.

Home schoolers are everywhere and this event was no different. While I was in the western part of Augusta County on campaign business, Miss Marquis was at the rally taking photos that she graciously passed along. Here is what she wrote:

An enthusiastic crowd greeted former Senators George Allen and Fred Thompson, Attorney General Bob McDonnell, Congressman Bob Goodlatte, and Delegate Chris Saxman [Monday] morning at the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport.

The first stop for the quintette's "Victory Fly Around" tour was well received by an estimated hundred people that included many local small business owners, children, and college students.

Surrounded by flags and campaign signs, each politician took the microphone to encourage the valley voters to stay strong and help the McCain-Palin ticket sprint across the finish line on Election Day.

Photos by Miss Marquis

H/T and thanks to Miss Marquis

Mom at the Sarah Palin Rally in Henrico!!

My 81-year-old mother waved her "Chick" sign at Saturday's Sarah Palin rally in Henrico County. To those who think Republican women are offended by these signs, talk to my mom. She was a professional business woman all her life but she loves her "Chick" sign. Too many are eager to be offended by something.

Here is Mom's update about the Sarah Palin Rally on November 1, 2008, in Henrico County. Even now that they are in their 80s, my folks are still out campaigning, putting up signs, working the polls.... Mom also got a chance to talk with my delegate, Chris Saxman, who was at the rally.

Lynn, we went to church (Sunday), came home and changed clothes and went to Arby's for lunch - then we went out and replaced the GOP signs that were taken last night and put out new ones along the way. Two men who live on Robious Road saw us and chased us down so they could get signs to put in front of their houses, thus, we added two more addresses to our list.

About the Palin rally: I decided about 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon that since it was such a nice day (71 degrees at that time) we should go to the rally. Cal was in the midst of doing some painting so by the time we left it was 5 o'clock. He was sure we would never get in and that it would all be chaos, none of which happened.

The rally was in the football field of Deep Run High School in Henrico County (near Innsbrook, where thousands of people parked and were shuttled in on buses). We parked at the elementary school and walked about a quarter of a mile across the road from the high school. We stood in line for about half an hour but it was constantly moving and we were visiting with all of the other people in the line, so it moved right along......and I can keep moving easier than just standing in one spot.

When we went through the gates we were being directed toward the stage where Sarah would be and where we would have to stand. A middle-age man pulled us out of the group and told us he was sending us to the bleachers, which I told Cal was either because of our "Chick" signs OR because we are old! Whatever, I was thrilled that we would have a place to sit. Another man walked with us and found two places for us to sit.

The workers were passing out boxes and boxes of red/white/blue pom poms and all of the people standing around the stage, as well as the ones of us in the bleachers, were waving them, cheering and singing along with the music. Even in the bleachers, most of us were on our feet!

I like the excitement of being in the stands with the people. I was waving my chick sign over my head, in time with the rock music. About 15 minutes later, a man came over and told me they wanted Cal and me to move over to the middle of the stands, right behind where Sarah would be standing, which we did.

I was waving my sign and pom poms. Everyone in the stands - and down in front of us around the stage - were loving my Chick sign and cheering for it. As a matter of fact, I could have SOLD it a hundred times while we were in the line and after we were up in the bleachers.

Many, many times I had to tell the story of how Tom Sheets, the owner of the Blue Ridge Lumber Company, had started the "Chick" phenomenon in the Shenandoah Valley. Everybody was taking pictures of me and my sign.

There was one other "Chick" sign but it was in the middle of a group of people standing off to the left side of the stage. At one point, I was finally able to see that a young woman was holding it - both of us realized that we had connected, so we were waving our signs with one hand and waving at each other with the other hand. It was so much fun! It was the greatest time I have had in a long time!!!

I am not sure how many people were there but they said they were expecting 10,000 but there were more than that here long before the program started. I just know there was a big crowd but it was well organized and handled well. Henrico County police know how to handle large crowds because they deal with the RIR [Richmond International Raceway] crowds all of the time.

Half a dozen Obama supporters (a couple wearing Obama buttons) were right down in front of me, at the back of the people who were standing. They were spotted, word was passed along that if they started anything we were to shout USA. I asked a Secret Service fellow which ones they were and he said "the ones who look like they are mad" - and he was absolutely right, because they really looked angry! That made us cheer even louder!! They knew the Secret Service was watching them and that all of us were looking at them and before long, they moved out and left without causing any problem that I heard of. It is hard to believe democrats are such an angry bunch whose primary goal appears to be to vandalize and destroy what others have! One word describes most of them - ANTAGONISTIC!

Onward and upward!

Love, Mom

Told you I didn't fall far from the political tree in my family! Our enthusiasm buoys us all ... you should hear the talk around the dinner table when we all get together! We love President George W. Bush and are proud of him and are respectful and thankful for his leadership and safety of the citizens of this country, something he promised to do after the terrorism attacks of 9/11.

Family ... got to love it! Go McCain-Palin!

Mom took her Chick sign to Sarah Palin rally

The excited cell phone call came from my 81-year-old mom last night ... I could hear the crowd in the background. My parents were at the Sarah Palin rally in Henrico and had been chosen to sit in the bleachers. Mom was so excited because they were there and they had taken their "I Am Voting For The Chick" signs.

I certainly didn't fall far from the tree of conservative politics. In their 80s, my folks are still campaigning and, in this case, rallying on a Saturday night in support of Sarah Palin for the John McCain campaign. It's a tradition I have passed on to my own children....

Fred Thompson to be at Weyers Cave Airport Monday

Victory Rally ... Monday at 9 a.m. ... join us at a fly-in at Weyers Cave Airport and welcome Sen. Fred Thompson, Attorney General Bob Goodlatte, and former Gov. George Allen on Election Eve.

Monday, Nov. 3 ... 9 a.m. ... 77 Aviation Circle, Weyers Cave 24486. Shenandoah Valley Airport. Info: (540) 830-3757.

Keep Virginia red!

Can Obama do this?

Barack Obama has put out an ad that simply reminds us John McCain cannot use a computer.

Well, guess what? Barack Obama cannot land a jet fighter on an aircraft carrier underway at sea at night.

H/T Blue Ridge HS Dad

Palin family dressed for Halloween

The Palin family are on the campaign trail today ... but that hasn't stopped them from dressing up for Halloween. Seven-year-old Piper spilled the beans to the Fox News folks and, sure enough, when the family showed up for a live appearance in Pennsylvania, it was evident today was Halloween.

Piper was a snow princess ... six-month-old Trig was an elephant ... Sarah was dressed as Tina Fey! They may be campaigning ... but the Palin family didn't forget the fun of Halloween for their children.

Mike Ditka for Sarah Palin!

Appearing live this morning in Pennsylvania ... Sarah Palin and her family. What an honor ... introduced by Coach Mike Ditka who supports John McCain and Sarah Palin. Sweet!

Zo does it again

I posted before about Zo:

He is black, he is young, he is a Christian, he is conservative, and he is Republican.He supports John McCain and Sarah Palin ... and he tells it like it is to other young blacks.

He has done it again ... watch Zo's video on health care, energy, taxes, pretty much everything.

H/T to Mom who brought me up conservative with common sense

Michael Steele's visit in Staunton today

"It's not over until the last vote is counted."

"Re-elect him!" Michael Steel said of Bob Goodlatte.

Peggy Huffman talks with Michael Steele.






"JarDog," our resident Marine, with Mr. and Mrs. Frost.


Bob Goodlatte introduced Michael Steele.

A group of SWAC area Republicans met at Rowe's Restaurant Thursday afternoon to welcome Maryland's former Lt. Governor Michael Steele as he stumped for John McCain's presidency. He was introduced by Congressman Bob Goodlatte who had to leave for another appearance in Buena Vista.

Mr. Steele relayed a story of the summer of 2007 when he saw John McCain sitting in the airport with his luggage waiting to catch a plane to another campaign stop. He had laid off half his campaign staff and was almost out of money but when asked how things were going he replied, "Great!" That optimism carried him through to win the GOP nomination for president.

After talking for 30 minutes about the need to keep Republicans in office, Mr. Steele ended by saying, "It's not over until the last vote is counted."

I was happy to see Mr. Frost, a GOP volunteer who was busy as one of the "sign guys" when I became involved nine years ago. Mr. Frost is about to turn 91. He and his wife contributed much over the years. He was a cowboy from Montana who moved east years ago ... I enjoyed hearing his stories over the years and miss him now that poor health has limited his involvement. He was all smiles as usual ... and I asked to get a photo of him, Mrs. Frost, and "Jar Dog."

Jar Dog is in the Marine Reserve, someone I met during the Bush 2000 campaign and who has been on my email list all these years. It was great to see him ... one of our heroes who has served in Iraq and who protects our freedoms and keeps us safe.

"It's not over until the last vote is counted."

Photos by SWAC Girl

Michael Steele in Staunton TODAY for John McCain

Just received confirmation that Michael Steele, former Maryland Republican Lt. Governor, will be at Rowe's Restaurant in Staunton today at 1:45 p.m. along with Congressman Bob Goodlatte. They will be stumping for John McCain for President in these final days leading to November 4th. The public is invited to come out and show their support behind our Republican candidates.

McCain-Palin 2008

"Drill, Baby, Drill!" Michael Steele in the Valley today

Michael Steele, former Maryland Republican Lt. Governor, makes a stop today in Harrisonburg at Noon to stump for John McCain. He will be at the GOP Victory Center located behind Valley Mall.

Details:

Shenandoah Valley Rally with Michael Steele
Thursday, October 30th
12:30 pm
ADDRESS: 182 Neff Avenue
Suites 13 and 14
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
(540) 830-3757

McCain Palin 2008

McCain-Palin and Chick signs in Augusta County

Pastures District ...

Riverheads District ...

Homemade McCain-Palin sign ... GOP HQs could not keep signs in due to high demand so these folks made their own in Riverheads District.

Homemade sign ...

Another homemade sign ...

Riverheads District ...

Beverley Manor District ...

Beverley Manor District ...

South River District ...

South River District ...

South River District ...

Middle River District ...

Photos by SWAC Girl

John McCain's mom to be in Harrisonburg today

John McCain's 96-year-old mom, Roberta, is on the stump for her son and will be in Harrisonburg this afternoon at 4:00 at the GOP Victory Center. It is billed as a "Virginia Victory and Volunteer Appreciation Rally."

Locations where Roberta McCain will appear this week around Virginia:

HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA
WHO: Roberta McCain
WHAT: Virginia Victory and Volunteer Appreciation Rally
WHEN: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. EDT
WHERE: Harrisonburg Victory Center
182 Neff Avenue, Suite 13 and 14
Harrisonburg, VA 22801

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
WHO: Roberta McCain
WHAT: Virginia Victory and Volunteer Appreciation Rally
WHEN: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. EDT
WHERE: Charlottesville Victory Office
455 Albermarle Sq
Charlottesville, VA 22901

HANOVER, VIRGINIA
WHO: Roberta McCain
WHAT: Virginia Victory and Volunteer Appreciation Rally
WHEN: Friday, October 31, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. EDT
WHERE: Hanover County Victory Office
9502 Chamberlayne Rd. Suite 12
Mechanicsville, VA 23116

ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
WHO: Roberta McCain
WHAT: Virginia Victory and Volunteer Appreciation Rally
WHEN: Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. EDT
WHERE: Roanoke Victory Office
3904 Franklin Road SW, Suite E
Roanoke, VA 24104

FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA
WHO: Roberta McCain
WHAT: Virginia Victory and Volunteer Appreciation Rally
WHEN: Friday, October 31, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
WHERE: Fredericksburg Regional Victory Office
150 Riverside Parkway, Suite 213
Fredericksburg, VA 22406

BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA
WHO: Roberta McCain
WHAT: Virginia Victory and Volunteer Appreciation Rally
WHEN: Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. EDT
WHERE: Montgomery County Victory Office
302 A. North Main Street
Blacksburg, VA 24060

WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA
WHO: Roberta McCain
WHAT: Virginia Victory and Volunteer Appreciation Rally
WHEN: Friday, October 31, 2008 at 4:15 p.m. EDT
WHERE: Woodbridge Victory Office
4431 Prince William Parkway
Woodbridge, VA 22192

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
WHO: Roberta McCain
WHAT: Virginia Victory and Volunteer Appreciation Rally
WHEN: Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. EDT
WHERE: Richmond Regional Victory Headquarters
2819 N. Parham Road, Suite 210
Richmond, VA 23294

Barbara West ... a news anchor unafraid to ask the tough questions

Barbara West, TV anchorwoman for WFTV-Orlando, should teach journalism, civics, or government. Unafraid to ask the tough questions, she rattled Joe Biden when she asked about Barack Obama's "spread the wealth around" mentality.

The YouTube interview reveals it all. As she stated on Fox & Friends this morning, time is running out to ask questions of those who want to lead our country.

Fox News reported:

WFTV’s Barbara West, an Orlando anchorwoman, grilled Biden on everything from his running mate’s connections to Acorn to his statement that Obama would be “tested” by an international crisis and may make decisions that don’t immediately seem like the right ones — and even quoted Karl Marx to ask how Obama would be any different from the Communist founder who favored redistributing wealth to society’s underclass.

“Is this a joke?” Biden asked after the Marxism line. “Is that a real question?” West assured him that it was.

Yes, Joe, it's a real question ... and Americans would like to hear real answers. We are at a crossroads in our nation's history and need to know who we are putting in the White House.

The Obama campaign cancelled a later WFTV-Orlando interview with Jill Biden and essentially cut off the TV station.

Good for Barbara West for being willing to ask the tough questions. Wonder how long it will be before they start prying into her personal life like they did with Joe the Plumber....

Obama's words in 2001 ... redistribution of wealth

Barack Obama in 2001 said:

"You know if you look at the victories and the failures of the Civil Rights movement and its litigation strategy in the Court, I think where it succeeded was to invest formal rights in previously dispossessed peoples so that I would now have the right to vote, I would now be able to sit at the lunch counter and order as long as I could pay for it I would be okay.

But the Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth and sort of more basic issues of political and economic justice in this society. And to that extent as radical as I think people try to characterize the Warren Court, it wasn’t that radical, it didn’t break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution, at least as its been interpreted and the Warren Court interpreted it in the same way that generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties says what the states can’t do to you, says what the federal government can’t do to you, but it doesn’t say what the federal government or the state government must do on your behalf and that hasn’t shifted.

And one of the I think the tragedies of the Civil Rights movement was because the Civil Rights movement became so court focused I think that there was a tendency to lose track of the political and community organizing and activities on the ground that are able to put together the actual coalitions of power through which you bring about redistributive change and in some ways we still suffer from that." – Barack Obama

Watch the YouTube video.

Sarah Palin in Asheville, NC ... eyewitness account

Asheville, NC ... that gorgeous city in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western Carolina ... was the host to a recent Sarah Palin rally. As with all of her other rallies, thousands and thousands of people turned out to see this rising Republican star, far more than the arena held. Though thousands were turned away, they were grateful that she showed up in their city.

Here is an eyewitness account:

Just wanted to let you all know that my family and I attended a Sarah Palin rally in Asheville yesterday - spent 3 hours in line to get into the Civic Center and did not get in because it was filled at 10,000 attendees. I would say that there were 25,000 people standing in line. So perhaps the predictions that the election is in the bag are a bit inflated.

We went to show our kids (7 and 3) democracy in action, to see history in the making and to take action for what we believe in. How we were treated in Asheville was, quite simply, appalling. Rather than peaceful [Democrat] protests, people were dressed as zombies screaming at our kids (yes, our KIDS) that their parents were stupid and indoctrinating them with propaganda. Sarah tried to pet a "zombie" dog and was told "NO," that she was a zombie by some scary looking woman....

When we got home at 12:30 am, we noticed that our McCain-Palin sign had been stolen from our yard. I was first in line at the GOP headquarters downtown to get a replacement this morning, I also got a back-up just in case this happens again. They can steal my sign, but they cannot steal my vote.

While I am ashamed that these people behaved the way that they did, Wayne and I were so glad to see that there were so many pro-McCain and Palin attendees in Asheville.

The "zombies" in Asheville may have been trying to bully us into voting for Obama. They did not succeed. They simply [ticked] me off and are making me more vocal in taking back America and making it a place that we can be proud of again.

Please send this to anyone who may be on the fence about even casting a vote because they think it won't matter [and] that it's a done deal. If you can get 25,000 Republicans to come out in Asheville, we can certainly do it across America. I think it is far from over!

McCain-Palin 2008

Home school mom chosen to sit on stage with Sarah in Salem!

An Augusta County home school mom was chosen today to sit on the stage behind Sarah Palin in Salem as she gave her remarks to the thousands who flocked to hear from this rising Republican star.

Those home schoolers ... they rock! And they vote!

JMU GOP counter-rally Tuesday ... "Keep Virginia Red"

Bring your GOP signs! Bring your Chick signs! Put on your McCain caps, your Palin tee shirts, your Gilmore shirts, and your Goodlatte caps! Wear something red to show that Republicans plan to KEEP VIRGINIA RED!

John McCain-Sarah Palin supporters will be out in force Tuesday afternoon, October 28, at 4:00 p.m. in conjunction with the James Madison University College Republicans to counter the appearance of Democrat Barack Obama.

Meet on the lawn in front of the Festival building on JMU's campus. For more information contact GOP Headquarters at (540) 830-3757.

Go McCain-Palin!